Ghost Writer(61)

“No. I just told him I needed to get aboard the station.”

Franchot shook his head. “Why? Setting aside a natural desire to be part of the adventure, why would you? You'll see everything via video cameras. All artifacts collected will be brought back and you'll probably be the first to go over them. You won't really be missing anything.”

My head was hurting. I wished that Gravell was here to sort this out for me, and I felt like a coward as a result.

“Jen, diving in arctic waters to a potentially unstable vessel isn't the best place to learn the ropes. It’s not safe for you or the other divers.”

Mercuros nodded. Commander Harvey kept her face a perfect blank. I wondered about that while I tried to think of something to say. I fell back on the truth.

“I have to go. I saw something when I was trapped. I'm the only one who can follow up on it.”

“It's too dangerous,” said Captain Campbell.

There was a knock. Gravell entered without waiting for an invitation. He was followed by woman in uniform who was vaguely familiar. They stood at the end of the table. I made a quarter turn in my chair to watch them.

“Captain, you are familiar with Lieutenant Welland? She was one of the divers that rescued Madame Kirby.”

My eyes widened.

So did Campbell’s. He addressed the Lieutenant. “Of course. You and your partner did an exemplary job under difficult circumstances.”

“Thank you, Captain. We wouldn't have been able to do it if Ms. Kirby had not followed directions as well as she did. That's why I’m willing to teach her the necessary skills and to dive with her when she goes to the station.”

The devil, I thought. He did have my back.

Franchot was another matter. “My insurance only covers certified divers.”

“I'll waive liability,” I said.

“What if I also worked with them?” said Mercuros.

Franchot opened his mouth to object.

“C’est fait, mon ami. At least this way I’ll know that Ms. Kirby can do the dive.”

Franchot looked like he was wavering, but Captain Campbell was not happy.

“It is not done unless I give permission, Mr. Mercuros. I don't. Even an accelerated diving course would take weeks, and I wouldn't be satisfied with less.”

Mercuros shook his head. “Certification can't be done in less than a couple of weeks, but the course work preliminary to the first open water dive can be completed in a couple of days. It will require a lot of homework, Ms. Kirby.”

“Okay.”

“I've run civilian courses before and can administer the written exam. There's no rule that the first practice dive can't be on the job. In fact, there are underwater research teams that offer diving certification to volunteers as they work.”

Franchot looked up, apparently for heavenly guidance. “In tropical waters! We don’t do that up here.”

“There’s always a first time, Skipper.”

Franchot looked from Mercuros to Gravell and back again. Mercuros gave an infinitesimal nod which I took as evidence of Gravell getting his support ahead of time.

“Okay,” said Franchot.

Campbell sighed heavily and nodded. With the air of one who was greatly put upon, he gave conditional consent. “Go ahead with the training. If I'm not satisfied it's safe, I'll veto Ms. Kirby's involvement, even if it means scuttling the station myself. Now, if you'll excuse me, it's been a long evening.”

Welland shot me a smile and made a quick getaway. I tried to do the same while the officers exchanged handshakes and polite farewells.

“Not you, Ms. Kirby,” Captain Campbell said over his shoulder.

I sat back down. Soon there was only the captain, Gravell, and myself left.

“Gravell, I am mystified why you have thrown yourself behind this harebrained scheme.”

“Sir?”

“Don't play with me. Is Ms. Kirby one of yours? I know Franchot and Mercuros are.”

That was startling. The implications made my head hurt even more. I rubbed my eyes and tried to smooth the tension lines from my forehead.

“Madame Kirby is exactly what she has presented herself as, a civilian writer working with Dr. Leland. What she has gone through has put her into a position of having special knowledge that I am not at liberty to discuss at this time. I might add, sir, Madame Kirby's life has been threatened. It is in everyone's interest to resolve the issues presented by the station, but it could be a matter of life and death to her.”

Life, death, and my sanity, I thought.

The captain rubbed his chin. His expression was grim, but resigned. “Very well. You're dismissed Chief.”

“Aye, sir.”

Gravell left and once again I felt very alone.

“I thought you trusted me, Jen.”

His face was so sad I wanted to hit him. I didn’t need a degree in psychology to know when I was being emotionally manipulated.

“I do trust you, but I also understand that there are limitations to what you can do to help me. You have certain responsibilities. Now, it turns out, so do I.”





Chapter Thirty-Three ~ Confrontations



I headed for the deck, desperate for fresh air even if it wasn't allowed. Like the old saying goes, sometimes it's easier to seek forgiveness than permission.