Concealed

6

6

Golfito, 2003.

High noon. Most of Baldwin’s men gathered in Golfito’s little harbor. Only a few guys stayed at the hotel; escaping the extreme heat and impatiently waiting in their room for the bar to open.

“This one speaks a little English,” said Jon Budweiser. He just had a small conversation with the captain of one of the fishing boats. Thanks to his ‘friends’ from the hood back home Jon had learned a little Spanish which made him the only one of his platoon to understand the locals. “He says we can make a trip this afternoon.”

The men had a little discussion whether they would go out this afternoon or should wait for tomorrow. Early in the morning the sun would not bother them as much as it did now.

“Well?” Jon wanted to know. “Who’s coming?”

“How many boats are available?” Casey Deyoung asked.

“And do they have enough fishing gear?” said Michael Visione.

Eventually three boats left the harbor. Matthew Kerr stood on the bow of the second boat as if he was sailing a massive flight deck ship. In fact the boats were hardly big enough for the large group of fishermen. The first boat, an old wooden motorboat, transported a six men group; the second boat, the most modern one of the three, also carried six passengers; the third boat, a blue speedboat, had sergeant Heckenrath and his four men aboard.

“Where do you take us?” Jon asked the captain of the first boat while he dragged his hands through the warm ocean water.

“We have to cross this bay. That will take about a quarter of an hour,” said Captain Josep Torroella, “then we will pass the peninsula and move into the open ocean. All together about half an hour sailing.”

“Alright,” said Jon. Then to his buddies: “Want to bet who’s going to catch the biggest fish?”

“Yeah, let’s do it,” said Ken Lazaro. “And what about you Abe? Want to join in?”

Ibrahim Yavuzyitoglu’s dark eyes looked at the annoying Lazaro. “You know I cannot bet.”

“Oh yeah, your religion, sorry,” he said with a grin upon his face. The way Lazaro smiled and looked at Jon Budweiser bothered Sergeant Baldwin. If they would have been in their uniform he would have said something about it. For now he had to let it go. But he certainly would keep an eye on him.

“Let’s ask the guys on the other boat,” said Jon. “So we can raise the bets. Hey Josep, can you contact the other boats?”

Josep used his mariphone to ask the other men to join the game. “They say you’ll be sorry,” said Josep.

“Who says?” Jon asked. “Little Kerr? He does not even know how to put the bait on the line.”

“He doesn’t even know he is the bait,” said Lazaro laughing.

Josep held the mariphone in his left hand, steering the boat with his right hand. “How much, they ask.”

“Fifty bucks,” said Budweiser. “Winner takes it all.”

“In the pocket,” said Lazaro convinced about his fishing technique.

“They are in,” said Josep and ended his conversation.

Lazaro looked around him. “So that’s six guys from the second boat and five from Heckenrath’s company. And how about you guys?” he asked the other men in his boat. “Who’s joining us? Or have you all become muslims?”

“I’m in,” said Shaun Mackelvey.

“And how about you Seegers?” Budweiser asked.

“Believe me; you would not be happy if I joined in.”

“Why not?” said Lazaro. “You’ve only got Canadian dollars?”

“No. I know you cannot stand to lose,” Seegers replied.

“That does it,” said Lazaro. “He’s in!”

“It’s your choice,” said Rob Seegers, pulling up his shoulders. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Budweiser looked at Baldwin. “Sarge? You’re in?”

Rudd Baldwin hesitated. As much as he wanted to be one of the guys, he also had his responsibilities. Then again Heckenrath had already joined in. “Alright,” he finally decided. “Count me in.”

“That makes you the loser Abe,” said Lazaro.

“Jackpot!” Budweiser shouted to the other boats. “Eight hundred bucks to win guys!”

“Twenty bucks for the first boat to pass the peninsula,” Heckenrath shouted across the water. All men cheered.

“Damned,” said Josep. The three captains pushed their boats to the limits. His boat was the oldest and could hardly compete.

“Holy s**t Josep, do we have to row?” said Lazaro when he saw the other boats heading them.

“Sorry, it’s an old boat,” he apologized. “But I am a better fisherman. I will take you to the best fishing spot. Whoever will win, will be on my boat!”

All men on Josep’s boat started to cheer even though they knew they would lose this first bet. The men on the other boats thought Josep’s crew had gone mad about their loss. Now the pressure was on the other two ‘Capitanos’. Baldwin was not surprised to see sergeant Heckenrath pushing his captain to the edge. The two boats raced close to each other. Hitting each other seemed to be inevitable.

“Take it easy Heck,” shouted Baldwin, afraid the two boats would collide. The racers couldn’t hear him shouting. The engines of the motorboats were roaring. The boats jumped upon the waves, splashing water all around and wetting the men in the back of the boats. Heckenrath was furious. He shouted and cursed his captain to win the race.

“Holy s**t,” said Baldwin. “It’s only twenty bucks, moron.”

The competitive Heckenrath went mad when he noticed they were getting behind. He pushed the captain aside and took over the steering wheel. Smoke was coming out of the two engines when Heckenrath pushed his boat to the very limit. He bumped against the leading boat. Matthew Kerr, still standing up front, fell overboard but managed to hang on to the railing.

“Damned,” said Baldwin when he looked at poor Kerr being dragged though the water. “That i***t is going to kill my men. Call the captain,” he said to Josep.

”That has no use. They will not hear me.”

“Then give me the mariphone,” Baldwin said with anger.

Instead of passing the mariphone to Baldwin, Josep started to blow the horns on his boat. The boat in front reacted by also blowing his horn. Heckenrath continued his mad pursuit.

Finally the boat with Kerr still hanging aside passed the peninsula. Heckenrath and his blue speedboat finished second. Baldwin commended Josep to move close to the winners’ boat.

“Get Kerr on board,” he yelled to his men.

Soaked by the salty water Matthew Kerr was dragged out of the water. “Wow, that was an exciting ride,” he said.

“Damned Heck, what the f**k do you think you were doing? You could have killed someone!” said Baldwin expressing his anger.

“Take it easy Rudd. It’s all in the game,” Heckenrath laughed. “This is a man’s world. If you don’t like it, leave it.”

Baldwin didn’t argue with the older, more experienced sergeant.

“This one is for the captain,” Casey Deyoung shouted to change the subject. “He’s the winner.” Everyone saw the captain crying when Casey paid him. The man had the time of his life. He already had earned more today, than he would normally get in an entire week.

Half an hour after they had left Golfito’s harbor, they reached their destination. At first all three boats were gathered around the same spot. Then Josep said it would be wiser to have some more distance between the boats so they would avoid their fishing gear getting tangled up. He anchored half a mile from the others. “This is the place to be,” he said to his crew. “Right here, beneath us, there is a wreck. All the big fish are swimming around the wreck, hunting for the smaller ones hiding inside.”

“Well done Josep,” said Jon. “Let’s get started guys!” he shouted. “Blow the horns Josep. Let them know we’re getting started.”

Once they heard the sound of the horns, all men grabbed the fishing gear.

For a short while it was quiet on the water. The engines had stopped, the men hardly talked. The only sound came from the water dashing against the boats. Ibrahim Yavuzyitoglu was the first to catch a fish.

“Are you sure your prophet allows you to catch a fish Abe?” said Lazaro.

“You are just jealous. Or are you afraid you won’t be able to catch anything?” said Rob Seegers.

“Right,” said Mackelvey, “you’re lucky he didn’t bet. Otherwise you already had lost.”

Baldwin laughed. Abe’s friends would stand up for him. That was good; for now he didn’t have to interfere.

“Well,” said Budweiser, “it ain’t over till it’s over. We’ve only just begun.”