Chapter 2

When I arrived at the saloon, only Dimitri was there, filling a cup from a coffee pot. He waved it at me, and I nodded, so he filled another. I thanked him and wished him good morning, as I looked out to see empty ocean.

“I know that look Mikhail, it’s the look of a career sailor. I spent my early years in the Russian Navy, and I, too, appreciate the vista of empty oceans. The problem is that there could be submarines out there, just as there are hidden dangers on land.”

“Come on then, hopalong, we ain’t got all day!” Paul said with a chuckle, which became a full blown laugh when his son regarded him with an angry glare.

“It DOES still hurt, ya know,” Luke replied as he hobbled into the house, carrying a shopping bag in one hand and leaning on a crutch with the other arm.

“Aye, and tha doctors say it’ll hurt more in tha long run if ya don’t regularly exercise it,” Paul retorted. “And yas got ta keep those lungs o’ yours working too!”