My Journal by Harriman Nelson- Lean on Me

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My Journal

By Harriman Nelson

19

We had an uneventful day under the ice, save for a mishap during the Blue Nose ceremony to welcome two of the crew the Arctic Circle. Seems Seaview was a bit too interesting for a bull whale. Suffice it to say, only minor damage to us, though I’m sure the whale will reconsider any amorous attempts on submarines of any kind in the future. Had to hurt, that charge through the hull. We insured it was minor enough to dissuade the creature, but not strong enough to maim or kill it.

While Seaview was being tossed around, the galley suffered the loss of several culinary creations being prepared onto the deck, including a pot of boiling oil and its contents, primarily the Oleykoke’s that Cookie had been trying so hard to duplicate.

Chip assured Cookie that the Oleykoke’s could wait for another day.


There was still some international interest in Lee’s culinary tour of Europe, but we settled on the good old reliable BBC as they had been covering Lee since the beginning, and seemed to have better reports anyway.


“Earlier today,” the reporter was saying, “Captain Nelson-Crane and Commander Jackson breakfasted on a national dish of Oleykokes, but settled on Starbuck’s Coffee to go with the early form of doughnuts. The captain and commander enjoyed a brief walking tour with members of their group, and shared in the fun posing in cardboard cutouts of a Dutch boy and girl in traditional garb. When asked how it was decided who would be the boy and the girl, the  captain grinned and said retired rank still had its privileges. Yes, the recently blinded, if temporarily,  captain, on medical leave, retired from the U.S. Naval Reserve and is completely civilian now.

“Later, retired or not, he and the commander visited the church or kirk in full U.S. Naval uniform, where the pilgrim leader Reverend John Robinson is buried, along with several other Seperatists who died waiting to follow the famous Mayflower on her voyage to the New World.

“Both Americans paid their respects with poignant moments of silence as they saw or in the captain's case, felt, the memorial plaque on the wall. The pilgrim's body had been removed from its grave beneath the floor fifteen years after burial, and reburied elsewhere, the final resting place now unknown.

“When asked what it felt like to step in some of the same spots as the famous pilgrims left behind in Leyden, the captain said it was very humbling, and thanked God for the religious freedom that Holland, now incorporated into the  Netherlands, had offered the Separatists in a time when to remain in England may have meant imprisonment or death. He also said that that the Seperatists were made of sterner stuff than he and that all Americans owed them a great debt for the religious freedom that is one of the foundations of the United States.

“When asked what was next on the tour, he said that he and Commander Jackson were going with the tour group to the Mayflower Museum, and that he’d been warned to duck as the timbers of the  ancient house were rather low. Then he added, instead of going with the group on a canal tour afterward, that he and Commander Jackson were planning on a visit to Amsterdam, ahead of the group, to visit the Hague and the home of Rembrandt.

“Someone in the crowd asked if the captain been following the news regarding Mr. Ozno. The captain said and I quote, ‘he was sure the French government had things well in hand, and that he refused to hold himself hostage to fear, especially by a coward like Ozno’.”

“That’s a very opinionated sentiment for a naval officer," another reporter said.

“Remember,” Lee replied, “I’m no longer a naval officer. I can say what I like. He can’t,” Lee nodded to Joe, “but I can and I intend to. I only wish I could meet up with Ozno first. He has a lot to answer for. I know those ships he blew up were mothballed, but several people touring those ships were badly injured, some killed. I just can’t abide it when innocent people are hurt for absolutely no reason except for one man’s evil. And  blind or not, I still have a pretty good right hook.”

“And so,” the BBC reporter continued as the montage showed the group leaving the churchyard, “that was the latest on the cowboy captain’s adventures. We will continue to bring you more  as it becomes available.  And  now in other news....”

“Man,” Sharkey said, as O’Brien turned off the monitor, “he’s asking for trouble now. What if that creep goes after him for saying that?”

“I believe that’s the captain’s general idea,” I sighed.
“You mean....he’s undercover? For real? Even blind and all that?”

“The skipper is a man of many resources, Chief,” Chip said.

“But...”

“There are agents already in the field, Francis,” I said. “The captain is not alone. I have it on the best authority.”

“Well, I still don’t like it, not one bit.”

Neither do I.

Entry #20