Who'd o thought in'38 ...

You'll have to read episodes X and XI to pick up the thread



XIII Clandestine Stuff... The Laird Jake

The Jake turned west and we headed in
Down Panlico sound then on the Pungo
Fog knew a spot in Belhaven
Some manor house was where we'd go

River Forest Manor in all its glory
The house was there on our starboard side
We tied to the pier and found a lorry
To take the guys for a night train ride

Hem, Rick and the other guys
We're hopping the night train for NYC
They'd sure made Ethiopia their prize
They're dander was up yessiree

Hem was goin to report that war
Rick and the guys were starting one
Those Ities better watch out says he
With the Jewish mob they'll be on the run

Fog Jim and me were for the Jake
As back we came bout four AM
A bit the worse for the fifth we had
On the station platform with all the lads

The lorry stopped at the foot of the pier
Three guys step out from under a light
Two were armed with tommy guns
That was enough to give us a fright

The third guy was bigger than the other two
He had a style that spoke of boss
And was dressed the part in midnight blue
He said resist and it would be your loss

The Jake be yours I assume
He looked at me as I answered yep
My officers here are Fog and Jim
The name's Calicoe Joe but then I leapt

My hand was full of Rick's 45
a parting gift when he took his leave
The barrel up against the boss's eyes
We all stood real still you can believe

The boss said slow and quiet like
Boys put up the guns and back up a bit
We'll start this again without the fright
We all reset and took a breath

Sorry Cap he said to me
We should've known you wouldn't take
To threats knowing your past history
We need to talk about you and the Jake.

Now my history's not well known to most
Jake and me we have some ghosts
So curiosity had me fair and square
To learn what this feller knew for fair

Put your guns away and come aboard
I'll stow mine in the ship's arms chest
We'll yarn a spell in The Laird Jake's mess
There's plenty o room for the six of us

Donovan's my name we've been on your tail
Since the Capone mob was put in jail
We've seen just what the Jake can do
We have a proposition for the three of you

Young Jim breaks in with what the hell
That's some way to begin a business deal
Fog sits back with a knowing glance
that said this is more than just pure chance

State your case and we'll answer true
After we meet these officers and me
Who you are and from where you come
Will be a good start you'll agree

The envelope he slid my way
Contained a note that set the score
It said Donovan was a stand up guy
It was signed Whitehouse by FDR

I passed the note to Jim and Fog
They read it both whistling low
Says I you run with some big top dogs
He laughed and said and you're nothing slow

Seems Bill was FDR's left hand
As a spy among such other things
Old FDR and Bill both thought
A world war was definitely in the wings

Donovan and his merry band
We're gathering facts from every land
To help build a case for old Theodore
To have plans ready in case of war

They needed a craft that would go
From sailing ship to high speed boat
To run in agents and move out slow
Fooling surface frigates and subs below

Armed with hidden guns the Jake
Would sail by day and run by night
To ferry folks cash guns and gear
To dangerous ports both far and near

Now the Jake was still His Magesty's ship
Documented by writ in Canada
Says Bill thats really no big step
Churchill and King had the same agenda

We'll change Jake's port and registration
To Switzerland the city of Bern
We'll keep his name to hold tradition
The Jake's home port will be Lake Lucerne

You three will be sworn with our consent
In a new department called OSS
And report to me and the President
We'll fund all this with Whitehouse cash

By George this talk was way much more
Than we had ever been dealt before
We sent Bill and his boys on their way
With a promise we'd call the very next day

This tale is long and full of twists
I think I need a bit of rest
We'll talk again of clandestine stuff
But for now I think I've had enough















Poetry by josephus The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 695 times
Written on 2015-04-01 at 04:08

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one trick pony The PoetBay support member heart!
this is wonderfully imaginative. i wonder just how imaginative it is, if there isn't a little reality hidden within.

"My hand was full of Rick's 45" is a great line, and reminds me of my grandfather, who loved john wayne movies. one of his favorite lines was from "true grit":

"fill your hand, you son of a bitch." excuse my language, please, it refers to filling your hand with "iron," or a gun.

i did not get the reference to "ethiopia."

an adventurous yarn, josephus.
2015-04-02


Lawrence Beck The PoetBay support member heart!
Well done, Joe. The plot thickens.
2015-04-01


countryfog
After a long layover it's great to be back aboard, but I never imagined to be going where this is going. Fascinating and I can't wait to see what comes next. Donavon didn't mention that he was called "Wild Bill" . . . not sure I trust him.
2015-04-01