Hamptons Portfolio 22, Westhampton Beach

Westhampton Beach.
Montauk Man Part 5 (Continued below) 

Although I have no connection to Westhampton Beach, I find it an interesting place. There are many homes located along this strip of ocean front and boy is it wacky. It's a playground for architects and architectural style and you can find every one of them here. Another fun note, if you want to know what architectural style is currently in vogue take a trip along Dune Road, Westhampton Beach and you will see it under construction or recently completed. But all of that is not what brought me to Westhampton Beach: It was Gene Wilder. I read somewhere he wrote, Young Frankenstein here in some home while vacationing. Which house I don't know. I loved Gene Wilder, he was my favorite actor and knowing he was out here is good enough for me...

Live Like Vin....

The 1959 Pearlroth House By Architect Andrew Geller
as it stands today January 20, 2017  Westhampton Beach, NY

Part 5 The "Montauk Man"

Meeting the "mysterious" woman may as well be a "Mission Impossible". Not only am I a complete stranger to her but she's with another man. That wasn't my only problem. Sitting a few tables over was an Air Force Colonel, dressed in full uniform who was obviously watching her. This was getting way too complicated for me. Why again am I trying to meet this woman? Because I saw her on a beach?  After all, I have no real reason to believe she could help me. On the other hand, there's just something about her; I feel as if she is calling to me. Tonight she looks more beautiful than when I first saw her; her dirty blond hair was up exposing her long neck and her pale blue evening dress looked spectacular. It would be a dream to meet to her. However, I already have enough problems, as my pirates eye patch would attest to, I better stay clear and forget about her, after all it's for the best. I sat at my table arranging my silverware, fixing my serviette, and perusing the menu when out of the corner of my eye I caught the mystery woman looking at me. This can't be, I must be mistaken, was she really looking at me? I raised my menu in front of my face and tried to look at her inconspicuously; we locked eyes for a brief moment, no doubt she was purposefully looking at me. It wasn't a hey you're attractive stare but more like a cry for help kind of stare. I'm assuming she senses I can help her? I felt a call to action sweep over me, sort of like a knight in shining armor coming to maid's rescue, I felt alive. Change of plan, I had to meet her. The Colonel was still keeping tabs on the woman and I had no idea what to do about him. What's he doing so far from a military base anyway? Was he some secret admirer, her protector, dad, maybe he's on some covert operation? I wonder if there are any military bases around? I suppose Gabreski over in Westhampton but that's not close and it's Air National Guard, not Air Force, maybe I'm wrong, it must be an Air Force base. Unless he's from Camp Hero, the decommissioned base that supposedly carried out fantastical experiments in time travel, otherwise he shouldn't be here. Bravo, nice thinking, now all I need is a tin foil hat to go with my pirate eye patch. OK back to planet earth..... I looked over to the woman again and saw her gesture to get up, the gentleman quickly got up and helped her with her chair. She was heading for the rest room I guessed. She glanced over my way, it was a signal, she was giving me the opportunity to meet her, here's my chance. I can follow discreetly and wait for her to come out of the rest room and maybe say a few words to her...

 I sat on a sofa in the lounge area with my one good eye firmly square on the restroom. Suddenly I was startled by a firm heavy hand that landed on my right shoulder. It was the Colonel, I was so focused on the bathroom I hadn't even noticed him sit next to me. I started to feel queasy, I became light headed and felt as if the room was moving. I shook my head and looked at him. The hotel became quiet, the hustle and bustle of people slowed until they disappeared, I felt as if time stopped. Although my vision was blurry I read the Colonel's name tag. His name was Colonel Harris, USAF. He was an imposing older man with gray features-everything was gray at this point. He spoke to me: "Excuse me sir, do you have the time?" I tried to compose myself to respond to his question. " I don't know, jeez, something has suddenly come over me...." I looked around still not myself I noticed a clock on the wall, it was a rather large clock over a fireplace, hard to miss. "There... there's a clock right over there"  I pointed to it. "It's 7:30" I proudly said as I managed to fight off my daze. " I'm sorry, I'm not feeling so well, could you please excuse me...", "Don't worry son, you will soon be OK".  I gathered up all my strength to speak to the Colonel and as if in a drunken state I managed to talk;  "It's odd seeing someone like you here in a hotel so far from a base..." "You mean I must be on some secret mission, right?", (he winked at me) "Yes...yes, in fact...I do believe you're on some kind of mission, why else would you be here starring at that lady in the dining hall...what do you want with her....?" I was feeling as if I had been drugged and continued to speak as best I could:

"What...have...you..done to me? Why, why, am I so dizzy ......why are you talking to me?"  The Colonel responded lucidity and fully in control; "If it makes you feel any better, think of me as a guardian angel here to help you. Mind telling me why you're so interested in that woman in the dinning hall? Don't answer. I know why. We know everything. Listen son, you're way in over your head, I suggest you leave Montauk", "So you didn't...you didn't come over for the time... rather to warn....warn me???" "Forget about everything you learned here and disappear, otherwise we can help with that. You only get rescued once in Montauk. Next time no one will be there to save you, no blanket, no campfire. By the way, there is no "Montauk Man".  Forget about me and this meeting, it's in your best interest. Don't forget you're just a face in the crowd, one which no one will recognize. You're nothing, a nobody, no one would miss you. You're just someone who stumbled upon something you shouldn't have. By the way nice eye patch...gotta buy Marcus a beer for that one.." With that he released his hand that was still planted on my shoulder. He got up, gave me a stern nod of understanding and left.

I started to feel better. I shook my head a few times, rubbed my temples and came back to my senses. The sensation of moving stopped and the hotel and all it's noise, guests and clatter came back to life. The gray slowly returned to color and everything was back to normal. I had completely forgotten about the mystery woman in the bathroom,  I got up, still a bit shaky but something was strange; the clock over the fireplace which read 7:30 PM when I pointed it out to the Colonel was now showing 6:45 PM. What was going on, did I go back in time? Maybe the Colonel has access to some time Portal. Maybe I just imagined there was a Colonel-However that's not possible-There was a Colonel and I'm still shaking from his stern warning. I couldn't have imagine that. By the way, where is the mystery woman I was waiting for to come out of the bathroom? Let me check back in the dining hall.

 "Hello sir, table for how many?" "I have a table. I was just in the bathroom, my table is right over there..."  "which one was it?" " Don't you remember me? OK so I was gone for a few minutes... Let me show you my table, it was right over there..." As I walked over to my table with the Maitre D' a couple was sitting at it. Everyone in the dining hall was looking at me as if I were from Mars or some space alien. I wasn't about to explain what just happened to me on the sofa with the Colonel but I did want to know just what the hell is going on... "Did you give my table away?" "I'm sorry I don't recall seating you".  "Was there a Colonel having dinner here tonight?" "No sir, there was not". "Excuse me sir" With that he left me and went back to his station. At that moment the mystery woman and her gentleman friend made their entrance into the dining hall and were shown to a table, the same table I saw them at earlier this evening. I then saw the Colonel following behind them, and he too was shown to a table, the same table I saw him at earlier err...later this evening. I was mortified - I froze  and stared at them.  I must have looked like one of those people on the Twilight zone when they finally realize they're a zoo project or about to be dinner for some alien race-I headed to the bar, I needed a drink.

I asked the bartender for a rum and coke, which I threw back and asked for another and did the same. I felt a little bit better. I sat down and relaxed. I gathered my wits, and tried getting myself together. Next to me I heard a familiar voice; bartender, a shot of Jack please...I turned to look and it was the Colonel sitting right next to me...again, this time at the bar. "Colonel Harris  we meet again..." "I'm sorry have we met?" "Colonel Harris, cut the crap! It's not everyday an Air Force Colonel warns you to get out of town! I also don't know what kind of drug you slipped me, I want answers!"  "Look friend, calm down. You're having a rough day and you may be tired and confused, let me buy you a drink..." "look, I know what I know. Did you thank Marcus yet, buy him that beer?" "Marcus who? listen, I'm leaving now I suggest you do the same. By the way, a rum and coke is for the ladies. Ask for Jack and next time keep a better eye on your car...." With that the Colonel winked at me, paid his tab and left for his table. I don't know which I was more; Angry or afraid. This whole thing is rotten, this whole place is rotten, there's some evil force out to get me. I looked at the time and it was 7:30 PM. Maybe it's groundhog day... I decided I had had enough of the Montauk Manor. Time to leave. I took one last look around the dining room. The beautiful mystery lady at her table and the Colonel at his watching her. This time I wasn't going to sit at my table and wait for the Colonel to sneak up on me or warn me once again to leave, I'll do that myself.

Stay tuned  for part 6
Copyright Lewis Portal