“So … how was Walkabout?” asked Stefan.
Unsure how a question like this was answered Wade replied, “I’m glad I went and I’m now ready to move on.”
“I know it’s something you don’t talk about much but what do you do on Walkabout?” asked the big affable Frenchman.
Thinking for a moment Wade looked at them both. “As the name implies it’s walking about. We do it in the middle of the outback,” pointing south to the vast Australian desert, “and we go alone. It gives us a chance to reconnect with our spirit world.” He stated as he lowered his head. “We go to areas of tribal significance. We study the cave paintings. It helps us remember the Great Ancestors of the Dreamtime. To us, all life is interrelated; everything exists for a reason. There is no distinction between man and nature, life and death, past, present and future. By doing this we can remain focused and at one with ourselves … It gives us peace. To an outsider it probably appears that we are wasting time or oblivious to our surroundings, when in fact we are very much focused on what ‘mother nature’ is doing. We watch how the animals and birds interrelate. How they survive. What significance they hold in how plants prosper. We can spend hours watching a group of lizards only to see them build a nest or rummage for food. It is a beautiful experience that gives us great peace.”
Crystal and Stefan sat there quietly until Wade raised his head and asked, “So what’s happened while I’ve been gone?”
Stefan, switched to military mode and explained how they had a visit early one morning, four nights prior, from two divers who were intent on planting explosives under his boat. His early warning devices enabled him to pick them off and they were left to the salt water crocodiles.
After Stefan was finished explaining the details Wade told them of what happened that day in the desert. Crystal sat in awe as Wade removed the makeshift bandages and Stefan applied a compound field dressing.
“Is that going to be alright?” asked a concerned Crystal.
“Guaranteed. You won’t believe what concoctions he can come up with. This will heal in no time,” replied the smiling Stefan in his broken English.
Wade showed them the photos he had taken from the shooters and after discussing they decided it was time to give General Forest a call.
Washington
General Forest, head of the CIA, and second only to the President of the United States within the US intelligence sector, had been summoned to a meeting with the three most powerful people in Washington.
Forest prided himself on his punctuality and all his staff were aware of this. So when a call came from the National Security Council (NSC) that U.S. President Markham (POTUS), Secretary of State, Charlotte Bysmith and Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff (CJCS), General Burt Razen were expecting him at an oval office meeting, pronto, everybody kicked into gear to make it happen.
The General was leaving his office when an aide approached, “Sir, I have a Mister Wade Ross who wishes to talk with you.”
Forest immediately stopped in his tracks and turned back; to the complete surprise of the six man security detail and the three aides who were accompanying him to the White House.
General Forest and his secret CIA team, who operated out of The Warehouse, an off the grid black site, in a derelict area of West Washington, had been entrusted, by the NSC, with the task of locating and destroying an offshoot division of the Grey Wolves, a radical extremist terrorist group. Initially cautious of the General’s intentions Wade had slowly come round.
“Wade … General Forest. Good to hear from you again.”
“Hello General,” said Wade dispensing with the formalities of greetings. “I need some help from you, and your resources, to track some would be assailants.”
“Okay. Where are you and how do I get some Intel on these assailants?”
Wade explained the details upon which the General responded, “I would assume both of these attacks are directed at you and Crystal. Therefore, I would strongly recommend you both make your way back here. I’ll send some people to the site in the desert and we’ll check the bodies for any identification.” Paused. “I also have some good news. The President wishes to thank you personally for your last mission, so when you arrive I’ll have it organised.”
Waiting for him to respond the General finally asked, “Wade did you hear what I said?”
“Yes General. I heard what you said. Let’s not rush to organise too much … okay?”
“Wade I understand but this is a great honour and you deserve it, so please consider carefully before rejecting it?”
“I will. Thanks General.” The line went dead.
Pacific Ocean
The luxury Gulfstream G650, state of the art, long range jet made the trip from Darwin to Washington extremely comfortable. The General had made sure that Wade and Crystal were receiving the best of service.
Wade was sitting opposite her, in the luxurious club lounge, as she read a magazine. He could not believe how much he had fallen for this beautiful brunette with the rich green eyes and the silky olive skin. He had finally got up the courage to tell her how he felt and was just about to speak, when she raised her head and asked, “Would you come with me to meet my Dad?”
“Of course … why would you think I wouldn’t?”
Lowering her head again she replied, “I wasn’t sure how you would feel and I thought you might think it too soon.”
Wade suddenly realised this was the moment he had been waiting for. He stood up, walked over, bent down, kissed her on the lips and said, “Crystal Carters … I love you.” To which he kissed her again.
Standing back up he noticed she hadn’t responded. She sat there looking straight ahead and the tears slowly started to swell in her eyes.
Wade watched as she still hadn’t responded when he finally said, in a stammering and nervous voice, “I’m sorry … I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Crystal leapt to her feet, threw her arms around his neck, and pressed her face against his as she said, “No, don’t apologise. It’s the most beautiful thing I could ever have wanted to hear … I love you too.”
They kissed and hugged for what seemed hours until the hostess asked them to take their seats for landing.
Crystal held his hand and looked into his eyes as if she was never going to let go. She was smiling so much she felt her jaw ache, but right then, she didn’t care.
Virginia
It was early afternoon when the jet arrived at Andrews Air Force Base. The two CIA Agents had been instructed to take them wherever they wished. Crystal gave her father’s address and the agents explained it would be a two hour trip.
During the drive over Wade asked Crystal about her dad.
Trent Carters had been drafted into the US Navy in 1970. After obtaining his officer commission and completing his flight training he joined the USS Constellation as an attack pilot, flying F4 Phantoms, during the Vietnam War. In 1974 after three tours and multiple commendations for bravery, he returned home a hero. He met Susanne, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, at an airport opening function, of which he was the guest speaker. They fell in love and two years later they were married. They were the perfect couple with a wonderful life and were both so happy with the approaching birth of their child. During the birth Susanne had complications and died. Trent, with the help of his mother, raised his daughter whilst also establishing a very successful career in