CH 25 Spicy Donger
That evening Kate and Dylan were sitting in the living room after they've finished their supper. The TV was on and he was reading a sailing magazine. Kate sat on the couch and was sewing the second band on the sleeves of her jacket. From time to time she threw a glance at the documentary on tv.
He let his magazine rest on his lap and looked at her. "Did you found a solution yet to fill your place since Mike didn't want it?", he asked her.
"No, not yet", she grumbled looking at her sewing work, "I really thought it was that easy!"
"I saw on the list of senior officers 'on the bench' that there's a Captain Richard Curry available, is he…", he started but she cut him off.
"Spicy Donger? Dylan, do you really want that Mike kills me?", she reacted fiercely.
"Uh, no why?", he asked surprised.
"Spicy Donger was the commander of the HMAS Kingston, Hammerley's rival. Mike and Spicy could drink each other blood", she said.
"Hmm, the Kingston, I've heard rumours about that rivalry. How did that start?"
"Spicy Donger and Mighty Mike are from the same year at ADFA and as from the same year as Knocker White. As far as I could read between the lines, both were in the running to conquer Maxine and Spicy lost. It seemed that Mike used a few vicious tricks and Spicy had never forgiven him that", she said with a grin.
"Maxine, the goal? Well, well", he chuckled, "I would have known better!"
"Don't forget that she was much younger back then", she replied with an evil grin.
"I can understand that Spicy doesn't like Mike, but what's the reason that Mike doesn't like Spicy? He won from him though?"
"Spicy Donger did Mike a few bad turns in revenge. That's why".
"Interesting times", he nodded, "No, indeed, you'd better don't do that to him."
"But, I do have a much better idea! Wait and see tomorrow", she said with a smirk.
Meanwhile Kate has finished with her jacket. She stood upright, walked away with it and came back with another one. She sat down and started to sew another band on the sleeve.
"Huh? What are you doing with my jacket?", he asked surprised.
"Sewing a band on it", she deadpanned.
"Did it came off? I haven't noticed it", he said.
"No."
"Uh? You're sewing a fourth on it? But how?", he stammered.
"Darling, tomorrow you'll get your promotion to Captain. You'll be the adjutant of the Chief of Navy and you can't afford that they all walk over you like nothing. You must have a bit of importance."
"Ouch! I never expected that."
"No, you didn't, I saw it, but it is. Congratulations!", she replied with a smile.
"Ah! Thanks. I think we'll have to drink a glass on it, not?", he said.
"Yeah, sounds good, a bit of white wine will do."
The next day at the base
They all five sat around a high table enjoying their coffee.
"How does it feel? Those three stars on your shoulders", Kerry asked.
Kate shrugged. "I feel it more in my mailbox. It looks like that I'm the only person in the Navy who can decide about something".
"That's right, you're indeed the only person in the Navy who has the final say about things", Mike said.
"I'm starting to realise that there're not much people who take up their responsibility. They all seem to hide behind their superior officers. I guess that I'll see the real impact of it when I'm in Canberra", Kate replied.
"You're going to change something?", Nikki asked.
"I'll try. Trying to make the Navy more flexible, quicker", Kate said.
"Who's going to replace you?", Nikki asked again.
Kate sighed. "Difficult point. Mike doesn't feel for it, thus I have to look for an alternative. Maybe I can appoint Captain Richard Curry to assist here", she said innocently.
"What?", Mike exclaimed, "Spicy Donger? No way! I refuse to work with that scab!", he exclaimed angrily hitting with his fist the table. Unfortunately he knocked over two cups of coffee whereby the brown liquid flew over the table causing spots on Kate's and Nikki's trousers.
"Oh Mike, you clumsy!", Nikki reacted disappointed.
"Splendid Mike, continue like this", Kate grumbled.
"Oops, sorry. You see that's the cause of Spicy Donger", he said still angry.
"Wait I'll get a cloth", he said as he stood upright and walked to the bar.
A instance later a sailor was cleaning the table, probably cursing at those stupid clumsy Brass officers.
Mike returned with two new cups and sat down, still in a fool mood.
"So, Spicy Donger isn't a good idea?", Kate asked laconically.
"No!", Mike grumbled.
"Uh-hu, then uh… you'll have to replace me temporally until I find a decent candidate. You've done that before, remember?"
He glanced at her in unbelief. "Kate, I can't do two jobs at the same time…", he started to say but she cut him off.
"I know Mike, therefore I'll promote Nikki to Captain, so she can assist you."
"Uh?", Nikki stammered, her mouth open of astonishment.
"Yes Nikki, later this morning I'll sign your promotion papers. Good luck Captain."
Dylan looked from one to the other and could barely keep a poker face.
"Right. Now this is agreed, we can continue with our work. I've some papers to sign!", she said lifting one eyebrow.
They stood upright and walked back to their offices. Kate and Dylan to their department and Mike, Nikki and Kerry to the other wing.
"Nikki, I don't know, but I've a weird feeling that Kate took me in. There will be no replacement. Otherwise she wouldn't have promoted you", Mike said as they walked through the corridors.
"Yeah, it looks like that. She's smart, you know. Otherwise she wasn't sitting in that chair."
He made a face as response.
Dylan walked next to his wife to their offices and he looked at her.
"Kate you were mean", he said.
"Why?", she replied with a grin.
"Because the conversation of a minute ago was pre-calculated. I saw the promotion note of Nikki on your desk before we left for coffee and it was already signed."
"Yes, it was."
"You knew exactly how Mike was going to react when you started seemingly innocently about Spicy Donger. You knew that he would accept everything if he didn't have to work with Spicy. And the fact that he could have Nikki as his assistant let him swallow the pill easier."
"I had to do something to have him doing that job, not? I know him, he's decent and I can trust him, so. Did I have to put a stranger on that position? Someone I had to check?", she defended herself.
"Did you also calculated that coffee tsunami?", he asked with a grin.
"No, sometimes he's unpredictable", she grumbled as she looked at the spots on her trousers.
He shook his head. "You're incorrigible. God help the Navy now!", he said whereby she slapped him on his shoulder.
To be continued