Ch. 32 A ship, a crew
The next day they went to the 12 Rocks café to see Sonny.
"Hey Kate, Dylan!", he greeted them.
"Hi Sonny, we've something to tell you", she said.
"I'm listening", said the sturdy man.
"We would like to resign because we've found another job. We're going to sail again on a merchant vessel", she said ill-at-ease.
He rubbed his chin, "Hmm, well I expected that a tad earlier, precisely when your boyfriend popped up", he said.
"Is it?", she asked surprised.
"Listen dear, this job was meant to put you back on track and apparently it worked. You've changed enormously. So don't worry about it", he said.
"Thanks Sonny, and what about the dresses for the show?"
"Keep them, that was a great tonic to help you to regain self-confidence", he said while tapping against her upper arm.
"Thanks again. When uh… may we leave?", she asked.
"You both have your day off, no problem for me right now and for tomorrow I'll find someone else. So for me it's okay you may leave now. I'll prepare the papers", he said.
"Thanks mate", Dylan said.
When they came back he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, "This was the first step, let's go see Arthur to know when we'll board and if we need to give notice in writing".
She looked at her watch, "Yeah, he's probably awake already for quite a while", she said.
Two days later they stood of one of the docks of Melbourne harbour. The weather was cloudy and Kate had stuck her hands in the pockets of the short raincoat she was wearing. She looked at the suitcases left next to them.
"I just feel like a tramp. Our belongings and furniture stuck in a container stored in a warehouse and the rest in suitcases", she said.
"It's temporary Kate. When this adventure is started then we'll look for something decent", he said pulling his cap deeper on his eyes because it started drizzling.
Kate also put on the hood of her raincoat on her head and they looked at the cargo vessel in front of them.
"Here she comes! The MV Katherine. What do you think about it?", he asked her.
They both look to a small container ship with a bright blue hull. Huge characters MGSL were painted in the middle of it. The bridge house was situated at the stern of the ship.
"Impressive, almost a frigate", she said.
"84 m long, a beam of 14 m. 12 knots and a range of 3000 miles. And last but not least, 128 20-foot containers", he said proudly.
"Uh-hu, our Hammersley was only 57 m and had a beam of 10 m", Kate compared.
At that moment a car stopped and both turned around to see who was coming. Arthur got out of the car.
"Aah, young people, what do you think about her?", he greeted them enthusiastically.
"Hey dad", she said.
"Hi Arthur", Dylan greeted him.
"Come on! Don't stay in that drizzle. Let's get aboard!", Arthur said ushering them to the gangplank.
"My luggage...", Kate muttered.
"No worries, they'll bring them after", he soothed her as they stepped aboard.
Once aboard, Kate and Dylan turned their face to the stern of the ship and raised their hands to salute the ensign, but the hands remained in the air as they realised it was no longer necessary. They sheepishly chuckled at each other.
They climbed the staircase straight to the bridge.
"Your kingdom", Arthur said.
"Spacious!", Kate mumbled while strolling over the large bridge. She and Dylan padded from to the various items, as the helm, the navigator, the radar and they discussed them.
"There's no EOD", she said with a smile.
"Neither a Typhoon", he added with a grin.
She hit him gently as only reply to his remark.
"Dad, let's have a look at the rest".
They headed to the captain's cabin and entered.
Kate was baffled, "Wow, this is roomy! That's for an admiral!", she said surprised walking around. There was even a real double bed, a bathroom, a desk, a large built in cupboard, a couch, a coffee table, a club chair and a rug.
"There's even a TV!", she said surprised looking at Dylan, "Yours I guess, you're the owner".
"Nope honey, yours. You're the captain", he said.
"Come young people, you'll see that the cabin of the first officer is also nice", Arthur said.
Kate shook her head as they stood in that cabin. "Barely to compare with the Armidale class". There was also a rack and cupboard, a desk, a club chair a coffee table and a TV.
"The officers have a smaller one and the petty officers are a bit bigger than the sailors and, I thought it was important, everyone has his own cabin", Arthur said.
The next hours they wandered across the ship to finally returned to the bridge again.
Dylan looked at his watch, "It's noon already, that was fast. I'm starving, what about you?", he asked.
"Yes, I'm not against a good lunch", Arthur said.
"It's a pity that the galley isn't open yet", Kate remarked. "When do we expect the crew?"
"Tomorrow", Arthur said.
"What's our first voyage?", she asked again.
Dylan had a barely perceptible nod.
Yes, she's looking forward again to take care of the organisation. Good, her hesitation is diminishing.
"Sydney with 5 containers. There you have to pick up 30 containers for Melbourne and Adelaide. Already 5 more containers than a few days ago!", he said beaming "And probably there will be more while you'll be at sea. The agencies kept off a bit because we were not yet operational ", her father said.
"Good! Then we'll have time to get acquainted with the boat", she said.
"Come young people, let's have lunch. It's on me!", Arthur said wrapping his arms around them.
They spent the rest of the afternoon , unpacking and exploring the ship. They had supper with Arthur and, much later, the couple tested out Kate's larger rack in the captain's cabin.
The next day, when they woke up, and Dylan looked at the alarm clock.
"Big Day 1 today, the crew will arrive", he said.
"Hmmm, a couple more minutes", Kate mumbled while cuddling up against him.
"Honey, what are we going to do when we're at sea?", he asked.
Kate rolled on her back and stretched. "Each in his cabin. Otherwise it's not respectful towards the crew", she said.
"Yeah, my idea too", he said.
"But…. When we're in a port….. then….", Kate replied with a cheeky grin.
"Yeah, what then? What?", he answered tickling her.
Kate squealed.
"Here you go. You see what happens! And what will the crew think?", she added.
"Well, they…", he started but she cut him short.
"Don't give it a try. Don't even think about it", she said while straightening.
Dylan grinned at her.
"You've said Big Day 1. So there should be a Big Day 2?", she asked.
"Yep, the next day when we sail", he said caressing her cheek.
"Time to test the shower", she said responding to his hug by kissing him.
"And I'm hungry!"
Kate was preparing a breakfast in the galley, bacon and eggs and Dylan was leaning against the counter top while they were chatting. They got interrupted by a clear, well known voice.
"Hey, I see that you already have a cook!"
"Hey Bomber! How are you doing?", reacted Kate enthusiastically.
"Hey Becca, you're early", Dylan said looking at the young woman who was standing at the entrance of the galley. Rebecca had replaced her shorts with jeans, she was wearing a T-shirt and a short raincoat.
"I feel great! I can't wait to start again in an environment that I like", she said beaming.
"Have you already had your breakfast?", Kate asked.
"Two doughnuts ma'am, but against scrambled eggs and bacon, I can't say no!", she replied grinning.
In response to that Dylan grabbed a third plate and a mug for coffee.
"Becca, drop the ma'am, we're in the merchant navy now and therefore less formal", Kate said dividing the eggs over the three plates.
"Ah? Ok. And what's your function aboard?", she asked.
"I'm the captain", Kate replied.
"Wow! Captain! You've finally made it!", Rebecca exclaimed.
"You say that. Come, before it gets cold", Kate said grabbing a chair.
They sat down.
"You know, I just did something silly when I came aboard. I've greeted the ensign", Rebecca said cutting her eggs.
Dylan and Kate laughed.
She looked up a bit baffled, "Did I say something stupid?"
"No, not at all Becca, the fact is that we did exactly the same thing yesterday", she said.
"Let's watch the others and enjoy ourselves", Dylan replied wryly.
Rebecca chuckled at the idea.
They continued their breakfast in the galley and caught up with each other.
"It's big!", Rebecca said looking around.
"Like everything here!", Kate replied, "you'll have to get used to it", she continued with a wink.
Dylan stood up, "Come Becca, I'll show you your cabin".
They walked along the corridors until he pushed a cabin door and let her in.
"Wow! All this for my own use! And with a port hole!", she noticed surprised.
"And a TV too!", she said looking around. "I think I'll like it here!", she replied beaming.
Dylan winked at her, "That's something I like to hear!"
"Right. I leave you and we'll see you later", he said.
"Yeah, I also want to see the ward. And are there already supplies for the galley?", she asked.
"Some of them. The most important like meat and vegetables will arrive today", Dylan replied.
"Nice, nice", Rebecca said by clicking to open one of her suitcases.
Dylan came back to Kate who had finished the breakfast dishes. While continuing their walk to the bridge they bumped into someone else. Swain, Chris Blake.
"Hi Dutchy, X", he greeted them with a big smile.
"Welcome aboard Second Officer!", Dylan greeted him back.
"Hi Chris, it's just Kate", Kate greeted him with those words.
"Ok, Kate and what are you going to do aboard?", he asked.
"I'm the captain", she replied.
"Splendid! Congratulations!", he replied enthusiastically.
"Thanks".
"Come mate, I'll show you your cabin".
"Do you know what I did when I came aboard?", Swain asked with a broad smile.
"You greeted the ensign", Dylan and Kate replied in unison.
Chris looked baffled, "But… how…how do you know that?", he stammered in disbelief spreading his hands.
"Because, we all did. Dylan, me, Rebecca. We all fell into the same trap", Kate explained.
"And watch carefully the others now", she added with a wink.
Bit by bit the crew came aboard and shortly before noon, Dylan called them all on the bridge.
Here they are, in a semicircle around Dylan and Kate. They watched them.
Chris Blake "Swain" as second officer, Andy Thorpe "Charge" as chief engineer, Leo Kosov-Meyer "2Dads" as electrician, Rebecca Brown "Bomber" as cook and medic, Robert as radio operator, Dick Harper "Harpie" as the bosun, Robby Stocker "Bull" and Synthia Murdoch "Bambi" from the Kingston, Lance Spencer "Lance" from the Bundaberg and some others. They didn't look like Navy members, even not professionals, jeans, T-shirts, shirts hanging freely. Only Charge looked professional. He had kept his old grey overall of the Hammersley and Rebecca wore an apron and the black cap also from her time on the Hammersley. Kate hid a smile.
Just a bunch of buccaneers!
She looked at herself quickly and glanced at Dylan.
Hmm, T-shirt, jeans, converse shoes, and him a loose shirt over a T-shirt, a jeans that had known better days, sneakers, we're not doing better than them.
"Listen up, guys, … uh and ladies, I almost forgot our two ladies…", started Dylan looking at Rebecca and Synthia who were standing next to each other.
But he got a slight poke in his ribs.
"And me, buddy?", Kate remarked.
"Ah yes! Of course. Three ladies!", he corrected himself, making the crew laugh and breaking the ice.
"Well, welcome aboard the MV Katherine of McGregor Shipping Lines. As you already know, I'm responsible for the crew and also a little bit the owner of this company", he said while showing a small space between his thumb and his index finger.
"But the real owner is Kate's father, Arthur McGregor. Kate is our captain and … We're a couple", he said wrapping his arm around her shoulders. He waited until the whistles, applause and congratulations were over.
"I think it's not necessary to tell you to do your best. We're now sailing on our own behalf and not for the nation anymore. If you want to screw up everything, remember that you screw up your own job", he said looking at 2Dads.
"You can trust him otherwise I'll make him shark food", Charge said while the others laughed. 2Dads stared a bit unhappy at a particular spot on the floor.
Kate continued. "And I expect also the same discipline and tidiness as on our former patrol boats! However, it's no longer necessary to address us with 'madam', 'boss', 'sir' or whatever. We're no longer in the Navy. We know each other and we know what each represents. Only one exception is that when we act as officials ashore, then we'll use the titles", she said.
"Yes ma'am!", they said in unison grinning.
Dylan took over from Kate. "Now we together form the MV Katherine. So, the rival teasing between Hammersley, Kingston and Bundaberg is history. Is that clear?", he asked more sternly.
"Aye Dutchy!", the crew answered.
"So, guys, tomorrow we'll sail to Sydney with five 20 feet containers and we'll come back with at least 30 for Melbourne and Adelaide", he continued.
"Oh and before I forget, I want your curriculum vitae, your career description and your list of degrees before you stepped aboard here. It's to complete your personal files. That's all. Carry on!", Dylan added.
To be continued