Breakfast then to Perpetrator Kneel

Posted on Fri Jan 19th, 2024 @ 3:43am by Reuben Baptiste

1,767 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Bangor or Bust
Location: Eagles Nest Restaurant transitioning to Corner of Washington Street and Oak Street (Bridge), Bangor, Maine
Timeline: 30 August 2010 - 07:00 (7:00 a.m.) to 11:00 (11:00a.m.)

Reuben woke with a start. He had been dreaming again about Afghanistan again and the explosion, he had been dreaming about the helicopter’s coming in for the medevac. He slowly looked about the room as Kenny gently licked his left hand, as if to reassure him he was okay. Still foggy from the dream Reuben tried to remember where he was as it slowly came back to him. He sat up a bit in his sleeping bag, his bed was improvised from a booth bench and two chairs, Kenny had laid on the floor. Reuben now recalled he and Kenny had taken refuge in a restaurant called Eagles Nest. It was on the banks of the Penobscot river and the outskirts of Bangor. He had decided to make land fall yesterday evening to assess the situation in Bangor. Since the day before yesterday he had observed smoke in the general vicinity of Bangor as he navigated the river and made land portage when he needed to avoid those obstacles, he felt the canoe or he himself could not handle. It had been a risky decision to traverse the Penobscot river to Bangor, since he had never travelled it at all, but it got him out of Millinocket and was the easiest way to make it to Bangor and Autumn. He recalled the broken phone conversation they had had, where she stated the group, she was taking down the Penobscot to Bangor had been stopped from returning to Millinocket.

He had contacted best friend, Ryan Domina, who was an air traffic controller at the Millinocket Municipal Airport and requested to use his canoe. He had said he would drop it off and hide it at the West Branch Boat Ramp. He then proceeded to tell Rueben how to get there. Just before he hung up Ryan offered to take Reuben with him and his family to his bugout cabin and bunker, Reuben declined and stated he needed to find Autumn in Bangor.

The night of the 26 August 2010, Reuben and Kenny snuck out of room twenty-six of the Baxter Park Inn and made their way stealthily to the West Branch Boat Ramp. Once there he found the hidden canoe with some minor food supplies and water left behind by his friend. Even though it was late in the night Reuben decided to launch the canoe and leave Millinocket.

Now it was early morning of the 30 August 2010, at least that was what Reuben thought it was, and he was assessing the merits of approaching Bangor. In the distance he thought he heard a helicopter, probably what made me have that nightmare he thought. slowly sliding forward and remaining low, as to minimize his noise and profile he made his way to the kitchen, Kenny shadowing him with very subtle audible clicks of his canine claws. In the kitchen he rummaged around and found some coffee and tea bags. He took the tea bags and coffee, setting the open bag of coffee on the counter, he carefully scooped out some coffee and placed it in a saucepan. He checked to see if the water was still flowing but found it wasn’t. With a sigh he carefully made it back to his backpack and retrieved his CamelBak Stowaway 3L Insulated Reservoir with Reservoir Filter Kit filtered by LifeStraw and returned to the kitchen. He then checked to see if the gas stove still worked and was pleasantly surprised when it lit up. Pouring some water from his CamelBak into the saucepan with the coffee he set it on the burner. Next, he walked over to the Freezer and gently opened it. He was surprised when cool air wafted out. He looked at the freezers thermometer and the needle was on 32 degrees Fahrenheit. He figured the frozen food was slowly dethawing and that was why it was still relatively cool. He walked in and saw seafood of all types, hamburger, hot dogs, bacon, and even veal. He grabbed some bacon, hamburger, scallops, shrimp and lobster. He then went to the refrigeration unit and slowly opened it; it was relatively warmer than the freezer. Inside he found some wilting lettuce, cabbage, and other vegetables. There was a bonus though, eggs. He quickly grabbed these and went back out to the kitchen. As the coffee slowly boiled, he turned on the other burners and began to make a breakfast for himself and Kenny. “Well, boy guess it’s a good thing I watch all those cooking show competitions on television. Making us a hodgepodge breakfast." Once he had made them both a meal, he retrieved Kenny’s food bowl and placed some scrambled eggs a piece of bacon crumbled up, four diced up shrimp and two diced up scallops, then added a helping of ground beef. He stirred it all up and placed it by Kenny’s water bowl. He then placed his extra-large four egg omelet on a plate. “Bon appétit, my furry buddy. We enter into the lair of the dragon today.” the two ate their food.

When they finished eating Reuben crabbed walked over to the window he had jimmied the night before and looked out, the canoe was still where he left it, smoke was still rising from Bangor, otherwise he saw nothing else of major interest. With a sigh he turned to Kenny “Well little dude, seems like it is time to leave this little paradise and finish the push into Bangor proper.” Kenny’s tail just swished. “I know, but we can only hope for the best, and be prepared for the worst. If we do not find Autumn then our next move will be to find Dalton at the USCGA in New London, Connecticut. Long road ahead of us.” With that Reuben quickly repacked his backpack and sleeping bag. He went back to the kitchen and grabbed the unsealed coffee and tea bags, unsealed packets of sugar and cream. He found a container that had a sealable lid and placed some eggs in it, using dish towels, paper towels and napkins to padded them. He got a total of sixteen eggs. Returning to his backpack he added these items and a thing of ketchup, mustard, and Tabasco sauce. He then packed Kenny’s food and water bowls in his saddle bags. He took out his tennis ball and played a few rounds of fetch then tucked it back in with his pull rope. He placed Kenny’s work vest on with the saddle bags. Out of remorse he wrote a quick note and took Two hundred dollars out of his wallet, like money will matter any time soon he thought, he then set it next to the cash register. Making his way back to the jimmied window he looked out and saw nothing of concern. He slowly opened the window, then lowered Kenny out. He next lowered his backpack out the window. He then slide out and reached up and closed the window.

Picking his pack up he whispered to Kenny “No lead buddy, stay next to me and we will get back in the canoe.” With that they made it to where he had hidden the canoe. He looked about and slowly dragged it to the edge of the riverbank. He placed his backpack in the canoe and helped Kenny in. He then pushed the canoe out and slowly began to make his way down the river. After a slow, deliberate and cautious time he came upon a railroad bridge followed by an automobile bridge. He could make out several figures behind a barricade. He aimed the canoe towards the bank and landed it. Getting out Kenny jumping out next to him he dragged the canoe up on the bank. In the distance he could hear voices. He pulled his backpack over his shoulders and grabbed his Multi-Functional Tactical Axe and made his way up the embankment.

He was dressed in his usual outfit; DCU’s with his blouse having the rank of Master Sergeant on both sleeves, above the left stripes was a SERE INSTRUCTOR SCROLL, and above it SOWT Duty tab Identifier. Above the left breast pocket was the U.S. Air Force name tag, and above that he had placed a Retired name tag. Above these he wore his Master Parachutist Badge with a bronze star on each wing, Military Freefall Parachutist Badge, and Military Diver qualification badge. Above his right breast pocket was his name tag, Baptiste. His Bonnie hat on providing shade for his sensitive eyes. Around his neck a desert shemagh. He wore his hair long and loose to his shoulders and had a scruffy looking beard and mustache. Finally, he had on a pair of wrap around eyeglasses with an extremely dark grey tint. These hide some of the scars on his face. Around his left wrist he held Kenny’s lead. Kenny was wearing his desert camouflage service animal vest.

He was meet by two men wearing Police uniforms backed up by two men in military fatigues. “Hold it up right there.” shouted one of the cops. Reuben stopped. “Place that axe down and take off your backpack” instructed the police officer. Reuben very gently laid his axe down then slowly set his backpack down, all the while cooing at Kenny and whispering calming words toward him. “Now get on your knees and cross your legs, then place your hands behind your head.” Again, Reuben complied. “Kenny lie down and be good.” stated Reuben as he watched the four in front of him. “Who are you?” asked the police officer who seemed to be the leader. “My name is Reuben Baptiste, the dog is Kenny, my service animal. We are just travelers come to Bangor looking for a friend of mine.” he replied. The officer asked, “Where did you come from?” Reuben smiled, “I was born and live in Rozet, Wyoming. I think though you want to know where I come from recently. Well, I landed at Presque Isle International Airport. Kenny and I then walked to Millinocket. I was supposed to meet my friends there, however one of them was guiding a rafting group to Bangor when she stated they were not allowed to return. So, my other friend provided me his canoe and I made my way here on the river.” The officer nodded, “Rich call this in and see what they want us to do with this gentleman.” “Roger that boss.” replied the other officer. Reuben sat there in the heat as he waited for the response.

 

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