Ghost Writer(62)

Unsurprisingly, Gravell was waiting for me.

“The captain is really pissed off at us.”

He shrugged. “He'll forgive you. As long as nothing happens to you, he might even forgive me.”

I tested the security of the rail, a habit now, and then leaned against it, looking out onto the late setting sun. It would barely finish setting before it rose again.

I wanted to cry.

“Are you all right, Madame Kirby?”

“Nope.”

“Anything I can do?”

“Can do? Maybe. Will do? Nope.”

He looked down at me, eyes soft like milk chocolate. “You want to be held.”

“I want to be made love to,” I said, voice remarkably steady, all things considered. “I could use a good dose of endorphins right now.”

There was a long pause.

“The captain…” Gravell started

“He won't. You won't. Nobody else appeals right now.”

“You want both of us?”

“Not at the same time.”

I turned and saw that he was staring at me with a startled expression. I chuckled. Nice to know I could surprise him.

“I'm not a slut or anything. I'm a mature woman, unattached, with excess hormones, and a natural desire to feel something besides fear and stress.”

He turned around and stared out over the water. I did the same.

“There are other ways of producing endorphins,” he said eventually.

“If you are going to suggest running, forget it. I'm a walker, not a runner.”

“I was thinking of chocolate.”

I turned back to him and pulled at his shoulder until he was facing me. “Are you serious? You have chocolate?”

He laughed. “It's not a controlled substance, Madame Kirby.”

“Let me rephrase. Do you have good chocolate?”

He had really good chocolate.



Early morning I was summoned to sick bay to undergo a thorough checkup. Doc had heard about the diving lessons and wanted to make sure I was in reasonable physical shape.

“Good enough. Remarkably good considering what you've been through. It seems you have a very hard head. I'll check again before you actually dive.”

Next I reported to Lieutenant Welland for my first class. I was introduced to Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Cross, the other diver who rescued me. He introduced me to the equipment, and I was walked through a maintenance check. Welland gave me the diving safety lesson. Then I was given a textbook to read. I would be tested on my homework in the afternoon. It wasn't exactly scintillating. In fact, I dozed off.

Before my afternoon class, Gravell took me for a fitness walk on a circuit I would never have been allowed to take alone. He walked, I half-jogged to keep up. I put up with it because he promised me more chocolate in the evening if I went for two walks during the day. I suggested we do morning and evening. After lunch, what I most wanted was a nap.

The next morning, while trotting alongside Gravell, I saw a cargo helicopter arrive. It was a good excuse to pause, since I was short of breath. As a result, I was amongst the first to welcome Dora and Reuben.

I threw my arms around Dora in what was, for us, an uncharacteristic display of emotion. “I'm so glad you're back.”

Then the deck officer took over, taking Dora and Reuben to meet with the captain.

After three hours of intensive classroom instruction, I was glad to retreat to the émil Gagnan for a couple of hours off. I entered the wardroom in time to catch the beginning of Reuben and Dora's tale of political intrigue. Reuben was used to spinning information for effect and Dora had a dry wit, so it was an entertaining story. Then I was prompted to tell them about my misadventures, including passing out and almost falling overboard. I also confirmed the rumour that I was taking a crash course in diving so I could go back to the station.

Lil looked wistful, but Reuben stated that putting on a scuba mask was too much like being prepped for surgery and Dora shrugged saying, “Better you than me.”

After lunch, I had a little time before returning to the Nottawasaga so I followed Dora to our cabin and watched her unpack while she grilled me.

“Who is doing this to you and why, for heaven's sake?”

“I really don't know. It's like I said, someone seems to think I know more than I do that's why I need to go back to the station. I need to find out what I'm supposed to know already. I could also use your professional skills. I'm hoping you'll be able to narrow down the suspects.”

“Maybe. If it's a secret agent, he or she would be good at dissimilation. For instance, I didn't catch that Gravell was a spy.”

“I think he's more an investigator than spy. Besides, you hardly had anything to do with him. You left before he started guarding me.”

“Uh-huh. Whatever he is, he has more than a professional interest in you.”

“You think so?”

Dora laughed. “It doesn't take a trained observer to work it out, though I am a trained observer. He's careful, but not that careful and you are practically transparent.”

I blushed. No one likes to hear that they are transparent.

“I thought you were interested in Captain Campbell,” Dora continued, ignoring my discomfort.

I blushed hotter. She shook her head.