Free Freddy Anderson’s Home: Book 1 by John Ricks Page B

asked Gray.
    “There is a feeling at this point. A small feeling, but something I’ve never seen in any species besides ours.”
    “Hatred? Determination? Spite?”
    “No, master. Love.”
    “Love? Oh, for goodness sake. Pay no attention to any of that trash, and continue.”
    “Yes, master.”

Chapter 11
Admiral Bates
    N ancy walked me to the inn, where the car was waiting. I went to my room to get something and then came back downstairs and got in the car. The kids and half the town were watching. The driver was one of the navy SEALs. I asked her if any of them had gotten into trouble for what happened to me yesterday.
    She looked at me in the rearview mirror and said, “We can handle it. Not to worry.” She showed no emotion, but I could feel her feelings—she liked me. Of course, liking me and not killing me were two different things.
    The ride to the base was short but breathtaking. The road wound around a mountain and from some vistas, I could see the ocean. The base was nestled in a little valley that was nearly filled with buildings. There was a short runway and several planes on the ground. There had to be at least twenty helicopters. The driver told me that the base was a watch for weather and a radar-tracking station. I didn’t interrupt her, but I had already done research on the base and knew exactly why it was located here. The planes were reconnaissance and could spot submarine activity miles away. The helicopters were for everything from rescue to assault. Normally, a captain or some lower-ranking officer ran the base, but this was the admiral’s retirement tour; he had only two years to go until retirement, after a fifty-year career. When we pulled up to the gates, a guard motioned for us to stop. “So this is your babysitting job?” he said to the driver. “Change his diapers yet?”
    I quickly got out of the car and started walking back toward the town. The guard laughed, but the driver got out and came after me.
    “Where do you think you’re going, Dr. Anderson?” she asked in a panic.
    “I’m going back to town,” I said loudly. “Please tell the admiral that the first person I met on the base insulted me, and I no longer wish to see him.” I winked at her, knowing the guard couldn’t see it.
    She smiled and then put on a worried face. “He’s going to be extremely pissed off at someone,” she said in a loud voice.
    “I hope so. I hope he busts that marine down a few notches. You just tell him that his guards don’t care if the president of the United States wants me to see him, so I don’t care either. I was doing this as a favor to the president. I don’t have to check in with anyone.”
    “This could ruin the admiral’s career. Please don’t go.”
    “Look, I don’t know the admiral. As far as I know, this is the way everyone here is going to treat me, including the admiral. I won’t put up with it.” I looked over and could plainly see the guard was getting very worried, so I poured it on. I whispered, “Quick, ask me a favor.”
    She looked back over her shoulder. “Please, Dr. Anderson. I’ll get into trouble too. Please don’t do this.”
    “Well, I don’t want you to get into trouble so   … well, okay.” She looked at me strangely, as if to say, “That’s it?” I winked at her again. We walked back to the car slowly. Just before getting back into the car, I said, “I think you’re right. It’s much better to tell off the admiral to his face and then go back to town.” I took my time getting in the car and buckling my seat belt. When we pulled away, the guard was almost white with fear.
    As soon as we drove around the corner, she pulled the car over long enough to have a good laugh. She said, “I think that’s the first time I’ve ever seen that sergeant tremble, much less turn white!”
    I smiled but said, “I wasn’t joking.”
    “I don’t understand. He’ll be in fear for days. You don’t really need to tell the admiral.”
    “I was