When I explored
the wreckage I found
six crewmembers. They must have all died instantly.
Nothing
seemed disturbed and I left it pretty much that way.
Inside it I found
several things that I'm going to take. Best of all I
discovered one of the rubber lifeboats from the
bomber. I also found a pistol and some ammunition. I
guess I’ll bring that along, too, but I don’t
feel like killing anyone. There are also some
unopened tins of food. I will take as much of it as
I can carry. Right now I am eating the food that I
had with me from the monastery. The monks also
showed me how to find food in the jungle that grows
naturally. So food is not a concern.
Eleni, today and
tomorrow I am going to make a copy of this letter
and bury it along with one of my dog tags—and the
dog tags of the three men that were killed when we
were attacked. The other copy I am going to keep
with me and hopefully, give it to you in person.
I have no idea
what has happened to this war. Maybe the North
finally surrendered. We were hitting them pretty
hard. All I know is that I haven’t heard any
fighting or aircraft for over a year.
I think I will
find a river soon. Now that I have a lifeboat I
will be able to float down it and get out of here.
Anyhow, this is my plan.
Eleni, I guess I
have told you everything there is to know. As I
said, I am not afraid—not even of
dying. My life seems to have deepened and taken on
new meaning. I love you so much. I think of you and
Maria everyday. You are both in
my prayers.
Please give my love to my mother and
father, and to your parents, and to everyone I
miss, so much. If for some reason I don’t make it
out of here, at least the other letter will be
buried for safe keeping. Someday, someone will surly
find it. But of course, I am going to make it out of
here and having said this with all my love, let me
say, goodbye. Your loving husband, Nickolas.
Late in the afternoon of the following day, Nick
finished making the copy of his letter. Inside the
bomber, strewn on the metal floor, he found several
map tubes. Since one was a little shorter than the
rest, he grabbed it. Outside, he used some tools
from the bomber to dig a deep hole. The monkeys
watched him place a pile of rocks over the spot.
Discovered by Blake, Years Later
Five days after that, Nickolas spotted the river he
had been looking for.
But his troubles were far from over.
| Nick Spotted This
River Through The Trees photo by:
Laetitia |
The next morning
came much too early for Major Sutton. He had slept
late. They had accomplished their mission. But for
the others, their curiosity was overwhelming. Even
Lt. Ngo wanted to know what they had found.
When Sutton finally
unzipped his door, he was glad to see his friends.
Scott handed him a cup of coffee. Blake handed him a
bowl of hot cereal. Sutton felt hungry. In his right
hand he held the metal tube. He would have to tell
them about Nick. Of course he would. But other
matters were better left unsaid. What would be the
point?
"Blake, thanks for
the cereal. Men, I have got something to tell you."
