Retribution by Dave O'Connor

way.”
    “That was your wife Sir?”
    “Yes, she’s been gone nearly three years now.” The effects of the alcohol had now moved to depressant. There was sadness in Phil’s expression that Dave had never seen. “You know, work’s not enough, is it?”
    Dave shook his head. In a soft voice he said “No it’s not Sir. That reminds me Rihan and I would like to have kids. Could you give her a staff posting?”
    “Aagh… so that what it was about earlier?” Dave nodded. “You have proved to be a good team though. Are you both sure about this?”
    “Yeah we’re both sure.”
    “I’ll have to find you a new XO. What about Aubrey Bellard?”
    “We promised her an independent command, remember?”
    “So we did, but exigencies of war and all that.”
    “I would not like to be the person to tell her that.”
    “No… me neither. Besides the first of the Phantom class should be ready soon and she would make a fine commander of it I’m sure.” Phil pondered for a bit and then said “Leave it with me Dave. I’ll do my best. I need to go to bed now.”
    “Of course Sir. Follow me and I’ll show you your quarters.”
    The Admiral said his good nights and followed Dave out of the mess. They turned right and walked down to the guest room two doors down from Dave’s cabin. Dave opened the door and turned the light on.
    “Bloody hell. This is the Ritz” said Phil. “Is your cabin as good as this?”
    “Better Sir... it has my wife in it.”
    “That was a low cut Dave.”
    “Oh sorry Sir. I wasn’t thinking.”
    “Don’t worry. I envy you Dave. Rihan is a good woman. You are very lucky.”
    “I tell myself that every day.”
    “Good. Don’t stop. OK leave me to it Dave. I’ll see you in the morning. Thanks…for all this” said Phil with a smile.
    “Good night Sir.”

Chapter 13. Resolute at Tumos 0630, 2 June
    Dave awoke early. Rihan was still asleep, when he rose, washed his face and sat for meditation. With his back straight and seated cross legged on his asana (his meditation blanket), he closed his eyes and made his opening invocation, offering up his time, focus, love and gratitude to his guru. He took in three big breaths, exhaling long after each before returning his breath to its normal pace.
    The void was there before his inner eye. Years of practice had made it easy for him to get to this point. Normally he would simply repeat his mantra in time with his breath but instead he opted to pose a question for contemplation. ‘How can we prevent this retribution?’ He repeated it twice and then returned to the mantra and his breath. His mind stilled and with the aid of his focus on the mantra the thoughts stopped. He was hoping for an answer but it never came. He soon found the stillness and peace that he so loved and was lost in its embrace.
    Twenty minutes went by as though they were one. He became aware again of his breath. He remembered the question and for a moment berated his lack of focus but then he remembered his Guru’s teaching that whatever happens in mediation happens for the best. He decided not to fight it but instead made his second invocation, asking that he be taken to the blue garden, to sit in repose at his Guru’s feet, to imbibe her teachings, to share in her state and to revel in the bliss of freedom.
    He always found this such a powerful process. He dropped right through the void and into the blackness. At the focal point the blue light appeared. Initially it was just a small spot but as he maintained his focus it grew larger and sparkled with a beautiful dazzling brilliance. He loved it. He felt bathed in divine light. He was lost in rapture and with an intensity that he had not experienced for a long time.
    Rihan awoke to a series of “hmmm” sounds. She searched for its origin within the darkness of their cabin. Her hand did not find Dave next to her. She smiled as she realised it was him making the noise. He was meditating. She had heard him making this sound