Trees Hold Up the Sky 14 William James Johnson

Although gaunt from his long recovery, Estrelle sensed the satisfaction Jess felt finally being able to get back on track. A steady rain pelted the canvas cover of the jeep as they headed for the helicopter base north of San Fernando. The washed out portions of the road tested his reflexes, and he manipulated the gear shift with the smoothness of a rally racer.

"Feels good getting back to work."

"Just don't over do it Jess. No one expects you to do everything at once."

"Back off Estrelle. You're starting to sound like a wife."

"I just don't want you to be hurt again."

Jess patted her on the thigh and smiled. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bark at you. Guess I'm still uptight after all those weeks of doing nothing."

"I wouldn't call 'getting well', doing nothing."

"Believe me, most of it's due to your tender care."

"Thanks Jess. You have no idea how thrilled I was when Arturo ordered me to stay with you night and day. I couldn't have been happier."

"I know...especially at night."

His remark took her by surprise.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Try as I could, my eyes wouldn't open, but I felt the pressing and rubbing, and the kisses. The kisses were fantastic. You're a terrific kisser."

"Oh Jess...What can I say?"

"Don't say anything. I enjoyed every bit of it. I'm sure your loving me is what saved me Estrelle. I may have been right out of it most of the time, but I sure felt your positive energy willing me to get well. In case I forgot to tell you, I do love you darling."

She gently touched his face. There were tears in her eyes.

"God, don't start crying. I didn't mean to upset you."

"How would you feel if suddenly, without warning, someone revealed one of your dark secrets?"

"I'd probably cry too."

His answer made them both laugh. There was a tremendous exchange of unspoken emotions going on here. The tenseness normally apparent in Estrelle, drained from her beautiful face, and in its place was the inner joy of knowing he loved her as much as she loved him.

She wanted to ask him about his wife, and his relationship with Laura, but she was afraid it would interfere with the warm feeling flowing through her. As if he could read her mind, Jess volunteered the information.

"You know of course I'm married."

"Hank told me."

"I don't know what you think about it, but I've always felt I can love more than one person at a time. I hope that doesn't disturb you."

"I'm not like that Jess. When I'm in love, there's no question about it. I love that one person, and I don't even notice anyone else."

"That attitude can get you into real trouble."

"In what way?"

"The person you love may move on, and you would be devastated."

She grabbed him by the arm and held on, letting her hand slide down to his hand, and entwine his fingers.

"Then I've just got to make the most of this opportunity. As I told you before, I love you Jess, and I don't insist you return my love. That's how we differ."

"I wish I could be that unselfish."

"You're not selfish...you're like a lot of men, who make the most of the moment. I don't see much wrong with that."

"But I've got a perfectly good wife waiting for me back home. How would you feel, if suddenly she would appear in the back seat, listening to this conversation?"

"My feelings about you are sincere. I think she would understand."

"You've got an answer for every situation. Let me rephrase my question. Let's suppose you're my wife, and I'm away from you having a torrid love affair with a passionate Spanish beauty. How would you feel about that?"

"These are two different worlds, Jess. Up north, you're the respected expert in decoding ancient codes, going daily to your ivy covered university, impressing all those young girls who think you must be terrific in bed because of your worldliness. Your wife accepts that because she can see how it reinforces your male ego, but it's never really a threat to her sense of trust. Down here it's different. This is no longer fantasy land. This is the real world of danger, intrigue and romance. You're caught up in the spirit of the place. If I were your wife, waiting faithfully for you to return, I would welcome any adventure that would add to your life experience. I wouldn't be jealous of these liaisons you might have."

"Bravo...what a crock of shit."

Estrelle was shocked. She dropped his hand, avoiding his gaze. "That's cruel Jess."

"How's this for cruel...Laura and I are lovers too."

"Why are you doing this?"

"I want you to see how tentative love really is. The close call I had at the hands of Barbarosa also has convinced me that life itself is very tentative."

"But you said you love me."

"I do love you Estrelle. I just don't want to deceive you, that's all. I want you to realize that at this moment, there's not another woman I would rather be with than you, and that includes Laura and my wife. Just don't hold me accountable if suddenly I stop loving you. That's all I wanted to say."

"Did you hear what you just said?"

"Of course, I said I love you."

"Not that...You said, 'that includes Laura and my wife'."

"Yes...so what?"

"You mentioned Laura, before your wife."

"Estrelle, please understand. Laura is an extremely passionate woman, who gives freely of herself to those she loves. I consider her one of the most sexually exciting women I have ever met. It's easy to become addicted to sex. Laura has given me more satisfaction than I ever thought possible."

"You can teach me...I'll do whatever you want Jess. Let me be the one who fulfills your every fantasy."

"But you do Estrelle..."

"As well as Laura?"

"Better than Laura. You do whatever you do because you truly love me. Laura does it because she loves doing it. Do you get what I mean?"

"I'm still willing to learn. All you've got to do is ask. I'd do anything for you Jess."

"I know you would sweetie. I'm glad we've had this talk. Looks like we're here."

The chain link compound protecting the helicopters was guarded by a Drug Brigade corporal. Pulling a plastic cape over his head, the soldier stepped into the rain and shouted.

"This is a restricted area, Sir."

"I'm Doctor Martin of the Atabapo Project. I'm going to be flying one of the helicopters, and I need to get some pilot handbooks."

"Have you authorization, Doctor?"

"What authorization?"

"I'll need some documents before I can let you in."

"Hell...that's all we need. A conscientious corporal."

Estrelle undid the flap on her jacket and took out a folded paper, and passed it to the security guard. He read it carefully, and returned it.

"Thank you. That's what I needed. You may come in now."

"So what's the magic letter?"

"General Obispo gave it to me to use whenever necessary."

Her answer was too neat. Jess decided not to pursue it at this time, but he filed it in his computer brain to discuss later with Hank.

In front of a large steel hangar were three medium sized patrol helicopters, probably acquired after the war in Viet Nam. One still had the stretcher carriers on the sides. He parked the jeep outside an office in the front of the hangar, and they hurried inside. Sitting behind a makeshift desk was Verez' officer-in-charge of the flying contingent.

"Buenos dias. I am Lieutenant Tomaso Gonzalvos, at your service."

"How do you do, Lieutenant. I'd like you to meet Miss Estrelle Garvas, and I'm Doctor Jess Martin."

"Oh yes, Doctor. You are with Project Atabapo."

"That's right, and I would like the use of your pilot manuals to get ready for a flight to the cave."

"You are a pilot, Doctor?"

"Yes, I am. Those choppers out front look like the ones I used to fly in Viet Nam."

"I do not wish to pry, Doctor, but where do you expect to land at the cave?"

"I was planning to have a winch installed, and lower zambos to clear a landing pad."

"That is going to be a problem."

"Oh...why's that?"

"These helicopters are not equipped for a winch installation. And if you are going to need more than four zambos, the planes are not large enough."

"Then what would you suggest?"

"Come with me. I'll show you."

They followed him into the hangar. Almost grotesque in the semi-darkness, was a large grey machine with red stars on the side.

"What the hell is this?"

"A gift from our Russian friends, to help us end this terrible drug problem."

"How many can it carry?"

"Twenty passengers and three crew. It is a remarkable machine."

"Top speed?"

"A hundred and eighty knots."

"Endurance?"

"Seven hours with a full load."

"Tremendous...just what the Doctor ordered."

"The Doctor ordered it?"

"Just an expression...Has it got a winch?"

"One on each side. It has everything."

Estrelle was pleased for Jess, but he hadn't asked the most important question.

"Do you think you can fly it, Jess?"

"I don't see why not."

The Lieutenant interrupted.

"It's more difficult than the smaller machines. Captain Verez is very good flying it."

"Well, he's not able to be here. How about you, Lieutenant?"

"I have been co-pilot many times, but never Captain."

"But you know how to use everything? You could take over if something happened to me?"

"May I suggest we get some practice before we leave for the cave," said the Lieutenant.

"Of course. I wouldn't think of leaving this area without spending some time as a crew. Now get me the manuals, and I'll take them back to study."

"They're locked in the office. I'll get them for you."

Returning to the office, he opened a floor safe. Jess saw a stack of Colombian pesos on a shelf above the manuals. Tomaso passed him a large loose leaf manual.

"It's in Russian. I'm sorry."

Jess flipped through the pages.

"Plenty of pictures. This, and some flying time with you, should do it."

"Do you need anything else, Doctor?"

"Not now. I'll get back to you in a few days."

"That is good. By then our rainy season should be over."

Jess shook hands with the young man and he and Estrelle hurried through the drizzle to their jeep. On the way back, she looked through the book.

"Seems awfully complicated."

"With his help, I think I can do it."

"Too bad it's all in Russian."

"An altimeter is an altimeter, no matter what language it's in. What surprises me, is to find a Russian gun ship here in the jungle."

"Like the officer said, it was their contribution to help in the drug war."

"That's some contribtuion. Probably millions. I don't know why Obispo didn't tell us about it."

Estrelle wanted to tell Jess about Obispo's plan to overthrow the government, and her father's involvement, but she decided the time wasn't right. She hardly knew him, and her own emotional involvement with him prejudiced her judgment. She sure didn't want to do or say anything that might jeopardize her father's life.

Hank was surprised to learn about the Russian plane. Verez had never mentioned it. Even Laura had not been told about it.

"And you think you'll be able to fly it?"

"I'll know better in a few days. I've got to absorb some of this information in the manual first."

"I can help you, Jess," said Laura.

"How do you mean?"

"I can read Russian."

"Why didn't you say so?"

"I just did. Languages are my specialty. I can read it, but I'm not very good at speaking it."

He passed her the manual and she turned a few pages.

"This is the Severski 210, Troop Helicopter, designed for rapid deployment of commandos, recommended particularly for anti-terrorist activities, where maximum flexibility is required. Shall I go on?"

"God what a woman. You continue to amaze me."

Estrelle was glad Laura would be able to help him, but she resented having to share him.

"Why don't you two get started," said Hank, "And Estrelle can come with me to see Arumba."

"Tell him, I'd like ten of his best men," said Jess. "Explain what it is I want them to do. And make sure the men he chooses are not afraid of flying."

"Anything else?"

'Tell him that I want to try out the plan in this area, before we go to the cave."

"In what way?"

"I'll take them up in the chopper and find a small piece of jungle, and let them try to clear it. If it doesn't work here, there's no use going south with it."

When Hank and Estrelle left, Laura sat beside Jess, touching him softly on the arm.

"How serious is it Jess?"

"The aircraft...?"

"Not the aircraft silly. This thing between you and her."

"Estrelle is a lovely young woman."

"Tell me something I don't know."

"She says she loves me."

"And you?"

"I think I love her too."

"And...?"

"And what?" asked Jess, irritated by her questions.

"Are you going to do something about it?"

"How the hell do I know. I live each day as it comes. You ought to know that."

"What about us, Jess?"

"What about us?"

"I love you."

"Sure. That's why you went to Bogota with Verez."

"I had to get away."

"Of course...that's what people in love do."

"You don't understand. As long as I stayed here, I kept thinking about you, near death, and I was to blame."

Jess put his arms around her and comforted her.

"Laura...none of this was your fault. We just happened to be in the right place at the wrong time. I'm sure if you had been just a plain Jane, Barbarosa wouldn't have even noticed you. But a guy would have to be blind not to want a woman as lovely as you."

"I wish I'd waited, Jess."

"For what?"

"For you to come out of that coma. I wish I'd been the one caring for you night and day."

"You forget my darling, you weren't exactly up to par yourself at that time. I'm glad Arturo took such an interest in you. You have to give him credit. He's the reason you came through all this...How is he by the way?"

"No news yet. He looked terrible the last time I saw him. I'm really worried."

He kissed her on the cheek.

"I wish you still loved me Jess."

"Who said I stopped loving you?"

"But you said you love her."

"I do...but I'll never stop loving you Laura. You brought excitement back into my life. A guy can't just forget that."

"Oh Jess. That's what I wanted to hear. I promise I won't get in the way. Just let me be the one to satisfy your needs, that's all I ask."

A smug grin came over his face. He wondered what it was about him that made these attractive women want to satisfy his so-called needs. Not a bad position to be in for a fellow over forty, who had isolated himself for the past ten years in an academic ivory tower. The real world had definitely changed, and he wanted to be a part of the new age. Maybe Estrelle was right. Maybe Martha would understand what was happening. Or is this what the guys in the faculty lounge referred to as a mid-life crisis?

To read other novels by William James Johnson click on www.noozoon.blogspot.com