Surprise Melody Flintkote Part TwoChapter 4
- 1 year ago
- 21
- 0
“He’s an elder,” Junior explained.
“Well,” she twirled a toe on the dock. “I don’t trust the people who used to be in charge ... and I’m not sure of the competence of the people Too ... mom ... put on the advisory board.”
“Grandmothers ... assign a council of post menopausal grandmother residents of each county ... they know everybody,” I suggested. “Beside that ... they have an axe to grind.”
“Axe?”
“Grandfathers.”
“Ah ... I see.”
“You could even have elections ... what?”
“They’ll buy their way in.”
“Maximum of three months between start to finish... 11 hundred dollars limit on campaigning expenditures.”
“I’ll give it a think.” She asked, “David? Is the Basilisk ready?”
David said. “I stocked the basics, fuel, water, there’s some food ... the batteries are up. Facilities all work. Surprise, the Princess would like a ride. No. Don’t ask her ... are YOU available to swan around on the big lake for a day or two.”
“Are you kidding? She flew all the way to Ottawa to pick me up ... sure. I could take a week.”
“I can’t,” David said. “I’m dredging.” He pointed at a tug and an odd looking dredge.
“What is that?” I asked.
“Gold dredge ... a big one. There’s no sense wasting resources. I make my money and add to Junior’s coffers cleaning up a century and a half of poor management ... and there’s about fifteen thousand first growth maple, chestnut, walnut, oak and white pine logs still littering the bottom ... sunk because the old mill couldn’t or didn’t get to them in time. And I do the channel too. Pentwater is a tourist attraction.”
“David has a ‘Duty’ complex,” Junior said. “Maybe I should put HIM in charge.” It was said with an absolutely evil grin.
“NO!” David said. “I AM NOT doing it! I have enough trouble keeping Andy minding her own business.”
“Who is Andy?” I asked.
“My wife. She’s in Europe checking on her property ... and visiting her Aunt,” he said.
“Oh...” I turned to Junior, “There’s a lot more to what he said ... isn’t there.” Not a question ... a statement.
“She’s the roving Goodwill Ambassador and Admiral of the Nevis and St. Kitts Navy. Duchess of Rákóczi-Hapsburg, Her Royal Highness, Andrea, Princess Slagle Most Excellent, Koenigsknecht, Dame of the Realm of Rákóczi-Hapsburg. Lady Slagle ... and Doctor of History.”
“Ooo ... you rattled that off like you know her,” I said.
“Yes ... she’s a personal friend ... mentor ... watch holder ... author ... pilot ... the Aunt she’s visiting is the Queen.”
“So ... David...” I nodded at him, “Is more than just an Uncle?”
“Yeah ... Consort.”
“But he’s so ... plain.”
“Just wait until he’s Captain Austin...”
“Formidable?”
“You could say that.”
“I’m right here,” he said.
“Remember when you guys vacationed on the Island?” Junior said. “We won’t be doing that again,” said Six. Junior broke down. If Surprise hadn’t been flying from ‘Feet Wet’ over Lake Huron and knew what to do ... they’d have crashed. Six was immediately contrite. Looking at me he said, “That was rather callous of me.” Looking at Junior he said, “I’m sorry ... I’m sorry, Junior. I didn’t mean it.” “It’s time I started living again,” Junior said. “I did get my revenge.” Surprise said....
The watch was old, the crude ring older still. Scrabbling around in the box, I found a letter written on grocery bag paper. The letter was the same color as the cardboard box Flintkote, the letter in the box began. Just Flintkote ... Not Surprise, Cynthiamae or Jack ... just Flintkote. Flintkote, This all of your inheritance. The watch will take you to the past or the future. Eventually, if you use it enough, you will meet the Seven in One ... they are from the future ... and the past....
Ambassador Johnson wasn’t there to discuss his Ambassadorship with Junior ... he was there to discuss Ms. Flintkote’s status. Since he served at the whim of the President ... as do all Ambassadors ... he was stuck with greeting Ms. Flintkote Officially ... even though he was a personal friend of the murdered president and didn’t approve of ‘that murdering bitch’ or her offspring. The sins of the parents shall be visited on the offspring even unto the tenth generation. He got the quote wrong...
The knock on the door came a couple of days after I spoke to the Everyboat Insurance receptionist ... who assured me that Mr. Arbuthnot was perfectly fine. “There wasn’t anything he struck on the way down, Miss Flintkote. He just ‘wilted.’ I’m calling our Hong Kong office. An adjuster will contact you soon. May I have your current address?” “Mr. Kwan? Would you speak to the lady?” Information soon passed, the call disconnected and I resumed fretting. Oh ... I wasn’t brooding over the boat...
Cyn was right ... they should have warned her ... but the Powers that Be aren’t Gods ... they are extremely adept scientists. Scientists generally don’t have time for mundane shit ... like explaining about a watch user materializing in water because the marina isn’t there in the past. They haven’t warned the holder about the invisibility factor either. That should be easy ... don’t wind the watch backwards. Cyn turned to me, “I don’t want the damned thing ... you take it.” “Nope ... you’re...
“Pregnant?” He eeped. A breath and a swallow of coffee and... “I thought you were the responsible one?” “I am ... never had a lick of trouble over periods. What would I need ovulation control for?” I pondered a minute, counted days in my head and didn’t like the result ... so I counted on my fingers. Same damn result. “Feel my forehead,” I requested. He did. “You’re warm.” “Shit!” “What?” “Exactly halfway between periods.” “I wasn’t planning on being a Daddy,” he said. “I wasn’t...
Several weeks later, after Cyn, JW and the CAT had moored in front of the Hotel waiting a berth at the Yacht Club, I got a strange request in the mail. The address was: Miss Surprise Flintkote The 48 foot Farr Cutter The Anchorage Carey’s Bay Hotel Port Chalmers, Otago New Zealand The letterhead: Bank Of New Zealand Wellington Office Wellington Miss Flintkote: The Bank has received a request. An anonymous party has made an appeal. The party wishes to make a deposit in your account....
I hate I told you so with a passion. “You’re going to screw up,” and the resulting broken arm...”I told you so!” Kissing JW when we were 8, the paddling I got, Cyn saying, “I told you so.” Yeah ... well ... she tattled ... mom would have never known. I don’t know how many more ... well ... I do ... but. So when The Powers that Be showed up after the refit and I was pretty far along ... well ... Seven. Yeah ... her ... that Seven ... the predictor of my condition ... grinned and opened her...
When you’re at sea, passage making, it feels like you can’t wait to get ashore. After 29 days at sea ... even Samoa works. But ... three days ashore and we’re itching to get to sea. You can’t please everybody all the time. Teenagers seldom settle. Satellite radio and TV are our means of keeping up with the doings of the land based. Listening to the propaganda (NEWS) 0r watching the bubbleheads express opinions so far away from the opinions of real people gets either boring or hilarious ......
“Master J and Miss Cyn are from home. By your look, you are Miss Surprise ... and these are?” asked the butler. Only JW, I thought. “My guests.” I said. “A surprise.” “Amelia?” said the man. It was obvious he was speaking to our chauffeur. “Have you retrieved their luggage?” “Yes, Mr. Kwan.” “Please to assist Mary,” Mr. Kwan instructed her. “Yes, Mr. Kwan.” She disappeared in the nether regions of the apartment. “Master J and Miss Cyn are at the boat,” Mr. Kwan said. “If you wish, I...
“No,” Border said. “Although ... you were in our top ten, ‘shoot on sight’, list.” Then she laughed... “Not really ... but you were a person of interest. That particular president didn’t get re-elected ... come to think it ... he was appointed to fill out the term. Now I’m pissed. Anyway ... you’re good.” While Border Patrol was looking to see if there was an actual list ... probably by computer ... Visa was doing the same. I think one could safely say that Visa can search the Internet with...
I know the family has money ... wouldn’t have been able to buy a hundred foot catamaran without it ... the same pile of cash would buy a hundred fifty foot monohull. Dinner out? Sure. Many times. Posh places? Uh huh. Sailing the world put me in exotic restaurants wherever we went. Our nanny would pick up a phone book ... find something interesting, and call for reservations. “Party of four,” she would say. “Flintkote ... yes, 8:30.” She always included a credit card number...”In case we...
“Mr. Austin. My name is Surprise Me Flintkote.” “Ms. Flintkote.” “Sometime in the recent past, a freighter unloaded my catamaran off Pentwater. You brought her to your town with your salvage tug.” “Before I admit to that ... the boats name?” “SV Basilisk 20 meter sail.” “Yup ... your boat ... yes.” “Yes?” “Yes ... I picked her up and brought het to town. The Marina couldn’t find room ... she’s at the village docks.” “What are your charges?” “I was paid by the shipping company....
The meeting ... Wait! Not yet. The room: Yeah ... the room. The place was storage ... for things from long ago ... really long ago. Like ... before the English. Before the Dutch. Stuff collected... (stolen) ... from the Māori and hidden away. Not saying that it was taken by the Hotel ... everything had price tags from no longer existing business. Businesses closed during the 1800’s. Police seized articles ... auctions ... garage sales ... estate sales ... found and unclaimed ... amateur...
The shocker came when we reached the boat, she was in a custom cradle tucked away between a pair of some country’s Navy ships. Genuine military hardware undergoing modifications to civilian life. No one was ever going to redesign them to be anything but what the pair truly are ... greyhounds of the sea. Fast moving hunter-killers put out to pasture that won the lottery of life. Long, narrow and fast looking sitting on the hardstand. Too small for drydock but almost too big for the land ......
“So!” said Cynthiamae McWillians (née Flintkote), “This is where I find you!” She had her hands on her hips, her face broadcasting righteous indignation. “Surprise Me Flintkote!” Uhoh ... full name. She continued, “Soiled our good name last night in this very den of iniquity!” she drew a ragged breath and gestured towards John Bottoms, “You return ... after spending the night in the arms of this ... this ... this ... Hippie...” Can’t really blame her for the ‘hippie’ John was truly...
“Well, officer Jacobs?” Headmaster Scott said, “You started this.” “You know I hate giving up,” Jacobs said. “We might as well face facts,” Scott said. “They’re smarter than smart. I’ll contact the University. Tomorrow. Let them have a whole day with our prodigies.” On the morrow, the Admissions office asked where the trio gone to school. Headmaster Scott didn’t know... “But it was somewhere in the southeast United States.” “Oh, you want the International Office. Just a mo and I’ll ring...
I believe I will commit the ultimate sin ... come dark ... if they’re not back ... they won’t be back. I am leaving when the music’s over. I’ll turn out the lights and motor home. This party looks dangerous. Not my cuppa tea. Momma told me not to come ... well ... maybe not ... but she was right. AllGood Orange is tasty ... it’s not Orange Crush. But, then again, nothing is. I used to die for Grape Crush. Until I almost did. That was an eye opener. “Melody, you are not immortal.” “Get out...
Departure was delayed five hours. Although there was no public notification, rumor had it that an important arrival had been delayed due to Communications failure in Samoa. A bar fight over the result of the final try at a national Rugby test, put several customers in hospital and led to the arrest of several participants ... all wearing India National Team Rugby shirts. No mention was made or inferred as to whether or not the shirted participants were players. Rumor had it that they were...
The Yacht Club was up in arms. I was a paying customer and the club insurance covered the sinking. Double the purchase price. The insurance company was pissed. Unless someone were to come forward and identify the perpetrators ... they were out 5 million. Unless they could get me convicted of sinking my own boat. In the classroom trying to teach 220 year one students algebra ... and I yelled at enough of them to notice. And I had my own insurance ... EveryCountry ... kind of like Lloyds...
“Really?” “Really.” “Okay.” She took off to the back and was gone a good fifteen minutes. Eventually a door opened. “Is there an actual Grundy in Virginia, USA?” “Yup ... about 12 miles from Frogmorton.” “Honest?” “Cross my heart and hope to die,” I said. “I always thought Grundy was a joke,” she said. “Nope ... real place,” I said. “Frogmorton?” “I grew up there until I sailed around the world.” Then I confessed, “It’s a National Forest now.” “Yup ... you’re her,” she said. “I...
Released ... with an ID on a neck strap ... I moved into the yard. Looking back at the gate I saw my cabbie arguing with the gate guard. He ... the driver ... saw me looking and waved a handful of bills at me. I trotted back. “Tip,” I said. “You’re kidding,” said the guard. But he turned to the driver and explained. Big eyes ... sagging chin ... shock. He still tried to give the majority back. Wasn’t having it. I knew ... that the change from a capitalist society to a Mao perceived...
Jim said, “Hold on ... let me check.” There was a commotion. Chairs sliding, feet hitting the floor, a little argument about the phone ... soon settled, doors opening and a shouted, “Frank. I’ll be right back. Come on, David. It’s your deal.” Door slam, footsteps ... not far ... door opening ... closing ... scuffling feet. “Still there?” “Yes ... what’s going on?” I said. “Lunch ... my office is right next door. These Wendy Burgers are so good David brought his with. Here ... talk to him...
“Well,” said Mayor Simmons, “Since you foiled David ... why don’t you tie off to the seawall and save me the use of a golf cart or a taxi?” “Nope ... I paid good money for this dock and I’m gonna use it. Where’s the courtesy cart? And I need a pump out, fuel and a flush of my water tanks ... they still have Gold Coast water in them ... and while we’re at it ... I need new filters for everything. Where’s the bank?” “Which one?” “Closest.” “Two blocks east, cut through the parking lot...
Crew is both singular and plural ‘She is crew ... she works as an ordinary maid and line handler’ “Who? Them? They’re crew. They work the boat. Far be it from me to get my hands dirty.” “Seventy-five ... a season,” Bea said. “But ... I have certificates ... and a degree in Hotel and Hospitality Administration.” “What does a ‘regular’ crew make?” “Forty-five, room, board and tips,” she said. “Tips?” I had a look. “Generally, a crew doesn’t get tips from an owner. When the owner has...
“You know, we could teach,” we said like the triplets we are. “It’s not exactly my cuppa ... but we could.” “It would have us in the classroom and that would fulfill the letter of the law.” The attendancy officer (truant) looked a little surprised ... thought a bit ... wrapped one arm around her waist, and stroked her chin with the other one ... thought some more ... came to a conclusion and said, “What would you teach?” “Boat building,” I said. “Comportment,” said Cyn. “Manners that’ll...
“I’m sure you’ll find out,” he said, cryptically. “Shouldn’t you be speaking to her?” I said. “I have my reasons.” Immigration! They were nice enough to me. I can’t complain. Shoot ... there goes the Start Bell. I better get. “Today,” said the foreman, “Surprise is going to the finishing shop. The rest of you louts ... up on the mold.” “Finishing?” “Michael Miller wants you in the cabinet shop, and Mike gets his wants.” So ... I hiked to the air-conditioned building over in the...
The judge looked over the paperwork ... examined ... and I mean HARD. The safe had survived the crushing ... and the suspicious fire. “Gentlemen. Approach the bench.” Voices were raised. He said ... he said ... they said. Louder, louder. Seated at the plaintiffs bench they were loud enough to hurt my ears. A couple of bangs with the gavel ... and a couple more. The judge shouted, “Y’all shut up ... next mouth gets 30 days.” Instant silence. “There is no way I can refuse her suit. The...
For informational purposes only, Port Said to Rota, Spain via the Cape of Good Hope is 10411 nautical miles and 43 days 9 hours at 10 knots. That might explain why we were sailing 1982 nautical miles VIA the Strait of Gibraltar in 8 days at 10 knots... IF If’s are damn near as bad as But’s ... wretched things. “If we went here, I could see,” fits in with, “We’ve come this far, we might as well go see.” It doesn’t matter who said it ... as soon as it was said, we were sailing miles out of...
A set of grandparents more unusual than Kris’ would be hard to find. After the Great Patriotic War, Comrade Kucherenko, undeterred by the travesty that was Stalin, continued to support and even honor the cause. His son, a Young Communist, met and married a beautiful Odessa University student ... a native Ukrainian. Not what daddy wanted. But, as things go, a grand daughter was born ... and not out of time. Grandmother (babushka) and grandfather (dedushka) Kucherenko had been hard-line...
Pavlo-Ochakovo, Rostov Oblast, Russia is a nice place ... but like a lot of nice places that one arrived at with a military escort, it’s hard to get out of without one. Within range of Edem, the resort, there are three airfields. Only one has flights out ... the others? Not so much. The boat was going to be docked in Edem until someone decided they should go. Russia is Russia and had been a repressive country longer than it had been a democracy ... stretching the meaning of the word. But...
I would like to say I was back to work Monday ... I wasn’t. Immigration wanted to speak to us. Mr. Mike was not happy. “The American Ambassador should be in...” Immigration looked at his watch... “Hell’s bells. He’s late. Let me check.” The conversation to “little America” went on and on and on. At least I think so. I was waiting in the waiting room. Now I understand the god awful seats. If you get uncomfortable enough ... you leave. And just as I was gathering my things to do that, the door...
I confess to a minor miracle ... every single jeep part was available at Advanced and they delivered. Brakes shoes, master cylinder, tie-rod ends, all fluids. slave cylinders ... and they were all OEM ... original equipment manufacturer. They even loaned us a grease gun. There must be a lot of jeeps in New Zealand. Jimbo towed the Hobart and all the pieces home. His dad taught us how to weld ... the 3.7 fit. We sold it to the dock master ... someone saw it ... we sold another ... by the...
I didn’t have a legitimate reason to be suspicious of my University. But they were up to something. Generally, when academics are up to something they aren’t saying ... it’s like waiting for tuition to go up. Every time an athletic staff wants a raise ... tuition goes up. When tuition goes up, there are always a percentage of students who can’t come back. Without that percentage in attendance, there is a monetary short-fall. To make up for that short-fall, the administration feels it must...
I had a sudden thought. The Navy has a rigid bottom inflatable boat for clandestine operations. The rigid bottom is narrow enough to fit through the escape trunk and hatches of that submarine the Navy never built ... but everybody knows about. The boat self inflates on the surface so it’s ready to go when the Special Forces men ... or Blackwater operatives or the CIA ... reach the surface. They bring the outboard motor with them when they use the trunk for unobserved exit. “Let them go.” I...
The Farr was delivered to the Freight Depot in Dunedin. I picked it up ... well ... the lorry and driver for hire did the work ... I paid. So ... I suppose that’s the reason I was already living in the Carey’s Bay Hotel when ... five weeks later the Cat and Cyn radioed in asking for accommodations for a 65 foot catamaran. Sounds simple doesn’t it? Wasn’t. The Hotel had stopped accommodations for travelers years before. They were now a Public house, a bar, a lounge, a conservatory, the...
The Farr 3.7 needs a trailer. Something I can do myself. It looks like a pair of bedrails ... maybe three rails would be a better fit. Hmm? A simple T ... one long handle with piece of pipe ... maybe a straight bicycle handlebar with one grip bolted in for a handle. a six foot ... maybe five and a half crossbar with axle stubs welded or U bolted through each end of the cross. A couple of angle braces ... small wheels ... Rex Industrial ... the Harbor Freight of Dunedin. “Jimbo?” I’d met...
Maybe someday someone will invent a cat who won’t puke on my sleeping bag. I only do it because I like you. I sat straight up in my bunk. I was off watch and catching up on much needed dreams. KERWHACK! “OW!” You should remember your cabin has low ceilings. That’ll leave a mark. “MARK MY ASS, CAT! I’m bleeding!” “Surprise? What the hell?” Cyn took one look and went for her sewing kit. When she came back, she stitched me up ... after she shaved off half of my hair. She was fairly...
The landing was, according to the older gentleman, just about perfect. The Goose is an amphibian and RCAF Station Rockliffe had a seaplane ramp for Royal Canadian Air Force flying boats. The Goose landed on the runway ... not the river. The old gentleman’s allergies must have been bothering him because he resorted to a florid handkerchief quite a bit as he narrated a quick history of the airfield. The saddest part of the impromptu history lesson was the changes to the base as it was being...
“Your spy?” “If the truth be told, we picked her up between Phucket and the Nicobars ... out of plain air ... so to speak. Poor thing was so exhausted she slept 18 hours.” When only the truth will do ... make it short and sweet. “She’s a real beauty...” “Cassie? Show him your back.” “Holy ... er ... Moses,” said the youngster. “That’s pitiful. What happened?” “I think someone decided I needed a lesson ... I think,” Cassie said. “When?” The younger Lieutenant asked. “I think I might...
A problem extant with a catamaran with a professional crew: passersby tend to view the guests as that ... guests. Lazy layabouts waited on hand and foot, their every need and want catered to by the bevy of beauties seen tanning nude on the foredeck ... Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two and One ... two men and five women. They were the layabouts and not the entertainment. For the past six or so months the essential work has been done by we five ... Flintkotes and spouses, those of us who had...
“Hello, Bea,” the sunburnt guy said. “Albert Jamison!” Bea exclaimed. “Of all the people in the world, you’re the last person I’d have expected to meet 4 miles off shore. What did you do? Fall asleep?” “It’s been a long day. What are you doin’ out here?” “Crewing. Surprise and Junior needed at least one more hand. I invited myself into a job.” “What surprise?” “She ... Surprise is a woman ... Surprise owns the boat. She hired me to do what I do best ... provision a yacht. And I...
I RETRACTED the GEAR! Me! I did it ... such a feeling of accomplishment! The compass said WEST NORTHWEST. In just a few minutes we flew over a town... Junior pointed down, “Renfrew. We change course to dead west. East is 90 degrees. South is?” I can navigate, “One eighty ... west is 270.” “Very good, Surprise.” Then she said, “Follow me along on the Yoke ... lightly!” I found that the Goose flew the direction that the yoke told it to go. I found that the foot pedals made a difference...
“DEAD?” “For all intents and purposes you are missing and presumed dead on Sol 3, or will be when they find the boat,” she said. “Where you are? Not so much.” “Where we are now? Where Are we now?” I asked. “Well ... that’s an inhabited tropical island ahead ... this whole island chain looks an awful lot like the Bahamas,” Seven said. “It’s not ... but you can call it that ... the locals won’t mind.” “Why here?” “You need a vacation,” Seven said. She discombobulated. “We do too.” The...
It was more a groan than a moan. “Oh god.” That would be Her Highness. “This is all your fault.” So would that. “Now ... I didn’t make you,” I said. “No ... but you let me,” She said. “But ... you’re so tiny.” That would be me. “I never thought you would.” “You’re so tiny,” was repeated a lot during the photograph session after the successful endeavor. An ominous belch from the royal. “Over the side, Junior.” I said that... “I don’t want to see it.” And that. “Shit ... too late.”...
Yup ... Missy was 16 ... almost 17 and, while her face was young teen, her body was absolutely adult. And by her look ... she had plans. She wandered away but looked over her shoulder ... right at Burt. Burt asked us all to adjourn to the tipi. “We’re positively going to have to stay. Probably until Monday. I can’t see this bunch leaving until they HAVE to. Junior?” She looked up. “Did you really lower the age of consent?” “Mom did. I was in the Pacific ... causing trouble.” She grinned...
The bastard HIT me. I don’t know how he managed. I suppose it was surprise ... I wasn’t expecting ... this was supposed to be a courtesy call and maybe an apology for ramming my boat. I sure wasn’t expecting a roundhouse blow. But ... he struck me ... he wasn’t going to get a second chance. Somehow I had his Tokarev pistol in my hand ... so I shot him ... in the belly. Pained surprise, shock and disbelief ... that was me ... I don’t know what he was thinking. That 7.62x25 bottleneck...
“The heads? What heads?” “You went to school in the States,” said Junior ... and it WAS NOT a question. “Well, yeah ... we all did,” said the seven scientists. “American schools suck,” Junior said. “I’m so glad I was home schooled.” “Me too,” I said. “Except I saw the heads ... I think it was the second time around. Those years are kinda jumbled. “Six?” “Yes, Surprise?” “Which crossing was Easter Island? Was it the first or the second?” “Ask your watch.” “It knows? You sure? Cin...
Consul General Kucherenko came and talked to us ... examined, more like ... by the time we met him I had the feeling he knew more about us than we did. “Your mother did the world a favor,” he said. “What?” We are triplets ... this time we sounded like soloists in a choir. “It took long enough for your government to get their lies together for the rest of the world to solve their own problems. That hadn’t happened since December 2, 1823. He was a terrible president,” Consul General...
Not fifteen minutes after Krys had taken the watch from our favorite spy, Cassie, she stomped on the deck. The Flint is pretty big... 90 feet LOD (Length on Deck) but she’s not huge. With dual wheels and a wide salon, the helms person is standing over one or another of the master suites. It so happened that it was my turn in the barrel. I thumped the overhead to let her know I was awake and slipped on a tee and shorts and headed up and out. “What?” “What is that?” She pointed over the port...
Hurriedly dressing in my bright, almost neon red, immersion suit, I directed crew and owners to unbox the rafts and get ready for the worst. “Don’t inflate them yet, they’re hell to put back in the box if we don’t need them,” I said. Turning into the wind ... sideways could be dire ... I started turning our sails into tiny storm canvas ... thank the gods for buttons and power winches. I fired up the engines. I’d never seen what waterspouts could do to a boat but I was fairly certain I...
Junior patted him on the cheek and said, “Yes ... you are ... and too big to miss.” I turned to look ... really look. “He is a big one,” I said. “Tall and thin but broad. What do you weigh, Mr. Austin?” “One seventy five,” he said. “79.3 kilos,” I said. “That was quick,” Junior said. “I’ve lived ‘metric’ longer than ‘imperial,” I said. “I actually have to think.” “So ... you’re smarter than you look?” “I do ditzy well,” I agreed. “You do.” “So...” I asked, “The Basilisk is canned but...
“Ninety dollars? For one night?” I was incredulous. “Twenty-four hours,” said the kid, and the kicker, “Starting when your first fender kissed the dock.” And it was 90 bucks if I didn’t stay. Still ... it was six bucks a day CHEAPER than Pentwater... 96 bucks a day had a lot to do with WHY I bought the house and water access. I still thought the Ludington Municipal Marina was mighty proud of their facility. We had sailed between the piers and motored east through the channel past the...
OK ... it’s not like I’m new to the Lakes. Mom loved ‘em ... they were where we went when looking for Dad got to be an overbearing burden. Basilisk was home ported in Pentwater. There aren’t all that many places where a big catamaran can sail in western Virginia ... or east Tennessee. Oh ... there are impoundments but ... up to speed and turn around isn’t much fun. But ... I was a kid when Mom hired the first crew and sent us down the Saint Lawrence. “See the world, kids.” Was the last thing...
“No ... that’s mom. I’m on the Fifty.” “The General Admiral? I thought she was some kind of hero.” “God ... I hate that uniform,” Junior said. She flickered. The girl wearing the minuscule bikini was now dressed in the uniform of the General Admiral of the Princessapality of Island fame. “Junior!” I said. “Do you think that was a good idea?” “What? The whole world knows about my watch,” She said. “Not me,” Albert said. “Me neither,” said Bea. “What watch?” “What’s it do?” That from...
When we were little ... littler, Mom sewed up a lodge with a double needle commercial long arm Singer that she bought when Levi’s abandoned the US of A. It had never been used. Something about the machine wouldn’t do what Levi’s needed it to do. So, rather than ship the batch of 200 to China, they sold them pretty darn cheap. Mom and Mr. Shingle ... he of the Frogmorton General Store ... bought two. I wonder if the machine is still at the house? Frogmorton is gone ... National Forest now. We...
“Don’t know?” David asked. “How could you not know?” “I wasn’t there when the modifications were done,” I said. That got an incredulous look. “I trusted my builder,” I explained. That got an even more amazed look. “I worked for the company,” I said. “I knew what kind of work they did.” “What?” “What what?” I said. “What did you do?” “I was in charge of their cabinet shop,” I said. And that required further explanation. “They had no idea I owned twenty three percent,” I said. “They...
David was right. The sunrise was glorious ... Michigan ... Lake Michigan ... doesn’t smell like the ocean and the morning breeze is a gentle reminder that the day is ahead and there are things to do ... even if it’s just sip and stare. Ludington’s breakwater has a pair of fairly squat lighthouses that the rising sun illuminated. The north light glowed with a soft reflection of the clouds sun-show. It was quick. I knew where to look. A life at sea does that. In the twelve years of sailing, I...