TRWD10

My Journal
By Harriman Nelson
10

I’d dozed off during the flight. I woke up with a start as Sharkey had turned on a news broadcast to one of the cockpit screens.
“Sorry,” Jiggs said. “Didn’t think it would wake you, you were snoring so loudly. Turn it off, Chief.”
“No,” I said. “Might as well hear what the press has to say.”

“…Mrs. Nelson, in tears, was escorted off the plane…”
“…Mrs. Nelson, Mrs. Nelson, what’s your husband’s medical emergency?”
“…I don’t know, I just don’t know. All Seaview told Air Traffic Control was that Harry had a medical emergency and the Flying Sub is taking him to Bethesda Naval Hospital. Oh God, I hope it’s not a heart attack or a stroke or anything…”
Just then her cell phone rang and she dug around for it in her purse…growing even more agitated and scared.
I was glad it was an old model cell phone without a speaker so it was impossible for the reporters to listen in on to the other side.
“…Drew? Oh, thank God…what is it…what tests? Nobody told you? Oh God, oh God…yes, the agents arranged a flight to D.C. Harry’s already airborne? When should he…yes…I’m not sure…why isn’t Lee bringing him…well, that seems a bit heartless…he’s only going after a stupid sea monster…all right, all right…but I still think…look, I’m surrounded by the press and am trying to get to the correct terminal. Yes…thanks.”
“…Mrs. Nelson? Captain Nelson-Crane isn’t accompanying your husband?”
“…Apparently not. If you ask me, Lee should have just cancelled the Scottish trip or just had Chip take over if he’s that desperate to go on that cockamamie stunk of his.”
“…Back off, folks,” a security guard said, as he and two additional guards escorted her toward a different terminal via a cart already loaded with her luggage.
“…And that was Mrs. Nelson a little earlier. She’s now enroute to Dulles and from there will be driven to Bethesda Naval Hospital. It is surprising to many that Captain Nelson-Crane, usually a devoted son to Admiral Nelson, apparently decided to leave his adopted father’s care to others and continue on his quest for a mythical creature. Indeed, as Mrs. Nelson is believed to have commented on that as heartless.”
“Oh Lord,” I moaned.
“Admiral?” Sharkey asked. “Just what is our real mission that Mr. Morton spilled the beans about? I mean, the skip would have aborted the trip to Scotland in a heartbeat to go with you to Bethesda and be at your side if it weren’t something else…something top secret?”
“You may as well know, and you keep this under your hats. The captain is chasing down an interactive hologram. He thinks the kelpie is a weapons test. One that could cause a great deal of confusion to our satellites and computerized missile systems, perhaps rendering them useless.”
“Shit!”
“Indeed, Francis. Indeed.