Chapter 9
The next morning, Kate was on deck, leaning against one of the poles, doing nothing. It was embarrassing and boring to do nothing. She was watching Nikki's back in the captain's chair. She couldn't deny it, but it still hurt like hell to see the two and a half bands on her shoulder boards. All right, she was already at this stage, she knew it wasn't Nikki's fault. She was not going to be ridiculous anymore. After all, it was a game. She had backed the wrong horse and she had lost. That was the way it was and she just had to accept it. But that wouldn't stop her from reconsidering the possible options for doing better.
Kate sighed. Doing nothing and fretting was not her thing.
Luckily, her skin wasn't hurting too much anymore.
She wasn't due to arrive in Darwin until the afternoon and she was eagerly waiting for a distraction. Finally it came from Nikki.
"Kate, do you fancy a brew?"
"Yes, please", Kate answered and both went down to the galley.
Nikki filled two mugs and handed one to Kate. Then she rummaged in a low cupboard and pulled out a packet of Timtam biscuits.
"Now, I've got your attention Cookie Monster", she teased her friend, seeing the expression on Kate's face.
"Jeez Nik, you haven't forgotten these are my favourites", Kate said, taking a biscuit.
"Not just yours, mine too. That's where I hide them, otherwise my geezers steal them from me", she said before taking a bite.
"By the way Nik, have you heard from Pete yet? It has been over a year since I heard from him", asked Kate.
Nikki raised her eyebrows in surprise, "Yeah, now that you mention it, it's already been over a week I heard from him".
Kate looked at her friend baffled, "Excuse me? Over a week?".
"Yeah, we spoke last week when we left our flat. Normally he sends me a message every fortnight", Nikki said deadpan.
"Huh? Our flat, you said, and every fortnight?", Kate repeated, frowning.
"Didn't you know that? We've been together for about a year", Nikki said, looking at Kate.
"Ah, uhm, uh, no, I didn't know that", Kate stammered.
"I could have told you, but I haven't heard from you either, you see", Nikki said.
Kate held up both hands, "I surrender. This is all my fault. Well, I'm really happy for you. Pete is a good guy", she said, gently squeezing her friend's arm.
"Thank you, but you're good on track too, aren't you?", Nikki asked, smirking.
"Oh, oh! Just a second! There's nothing between us", Kate said in her defence.
"I just said you were good on track and I didn't specify, but you said 'us'"
Kate rolled her eyes, aware that she'd given herself away. "I said, there was nothing going on between us".
"Ah well, that's pure sex then. Lovely!", Nikki grinned, teasing her friend.
"Nik, I'll kill you!"
"Kate, make it work. From what you have told me over the last few years, he's a good guy and he suits you better than Mike", Nikki added.
"Shhht Nik! For God's sake, why don't you put on the speakerphone!", Kate hissed.
Nikki smiled broadly at her friend, "Right! I'm going back on deck, otherwise Dave will think I've fallen overboard".
"Yeah, do that", Kate sighed as she watched her friend leave the galley.
She raised an eyebrow, opened the cupboard and took out the packet of Timtams.
Hehe, I'll plunder your secret stash.
She took two biscuits, refilled her mug and leaned on the counter to savour them.
She is right, we fit nicely together, much better than with Mike. Would she be the only one to have suspicions? Officially it was those Swedish backpackers we met on the island.
Apart from that, now what? What do I do? What can I do?
Hmm, sleep on it.
In the afternoon, HMAS Bathurst II arrived at the Navy base in Darwin. Kate and Dylan stood at the back of the bridge watching the busy mooring activity. When the engines stopped, Nikki turned to them.
"So, here you are. You have to report to our CO and he'll tell you when you can fly to Cairns. I'm guessing tomorrow, but you know the Navy, it's possible they'll send you straight back on a private jet. If you have to stay here overnight, and I hope so, you can both stay at my place", Nikki said.
"Thanks Nik", Kate replied.
"Yeah, absolutely", Dylan added.
"Just give me a minute to gather my papers and I'll take you to our CO's office. My men will take care of your equipment.", she said before heading for her cabin.
"Okay, time to send Mike a message to let him know we're now in Darwin. He will be pissed off if I don't say anything", Kate said, grabbing her smartphone.
A few minutes later, Nikki was back and changed into a white uniform with a skirt. She was carrying a seabag and her briefcase.
"Are you allowed to wear a skirt in here?", Kate noticed baffled.
"Oh yes, I am! It's too hot to wear trousers here and I don't wear shorts", she said.
"Hmm, if Knocker saw us wearing a skirt, it would be war", Kate grumbled.
"Knocker is jealous of your legs…umpf", Dylan joked but was interrupted by Kate elbowing him in the stomach.
"Come on before it gets out of hand", she said with a grin.
They followed Nikki to the base commander's office.
She knocked on the doorframe and poked her head inside, "Sir, we're back with our guests".
A grey-haired, broad-shouldered man looked up, "Ah, good! Cairns will be delighted to hear that. Come in, please, and take a seat!", he said, motioning them a chair.
He waited until Nikki and Kate were seated. Dylan stood behind them.
"I'm Commander Rawlings and you are?"
"I'm Lieutenant Kate McGregor, XO of the Hammersley, and this is Chief Petty Officer Dylan Mulholland, our bosun", Kate replied.
"Uh-hu, so your CO left his two almost important crew members on an abandoned island", he concluded.
He noticed Kate's indignant frown and continued, "The most important men aboard are the cook and the chief engineer!" and looked at their reaction.
Dylan placed a hand over his mouth to stifle a laugh, but Kate and Nikki only smiled weakly.
Rawling laughed , "At least someone has a sense of humour!"
"That's right! Let's get back to reality! I suppose you want to go back to Cairns, but that'll have to be tomorrow as it's too late to find a flight. Tomorrow at 11 o'clock, there's a military flight with a King Air. Do you have any equipment? ", he asked.
"Yes, we have, a radio, binoculars, a camera, our weapons and, uhm … our cool box", Kate said.
"Perfect! A car will take you both to the airport tomorrow morning. Be here at 10 o'clock. We'll take care of the equipment, but you'll carry your own weapons. And have you already made arrangements for the night?", he asked.
"Certainly sir, they'll be staying at my place", Nikki replied.
"Very good! Everything is back in order. So enjoy Darwin and have a good flight home. Oh, and don't forget to take your weapons to the armoury before you leave the base", said the commander as he stood up to shake their hands.
As they made their way to the armoury, Kate asked Nikki, "Is he always like that? I'd say he's got an odd sense of humour".
"He's a good guy, better than that Knocker woman from what you've told me, but he's got a caustic sense of humour", Nikki replied.
"I thought it was funny, didn't you?", Dylan commented.
"NO!", replied both women in unison.
"Wow! Back on the same page, I can see", he snickered and saw them roll their eyes.
Good for them! They react the same way, problem solved.
They got into Nikki's car and drove off.
"Right, let me tell Mike we will be in Cairns tomorrow", Kate said as she typed out a message.
As they left the base, he asked, "Nik, do you live far from a shopping mall?"
"No, there's one two blocks from my flat, why?", she replied.
"I'd like to buy another outfit. I've already been wearing this one for a few days", Dylan said.
"I'd offer you one of Pete's clothes, but you're taller than he is".
"Well drop me off and give me your address".
She dropped him off at the shopping mall and continued to her home.
They entered her flat and she opened the French door onto a terrace and a splendid sea view.
"Wow, this is beautiful", Kate said impressed, enjoying the latter.
"What do you want first? A drink or a shower and some more clothes?", Nikki asked.
"Shower and clothes!", Kate answered eagerly.
"All right, come on", she said, motioning her head. She stopped in the hallway and opened a door, "This is the guest room. We've put in a double bed… for the two of you", she said.
"NIK! There. Is. Nothing. Going on. Be…", Kate began but was interrupted by her friend.
"The more you say it, the less I believe you", she answered as she pulled up the shutter, "Against the heat, you see".
She went to her own bedroom and opened the wardrobe. "Take your pick from my clothes and in the meantime I'll go and get some towels for you both".
Later, Nikki shouted through the closed bathroom door, "White wine? I presume" and waited for confirmation.
"Yeah!", Kate answered and Nikki headed for the fridge.
A little later, Dylan arrived with a bag.
"Just in time. A drink or a shower?", Nikki asked him too.
"A shower will do", he replied, glancing at Kate, dressed in one of Nikki's floral dresses. "Hey gorgeous", he greeted her with a wink that didn't escape Nikki's attention.
Before Nikki could say anything, Kate pointed her index finger up, mouthing, "Don't you dare!"
Nikki stuck her tongue out, showed Dylan to the bathroom and handed him some towels.
Dylan reappeared in jeans and T-shirt, "Hey ladies, I'm not going to say no to a drink".
"Wine or beer?", asked Nikki.
"Beer will do. Wine is for afterwards", he said as he sat down on one of the terrace chairs. He looked at the view, "Wow, it's amazing!".
"Yeah, that's why we chose this apartment", said Nikki, putting a beer down on the coffee table.
"I do believe you", he said, taking his glass, "Cheers!".
"Cheers!", both women answered as they took sip.
"So, tell me. What did you two do, alone, on an abandoned island. The information I got was next to nothing", said Nikki.
Kate made the first move, "Well, we had to assist the Feds. They expected a transport with an exchange on the old World War II airfield on that island. We had to take pictures as evidence. Meanwhile the Hammersley got a mayday call and Mike withdrew the whole team, except us. He considered it was harmless because it was just pictures".
Nikki rolled her eyes, "Classic!"
"I agree with that! But, while they were busy with the mayday call, they were ordered to assist the Feds with another operation and he didn't take the time to pick us up. This message came at dawn", said Kate, slightly irritated.
"And we learned that the observation task had been cancelled. The transfer took place elsewhere", added Dylan.
"I see, so you looked at an empty airfield all night for nothing", Nikki concluded.
"Yes, that's a good summary. The only danger was the mozzies", replied Kate sarcastically.
"Uh-hu, I already noticed it on your face", Nikki answered deadpan.
"Thanks for reminding me", answered Kate, making a face at her friend.
"Don't worry, I've got a good ointment for that. Tomorrow morning you'll be a different person. Well, no return ticket, so you spent a whole day and another night on the island. What did you do?", asked Nikki.
"Fishing, barbecuing, walking and swimming", Dylan answered, looking at Nikki but he didn't see Kate's raised eyebrow at the last word.
"Yeah, cool holidays paid for by the Navy. The water must have been good for swimming", she said, glancing at Kate who was too busy with her drink and the peanuts in the bowl.
They took another sip.
"Right!", said Nikki, "I'm going to make something to eat. I've got portions of stew in the fridge for the first evening back. But as there are three of us, I'll put two in the microwave. And I'll cook some rice. In the meantime, you can both decide to share the bed or use the couch", she said deadpan and headed for the kitchen, a smile on her face.
Dylan and Kate looked at each other for a few seconds, then he motioned with his head towards the couch and she nodded.
The rest of the evening passed pleasantly with topics about the past, Nikki's relationship with Pete and the events of Hammersley after Nikki.
To be continued
