Patriot Dream: A Special Operations Group Thriller by Stephen Templin

Author:Stephen Templin [Templin, Stephen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stephen Templin
Published: 2018-02-20T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Willy led Max, Tom, Chris, and Hannah onto a ghost-white Lockheed L-100, the civilian version of the military’s C-130. On it was painted the logo for a cover company, L3 Technologies, masking the espionage and paramilitary nature of their mission. They took their seats and buckled up, and soon the plane lifted off. Over the speakers, Willy played “Highwayman,” performed by outlaw country musicians Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson. Although Max was more into classic rock than country, every time Willy played “Highwayman,” it felt like the beginning of something epic.

When the song finished, Willy spoke in a loud voice so everyone could hear him clearly over the sound of the plane’s engines. “Hannah will be in charge of this mission, and she’ll answer to me. Any objections?” It didn’t seem like a real question because he didn’t wait for a real answer. “I didn’t think so.” Willy disappeared into the galley, and soon the scent of food floated into the cabin.

Half an hour later, Willy returned with grub: hot blueberry pancakes, bacon, and eggs. Max, Chris, and Willy wolfed them down. Hannah ate like a civilized person, and Tom nibbled like a rabbit. They drank coffee, except for Chris, who had orange juice. The world slowed down, and everyone seemed to be dozing off except Willy.

Max woke to the smell of lunch and a dark cabin. For a moment, he thought he was dreaming. He pressed the light on his watch: he’d fallen asleep for five hours. The cabin lights came on, and Tom and the others woke, too.

“Aren’t you going to tell Tom?” Willy asked.

Max rubbed the sleepy out of his eyes. “Tell him what?”

“About school,” Willy said.

“What?” Tom asked.

Max didn’t say anything.

Willy gave him a look that said, Tell him.

Max gave in. “I’m graduating from college.”

Willy left and disappeared into the galley.

“I knew you were taking some classes,” Tom said, “but I didn’t know you were graduating. Why all the secrecy?”

“I didn’t think it was important,” Max said. “Willy told me to finish my degree, or CIA would boot me out. I don’t know if it was true or not, but I did it.”

“Which college?”

“University of Maryland University College.”

“That’s a great school,” Tom said.

“People say ‘it’s a great school’ when they mean ‘it’s not a great school.’”

“I really mean it.”

“It’s not like your Georgetown.” Then Max pointed his nose at Chris. “Or Mr. Harvard over there.”

“You could’ve gone to either of those schools,” Tom said. “Why didn’t you?”

“I’d already done some distance learning with UMUC when I was in the Navy, and it’s one of the top online colleges for vets—so I could continue working at CIA while attending college. It just made sense.”

“You’ve always been smarter than me, but you like to hide it.”

“I’ve always had to work at learning,” Max said. “You were always the smart one.”

“Growing up, Dad wasn’t around much, and you had to raise me and stay on top of your schoolwork, too. You’re the hardest worker I know.

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