My Journal
By Harriman Nelson
44
“We appreciate your offer to assist in any capacity, Admiral,” the
base commander said as Chip and I visited the base in Naples. “I’m sure
you’d both rather Seaview take a more active part in the exercise than as an observer.”
“Well,” Chip said, running a hand through his hair, “no doubt
about that.”
“Yes, Captain Nelson-Crane was sure you’d both feel that way.”
“Lee’s contacted you?” I asked, confused.
“How could he know?” Chip asked.
“I’m sure there’s no need to tell either of you that the captain
is a man of many resources. In fact, he tried to convince me that Seaview’s services
would be better spent as the fox than as an observer. That with you in command,
Captain Morton, our ‘hounds’ would be hard pressed to find you. Making for a
far better wartime preparedness exercise.”
“He said that? About me?”
“Apparently, he believes you to be right up there with John Paul
Jones as a tactician.”
“Bullshit, sir. It’s Lee who has the brains and....”
“If I may continue, Captain Morton? Seaview will be given a twelve
hour head start to disappear.”
"Then," I said, "you've changed your mind? You want us to be the fox?"
"Affirmative,"
he grinned.
“Admiral,” Chip asked, "just when did Lee, Captain Nelson-Crane
contact you?”
“Last night. Around midnight.
Seeing that it was him, I didn’t bother
to chew him out for calling me at home.”
“You know Lee?” I asked.
“Not personally, no. But I’d have been a fool not to take the call
or his suggestion seriously.”
“But how did he know about the exercise? And Seaview’s part in it?
What it was going to be, that is.”
“Unknown.”
Chip looked at me. I looked at Chip. It had to be that ONI was
keeping him abreast or he was spying on us. I opted for the spying.
“That sneaky, slimy, son of a bitch,” Chip said, though his
expression was one of sheer admiration, not disapproval.
“He thought you might say that, as well,” the admiral laughed. “Naturally,
you’ll be on radio silence until the conclusion of the exercise.”
“Barring any emergency,” Chip said.
While the admiral nodded, assuming a naval emergency, I knew and
Chip knew I knew, he was thinking of a Lee emergency. Though under Navy rules
and regs we both knew that even if there were one, we’d just have to stick it
out until the exercise was over.
“By the way," the admiral said, " he arranged for a shipment of eggplant, a few blocks
of Parmesan Cheese, the real thing, and various other fresh fruits and
vegetables from the local town market for Seaview. He had NIMR foot the bill,
not the Navy. He thought you and your men could use some fresh produce.”
“Er, yes,” I said. “It was very thoughtful of him.”
“Well, gentlemen, good luck, though I'm sure you realize I’m rooting for
the hounds.”
We laughed and took our leave, arriving at the dock soon after.
“You realize, this means we’d better win,” Chip said.
“Don’t think you can do it, lad?”
“Of course I can. Lee would be better at it, though.”
“Perhaps. But if Lee has faith in you, you should have faith in
yourself too.”
“I do, but he’s still the better captain. You know it. I know it.
Lee knows it.”
“All right. All right. But the Navy doesn’t. You’ll do
fine.”
“Oh I have no doubt I will. But I’m just not as sneaky as Lee
is....makes for a better fox.”
As we made preparations to get underway and begin our twelve hour
head start, I had to wonder if Lee had been tracking all of our movements and
activities since the moment he’d left Santa Barbara, and if so, just how he’d
done it.
I was a bit distressed in that I wouldn’t be able to keep track of
him once we were underway.
Would he take care of his injured hand, his stitches, this, that,
and everything else?
I just had to trust that his guardian angels, (drafted for the
extra hazardous duty of watching over him, I was sure), would be on their toes. Of course, if
the Good Lord had sent Joe back into his body over Lee, well, I had to trust
that my boy didn’t need me to hover. But I just can’t help it.
One thing, at least we’ll have Eggplant Parmesan sometime soon.
Might not be on Lee’s menu, but hey, it’s Italian.
