******Chapter 18
"That's a big one!" Nav sounded impressed at the sight of the ship at their starboard side. She stood outside at the bridge deck with the CO and Robert, who had succeed in signalling the other boat that they should stop and bring about their ship so that the boarding party could enter. The now closing in RHIB looked very small compared next to the big sailing ship that gently rolled from one side to the other with the wind dragging at the coiled canvas and rigging.
"She's a beauty." Mike sounded as impressed as his navigator. "She must be pretty old by the looks of it but still in good shape."
"In fact, she's only twenty years old, Sir. I asked for detailed information as soon as we got the name. NAVCOM says she's the replica of an eighteenth century bark named Endeavour. It's a research project following the footsteps of James Cook..."
RO stopped his explanations when realizing that none of the two officers paid attention. "And she's a beauty." he finished slightly irritated. Together they observed the team boarding the sailing ship. The new XO looked a bit clumsy and Buffer had to help him to prevent him from going overboard. Mike sight. That wouldn't help him gaining the trust and respect of the crew. What the Lieutenant needed was more exercise and experience. No doubt Perkins would get plenty of that aboard the Hammersley Mike was sure.
"Have you seen him? It was so lousy..." 2Dads pulled his shirt over his head so the rest of the sentence came as a muffling sound. "If Buffer hadn't had a fast grip at his vest, our XO would have gone overboard in front of the whole sailing crew." He stuffed the shirt into his dirty laundry bag and rubbed his neck. "I don't know why they'd sent the chap to us. X will be back the next patrol, I heard her ankle isn't that bad. And we're sure better off without him."
His crew mate didn't answer. Robert sat on his rack, flipping through the pages of his sudoku pad searching for a blank one to finish. Noticing the sudden silence, he raised his eyes and saw the blond sailor's questioning look.
"Sorry, I didn't listen. What were you talking about?"
2Dads rolled his eyes. "I was talking about the new XO."
"I see. What about him? He seems to be..." Robert searched for an apposite expression.
"Lousy? Unfair? Rude?" 2Dads suggested and rummaged around to find a clean shirt.
"Actually I was going to say correct. He's only aboard for one day. How comes you are already so keen to get rid of him? He couldn't possibly have done something wrong in that short period of time." RO observed Leo's frantic search with a raised eye-brow. "What the hell are you doing anyway?"
"I'm looking for a clean shirt. You don't happen to have a spare one – just by accident?" Leo asked casually.
"No I don't! And if you would store your stuff like I proposed to you on more than one occasion, you would have a better overview."
Mumbling something Robert suggested wasn't a thank-you-for-the-advice the technician stuck his head into a cupboard and finally pulled out a grey shirt. Sniffing at it and immediately smiling he triumphantly turned around, holding it up high. "See, I got one on my own! And about the XO. He can't even climb aboard a sailing ship. Nearly went over the railing, you must have seen from the bridge!"
"I remember you going overboard on several occasions. So that does make you a bad sailor too, doesn't it?"
"You weren't there, RO. Know what he did? Instead of thanking Buffer he pushed him away telling him to mind his own business. Even the sailing crew noticed that he was unnecessarily rude. And than he tried to tell me what to do with the burnt out radio. And if that's not enough for you, ask Bomber what she thinks of him. He made some suggestions for the galley too. Oh and Swain said he asked him whether it wouldn't be helpful to rearrange the first aid stuff at the wardroom." 2Dads shook his head. "If you want to make yourself friends, RO, I would advice not to tell any one you actually like that Perkins bloke."
Harry let himself flop onto the chair in his cabin. For now he was really glad he didn't have to share with someone else. The day was getting worse with every minute although he had done everything to make it better. Sure it hadn't been fair to bark at Buffer. He'd only wanted to help. But it had been 'cause of the shock. The young lieutenant never had felt overboard in his whole carrier and the feeling of loosing the control, of falling had scared him. And after all it was really embarrassing! Afterwards he'd been sorry for what he had said but he couldn't excuse. Buffer was never alone and Harry didn't want to do so in front of other crew members. Helping the leading seaman with the radio didn't work out as planed neither. He had had the feeling the young electronics technician was pretty irritated by his attempts to help. Same with the chef and the coxswain. Harry hadn't had any problems at all back at the frigate he came from. The crew had liked him and respected his way of doing things. Tomorrow's an other day. Hopefully it's a better one.
Someone must have pleased Poseidon because the sea stayed smooth for the whole night despite the bad weather forecast they had gotten. The next morning small ripples swashed against the ships hull, the fresh air had a smell of salt and seaweed. Nikki stretched herself and lent at the railing. The salt-breeze mingled with the smell of the hot coffee she had brought from the galley. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on the moment and inhaled deeply. Yes, if she was honest with herself she had missed it. Being out at sea was her life. Maybe not forever but for now it was the right place to be.
A rumbling sound made her look up. The new XO stood in the middle of the hatch, looking like he wasn't sure what to do or say. He smiled shyly and voiced something sounding like "good morning" turning around already to get back inside again. Nav pulled herself together. They hadn't had something one would call a good start and it sure hadn't been his fault. "Wait."
Harry turned and saw her unsure smile. Stepping forward the young woman hold out her hand. "Good morning Sir. I'm Lieutenant Nikki Caetano. I really do want to apologize for my behavior yesterday."
"Nice to meet you, Lieutenant Caetano. I'm looking forward to our successful co-operation. Although it won't be a long one." Blushing he stopped and cleared his throat. "Not that I don't want to work with you, it's just..." Unsure what to say to solve the situation he stared at the dark blue ocean behind her. As if Poseidon himself could get you out of that situation. Stupid boy. Harry blamed himself for being irritated so easily.
"Your assignment is just temporarily, the CO already told me." Nikki helped him along.
"Yes, that's exactly what I meant to say." He exhaled and finally stepped out looking around curiously. "There are no clouds to be seen anywhere." he noted. Observing the look on the Nav's face, he added quickly: "The weather forecast said it's going to be a rainy day."
The woman lent back at the railing again and smiled closing her eyes again. "Well then let's be grateful that they aren't right every time."
Harry relaxed a bit and eyed her cautiously. Maybe that day is going to be a good one.
A small point at the horizon got his attention and interrupted his thoughts. He pulled out his binoculars and focused on the small white dot. It's only a cargo ship he calmed himself. Nothing unusual, no hurrcaine, no storm tide coming.
A loud horn made him jump up. Two lorry drivers where shouting at each other leaning out of the windows and gesticulating frantically. Obviously one had disregarded the right way and now they disagreed on whose fault it was. The clock said twenty-five minutes past twelve. He actually had slept two hours. Wiping the sleep out of his eyes Sam tried to remember why he still was at the harbour master's office. Maybe a cup of coffee could help things along a bit. He stood up and turned to the little cupboard at the back wall where a coffee machine quietly bubbled and spluttered. The man helped himself with a big mug of hot coffee poured in two pieces of sugar and stirring round turned back to the table. That was when he saw the notice. For outsiders it would seem to be just some random numbers and letters but Sam knew at once what he was looking at. He had lost two hours of precious time while sleeping. Sam took a gulp choked and started to flick through the pile of papers he had gathered together earlier that day.
"If I ever have to drink lemonade again..." Charge groaned. The two sailors had finally helped themselves. At first, they had had scruples to just take some of the cargo but after several hours – or maybe days – they had lost track – Spider had opened one of the bottles exclaiming that he needed something to eat and that the lemonade was the one thing at hand coming close to it. Charge had to agree. They didn't stop after one bottle.
"You know, maybe they find us today. Then Bomber is going to cook us everything we want to." Spider didn't sound convinced of his own words.
"Before or after the boss is going to kill us for our stupidity?" Charge answered and swallowed the last bit of his lemonade with a grimace. The boatswain's mate shrugged.
"I hope afterwards. Bomber's muffins really are to die for." he gave a wry comment. Despite their serious situation that made them both laugh.
Mike hung up the phone. It would be good to let the new XO have some boarding practice. He just had talked to NAVCOM and Lieutenant Smith had confirmed that Kate would be back the next patrol and Lieutenant Perkins would be transferred to another patrol boat. Which he wouldn't like at all Mike was sure. Not a small kind of boat person. But you didn't always get what you want.
"RO please get me the captain of that cargo ship."
short one to begin with after the long break :-)