“I suppose so. You want answers and I can’t answer them. Haven’t you gotten that through your thick skull yet?” she replied.
“Maybe, but you went too far when you asked me to start comparing you to Majel. How do you know of Majel? That was a long time ago, supposedly long before you researched me, wasn’t it?” I asked.
She answered, “Not really. You caught my attention then, but I waited to see how far you were going at first.”
“I think that I would have noticed you around then if only for the way you dress. I know I watched everyone around me then because of how things were. I never saw you. So, how did you know?” I asked.
She said, “I’ve got my ways. This base is full of information to anyone wanting it. I didn’t have to observe you directly to learn about you. You’ve been the talk of the base since you got here.”
“Is that so? What do people say about me?” I asked.
She said, “They wondered about you since you’re the only temporary commissioned officer in the Navy.”
“What? Weren’t any of the other shipping company gun ships drafted?” I asked.
She replied, “No. Only yours.”
“What else was said about me?” I asked.
She said, “Oh, some people thought at first that you had it in for the officers. Then they saw the change in the officers serving with you and what you tried to do for Bleyer. They even thought you had it in for the Navy until you started winning all those battles. Some thought you only wanted the glory and fame, but you didn’t say a word about your victories and that deflated them. You didn’t even go around chasing after women. A few people thought you preferred men until you bedded Majel. I was glad you didn’t. Now, most of them don’t know anything for sure about you. Only a few of us really understand you. So, of course, I’ve heard about you and kept up with your career. I’m also surprised I have so little competition.”
“Okay, so there’s a gossip net through the base. So, why did you wait to see how far I was going? What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked.
She said, “I wanted to see if you were going to remain true to yourself or fall apart over feet of mud. Hey, if I’m going to offer myself up for more than just casual sex, I want the man to be as close to my ideals as possible. You want to be a father? No problem. Just tell me and I’ll stop using protection. I’d love to have your child. You don’t want to marry me because I’m wild? No problem there, either. You decide that you do, I can live with that as well. In fact, I’d prefer it. I’m not stupid enough to get in the way of a juggernaut and expect it to change course, so I’ll accept what I can get. Hell, I got more attention from you this week than from anyone in my whole life!”
I asked, “What’s your father think about this? I mean your wanting to have a child of mine out of wedlock?”
She said, “He’s got nothing to do with it. I’m my own person and I live as I please. Now are you going to do something now that you’re on top again… or are we going to get up out of bed, which I hope we don’t since it took me so damn long to get you here in the first place!”
I acceded to her wishes and made love to Annie once more before we finally got up and went to breakfast. We didn’t go to her property that day. I wanted to check into things and get a head start on the next day when I would be back on duty.
Chapter 18
A week later, I was once again in space with my new Mad Dogs Squadron as we left port to take our turn patrolling the border. As we approached the border, a single enemy scout ship spotted us and started leaving in a hurry while broadcasting our position to the rest of its fleet. We managed to pick up two words the scout mentioned that we could understand. The scout was saying something about the “Rust Bucket” over and over again. To me, the voice saying it sounded frightened.
Nothing approached our sector during the entire week that we patrolled the border. My squadron returned to base, having performed numerous drills and practices of battle tactics while on patrol. We spent a week on the base before we shipped out again to the border on patrol.
Again, a solitary enemy scout spotted us as we approached the border. He left in an awful hurry broadcasting something about the “Rust Bucket” over and over to his fleet. The second time it happened, an idea formed in my mind about how we could sucker the enemy and another one for how we could fool him into trying something stupid.
When we returned to port, I went immediately to Headquarters to speak with the Fleet Admiral. He was pleased to see me.
“How is the new squadron performing?” he asked.
I answered, “Well, but they haven’t been battle tested yet. The enemy keeps running off before we can even get close enough. That’s part of why I’m here. I have a few ideas I want to pitch to you.”
“Sure. Have a seat. Care for a drink?” he asked.
I shook my head.
He said, “Anyway, go ahead and light up. I understand that you charmed the pants off Annie during your shore leave.”
My face must have given me away for the Admiral said, “I’m sorry. That was a poor choice of words on my part. I’m not worried if you two fooled around or not. That’s between you and her. I just meant to say that she’s still floating on cloud nine or whatever because of the attention you gave her. She hasn’t brought another man home or looked at one for all I know. She still walks around naked at home, but at least she puts a robe on now when I have visitors. Whatever you did to her, I appreciate it. Go ahead and give me your ideas.”
I began my pitch, saying, “Sir, I noticed that when we approached the border the last two times for our patrols, the scout didn’t hang around just out of range like they did before. He got the hell out of Dodge, so to speak, when he saw my ship. I’m fairly certain of it because the scout was broadcasting both times and saying something. There were only two words that I was able to distinguish that he repeated over and over again. He said ‘Rust Bucket’ and there was fright in his voice. Anyway, since my ship is the only ship around that’s ever been openly called a Rust Bucket…”
He said, “I hope you’re not offended by that. If so, I’ll…”
I quickly replied, “No, Admiral. I call the Thurman a ‘Rust Bucket’ myself in an affectionate manner. It doesn’t offend me at all. Nor does it offend any of the other personnel with me from Pennyweight Shipping Company. We called her one there, too. But it does seem to be the only ship openly called that. That’s what gave me the idea. I’m suggesting that some of the other ships might be allowed to rust or be painted to look like rust. It would confuse the enemy. He wouldn’t know which ship was the Thurman. It might also give me more of a chance to slip up on him if he can’t recognize my ship so easily.”
He said, “I wish it was that easy, but Pennyweight asked that the hull of the ship be left as is except for repairs while the Navy has regulations about its ships’ hulls.”
I said, “I see. Then I’m going to have to figure out a way to sneak up on the enemy, even if I have to leave the Thurman behind once or twice.”
“Yes, of course. You can transfer your flag aboard one of the other ships and then take your position. Are you going to switch crews as well?” he asked.
I said, “I haven’t made that decision yet. I’m leaning toward not changing crews. It will give the other crew more confidence if they know I’m willing to step on board their ship without my own gunners and pilots.”
He exclaimed, “Good for you, son! Of course, you could have your ship standing out of sensor range to come in if things start to go bad.”
I said, “That’s true, but I don’t want the other officers or crews to think that I’ve got to have my ship nearby to bail me out. If I go out in that manner, then the Thurman is remaining behind or it can go on some other mission.”