My Journal
By Harriman Nelson
40
“I’m really surprised Lee
and Joe didn’t return
with you,” Chip said today in the
Observation Nose, after I’d climbed out of the flying sub, which I'd requested come pick me up.
“I’m not. I think Lee wants
a little normalcy
after yesterday.”
“I got some milk and fresh baked
cookies for the
skipper,” Cookie called out hurrying toward us, his expression dropping as he
realized his beloved captain hadn’t come back. “He’s not actually gonna’
continue his doggone trip after yesterday?” he asked, aghast.
“Afraid so, Cookie,” I said.
“But, he got busted up all over
again and…”
“He’s fine,” Doc interrupted
from the spiral
ladder, “scalp lacerations requiring stitches, and heavy bruises, notwithstanding. I must say, he’s going
to be
heartily sorry to miss those,” he added, indicating the plate of cookies, “May I?”
“Aw heck, Doc, you can have as
many as you
want.”
Just then Chip gave a warning cough
“As long as you leave some for
Mr. Morton," Will added.
I raised an eyebrow.
“And for the admiral, too," he
finished.
“Good man,” I said and chose
an Oatmeal Raisin
Cookie, (Lee’s favorite). It was no time before we three
had scarfed all of the cookies down.
Just then O’Brien approached and
turned on the
monitor, “CNN,” he explained as it came into view.
“Bologna's 4.5 earthquake
in Italy,” the
reporter was saying, while a montage of images showed on the screen behind the
anchor desk, “caused little structural damage to most modern buildings.
However, there was heavier damage to a few of the older historic buildings of
the region, and the total destruction of the famed Asinelli and Garisenda
Leaning Towers of Bologna, the rubble of which you see here. Both ancient
structures were built in 1109 and had been leaning for centuries. As you can
see from the replay from the BBC, Captain Nelson-Crane and Commander Jackson narrowly escaped death from the fall
of the towers.
“Commander Jackson was inside
the Asinelli Tower when the quake hit. The tower along with its wooden
stairs and scaffolding, began to crumble from the inside out. Captain
Nelson-Crane, immediately ran inside to help him get out. The commander had
been badly injured and was unconscious by the time the captain reached him. Carrying his unconscious and badly hurt friend,
the captain emerged from the tower in nick of time, only to be felled from the utter collapse of what was left of both towers
on top of them."
CNN replayed the entire scene including
Lee
trying to save Joe’s life, and his agony believing he’d failed, along with Mrs.
Piccadilly’s motherly support and Joe’s miraculous awakening.
The image changed to the exterior of
the
hospital.
“Captain Nelson-Crane,”
the reporter continued,
“was released from the hospital yesterday after having been treated for his injuries. Commander Jackson was released
this morning after suffering a concussion, bruising, and broken bones. While doctors aren’t sure if the commander
actually flat lined, Jackson did say
that he saw and felt himself floating up and out his body but when he saw his
close friend in such agony believing him dead, he was suddenly back in his body,
looking up at the captain and trying to make light of it, before he passed out
only to wake in the hospital.
“Volunteers from the submarine
Seaview assisted emergency crews, but have since returned to their
submarine, their help no longer needed.
“As for the captain and commander,
both will be
continuing their culinary tour, the captain saying it would take more than a
belly shaker to prevent their tummies from their appointed rounds. While
they’ll miss the culinary treats in Florence and Rome, as the captain needs to
stay behind in order to have repairs made to his new car, the men will rejoin
Mrs. Piccadilly's group in Naples, followed by a drive to Carrara to have the vehicle shipped
via freighter to the United States. Ah, we have a live feed to the hotel....”
The hotel’s glass doors were patched with duct tape,
some of its windows covered with plywood. Mrs. Piccadilly emerged from the
hotel with Jackson on her arm, his left arm and right leg in plaster, but all
smiles as he waved to the tour group and the assembled reporters, as bellhops
followed with a cane and wheelchair, along with what looked like his and Lee’s
luggage.
Suddenly several people began to point down the road
at a car approaching. In spite of major dents to most of it's body, including its roof, hood, doors and trunk, it
also bore deep scratches, broken headlights, a
cracked windshield and broken windows. But it was still recognizable as Lee’s black and
chrome Lamborghini.
As soon as Lee emerged the large crowd, most of whom
were Italian, went wild.
“L’eroe! L’eroe!” they cheered. “Capitano
Corraggioso! Capitano Corraggioso!”
Applause, applause, applause.
I had enough intellegence to figure out what the
crowd was yelling. I was glad that Mrs. P. had hurridly leafed through her
Italian/English phrase book and showed Lee the translations. Of course, he was
embarassed by ‘hero’ and ‘Captain
Courageous'. But he smiled at the crowd with a little wave.
The bellhops quickly loaded Lee and
Joe’s baggage, wheelchair and crutches into the mangled trunk which had to be secured with rope. Lee helped Joe
into the passenger seat then
embraced Mrs. P. and kissed her on the cheek. Then he gave the crowd another
wave as he got into the driver’s seat, having to duck a little from the dented roof. I had to wonder if the car
would
even make 35 mph, but as Lee revved the engine, I put that concern to rest. His
newest ‘baby’ might look a wreck, but her engine still sounded as powerful as any
entry for the Daytona 500.
How long it will take to repair the
car is
anyone’s guess, and the boys were still trying to decide where to stay near the
factory before I left for Seaview. Lee has orders, if only paternal, to call
with that info.
It’s only a short drive, but it’s
still not a
good idea with a vehicle in that condition.
At least I don’t have to worry about them
driving in the dark as I know Lee would never attempt it without a headlights.
