October 15, 1977

 

Three weeks later, Terry was looking much better. His appetite was back and he was sleeping well. His wounds were healed and the pain was nearly gone. He was even running a bit.

Peter had finished the hidden room in the mine tunnel, and to his satisfaction, the cabin was now complete and could stand empty during the Pennsylvania winter.

Bernadette and Peter had put themselves through a grinding physical fitness program. Peter was now in the best shape he had ever been. He and Bernadette often went on 15-mile runs through the surrounding mountains. They practiced frequently with an assortment of handguns. Peter liked the Browning 9mm because of the 13-round magazine. Bernadette stuck to the .45 U.S. Army 1911A Colt because it fit her hand better even though its magazine held half that of the Browning.

She made great progress in Hapkido. Peter told her that she was good and she had incorporated her knowledge of Aikido into her own fighting technique.

At dinner Peter asked, “Is everyone ready to go back to Florida?”

There were all yes votes. Jack wanted to go swimming again. Mrs. Nguyen said, “Yes, it’s getting cold here.” Peter said, “Okay that’s it. Tomorrow we go.”

“Good,” Terry said. “Let’s get out of here before it snows. I thought it was going to snow this morning.”

The Brandon caravan was on the road by eight o’clock the next morning. Peter, Bernadette, and Jack rode in the Ford truck and Terry took up the back seat of the Cadillac. One overnight stop in South Carolina and they arrived in Amelia Island in time for an early afternoon swim. Peter felt the tension leaving his body. He felt safer at this house than anywhere he had lived. Terry soaked up some Florida rays and let Jack see his Purple Heart scars.