Breaking Hearts, Chapter III.
"Mac I cannot believe that you took the posting." A Marine Colonel said. The man he was speaking to, a short, stocky badger with the oak leafs of a Major on his uniform shrugged.
"They need help, Stan." Mac shrugged, "C'mon, can you think of any other part of Usland that has been invaded, raided, and nearly conquered three times in the last year?" He paused, "At the very least they need those cliff guns rebuilt so they can stop something other than a spitball….and I'm the one to do it."
"Mac… Cape Suzzette is where careers go to die." Stan said. "You know it, I know it, everyone knows it—that's where they put people like that idiot Colonel Grog." Both officers exchanged a momentary sneer at that.
"Well, he wasn't a marine, now, was he?" Mac said, indicating the globe and anchor insignia on their uniforms.
"No, but…" Stan sighed. "Mac, you graduated a year ahead of me…and you should be colonel—hell you should be on the list for general!"
"Well, the promotion board didn't agree with you."
"Because you do not know when to keep your mouth shut!" Stan paused, "And because you threw a Lieutenant over the side of a ship." Mac got a momentarily feral expression.
"You're right, Stan…if I'd been thinking, I would have realized they'd just fish him out and just have shot the S.O.B." Mac paused, "He gave the order, and then panicked and locked those kids in there." Stan nodded soberly. Mac could have been court-martialed, but it would have been difficult, given that after throwing that incompetent boob overboard, he'd gone down into the engine room, ordered it sealed behind him, and managed to bring the fire under control, before carrying out those crewmen who had been overcome by the fumes. Difficult to court martial…but blocking his promotion was another thing, as was sending him to the most dead end assignment in all of Usland.
"In any case, I don't miss high command." Mac said, "Look at you—how long has it been since you've been able to get out in the field and out from under all the paperwork?"
"You're accusing a superior officer of getting chair-parade spread?" Stan said, "Hah! If you weren't leaving, I'd invite you over to the mat for some unarmed combat practice and we'd see who needs a refresher." He grinned and gripped Mac's arm. "Still, be careful out there—that town has the weirdest things hit it. "
"It'll be a vacation." Mac said, getting into the seaplane. Stan stepped back as the engines started up and the plan took off, heading to the horizon. When it vanished, he turned and headed by to the HQ. Thanks to Mac's transfer, he had a long night ahead of him finding another qualified officer.
***
"What? Now? I can't…oh, I'll ask, but I can't guarantee anything." Rebecca put the phone down, momentarily closed her eyes in frustration, and walked out to the dock.
"Baloo?"
"Oh no…." Baloo said. Becky had that look of "I need you to take a deadly poison—or in this case, work."
"Baloo… they just moved up the Winger Dancing Chicken Nuggets festival, and they need those jumping bean feed bags today." Baloo frowned.
"Beckers…" Baloo said, "Kit was hoping to hit the air festival with me-" Kit looked up from where he was fishing.
"Don't worry, Baloo." Kit said, "It's open Monday to, 'cause of the long weekend." The bear frowned…
"Can I go?" Molly said, looking up from beside Kit. Kit got an expression on his face and turned to Baloo.
"Sure! Papa Bear, It's been forever since Molly went to Louie's!"
"But what about you 'an your friends?" Baloo asked. "We won't be back in time for that." Briefly, duty warred with pleasure on Kit's face, as he opened his mouth to speak-
"Kit doesn't have to go, Baloo." Rebecca said, "You and Molly could go by yourselves." Baloo blinked at that.
"It's just a short flight." Rebecca said, "you'll be there in two hours and you can stop at Louie's on the way back." Louie's, especially from Becky's mouth was a code word…in this case meaning "you can be late and I won't yell." Baloo gave it long—well at least two microseconds—thought.
"Sure!"
"Yay!" Molly chimed in. Baloo laughed.
"Well, just be certain to be home…before tomorrow." Rebecca said, going inside to get Molly's coat.
Getting the cargo loaded took only a short amount of time—it had all been stacked and ready to go for the Monday shipment, and Rebecca had it in the front of the warehouse. Kit grinned at that—Baloo had finally given in on his bosses "Crazy schemes" when he realized that her re-organization of the warehouse made for less work—there was no more crawling in and having to pull half the stuff out to get at the days shipment…which was in the very back of the storage building. Wildcat gave the Sea Duck a careful tuning, with Molly watching him and handing him tools. Kit grimaced at that—he hoped the high school would let girls do planeshop when Molly got that old—she was turning out to have a real knack with tools and parts.
Then, the Sea Duck was turning and heading for the open ocean, leaving Kit and Rebecca on the dock. Becky smiled—Molly was clearly thrilled to be getting out with her….well near father, Rebecca guessed. She put a hand on Kit's shoulder.
"Kit, how about if I treat you to lunch before you go out with your friends." Kit grinned—Miz Cunningham normally went to places a little better than Baloo did—not that Kit minded where Baloo ate, but there were times…
"Sure!"
***
The delivery had gone very well—for once there were no pirates, monsters, storms, crazy scientists, or even paperwork problems at the end. Molly had wanted to help Baloo unload the stuff, and he'd let her unload some of the smaller boxes. To be honest, it seemed to take more out of him these days. He wouldn't admit it to Beckers, but it might be time to cut back on some of the fizzies, and get a little more exercise…but he'd do that tomorrow. The bear nodded at his resolution, conveniently forgetting that "tomorrow" had been one the schedule for nearly six months.
"Ready for Louie's, Pigtails?"
"Sure!" Molly said, bouncing up and down with glee. Baloo laughed at that, and turned the engines on, heading for paradise…well, Louie's but it was close.
As usual, Louie himself served them, as the joint was jumping with pilots coming in and out, and their girlfriends. It was still early, so the band wasn't running, and the drinks hadn't started to flow—most of the pilots still had routes to fly. That was fine with Baloo—later a night the place could get a little rowdy for Molly…or even for Kit. That'd led to some…disagreements, but Becky had backed him up, and he had to admit that Kit really didn't like drunks. Maybe had something to do with his Air Pirate days.
Man listen to me… I'm like their pa… Baloo grinned, but then got a more serious look as he watched Molly neatly demolish her lunch before preparing for the main event—the utter destruction of one of Louie's confections. It was weird, even now, over three years later… taking off was no longer an option, not when you had people like Kit, pigtails, and yes, Becker's who depended on him.
Becker's especially. He'd always thought "nervous breakdown" was something that just happened in the movies until a year ago. Molly… well Molly always bounced back—she was like that. But when he and Kit had shown up to her frantic phone call, to find the seven year old trying to shove tissue paper under the closed bathroom door to her sobbing mother, Baloo had about had one himself. He wondered occasionally how much Kit knew about those months.
"More 'n he lets on."
"Cuz?" Louie asked.
"Just thinking Louie…" Baloo said, then noting that Molly was fully engrossed, "'bout last year." Louie nodded.
"Oh, Kit knows a lot." Louie agreed, "he just doesn't like to tell stories behind peoples back." Baloo grinned,
"That's my boy." He said. Kit had been worried… he'd taken Molly back with him and Wildcat…but Baloo did remember the way his eyes had widened when Baloo had also handed him a box with all the sleeping pills in the apartment in it. He'd never asked why…but yeah, he knew.
"So how's Becky doin?" Louie said.
"Fine, couldn't be better." Baloo said honestly.
"Mommy's upset that Dr. Gosslin says' it'll take me forever to get better—at least two years!" Molly's voice came in. Baloo started, remembering that Molly was also very perceptive.
"Two years?" Louie asked. "That's a long time, Short Stuff." Molly nodded, her expression dark. "But it'll go faster than you think." He continued, "Have you ever been in school when you really wanted to do something else."
"Yes…" Molly said, uncertain as to what Louie was about to say.
"And I'll bet the clock just never moved."
"Yes!" There was no doubt to that. Louie laughed.
"Well, there's the problem—If you keep checking the time, and the clock, it doesn't go as fast—so don't, and it'll go faster." Molly wrinkled her nose, trying to follow the logic. Then she nodded.
"I know…but it's hard not to watch the clock." Louie smiled at that.
"Oh, I know that…but you'll do it Molly…'cause you've done everything else you have to." Molly nodded, and the Orangutan continued, "Like finish this up, since I don't want it to go to waste." As he brought up an absolutely wonderful sundae. Molly squealed in excitement, and set to work demolishing it with a will. Baloo grinned. That was one job that wasn't going to be left half done.
Later, they headed back to the Sea Duck, Molly thanking Louie as she left. Louie grinned and gave her a courtly bow and kiss on the hand that had the eight year old giggling.
"Ready?" Baloo asked. Molly nodded and happily headed to the Sea Duck.
"She don't seem slowed at all." Louie said.
"She ain't—unless she over does it." Louie nodded—during the dessert, Baloo had filled him in on her Friday adventure.
"Can't blame her—well 'Cuz, you take care now."
"Don't worry about me, Louie…" Baloo grinned and headed off down the pier.
***
In the air, Molly was watching as the island dropped away from them. She loved Louie's… The only thing that annoyed her was that for some reason Baloo and Mom didn't let her go there when it was late.
But it was still fun. She was nice and full, and now on the way back she could watch out the window and see the sun as it slowly descended towards the horizon. That always excited Molly, knowing that when they were in the warm sun up here—the people in Cape Suzzette were already in the dark, seen it dip behind the horizon.
Baloo was grinning at her. She loved to fly—'an he had a feeling that she was going to be a pretty fair pilot. Granted, most schools for women subscribed to the "Little Old Lady" School of flight, and Becker's would probably want her to go there to be safe, but he figured by that time, Kit could teach her, and Baloo and Kit between the two of them could undo any of the damage done by her official instructors. In fact, it wouldn't be too-
And suddenly a planet sized hand grabbed Baloo around the chest and squeezed. He gasped, trying to get back the air that had been forced out.
"Baloo?" Molly said, looking at him in alarm. Baloo couldn't see how pale his face had gotten, or the slight blue tinge around his lips. He grinned.
"It ain't nothing, Pigtails…" A gasp gave lie to that, and he saw alarm turning to real fear in her eyes.
Oh man…this ain't no indigestion. Baloo realized, No! Kit ain't here, it's nobody but me 'an Pigtails, and she can't land the Sea Duck, hell she can't even fly her… Baloo unwillingly looked down to where Molly's feet dangled, a few inches and infinite miles from the pedals….the pedals that you would have to use to make a safe landing, and the 'Duck had more than her share of quirks—quirks that even an experienced pilot might have a problem with… No, Baloo would have to fly her in and then he could call a doctor, or just take some anti-acid if it-
The next squeeze around his chest made everyone that had come before pale. Baloo's vision grayed out around the edges of his sight, and even the instruments become dim in front of him. His arms felt like thousand pound weights, and the pain in his chest was beyond description. He needed to get some air in him and he'd be okay, he knew, that but it was so damned hard to breath…
"Baloo? Baloo! What's wrong?" Molly said her voice rising shrilly in fear. Baloo felt himself sliding forward, and then realized what that would mean. His inert body against the stick, pressing forward with more weight than Molly could ever hope to move—the duck would plow into the ocean like a thunderbolt… they'd be lucky to ever find the plane at all, and forget Pigtails surviving the crash.
"Mo-Molly." Baloo got out. Why was it so hard to talk now, when he needed to tell her what to do. "You hafta take the yoke…I'm not fee" He did black out then, if only for a second. "Well."
I may not have many more words. Baloo suddenly realized.
"Molly. Keep the plane flying steady."
"But I can't fly…" Molly said.
"Yeah you can…like when I let you fly on my lap…It's just like that." Molly, tears coming down her cheeks, nodded. Baloo didn't bother to mention that he'd been controlling the plane with his feet—it was a chance, however slim.
"Get the radio, and turn it to 345 on the big dial." He finished, gasping. That was the emergency guard channel—everyone left it open. Of course pirates also monitored it, but if Karnage showed up right now, he'd gladly give him every cent he had—all Molly would have to do would be keep the plane steady and they could board it. "Keep…keep yelling for help…but…" It was like struggling through Molasses, but Baloo persevered, "You have to say over when you here someone, or they can't talk to you…like you've seen Kit 'an me do."
"Baloo…Baloo!" Molly cried out loudly. "Don't go! Please don't go like Daddy!" Baloo didn't have enough energy to wince at that.
"I'm not gonna go anywhere…just gotta take a little nap." Baloo said, "Don't fret, and you just do what I told you…" Now, Baloo realized, one, possibly the last, thing he could do for Molly. The gray bear shoved his mass back and cinched the harness—no matter what happened now, he'd not fall forward. He actually wasn't hurting anymore—it was just a nice drowsy feeling, as he felt suddenly warm….
"Baloo…" Molly said, and then lurched as the Sea Duck, nobody at the controls, started to go into a spin…
TO BE CONCLUDED.