Circles in the Sand (4 page)

“Yes, you can use this one, Sergeant. But it’s not too private. And we’ll take your messages for you.”

“That’s great, Dorris.”

Despite the counter separating them, the need to talk quietly brought them fairly close. Clint was very aware of her femininity.
Wonder what her perfume is?
He smiled. She smiled. They both looked away. They looked back into each others eyes. “That’ll work. But Dorris, please keep this quiet. I’d rather other people didn’t know I was phoning from here. There’s touchy situation going on that I don’t want to stir up.”

“Goodness, Sergeant, only two days and you’re in deep already.”

“I know it might sound silly, but I’d appreciate it if I can count on you not to mention it. Oh…and my name is Clint Greybull. I’d like it if you called me Clint.”

“Oh of course, Clint. And I won’t mention it to anyone.”

“Great. Good Night now. See you in the morning.”

“Yes, sleep tight, Sarge…I mean Clint.”

From the dining room Lorena watched Clint leave. “What did he say Mom? Did he ask you out?”

“No sweetie. Just business. Private business. You can forget your matchmaking.”

Before he slept, Clint thought: This is a ridiculous situation.
Air Force can damn sure find someone else to muck up this boondoggle.

When the L-20 buzzed the town, Clint’s ride back to Grand Eclipse arrived unannounced. He packed his B-4 bag, said ‘so long’ to the Gilman girls, and caught a ride out to the air strip from Tommy Kerns. The pilot didn’t shut down the engine, just waved for Clint to get aboard.

After buckling in, Clint said, “I’m surprised to see you so soon, Sir.”

After Byers wheeled the L-20 around and took off
downwind
, Clint, once again, wanted to ask how much flying time Byers had, but didn’t.

Seeing Clint’s quizzical look and pale face, Byers said, “With theses wings I can take off anywhere.”

“I guess you’ve got a lot more time in this bird since you dropped me off here?”

“Nah. Just checked out in it a week before I picked you up last time. Anyone can fly it.”

Turbulence during the flight had Clint feeling green again. He looked at the pilot, “I believe if we could use this up and down movement for level flying, we’d get there a lot sooner.”

“Oh you get used to it, but we’ve really got a nasty wind today.”                 

Clint began to have severe reservations when they approached Grand Eclipse, and Byers said, “Wind is too wrong and too strong at the Air Base. We’re going to put in at the commercial field.”

The closer they got to the ground, the worse the little plane stuttered around the sky.  Clint held on with both hands and wondered if he was seeing his last day.
No way he can get us on the ground without auguring.
He wanted to shut his eyes. Didn’t dare. Involuntarily he held his breath when he saw they were lined up on a runway full of parked aircraft. “Holy cow…”

Approaching a crossing runway…Byers whipped the L-20 around…lined up in the new direction,…nose low and heading every which way…the wheels struck the runway…the plane
bounced
high into the air…came down on its wheels…nosed over toward the cement.
Dear God…we’re going to crash!
Raced through Clint’s mind. But they didn’t. Somehow the aircraft tail settled and they were down safe.
Sure glad I’m driving back to West Layover
.

On the telephone to Air Div, a Lt. Pearsall told Clint to come straight to his office. There he also met Lieutenant Colonel Lyle Jenner, nominally the Inspector General, who had taken on the bomb site as an extra duty. “With the action in Korea, everyone is taking on unusual problems,” Jenner said.

“Yes Sir. I’ve sure found out.”

“Pearsall and I’ve been working with ‘plans and programs,’  and the ‘civil engineers’ to get some idea of what all you’ll need out there.” He indicated a table strewn with papers. “We’ve started putting together packages of some supplies and equipment. Looks like you’re going to need a forest of two by fours, just for the towers. Also aluminum sheeting for the RADAR target.”

“Yes Sir. And how about radios. Not just to communicate with bombers, but between there and here. The phone system is impossible.” Clint gave them the Sheriff’s and Mrs. Gilman’s phone numbers. “Try her first. I’m not too sure about the Sheriff.”

“We found that out when we tried to tell you the plane was coming. We hadn’t planned on ground-to-ground radio. Maybe we could set up a MARS link? Seen any ‘hams’ in West Layover.”

“Wasn’t looking, but I didn’t notice any long wire antennas around town. Don’t know about in the country there about.

“Vehicles are going to be another problem,” Clint said. “The local deputy ran me around in his Jeep, but I can’t expect to use him much more. I’d hate to drive my old truck around in that countryside…minimal dirt roads on the site, and in poor condition.”

“That figures,” said Jenner. “You’re going to need several vehicles. We’ll call on the Army at Ft. Peck to supply you with gas.”

Greybull thumbed through some of the documents cluttering the table. “How about bodies? Looks like I’m going to need some double duty troops. Guys that have a specialty and can still do grunt work.”

Pearsall stood back and looked at him. “You’re going to have to do with what we can find. There’s a war going on, y’know.”

Clint straightened up, hooked his thumbs in his belt and looked directly at the officer. “I’ve heard about that, Lieutenant. I don’t really know
why
you want a radio maintenance supervisor…with no construction experience, whatsoever, heading up this show. What we really need out there is an officer, a Lieutenant even. Want to volunteer, Sir?”

“Whoa. Hold on there, you guys.” LC Jenner got between the two men. “We’ve gone over this before. There’s no officers available.” He stared into Clint’s eyes. “You’ve got a reputation for getting things done. You’re our man in the country, Sergeant.
You’ve got to do it!
” Jenner said.

Clint shrugged. “Yes sir. When you put it that way, I’ll sure do my best.” Lieutenant Pearsall looked relieved.

“We’ll be funneling people to you as soon as we can find them. We’ve already requested some NCOs for you. Should be here fairly soon,” Jenner said. “Coming in from overseas”

“It looks to me like I’ll have to acquire any number of different things in town. There’s no barracks, no mess hall. Reckon I’ll need a bunch of requisition slips.”

“Pearsall already thought of that. Here you go.” Jenner found a large sturdy envelope and handed it to Clint. “Should keep you for a while. Oh by the way, until we have a formal organization in place, I suggest you wear civilian clothes. With all the heavy work you guys will do, no use ruining your uniforms. Overalls are more in order.”

“Yes sir. Suits me.”

When the conference was over, Clint walked over to his old communications squadron. He wanted to slip into the radio shop, but Captain Wrenn saw him and waved Clint into his office.
Rats! The grey goose would see me.

After they exchanged greetings, the captain said, “I’ve got good news for you, and bad news for me.”

I’ll bet
. “How can that be, Sir?”

Wrenn thumbed a pencil back and forth “I thought I had a replacement for you, but instead he’s joining you. I don’t know why he was assigned here first.” Wrenn grimaced.

“Well, I sure need some help.”

“Do you  know a Staff  Sergeant Lance Werner?”

“Don’t believe so. I take it he’s radio maintenance.”

“That’s his MOS. You’ll probably find him at your old office, but I’m going to try to keep him here.”

“Sir, you don’t need him as bad as I do. Detrick can run the shop.”

“Maybe. I’d rather see an NCO in there. So don’t expect to take him with you,” almost sneering.

I wonder if he’s as happy I’m leaving, as I am?

Detrick quit briefing Werner on conditions in the squadron when Clint walked in. After introductions and exchanges of history, Clint said, “Captain tells me your duty here will be the shortest you’ve ever had…unless he can change your orders.”

“I’ve been around. I can work any where they send me. Sounds like you’ve got a real ball of wax out in the boondocks. I can help.”

“You are the best news I’ve had all day. Done any carpentry or surveying?”

Werner laughed, “Not yet, but I can learn.”

“Hey  Clint,” Detrick said, “Your old girlfriend called me. Remembered my name from that early morning call.”

“Oh? Miriam? What did she want?”

“Wanted me to pass a message to you if I could.”

“Okay. So pass it.”

“Said she had to leave Grand Eclipse right away  in a hurry…didn’t say why…but wants you to know you can find her in Denver.”

“Balls…Where in Denver?”

“She said check with the art gallery’s. One of ‘em will know where she is.”

I wonder if she thinks I can just up and go…like she has?
“You tell her where I’m stationed now?”

“No way. She asked, but I figured if you didn’t tell her, it wasn’t up to me. I told her you were at a remote site with no mail facilities.”

“Good thinking, Pal.”

Then Clint called Maynard at base supply, and asked him to pick up his truck and bring it over to him. Back in their apartment, Maynard said, “You staying in town long, Buddy?”

“No, I don’t need my room back, just to load up my things that are still here.”

“What you gonna do about your blonde downtown? Or you already got something out there?”

“Nothing out there…except maybe a widow woman. Miriam has left for Denver, and she doesn’t know where I am…or for how long. Don’t see how I can go looking for her either. I’m guessing she doesn’t really want me to.”

“You think her husband came back?”

“Wouldn’t be surprised. I wonder if she’s had second thoughts about a mere sergeant compared to an officer on jump pay? If he hasn’t shot her. You haven’t seen any army Captains nosing around here, asking questions,  have you?”

“Naw, but what if he shows up and orders me to tell him where you are?”

“Shit. Maybe he could get on Detricks’s ass or get help from my buddy, Captain Wrenn. But Maynard, he don’t know you. So if he shows up, just play dumb.”

The next day Clint and Lance Werner departed for the bomb site. Reporting directly from overseas, Werner, a bachelor didn’t have a car, so he rode with Clint. On the way Clint briefed him on the situation there as he knew it.

“Now that I know what it’s all about. I can’t believe it.” Werner said. “Still living in a hotel, and eating in a restaurant can’t be all bad.”

“Don’t get too excited. I’m not talking about Howard Johnson’s here.”

“How about girls…any out there?”

“Not as I noticed in three days. There’s what they call a Boar Pen…whore house, but I haven’t checked it out.”

Werner sighed. “I don’t think anywhere could be as good as it was in Germany. Man, you had to fight the Frauliens off there. Any man who didn’t have a different one every night just wasn’t  trying. I was sorry to leave.”

“Endless pussy, huh?”

“In the big cities anyway…like Frankfurt, and in Berlin…where I was stationed for a couple of months.”

“How about VD? I read it was pretty bad there.”

“Yeah. Anybody didn’t use a rubber was just asking for it.”

“I’m afraid you’re in for a big change in Outer Montana.”

Lance shrugged. “What the hell, If there’s a girl within forty miles, I’ll make out.”

Clint smiled to himself.
The guy was an optimist. Great. Hope he stays that way.

As they drove through Glasgow, Clint said, “Look around. I reckon this is the big city in these parts. First time I’ve been up here.”

“I see they’ve got a used car lot. I’ll have to scout it out sometime.”

“Out here, what you really need…if you can find one, is a Jeep. You’ll see when we get to the bomb site. I don’t know what kind of vehicles Uncle Sam is providing us yet.”

After a long dusty drive with only a few stops for food, relief and a couple of beers, they pulled into West Layover just before dusk. “This is a town?” asked Lance.

“You’re lookin’ at home for a while, unless Captain Wrenn can get your orders changed.”

“I don’t know, what’s the lesser of two evils?”

“Shucks. Consider the freedom you’ll have here. No inspections, no formations, and best of all…no officers!”

Getting out of the truck, Lance said, “Yeah, I can live with that.”

Clint took him directly into the restaurant. Lorena bubbled up when Clint walked in. “We missed you Sergeant. Didn’t know how long you’d be gone.”

“Well, I’m back for a while. I want you to meet one of nature’s noblemen…another Air Force Sergeant.  Miss Lorena, Lance Werner.”

Lorena practically curtsied. “I’m proud to meet you Sergeant Werner. An’ you can call me Lorena. Don’t have to say Miss every time.”

Werner smiled and looking into her eyes offered his hand. “Sergeant Greybull didn’t brief me on any charming young ladies about here.”

Lorena fell apart. Snatching her hand away from him, she stuttered, “You’re not too late to eat. I’ll get  menus.”

I don’t like him making up to her.
Clint whispered to Lance. “Down boy. She’s near fifteen.  Major jail bait.”

“Oh, I’m just making her feel good.”

Lorena watched the men eat from behind the counter. “I’ve told Mom you’re back. Are you going to need a room too, Sergeant Werner?”

“Sure do. Can use a shower too. Will you scrub my back?”

“Ohhh, you’re just teasing me. Mom, might not want to hear that kind of talk.”

“Oh golly, I don’t want to cause you any problems. No more kidding around.”

“I don’t mind. But Mom’s pretty straitlaced when any guy gets fresh with me.”

“I don’t blame her. There’s a lot of us mangy wolves out here.”

At the hotel counter, Werner turned the charm on Dorris Gilman. Clint uneasily watched as she lapped up the attention from a handsome young man. “No wonder Lorena is so good looking…she’s got a stunning mother.”

“Oh stop it.” She was smiling, hugely pleased. “Flattery doesn’t get you a cheaper room rate, but here’s an extra piece of soap.”