Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Author: Willy Tamarack
Title: Surfers Rule
Part: 11 of 11
Universe:
Summary:
Keywords: (love story, adventure, war viol)
Language: English


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   @(C) 1996-2015 Willy Tamarack Commercial use in any form requires the
written permission of the author and will ensure a portion of the proceeds
goes to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).

   Surfers Rule

   by

   Willy Tamarack

   With thanks to the founding fathers and the U.S.  Constitution

   Chapter Thirty-one

   It was just a little before twelve hundred hours on Friday.  The yacht
"Surfers Rule" was moving south at about three knots following the coast
line.  Jimmy Walton had the beach in sight.  He reached for his binoculars.
There was a very large inflatable raft pulled well up on to the white sand
beach.  He checked the depth chart and figured he could anchor about a
hundred yards off shore.  He looked back at the homes along the shore. 
There was a limo parked out in front of one of them, right across from the
raft on the beach.

   If he had scanned the homes earlier instead of the shore line he would
have see a man with binoculars sitting in a lounge chair up on the roof of
the home that had the limo parked out front.  But he didn't.

   Ed walked into the house and called out.  "The yacht is here.  Maria,
you ready ?"

   "Yes" came from a distant part of the house.  The Bahia brothers were in
the kitchen, cleaning the AKs.  When Ed entered the kitchen they were both
quickly assembling the automatic weapons.  Craig and Cindy were supervising
their work.

   "Ready to go here, Ed." Craig replied for the brothers.  "We ought to
get a good load on the raft before you go."

   Maria came into the kitchen wearing her bikini top with some cut off
jeans.  She looked very hot with her hair braided down to around her rear
end.  They all picked up boxes and headed out to the beach through the
front door.  They made three trips to the raft, now anchored just yards off
shore.  The limo driver was only too happy to help.  Then the four of them
pushed off and started paddling for the yacht.  Craig and Cindy watched
them.  The limo driver started back toward the limo.

   "Sir !" Craig called to him.  "We want you to take the men on the yacht
to the airport and then bring back one man.  He will be arriving at one
o'clock.  We will give you a sign to hold up in the arrival lounge."

   The limo driver was on his way back to the limo.  Craig looked back out
at the ocean and was surprised to see the raft approaching the yacht.

   Jimmy Walton knelt on the deck to help them tie up the raft.  The woman
was a looker and he didn't recognize her until she climbed on board.

   "Buenos tardes, senorita." Jimmy spouted off.  He had a hard time
looking her in the eyes.  He was glad he was wearing sun glasses.

   "Did you have a good trip ?" Was the first thing out of Maria's mouth.
The questions came rapid fire, one after the other.  "Is the yacht
satisfactory ?" "How did the motor perform ?" And the sails ?" Jimmy was
nodding his head up and down as she opened her briefcase and out came
several long, white envelopes.  She handed them to Jimmy.  His crew was
topside standing behind him.  An older man was standing to the woman's side
while two teenagers were stacking their provisions up on to the deck. 
Jimmy just noticed the teenagers had automatic weapons slung over their
shoulders.

   Jimmy handed each of his crew their envelope and all of them tore the
envelopes open and counted their pay.  There was little farewell.  Jimmy
shook hands with the lady, who had huge breasts, and followed his crew to
the raft.  Ed and Eduardo Bahia joined them on the raft.  They pushed off
and started paddling for shore.

   Back on the yacht Palo Bahia went below to check out the engine.  Maria
stayed topside and watched the raft until it reached the shore.  Craig and
Cindy had piled up several more boxes of supplies at water's edge.  The
chauffeur had pulled the limo across the street and was parked, waiting for
the raft.

   *****

   Juan Motay moved easily through the crowd with his travel bag.  The trip
to Aruba had been a risk but he needed to disappear for a while anyway. 
Truth be told, he had to see them.  Rumors had been rampant in the days
after the attack and the newspaper stories about the mid-air collision just
added fuel to the fire.  It had to be them.  His eyes and ears in the
Dragonfly's lair had reported that they claimed to have been attacked.  Of
course it was them but still he had to be here to listen to their story.

   He stopped short of the exit and scanned the crowd.  There were several
men holding up signs.  He had to suppress a laugh.  At the very back of the
room that was crowded with people waiting for arrivals; right against the
back wall was a man holding a sign very high above his head.  The sign was
on the end of a long stick.  It read, "Father Felix." As soon as the man
holding the sign noticed Juan moving his way, the sign disappeared.  The
man stayed where he was until Juan got within a meter or so, then said
quietly.  "Follow me, Father."

   The limo driver was truly puzzled while driving back to the house.  He
just could not imagine this priest having any business with the group out
near Malmok.  The yacht was still anchored off shore when the limo rolled
to a stop at the front gate.  The driver noticed the raft was now tied up
at the yacht.  The priest was getting out without any assistance.  He
strode past the limo toward the gate.  It was open.  It had never been open
before when he drove up.  The limo driver shut off the engine and
immediately went to sleep.

   Felix heard the music before passing through the open front door. 
American rock and roll.  He dropped the travel bag on to the coffee table
in the front room and headed toward where the music was coming from; out on
the patio by the pool.  Surfer Girl was laying back on a lounger with what
looked like a margarita in her hand.  Malibu was sitting on the other end
of the same lounger, taking a hit off what Felix was sure was a marijuana
cigarette.  Both were bare footed, wearing shorts and "T" shirts.

   Without looking toward him, Malibu called out.  "Any problems at the
airport, Father ?"

   Felix smiled, stepped out on to the patio and started around the pool to
where Craig and Cindy Hansen were sitting.

   "No problems at all, Malibu.  Mind if we go inside ?  This priest get-up
is hotter than hell."

   "No congratulations !?" Craig looked up at Felix then continued.  "Like,
hey !  Malibu...Surfer Girl, you're the greatest !  I was able to export
ten tons of powder after you wiped out their air force.  Thanks !" Malibu
was exchanging the joint for the margarita.

   Surfer Girl continued, "I didn't hear any of that, Malibu." She was
looking up at Juan, who was standing just a few feet away.  You could see
the sweat dribbling off his brow and hair line.  He wiped his brow with his
sleeve.

   Malibu jumped up off the end of the lounger.  Felix took a step
backward. Surfer Girl laughed.  "A little jumpy, Felix.  You must have
guessed right on ten tons, Malibu."

   Malibu had passed Felix and was entering the house.  He called back to
the patio, "I thought you wanted to go inside, Juan ?" Surfer Girl was up
off the lounge and took Felix's hand, pulling him toward the patio door.

   "You're with friends, Felix, relax.  Maybe it was only eight tons ?" She
squeezed his hand as they walked inside the house.  Malibu was sitting down
on a long couch, turning on a laptop computer which was sitting on the
opposite end of the long coffee table from the travel bag.  "What are you
drinking, Felix ?" Cindy purred.  She dropped his hand as he approached the
couch and coffee table.

   Felix stood there.  "Tequila is good, Surfer Girl.  And it wasn't that
much.  About six tons.  Not much more than we did all those years ago." His
sweating wasn't all the heat.  It shook him that they knew.  They must have
guessed.  These two would never have the resources to find out but the old
woman just might.  She must have found out too late to stop them as he was
sure she wouldn't have allowed the attack to proceed if she knew he would
move powder under the air cover she would provide.

   "We guessed.  If that's what you're trying to figure out ?" Surfer Girl
stated, coming out of the kitchen with a bottle of tequila and a couple of
shot glasses.  She placed them on the table and poured Felix a shot of
tequila before continuing, "If the old lady had found out she would have
called it off.  As it was she almost did.  But the last one to come to the
party, the old man, talked her out of it.  Shit !  If they knew what you
were planning, she would have sent him after you and left us out of it."

   Felix relaxed a little and accepted the drink from Surfer Girl.  "How'd
you guess ?"

   Craig looked up from the computer, "It's what we would have done in your
place, Felix.  But remember the old man is kind of old fashion about all
this drug shit.  So it's just our secret, right Felix ?" Felix was nodding
his head up and down.

   "What'd you bring us ?" Cindy asked, pointing to the travel bag.

   "Some real good weed..."

   "Knock...Knock...Knock." Somebody was using a hard object against the
front door.

   Craig called out, "Who's there ?" Felix looked toward the entry way. 
The bare chested Bahia brothers were around the corner, holding the AKs at
waist level, covering the room.  Ed came around the corner followed by
Maria.

   "DEA !  Get your hands up !" Felix looked sick.  Cindy started laughing.
So did Craig.  The old man continued, "I always wanted to say that to you
stoners." He was laughing with Cindy and Craig.  Felix still looked sick.
The teenagers, with the weapons, disappeared into the kitchen.

   Maria approached Felix and put her arm around his waist.  He towered
over her.  "I told you guys Felix would have a heart attack." She cuddled
up to him.  "Relax, Felix.  This is all rehearsed...An act.  It's just a
joke, Felix...But we are concerned that you might remember us if, heaven
forbid, you are apprehended in the future.  I'm sure you understand our
concern.  Get Senor Motay another tequila, Surfer Girl." Maria backed away
and sat on the couch.

   Ed moved toward Felix with his hand out.  "Sorry for the jolt there,
Juan, couldn't resist." Felix took Ed's hand and they shook for a moment.
Craig came forward and threw his arms around Felix.

   "Just covering all the bases, Felix.  No hard feelings.  You're gonna
love the debrief and we're sending a copy home with you." He was slapping
Felix on the back.  Cindy was holding out another shot of tequila and then
led Felix to the couch.  He sat next to Maria and Craig slid in on the
other side.

   The computer screen was filled with a picture of the two camouflaged
A-1s in the back ground under the camouflage netting facing the camera. 
Their propellers were synced and the cannons in the wings were clearly
visible.  The Skyraiders towered over a formation of seven individuals,
standing shoulder to shoulder in front of the airplanes.  The teenagers
were on each end of the formation, wearing jeans, boots, bare chested with
the AKs pointing away from the formation.  Next to the teenagers were the
two young women wearing bikini tops and jean shorts with sandals; one
blonde and the other dark haired.  All four of them were wearing dark
aviator sun glasses.  Next to the young women were the pilots, wearing air
force gray helmets with the dark visors down, white "T" shirts and blue
jeans with cowboy boots.  The older women stood between the pilots a step
in front of them all, her dark hair, filled with gray, flowing freely well
below her shoulders, wearing a long sleeved, white, dress shirt with jeans
and cowboy boots, hands on her hips with her feet spread about shoulder
width.  She was wearing a large plantation hat with a wide brim which threw
a dark shadow over her face.  She was not wearing sun glasses.

   Chapter Thirty-four

   Felix just stared at the picture on the computer screen.  He was
impressed with their bravado.  He wanted to hear this debrief as he still
wasn't convinced he should believe them.  The papers said the government
planes all ran into each other.  Why would these governments lie ?  To
prove they're incompetent ?  He wanted these people to show him proof that
they shot them all down.  Until then he would play along.  Cindy was
pouring him another tequila.

   Craig hit the space bar and the picture on the screen changed.  Well,
almost.  It was the same picture but now with Felix standing out in front
instead of Isabel.  Felix knew it was a fake but was excited to see himself
out in front of this group.  The flush of tequila flowed through him.  He
smelled marijuana burning.

   "Like it ?" Craig asked.  Ed was standing behind the couch along with
the teenagers, who were now wearing "T" shirts and drinking beer.  Cindy
was sitting next to Maria, smoking a joint and sharing it with Maria. 
"Hold on to your trousers, Father, here we go.  Craig hit the space bar
again.  The screen changed to a radar presentation.

   Maria's voice came from the laptop speakers, explaining the radar
picture as the two blips in the foreground became one.  She went on to
describe the holding patterns to the west.  They were easy to observe as
the blip in the foreground moved toward them.

   *****

   The briefing had started late because a lot of VIPs were now suddenly
interested in finding out what really happened in Peru.  The briefing room
was packed, wall to wall.  The dominant opinion at the Pentagon and the CIA
was that the drug cartels were behind the attack.  They pointed to sources
who believed that in the days following the attack several large loads of
narcotics had been transshipped from the airfields in eastern Peru.

   The CIA guy on site in Peru had shared his hunch that the Morales' woman
had orchestrated the attack with but a few at the agency.  He had so few
facts to support his thesis and was sure few here would support him.  But
the more info he compiled the stronger his case became.  He just wasn't
sure that he would be given an opportunity to present it at this level.

   An Air Force full colonel had started explaining the engagement as the
radar tape with a communications over-lay was being played.  The colonel
had been the on-board commander in the P-3 Orion, orbiting over Columbia at
the time of the penetration.

   "...There was no intercepted comm traffic during the attack but fifteen
minutes prior to the attack this snippet was recorded on 333.65 UHF." The
intercept was surprising clear.

   "Arm'em up."

   "Twoop."

   "Three.  Chatter mark."

   The colonel went on to explain that there was little doubt from his
perspective what their intentions were at this point.  The "Arm'em up" was
plain as day.  They were entering a combat zone and arming their weapons.
The "Chatter mark" was the command to a new frequency.  A technique used by
U.S.  and allied forces before frequency hopping radios were introduced in
the early eighties.  The communications intercept occurred just prior to
the A-1s appearing on the Orion's radar.  The radar picture began to unfold
with just communication between the Orion and the Citation in English and
the Citation and the Dragonflys in Spanish.

   "All appeared normal until the Citation and Dragonflys approached seven
miles in trail with the target," the colonel stated.  "At this point there
is some comm in Spanish between the Citation and Dragonflys concerning a
smoke trail.  It's here that the Dragonflys rush ahead of the Citation."

   "From this point forward someone is jamming enough of the frequency the
Dragonflys were using with the Citation to make communication very
difficult.  We suspect it is the same source that was feeding the A-1s
targeting data.  The Dragonflys were pretty much done for at this point. 
At five miles there is some comm, again in Spanish, about the smoke trail
disappearing and as you can see on the screen at five miles the A-1s start
their maneuvering.  The pilots of the A-37s are just not trained for this
type of engagement and probably had no idea they were even under attack."

   *****

   The radar picture that Felix was watching was not quite as detailed or
as cool as the Orion presentation.  None the less he could see three
targets approaching the Skyraiders from behind.  Felix could hear the
buildup of tension in Surfer Girl's voice as he listened to her count down
the miles.  At five miles the radar picture disappeared and was replaced by
the heads-up display (HUD) from each Skyraider.  Craig's was on the left of
the computer screen and Ed's was on the right.

   The views, mostly jungle and overcast sky with the small gun sight
bouncing around in the center of each, were changing rapidly as the
airplanes turned to the north.  The view on the right continued to roll
left as Ed called out his tally ho.  Then slowly the wings rolled level
before pulling up into the vertical.

   Craig grabbed Juan's arm, "Watch the HUD on the right..." Almost
instantly the white belly of the Dragonfly started to appear.  The
presentation slowed and several shots of the Dragonfly were seen on the
screen with pieces of airplane being blown off.  And then the Dragonfly
disappeared from the HUD.

   "One down, two to go." Maria stated matter of factly.  Juan's eyes had
just seen it happen.  They couldn't fake this.  He was stupid to doubt
them. Of course the governments would lie.  They couldn't admit that the
people in this room destroyed their operation in just a few minutes.  Now
Juan could see the second Dragonfly out in front of Ed.  It appeared a long
way away.

   Time crept by before the Dragonfly started a turn to the right. 
Immediately the view on the right pulled to the right and the Dragonfly
disappeared from the HUD.  The HUD on the left was split half jungle and
half sky.  The A-37 appeared in the bottom of the HUD on the right and
Felix could see the picture jiggle as Ed hosed off three hundred or so
rounds of twenty mike mike at the Dragonfly.

   This series of pictures was much more impressive as the Dragonfly was
still turning and the rounds could be seen impacting the nose and
windscreen of the jet attack airplane.  Pieces of the canopy were exploding
in a halo around the A-37 cockpit.  Then it snap rolled to the right and
disappeared.  The HUD on the right was now full of overcast sky.

   Felix leaned back.  No shit !  The people in this room shot these planes
right out of the sky.  Unbelievable !

   "Two down, one to go." Maria was speaking again, before taking a hit off
the joint.  You could hear Craig and Ed talking with each other as they
maneuvered to find the Citation.  The HUD views were moving quickly again.
Felix was drinking another shot of tequila.

   *****

   The Citation pilot was calling the Dragonflys for the second time.  It
was the last transmission the Citation made.  Moments later.

   "Lead."

   "Twoop."

   "Three."

   It sounded like the same three voices heard earlier on the intercepted
communication.  You could see the confusion on many of the faces in the
auditorium.  The briefing colonel froze the radar presentation which showed
the two A-1s heading toward what had to be the Citation.  The A-37s were
already dead.

   "We surmise that these are the same people who armed up earlier.  They
were jamming this frequency while the the A-1s were maneuvering and now
after the A-37s are killed the jamming disappears when they change to the
Dragonfly frequency." The radar picture started moving again.

   "Fox two on the Citation at six thousand, heading southwest." Shortly
after this transmission two of the radar contacts merged.  Only one
remained after they merged.

   Two minutes later:

   "I've got the lead.  Two come hard left to zero six zero.  Copy. 
Chatter mark."

   That was the last communication on that frequency or any frequency that
was being monitored that morning.  The radar tape showed two targets
tracking straight toward the border.  The colonel, briefing the engagement,
went on to explain that the smoke trail was obviously used to draw the
Dragonflys out and to hide the fact that there were two adversaries.  At
five miles, after the smoke was turned off, the A-1s separated.  From this
point on it was all down hill for the home team.  The undersecretary did
not appear pleased.  He needed some answers.

   "We can only surmise that something drew the Citation down to an
altitude that allowed the A-1 to attack it.  We don't believe it was just
the radio transmission.  That transmission is a standard call used by the
air force to indicate that one aircraft is in position to simulate firing
an air-to-air missile.  While many aircraft can be modified to shoot
air-to-air missiles, it would be very expensive and where would they get
the missiles ?"

   *****

   "Wait 'till you see this, Juan." Craig had grabbed his forearm again. 
"It'll blow your mind." The HUDs were moving about with lots of jungle and
overcast sky filling their views.  You could hear Craig's voice from the
computer speakers directing Ed into position.  The HUD on the left started
to pull up showing nothing but overcast sky.  Right in the center Juan
could just make out the Citation.  Craig's voice again.

   "Fox two on the Citation at six thousand, heading southwest." Almost
immediately two smoke trails appeared in the HUD view.  Juan almost jumped
off the couch.

   "You shot missiles at them !?" He exclaimed.  Craig tightened his grip
on his arm.

   "Watch, Juan." Almost immediately the Citation started to lose altitude
and then disappeared from the HUD view.  Now the HUD was full of jungle as
Craig maneuvered his A-1.  "The Citation will appear at the top of the
HUD." The view started to slow dramatically and Juan could see the HUD
jiggling as Craig started firing and still there was no Citation in view.

   Craig's HUD was about half jungle and half overcast sky when the
Citation appeared at the top of the HUD, very nose low.  Just like the
second Dragonfly you could see large pieces of the airplane being blown off
as the twenty mike mike rounds impacted the Citation.  Then Craig's HUD was
all sky and doing some twists and turns until it was filled with the
smoking remains of the Citation as it headed for the jungle below.  There
was a large explosion of light as the Citation crashed into the jungle and
then smoke started coming up through the jungle canopy.

   "Luckiest shot you ever made, Malibu !" Exclaimed Ed.

   "But he got it !" Cindy retorted.  "Unbelievable, Malibu !  Hey !  Why
did you guys change leads for the trip home ?" Juan was sitting there dumb
struck.  Maria was pouring him another tequila.

   "That's number three, Juan." Maria stated.  "Three dead mother fuckers
for murdering my father and husband.  They deserved it."

   Craig answered Cindy's question.  "Guy with the most kills got to lead
home.  I let the old man win.  We only bet a million on who'd get the most
kills."

   "A fucking million !?" Cindy cried out.  "Shit !  That comes out of your
share, asshole !"

   Chapter Thirty-five

   The Air Force colonel stepped down from the podium and took his seat. 
The CIA headquarters' representative, dressed in a suit an tie, stepped up
to the podium.  He spoke without notes.  An overhead view of the skinny
runway that ended at a tributary to the Amazon appeared on the screen.  In
the bottom right corner of the screen, circled in red, the profile of a
Piper Malibu was easily identified.

   "Six weeks prior to the last Sunday's attack a Piper Malibu penetrated
Peruvian airspace and engaged our forces for a period of about two weeks.
We believe the Malibu used this runway and we believe the A-1s also used
this runway although we have no proof that they did.  The runway and the
surrounding property for miles and miles is owned by Morales Exporters,
S.A. Over a year ago now, in May 1999, our forces in Peru shot down the
Morales Exporters, S.A.  corporate aircraft.  The CEO and his son-in-law
plus two high level corporate executives were aboard this aircraft." The
CIA representative paused took a swallow of water then continued.

   "One day before the Sunday attack our man on scene back channeled a
request asking the Brazilian armed forces to investigate this airfield. 
Twenty four hours later the Brazilian government informed us that the
airfield in question was located on private property and that we would need
to provide more justification for their investigation.  We formally
requested that the airfield in question be surveiled.  Our air attache, is
working on that as we speak."

   *****

   Captain Ricardo Caeres, dressed in his full naval uniform with
decorations, entered the CEO office of Morales Exporters, S.A.  He moved
behind the desk that his good friend and the husband of his god-daughter
occupied what seemed like many years ago.  There were two folders laying on
the desktop.

   The Brazilian government had politely asked that he make time for the
air attache, from the United States of America.  Ricardo sat and started to
review a folder that contained background information on the air attache.
He was a Mexican-American who had attended their language school at
Monterey to become proficient in Portuguese.  Earlier in his career he had
flown F-15s in the Gulf war as a squadron commander.  An impressive resume.

   The phone on the desk rang.  He picked up the phone and instructed his
secretary to allow the air attache, to enter.  Captain Caeres had removed
all the chairs from the office so that the American colonel would have to
stand.  The colonel entered the office dressed in a civilian suit and tie.
He looked surprised that the man he was to meet was wearing a military
uniform.

   "Senor Caeres ?" The air attache, queried.  Ricardo Caeres remained
seated.

   "Captain Caeres.  And you are Colonel Martinez ?  You do not wear a
uniform ?  Or do you work for another branch of the United States
Government ?"

   "I am Colonel Martinez.  And you are the CEO of Morales Exporters, S.A.
?"

   "That is correct, colonel.  Captain Ricardo Caeres, Brazilian Navy
retired.  How can I help you ?" The colonel appeared uncomfortable, looking
for a place to sit down.  There was none.  A few moments passed before the
colonel continued.

   "I've come to discuss a matter of some importance to national
security..."

   Ricardo Caeres interrupted.  "Whose national security ?  That of my
country or the United States ?"

   "Both.  The United States would like to investigate an airfield that is
on property owned by Morales Exporters, S.A.  Your government said that we
needed your permission to do so.  That is why I am here.  To obtain that
permission."

   Ricardo Caeres held up his right hand.  The colonel stopped talking. 
"Here is what I would like, colonel.  In May of 1999 the United States
government aided Peruvian attack jets in shooting down the Morales
corporate aircraft and then had the balls to accuse those who were on board
of being drug runners." Ricardo flipped open the second folder on the desk
and pushed it toward where the colonel was standing.  "These were fine
upstanding men in their community and country and your government slandered
their names and reputations after you helped murder them." The colonel was
staring down at the pictures of drugs scattered about in the wreckage of an
airplane.

   "I demand the United States take full responsibility for these actions
and publicly apologize for them.  A press conference by your ambassador to
my country would be sufficient for this purpose.  I look forward to talking
with you again when this is accomplished."

   Ricardo picked up the phone.  "Please have Senor Martinez escorted to
his car." Immediately the door to the office opened and two young men
entered.  Colonel Martinez turned.  The young men stood on each side of the
colonel.

   "That is all.  Good day."

   Postscript

   Iquitos, Peru

   The dawn had just begun to break in the east, a thin line of pink on the
horizon.  A shop keeper was rushing down the street to his place of
business which was just outside the main gate to the Peruvian airbase.  The
street was littered with what appeared to be hundreds of flyers.  He bent
to pick one up, wondering who was advertising what ?  The reproduction was
not the best but it was very easy to identify the war planes in the
background.  In the foreground were seven individuals.  Two of them were
cradling automatic weapons in their arms.  Next to them were two women
wearing bikinis and sun glasses.  Next to them were two men wearing space
helmets.  An older woman stood out in front of the six.  Below the photo in
big block letters were the words: Check Six Dragonflys !
   end