Chapter 335: Dec 27 - Hood River, OR
Weather: 45/30
At the base of Mt. Hood lies the sleepy town of Hood River. The old trading post is most famous as the terminus of the Mt. Hood Railroad, where timber and produce would be transferred to ships and sent downriver. Now the historic railroad is a highlight of the area, winding its way high into the mountains for unprecedented views of the Gorge and the tallest peak in Oregon. Unfortunately the railroad doesn’t run this time of year but at least we could look at it.
I do have to say the people I the town were really welcoming and I’m not the only one to think so. Everyone that got off the ship made sure to spend their stipend and a little more besides in local businesses as an economic thank you.
One thing of note is that the grocery stores were “locals only” but, just like in Europe and Asia, there were other places to find groceries if you were creative and able to pay for them.
On such place was Apple Valley Country Store. It was primarily directed at tourists and while not huge, they certain had a decent assortment as this years “tourist season” hadn’t lived up to expectations. I picked up what I could but it caused one of the strings of my faraday bag – yes, we are still required to use them – started to unravel. There was pie fillings of huckleberry and marionberry. Pear marmalade hopped in most people’s baskets and we cleared the shelves of their remaining stock. The jam flavors I chose were marionberry, huckleberry-peach, and huckleberry-pear. Syrups included huckleberry, marionberry, and apple cider. I even picked up some flavored vinegars in blueberry, peach, and cherry. I’m not going to be able to ship any of this home yet so I’m having to pack things carefully in the cabin.
Another place we went was called Arome, basically a gourmet gift shop in worst straights than the country store had been as far as having more stock leftover than was economically healthy. I have no idea why the locals haven’t denuded both places unless it is one of those “in plain sight” sort of things they’ve overlooked. It might be that all of the “self-serve” tasting area are closed. Samples are “upon request” and that puts people off and with only two staff available it also takes a lot of time to get your turn. Even with the inconvenience I picked up a few things that Vit has specifically asked me to look for. Lavendar sugar - A floral, aromatic sugar that is perfect for baked goods (especially shortbread cookies) and beverages. You can also use lavender sugar to make lavender lemonade or rim a glass of chilled champagne. Espresso sea salt is something unique that can be used on savory or sweet dishes. There were recipe cards on how to try it in your favorite cookie, brownie or ice cream recipes or rub in on a steak for the grill and pair it with a balsamic vinegar reduction. To shut Devin up I got some Ghost pepper salt to use on him if he insists on pranking when I am not in the mood for it. He can be awful and think it all the funnier that I don’t. Lemon sugar is a tart treat that provides a natural counter to the sweet flavor of sugar. It can be used in lemonade, lemon bars, sprinkled over cookies or pound cake, or use it to rim a glass of your favorite summer drink. Raspberry sugar can be used in much the same way. I picked up some bottles of infused Olive Oils: Garlic, Blood orange, and Lemon. The walnut oil nearly made me tear up, I’m not sure the reason beyond I thought of Yegor and wondered what they were up to and if Polina has managed to control her nausea. I wish I knew but I need to learn to let it go. There’s nothing that I can do about it and I’m supposed to have faith. Lastly I picked up several balsamics: Apricot white, Blueberry, Black cherry, Dark chocolate, Apple white Peach white, and Sicilian lemon.
There was an upscale market called Farm Stand in the Gorge that several of our group raved about but I missed that one going into Slopewell Cidery to pick up a variety pack of hard ciders for Vit: Cherry Cider, Apple Vodka, Peach Vodka, Pineapple Cider, Raspberry Vodka. He’d learned to enjoy strawberry and mango ciders with Devin so I’m hoping these flavors are good.
Looking at what I had purchased (and shipped with the special in-store deals at a couple of the locations) I decided to play it smarter from that point forward. During my personal free time I stopped at the local Safeway – the only grocery store that didn’t have a sign reading “locals only” – and did a little surreptitious shopping. I picked up a few cans of this and that as well as replaced the vitamins and hygiene items that Vit and I were running low on. I also spent what I could on the restricted or limited items such as coffee, tea, sugar, and canned cream. Then I bought a few things that were on clearance … cranberry sauce, some seasonings, and canned sweet potatoes.
There was a Walmart within walking distance of the Safeway but one look at its parking lot convinced me just to confine my day’s “strategic” shopping at the Safeway even if it cost a few pennies more. It did give me a great deal to think about in terms of shortages, etc. Coming back on the ship no one remarked on the items I purchased. I can’t hope for that to remain true.
“Do what you can Kokhana,” Vit agreed as he went over some schematic that was spread out over the small table turned desk area in our cabin. “I will help when I can.” He sighed.
“You need to get some sleep.”
He grunted. “As do you. Do you have a moment to help with these?” he asked indicating some papers beside him. “I do not wish to ask but Security Chief Boone would like some independent verification of the translation machines.”
“Mandarin?” I asked guessing.
“Yes. They were found in a new ensign’s luggage. He says they are a letter from his grandmother.”
I looked over it then gave a rather worried glance at Vit. “Only if his grandmother … uh hm … asks that he use depilatory on his American chest hairs.” Then feeling myself blush I added, “And … hm … other places.”
Vit slowly looked up at me and growled, “This had best not be a prank or test.” He took the papers and walked out of the cabin.
Twenty minutes later he comm’d me to come to the security area. I walked in and the Chief unceremoniously asked me to read the letter aloud.
“Aloud? All of it?!”
“You have a problem following orders?” he said in his Texas twang that made him sound like some of the cowboy movies Poppa would sometimes watch.
“I have a problem reading vulgar prose to a room of males. Particularly when I’m the only female present.”
One of the American diplomats that I recognized from the Bonhoeffer came in through the other door. “That bad Chief Dymtrus?”
“How do you do Mr. Scott,” I said, trying not to let any of my emotions show. “Let’s just say it is a deeply … personal … piece of correspondence that has to do with overcoming a man’s … let’s call it, less Asian physique. I was not aware that Chinese women had some of the preferences the author of the letter cites.”
A third man, also dressed like a diplomat, that is to say not in any recognizable way that looks like a uniform, says, “Likely you don’t remember me.”
He stopped as if giving me time to decide. “You’ve … changed your hair and grown a goatee but I believe you were Mr. Baird’s … contact … for getting his children back to his home Estate.”
“Very good. He told me your memory is excellent. As are your social and cultural awareness. He sends his best to the Dymtrus family by the way. Still wants to be kept in the loop if you need anything.”
“Thank you … and I try,” I said blandly. “May I ask if this is a test or if the correspondence is real?”
“Call me Geoff and unfortunately, yes the correspondence is real but he never made it onboard. He was stopped and is currently confined to quarters at a local holding facility. Vit is doing some contact tracing on the young man’s previous whereabouts with your brother’s assistance. While it may be embarrassing, I’d like to go back over the content of the correspondence.”
I looked over at Chief Boone and after a momentary surprise he gave a minute nod.
“If you are asking me if this is a letter a grandmother would write. No. Certainly not a Chinese grandmother.” I snorted. “No grandmother that I know of.” Shaking my head I added, “The two appear to have been physically intimate … at least well enough that the author of this letter appears to find certain characteristics of the intended recipient distasteful. She is also forward enough that … well I’m assuming it is a she … she can demand he make certain modifications to continue in their relationship. Nowhere in the correspondence does it mention her family or his. I’m no expert but … something really doesn’t feel right. Even if the relationship is real on both sides, it doesn’t sound healthy.”
The Chief said, “That’s a lot of assumptions.”
“Yes Sir, it is. I’m a traditionalist. Make of that what you will. However, it has given me a certain … interest, perhaps a sensitivity … in noticing traditional manners and interactions in other cultures. If I had to guess this is an older woman by Asian standards, possibly in her mid to late 30s. Well educated. At least old enough that she doesn’t need parents or people along that line to act on her behalf. No children are mentioned but I suspect either she’s a professional that left marriage a little late or she may be divorced which would likely mean her husband’s family has custody of any child. Chinese culture recognizes divorce easily, but the consequences are greater for a female than male because Asian men tend to not care for women – at least those they marry – with previous relationships, even if it is one by marriage. That’s one of the reasons that Asian, and not just Chinese, tend to date outside of their cultures.”
Mr. Geoff nodded, “Not to mention there is a subculture of financial reasons – and not just Asian women – seek out American men.”
I wasn’t touching that one with a ten-foot pole. One, while it does happen it is more a stereotype than reality. And two, my relationship with Vit could become a topic of discussion and I wasn’t going there at all.
The other two men in the room must have had thoughts of their own as I could see they were both hiding grins. The others in the rooms seemed to be studying their computers in front of them. As certain of my nieces would say, “Whatever.”
“Is there anything else Gentlemen?”
“If you had to make a guess … an educated guess … and the letter wasn’t in Mandarin, what culture would you think it was written from.”
“Besides North American? Possibly European? The woman certainly seems to know what she wants … and what she doesn’t.” The other men blinked but Mr. Geoff slowly grinned and nodded. I dutifully gave it a thought and was about to blow them off when something about the correspondence bothered me.
I sighed. “You’re going to think …” Shaking my head I tried to find something cogent to say.
The Chief surprised me by saying, “Ignore the rest and just focus on what is obviously bothering you.”
“It doesn’t … bother me.” I took a breath and said, “Can we step into the other room?”
He looked at the other two men who nodded. The Chief was about to close the door when Vit slipped through. I felt better but still wasn’t happy.
Vit looked at me and then nodded and came to my side. I looked at the other three men. “The content of the correspondence is definitely inappropriate but perhaps it is merely the result of some personality quirks between the two. However, something …” I rolled my eyes. “This is ridiculous and would never stand up in any kind of court. And quite frankly it may mean nothing at all but … the one Asian culture that I know really emphasizes … Bah! Look, she asks him to get rid of all his body hair. To use a skin lightener. And even suggested, at least when they are seen together, that he use some make up she suggested. I suspect you think he is in a homosexual relationship and are worried he can be blackmailed. However, what I am about to suggest … given your ages at least some of you must remember the K-Pop sensation of a couple of decades ago.”
All three of the men looked outraged for a moment before the Security Chief pinched the bridge of his nose. “Yeah. I had a sister that … damn. The Koreans. Are you suggesting that a Chinese kid can’t tell the difference between a Chinese and Korean woman?”
“I’m not saying anything of the sort. That’s none of my business and there’s no way for me to confirm it one way or the other based on one piece of correspondence. And if I’m understanding the conversation here, he is quarter Chinese at best and it doesn’t sound like the two of them were introduce by a marriage broker. The way one of my college roommates explained it to me is that dating websites are the usual first point of contact. I had a brother that tried that route once … once. It’s a scary world out there.”
Vit coughed, having heard the story from Dev directly.
The Chief hid his own “cough” by wiping his mouth. “Is there anything else Chief Dymtrus.”
Seeing as that was the first time the man called me that I tried to maintain my professional face and give him some respect right back. “No Sir. I’m sorry. If you need a full translation, I’ll type one out but as for any other kind of insight, that’s all I have. And even some of that is a stereotype. A stereotype I’ve heard is true but a stereotype nonetheless that could be wrong in this case. The woman may simply have … er … fetishes … that mimic certain cultural stereotypes and practices.”
I was reminded to keep my thoughts to myself on the subject and that the conversation was closed. I nodded and Vit and I returned to our cabin, both of us ignoring any desire to speak about it until we were in the shower “to save water” as usual where we agreed to put it in the mental file of other things we know but do not speak of. Since I didn’t know any of the men beyond a general acquaintance, I couldn’t even start deciding whether it was a test or an actual situation I was dealing with.
Today has given me a lot to think about. First and foremost, I need to be careful to avoid more of the 007 crap. It isn’t my place, and not a place I want to create for myself. The only training I have in it was forced on me on-the-job. And Vit and I have plans beyond the Peace Mission. I do not want to be a reluctant spy and I don’t want Vit’s final disposition of immigration to be compromised. Ugh. They’d have better luck contacting Dylan directly. I’m debating reminding Chief Boone of that. Don’t know if that is my place either.
All I can do is focus on the here and now where we are trying to set up our what-comes-next. I’ve been giving thought to the last couple of years. What was it that we had wanted or needed, and it had been difficult to buy due to economic constraints before we took this job? I’ve also decided to start watching the news (the best I can access) for shortages … including paper products which according to the limits in the grocery were already becoming an issue.
The one most excellent thing I found out today is that an Entertainment Director has been installed. Her name is Dr. Forrester, and I will be coordinating with her, both as a guide and as the security liaison part of the job.
