Jim Talbert Whistling in Chicago

The home is located in one of the largest ports in Tampa Bay, Florida. It’s a three story home with ornate doors, stone carved statues, stained glass windows and a long driveway leading to a circular one with a three-tier standing fountain in the center surrounded by a rose garden. Tall, thin, intricately designed spruces line both sides of the driveway, making a clear shot from a sniper nearly impossible. Mature, wide trees on both sides of the front entrance make the rear of the house private. Behind the house is a large pool with a tiled swan on the bottom. It has a two level patio and a number of shaded areas created from high extensions jutting from the house. A winding staircase leads down to a one-hundred-and-fifty-foot Burgess Yacht tied to a private dock. There are also a number of smaller, yet luxurious fishing yachts tied to the same dock, along with a number of fast cigarette boats.…………………………………………… Jim, still clenching his fist, says under his breath, “You son of a bitch. I’m gonna fucking clear up this shit here and now!” Jim hits the general squarely in the jaw, and the general flies back against the brick wall. A bright red line of blood flows from the corner of his mouth. Jim leans forward and angrily adds, “I remember how you ran your fucking show. I killed a child because of it, you fucking son of a bitch!” Jim stands back up and screams, “This is my fucking show, asshole!” Jim turns around and walks a few steps away from the general. “We had orders!” the general says as he wipes the blood from his chin. Jim turns around and screams back, “Fuck you and your order . . . General!” Jim faces the general and in a lowered voice adds, “You know, I know you had orders to kill me if I didn’t kill her. Tell me something, general. Why didn’t you just fucking kill me then?” Tears flow from Jim’s eyes. You can see the fire and rage of hell itself rise within his narrowing eyes. Jim steps back and adds in a tearful . . . angry voice, “Why didn’t you just fucking kill me then. I would have been better off, you fucking bastard!”……………. ………………………..Viper looks at Snowman and says, “You know, Jim looks different, I don’t know how, just different.” Snowman smiles, “What you see not Jim, it is old friend, it is the true Snake, so be careful.” Viper continues to look at Snowman as they near Snake, her mask on her face hiding a surprisingly curious look in her eyes. Surely she is aware of the dual personalities that many Special Ops members shared in common. Then again, she was from a different age than Snake and Snowman. Perhaps they didn’t suffer from such things as PTSD symptoms. In any case, she was about to get a crash course in the abruptness of Snake, and his temper as well. As soon as they got close, Snake screams, “Viper, what the fuck was that out there?” Viper stops and replies, “I wasn’t sure, so I……” Snake jumps from the cans and says, “You fucking waited until the targets you were supposed to be protecting got shot!” Viper is about to clarify but Snake quickly added, “Fuck! I thought you were a professional. I think you’ve been out of the field for far too long . . . you fucking rookie.” Snowman can only smile as Snake, the Snake he knows, has suddenly reappeared before his very eyes. Viper attempts to calm Jim down by saying, “But Jim, you told me to be sure before I took someone out. Remember the incident with the punk in the street that one day?” Snake takes a few steps closer, gets inches from her face, “I never told you to let my people get shot.” He looks at Snowman and adds, “Snowman . . . get this poor excuse of a pissant out of my sight, Now!” Snowman takes Viper by the arm and starts to lead her away from Snake. As they walk away, Snake adds, “And get a fucking meeting with Kasey and the general, and I want everything on this Stockholm’s fucker as well, tomorrow night, 2200 hundred hours.” Snowman turns his head, “You got it, Snake, 2200.” Viper looks at Snowman and says, “What the fuck was that all about?” Snowman quietly replies, “You meet Snake. The Snake I know from many years. You go home, I help Snake secure.” Viper looks back, “But what about the Cobra? Snowman shrugs his shoulders, “Your other pilot, he take care, no?” Viper replies in a disappointed tone, “Yea, I guess he can. Hell, he probably has more air time than I have anyway. Snake was right about one thing, it has been a while since I’ve been at the controls of a Cobra like that.” Snowman smiles, “Good, you go home now relax and come to meeting tomorrow. It gonna be a good time, I think.”…………….. ……………………………………….. I smile and finish gathering my things, then say, “You’re such a bastard Snowman, you’re such a bastard.” Snowman replies as he puffs on his cigar, “Yes, I know. So…. decide what we do, boss?” I look around the room one more time, “I think so Snowman, I think so; and you?” Snowman slaps me on my back and replies loudly, “I go where you go, we team, remember?” I can only smile and chuckle a bit, “Yea, we do make a good team, don’t we. I guess I was right all along, some things never do change.”