Chapter 22
The Hammersley rolled gently from side to side as if she wanted to sooth the crew and help them find some sleep. It was about 2200 hrs and Bomber sat at a table in the junior's mess, the ignored tea cup standing in front of her already gone cold. She stared at the blinking cursor that tried to redirect her attention to the document she was trying to write. All she had managed so far was the heading. Food supplies stood there neatly arranged. Nothing followed. Just that damned cursor blinking, telling her she needed to go on with her work, waiting for her to finish the list of things needed at the next port. The woman absent-mindedly run her fingers through her brown hair.
"What are you thinking of?"
Rebecca shrieked. "Spider! You scared the hell out of me! Don't you sneak up at me like that."
Billy grinned, pulled himself a chair and sat down at her table, back of the chair forward-facing so he could rest his arms at the chair back. "Sorry. I didn't intend to freak you out. Actually I knocked on the door but you didn't react so I came in to see what you are up to. Can't sleep either? You know, I can't stop thinking about it. Why would someone do such a thing?" Seeing the chef rubbing her eyes sleepily he pointed at the tea. "Did it help? My mom always advices sweet balm."
"What?" Bomber who hadn't seen his pointing looked confused.
"The tea. She says it helps with the sleep."
"Oh, well it is chamomile and it's cold now so I don't think it will do any good." She pushed the cup in the middle of the table and looked at her crewmate. "As for your first question, nope I couldn't sleep so I tried to write down a list of things I need in the galley. But as you can see" she turned the laptop so he could see the blank page, "I achieved that neither." Bomber shrugged, pulled the cup back and took a sip. Instantly she shuddered with disgust. "Definitely not going to work." Disgusted she put down the tea as far away as possible without having to stand up. Then she continued: "You know, I'm asking myself the same question. Why? And what would I do? Know what I think? It is understandable. After what happened, I would probably do the same."
Spider flinched looking shocked.
"You needn't look at me with those big eyes. After all, it's a mess. Probably the best way to handle it all, don't you think?"
Billy could hardly believe his ears. "You don't mean what you say, do you? How could that be the best way to handle it? I mean, kill someone? Come on!"
Now it was Rebecca's turn to be flabbergasted. "Murder? Spider, what are you talking about? Nobody killed someone. After all we know it was an accident."
"What are you talking about? That wasn't an accident, it was all planned." He pushed his chair back impetuously, stood up and started pacing up and down the mess. "He stabbed her. Stabbing hardly counts as an accident for me. How could it?"
Bomber was totally confused now. "I don't think we are on the same page here. I'm talking about the Nav thinking of leaving the Navy. What are you talking about?"
The young sailor stopped short in his pace. "Nav wants to leave? Why?"
"That's what I'm trying to tell you the whole time. I overheard her talking to the X. It's because of ET's death. They wanted to get married, you knew that?"
He shook his head. "No I didn't. That's what's keeping you awake?" He nodded at her chamomile tea. "Then I assume you're going to need something stronger than that after I told you what Buffer just told me."
The Sea was still smooth the next day, the sky a promising light-blue and the few fleecy clouds couldn't dim the prospect for a nice day. Mike sat at the command chair and sipped carefully at his hot brew. With all the trouble and bad news of the last days, he enjoyed the calm morning watching his crew carrying out the morning routine unruffled.
RO poked his head up the stairway. "Sir, Commander Marshall for you."
Mike frowned. So much for peace. "I'll take it at my cabin", he answered and stood up. Already down half of the stairs he added: "You have the bridge, X" trusting in his second in command who would already have taken over chair and binoculars.
"Good Morning, Sir." Mike grabbed the receiver and sat down at his little desk.
"Good Morning Mike, how are you? I wish I had better news but as it is, search and surveillance of the dive spots came up without results. Seems those scumbags have changed procedure. Coast watch continues sporadic sweeps of the area but the Feds don't think they'll spot something. "
Mike, who had forgotten the dive spot search with all the trouble coming with missing sailors and new crew men, asked: "Sir, there are lots of small islands around the area. Did someone have a look at them?"
Steve Marshall thumbed through his documents. "Actually, Agents Burke and Williams did. Nothing there."
Remembering how his crew had stumbled across the underground stash at an island before, that being after the Police had cleared the area and pronounced there was nothing left worth looking for, Mike mentioned without much hope: "Commander Marshall, Hammersley is currently on patrol in the area, we could do our own sweep of the islands."
There was a short pause, he could hear Marshall draw the air in sharply then his superior answered a bit annoyed: "Mike, I don't want to repeat myself in this matter. You stay away from the islands. I don't want you to interfere, again, with a fed's case. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Sir, all clear." Mike answered, now sounding likewise annoyed.
"Good. Well then, that's the official version. Speaking unofficially, it couldn't hurt if you keep your eyes open. Just stay out of any police work. Fair winds and following seas Lieutenant Commander."
Marshall hang up, leaving Mike frustrated. He really wanted to investigate on his own.
Light winds blew from easterly directions and the deep-blue sea had adorned herself with occasional white horses when Swain entered the bridge for the first dog watch. He took the helm over from a yawning Spider who seemed relieved to be able to leave the bridge.
"Sorry, haven't slept much last night."
Swain frowned. He had heard something very similar from Bomber just an hour ago catching her half asleep in the middle of the serving of meals. Chris looked after the young bosun's mate thoughtfully. It was probably just coincidence but he would have an eye on the two of them. After the first quarreling the two young sailors had gotten it together and now were well attuned to each other. Maybe someone should see that it's not get to much of 'well attuned' he thought. Then the discussion on his right caught his attention.
"Sir, we are really close to these islands where..." Buffer's voice trailed of.
"I know. But we are ordered to stay away. I tried, rather pointlessly, to change the Commander's mind about that. But we should keep an eye open. So get an extra watch out there. Maybe we are lucky after all."
About an hour later, Swain could see Bomber standing at the bow together with another young seaman, both sweeping the ocean with their binoculars. Suddenly one of them froze, then pointed south over the starboard rail. Both seaman looked now in the same direction, Bomber imitated a wave with her left arm and laughed. The other shook his head and pointed again.
Not able to discern what he was pointing at up from his guard at the helm, he asked over radio: "Bomber, what is it?"
"Nothing Swain. Johnson here just thought he saw something. Must have been a wave."
"Bomber, it was not a wave." Swain could here the other one sounding offended. "I can differentiate between a wave and something diving. See, there it was again. It's closing up on us." The young man pointed now to a point a bit more nearer to the ship's hulk.
Getting a bit nervous, Swain stood up. "2Dads?", he asked the blonde sitting in front of the EOD. "Nothing on EOD or Radar, Swain." Leo answered. "But with all that chop it's hard to say. Maybe something small-sized."
The Coxswain wondered if it was something worth getting the CO back on the bridge immediately. But then he had just left to grab a brew and do some paperwork.
"What's the problem, Swain." As if he had known there was something up, the CO stood at the staircase, steaming mug in his hand.
"Able Seaman Johnson thought he saw something coming closer..." Chris tried to explain but a shriek interrupted him.
"Oh, look at them. So cute." Bomber leaned over the rail. "Swain, it's a spinner. Wait, it's a whole pod." Just as she announced the dolphins, a gray figure vaulted itself out of the water and twisted its body as it rose head first at the starboard side of the Hammersley. A second and third followed. They spun along their longitudinal axes as they leaped through the air, the sun reflecting on their gray slender bodies.
"Got them on EOD. Don't know, shall I record them or better Bomber?", 2Dads asked only halfheartedly trying to repress his laughter. Rebecca jumped from one side of the bow to the other, excited like a little child, leaning over the rail to get a better view of the mammals surfing the bow wave. She got the whole show with nose-outs, tail and head slaps, salmon leaps, and lots of spinning leaps letting the pinkish white bellies sparkle in the sunlight.
"Johnson, just make sure she doesn't go over board, will you?" Mike chuckled. A little bit of distraction was just right to take their mind off things.
"Got all we need?"
Lieutenant Commander Flynn stood at the rail in front of the hatch at the main deck. Nikki overlooked the pile of boxes resting at the jetty ready to be brought aboard and checked her clipboard. Then she turned back and looked up to him.
"Yes, boss. All there. As soon as it's all loaded, we're good to go. Oh and could you please sent RO down here? There's a courier with a registered letter for him. Won't give it to me."
Mike frowned. A registered letter for his radio operator? Here at a foreign port?
"Who's the sender?"
The Navigator shrugged her shoulders. "Don't know. There's nothing written on the envelope. But it came through NAVCOM, it seems. They forwarded the mail for us and it's in the same box." She pointed at the white box standing next to a small guy with blue shorts and shirt.
"I'll send Robert down to you." Addressing Buffer who stood next to Nikki, he added: "See that all get's stored away, Buffer. I'd like to be outward bound at 1500 hours." Mike turned and climbed inside the hatch to inform Robert that he should get down to collect his mysterious letter.
Heading for the open ocean, the Hammersley pitched at full speed, displacing the dark blue water by the head and spraying water over the main deck. A stiff breeze promised some heavy sea later that afternoon.
Robert sat at his desk inside the communications room and stared at the tan envelope. Robert Dixon, HMAS Hammersley stood in neat handwriting at the front. The space at the back where the sender should be written, was empty. He thought he recognized the handwriting but wasn't sure. Who would sent me a letter? RO had absolutely no clue. Should I really open it? The letter was postmarked almost ten days ago. It had taken some time to be forwarded.
The leader reached for a paper-knife and touched the envelope. He felt something small and hard inside. Being in two minds he placed it back on the table. Where he had touched the paper the thing inside had left an imprint. It resembled a … Robert had to look again. No mistake. It resembled a turtle. Who would sent him a little turtle and why? Flinging off scruples he reached for the envelope and the knife again and opened it. A little green-brown turtle fell out on the floor. The young man picked it up and turned it from one side to the other. It was a little toy turtle. Examining it closely, a faint smile crossed his face. You do have a secret, little one, don't you?