Page 71 of Haze of Obedience

"I joined the Marines when I was eighteen. They recruited me when I retired."

"Why did you join the Marines?"

"My dad was in the Marines. He met my mom when he was in Germany. She was from there.”

"Ahh. So your Dirk is German and not Dutch then."

"How did you know what my name meant?"

"I've spent too many hours to count traveling on a tour bus. Something about names always intrigued me, so I got into onomastics to help pass the time."

"Ono what?"

She laughs. "Onomastics. In basic terms, it's the study of the history of names."

"Well, your skills are impressive. What does Zoe mean?"

"It's originally Greek origin and means life."

I glance at her. "That's appropriate for you."

"Why?"

"You fill people with life when you sing." Or are just in the room with them.

She blushes, and I hate that I have to focus on the road. She quietly asks, "What happened to your mom?"

My stomach flips. "After I was born, she wouldn't stop bleeding."

She puts her hand on my thigh. "I'm sorry."

"In some ways, I think it was harder for my brothers. They were three and six. I don't have the memories that they do."

"Life is kind of cruel, isn't it?" she mumbles.

"Sometimes." I slow down then stop when I come to an intersection. I study the compass on my watch. "I'd give anything for some directions right about now."

Zoe opens the console between us and pulls out a folded map. She smirks. "Something like this?"

"Tell me you can read maps."

She holds up her hand in a rock on gesture. "God gave me map skills too."

What didn't God give you?

"All right, my Little Diva. You're on map duty."

She opens it up. "I need you to show me where we are now."

I turn on the overhead light and circle an area. "My guess is we are somewhere around here."

"How are we getting across the borders?"

"We need to find an opening."

We study the map.

She traces the coastline. "Do you have money on you?"