TRWD4

My Journal
By Harriman Nelson
4

At last our remaining crewmen came aboard, and Lee gave to order to prepare to get underway and was soon in the Conning Tower with Chip, both properly garbed in water repellant foul weather gear.
Meanwhile Jiggs, Joe, and I were comfortably dry and unencumbered in the nose, watching both the viewports and also CNN…
“…Our audio and video is courtesy of the Norfolk Navy Base. As you can see it’s difficult for the crewmen to remain aboard as they untie the Seaview from her moorings. Good thing the men are tethered to the sub themselves. We can barely make out the former president and Chipee Morton in the conning tower. We can’t hear their orders over the howling storm, but the crewmen on deck have unhooked themselves and gone below.
“…A final glance forward and aft by the captain and commander and each is speaking into hand held microphones to the crew below. We can hear a horrible noise now.”
“…It’s called a klaxon,” another reporter corrected.
“…And there she goes, the great submarine Seaview, ever so slowly as not to scratch the U.S. Navy dock, or herself. After all, the submarine is not on active service and any damage would be billed to the Nelson Crane Institute of Marine Research…”
“…Meanwhile, across the pond, residents of Inverness, Scotland, are all celebrating with the news of the Seaview’s destination, as are many citizens of the U.K. We take you now to Number Ten Downing Street and the prime minister.”
“…Our island nation is filled with ancient legends that are regarded by many as sheer fancy or fairy tales. However, when noted scientist Admiral Nelson believes there might be a basis in fact, we should all sit up and take notice.”

It was fun to see us on the air as we moved the right of the waterway and then out to sea. I had to wonder how much the reporter would change his tune when my ‘performance’ began. For now, I simply waited as another huge wave smashed against us, causing me to spill my scotch.
“I’m surprised it’s taking so long before Lee dives,” Jiggs complained as he wiped up his own spill as well.
“Let him enjoy himself,” I said.
“In this?”
“It’s been a long time since he’s had the sea breeze in his face.”
“Breeze? More like a hurricane.”
Jiggs was right, of course. Not even Seaview was designed for the surface, and especially not in this mess. I could imagine crewmen beginning to line up at Sick Bay for Dramamine. If Lee kept us on the surface much longer, I might have to get in line myself.