Dark Island Book 1 (Complete)

Chapter 2

The road hugged the mountain.
As the car climbed, and we left the city with its layer of smog behind us, the landscape became clearer, and the tall firs took the edge of the post-summer heat. Outside the window, I could see that the sun was playing hide and seek among the branches, casting flickering shadows on my dagger that I’ve just had taken out of my bag.
So old but still very dangerous, The carving on the handle stole my attention.
‘Sgt. Mat field', a name that once belonged to a great man, a true born leader and mentor to so many soldiers including myself. He was as tough as I tank, feared nothing and no one in this world. Yeah, he was a great man. I can still remember what he said to me right before he passed on.
"Take the dagger, you might need." He spoke those last words to me before he died on the battlefield. In addition, on that same day I took down one of those Vietnamese bastards who came running towards me.
I always believed that soldiers aren't heroes and that they are only tools for war but he showed me otherwise.

"Nearly there." Ronny said, breaking my attention.
I nodded, gave him a quick 'ok' and turned to look out the window to admire the sun that started showing itself from behind the mountain.
Ronny was a powerful and commanding looking man, with muscles bulging under a ticklish layer of fat. Contractedly, he acted like a teddy bear when he was alone with his girlfriend. He spends most of his time with his nose buried in a book. Ronny however, was no woos. Much like a cornered animal, Ronny could snap into protection mode and become a formidable ally or foe. He was one-hundred percent German, but people often mistake him for an Italian or a Mexican, thanks to his jet-black hair and tanned skin. He regularly switched between jobs, usually spending no more than a year at each. More often than not, Ronny ended up as a salesperson at a local bookstore, because he unwittingly excelled at it. He came across as a 'nice guy' to everyone despite his looks.
"You ok Jack? You’ve been very quiet since we've left the city?"
"Uh? Oh, yeah Ronny nothing to worry about. I was just thinking a bit." I replied Ronny.
"Jack, don't let your past get the better of you. It will get better soon. I know that when you doze off like this you are thinking about your experience in the war. Don't you worry man as soon as we find that ' flying Dutchman' of yours, you’ll get a chance to stab that captain through his ghostly heart." Ronny ended with grin on his face.
“Ha-ha, Yeah right Ronny. We're not hunting ghosts’ man we're hunting for gold."
"Yeah-yeah, I know."

After a while, we turned onto a narrow path. The ground was bumpy and the branches on either side formed a tunnel that seemed about to close in over Ronny's truck. The woods stretched out to caress us as we passed, as gentle and persuasive as someone concealing unknown intentions. Then through the arch of branches, we saw a sun-drenched clearing ahead of us. We got out of the shade and arrived at Harold's place. It was a three-story building, a combination of the classic local West-side coast house-with sloping roof and exposed logs- and mostly modern design. It was a rich-persons house.
We got out of the car and started unloading the truck of our luggage. Susan and Robert looked around first to embrace the beauty of their surroundings.
"Wow! Is this Harold's place, Jack?" Susan asked
"Yup, this is it Susan. He build this place almost three years ago. A few miles west, there is a newly built dock as well."
The truck gently rocked to a rest.
"This old truck of yours is going to be the death of you one-day Ronny."
"Stop your whining Jack," Ronny joked as we slowly exited the truck," and help me unload everything. We don’t want to keep Harold waiting; otherwise he will sail without us."
"Come on old girl, I know you can do it," Ronny said as he jiggled his keys in the lock of the canopy.
'Bang'
Ronny suddenly thumped the canopy with his other hand, while he continued to jiggle.
"I suppose you consider this an anti-theft precaution?"
I said with a smile, giving Ronny a gently slap on the back.
Ronnie looked at me and grinned. "The best kind."
Ronnie hit the canopy again and this time the canopy popped open with a depressed creak.
"I like a car with a bit of a personality," Ronny said victoriously as he started to unload.
"Have you ever thought about cleaning out your truck Ronny," I questioned.
"This stuff is part of the truck. It would be wrong to get rid of any of it."
"Well, that's everything." Ronnie said, placing the last bag on the ground and closing the club of the truck.
We took our bags, gear, and started walking alongside the road towards the docks.

"Jack, Ronny welcome abort me ship" greeted Harold with a smirk on his face like he was playing some sort of captain
He was dressed in beige khaki pants, open neck blue shirt with a chain locket, tasseled brown loafers, and held an unlit, half-smoked Cohiba in his hand.
Harold was a marvelous sailor. He quickly climbed the ranks of the navy to become a captain with his very own vessel. Years later, Harold was forced into early retirement due to an accident, leaving him with poor health. With the money that he received during his services in the navy, he bought a piece of land near the coast where he structured his house and dock.  After trying out life on dry land for a while, Harold decided to spend most of his days roaming the seas.
"Oh, and hello to you to, miss Susan and little Robert"
"Hey Harold, how are you man? It's good to see you." I shook his hand and gave him a pat on the shoulder.
"Harold, you must start thinking who owns this ship" I replied with a grin on my face.
"Yeah, yeah, Jack. Ugh you know me, one day this old baby; you’ll give her to me for I am the one taking care of her most of the time."
"Ha-ha, yeah we will see about that, hope everyone’s gear and stuff is in order because when we depart there is no turning back."
Ronny started loading our luggage onto the ship while I went down to say goodbye to my wife and son.
“This is it Susan, this is we're we take off. You take care, and remember; I love you to the moon and back. I will be back before you know it. In addition, Robert, remember what I said to you this morning, you are the man of the house now. I love you very much and take care of mom okay?"
Susan eyes started tearing up
"You better, or otherwise I will come looking for you. I also love you very much even further than the moon itself."
She gave me one last kiss goodbye before I went back onto ship.

My hands are cold and my body shacking from the early morning cold puff of air. Taking a deep breath, I stand there for a moment, staring and waving at my wife and son. Firming my lips, I give a sharp nod and final wave kiss, and push myself to another direction. From inside the cabin I heard Ronny calling me to come sit inside but I could not stop staring and waving at my wife and son. I stared at the blue waters, thought to myself how beautiful and wonderful nature is, and smiled.
"Our quest begins..."