The Re-Birth of Hyne and Lee –
On the Beach
The flight from Limassol, Cyprus to Mt. Athos in Greece takes five hours. They fly in a new, Airbus ACH 160, twin-engine VIP rotorcraft that costs about 18 million dollars fully outfitted with back-up systems and communications upgrades. Heinlen owns the chopper – but it’s the last time Dr. Vorshilovka and Leeds will ever see the pilot. Captain Bernhard Trycz is being reassigned as per a BratvaVarang text sent to Dr. Vee this morning. The message is curt and hurtful.
“Captain Bernhard Trycz is being reassigned at 12:00 Midnight tonight. Mr. Heinlen is respectfully requested to make other arrangements for his helicopter piloting needs.”
The five hours passes slowly as they fly over a seemingly endless expanse of azure Mediterranean ocean. Chef Lacas has thoughtfully packed them his equivalent of box lunches. In any other context the food containers would be sufficient for a garden picnic. He thinks of everything – a main course, dessert and bread. A large coffee thermos and cream. There’s a separate container containing food for Heinlen to eat on his way home.
Leeds dreads what she’s about to see. Heinlen’s condition sounds awful – but she’s promised Dr. Vee that she’ll be stoic. To be his pillar of strength in this terrible time. When everyone is abandoning him, she resolves to stand firm.
They land on a rough and rocky field near the side of where Mt. Athos begins its rapid ascent upwards. The Saint Panteleimon Monastery looms hundreds of feet above them. A small dirt road seems to snake up the side of the mountain providing access to it. The Monastery is an impressive sight – but Leeds eyes are fixed on doors opening outwards from a Quonset hut with Red Crosses on it and ragged villagers queued up outside of it.
A man dressed in shabby black clothes and untied shoes is struggling out the exit of the Clinic. He’s wobbling to his left as he pushes his way forward and he’s leaning on an old Greek Sheppard’s staff. As he makes his way towards Dr. Vorshilovka he catches sight of Leeds behind her and starts to cry.
Leeds runs to him, also in tears.
Their return flight is another five hours to the minute – and they disembark at the “Cove”, on Heinlen’s heliport by the sea.
Heinlen has the good manners to wish Captain Bernhard Trycz farewell.
The helicopter pilot seems miffed, however, when Heinlen issues his final order.
“Leave my Chopper right where it is. Give me the keys. Call yourself an Uber to get home.”
Heinlen sleeps for twelve hours straight in his bed. Dr. Vorshilovka examines him after nurse Mariska bathes and clothes him. He can tell by her face that the news isn’t good. Leeds sits near him on his bed when Dr. Vee delivers her assessment.
“I’m not entirely certain that the brain bleeding has stopped. There may be another weak area that has started to leak now that your blood pressure is becoming stronger and you’re exerting himself. You need another MRI. I’ll try to arrange something at Limassol Hospital as soon as possible. In the meantime – try to rest and not strain yourself.”
Dr. Vee gets up to leave and schedule the MRI, but before she goes, she announces some good news: Peter Xiang-Li has replaced security at the Cove. She then answers the question Heinlen and Leeds are no doubt wondering.
How does a New Jersey attorney 5,500 miles away from Cyprus find a Security and Surveillance Operation for a high-exposure client in Limassol within 24 hours??
Xiang-Li calls it the ‘Jersey Internet – repeating what Heinlen told Dr. Vorshilovka in the past: “‘Jersey has everything!”
The lawyer went to one of the 500 diners in New Jersey – a state which has more diners per square mile than any other place on Earth. Specifically, he went to the Airport Diner on Route 1 in Elizabeth – straight across from Newark Airport and down the block from the old Budweiser Brewery (with its landmark Red Flying Eagle in an “A” neon Anheuser-Busch roof sign they’ve since removed).
There Peter ate a BLT sandwich and drank some coffee.
He also had a talk with Nikkos Katsimitis, Owner and Operator of the eatery. They soon shook hands and the “deal” was done. Comprehensive high-security surveillance and armed guards staked out at “The Cove” at Cape Aspro in Limassol, Cyprus. Starting immediately. And a former Greek Air Force helicopter pilot trained by NATO on 24-hour retainer.
How did he accomplish all this?
Nikkos Katsimitis is Peter’s client – and related by blood to Lieutenant General Dimitri Yennufakis, former Chief of Hellenic Police in Athens, Greece. “General” Yennufakis is now owner of Helos Spartan Security Services, one of the best-connected and renowned security providers in the Mediterranean basin. Greek shipping magnates, sketchy politicians and wealthy Greek oligarchs are all clients of Helos Spartan Security. Of course, their services are not cheap – but for Heinlen’s Cyprus “Cove” this outfit is perfect. They also offer international security services, when needed. Peter wired them an international money transfer from his phone and viola! The deed was done.
Once Dr. Vorshilovka tells Heinlen the good news he’s visibly relieved. A weight has been lifted from his shoulders – his Gold is safe and his Cyprus security crisis is passed. And – best of all – he’s no longer beholden to the BratvaVarang, BratvaRus, Orthodox Church or any other parasitic Tom, Dick or Harry for anything. He’s paying his own freight – free of old-world baggage. He and Leeds can call their own shots and live their own lives. Screw treacherous “Brotherhoods” and hypocrite priests. He feels emancipated to have their hands out of his pockets and brainpan.
Heinlen is overjoyed to be with Leeds again – and know that she’s never stopped loving him. He always knew in his heart she was his girl.
Sunset on Cape Aspro
Leeds pages through a magazine reclining next to Heinlen, keeping an eye on him. He suddenly pushes himself deeper into his pillows lets out an anguished, audible sigh. His head is pounding again, and he can’t feel his left leg. His eyes are clouding and watering.
Leeds watches him wince from the pain. She leans over and deftly places an envelope addressed to Dr. Vorshilovka on his nightstand without Heinlen noticing – and helps him get out of bed.
“How ’bout a walk along the beach before dinner? I have something to run by you…”
They stumble outside, Leeds propping up Heinlen while he waddles his way through the beach sand. They get no further than fifty feet or so when she realizes he’s got tears dripping down his face.
She stops and looks into his eyes.
“Don’t worry, Love. It’s going to be alright…”
Heinlen just looks down and sighs.
“I just don’t want to feel like this anymore….I don’t want to live like this anymore…”
Leeds gently touches his chin and lifts his face upwards towards her own.
“When you first met me, I had stage four uterine cancer.
The Old Ones cured me – you know this. They took me during the Lenni Lenape ritual in the Watchung Reservation when we sought their help to defeat the Yakwahe.
I am now cancer-free. I can even have children. The Old Ones have agreed to repair your body – and make it stronger. But you must be spliced into and incorporate my DNA. You must transfuse my blood. I will become you – and you will become me. Flesh of one flesh. A true marriage. Yes -there will be pain and many changes. But – in the end – you will be as a God in this realm.
We will be away for one year by Earth’s calendar. In The Old One’s dimension – our destination – five years will pass. But you will heal and transcend your physical injuries. You will even have my eyes. Your body will be reborn – completely transformed – and you will be trained how to use it, to maximize your new strengths and mental abilities. You will not languish the rest of your life as a cripple or slowly bleed to death inside your brain.
Are you ready to take the ultimate adventure? To become extraordinary? You and I – hand in hand?
I have already arranged this with The Old Ones. But there is one price you must pay:
I must bear you a child….
Do you agree, my Love?
Heinlen nods his head in the affirmative – then tries to say “Leeds” but all he can mouth through his saliva- choked slurring is “Lee”.
“I love you, Lee.”
Leeds laughs out loud.
“Lee!!! It’s perfect! How ’bout from now on I just call you Hyne? New names for your new our lives…”
END OF PART ONE
*NO PART OF THIS WORK PRODUCT IS AI*
Copyright, 2026 – Jon & Jedediah Croft
www.bogironfoundry.com
Email: vlchek1@gmail.com
