I dropped the stern in and tied a line from the gunnel to a near by tree. “I guess they made it to the river's edge.” We finished loading the canoe, untied and paddled downstream. We could hear an occasional splash of water coming from behind. When we got to the woodpecker tree, I was not surprised to see Ben in his old canoe floating in a backwater eddy. We drifted down behind him and followed him to the
inlet of his small floating bog. I don't know how he did it but the mouth of the stream that Ben's cabin was on was now hidden with a small island of floating marsh grass. We slipped behind the island and waited.
The same three-man team we had seen before appeared on the river in a dark green inflatable raft. They were not paddling but were using a small electric motor. Ten minutes after they passed, we paddled up stream to Ben's cabin and unloaded his supplies.
Tabby's first comment about the cabin was, “How cozy."
Fighting back laughter, “It is, isn't it.” I couldn't tell what was cooking in the pot because Ben had it covered. But whatever it was it smelled great. This time Tabby got the coffee cup while Ben and I drank ours out of soup cans.
Ben announced, “Lunch is ready. We can have more coffee when we finish eating."
I don't know where Ben pulled the carved wooden bowls from but before we had a chance to speak he pulled something from the pot and gave a bowl full to each of us. It looked like a stew of some kind.
Dark white, green, and brown lumps were sitting in a thick gravy.
“Do you have spoons?"
“Just use your knives to poke the chunks out and you can drink the broth from the bowl. Bon appetite."
I started laughing so hard my sides hurt. I stabbed a chunk of meat with my puukko and plopped it in my mouth. It melted with savory richness. There were at least three different kinds of meat in the stew and four vegetables. The only items in the stew I think I recognized were a mushroom and a cattail root. All three of us ended the meal by slurping up the remaining dredges of the stew from the side of our bowls.
It was time to head back. We had let the surveillance team spend about three hours looking for us on the river. I got up and on cue we all went back to the canoes. Laughing Tabby said, “Great meal Uncle Ben.
I will make the next one.” She then planted a big wet kiss on Ben and climbed into the canoe.
We paddled back to the hidden stream mouth with Ben following in his canoe. We waited behind the floating island for an hour, until we heard splashing from down stream. The rubber raft soon appeared with the three men awkwardly trying to paddle it against the current.
After waiting for ten minutes, we said goodbye to Ben and paddled up stream ourselves. We soon caught up to the raft.
I had to rub it in. “Nice day? Isn't it great being out on the water on a beautiful fall day like today?"
“Oh ... Hi. Ya. It is a nice day."
“Been fishing?"
“No, just ... ah ... checking out the river ... ah ... for ... ah ... hunting?"
“Okay, see you."
We soon got to the landing and pulled the canoe from the water. We had no trouble turning our backs on the men because we knew Ben would be watching. The raft just made it to the landing by the time we were finished.
* * * *
Felix confronted Zimmerman. “Harry, it isn't working. Karpinen knows we are watching. He is playing with us."
“Orders are to observe from a distance and not to contact. You have to do better."
“How? His uncle is helping him. You've read his file. He is just about the best there is in the woods. We can't get close without them knowing."
“Orders. Just follow orders."
Felix left for his team. Todd and Sam were waiting. “Harry wouldn't budge."
“Damn. Well at least we get a lot of fresh air,” said Sam.
“The fresh air I don't mind. It is when it comes with rain that I have a problem,” replied Todd.
Felix broke in, “Why did you have to remind me that the forecast for tomorrow is for rain?"
Wet and miserable the day of watching the house came to a close as the grad students piled into their cars and left. Felix stood, brushing the branch he had been sitting under. Water spilled off the remaining leaves and dribbled between his neck and collar. As the cold water sent wet chills down his back, Felix repeated, “Damn, damn, damn, damn."
Stamping his cold numb feet, Felix said, “That's it.” He headed across the open field to the house. Todd and Sam followed only in a slightly better mood. When he got to the front door of the house, he knocked. The door opened.
“Finally decided to introduce yourselves."
“Look, Mr. Karpinen. You know we are here and we know you know. Can't we work something out?" “Want to come in?"
“Can't. I ‘m already disobeying orders by talking to you. If I come inside and my boss finds out, I will be gone."
“Okay. How about you spread a tarp and set up a small camp just inside of the tree line? That will make things a little more comfortable."
“Thanks. That will help."
After the men left, I snuggled into the living room couch with Tabby. “I think it is time I called someone about those men watching us. Do you have any ideas on who to contact?"
“Ben was pretty sure they were FBI. Why don't you just call them? But can't you do that tomorrow?” Tabby slipped her hand between the buttons on my shit. Little chills went up and down my body.
“Tomorrow will be soon enough."
* * * *
Riley got the transcribed phone conversation that the FBI director had with Karpinen the next day. He reviewed the analysis of Karpinen from the select committee and decided that it was time to make limited contact. He buzzed his secretary. “Get me Daniel Karpinen on the phone."
“Hello. Mr. Karpinen."
“This is Thomas Riley from the National Security Council. We have been observing you for the last few months because we have information that assets outside of the United States might have an interest in you and your work.
“I am sorry if this has inconvenienced you and I hope you will cooperate with our continued observation. We will be as discrete as possible."
“Look Mr. Riley, I can't stop you from watching but before you get cooperation you will have to give me more information."
“I am sorry Daniel but I can not give you any more information."
“It is Mr. Karpinen until or if you are straight enough with me to prove I can trust you Thomas."
“Mind if I get back to you a little later?"
“Take your time. Maybe you should come out here so we can meet face to face."
“I will think about it. Goodbye Mr. Karpinen."
“Goodbye Mr. Riley."
“Tabby. That was a Mr. Riley from the National Security Council. I think it is time to take a break from our gravity work and take a look at what is going on around us."
“Makes sense. Why don't I go to the shed and use the workstation there to start poking around and you use your computer to find out about this Riley? We can meet back here for supper. I will send the grad students home for the next few days."
“Good idea. We are nearly done with the YS1 testing. We can give them a week off. Tell them we are exploring a new subject for the next project."
After Tabby left, I decided I needed some concentration music. I placed in the CD player Mozart's Symphony 29 followed by Handel's Water Music and Bach. To pull me out from the computer I decided to go with some female hard rock, Scandal, Pat Benatar, and Joan Jett.
By the end of Mozart, I knew that Thomas Riley was the real National Security Advisor to the President. By the time Bach finished, I knew about something major happening with NASA, the Air Force, and the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works. Tabby was rubbing my back and Joan Jett was singing about hating herself when something clicked.