“The FAA will do its best to give Li’s 747 the quickest route over CONUS”—the continental United States-“and a straight-in approach to Kennedy, where Marine Two will be waiting to whisk him into Manhattan.”
“Did you ever clear up that mix-up with the longshoremen?” asked Vince.
This time it was Special Agent Algren who frowned.
“I really can’t believe those guys. The head of their union was going to try and get a court injunction to keep our men off the docks. Since this whole undercover operation was my initial idea, I had IRS do a quick check on the union’s books. Needless to say, once the union got wind of this investigation, they got religion. Now we’ve got two special tactics teams working the terminal right alongside the regulars.”
The television crew was packing up its equipment immediately behind Algren, and the ship’s officer who had been interviewed walked over to join the two Secret Service agents. He was a barrel-chested, muscular young man, with short, wavy brown hair and a pleasant reserved manner that he readily displayed.
“Man, I’m sure glad that’s over,” he said with a strong British accent.
“What’s the matter, Tuff, don’t you want to be a TV star?” teased Algren, who graciously initiated the introductions. “Tuff, I’d like you to meet a very special friend, Special Agent Vince Kellogg of our Washington, D. C.” office.”
Vince accepted a vice like handshake, and listened as Algren added, “Tuff is one of the QE2’s security officers, Vince. I imagine that you two will be seeing a lot of each other these next five days.”
“Are you certain that you won’t change your mind and join us at sea, Special Agent Algren?” asked Tuff in all seriousness.
“You’re going to have enough hired guns around as it is,” replied Algren. “Besides, I’m quite content to have my responsibility confined to this solid side of the gangway.”
Tuffs two-way radio crackled alive, and the thirty-four year-old Englishman received a page calling him to the QE2’s Bridge. Before he could excuse himself, Doug Algren made a single request.
“Would you mind taking Special Agent Kellogg up to the Bridge with you, Tuff? That would be the perfect place for him to begin his orientation.”
“I’d be delighted.” Tuff gestured politely toward the open gangway.
The short transit brought Vince through a large access way and directly into the QE2’s portside hull. A carpeted walkway led him into a lush compartment dominated by a circular reception area. A panoramic mural depicting Cunard Line’s past and present history completely encircled this room. Tuff was quick to identify it.
“This is the Midships Lobby, located on Two Deck. In the majority of ports, this is the first portion of the ship that embarking passengers will see. We’ll be heading forward to the A Stairway, as we continue on to the Bridge.”
From his previous study of the ship’s layout, Vince knew this already.
But he also knew not to interrupt a man sharing his pride and joy.
Tuff led the way down another carpeted passageway. Passenger cabins lined the starboard side of this corridor, and Tuff identified the closed doorways located opposite them.
‘ That first door belongs to the auxiliary Security Office. A member of our staff is on duty there twenty-four hours a day. Beside it is where the first officer works, along with his secretary, Sally. Should you ever need to see the captain or any other of the ship’s senior officers, Sally will make the proper arrangements.”
At the end of the passageway they turned left, and as they headed toward a central stairway, they passed the ship’s Computer Learning Center. A large, glass-enclosed room was filled with over a dozen individual personal computers.
Vince followed Tuff up a steep, twisting stairway. It took a total effort on his part to keep up with his English tour guide, and by the time they reached the top landing, Vince was clearly out of breath.
Tuff didn’t seem the least bit fazed by this climb, and he took a second to give Vince a brief position update.
“We’re currently on the Boat Deck. Our climb took us past One Deck, where I believe your cabin is located. Then we passed Quarter Deck, where you can access the Princess Grill, the Caronia Restaurant, the Chart Room Bar, Library, Bookshop, Queens Room, and the Lido. Next comes the Upper Deck. That’s where you’ll find the Mauretania Restaurant, the largest theater afloat, the Ca sino, the Grand Lounge, and my favorite hangout, the Yacht Club Bar.”
Vince noted that a bank of elevators were located directly across from the stairway they had just climbed. To their immediate right was an intricately carved wooden figurehead, while the curtained entrance to yet another public room lay beyond.
“That figurehead over there is named after the Britannia, Samuel Cunard’s first ship. She was a wooden paddle steamer, built in 1840 for the express purpose of carrying the mail between Great Britain and North America.”
While Vince took a closer look at it, Tuff added, “I hope that you don’t mind a little history with your tour, sir. Because this ship’s just filled with it.”
“Please go on, Tuff,” Vince said sincerely. “History’s one of my passions.”
“Then you’ll be pleased to learn that the Britannia figurehead has been carved out of Quebec yellow pine by the Cornish sculptor Charles Moore.
It was Lloyd’s of London that presented it to the ship.”
A crew member emerged from a compartment located to their right and Tuff nodded in greeting. He waited for him to disappear down the stairway before continuing. “That sailor just came from our Radio Room. Like Security, it’s manned twenty-four hours a day. We offer the latest in satellite communications, and also keep in touch with the outside world by radio telegraphy, telex, and fax.”
“What’s behind those curtained double doors at the after end of this passageway?” asked Vince.
“That’s the Queen’s Grill Restaurant. It’s the ship’s most exclusive dining area, reserved for 231 of our passengers. Unlike the other restaurants that serve off of traditional menus, one can order almost anything the heart desires, including lobster, prime steaks, or all the caviar you can eat, every single day of the crossing.”
Vince patted his stomach temptingly. “Sounds good, Tuff, especially since all I’ve had to eat today is a rubbery bagel on the airplane.”
“Lunch will be served shortly, sir. And even though it’s not lobster and caviar, we’ll take good care of you.”
“I’m sure you will.”
Tuff proceeded to his left, through a doorway marked officers and crew only. A short hall led to a closed door that Tuff opened and beckoned Vince to join him inside. The spacious room they now found themselves in had a warm, clublike atmosphere, its walls covered with dozens of plaques, photos, and other nautical memorabilia.
“Since you’re a lover of history, I thought you’d enjoy taking a quick peek at our Wardroom, sir.”
Vince was speechless as he examined signed prints of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. A gleaming brass bell that was engraved, r. m.s. aquitania, was positioned close by. “The Aquitania was the sister ship to the Lusitania and the Mauretania. She was delivered in 1914, and allowed Cunard to maintain the first weekly sailing schedule from both sides of the Atlantic.” Tuff next guided Vince past a fully stocked pub. “I do hope you’ll join me and the lads down here for a pint once you’ve gotten settled.”
Vince found himself drawn to the forward portion of the Wardroom, where a series of large, rectangular portholes afforded an unobstructed view of the QE2’s bow and the majestic skyline of Manhattan beyond. Many of the colorful photos and plaques mounted on the bulkhead were gifts from various military units, ranging from Great Britain’s Royal Air Force, to the French foreign legion, NASA, and the U. S. Coast Guard.