Islands of Rage and Hope (eARC) Read Online Free Page A

a following sea, the most perfect conditions you can be in on a boat. And they were headed home, eventually. Back to the Land of the Big PX, sort of. It was one hell of a lot better than being in the compartment or, for that matter, any number of places he'd been in his life.
    Even with the occasional howl from below. Besides, the zombie had mostly settled down after they put enough food in his stomach.
    There was a blip on the radar screen and he noted it. Sometimes you got ghosts. But it was there again on the next sweep, and noticeably closer. Someone was in a hurry. And based on the next sweep, headed for the Bella .
    " Bella Senorita, Bella Senorita, Achille Cono , over."
    " Achille Cono, Bella Senorita , over."
    "Approaching your position. Flag is not, repeat, not aboard. Here for pick-up on the Marines. Wake the semi-sane ones up if they're not. Out."
    He went below and woke the skipper first. Knocking at her door.
    "Enter," the skipper said. She was sitting up in bed when he opened the door, pistol in hand. "I was awake, anyway. I didn't think I wanted earplugs in with a live zombie on board."
    "Your dad's fast boat is inbound," Walker said. "He's not aboard. They're here to pick up the Marines."
    "Okay," Sophia said, getting out of bed. She was wearing PT shorts and a T-shirt. "I'll get my uniform on. How long?"
    "Ten minutes or so," Walker said.
    "I'll head up on deck in a minute," she said. "Get the staff sergeant up. Carefully."
    "Yes, ma'am," Walker said.
    "You need backup?" she asked.
    "No, ma'am," Walker said. "I can handle it."
    He knocked, hard, on the door of the cabin the Marines had been assigned.
    "FIRST CALL, MARINES! ON YOUR FEET!"
    "Status?" Decker said, yanking open the door.
    "Inbound fast boat," Walker snapped. "Sounds like Gunnery Sergeant Sands. Five minutes. Uniform is MarPat and boots. No LBE, no weapons, no K-pot."
    "Roger," Decker said. "You heard the man, Private First Class. Inspection in two minutes!" He slammed the door shut.
    "Wow," Walker muttered, shaking his head. "Talk about wrapped like a string..."
    He darted into his compartment and rummaged for a second, then came back out and stood by the door.
    It snapped open and Decker nearly collided with him.
    "Kiwi," Walker said, holding up the can. He slammed it onto the bigger Marine's chest.
    "Roger," Decker said, taking the can. "Thank you, Mr. Walker."
    "You are welcome, Staff Sergeant Decker."

    "Your coffee, ma'am," Walker said, handing the ensign a cup. She was in uniform but still pretty bleary. "Status report, ma'am?"
    "Please," Sophia said, taking a sip.
    "I rousted out Olga, she has the conn," Walker said. "Fast boat is still few minutes out. The Marines are prepared for inspection. If I may make a recommendation. Have you ever performed an inspection, ma'am?"
    "Of people in uniform?" Sophia said. "No."
    "The way it works is the junior, usually an NCO, goes first and performs a preinspection. Then the inspector performs the inspection. There should be someone following to accept notes from the inspector. I would recommend, ma'am, that I take the first position and perform a preinspection. Then you inspect. You just have to seem to be looking at stuff. I'll make sure they're as ready as they're going to be."
    "Any idea who was on the boat?" Sophia asked.
    "I'm pretty sure it was the gunny on the radio, ma'am," Walker said. "Never met him but, met one gunny you've met them all. Marines are on the aft deck. If that idea meets with your approval, give me one minute and I'll be prepared."
    "Sounds like a plan," Sophia said.
    "Be right back."

    Walker pulled out a piece of double-sided tape and taped down one corner of a pocket that was sticking out on PFC Condrey's uniform.
    "Staff Sergeant Decker, ensure that both these uniforms are turned in for direct exchange as soon as possible," Walker said. "The LeafBrown pattern is sun-faded."
    "Aye, aye, Mr. Walker," the staff sergeant said.
    "Boots are clean and polished but unserviceable