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I found him sitting on the wooden bench in the
courtyard of the house facing the lake. He did not
notice my arrival or the sole of my military boots on
the grass, he was concentrated looking for small
shining bubbles on the water. Beside him, a beer
warmed by spring sun. I stood right behind him to
face him. Since my father was old. His shoulders
looked tired. I turned around and sat on my piece of
the bench.
- Your here? I asked.
-I came to see you, - I said looking also to the water-I
leave tomorrow on a mission and do not know if I will
return. You know how war is.
-You did well to come. When you come back, I will
not be here. Do not be sad, I'll be fine, your mother is
waiting for me and I desire to leave. I have something
for you.
He rose with a bit of a problem and asked me to
follow him. We entered the house. He went to an old
cupboard in the dining room and from there took a
wooden box with gold metal clasp. He reached into
his pocket for a key. He opened the box and asked me
to come to his side. Inside the box were hundreds of
photos. He put his right hand and pulled out a few
that were tied with a green ribbon. He put them in my
hands. I started to look at them, it was all of my
father in uniform, I never knew that he had belonged
to
the
U.S.
Army.
I
looked,
he
left
me to see them in silence. When I finished, I looked
up to ask. His answer was simple.
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It was not my war. I gave up everything for her. It
was your mother who made me understand that it was
not my war.
*********
I woke up with a ray of sun coming through one of
the windows of the ship. A new sun was shining on
me. I had reached my destination. I did not think
twice and putting the diving suit on went outside.
Sunrise began on the Taurus III. The show was
amazing. A sea a deeper blue than the one on planet
earth. Behind me Yellow Mountains began to light up
a reddish sky without clouds covered everything for
miles as far as my eyes allow me to see.
I took the orange syringe I injected the vaccine. I felt
my lungs were broken into pieces, my heartbeat
quickened. My body twisted in pain. Until a black
sand cushioned my fall. I do not know how long I was
there, writhing, convulsing.
My body reacting to the effects of the vaccine. I got
back on my feet. The moment was now or never. I
opened the locks of my diving with my two hands and
lifted the glass hull.
My lungs filled with a breeze that caressed my face. I
started laughing. A crazy laugh, on this new planet.
The Taurus III gave me a fresh start. I was giving it
my first laugh.
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Joseph Thomas
I plopped down on a rock. I tore my uniform, from
this moment I will only be John Paul. I sent a
message thru my intercom to Apollo 918.
*********
The central control room of Apollo 918 was
expecting news. They were all there, waiting for this
mission to be complete, in the main communication
screens suddenly appeared my message:
918 Apollo Cheered with joy and infinite hopeā¦
The End
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Other titles from author
Stories and destinations
narrative
While I make love to you
erotic Narrative
Winter Confessions (Spanish)
poetry
159
Apol o 918 The trip of no return
This book is published by:
Publications editorial Miami in May 2013
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Joseph Thomas
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