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Jared the Paramedic III ~ Redemption
Copyright ©
2018-2019 Snowblind. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 26:
...and Rescue
THIS STORY IS
COPYRIGHT © 2018-2019 BY SNOWBLIND. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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The adults, Jared
and the Inspector were standing together near the boats discussing the
plans. The medical triage went well, and other than few people being
hungry along with some bumps and bruises, they were all in good health.
The food they brought had taken care of the first problem very quickly.
There were additional police jet boats now at Tom's Marina for use.
There were debates
over the best way to handle the situation but finally, Jared had ended it when
he stated to the Inspector, "We have all the people here safe, food, and
building shelters around a fire so we can spend a safe night to evacuate in the
morning. Or, the police boats being driven by people who don't know the
river from the marina may depart now, and arrive here
after dark. We will then load everyone and everything onto the boats to
go back downriver in the dark of night."
Jim looked at the
ground, and then at Jared. "What about bringing the boats up tonight
to position for the morning?"
"Jim, they can
depart at 6 or 7 in the morning as the sun rises, and
be here by noon to load. That's about right to get everyone up, fed and
to clean up the campsite by then. You get a jet boat stuck on a sandbar
in the dark, it will be all night before they get it off."
"There are
enough shallow rock beds too," Jim said aloud as he pondered.
Jim was lifting the
phone to his ear when Jared lightly touched his arm. Jared closed his
eyes and stood still for a moment. When he opened his eyes, he said,
"Grandfather Tom will come with the boats tonight or in the morning to
ensure they get here safe. He thinks your men would be good on a lake,
but they are too inexperienced for the river. But he will respect your
decision, Jim."
The Inspector
stared at Jared. "Damn, that works better than the satellite
phones."
Jared chuckled at
the comment and then said, "Close your eyes for a moment." The
Inspector closed his eyes. Jared moved his hand to where he was in direct
contact with Jim's skin... and they linked together. Suddenly, they were
looking through Tom's eyes at the boats getting ready to launch. The men
were running around, ensuring they had all the equipment loaded in each boat.
One boat was in the water, but the engine was running rough. Tom
knew Jared and the Inspector were looking through his eyes, and he scanned over
the entire scene.
In their heads, Tom
spoke, "They are good men with big hearts, but disorganized. The
boat in the water, I know that sound... stale fuel. Some of these boats
haven't been serviced from winter storage yet. The Staff Sergeant is trying
to figure out who can drive the boats and what they should be taking. It
would be best to leave in the morning after I have time to help them get sorted
out. I will come with them in the morning."
The Inspector
sighed at the disorganization.
"Thank you Grandfather, the Inspector will be phoning with his
decision and directions in a few minutes," said Jared. He broke the
connection between the three men.
"It's an easy
decision now Jared, they can come in the morning because of the time you and
your crew brought us with your equipment," Jim said. The Inspector
phoned the Staff Sergeant and issued instructions regarding leaving in the
morning. He also surprised the Staff Sergeant when he made references to
the conditions of the boats, and even what he was doing to get them
organized. His instructions were very clear, as was the instruction to
consider Tom an expert and do as he recommended to get organized. When
the Staff Sergeant hung up, he walked over to Tom.
Before he could say
anything, Tom smiled and asked, "How's Jim doing at that end?"
"You've
already been talking to him?"
"We go back a
long way, and there is more to communication than talking."
The Staff Sergeant
stared at the old man for a long moment. "What do we need to get done
to get on the water?"
Tom didn't hesitate
as he said, "Call them all over here and let's have a huddle."
The Staff Sergeant
called everyone over, and Tom stated very clearly, "We are departing at
0600 hrs, and we have until 2230 tonight at the latest to get organized before
the sun sets." Tom was very clear as he assigned people to work with
the marina staff to check oils, grease the motors, top off batteries, stabilize
fuel, change fuel filters, and get the equipment distributed. Anything
extra they needed they grabbed off the shelves of the store and Tom would
figure out later who to bill. A local church group of ladies came to the
marina with sandwiches, chilli, and drinks for everyone around supper
time. They had also set the K-12 school up with emergency cots and beds
in the gym for the policemen to sleep.
Tom was standing on
the dock, giving direction when the Staff Sergeant approached him.
"Tom, were you in the military?"
"No sir, I
wasn't."
"Please, not
sir – I work for a living. It's Dan."
Tom reached out
with both hands and took one of Dan's into his tightly, "Dan, It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Tom."
A young man stepped
forward, "Sergeant, this is not just Tom, this is Grandfather Tom of my
tribe, Spirit Walker, Most Sacred Medicine Man of the People, Most Sacred
Healer of the People, Speaker for the Council of Elders, Chairman of Tribal
Council, and Sacred Messenger of the Creator Himself."
The Staff Sergeant
stood straight and gave Grandfather a salute. Grandfather nodded his head
forward to acknowledge it.
"Tom, I had no
clue..."
"It's alright
Dan, today I'm just the owner of the marina who is using his best skills to
organize people who are trying to help other people," said Tom very
casually.
"I now
understand why you are so good at organizing people to get something
done." Tom then looked at one of the boats and said something to the
young man standing next to him in another language. The young man
answered and moved down to the dock to one of the police boats. He spoke
to the officers in the boat and together they worked the portable fuel tank.
Dan looked at Tom
with a 'what?' look on his face.
"They attached
the portable tank without releasing the pressure first. That particular
motor has a habit of not starting because of a pressure lock in the line."
Dan smiled,
"And the young man not only explained it but is showing the members how to
do it right?"
"Absolutely."
"Tom, I was
skeptical at first and thought you were interfering
but I was wrong. I've watched your workers mixing with the police
officers, gently correcting and teaching them all kinds of things they should
have been taught on the boat operators course.
Working together."
"It is the way
to get things done properly, and only having to do it once."
"I can't
believe the community either, feeding us and setting up the cots."
"Dan, many of
you policemen see us as just natives, poor people or backwoods
hicks. Today, you are learning there is more to see when you stop to
look."
Dan exhaled slowly,
"I understand that Tom. I apologize."
Tom stopped and
seemed to stare upriver for a moment. "Dan, they are having supper
now and enjoying themselves."
The Staff Sergeant
looked at the old man and said, "How do you know that?"
"You're about
to get a phone call too from Jim the Inspector."
"How do
you..." his sentence was cut off by the phone ringing.
"You better
answer than Dan," said Tom with a smirk, as he stepped off to look at one
of the boats.