by Bob Kranich
No Name Key, (Part 13, Excerpt 22)
In this part, Our three main characters, Manuel, Hector, and their friend, Enrique, have traveled through the Zapata Swamp and have just made the beach. They are looking for a rescue.
“We’ll cross before they come back, then we’ve only a mile to the beach,” Hector suggested. “What do you think, Enrique?”
“Sounds good!”
Hector commented, “We’d better get going. Along the way keep a lookout for pools of water in old stumps or coral rock formations.”
“There’s a large stump and some water pooled in it. There must have been some logging here,” Hector motioned.
Enrique exclaimed, “There used to be a lot of virgin mahogany timber here. Yep, they logged all of the big trees.”
“It doesn’t look like much,” Hector exclaimed. “But if you put these two chlorine tablets in your canteens and shake it up, in a half of an hour it will be all right to drink.”
“There’s the water,” Manuel pointed.
They could faintly see the far shore about four miles across the bay through the mangroves. Enrique waded through the mangroves and exclaimed, “I see the Houston beached and to the south way out there the smoke from Grion. (Blue Beach)”
He waded back. “Guys, here is what I think we should do. Go back to where it’s dry. Move farther down, another mile, eat our plantains and sleep. First thing in the morning we’ll go out past the mangroves, and look for a boat to save us.”
At first light they waded out past the mangroves.
“Look! Out there!” Hector said. “A big boat!”
“It’s a destroyer, an American,” Enrique said enthusiastically, “Let’s see if we can wade out to those reefs, and wave our shirts.”
The sun broke out through the clouds. The three men kept wading and waving their shirts. From the destroyer, a boat started to head their way. They got to the small coral reefs sticking out of the water. They climbed up on the rocks. The boat came closer. They started to leave the rocks and wade towards the small boat fast approaching. As it drew closer they could see two of their Cuban frogmen. Then a guy with a short-sleeved tan shirt and sunglasses started to stand up.
Thank you Lord!” Hector exclaimed.
Manuel was aroused from his daydreaming stupor by a sudden jerk on his pole. He yanked it to set the hook and pulled hard. His pole bent double. He could see as he fought the monster that it was a clunker of a Red Snapper. As far back as he could remember it was the largest fish he had ever hooked off this dock. He started to get the better of the snapper, and as it got close to him he slipped his net under and brought it up.
As he proudly surveyed his upcoming meal, he suddenly got recall. He remembered. There was a guy sketching me. I thought he was a phantom from the past. I guess he must have been just an artist tourist. At least he only sketched me from the back. Well, he’s gone. Thank the good Lord!
From the Author:
This story is purely fictitious. Any resemblance to any person living or dead is purely coincidental. The Bay of Pigs invasion, environment and activities are referenced by the books in the glossary.
In no way is this story meant to take anything away from the Cuban Freedom Fighters of Brigade 2506. They fought bravely against tremendously overwhelming odds and put up a fantastic showing. They surrendered when they ran out of ammunition. They were fighting for democracy and freedom for their country. What they did not know is that unfortunately, the action was doomed before it started. If you read the books referenced, you will see that there is enough blame to go around for the government planners and people in control. You can draw your own conclusions. I pray that the men who died in this action did not die in vain, and some day the Cuban people will be truly free.
No Name Key, (Part 13, Excerpt 22)
In this part, Our three main characters, Manuel, Hector, and their friend, Enrique, have traveled through the Zapata Swamp and have just made the beach. They are looking for a rescue.
“We’ll cross before they come back, then we’ve only a mile to the beach,” Hector suggested. “What do you think, Enrique?”
“Sounds good!”
Hector commented, “We’d better get going. Along the way keep a lookout for pools of water in old stumps or coral rock formations.”
“There’s a large stump and some water pooled in it. There must have been some logging here,” Hector motioned.
Enrique exclaimed, “There used to be a lot of virgin mahogany timber here. Yep, they logged all of the big trees.”
“It doesn’t look like much,” Hector exclaimed. “But if you put these two chlorine tablets in your canteens and shake it up, in a half of an hour it will be all right to drink.”
“There’s the water,” Manuel pointed.
They could faintly see the far shore about four miles across the bay through the mangroves. Enrique waded through the mangroves and exclaimed, “I see the Houston beached and to the south way out there the smoke from Grion. (Blue Beach)”
He waded back. “Guys, here is what I think we should do. Go back to where it’s dry. Move farther down, another mile, eat our plantains and sleep. First thing in the morning we’ll go out past the mangroves, and look for a boat to save us.”
At first light they waded out past the mangroves.
“Look! Out there!” Hector said. “A big boat!”
“It’s a destroyer, an American,” Enrique said enthusiastically, “Let’s see if we can wade out to those reefs, and wave our shirts.”
The sun broke out through the clouds. The three men kept wading and waving their shirts. From the destroyer, a boat started to head their way. They got to the small coral reefs sticking out of the water. They climbed up on the rocks. The boat came closer. They started to leave the rocks and wade towards the small boat fast approaching. As it drew closer they could see two of their Cuban frogmen. Then a guy with a short-sleeved tan shirt and sunglasses started to stand up.
Thank you Lord!” Hector exclaimed.
Manuel was aroused from his daydreaming stupor by a sudden jerk on his pole. He yanked it to set the hook and pulled hard. His pole bent double. He could see as he fought the monster that it was a clunker of a Red Snapper. As far back as he could remember it was the largest fish he had ever hooked off this dock. He started to get the better of the snapper, and as it got close to him he slipped his net under and brought it up.
As he proudly surveyed his upcoming meal, he suddenly got recall. He remembered. There was a guy sketching me. I thought he was a phantom from the past. I guess he must have been just an artist tourist. At least he only sketched me from the back. Well, he’s gone. Thank the good Lord!
From the Author:
This story is purely fictitious. Any resemblance to any person living or dead is purely coincidental. The Bay of Pigs invasion, environment and activities are referenced by the books in the glossary.
In no way is this story meant to take anything away from the Cuban Freedom Fighters of Brigade 2506. They fought bravely against tremendously overwhelming odds and put up a fantastic showing. They surrendered when they ran out of ammunition. They were fighting for democracy and freedom for their country. What they did not know is that unfortunately, the action was doomed before it started. If you read the books referenced, you will see that there is enough blame to go around for the government planners and people in control. You can draw your own conclusions. I pray that the men who died in this action did not die in vain, and some day the Cuban people will be truly free.
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