Category: Odysseys in Paradise

“A sub just surfaced, starboard,” Rich yelled into the cabin. A moment later Yuri said coming up the companionway, “It is Soviet. It is time for me to surrender.” “Not so fast, comrade,” Rich said, “stay below.” Yuri backed down…

Rich awoke before Yuri and prepared coffee. He sat in the cockpit and waited for the coffee aroma to waken Yuri. It gave Rich time to reflect about his passenger. He was expecting a hard-boiled Russian ideologue, not a poet.…

The rains came and forced Rich and Yuri into the protection and comfort of the cabin. Rich prepared a meal. They ate slowly. “Yuri,” Rich said, “what was your wife’s name?” “It does not matter,” Yuri paused. “Tatyana.” “It is…

Rich waited on the deck of The Odyssey for an hour. He grew anxious. Perhaps, he wondered, “Yuri might have a change of mind. I can’t say as I would blame him, except for the fact his own government might…

Rich walked to within a few feet of the man. He slowly looked up and sorrowfully smiled. He said something in Russian. “I’m not Russian,” Rich said. “What!” he said turning his ear toward Rich. “I’m not Russian,” Rich said.…

Rich sailed with the tide. Samoa disappeared below the gentle waves and pleasant southern horizon. He thought about how different this was than what he imagined sailing the islands of the South Seas would be. His mind not focused on…

  They returned to the bay while a crimson sun still glowed behind the tropic hills to the west of Pago Pago. The Odyssey slid nicely alongside the dock and Oaks leaped from the deck to secure the lines. Oaks…

Rich heard Oaks knock on the side of the cabin at 6:59 AM. Rich darted up the companionway. “Ahoy,” Oaks said. “Ahoy, and welcome aboard,” Rich said. Rich invited Oaks below. They ate breakfast and Rich told him of his…

They climbed into the jeep and Oaks drove toward the dock. “I owned a jeep,” Rich said. Oaks chuckled. “You own a military vehicle, you can field strip an AK-47, you’ve been a target of assassins, kidnapped by Marxists, and…

The next morning Rich ate breakfast at the Marine company’s mess along with two lieutenants. By 8:00 the mess was transformed into a classroom of 102 Marines. Rich explained what he had learned about the background of the weapon and…

The next morning Rich awoke to the patter of rain on the cabin’s roof. Melodic thunder echoed from atop the hills surrounding the harbor. The rain fell steady and gentle, nearly casting a spell of euphoria over Rich. “I’m not…

Rich’s first night in Pago Pago he visited the bar where Ham bounced. The place was called The Tiki Bar. It had a Polynesian motif with palms and bamboo decorations. Local young ladies waited tables. A four-piece band featuring a…