My Journal by Harriman Nelson- Lean on Me

44

Home
89
90
91
92
88
93
87
86
85
84
83
82
81
80
79
78
77
76
75
74
72
73
71
70
69
68
67
66
65
64
63
62
61
60
59
58
57
56
55
54
53
52
51
50
49
48
47
46
45
44
43
42
41
40
39
38
37
36
35
34
33
32
31
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
22
20
21
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2

My Journal

By Harriman Nelson

44

 

“We appreciate your offer to assist in any capacity, Admiral,” the base commander said as Chip and I visited the base in Naples. “I’m sure you’d both rather Seaview take a more active part in the exercise than as an observer.”

“Well,” Chip said, running a hand through his hair, “no doubt about that.”
“Yes, Captain Nelson-Crane was sure you’d both feel that way.”

“Lee’s contacted you?” I asked, confused.

“How could he know?” Chip asked.

“I’m sure there’s no need to tell either of you that the captain is a man of many resources. In fact, he tried to convince me that Seaview’s services would be better spent as the fox than as an observer. That with you in command, Captain Morton, our ‘hounds’ would be hard pressed to find you. Making for a far better wartime preparedness exercise.”

“He said that? About me?”

“Apparently, he believes you to be right up there with John Paul Jones as a tactician.”

“Bullshit, sir. It’s Lee who has the brains and....”

“If I may continue, Captain Morton? Seaview will be given a twelve hour head start to disappear.”

"Then," I said, "you've changed your mind? You want us to be the fox?"

"Affirmative," he grinned.

“Admiral,” Chip asked, "just when did Lee, Captain Nelson-Crane contact you?”

“Last night. Around  midnight. Seeing that  it was him, I didn’t bother to chew him out for calling me at home.”

“You know Lee?” I asked.

“Not personally, no. But I’d have been a fool not to take the call or his suggestion seriously.”

“But how did he know about the exercise? And Seaview’s part in it? What it was going to be, that is.”

“Unknown.”

Chip looked at me. I looked at Chip. It had to be that ONI was keeping him abreast or he was spying on us. I opted for the spying.

“That sneaky, slimy, son of a bitch,” Chip said, though his expression was one of sheer admiration, not disapproval.

“He thought you might say that, as well,” the admiral laughed. “Naturally, you’ll be on radio silence until the conclusion of the exercise.”

“Barring any emergency,” Chip said.

While the admiral nodded, assuming a naval emergency, I knew and Chip knew I knew, he was thinking of a Lee emergency. Though under Navy rules and regs we both knew that even if there were one, we’d just have to stick it out until the exercise was over.

“By the way," the admiral said, " he arranged for a shipment of eggplant, a few blocks of Parmesan Cheese, the real thing, and various other fresh fruits and vegetables from the local town market for Seaview. He had NIMR foot the bill, not the Navy. He thought you and your men could use some fresh produce.”

“Er, yes,” I said. “It was very thoughtful of him.”

“Well, gentlemen, good luck, though I'm sure you realize I’m rooting for the hounds.”

We laughed and took our leave, arriving at the dock soon after.

 

“You realize, this means we’d better win,” Chip said.

“Don’t think you can do it, lad?”

“Of course I can. Lee would be better at it, though.”

“Perhaps. But if Lee has faith in you, you should have faith in yourself too.”

“I do, but he’s still the better captain. You know it. I know it. Lee knows it.”

“All right. All right. But the Navy doesn’t. You’ll do fine.”

“Oh I have no doubt I will. But I’m just not as sneaky as Lee is....makes for a better fox.”

 

As we made preparations to get underway and begin our twelve hour head start, I had to wonder if Lee had been tracking all of our movements and activities since the moment he’d left Santa Barbara, and if so, just how he’d done it.

I was a bit distressed in that I wouldn’t be able to keep track of him once we were underway.

Would he take care of his injured hand, his stitches, this, that, and everything else?

 

I just had to trust that his guardian angels, (drafted for the extra hazardous duty of watching over him, I was sure), would be on their toes. Of course, if the Good Lord had sent Joe back into his body over Lee, well, I had to trust that my boy didn’t need me to hover. But I just can’t help it.

 

One thing, at least we’ll have Eggplant Parmesan sometime soon. Might not be on Lee’s menu, but hey, it’s Italian.

 

Entry #45