Chapter Ten

The next few days passed quickly for Nelson who spent the majority of each day asleep. Each time he awoke, it was to the smiling face of Maria, who had become his constant companion and nurse. As his strength returned, his anger faded. Inexplicably, the hurt lessened, and in its place he found that things were much as they had been. The joking manner between them was restored and they relived events they both remembered.

"I remember when Raul was just a little boy," Nelson said laughing. "He used to follow Juan around and imitate everything he did."

"Si. He did." Maria joined in the laughter, as happy as she had been in years. "Juan tired of it at times, but he never let Raul know."

"I suppose Juan was a sort of surrogate father for Raul," Nelson said thoughtfully.

Maria dropped her gaze and the joking manner was gone. "Si. I think he was. When our brother, Eduardo, was killed, he had no one but Juan and me. We became his family and, in time, so did the cadre."

Nelson grew quiet and Maria turned at his sudden change.

"You worry about your people don't you?"

"They should have been here by now. Even if the base was destroyed, Raul would know where to find you, wouldn't he?"

"Yes. He would know. I too worry. And Juan, though he tries not to show it. With our radio destroyed there is no way we can contact the outside world. But Juan has sent a few men into the capital to see what they can find out. Perhaps they will even find a radio for us. But in the meantime, you must eat to regain your strength."

Nelson looked up into Maria's eyes and, for a time, forgot.

VVVVV

Captain Crane paced the deck of the Seaview and watched as Raul and Sharkey were transferred to a waiting ambulance that would take the men to the hospital. Both men had recovered to some extent during the slow journey back to Santa Barbara. The Seaview herself, however, was in for a few repairs before she would be seaworthy enough to go back to San Marco: A situation that did not sit well with her captain.

"Have you heard anything?" a voice behind him said.

Turning, Crane found Morton standing behind him staring at the same scene.

"Yes. I'm to be in Washington by tomorrow morning for testimony on the biological weapons charges. Although from what I hear, the rebels have destroyed the lab, so what I'm needed for I have no idea."

"That should be good news, Lee. If the rebels destroyed the lab, then they weren't all killed in the attack. The admiral could be still alive."

"Could be, Chip," Crane said softly as he continued to stare about him. His frustration at the delay was eating at him. The not knowing was almost painful. Over the years, the admiral had come to mean a great deal to Crane and he was hard put to describe the relationship. To him, it didn't need defining. He and the admiral had become family and that was all there was to that. Family didn't abandon each other as he had done. Family stuck by each other. He'd find a way back to San Marco if it was the last thing he ever did.

He smacked his hand on the side of the boat. "I need to know for sure. I need to get back there. Now."

"How? The Seaview will be in dry-dock for at least two weeks, from the last estimates I heard. Raul won't be out of the hospital, from what Doc said, for another week. And to go back there without Raul is..."

"I know, I know. He's already told us there are several places they could be hiding. None of which he feels we would be able to find on our own," he said turning to go back inside the sub.

The two men climbed down the ladder and entered the Control Room. Crane walked to the Observation Nose and stared out at the activity on the dock.

"So what do we do?" Morton asked.

Nervously twisting the ring on his finger, Crane was silent for a long time as he tried desperately to come up with a plan to find the admiral, but came up empty. Sighing heavily, his shoulders drooped in defeat.

"As much as I don't want to do it, I guess I go to Washington and we wait."

VVVVV

The next two weeks dragged by. Crane shuttled between Washington, where he testified any number of times on the situation in San Marco, and the Naval dry-dock, where he harassed the workers into hurrying the job. In between, he found himself visiting with Raul and Sharkey. Both had been released and were recovering nicely, if not patiently, at Sharkey's apartment.

Finally, the day arrived when the Seaview was ready to sail. Supplies were loaded aboard and all personnel eagerly awaited the voyage back to San Marco.

Crane stood on the conning tower and stared down restlessly at the activity below. The last of the men had come aboard and he awaited Raul's arrival impatiently.

"Any sign of him?"

Crane turned at the sound of Morton's voice behind him. "No. What's keeping him? He's already..."

"He's only five minutes late, Lee. Ease up."

Crane looked about to argue then stopped. "You're right. I just want to get going."

"So does everyone else on board. It's a pretty tense bunch down there right now. They're antsy to get going, find the admiral and bring him home."

"I know what they're feeling. I want to get this over with. And bring him back," he said, looking away for a moment.

Morton didn't reply, knowing it wasn't necessary. Chip knew how Lee felt about the admiral and about having to leave him behind. He only hoped they found the admiral alive. If they didn't, Lee would have a hard time forgiving himself and he knew the guilt would eat away at him.

"There he is!" Crane said.

"Who's that with him?" asked Morton.

The two men peered at the figures walking slowly down the steps leading to the dock, carrying duffel bags.

"It's Sharkey!" replied Morton. "I thought he was told to stay behind."

"Yes. He was. Looks like he has other ideas."

Smiling slightly, Crane watched the two men walk to the gangplank. Sharkey hesitated a moment, then looked up and asked, "Permission to...uh...come aboard, sir?"

Crane frowned slightly. A full minute passed before he answered. "Permission granted, Chief."

Sharkey smiled in relief and the two men scampered over the gangplank.

"Thank you sir. I couldn't stay behind. And I'm feeling fine. So's Raul. We're both ready to..."

"Easy, Chief. I already said you could come along. Stow your gear and show Raul to a cabin."

"Yes, sir. And thank you," Sharkey said as he and Raul climbed down the ladder.

Morton looked over at Crane with a smile. "Well, Lee. The crew is present and accounted for. What are we waiting for?"

"Not a thing, Chip. Not a thing. Let's get going. Set a course for San Marco. Flank speed."

The men cleared the decks and the sleek submarine set off for, what they all hoped was a rendezvous with the admiral.