Casserine by Bernard Lee DeLeo Read Free Book Online Page B

anxiously.
    “Hi Honey”
    “What have you done, you big boob?”
    “Hi ho Silver, I have prisoners. Call the base and see how they’re doing. If it’s going to be very long, I should go get a portable heater.”
    “How in the world did you get them to surrender?”
    “I made them a deal they couldn’t refuse,” Jake intoned in the gangster voice he had heard when they watched the Godfather. He explained what had happened, and where he was.
    “Don’t you dare blow up my living quarters, Jake,” Adrian ordered.
    “I would never do that, Honey,” Jake said in exasperation. “I’ll just let them crawl out here and blow my head off instead. Call the base.”
    “Okay, will you call me back in about fifteen minutes?”
    “Sure, as long as I don’t have to die preserving your living quarters.”
    He heard her laughing as the line went silent. Jake waited, watching the living quarters for any movement, but the only entrance into the building remained closed. He called Adrian back.
    “Good news Jake, the ion storm ended an hour ago. They will have a ship on site in about an hour and a half. The Colonel wants to give you another medal. Colonel did not even thank wounded Tonto.”
    “I guess Colonel Risling knows you better than I thought. Either that or you told him how you became wounded.”
    “I thought perhaps the Lone Ranger could see his way clear to keep that information between him and his trusty sidekick Tonto.”
    “Maybe, but Tonto might have to do some extra things for the Ranger, to pay for his silence.”
    “Why you blackmailing son of a.”
    “Ho there, Tonto, the Ranger thinks maybe a full accounting to.” “Okay, okay, I want the extortion parameters in writing though, so you can’t just add on to them as you go.” “Agreed, Ranger out.”
    After the Force Cruiser had picked up their more than happy to go prisoners, Jake cleaned up the living quarters while Adrian slept. He woke her in time for sunrise. She smiled up at him, as she rolled painfully to her side and sat up. “Did you stay up all night?”
    “There really wasn’t much of a night left. Feel like coming out on the porch, or would you rather sleep in. I could bring you something to eat in here if you’re hungry.”
    “No, the dressings have done wonders. My ankle doesn’t bother me at all now. The Med Officer on the Force Cruiser said I’ll be good as new in short order. My side still bothers me a little, but I’d like to go out. Breakfast sounds great.”
    As they sat on the porch eating the breakfast Jake had set out for them, they quietly enjoyed the Casserine sunrise light show.
    “You haven’t given me the extortion list yet,” Adrian said.
    “It would only have three things on it, and we really don’t need to have them in writing.”
    “You pervert,” Adrian exclaimed in mock horror.
    “Don’t flatter yourself, Tonto, I can have any of that I want. You will be cleaning and servicing the three storage areas by yourself for the next month.”
    “Maybe I could trade something, you might want to take my turn cleaning, to get,” Adrian offered coyly.
    “Sounds interesting, I will of course have to have a sample before Idecide.”
    “Of course,” she smiled.
    “When would you like to give me my free sample?” Adrian leaned over and brushed Jake’s lips softly with her own. “How about right now?”

Chapter 5 
    Domestic Problems
    “I will not play The Shadow with you again tonight,” Jake said tiredly. “I spent the whole day cleaning out the food storage area, thanks to your leaving the hatch open overnight.”
    “But Jake,” Adrian whined. “You look so fine in the black hat and uniform cape I made you. Besides, I already apologized for leaving the hatch open.”
    “Oh,” Jake smiled at her. “How silly of me. You said you were sorry, so hey, no problem.”
    “You volunteered to clean it. I would have done it, if you didn’t.”
    “Then I would have had to watch you anyway. The Colonel told