Millennial Hospitality III

The Road Home

Preview

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… After a couple more minutes passed, the numbness finally left my throat and I found myself just barely able to speak. Addressing the Captain in a hoarse voice, I asked respectfully, "Am I going to die?"

The Captain, still wearing his pleasant expression and speaking louder now, answered simply, "Yes. It was an accident. My daughter’s instrument was not set correctly."

Stunned, I was preparing to ask another question when the Captain continued, "Do not speak. It only makes it worse. You should run to your truck, if you can. That will let you die in a soft place. Your government will come for your body after sundown." … Chapter #4

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… There was only time enough for me to look at my watch, 12:23 a.m. before the attack siren sounded. There was no use running. I knew where the shells would land. Slowly I took hold of the nearest chair and quietly sat down. I sat there crying, my helmet falling to the floor, my head in my hands, my heart sick, wishing God had picked me instead of him. The second shell gave an unusual, muffled sound. The other thirty-five shells all landed in the swamp. … Chapter #15

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… I boarded the bus to Binh Thuy. As I waved goodbye to my little friend who was standing alone, in the distance by the orphanage, I wondered how many Americans came to Can Tho to feed the orphans, and how many came to make them. … Chapter #13

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…It slowly came towards my weather shack, rotating to my left as it did so. This maneuver left it not more than an eighth of a mile from me, and I could see its entire left hand side. Now, facing northwest, and sideways to me, it began slowly and silently passing by. Up on top of the vehicle in the front, where the left hand front running light should have been, was a gaping hole, perhaps ten feet across. A large rectangular sheet of the thin outer metal surface next to the hole was draped down over the side, perhaps concealing additional damage. At the time, I guessed that the large craft had experienced some type of meteor damage while traveling out in the deep space that exists between the stars. There wasn’t much to be seen when I looked through the windows into its darkened interior. A few of the rooms underneath the gaping hole appeared to have been storage rooms and were now filled with wreckage…. Chapter #1