Floating Runway
As soon as the aircraft carrier was within view, Captain Malcolm called the private line of Captain Martins who had looked forward to seeing Preye. Sir, I think it would be wise if Preye accompanies us to the Orchard metropolis since he knows a lot about the Pearl Base and the Oily Lands in general, Malcolm said. Where is Preye right now, asked Captain Martins. He stayed back to help the crew rescued from the sea, replied Malcolm.
Get to him as fast as you can and bring him along to the carrier, because that boy is returning with us to the West, ordered Captain Martins. Yes Sir, replied Captain Malcolm with a wide smile spreading across his face. They got to the aircraft and boarded, after they had fastened their inflatable boats to the wooden boat of the Oily Lands crew. In less than no time, they were airborne and covered the distance to the village in a few minutes.
Preye missed the crew members and regretted not going with them, but at the same time Happy that Gods Word was being proclaimed in the Oily Lands and several juju priests accepted Christ as their Lord and Personal Saviour and had their shrines and its contents burned to the ground. As for HIV awareness and family planning or birth control, the people are aware of STDs and the campaign had been gaining acceptance in the regions of Oily Lands. The only thing that gave him much concern was the fetish priest that confessed and brought a talking tortoise that
Preyes thought was checked as he heard a familiar sound. He looked across the Atlantic and saw an unmistakable figure screaming with its usual strength, its arms spread apart and it was heading towards Preyes direction. Obviously in a few seconds it will catch up with Preye, so he decided to get out of the water as fast as possible, because the wave will soon cover the pillar he sat on, splashing and ebbing against shore. It slowed to a halt and the waves subdued the pillar.
Preye smiled and after a minute of hesitation, he jumped into the water and ran towards the unmistakable figure as Captain Malcolm and his crew ran toward him. They all hugged each other, falling into the bank of the ocean and running up to stay ahead of the waves. I was just thinking about you guys, said Preye. We saw you from a distance, replied a member of the crew.
I thoughts you guys had abandoned me and your promises in regards to the West, Preye said. As a matter of fact we do not have time, so let us see the Chief and get his permission to leave with you, Malcolm said. I own myself and not the Chief, remember, Preye said with his usual mischievous smile. I know but we are leaving for the Orchard metropolis with Captain Martins, and the State Controller whom you claim to be a Western President in disguise, will host us, replied Captain Malcolm.
Unbelievable, God is faithful enough to turn everything around to my advantage, Preye screamed. Tell the Chief in summary and promise we will see him before we leave or he will organize a send-forth ceremony that will last for three days, so its best we do as I say, Preye concluded. Always a thoughtful young man replied Captain Malcolm and they walked towards the kings palace. Any mystery as a result of the deliverance brought about by the missionaries, a member of the crew asked. A tortoise talked, replied Preye but I do not want to talk about it. They all laughed but when they saw the expressions on Preyes face, they knew it was not a laughing matter.
After promises made to the king and a large bowl of unripe plantain pepper soup, they left with Preye for the aircraft. The trip to the aircraft carrier was filled with fun and he narrated the events that occurred during their absence. What do you have to say about the talking tortoise, asked a member of the crew? I still do not want to talk about it, replied Preye.
The silence lasted for some minutes, and Preye exclaimed in excitement. Wow, he screamed and jumped in the aircraft. Is that the aircraft carrier, Preye asked. I do not know, what about you, do you? Answered Captain Malcolm. I know because I have seen one in a movie, replied Preye. After clearance was received from the air traffic controller, the aircraft landed on the carrier.
The commanding officer in charge of the carrier, whose uniform revealed to be a top naval officer, came forward to receive them to the carrier. I am Captain Martins and these are my lieutenants, and I know you are Preye, the swift-minded boy. I spoke with you on phone the other night, said Captain Martins. Yes Sir, replied Preye.
As they walked on the deck of the aircraft carrier, he saw several hundred more personnel maintain service and in some way working on the aircraft, and several others performs jobs that also support air missions. They walked into the passage ways which were dark and empty, heading towards the hangar bay. They turned to a corner and passed a sailor with a mop in his hand, cleaning the deck. While they passed through the hangar bay, Preye saw a long, serpentine line of people in the cavernous space.
What is going on, Malcolm asked a passing sailor. It is the crew members lined up to take their rank advancement exams, scheduled for today, the sailor replied. Captain Martins led the way into the mess halls. Preye noticed that the television was tuned to the news, but a lot of people were oblivious to it. Life on the aircraft carrier went on more or less as normal, thought Preye.
The roaring of a landing jet made Preye look at the Captains with imploring eyes. Hearing the thunderous roar of jets taking off and landing, which goes on most of every day is something you would learn to keep up with said Captain Martins. It is okay by me, replied Preye. Where do they fly to? He asked. The aircrafts on board this carrier patrols a few no-fly-zone or else flew training missions day and night also, Captain Martins concluded.
So your activities several miles away is like being back home relaxing and watching the television, asked Preye. Something like that, replied Captain Malcolm. Preye, you will have to share a space with a group of young computer technicians said Captain Martins. There is a television in their room and sometimes a movie on one of the ships, three 24-hour film channels is on, instead of the news, the Captain said.
When crew members arent sleeping, chilling or eating, theyre drilling. Life aboard an aircraft carrier is a series of constant drills. When theyre awake on duty, when theyre asleep after a long double shift, when theyre in the shower they do it, theyll find a way to interrupt it with drill.
Often they we work a regular 6 4 PM shift and are then be required to stand watch for hours into their free time, said a marine to a new crew member assigned to him. If youre an officer, these watch hours are taken up by various miscellaneous duties like running your squadrons HR council, which is only in the Western Marine.
Ultimately though, you are required to become intimately familiar with your station and all the duties in the area. Whether you are naughty or nice, youre drilling. Apparently, you get so good at this, that youre able to go from dead sleep to dressed and moving towards your station within the first few gongs alerting you to a potential chemical or nuclear attack and that is not a great way to wake up. You are also able to get from your station to an escape hatch blind, as you may be if the lights of the carrier get hit and you're stuck in the middle of the ship. So critical is this that officers and sailors are required to do this blind folded.
Still not entirely clear on what life aboard a carrier is like? The handy simulation techniques I intend stating to you, will help you to get a better idea of what life is like, said the marine to Preye, who stood beside him:
Buy a dumpster, paint it gray and live in it for 6 months straight. Run all of the piping and wires inside your house on the outside of the walls. Pump 10 inches of nasty, crappy water into your basement, then pump it out, clean up, and paint the basement dark gray. Every couple of weeks, dress up in your best clothes and go scummiest part of town, find the most run down, trashy bar you can, pay close to 10 dollars per beer until youre hammered, then walk home in the freezing cold, the Marine continued his conversation with Preye, who listened without interrupting.
Perform a weekly disassembly and inspection of your lawnmower. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays turn your water temperature up to 200 degrees, then on Tuesday and Thursday turn it down to 10 degrees. On Saturdays, and Sundays declare to your entire family that they used too much water during the week, so all showering is secured.
Raise your bed to within 6 inches of the ceiling. Have your next door neighbor come over each day at 5am, and blow a whistle so loud that people thousands of metres away could hear it and shout Rise and act, rise and act, all hands roll out and flash up.
Have your mother-in-law write down everything shes going to do the following day, then have her make you stand in the back yard at 6am and read it to you. Eat the raunchiest Mexican food you can find for three days straight, then lock yourself out of the bathroom for 12 hours, and hang a sign on the door that reads Secured-contact XB division at Z-3053. Submit a request form to your father-in-law, asking if its ok for you to leave your house before 3pm.
Invite 200 of your not-so-closest friends to come over, then board up all the windows and doors to your house for 6 months. After the 6 months is up, take down the boards, wave at your friends and family through the front window of your homeyou cant leave until the next day you have duty. Shower with above-mentioned friends.
Make your family qualifies to operate all the appliances in your home from Dishwasher operator to blender technician, etc.). Walk around your car for 4 hours checking the tire pressure every 15 minutes. Sit in your car and let it run for 4 hours before going anywhere. This is to ensure your engine is properly lighted off.
Empty all the garbage bins in your house, and sweep your driveway 3 times a day, whether they need it or not. Repaint your entire house once a month. Cook all of your food blindfolded, groping for any spice and seasoning you can get your hands on. Use eighteen scoops of budget coffee grounds per pot, and allow each pot to sit 5 hours before drinking. Have your neighbor collect all your mail for a month, read your magazines, and randomly lose every 5th item. Spend twenty thousand dollars on a satellite system for your TV, but only watch News and Weather Channel. Avoid watching TV with the exception of movies which are played in the middle of the night.
Have the family vote on which movie to watch and then show a different one. Have your 5-year-old cousin give you a haircut with goat shears. Sew back pockets to the front of your pants. Spend 2 weeks in the red-light districts of Europe, and call it global tour. Attempt to spend 5 years working at McDonalds, and NOT get promoted. Ensure that any promotions you do get are from stepping on the dead bodies of your co-workers. Needle gun the aluminum siding on your house after your neighbors have gone to bed.
When your children are in bed, run into their room with a megaphone, and shout at the top of your lungs that your home is under attack, and order them to man their battle stations. "Broad-spectrum stations, all hands man your combat positions" Make your family menu a week ahead of time and do so without checking the pantry and refrigerator. Post a menu on the refrigerator door informing your family that you are having a particular meal for dinner, then make them wait in line for at least an hour, when they finally get to the kitchen, tell them that you are out of food, but you have crackers biscuit, the Marine concluded and scrutinized Preyes face to read his impressions before walking him into the fortress.
Take a crew on a training mission, ordered Captain Martins. Yes Sir, replied Captain Malcolm and left, while a couple of young sailors that introduced themselves as computer technicians directed him to their apartment.
In about forty-five minutes time, Captain Martins sent for Preye who was astonished at what he saw on the screen in Captain Martins office. Giraffes, he screamed, a little excited. Yes, and its being transmitted to us by Captain Malcolm and the crew on a training mission. Preye realized for the first time in his life that the giraffe lives as part of the herd and can be seen in groups ranging from two up to fifty.
Man has proved the biggest threat to giraffe because he seeks out the giraffe for its hide, meat and long black tail hairs and consequently they are included in the endangered species list, said Captain Martins. What of the other predators in the wild asked Preye? The lion is the only real predator in the wild, which sees it as a real source of meat, replied Captain Martins. The only safe place is within the confines of sanctuaries where they are protected, said Preye.
A lot of us, however, will only see this beautiful animal as it pokes it head out of a zoo enclosure, said a sailor present in the office. In that case, you would not be able to appreciate the true grace and skill of the giraffe as it glides across the African bush, concluded Preye.
That is the point we are all making. They all rested their views on the screen and saw a large number of them in the widespread, small rocky hills on the open. Preye admired a giraffe with large, dark eyes which are topped off by two short velvety horns. He noticed that the most outstanding physical feature of the giraffe is its elongated neck, which allows it to reach food sources well beyond the reach of other animals.
They feed on the upper branches of most trees, said Preye. I think it is especially fond of the acacia leaves, said another sailor in the office, who was obviously a botanist. Preye thought it was impossible for a person to identify the leaves from that distance except the man was tired of keeping shut and decided to air his mouth.
It has a uniquely designed prehensile upper lip and a flexible tongue that allows it to pull the leaves off branches that are studded with barbs and needle sharp thorn so this makes it possible for the giraffe to consume as much as thirty four kilograms of food each day, the man concluded.
I was right in regards to my guess about botany, Preye thought. Wow, the neck is as flexible as it is as long, he exclaimed, when he saw a giraffe maneuvers itself into all manner of contortions to get at its food high, up in the upper branches in the trees.
In recent times, scientists were surprised to learn that the incredibly long neck of the giraffe actually contains the same number of vertebrae as most of the other mammals, including human and that is seven. The vertebrae of giraffe however are uniquely designed in a ball and socket joint which provides for its amazing flexibility, said Captain Martins.
They all watched the creatures display itself in another graceful manner, as a result of the distance covered by the aircraft of Captain Malcolm and his crew. The giraffes slowly spread their front legs apart and then bending both knees they easily reached down to take a drink, stretching their necks to full extension. Will permission be granted for us to use this as part of the movie I had in mind, asked Preye. Let us keep our fingers crossed, replied Captain Martins.