Two Tamas In Paradise; Episode 16, Adam and Coyote

This is the sixteenth episode of the novel Two Tamas in Paradise. It is the fourth novel in the Trace Troy South Pacific Adventure series. It will be posted in episodes. The plan is for two or three a week. There are fifty episodes. It has not been published yet. The reader is given a sneak preview. 

It suffices to say that because this is one novel in a series, there may be things not understood unless one knows what has taken place in previous novels from this series. Here is a link to the first novel in the series: The Big Gamble in Paradise, paperback or Kindle.

Adam and Coyote

Adam Troy and Coyote Wingate were an unlikely duo. Like their sons, Trace and Sage, they had been friends since before going to school. Coyote, unlike his son, who stood over six feet; Coyote stood five or six inches shorter but built like a barrel of beer. 

Trace navigated The Tramp Islander against the dock. Sage and Makani tossed the lines to Adam and Coyote, and they tied up the boat. 

Sage jumped ashore. He shook hands and hugged Adam and his dad. Trace did the same. Excitement and surprise filled the reunion.

“Dad,” Trace said, “how long have you two been here?”

Adam glanced at Coyote. “Would you say a week?”

“Sure,” Coyote said. “A week and a day, for sure.”

“We were about to send a search team out for ya,” Coyote said.

“I met up with Allie,” Adam said. “She told me you went off to Bora Bora.”

“We were about to fly there,” Coyote said. “But Adam knows these parts and how the freight business is. It’s like being a long-haul trucker. You take a load one day away and come back thirty days later.”

“Where are you two staying?” Sage asked.

“Some place called The Coral Inn,” Adam said. “Coyote wanted some place with the looks of one of those old movies; overhead fan, louvered doors, and louvered shutters—we had to settle for less.”

“Yeah,” Coyote said, “no fan, a steel door, and no shutters.”

“But at a good price,” Adam said.

“The Tramp Islander is going to be dry docked for a week,” Trace said. “When we saw you two in the binoculars, we started making plans.”

“We’ve been here over a week,” Coyote said, “we’ve seen everything—twice.”

“I’ve seen some old friends,” Adam spoke despondently. “Suva seems to have swallowed up the old port. Maybe we could rent a boat and go to a few of the outer islands. I have some old friends out that way. At least I think they’re still around.”

Trace noticed the disappointment in Adam’s voice. 

“Hey,” Trace said, “they’re coming by to get The Tramp Islander in an hour or two. There’s a load of coffee onboard. We can have the distributor unload it. Let’s get our gear off and find a room at their place. And Sage and Coyote, if you don’t mind, I’d just like to spend some time with Dad. I’ll have Makani stay here until the coffee is unloaded and they get the boat for the dry dock.”

“Sounds like a good idea,” Sage said.”Let’s saddle up.”

Trace and Sage went back onboard and packed their gear. They had to explain the forty pounds of gold each that they had in burlap bags. Adam had a rental car, and they drove the gold to the nearest bank and deposited it in safety deposit boxes. Then they drove to The Coral Inn. Adam and Coyote checked out. Then they drove to a beachfront motel called The Pacific Royale. Adam and Trace got one room, and Sage and Coyote got another. 

Trace rode with Adam on a drive along Suva’s waterfront. 

“I’ve thought about coming back here for thirty years,” Adam said. “And here I am.”

“You sound disappointed,” Trace said.

“I was hoping it would all be the same,” Adam said. “I was hoping Allie would be young and beautiful and her husband, my friend, would share a drink or two with me. We’d all get together and reminisce. That’s what I hoped for but didn’t expect. Allie was great to see. She still has that sparkle. I just wish Frank was here.”

“Are you regretting this?” Trace asked.

“Not in the least,” Adam said. “I’m just being nostalgic.”

“By the way,” Trace said, “where are we going?”

“There was this joint I used to hang out, Sneaky Pete’s,” Adam said. “I’d like to see if it’s still there. It was one of those places where there were enough people to keep you from being lonely and at the same time not enough to bother you. I used to say it was the most perfect bar in the world. Best Singapore Slings this side of Singapore.”

Trace smiled. “I hope it’s still there. I’m eager to try.”

“You have to be careful,” Adam said. “They sneak up on you. Pete Jorgensen owned the place; big, tough, Norwegian. You had to be in those days. It was a sailors' joint. If somebody gave him trouble, he’d say, ‘Which do you want—headache, hospital, or morgue?’ One man said, ‘A headache will do.’ No one saw the punch. We just heard a crack, and the guy crumbled to the floor. It took the guy a couple of minutes to get to his feet. He walked over to the bar and asked for a beer and two aspirin. Pete charged him double for the beer. The man complained. He thought the extra was for the aspirin. Pete said, “Aspirin is free. I charge for the headache.”

They laughed.

“There was the time I was shorthanded,” Adam said. “My crew quit on me because we were going where there was heavy pirate activity. I needed the money. Pete closed his place down for a week and came with me. The rumor got around Pete was with me—no pirates.”

They laughed.

“Dan,” Trace said, “I hope he’s still around.”

Adam’s head darted forward, and his eyes flashed wide open. “Look at that sign, Sneaky Pete’s.”

Adam parked on the opposite side of the street.

Before Adam was able to lunge out the door, Trace placed his hand on his forearm. “Dad,” Trace said, “it’s been almost thirty years. When I came home the last time, I went to see my first-grade teacher. They told me she retired. When I went to her home, she didn’t remember me. It broke my heart.”

“Son,” Adam said, “I’ve lived over twice as many years as you. I’ve had a lot more heartache. One more ain’t gonna make me or break me.”

“I just…” Trace said.

Adam interrupted. “Son, I’m not fragile.” He winked. “Come on, Son, let’s have a drink. If it isn’t what it used to be, let’s show ‘em how it used to be.”

Trace smiled. “Yeah, let’s go.”

Adam got out of the car and hurried across the street. Trace jogged to keep up with him. 

Adam stopped before walking inside. He scanned the building. It was a wood structure with peeling white paint.  A sign from driftwood hung above the entrance, which read Sneaky Pete’s. Screens hung over oblong windows with tattered shutters. The roof was wood covered with thatch. 

“Nothing has changed,” Adam said. “But the road was dirt and one lane back then.”

Adam looked at Trace standing next to him. He smiled. “Let’s go in.”

Two Tamas In Paradise; Episode 15, Arrival At Suva

This is the fifteenth episode of the novel Two Tamas in Paradise. It is the fourth novel in the Trace Troy South Pacific Adventure series. It will be posted in episodes. The plan is for two or three a week. There are fifty episodes. It has not been published yet. The reader is given a sneak preview. 

It suffices to say that because this is one novel in a series, there may be things not understood unless one knows what has taken place in previous novels from this series. Here is a link to the first novel in the series: The Big Gamble in Paradise, paperback or Kindle.

Arrival At Suva

Suva protrudes like a lush green thumb from Fiji Island, dotted with houses and buildings. The harbor is busy. The danger is the more than a dozen sunken vessels scattered in the harbor.

Trace’s time on the Bering etched in his mind to never take anything on the sea or harbors for granted. A boat is a dangerous place, whether sailing or moored.  

Suva was not home to Trace like Texas. But for now and the near future, it would have to do. ‘Finally,’ he thought, looking at the harbor, ’a long time coming.’

He grabbed the mic. “Makani, Suva starboard. Wake Sage.”

Fifteen minutes later, Sage dashed up the companionway with his hair combed and a fresh shave. 

“Look at you,” Trace said, “you look like you’re ready for a photo shoot. Expecting to meet someone?”  

“Nah,” Sage said, “when I go for a room at a hotel, I don’t want them to take a look at me and say there’s no vacancies.”

“I called ahead a half an hour ago,” Trace said. “Our usual spot is open. We’ll dock there. The dry docking is set up for two days from now.”

“When do you want the sails dropped?” Sage said.

“I’ll call Makani and do them now,” Trace said. 

“I’ll get ‘em myself,” Sage said.

As soon as the sails were dropped, Trace started the engine. He slowly made a starboard turn into the harbor. He pointed the bow toward the far end of the harbor.

After securing the sails, Sage came back into the pilothouse.

“Take the wheel,” Trace said and grabbed the binoculars from a hook next to the chart desk. “I’m going to scan ahead and make sure there’s nothing new in the way.”

Trace walked to the pulpit and put the binoculars to his eyes. He scanned The Tramp Islander’s path from the shore to the dock. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. However, as he sighted the area they were going to moor, he noticed something that surprised and startled him.

He rushed back to the pilothouse.

“We have trouble,” Trace said.

“What?” Sage said, “The police.”

“Worse,” Trace said.

“What could be worse?” Sage said.

“My dad is sitting on some wooden crates,” Sage said.

“Your dad!” Sage said. “That’s great.”

“Not really,” Trace said.

“Nah,” Sage said, “father and son together again. And in a place where he’s a legend, that’s great!”

“Before you get all sentimental,” Trace said, “Coyote is with him.”

“Coyote,” Sage said slowly, “my dad!”

“Yep,” Trace said.

“My dad alone or your dad alone would be great,” Sage said, “but together.” 

“Well, one thing is good,” Trace said.

“And that would be?” Sage said.

“They’re not in handcuffs,” Trace said.

Sage broke into laughter. “That means they escaped.”

They said nothing until Trace swung The Tramp Islander to pull next to the dock. 

“Look,” Trace said, “we’re going to be dry docked for a week. Let’s have a good week with our dads, keep them out of trouble, and at the end of the week send them on their way.”

“I think if we stay focused, we can pull it off,” Sage said. “Quiet days at the beach, Snorkeling for a day.”

“Fishing,” Trace said, “they’ll like fishing.”

“What else? What else?” Sage said. “We need more.”

“Tourist boat around the island,” Trace said.

“Yeah, yeah,” Sage said, “that’s good, a whole day.”

“We can rent a car and drive them around the island,” Trace said. “Bang, bang, bang, all those things right in a row. We won’t have to worry about the next couple of days, at their age, they’ll be worn out.”

“That’s the plan,” Sage said. “Great! You got rid of two no-account connivers, you can handle two old has-been ranchers.” 

They looked at each other. And said at the same time, “Who are we kidding?”

“It’s worth a try,” Sage said.

Two Tamas In Paradise; Episode 14, Moment By Moment

This is the fourteenth episode of the novel Two Tamas in Paradise. It is the fourth novel in the Trace Troy South Pacific Adventure series. It will be posted in episodes. The plan is for two or three a week. There are fifty episodes. It has not been published yet. The reader is given a sneak preview. 

It suffices to say that because this is one novel in a series, there may be things not understood unless one knows what has taken place in previous novels from this series. Here is a link to the first novel in the series: The Big Gamble in Paradise, paperback or Kindle.

Moment By Moment

In another day they would be sighting Suva.

Trace sat in the captain’s chair. He felt calm. He wore an expression of contentment. He loved the pilothouse and helm. It was not about control. It was the feeling of being a part of The Tamp Islander. He often opened all the windows to feel the wind and the purity of the sea—the same wind felt by The Tramp Islander and her sails. He thought, ‘You can’t talk about ranching to somebody who’s never ranched. I talk to the ship—and listen. The only way to do that is to be a part of it. My pulse beats with that of The Tramp Islander. She respects me. I respect her. We respect the sea and winds. I think that sometimes she knows I’m about to change a heading before I make it. It’s like she’s ready. And it seems like at times I wait for permission.’

When about two hundred miles from Suva, Trace maneuvered The Tramp Islander through a dozen or more atolls of the Lau Island Group. On a couple of occasions, the sails were dropped and he used the motor to navigate past the coral reefs. 

He recalled on one trip through these atolls, Chuck said, “A good seaman could sail through these without a motor.” Trace pointed to a sailboat on the reefs, “Now there’s a good sailor. Good sailors end up on coral reefs. Cautious sailors deliver their crew and cargo.”

‘That should have been sort of a clue,’ Trace thought. ‘In a subtle way, he was telling me something; I didn’t measure up. He was better and entitled. Should have seen it.’

‘Chuck was a follower,’ he surmised. ‘Chuck was put up to it by Sean. I should have seen that. Maybe I ignored it, thinking it might upset the morale of the crew. What kind of things will I look for in the next crew? What questions can I ask when interviewing that will help me make a good decision? Let’s face it, all the choir boys are in the choir.’ 

‘I will get together with Sage and Makani. I’ll have the final say, but I should allow them to have some say. They should sit in on any interview. If they can’t impress Sage and Makani, why hire them? On the other hand, maybe we won’t be able to find one candidate. Maybe we will have to scrape the bottom of the barrel. I don’t want deckhands who can’t take care of their personal appearance or keep their cabin clean. Maybe I should go to the local parish and ask for choir boys.’

Sage replaced Trace at 10:00 PM. 

“How do you feel?” Trace asked Sage.

“Good,” Sage said. “We’ll be in Suva tomorrow. That will be good.”

“Keep your eyes peeled tonight,” Trace said. “There’s a lot more boat traffic the closer we get to Suva.”

“When we get to Suva, I’m going to get a room and crash for a couple of days,” Sage said. “What about you?”

“I’ll get a room too,” Trace said, “but I got some business to take care of, the dry dock. And  Allie mentioned a few contracts that could pay well—some long haul cargo. She said we could take on passengers. I guess there are folks who don’t mind paying a lot of money to live like we do and not seeing land for a couple of weeks. They just want to live the experience.”

“And go back home and have something to talk about at cocktail parties,” Sage added.

“Allie said she’d put something together for me to look at,” Trace said. “She said we had what people are looking for; sort of a rustic experience on the high seas. Like living a century ago.”

“Except we have a generator, an eighty-horse engine, refrigerator, toilets, and a radio,” Sage said.

“You forgot the dartboard,” Trace added.

“We don’t need the money, do we?” Sage said.

“No,” Trace said, “but this is not about the money. It’s about… well, I don’t know what it’s about. But we can use this to prepare us for… well, I don’t know that either. We could give this boat away and go home.”

“Remember Mr. Gilbert, our algebra teacher?” Sage said.

“The moment in which you live prepares you for the next moment,” Trace said. “We are in a constant state of preparation.”

“I can’t tell you how many times that has rolled around in my mind,” Sage said.

“With that said, this moment is preparing me for many moments of sleep,” Trace said. “Good night, my friend.”

And Trace climbed down the companionway and to his cabin.

Trace relieved Sage at 6:00 AM. Makani brought them breakfast.

Sage grabbed the tray when they were finished. He said he would take it the the galley and get a couple of hours' sleep. He wanted to be awake when they docked at Suva.

“Wake me when you see Suva,” Sage said and headed below. 

Two Tamas In Paradis; Episode 13, Change

This is the thirteenth episode of the novel Two Tamas in Paradise. It is the fourth novel in the Trace Troy South Pacific Adventure series. It will be posted in episodes. The plan is for two or three a week. There are fifty episodes. It has not been published yet. The reader is given a sneak preview. 

It suffices to say that because this is one novel in a series, there may be things not understood unless one knows what has taken place in previous novels from this series. Here is a link to the first novel in the series: The Big Gamble in Paradise, paperback or Kindle.

Sailing was perfect for the next few days. It was so perfect, there was difficulty in tracking the days. 

Trace sat at the chart desk. He took the readings he had just made and listened for the exact time from the radio. He calculated his figures and made a small notation on the chart. He returned to the wheel and tacked 285 degrees.

Sage sat on the aft bench. Noticing the change in heading, he walked into the pilot house.

Trace turned to Sage. “We are making really good time. Four hundred more miles.”

“To…?” Sage said

“Suva,” Sage said.

“We’re not going to take a break at that island you mentioned a few days ago?” Sage asked.

“Vava’u,” Trace said. 

“Yeah,” Sage said, “whatever.”

Trace smiled as if holding a secret. “We passed Vava’u about twenty hours ago. It’s about one hundred and twenty miles that way.” Trace heaved his thumb to the aft port side.

“Does Makani know?” Sage said.

“You guys were sleeping,” Trace said.

“Were you ever going to tell us?” Sage said.

“Nobody said anything,” Trace said and asked, “Disappointed?”

“No,” Sage said, “Makani and I were talking and we said it would be fine to skip a stopover and get back to Suva.”

“Great minds think alike,” Trace said.

“I hope we can find two more great minds,” Sage said.

“Can you think of any of our old buddies who ain’t married, in jail, or running from the law?” Trace said.

“Wouldn’t it be fun to have an all-Texas crew, except for Makani?” Sage said.

“No,” Trace said abruptly.

“Yeah,” Sage said, “bad idea. At least the guys we know. We’d be moutin’ longhorn horns on the bow.”

“Hey,” Trace said, “the thought has crossed my mind.”

Sage said, glancing sidewise at Trace, “Let’s do it.”

“It’s the only right thing to do,” Sage said. “I’ll send for some when we get to Suva.”

“What about a Lone Star flag?” Sage said.

“It would only seem appropriate,” Trace said.

“The ideas just keep flowing,” Sage smirked.

They laughed.

“Have you weighed the gold yet? Sage asked.

“Yeah,” Trace said, “yesterday. There’s one hundred and almost twenty-one pounds.”

“Forty each,?” Trace asked.

“Yeah,” Sage said. “I made an inquiry over the short wave on the price of gold in the US. It’s three thirty-three an ounce. Don’t think too hard on this. I already figured about two hundred and thirteen thousand each.”

“That’s enough to lose Makani over,” Sage said.

“Yeah,” Trace said, “I’d hate to lose him.”

“We probably can’t afford the keep him,” Sage said and joked. “We could always cheat him.”

“I hear that,” Makani’s voice came from the companionway. He climbed up wearing a wide grin.

“Too bad,” Sage said, “we'll go now, to plan B.”

“What plan B? Makani said. 

“How far can you swim?” Sage quipped.

“No worry,” Makani said, “Me and Sage already have plan for you.”

They laughed. 

“We have good time together,” Makani said. "It good. Like when boy with cousins. Much good time.”

“The same with Sage and me,” Trace said. “When we were growing up, much good times.”

“You know what, Makani,” Sage said, “back home you would fit right in with Trace and me.”

“I worry, like you worry,” Makani said. “We might get two not good deckhands. Sean and Chuck good but turn bad. I sorry for them.”

“Me too,” Trace said. “So did you hear how much your share will be?”

“No,” Makani said.

“You will get forty pounds of gold,” Trace said. “As close as we can figure, that will be two hundred and thirteen thousand in American dollars.”

“Does that make me a rich man?” Makani asked.

“Yeah,” Trace said, “you are a rich man.”

“But I feel same,” Makani said. “Same yesterday, same last month.”

“It means you have always been rich,” Trace said.