out?” Red asked.
“Sure, Red. Lights out. Frost, how long has it been?”
“Fifty-one minutes. ‘Fore we load up, have an observation to think ‘bout,” Frost said, his hand solicitously cupped around my elbow. “When ‘lights out’ you sometimes start signing when translating. Inconsistent. Sudden shift ‘tween ASL ‘n not, could alert observers—cause ‘em to watch you closer.”
I squeezed my eyes closed in frustration. It’s a good thing Red and I haven’t been out alone these last few months. With the holidays and the PreClan software deadline, most of our mental communication has been at the house, or in controlled situations where a trusted person was with us, such as Gil. Super Spy, I’m not.
“You bring up a good point, Frost. David, Bas, Gil and I, use an abbreviated form of American Sign Language to communicate amongst ourselves when we work at the police department. I don’t think to use my hands when I see through Red, but I’ve noticed, also, when I’m in the dark again, there’s a tendency to sign while translating, regardless of where I am. So much learning for me in the next few months. Are you sure you guys want to tackle the Team Red assignment? A lot of bad habits to work out of my system.”
“Think I speak for all,” there was a pause, as I assumed Frost made eye contact with each of the team to verify their assent. “We’re where we want to be. Where our strengths lie. Challenges jus’ makes it more int’restin’. Keeps us vigilant.”
“Frost is right, Teresa,” Fritz added. “This gives us tasks to work on, and issues to focus on. Keeps our brains active to find solutions to your unusual circumstances. I’m looking forward to finding ways to help you and Red maintain your secret while still providing services to help Uncle Sam, as well as the community.”
“I’m thinking I should sit in on the ASL lessons, too,” said one of the guys, Eddie, I think. “Are you learning visually, through Red?”
“No, I’m learning without Red’s help. We’ve found he gets a headache from the intense staring needed to watch TV and videos, but he’s been attending our lessons. He’s getting pretty good at it, and has started correcting Ken, on occasion. Gil is fluent, as his dad is deaf. Bas and David’s unit learned in the military as an experimental form of communication while they were on missions. Now with Ken and Janey back from vacation, we will probably resume our informal classes a few times per week. David and Bastian also work with me daily to reinforce the lessons, as well as train me on the abbreviated format we use when working.”
“If this is the form of communication Team Red has been using, then we need the whole detail watching the videos and attending the daily lessons with David or Bas.” Russ sounded distracted, and I imagined he was writing himself a note on the iPad he carried with him everywhere.
“I’m going back with Fritz,” Red announced. “The seats are already folded down on one side so I can have a window.”
“Okay Red. See you at the house. It appears Red is deserting me in favor of a window seat,” I told the guys as we slid into our vehicle.
“More likely, it’s the bag of beef jerky Fritz carries in his coat pocket,” Jaspar tattled.
I had to grin. I’ve been deserted for stringy, dry meat and a better view.
“Come on, Top Dog. Load up,” Russ directed.
Before the last door of the other SUV closed, I heard Fritz’ puzzled, “Where the hell did I leave my coffee? Coulda sworn it was right here…” The remainder of the sentence was cut off with a slam of the car door.
“I smell a conspiracy,” Red snickered in my mind. Undoubtedly, he caught Frost’s scent in the wrong vehicle and made the correct assumption—the cup had been pilfered. A chuckle to my right suggested Frost had heard Fritz also. Yep, he’s definitely my favorite
“Sure, Red. Lights out. Frost, how long has it been?”
“Fifty-one minutes. ‘Fore we load up, have an observation to think ‘bout,” Frost said, his hand solicitously cupped around my elbow. “When ‘lights out’ you sometimes start signing when translating. Inconsistent. Sudden shift ‘tween ASL ‘n not, could alert observers—cause ‘em to watch you closer.”
I squeezed my eyes closed in frustration. It’s a good thing Red and I haven’t been out alone these last few months. With the holidays and the PreClan software deadline, most of our mental communication has been at the house, or in controlled situations where a trusted person was with us, such as Gil. Super Spy, I’m not.
“You bring up a good point, Frost. David, Bas, Gil and I, use an abbreviated form of American Sign Language to communicate amongst ourselves when we work at the police department. I don’t think to use my hands when I see through Red, but I’ve noticed, also, when I’m in the dark again, there’s a tendency to sign while translating, regardless of where I am. So much learning for me in the next few months. Are you sure you guys want to tackle the Team Red assignment? A lot of bad habits to work out of my system.”
“Think I speak for all,” there was a pause, as I assumed Frost made eye contact with each of the team to verify their assent. “We’re where we want to be. Where our strengths lie. Challenges jus’ makes it more int’restin’. Keeps us vigilant.”
“Frost is right, Teresa,” Fritz added. “This gives us tasks to work on, and issues to focus on. Keeps our brains active to find solutions to your unusual circumstances. I’m looking forward to finding ways to help you and Red maintain your secret while still providing services to help Uncle Sam, as well as the community.”
“I’m thinking I should sit in on the ASL lessons, too,” said one of the guys, Eddie, I think. “Are you learning visually, through Red?”
“No, I’m learning without Red’s help. We’ve found he gets a headache from the intense staring needed to watch TV and videos, but he’s been attending our lessons. He’s getting pretty good at it, and has started correcting Ken, on occasion. Gil is fluent, as his dad is deaf. Bas and David’s unit learned in the military as an experimental form of communication while they were on missions. Now with Ken and Janey back from vacation, we will probably resume our informal classes a few times per week. David and Bastian also work with me daily to reinforce the lessons, as well as train me on the abbreviated format we use when working.”
“If this is the form of communication Team Red has been using, then we need the whole detail watching the videos and attending the daily lessons with David or Bas.” Russ sounded distracted, and I imagined he was writing himself a note on the iPad he carried with him everywhere.
“I’m going back with Fritz,” Red announced. “The seats are already folded down on one side so I can have a window.”
“Okay Red. See you at the house. It appears Red is deserting me in favor of a window seat,” I told the guys as we slid into our vehicle.
“More likely, it’s the bag of beef jerky Fritz carries in his coat pocket,” Jaspar tattled.
I had to grin. I’ve been deserted for stringy, dry meat and a better view.
“Come on, Top Dog. Load up,” Russ directed.
Before the last door of the other SUV closed, I heard Fritz’ puzzled, “Where the hell did I leave my coffee? Coulda sworn it was right here…” The remainder of the sentence was cut off with a slam of the car door.
“I smell a conspiracy,” Red snickered in my mind. Undoubtedly, he caught Frost’s scent in the wrong vehicle and made the correct assumption—the cup had been pilfered. A chuckle to my right suggested Frost had heard Fritz also. Yep, he’s definitely my favorite
Similar Books
