My Journal

By Harriman Nelson

29.  Call Waiting

“Well, that’s just great,” I heard Chip say without enthusiasm as he read the communique that Sparks had just handed him Lee and I were having a late breakfast, both of us having slept in due to our drugged sleep.

“What’s wrong, Chippee?”Lee called out.

“Just because we’re speaking to each other again,” Chip said, printout in one hand while stealing a piece of toast from Lee’s plate with another and slathering it with butter and jam,  “and you were right and I was wrong, it doesn’t mean I actually like being called Chipee, at least in front of the crew.”

“Ouch,” Lee said, “we’re a bit testy today aren’t we?”

“What’s the real problem, lad?” I asked Chip.

“Well, aside from one request after another for press conferences, National Security seems to think we may be a target for some anti Nelson groups. In addition, a majority of people polled don’t want  Captain Nelson to set even a bony foot on US soil. There could be some altercations. So Washington’s requested we park at Norfolk instead of Boston.”

“How can they protest if even we don’t know if it’s him for sure yet?” I asked.

“Harry,” Lee warned while reaching for another piece of toast, “it is him. I know it.”

“Ten O’ Clock, Lee,” Chip said regarding the location of the toast in relation to Lee’s plate. “We’re going to have to rearrange the pick-up of the remains we’d planned with the Boston Maritime Museum, inform the mayor, the police, everyone who made plans to meet us at Boston harbor…Lee? What is it?”

“Kate was right,” Lee sighed, “I should have let Dr. White examine me when I had the chance. Harry? I’d like to be flown  back to Bermuda. If White’s tests work, we might be able to discover for certain  just who we've been carrying all this time.”

“It still won’t be scientific proof. And you still believe it’s him. Yes, Lee, Will told me what you said to the bones.”

“You spoke to Captain Nelson’s skeleton, Lee?” Chip asked, “Well that’s proof enough for me, especially with your vision of the strong box.”

“No, Chip, I’m afraid it’s not,” I said. “The only real proof will be the DNA tests we’ll be taking.”

“But White said I might be able to ‘see’ to order,” Lee said.

“No, son,” I said patting his arm, “and what happened to him being a quack? But look at it this way, if you say it’s not him, some people will believe it’s a cover up. If you say it’s him, then we’re right back where we started. I’m afraid we just have to wait for the scientific verification. And you’d better finish your toast before Chip snitches the rest of it.”

“By the way,” Chip said and picked up one of Lee’s sausages, taking a bite, “the Coast Guard will be sending an escort as soon as we get closer to the coat. Protect us from sightseers…and possible terrorists.”

“Oh joy,” Lee said as he picked up a slice of toast. “Nice of Cookie to spread this for me,” handing it to  Chip, “the sausage goes better with this.”

“How did you know I took one?”

“ESP,” Lee laughed, then, “I could smell it as it sailed away in front of my nose.”

“Oh. Er..thanks.”

“Excuse me, sirs,” Sparks approached, “Skipper, you’ve got another video call from Miss Peabody again.”

“Again?” Chip smirked and made smooching noises.

“Thanks, Sparks," Lee said. "Relay it to my cabin and tell her I’ll pick it up shortly.”

“Aye sir. Oh, and Admiral? Admiral Starke sent a message that he’d like to know when we’ll be arriving in Norfolk. He’s arranged to meet you there.”

“Anything else,” Morton asked.

“No sir, that’s all.”

“Very well,” Chip said, “reply with a To Be Determined, as it’s apparent that Washington still has a finger up their…”

“Tell the Admiral,” Lee interrupted, “that we’ll inform him of our arrival  as soon as we’re ironed out the details.”

For a moment Sparks was torn between obeying Chip’s order or Lee’s ‘suggestion’.

“What he said,” Chip sighed. “It is the more politically correct reply anyway.”

“Aye sir,” Sparks said and hurried off.

“You know, Lee,” Chip said, “I sure will be glad when you take command again. I’m getting rather tired of all these pesky details.”

Both boys laughed and Chip poured Lee another cup of coffee while Lee at least managed to spear the last sausage. I wondered if I should inform Will about Lee’s abbreviated breakfast, but had second thoughts as I didn’t want Doc to sour Lee’s mood by yelling at him.

I also wondered if Lee had forgotten all about Kate waiting for him to take her call.

As he took his time happily munching down the last of his sausage and gulped down his coffee before he excused himself, calling for his assigned escort, (this time Kowalski had the duty) again I was bombarded with the what if’s regarding telling him or not what I’d seen in Bermuda.