Authors note:- Firstly, I’d like
to thank my friend and ever patient beta, Lyn Barrow, for her permission to
adapt my Chip background story from her Maiden Voyage series on Unchartered
Waters… also other Voyage writers and friends for the gentle nudges to get it
done!
Secondly, I fully acknowledge
that the Naval procedure I use to tell this story
bears no resemblance to Standard Operating Procedure, then or now. I have taken ‘poetic licence’ and bent it all out of shape!
The Devil Pays a Call
By
Lillian H
“I
understand you have an interest in photography, seaman. Have you ever done any underwater work?”
asked the most senior officer on the interview panel.
The
young seaman sitting tensely in front of the interviewers swallowed quickly,
“Eh, yes, sir, - that is sort of, sir.”
“Sort
of?” came the edgy reply.
“Well,
some for the Navy a few times but mostly I do it on leave, sir - as a hobby
like - sir.”
“I
see, and do you enjoy it?”
“Enjoy
it, sir? Well, I guess so – no, I mean, yes, I do sir, very much. It was something I learnt from my father.”
The
Admiral nodded approvingly as the chairman of the panel looked at his fellow
officers who shook their heads.
“Very
well Seaman Patterson, you’ll be informed of our decision one way or the other
in three days,” Captain John Phillips said by way of dismissal to the young
sailor who rose hesitantly, saluted smartly and moved towards the office door
then stopped, turned and said belatedly.
“Yes,
sir - I mean thank you, Sirs.” The
waiting NCO opened the door for Patterson’s hurried departure, a clear
indication of his obvious nervousness during the strangest interview of his
Naval career. He wasn’t sure what to make of his performance in front of the
formidable Admiral Harriman Nelson, Capt. John Philips and a very stern looking
lieutenant but he hoped he’d made a good impression.
Phillips
smiled and made a notation on the file in front of him. “Well, Admiral, what do you think?”
“His
skills are just what Seaview needs.” He flicked through a couple of pages of
the typed data before him and continued. “He’s a good man, clean service record
and first-rate endorsements from his previous boats. The photography could be
useful on some missions. I think he’ll do, I’m sure he can’t be that indecisive
all the time. I say hire him.”
“I
agree,” John Phillips nodded as he smiled, “but you can’t wonder that most of
those we’ve interviewed have seemed rather jumpy, you have to admit Harry, this
isn’t exactly standard operating procedure for the Navy.”
Nelson
stretched his back muscles and relaxed again. “I suppose not but now the office
of Naval Affairs has finally seen fit to endorse our endeavours I’m not going
to let them dump just any personnel on us no matter how much funding they
offer!”
“Of
course not, Harry, but having some qualified officers and crew on permanent
assignment from the regular Navy is a bonus we didn’t expect.”
Admiral
Nelson looked at his friend and agreed. “I suppose so. I did wonder where I might get 120 men
trained with the skills we needed. But
we both know this is the Navy’s way of having the last word! They’ve watched us struggle for three years
to get this far and now that we have Seaview built,
equipped and seaworthy they want a hand in her!”
John
Phillips smiled as he listened to his friend’s complaints one more time. He had happily thrown his lot in with Harry
Nelson five years ago. They had become friends since they met on their first
posting together. He felt privileged to
be part of the Institute and Nelson’s plans. Having lost his wife some years
ago in a stupid automobile accident and with no children to provide for, his
career had become automatic and routine until Harry’s offer had given John the
challenge he had been looking for. It had been hard work right from the start.
Long hours of meetings and negotiations over construction issues while dealing
with the sceptics who so often laughed in the faces of both men as they
insisted it couldn’t be done! Well, they hadn’t reckoned on the tenacity of
Harriman Nelson! Even the Navy had
mellowed their attitude to grovelling appreciation of what a fine vessel
Seaview was and he could almost see the Joint Chiefs of Staff salivating at the
prospect of having her as part of the fleet even if it was on a need only basis!
Harry
had proven everyone wrong and now they were so close to starting sea trials a
suitable crew had to be recruited. That’s where the Navy had jumped in with
their offer to man Seaview entirely with their own personnel but Harry had
immediately spotted their intentions!
This was still his boat and while he recognised the need for experienced
crew he wasn’t about to let the Navy take over!
He had his Captain, and had negotiated that certain key officers and men
should transfer in by his consent only.
Others would come from the reserves and some he had already recruited
for himself, men he had personal knowledge of, the rest he would only accept
after meeting them. He wanted to see
what he was getting!
“How
many more, Mr. Morton?” Harriman Nelson asked wearily.
“Just
one, Admiral. Seaman Kowalski, Joseph. 12 years service, senior diver, leading sonar
operator and trained in the use of underwater explosives. There’s nothing
official on his file but when he independently volunteered for consideration I
did some checking. He’s good and he knows it, not arrogant exactly but has had
some issues with chain of command, nothing serious, just acts autonomously
sometimes. Often his actions are proved justified but that hasn’t stopped him
getting into hot water on occasion. You
have a copy of his record in front of you, Admiral.”
Not
for the first time, John smiled at the efficiency of Chip Morton. Harry had gone looking for a capable
administrator for his new venture and found a disgruntled desk bound officer he
remembered from
Nelson
had gratefully passed over all the mundane tasks that clogged up his days and
stifled his creativity to his admin officer who kept him informed kept informed
of progress with daily reports. Harry
however took little active involvement in the humdrum daily grind. It was John that watched and approved as
Morton recruited a team of highly trained professionals around him and allowed
them to run their own divisions while he retained overall responsibility on the
simultaneous constructions of the fledgling NIMR complex and it’s revolutionary
submarine. Young he may have been but he
had earned most people’s grudging admiration quickly. His reputation for
meticulous attention to details and strict adherence to discipline grew and
though some considered him ruthlessly single-minded they always listened to his
opinions. He never needed to shout but
John knew his voice was heard and respected.
Chip
Morton had surpassed with excellence all Admiral Nelson’s expectations of him
but Phillips often wondered if Harriman Nelson knew just what other potential
there was in this young lieutenant!
“Very
well, reel him in Chief.” Nelson instructed the gruff 200 lb, craggy faced,
bald COB who waited patiently by the door. Master Chief Petty Officer Curly
Jones was another early recruit to the cause as Chief of the Boat. He was Navy
from cradle to grave. Jones had served with Harriman Nelson near the start of
the officer’s career and held the Admiral in the highest regard. When word reached
Curly of Admiral Nelson’s plans he had applied to Harry personally and been
happily accepted. He had fitted in well
and immediately taken a liking to the young lieutenant in charge and used
subtle ways to help guide him the way he had another green young officer
all those years ago.
“Aye,
sir,” came the crusty reply and he went to fetch in the waiting Sailor.
Joseph
Kowalski, known to everyone as Ski, had followed his older brother into the
Navy straight from college. He’d loved
the Navy from day one. It had given him a career, skills and let him do all the
things he enjoyed, like diving. Diving was his second best passion --- his
first being women! Ski believed in the sailor’s adage of, ‘a
different gal in every port’. He
was highly trained and enjoyed a satisfied confidence that he was good at his
job. That wasn’t cocky at all in his opinion. When the buzz went around that
the Navy was looking to transfer some of it’s own
personnel to a different sort of duty, and as he liked fresh challenges, he had
volunteered to be considered for this private sub he’d heard so much about. Ski
thought this sounded new and exciting!
Kowalski
made a respectful salute and took his place on the lone chair in front of the
large desk. The two senior officers sat
side-by-side behind it and a junior officer stood to one side. After a question and answer session from all
three about his skills and experience, Admiral Nelson asked evenly, “I
understand you’re not afraid to think for yourself, Kowalski, that you don’t always
await orders before you take action. Is that because you think you know better
than your officers?”
Kowalski
squirmed a little and thought about his answer.
He’d heard much of Admiral Nelson and liked what he heard. He knew too
that Captain Phillips was also a first-rate captain and well regarded. That was good in his opinion, he believed the
men who gave him orders should at least be intelligent enough to do it and in
his experience that hadn’t always been the case in the Navy!
His
reply was carefully neutral. “Not
better, Admiral, sir, just sometimes I think a bit faster than some of them –
if something goes wrong and I know how to fix it, I just do it, sir – my way of
doing the best I can I guess!”
“I
see. And if you don’t know how to fix
it?”
Ski
looked along the row of officers.
Nelson’s eyes were sharp and observing him with great interest, as was
Captain Phillips, but the eyes of the lieutenant at
the end of the table were hooded slightly as he made notes on a clipboard. Even
so, Ski could tell he was listening carefully to every nuance in his replies.
“Well,
sir, that would kinda depend on circumstances but I figure there’s always
something useful you can do till the right help gets there.” He regarded the Admiral and Captain
carefully, had he made the right answer?
Nelson
gave him no clue as he continued, “Why do you want to be transferred
from the regular Navy to Seaview, Sailor?
It’s not going to be the usual sort of posting, might even hold back
your Navy career. Seaview is intended
primarily as a research vessel. Will you
enjoy counting dolphin’s for weeks on end, Kowalski?”
Ski
thought about that for a moment. Maybe
the research part would get a bit boring but then he thought of the stories
he’d heard about this new sub. The
depth’s it could go to, the places it was going to reach that hadn’t been seen
before.
“I’ll
admit, Admiral, that maybe that part could get a bit routine but there’ll be
other missions, sir, that will make up for that I
reckon. I heard a lot about Seaview’s
capabilities sir, and if only half of them are true, you’re going to want the
best man you can get on your sonar station and that’s me, sir. I can hear a jellyfish sneeze at a 100 yards
and tell you just how much room you have around you to manoeuvre at the same
time, sir!” Ski replied boldly.
Harry
smothered a smile. Hmm, he certainly
didn’t lack confidence.
They
asked a few more routine questions and after a quick glance at his colleagues
Captain Philips dismissed the Sailor with the same assurance he had given all
the other interviewees.
Outside,
Kowalski turned to the burly COB and asked, “What d’you think,
Chief? Will I get hired?”
Curly
saw the eagerness and smiled, everyone wanted to get aboard this boat seemed to
him. “How do I know, kid? I don’t make
them choices, you’ll have to wait and see just like the rest of them.”
Ski
grinned ruefully and accepted the answer.
Now he’d seen the set up here, he wanted in. There was a buzz about the place that felt
good.
“Okay
Chief, but if they ask ya, can you mention that I’m a great card player too?”
He laughed and turned to go but turned back again. “Hey, What’s the
scuttlebutt on that Lt. Morton in there?”
Curly
looked confused, “What d’ya mean?”
“Well,
I heard a lot about Admiral Nelson and Captain Phillips but only rumours that
it was a young hard-nosed lieutenant running this place. Just
wondered if that was him on an interview panel in there.”
“You
want to watch your mouth Sailor! If
we’re lucky that officer is gonna be our boss one day and he don’t take no prisoners. Step
out of line with him and you’ll look just like one of them jellyfish you talked
about!”
“What
him? You serious?”
Curly
put his hands on his hips and nodded like a sage old owl.
Kowalski
looked surprised and downhearted at the same time as he walked away. Geez, just what he needed,
a grim faced martinet with no sense of humour for a superior!
*^*^
Three
weeks later Harriman Nelson sat at his desk surveying the latest estimates for
his prize project -- Seaview. The
expenses on the latest fixtures and fittings seemed astronomical! He knew when he had started on his quest to
build the world’s first, and most probably only privately run
nuclear-powered submarine, that money would be his
biggest headache.
Even
inheriting a quite sizeable family fortune had not been enough for his purposes
so apart from a highly successful Naval career, he had set about amassing
considerable wealth from the patent contracts on his numerous inventions. Science and the sea had always been twin
motivators in his life and now one had helped to accommodate his ultimate goal
– owning and running his own vessel. Not
just any vessel but a submarine, designed and built to his exacting specifications
and capable of reaching depths far beyond those of conventional subs! He intended to take marine exploration to a
much deeper level!
He
sighed as he assessed the cost of each essential item listed. With the Navy offering to finance a percentage of the capital
expenditure in return for what they saw as reasonable operational
involvement, it had lifted some of the financial burdens but his instinct was
to maintain his independence as much as possible. He didn’t want to lose control of Seaview
now, not after coming this far!
“Excuse
me Admiral,” the intercom on his desk interrupted his reveries, “There’s a Mr.
Andrew Morton wishing to see you, sir.”
Harry
frowned, Morton? Could that be
the father of Lt Chip Morton?
“Thank
you Angie. I’ll be right out.” He
released the answer button and strode towards the connecting door into the
office of his personal, private secretary Miss Angie Hamilton. A remarkable young woman
who had become as invaluable to him as his left arm. Her skills were many and varied and went far
beyond simple secretarial duties. She ran her office with precision and managed
all the bureaucratic administrative affairs of the NIMR with astounding
efficiency. A pretty face and shapely
figure belied a will of steel – no one got to bother the Admiral at NIMR
headquarters without going through Miss Hamilton first!
The
only other occupant was a man in a very expensive dark suit who
stood with his back to him as Nelson looked across enquiringly to Angie who
merely shrugged and made introductions when the visitor turned to face
him. Both men shook hands and
immediately Harry could see the obvious likeness between father and son.
“Mr
Morton, very glad to meet you, sir.
How can I help? Was it Chip you
wanted to see? I can arrange….”
“No,
Admiral, it was you I came to talk with.
My son has no part in this conversation. I’d prefer that he doesn’t
learn of my visit if you don’t mind.” He glanced at Angie who was, to all
intents and purposes, oblivious to their presence as she busied herself with
paperwork. “May we talk in your office,”
and without waiting for consent walked passed the senior officer to enter the inner
sanctum as many had named the admiral’s private den.
Perplexed
by the almost aggressive attitude, Harry merely turned and followed him while
issuing orders to Angie for no interruptions.
He
watched as Andrew Morton walked across to look out of the floor to ceiling wall
of windows overlooking the newly constructed institute grounds that led down to
the distant docks and Seaview’s private lair that were almost nearing
completion.
The
man stood with hands folded behind his back and rocked slightly from heel to
toe. Harry smiled at the familiarity of
this stance. He had noticed his
administrative officer often used it when raking over some hapless construction
worker, engineer or seaman for whatever misdemeanour they may have
committed.
Harry
walked slowly to his desk, sat down and waited.
This was quite obviously a man with something on his mind and no doubt
he was about to unleash it in Harry’s direction.
Andrew
Morton turned and stared at the man he despised more than any other. He wasn’t normally given to such loathing but
this man that had ruined his son’s Naval career and
made him choose against his father’s wishes!
He
stalked back to face Nelson and then declared bluntly. “I want you to release my son.”
Harry
was confused. “Release him? I don’t understand. I don’t hold him prisoner.”
Andrew
put both hands on the very large desk and leant forward menacingly. “Not physically, no, but you are keeping him here and I want
it to stop!” He stood upright again while still glaring at the seated
man. He put his right hand inside his
jacket pocket and produced a leather bound checkbook that he threw onto the
desk while Harry frowned and leant back in his chair trying to assess his
visitor.
Andrew
laid a gold pen on the leather wallet and waited as he glared at the man
opposite him.
Harry
leant forward and laid his forearms on the desk while he intertwined his
fingers thoughtfully. “What makes you
think I am keeping him here against his will? Mr. Morton is a very capable officer and
perfectly able to make his own decisions. He has never indicated to me that he
wishes to leave.”
“Don’t
toy with me Admiral Nelson, I won’t be charmed the way my son was. I’m a very skilled negotiator and quite
determined to bring a stop to all this nonsense! You know who I am and the power I represent?
Well, I want you to understand I won’t be thwarted in this.”
“I
know you are President of Morton Industries.
A millionaire business man, generous benefactor and very influential in
certain circles, if that’s what you mean.”
Harry’s reply was respectful but not ingratiating.
“Very
influential when it comes to matters of getting what I want, Admiral, you’d do
well to remember that.” Andrew looked unpleasantly at his quarry as he
continued. “I have worked my whole life to have something significant to pass
on to posterity. My company and its reputation mean everything to me! I built
it from nothing and it has always been my intention to pass it on in the family--
it’s all there waiting for my son to inherit -- only he doesn’t want it
because he developed a ridiculous loyalty first to the Navy and now to that
damn submarine out there!
“While
I was prepared to tolerate his choice of the Navy over family commitment when
it looked like he could achieve rank and position, I’m not prepared for him to turned his back on a promising career to follow you in this
absurd obsession any longer! He had
excellent prospects until you subverted him away! He has already wasted three
years of his life and it has to be ended now, before he throws away his future
on one man’s personal crusade and has nothing worthwhile to show for his life!
So name your price Nelson,” he flicked open the wallet to a blank check, “You
need money and I’ll pay any price within reason! What will it take – a million,
two?” he growled while throwing himself into the leather chair in front of the
desk and preparing to write.
Harry
sat quietly through the tirade as he watched the resentment and frustration
flow from Andrew Morton like a tsunami.
His disappointments over his son’s choices weighed heavily on him but
Harry felt the anger rise in him.
“You
dare you harangue me for your son’s choices?
No one twisted his arm. He’s an intelligent man that was already unhappy
where he was. I only offered him an
alternative course for his life. I’m
sorry that you feel disappointed but no amount of money will buy your
son back! You must see that I can’t order Chip back to the Navy! It’s his
choice to leave or stay!”
“That’s
not what I intend! I just want you to
release him, sever whatever contract you have with him and send him away. As soon as he has nowhere else to turn he
will honour the agreement we made and come home to do his family duty!”
“Agreement?”
Andrew
became guarded, “Three years ago when he resigned from the regular Navy, he and
I reached an agreement. When he moved
here and found his plans didn’t work out he would return home, give up this
Navy nonsense and follow my plans for him.”
Harry
looked contemptibly at the businessman.
“I see. And when that didn’t happen you decided
to take the first opportunity to make demands that I sell him back to
you!”
Andrew’s
fury rose in him as he saw and heard the scorn heaped upon him from his enemy.
“This is far from my first attempt Nelson!
Who do you think engineered all your delays and contract
difficulties? Who do you think it was
that stirred up the union disputes? Did
you think I was about to let go of my dreams so that yours could
succeed?”
Harry
jumped up plainly angry as he growled derisively. “You did all that but to what
purpose, man? To manipulate your son
into giving up on something he considered more important to his dignity and
self-respect?” Harriman Nelson looked away in disgust and ran a hand through
his hair to disturb the auburn locks before he looked back, “Do you have any idea how what you did
had the opposite effect to the one you wanted?”
Andrew
puckered his brows and looked confused.
Harry
continued scornfully, “Your interference only served to make him work all the
harder to overcome all the obstacles you put in his way. You are the one that drove Chip on.
You may not have intended to but you were the one that stimulated his
loyalty to Seaview, not I – and for that I must remain in your debt! We
couldn’t have come this far without his determination to succeed against all
the odds!”
“NO!
That can’t be true --- you’re lying he …” Andrew Morton sat completely still as
colour drained from his face and the full enormity of what he had done sank
in. After a few moments he felt a cold
glass placed in his hand and heard the instruction, “Here, drink this.”
Automatically
he lifted the glass to his lips and felt the burn of strong liquor seep down
his throat… it revived him enough to help him think coherently.
He
had gambled and lost! He had taken that
one step too far to break his son’s resolve!
Chip was not going to follow in his footsteps and his hopes for what
might have been were possibly dashed forever.
Harry
watched the older man carefully. The
look of utter defeat seemed to age him in only moments. His sympathies reluctantly went out to
him. He well understood the despair that
could be generated between father and son.
“Are
you alright?” He asked eventually as he returned to his seat.
Andrew
stirred himself enough to look at him.
Nelson showed genuine concern and he railed against it. He didn’t need or want this man’s pity! But for him things may have turned out
entirely differently.
He
made to rise but Harry admonished him.
“Take your time, finish your drink at least.”
He turned away as he sipped from his own glass and Andrew Morton sat back down
almost unconsciously as both men reflected silently on their individual thoughts.
Finally
one felt compelled to speak. “I suppose you think I’m a fool?” Andrew said
unhappily.
“No,
not a fool. Just a man driven by a desire he couldn’t
control. You wanted to have your son
live your dream but forgot that each man makes his own dreams and
sometimes a son can’t do what his father plans for him. Fathers have to learn compromise while their
sons find their own path in life.”
“How
can you talk of fathers and sons? You
have none that will disappoint your aspirations for them.” Andrew complained
harshly
“No,
but I was a son once.” Harry replied broodingly.
Andrew
glanced sharply at Nelson and saw a look of sadness laden with memories that
seemed to hurt him deeply. He sat back
in the chair, sipping at the amber fluid in his glass and there was silence
again as both men mourned individual disappointments.
“He’s
good then? Chip? Good at his job?”
Harry
smiled, “Better even than I had expected. He’s young but smart men have learned
to their cost what a mistake it is to underestimate him. His drive and energy
have been part of the major force that got all of this done.” Harry waved his
hand vaguely in the air and hesitated as he let the knowledge of his statement
sink into his own consciousness. He
suddenly understood why John was always admonishing Harry to take a proper look
at his young administrator. Harry had
seen only the project manager that would make his job easier and his life less
harried but realised now that Chip Morton was much more than that. Although he found the man’s calm demeanour in
the face of frustrations hard to fathom, being of a more volatile nature
himself, he had always been thankful for Morton’s expertise with the minute
details. Maybe he should follow John’s suggestion and take some time to find
out what makes Mr. Morton tick after all.
Aware that Andrew Morton was waiting he continued. “He’s still the son
you can be justly proud of. You should consider this as his great achievement
when you talk of legacies to the future. I know I’m grateful for his extensive
skills, I’m just not sure I always know what he’s thinking behind that mask of
indifference he has perfected so well.” Harry mused reflectively.
,
At
that Andrew Morton snorted ironically. “You and me both! I’m
afraid his mother is the only person I know that can read those annoyingly
bland expressions of his! I used to
think of them as a form of insolence but my wife assures me it’s just his way
of protecting himself against the judgements of others. Maybe she’s right; she
certainly seems closer to him than I. We
never seemed able to establish a stable enough relationship for me to
understand what made him the way he is!”
“That’s
often the way between determined fathers and sons.”
Andrew
Morton downed the last of his whisky and rose.
He looked down at the open checkbook and suggested hopefully. “I could
always improve my offer.”
Nelson
sighed impatiently and shook his head. “You haven’t enough money that would
ever induce me to sell any man, especially one like Lt. Morton. You will just have to acknowledge the fact
that he made this choice of his own free will and accept defeat on this
particular business deal.”
“I
never accept defeat, Admiral. There is
always an alternative when you look for it.” Andrew Morton declared grimly as
he picked up his belongings.
Before
Harry could reply the intercom on his desk buzzed. Knowing that there would
have been no interruptions unless they were urgent he chose to answer. “Yes, Angie, what is it?”
“Admiral,
I’m sorry, sir, but this couldn’t wait. There’s been an accident – down at the
loading bay construction site.”
Nelson
could clearly hear the stress in her voice and guessed there was something more
serious to come. “Has anyone been hurt?”
“We
don’t know for sure, sir, – well that is – it’s Mr. Morton, sir. He was under the platform doing an inspection
with the contractor when it failed. The report has just come in, Admiral. No
one seems to know just what the exact situation is. The rescue is still
underway.”
*^*^
“I
want more reinforcement here and here.” Chip Morton ordered as he pointed out
the points on the platform superstructure to the offended owner of Calvert
Construction.
“Look
Mister Morton, you won’t need the extra expense of doing that. Trust me we’ve built thousands of these
platforms for the oil industry and …”
“I
want the work done properly as it was first designed!” Chip looked down at the
blueprints. “You have made modifications that weren’t authorised so you put it
right at your company’s expense.”
“Now
wait a minute! I sub-contracted this work out to reliable firms and they assure
me it meets all your specifications! Do you know what the alterations you’re
demanding will involve? Hell, we’d have to practically start again!”
“Then
start again!” Chip replied firmly, “We don’t know the exact weights of the
equipment Seaview will be required to carry.
The Admiral has factored in the maximum probabilities so I’m not about
to let this loading dock be inadequate in any way!”
“According
to his stipulations you could rest your damn submarine on it!” Lewis Calvert muttered frustratedly.
Chip
remained unmoved. “If that’s what he wants to do then I’ll see to it this
platform meets his criteria, Mr. Calvert.
If you don’t think you can meet those exacting standards I can have your
contract terminated at once and …”
“Hold
on there! I didn’t say that we couldn’t do it just that it will cost a lot
more! Have a heart here …” He stopped
talking as there was an ominous creaking from above. “What’s that noise?”
“I
had one of my men move the heaviest crane we have on to the dock. I wanted to see where the stress factors
are.”
“Geez,
you’re a real s.o.b. aren’t you?”
Both men stood on the concrete foundation footings at the base of the structure
looking up and listening to the groaning steel girders. Seawater lapped around
their ankles as the tide started to rise but Chip Morton ignored the dampness
and continued his inspection. After some
minutes Chip pressed the on button on his walkie- talkie.
“Okay
Chief, take her back but slow, there’s an awful lot of noise down here!”
They
waited as the big machine was eased back onto terra firma but the creaking
continued until suddenly it seemed the whole structure moved and started to
fall about them.
Chip
only had time to yell out a warning as he pushed the other man aside and tons
on steel hurtled down on them.
*^*^
Kowalski
was watching the huge crane ease back and could still hear loud creaking coming
from the new dock extension. He looked
at his new friend Patterson and grinned. “Something tells me that Mr. Morton
ain’t going to be green lighting this build. That’ll be another
dissatisfaction for him to add to that clipboard of his.”
Patterson
was by nature a quieter personality than Ski but had grown to like the other
Sailor anyway. They found a
compatibility that allowed each man his individuality and still stayed
friends. “What you got against Mr.
Morton, Ski? He’s okay in my book.”
“I’m
not saying he ain’t okay -- as officers go he knows his stuff but don’t you get
just the teensiest bit uncomfortable around the guy? I never met anyone so hard to warm to, it’s
like he’s super cooled or something! I mean you ever met an officer that didn’t
yell a lot of orders around and take his frustrations out on every unlucky
sailor around him? Not this one – he
just talks all cold and disapproving like, making ya feel like a fool or worse
and that glare of his is enough to make anybody uneasy, geez, they just talk
themselves into trouble! It’s creepy if you ask me, nobody can be that chilled all
the time, the guy has definitely got a problem over something! Give me Curly’s temper any day; at least you
know where you are with him!
Patterson
sighed. He liked Ski but sometimes his
opinion of all officers seemed slightly skewed by his experience of the bad
ones. “He’s not like that and you know it.
He can yell when he has to, he just doesn’t need to so much, it isn’t
about making his crew afraid of him, it’s about
letting us do our job and putting us right when he sees a mistake. He just likes things done right and that is
what we’re trained for! You and I both know that in a sub at 20,000 feet we
all rely on each other knowing our jobs when things go wrong and I’d sure rely
on him knowing what to do in a tight spot!”
That
made Ski thoughtful. He knew Patterson
was a lot more willing to trust officers than he was. Experience had taught him
that not every graduate from officer training school was made of the right
stuff. Some of them were downright
dangerous in his opinion but he had to admit that Mr Morton seemed more
intelligent than most. A little too uptight and hard to work out for his tastes but
even-handed as far as he could tell.
Maybe he’d could try and get to know the guy better. Pat certainly
seemed to like him, so how hard could it be? He just wished he could tell what
the guy was really thinking behind that all-seeing, piercing blue stare of his!
Suddenly
there was a loud groaning from folding metal and yells of warning. The whole of the upper decking area toppled
over and landed with an ear splitting crash at the bottom of the dock. Everyone
ran forward looking down in disbelief.
As silence descended worried faces looked for the two men they knew were
under that heap of destruction!
*^*^
Chip
Morton came to with slow awareness. He
looked about him and saw Lewis Calvert lying a few feet away but
unconscious. Salt water gently moved
around his prone figure as Chip tried to move towards him but realised he was
pinned under some heavy steel girders.
He tried to budge them with his free arm but nothing moved. He called
out to the other man but got no reaction.
As he listened to distant voices above him he knew that rescue couldn’t
be far away. He tried to assess where he
hurt most but it felt like his whole body was just one giant hurt!
Well,
this would certainly make his father happy when he heard about it. Just another nail to knock into his son’s
argument over his choice of career!
“Mr
Morton? Mr Morton you
here, sir?”
“Over
here Kowalski.” Chip said as strongly as he could then saw a dark head bob
towards him through the rising tide and manoeuvre around the strewn metal.
“You
okay, sir?” Ski breathed as he reached
him. He was wearing a scuba tank over his uniform, a clear testament to his
hurried descent from the docking area.
“I’m
trapped but okay. Go see to Calvert over
there. He hasn’t been conscious at all, he may be badly hurt.” Chip ordered,
hoping that it wasn’t a worse case scenario for the other man.
Ski
hoisted himself out of the water and threaded his way carefully over the fallen
scaffolding. He felt Calvert’s neck for
a pulse and moved a couple of timber supports aside. As he did so the remaining
structure above them creaked ominously but stayed in place forming a rather
precarious cave like structure around them.
“Well? Is he alive?” Chip asked anxiously.
“Yes
sir. He looks mostly uninjured as far as I can tell but has a nasty crack on
the head…” just then a groan emanated from Lewis Calvert as he came back to
consciousness.
“What
the hell happened?” Calvert moaned as he struggled to sit up with Ski’s help.
“Your
loading dock just landed on us, Lewis.
Surprisingly enough, I’ve changed my mind about attempting to rest
Seaview on it after all!”
Ski
looked across to Mr. Morton’s sardonic expression and wondered at the exterior
calm the man exuded even under these circumstances.
Lewis
Calvert was momentarily confused but thinking back to his earlier statement he
answered. “Right now I’d have to agree
with you.”
“Ski,
can you manage to get Mr. Calvert out with the scuba gear?”
Ski? By the book, Mr Morton had called him Ski!
“Eh, yes sir, but don’t you think we should try to get you out first?”
Lewis
Calvert was standing now but swaying as he held his head. Chip noticed the bruising on the man’s temple
was turning darker and replied negatively.
“No, looks like he might have a bad concussion and some internal
bleeding. You need to get him topside
and medical help asap!”
“But
sir, this tide’s rising fast…” Ski protested.
“I’ll
be all right! Just follow orders Sailor and get that civilian out of
here!” Chip saw the seaman’s very real
dilemma and made to reassure him. “Just
do it, Kowalski. I can hang on a while
longer. Maybe the water will help me get
loose from under here. Just get Mr Calvert topside and tell them to take things
easy up there or they’ll drop the whole lot on me.”
Kowalski
wasn’t happy. He didn’t like leaving a
man behind but Lewis Calvert was babbling almost incoherently now and Ski
couldn’t rescue two men alone. He was
just lucky the scuba gear was lying close by when the accident had happened. He
hadn’t hesitated to hastily buckle himself into the straps with Pat’s help and
dive in.
“I
don’t like this Mr Morton, but I’ll do it sir.” He said sadly as he helped
Calvert to the water’s edge. He saw the
waves lap over Chip’s chin and watched as he strained to keep his mouth out of
the water.
Again
there was a movement of the twisted steel and wood and another few pieces fell
around them.
“I
don’t ask you to like it Ski, just get the two of you
out of here. That’s an order!”
Ski
knew that voice of command and lowered the limp man he was helping into the
water. “I’ll be back real soon Mr
Morton, you can count on it!” Ski said firmly.
Morton
kept his mouth shut against the rising tide and just nodded as he watched Ski
take a deep breath from the tank regulator and then put it into Calvert’s
mouth. The water had revived him
slightly but he allowed Ski to guide him down under the surface to find their
way through the fallen construction.
Chip
smiled inwardly to himself. Judging by
the speed of Kowalski’s arrival and the scuba tank over his uniform, he was
willing to wager that the sailor had pulled another of his instinctive
responses to a crisis. He had been
keeping a careful eye on the new recruit and found him to be quick and
resourceful. He worked hard and knew his job but liked to enjoy himself at the
same time, consequently he sometimes had to be chivvied along by Curly’s less
than patient tongue or reprimanded by Chip for some minor misdemeanour that had
the possibility for getting out of hand. On the whole Chip liked the new
crewman and could see great potential in him but decided that it would do no
harm to curb his more exuberant nature.
His friendship with Patterson was something Chip hadn’t expected.
Patterson
was a much quieter man and less given to the unregulated merriment Kowalski
liked to enjoy. Chip found Patterson’s
temperament made him easy to work with even if that sometimes meant a little
less than stimulating. He hoped that
both men would gain something from each other’s association - Ski, Patterson’s
calmness and Pat, Ski’s quick thinking.
The
water was nearly over his mouth now and he was just coughing up some swallowed
seawater when he felt a regulator eased into his mouth. He looked sideways and saw Ski’s worried eyes
through a protective diving mask. He
gave the okay signal with his free hand and took several welcome
breaths. Around him now were several men
all working to free him from the mangled mess entrapping him. The buoyancy of
the sea also helped to ease him out from under and suddenly he was floating
free while supported on either side by Kowalski and he was almost certain the
suited diver to his right was Patterson. The men worked well in unison and very
soon he was at the surface being helped to the shoreline, laid on a stretcher
as the regulator was removed and borne up to a waiting ambulance.
He
kept his closed as he was carried until he heard a worried enquiry. “Chip? Are you alright?”
He
opened his eyes at the familiar voice. “Dad? What are you
doing here? How did you know? I mean…”
he croaked uncertainly.
“Later,
Mr Morton. Right now we need to get you to hospital and
have that leg looked at.” Nelson was worried at the profuse bleeding that
stained the wet uniform pants leg of the rescued man and seeped down to pool on
the stretcher bed. Then a corpsman
applied a pressure bandage and stemmed the red tide.
“But
I don’t understand how he could be here, Admiral.” Chip tried again but was
forestalled by the medics loading him into the ambulance.
Nelson
looked at Andrew Morton and said. “Why
don’t you go with him?”
Andrew
Morton took a moment to nod a grudging thank you as he went to climb in
beside his son but his look of utter resolve was not lost on Harry. Andrew Morton wasn’t about to give up on
changing his son’s decision, especially after this incident!
*^*^
The
hospital bed in the private room was as comfortable as he could hope for and
Chip was grateful for the cessation of pain even with his leg held in the air
by traction and weights. His father’s
presence had been the biggest of all shocks but over the last week both men had
seemed to forge a surprising understanding and instead of using this accident as
another excuse to make the same well-worn demands on his son, Andrew Morton had
seemed to mellow a little. He never
mentioned the reason for his visit to see Chip but instead concentrated on
making his son comfortable and being as pleasant as he could. In return Chip had lowered his natural
defences slightly and found that he could relate to his father more than he
ever had before.
Andrew
had even made every effort of affability with Admiral Nelson and John Phillips
as they had visited their wounded officer.
Chip watched the show of amiability but felt there was something between
Andrew Morton and Nelson that remained unsaid – at least in his hearing. Having
said their goodbyes, Andrew was now on his way home as all Chip needed was time
to heal a broken leg and let the extensive bruising fade from his body. Chip was eternally grateful that his father
had managed to keep his mother and both sisters from flying to his
bedside – as much as he loved them he didn’t need their inevitable fussing!
Besides moving had become considerably easier today and he felt less
uncomfortable.
He
still couldn’t quite believe the transformation in his father. Maybe he was at last beginning to understand
that he couldn’t persuade his son to give up his new life and now he would
confirm Roxy in the position she had worked towards all these years! For too long she had waited in the wings for
her father to yield so she could achieve her ultimate goal. Her life on hold it had seemed to Chip.
He
moved slightly to a more comfortable position.
He had just said goodbye to another visitor. Lewis Calvert had recovered completely from
his injuries and made an embarrassed apology for
Chip’s continued confinement. Between
them they had agreed to a new working relationship that renewed Chip’s
confidence in the man’s abilities. The
accident had been investigated and so far the steel suppliers found to be at
fault. But Lewis Calvert had agreed to
supervise the reconstruction personally this time and at his company’s
expense.
“How
are we this morning Mr Morton?” enquired the chief Naval doctor of the base
hospital as he came in with an air of cheerful optimism.
“I
am fine Doctor Jamieson and wondering just how soon I can get out of here!”
The
doctor looked over the patient record chart.
“Hmm, I see your temperature is back to normal and you’re responding to
the antibiotics. You realise of course
that you’re very lucky we had that particular one available? I don’t think I’ve ever treated anyone with
quite so many drug allergies as yourself. How did you ever pass you’re Navy physical?”
“I
lied about my health,” came the deadpan reply.
Doctor
William Jamieson smothered a smile.
Sense of humor returning was always a good sign. “Indeed. Well, I’d say another day of traction and then
we’ll try you on crutches. You’ll be on
sickcall for at least six weeks and then we’ll see how the healing has gone.”
“Six weeks? I can’t be away from my
office that long, Doctor. Can’t I sit at a desk just well as on a couch at
home?”
“The
point of the exercise is complete rest not running around an office doing 14
hour days!” Jamieson answered somewhat
testily.
“What
say we compromise, Doctor? I won’t do
any running around and keep it down to an eight hour day and heal just as
well?” Chip countered equally irritably.
Jamison
shook his head sadly as he muttered, “Why do I always get the difficult
patients? No, I can’t sanction –“ and
stopped abruptly as Chip tried to interrupt but Will put up his hand for
silence, “As I was about to say – I cannot sanction anything longer than a five
hour day on four days a week and that’s my final offer, take it or leave it! No
one is indispensable Mr Morton, not even a man with your formidable
reputation!”
“I’d
take it Mr Morton. I know of Dr
Jamieson’s stubbornness from personal experience. I believe it’s the best you can hope for,”
Harriman Nelson advised sardonically as he entered the room unnoticed by both
men.
Will
Jamieson turned and smiled half-heartedly. “Please tell me they’re not all
going to be as obstinate as this one Admiral. I agreed to sign on as CMO for an
easier life, not to treat men who disregard their health in the name of
pig-headed obsession to duty!”
“CMO?” asked Chip confusedly.
Nelson grinned bashfully, “Oh eh, did I forget to
mention that Dr Jamieson has agreed to join as our medical officer and
eventually head of our own medical facility when it’s built?” He watched as the shutters came down over
Chip’s face and a look of complete neutrality was displayed there.
“Yes sir, I think you did. Welcome aboard, Doctor. I look forward to working with you.”
Will watched the transformation with interest and
understood some of the comments he’d heard amongst the nursing staff now. This man really could manage to switch
off his face!
“Thank you Mr Morton but may
I say that I hope I our work will be on a purely healthy basis after this
little incident.”
“My sentiments exactly Doctor. Now when did you say I can get out of here?”
*^*^
Chip was just ending his last working day of his week. He snorted in disgust, who ever heard of a
four-day week and three-day weekend? No
one except maybe a difficult doctor! He
was four weeks into his agreement with Dr Jamieson and had kept to the rules
thanks to the eagle eye of Miss Hamilton and the reliability of his two
drivers, Seamen Patterson and Kowalski.
They took alternative days to be his transport service and were quite
obviously impatient if he tried to extend his work time beyond a reasonable
delay.
There was the respectful knock at his office door
he had been expecting but instead of waiting for permission to enter the door
opened and Admiral Harriman Nelson and Captain John Phillips entered.
“I’m glad we’ve caught you before you left,” Nelson
informed him as both men took seats and casually arranged them in front of the
desk, “ I’ve just got off the phone with
Chip looked interested but not overly curious. He knew there were several candidates in the
running, even Lt Bishop, Admiral Leggett’s son-in-law. Bishop claimed he was
confident of a promotion soon, although Chip knew that there were certain
reservations over an incident concerning a rating’s accident on Bishop’s
previous boat.
“I see, sir. Have you managed to make a decision?”
Nelson and Phillips looked at each other and
grinned conspiratorially. “I think we have - that is if the officer wants the
position.”
Chip frowned, who wouldn’t want a prestigious
posting like that? “Is there some doubt he will, sir?”
“Well, I don’t know Mr Morton, do
you want the job?”
Chip sat in stunned silence. Him?
Nelson was offering him the XO postition? He hadn’t even hoped for this yet. He knew the Navy had made certain
stipulations about the command crew they would find acceptable and put forward
many suitable officers for consideration.
He had supposed he would get maybe engineering officer until that post
was filled last week or hopefully second officer– but Exec? He suddenly
frowned. “But I thought the Navy had
insisted on a minimum ranking of Lt Commander when Seaview became a nuclear
armed boat, sir? Will they sanction a
lieutenant rank in that position?”
Harry
looked suitably serious as he replied. “No, I’m afraid they won’t.”
Chip
hid his disappointment well, “Then I don’t understand how you think I can take
the position, Admiral.”
“Oh,
Harry put the man out of his misery. I never took you for a torturer.” John
Phillips complained good-naturedly.
Nelson
stood up and came forward. “The Joint Chiefs of Staff have
quite rightly stipulated that a nuclear armed vessel such as Seaview must have
the best officers and men available. I have stipulated that I already
have the best officer available for the position of my XO, therefore Lt
Commander Morton it’s my pleasure to apprise you of your forthcoming
promotion in the ranks and invite you take up your new posting as Executive
Officer aboard Seaview with immediate effect.”
Chip
Morton sat dry mouthed during Harry’s speech and amazed by the joint pieces of
good news.
Harry
grinned as he saw the unguarded looks of surprise and pleasure filter across
Chip’s face. “Well, Mr. Morton do I take
your silence as an affirmative?”
Suddenly
rallying himself, he made to stand as smartly as his plastered leg would allow
and smiled. “Yes sir. I would be honoured to accept, if you’re sure—”
“We’re
very sure Chip, so don’t even question the decision. Just enjoy the moment.
You’ve earned your position more than once.” John Phillips assured him as he
shook his exec’s hand. “I think this calls for a small
celebration. Now begins what will
undoubtedly prove an eventful adventure for us all.”