Evil Miners-An excerpt from Commitment-A Novel

      John painfully endured the final few minutes of the flight before he could relieve himself from the awful smell permeating the tiny cabin. He bore the discomfort of the melee from the back, the awful smell, and the constant cleaning that, thank God, Marta was attending to. Throughout attempting to maintain his composure, John noticed the stripped out area of the mountain top. Funny, there didn’t seem to be any activity last time. From eight-hundred feet, John could see some of the inhabitants moving about, perhaps cleaning up.

     “There’re your buddies,” John said sarcastically.

     “What was that?” Marta asked.

     “Those guys.” John banked the plane to the left, forcing Marta to lean on his arm as she looked out of his window at the miners’ camp. “It looks like business as usual down there.”

      “Those idiots are doing nothing but destroying the environment and everything that I have worked for,” Marta said tersely. “I know I sound cruel, but they are criminals. I wouldn’t normally hang out with vermin who may endanger my life, so I see no reason to put myself in possible danger associating with them.”

     “I’m sorry you’re having a hard time with them. Hopefully we can do something about their harassing your village.” John felt anger welling inside at the idea of someone messing with Marta.

      “Add to that polluting the water, stealing game, illegal trapping, the list is endless. I told Jason to let the authorities know, but I guess they are slow at reacting. Especially with all the political violence the military and police have to deal with,” said Marta.

     “I’ll see what I can do about getting this problem solved with the authorities. I may be able to practice some of my linguistic skill the school taught me,” said John.

     “I’m sure you will do just fine.”

     “Terima Kasih,” John thanked her in Indonesian. “Anyway, these guys could be here illegally. If you think about it, we are probably the only ones flying around. We have a job to do and the funds to get it done. The military mission probably can’t    support air surveillance.”

     “You don’t have to tell me. I was here right after the new government was established. They were and still are having a problem with red tape and the bureaucracy of visas and passports, just for starters.” Marta sighed. “The boys in the back are the future.” She smiled at them and was relieved to see that Digul had lost some of his green tint.

 Jeffrey W. Bennett, ISP is an author of non-fiction books, novels and periodicals.

Sick Patient and Unstable Air-Not a Good Combination

     It was 9 a.m. before John, Marta, and the two boys headed back to their jungle home. Marta sat in front with John this time, leaving the boys to keep each other company. Digul, more aware of his surroundings, was amazed at all he saw below, and commented fearfully yet inquisitively to Tucker. The back of the plane was filled with shouts as the boys tried to talk above the roar of the engine.

     Below, the green hills and cloud filled valleys glowed in the morning light. The fiery sun hadn’t yet burned off the fog from the lower laying valleys. To Digul, it looked as if the rivers were steaming, and it frightened him.

     Even with all the attention of the cast signing, Digul was ready to go home. After the weekend stay, all the pain he had been through, and inevitably, the homesickness, he wanted his mother. Tucker kept assuring him the ride wouldn’t be much longer, but the more they flew, the more Digul wanted to get down. Marta overheard the excitement in his voice and his comments about feeling sick. She opened a window and adjusted the fresh air vents toward the rear. The newness of flight was quickly replaced by the pangs of nausea.

     “He doesn’t look good, John. How much longer?” Marta asked.

Tucker sat wide-eyed in helplessness as he anticipated what would happen next. He wanted to be brave for his companion’s sake, but friendship responsibilities only went so far. If only he could increase the distance between himself and his queasy seat mate.

      “The warm ground is heating the air, therefore giving us a bumpy ride. I don’t think there is anything I can do to make this any better. Hey, reach behind your seat and get one of those barf bags,” John ordered.

     Marta undid her seat belt and shifted to her knees. John felt her arm and long hair brushed his shoulder. He could smell perfume from the advertisements in the magazines he had given her last night and was momentarily brought back to the kiss.

      A horrible retching and splattering sound interrupted his warm thoughts as vomit hit the back of Marta’s seat and oozed to the floor. A putrid smell filled the cabin forcing John to let out a moan of disgust. Marta chastised him with a wicked glance.

     “Did he make the bag? Did he make the bag?” John asked excitedly.

     “Not exactly,” Marta chuckled as she leaned over the seat. “I think it was a direct hit into the seat pouch though.”

     “Oh, great!” John threw up his hands.

     Meanwhile, Tucker was about to climb out of his seat to escape any more episodes with Digul. Marta winked and asked him to hand her bag from the rear of the plane. She opened it and used one of her shirts to clean up some of the sickness.

     “I can wash it later,” Marta shrugged.

I could have died of hunger-An excerpt from Commitment-A Novel

John followed the voices and the spicy scent of food to the dining area where half of Tiom gathered.

“You made it,” Daryl called.

John turned briskly toward the familiar voice.

“Come on over and meet some people, if you haven’t already,” Daryl said.

John rolled his eyes and headed toward her. “If it weren’t for Steve, I may not have made it this far. I probably would have been starving in my bed, dying for a midnight snack.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention,” Jason spoke up from atop one of the chairs, not really needing the extra height. “Hello,” he continued tapping a serving spoon on a glass.

Eventually, all attention was focused on him.

“I would like to take this time to officially welcome the newest member of our roost. He flew all the way from Texas, and boy, are his arms tired,” Jason offered the familiar joke receiving only sporadic snickers.

“Okay, I see that went over your heads. “Anyway, I’m sure that you have many questions for him, but, please, for John’s sake, give him some breathing room. He will be here long enough to update everyone on life at home.”

“Here, here,” John said.

Someone in the background laughed out loud.

“Anyway, let’s make him feel welcome. So, without further ado, let’s eat some of this wonderful food. Doug, would you please lead us with a word of thanks?”

John decided immediately he liked everyone. It was hard to really talk to Jason as he couldn’t get past a greeting. He decided it must be all the fuss of the evening and dismissed it.

Later, burned out and grateful to be under covers, he lay his head down on the first pillow he had seen in a few days and fell into a deep sleep.

Jeffrey W. Bennett, ISP is an author of non-fiction books, novels and periodicals.

Awkward-An excerpt from Commitment-A Novel

John and Marta barely shared a glance as they passed the evening with the Millicans. It seemed like their time with the Millicans did more harm than good.

They interacted fine within their group, but pressure was great between them. 

John kicked himself for acting so strangely. He had no idea why it was so hard to look at Marta. John wanted to say something to her, but had no idea what. The more he didn’t say, the greater the chasm became. John pleaded silently for Marta to look at him as she had earlier, and speak solely to him as they were speaking before. He felt close to her then, and he wanted it back. Now it was too late. If only they could be alone for a few minutes, and he could assure her of how he felt.

Marta suffered likewise. Her head spun as thoughts and questions invaded her mind. She was with her thoughts, sharing time with the Millicans, but definitely not including John in conversation. Marta imagined how upset he must be with the way she treated him.

“You know what we forgot to do?” Steve’s words suddenly interrupted their torment. “We forgot to sign Digul’s cast.”

“You know, in all the excitement and arrangements being made, I completely forgot,” Rachel added.

“Maybe tomorrow we can introduce him to our little custom, and have Marta translate.” It was John’s opportunity to finally acknowledge Marta.

“Great idea. I will bring it up in the morning,” said Marta.

The conversation continued until John and Marta were finally speaking to one another more easily. Each was now certain the Millicans would not see through them and find their secret.

Not able to stand it much longer, John got up to leave. He hoped Marta would escort him outside so they could talk. As he said his good-byes, he prayed the enthralling woman would glance his way. She just had to and understand the sign he would give her. He felt like a teenager in front of a date’s parents, but it was what had to be done at the time. He couldn’t afford to be obvious, for her sake.

It wasn’t until he was walking toward the door, pretending to laugh at something Steve said, that Marta glanced at him with understanding eyes. She kept her head down and wore a warm smile. John knew she wouldn’t be going outside with him. He returned her smile, reassuring her he too was feeling better.

Jeffrey W. Bennett, ISP is an author of non-fiction books, novels and periodicals.