Wilson’s Back – WooHoo – me, the Dalai Lama & Jack Nicholson

But the General is missing.!!!

It’s Sunday morning. This morning. Today.

Last Sunday morning, Easter morning, I woke up to a nice little campfire out front.

Wilson made it. He was sitting in his camp chair, next to Ashley. Goddam it was great to see him.

“Hey you,” I yelled out. We hugged.

“Where in the world you been?” Standard Wilson answer, “U know”.

Then I asked him if ‘the General’ was here too.

“No.” “I thought he’d be here when we got here”, replied Wilson.

I told him the Rossi Brothers and Companies ‘B’ & ‘C’ were here.

BUT, … NO General. Or Tonto. Or ‘A’ Company, the Generals personal guard.

Wilson said he last saw them 3 days earlier. On the other side of the Thompson Pass.

A very small, uneasy, concerned look came over us. But, then again, we knew not to be TOO concerned. After all, he didn’t become a general by being stupid. Or careless. Or weak.

By this time the troops were ‘up-and-Adam’. And you didn’t have to wonder too hard when you saw the Rossi brothers in front of the men givin’ orders, drawing plans out in the dirt, what was the next order of business.

“Fast Eddie” from ‘C’ Company was already on his way. As was Private Benjamin. The two best ‘point men(woman)’ in this man’s army. Actually, Wilson’s Army. (I still did not know he had an army.)

‘B’ Company was to take the East Ridge. Through a small pass that led east to Thompson Valley. And come up behind the General. Hopefully.

‘C’ Company was gonna ‘backtrack’ south along the West Ridge. Just a little ways up the hillside. This way they could spot anybody along the Summit Valley floor.

The General didn’t move “loudly”, but, he wasn’t surreptitious either. After all, he was ‘the General’. And ya don’t wanna mess w/ ‘the General’. Ever!

As quickly as they gathered, they were gone. Even ‘Cookie’ went. The men loved their General.

Everyone was on the same page – “find the General”.

The rest of us settled back around the fire. To wait. And try ‘n’ pry some news and stories outta Wilson. About where he and Ashley had been keeping themselves. How they met up w/ the General.

Hell, how Wilson and Ashley met in the first place.

You see, Wilson is the ‘silent type’. So getting anything outta him is like pulling teeth. Every now-and-again, Ashley would speak up. But, just as quickly she knew to make it short and sweet.

So we waited. And waited …