My Journal

By Harriman Nelson

9. A Right Royal Visit

We were only a few miles out from Bermuda’s port city of Hamilton when we were surprised by our ‘scope cameras revealing a crowd of well-wishers, along with a brass band.

Children were holding a handmade banner with ‘Welcome Seaview’ scrawled on it, along with some crayon pictures of our famous sub. I have to admit, as juvenile as the drawings were, I was rather humbled by their efforts.

Even Lee and I were included on the banner. (It was easy to discern ourselves by the huge stars on my collar and Lee’s black hair.) Someone had even included a dolphin jumping over the bow! My alter ego was smiling, Lee’s was smiling, and even the dolphin was smiling.

Suddenly the crowd began to wave wildly. ( I supposed the wash from our protruding periscope was now visible) and a small group of uniformed men and women in crisp Bermuda shorts (what else) and white knee high socks came to attention. It was somewhat surprising as the old fashioned uniform had been disbanded decades ago, or so I’d thought. But then, with yet another change Her Majesty’s   government, who knew what amendments had been made.

“Why didn’t you tell me that this was an official visit, Captain?” Chip demanded.

“It wasn’t supposed to be,” Lee muttered, "And I’m not sure if that’s a military detachment or not.”

“You don’t know? Will wonders never cease.”

I groaned inwardly and was about to tell them to just stop bickering for once, when Lee made a command decision.

“Dress whites for the officers, and an honor guard topside.”

“Could be a lot of trouble for nothing,” Morton said.

“Will you just do it!”

“Yes sir, Captain, sir,” Chip clicked his heels sarcastically.

I wondered if Lee was just as tempted to toss him in the brig as I was. But all Lee did was head aft, presumably to change.

And so, a little while later, Seaview surfaced and arrived in full military fashion, her flag flying and the honor crew lined up at attention.

There was just one problem as we docked. Lee was late getting himself on deck. Believe me, standing at attention like statues in the hot sun while the welcoming committee waited for us to do something wasn’t very good PR.

“About time,” Chip hissed as Lee emerged from the hatch and the crowd cheered. It seemed my boy must be popular ‘across the pond’.

Just then the band began to play.

“Forgive me for mentioning it, Lee,” Chip hissed, “but ‘Yankee Doodle’ is not exactly our national anthem.”

“I thought I was only ’Captain’ to you. Has something changed that I’m unaware of, Commander?”

“Not now!” I warned, “after you, Lee.”

Since it was quite apparent now, that this was not an ‘official’ visit, it was Seaview’s Captain who was expected to take the lead instead of her more senior officer. Still, I could read the brief hesitation he had before he strode down the gangplank ahead of us.

One of the uniformed men approached and introduced himself.

“I’m Chief of Police Peabody. Welcome to Bermuda.”

“I’m Captain Nelson-Crane,” Lee said, extending his hand, “this is Admiral Nelson, and our Executive Officer, Commander Morton.”
“Gentlemen,” Peabody acknowledged us, then, “Captain, the Prime Minister has requested that you be escorted to headquarters right away.”

“The Prime Minister?” I asked, confused as Peabody waved a shiny black limo over, Bermuda’s flag waving from the roof.

“Just   a little paperwork,” he said, rather too quickly for my liking. “The governor thought you might enjoy an open air tour, Admiral,” then, “oh, you too, Commander Morton.”

I could tell Lee was uncomfortable about the way Chip had been invited as an afterthought. But what irked me was that he hadn’t seemed all that surprised about being summoned by the Prime Minister, as if was the most natural thing in the world.

 “Dismiss the crew for shore leave, Commander Morton. Give O’Brien the conn until my or your return. Enjoy your tour. Oh, and arrange transportation for Miss Bates and my mother to visit the Hamilton archives as soon as they’re ready to go. They’re located in City Hall.”

“That’s already been taken care of, Captain,” a uniformed woman appeared at Peabody’s side. “I’m Sgt. Abigail Nelson. No relation,” she quickly added for my benefit. “Though, I am supposedly a descendant of another rather famous Nelson. I’ve been assigned as a liaison for Miss Bates and Mrs. Crane. I’ll be right over there,” she pointed to one of the golf carts.

“Thank you Sgt.,” I said as Morton dismissed the topside crew, and gave the conn to O’Brien after a few instructions.

As Chip and I were ushered toward the golf cart festooned with balloons, Lee was spirited away in style with a police escort, no less,  their lights flashing and sirens blaring.

“Chief Peabody,” Chip asked, choking back his disgust at the style of Lee's departure, “would it be all right if we said hello to everyone before the tour, especially since they went to all this trouble...”

Peabody grinned and introduced us to the assemblage as we shook hands, and made polite conversation to adults and children alike, our ‘walkabout’ pleasing everyone, until we finally reached our cart.

If there were any reporters lying in wait, they had kept a low profile or had been detained by the island police.

“That was a very nice thing to do, Chip,” I said as we climbed into the cart.

“I wasn’t being nice, Admiral. PR is the XO’s job.”

“You can’t fool me, Lad. It was your normally good nature desperate to come to the fore after you’ve hidden it for so long.”

Sweat was already trickling down my neck and I silently cursed Lee for ordering the dress whites as we got into the golf cart.  

 “Bermuda offers many recreational activities,” Peabody began, as the driver put the cart into gear, “scuba diving, snorkeling, and of course, you’ll no doubt wish to explore some of the island’s spectacular caves and sample some incomparable cuisine, if I say so myself...”

After more than two hours of enforced politeness as he waxed on and on about all the island had to offer, I was literally sagging by the time we arrived at City Hall.

As Peabody showed us around and introduced us to the staff, I noticed Lee inside an unmarked open office, shaking hands with some kind of official. But instead of following the man out, who waved to us cheerfully and headed our way, Lee was waylaid by a feminine hand, decorated with an unusual looking turquoise ring and bracelet, and dragged back out of sight. Then the unmarked door closed.

“I thought he was here on business,” Chip hissed.

“Get your mind out of the gutter, Commander.”

“If you’ll excuse me for a few minutes? I’ll be right back,” Peabody said as the official neared, and departed our company.

“I’m Governor Clive Jenkins,” the other man said as he reached us. “I hope I can offer you something cold to drink after your tour. Our weather’s been unseasonably hot, even for us.”

If Chip was expecting a fine liqueur poured from a crystal decanter in the Governor’s office, he didn’t show his disappointment as we were shown to the employee’s lounge, where Jenkins deposited some coins into a vending machine.

“I hope the selection is to your liking. I know you Yanks are a bit partial to Iced Tea, but unfortunately, there’s just not much of a demand for it here,” he laughed.

I chose a filtered water and Chip an Orange Crush. I could just hear Jaimie complain about the sugar.

“I understand from Captain Nelson-Crane," Jenkins began, "that you have an idea where Sea Nymph may have gone down.”

“Yes, indeed,” I said. “We have high hopes of finding her quickly.”

“We hope you do, too. You realize, of course, that legend has it that Bermuda Triangle  is  cursed? Her Majesty’s government wouldn’t like to see Seaview added to the list of mysterious disappearances.”

“There are explanations for everything,” I said, “even if we haven’t discovered them yet. But we’ll be careful, just the same.”

“By the way, Mr. Governor,” Chip said as he tossed his empty bottle into the recycle bin, “who was the lady with you and the captain? We only caught a glimpse.”

“Oh, I am sorry that I wasn’t able to introduce you! That was the PM, er..Prime Minister Maggie Smythe. Captain Nelson-Crane had a  few more matters to attend to, apparently.”

“Apparently,” Chip said woodenly.

I knew and Chip knew that was doubtful. No woman still breathing can resist Lee’s charm and good looks, and if they can, they’re either dead or simply in ‘grandmother or mom’ mode.

But then, there was the possibility, however remote, that it was just some additional paperwork he needed to fill out. Just what it was, however, eluded me. There was another possible reason niggling at the back of my mind when an elderly woman tapped the governor on the shoulder.

“Excuse me, the PM wants you again.  MI – 6 and Scotland Yard are on the line.”

“Excuse me, gentlemen. Duty calls,” Jenkins said, “I’m sure Chief Peabody will be back shortly to continue your tour.”

MI-6? Scotland Yard?” Chip hissed.

“I think it’s highly unlikely that Lee’s been drafted by Her Majesty’s government to play James Bond all the way out here,” I said, trying to convince myself that the calls had simply come through while Lee happened to be in the PM’s office. “For now, I think it’s best to assume that’s all it is. Am I imagining things, or do you seem a bit concerned about Lee?”

“Oh I’m not. Not in the least. I just don’t want to put Sick Bay on standby. Damnit, he needs to decide once and for all if he’s a spy or a sub captain!”

“Am I intruding?” Peabody asked, concerned, as he caught the tail end of our conversation.”

“Not at all,” Chip said.

“If you’ll follow me to the archives. Sgt.  Nelson called to say the ladies are already on their way.”

“Actually,” I said, “if you don’t mind, Chief, we’d like to return to Seaview and change into more comfortable civvies.”

“Of course, how thoughtless of me. I’ll get an air conditioned car this time.”

My real reason, of course, was to get back to the boat, and call ONI. I had to find out just what Lee might be getting himself into.