‘Well Kevin, she was decommissioned in 1994 and was sitting in Pearl Harbor, and I just had the cheek to ask if I could buy her, and after some legal wrangling they said yes.’
They banked around, the large helipad on the stern of the ship looming up at them, Debra hovering just a few metres above and then gently lowering onto the undulating vessel, ‘Gentlemen welcome home.’
The three men collected their gear from the storage net, Jacob striding off, clearly knowing where he was going. Andy and Kevin followed. Jacob went down the port side of the ship heading for the structure in the centre containing the bridge and operations rooms. They passed stowed submersibles, ROV‘s, boats and something under a large green tarpaulin, before coming to stairs, the seven flights leading to the bridge. Jacob had scaled these and was taking in the view by the time a puffing and panting Andy Huang joined him. Kevin wished he had gone first rather than lagging behind the unfit translator.
‘Andy, Kevin, this is the bridge, below is the communications room, galley and operations room, accommodation is aft as well as limited guest rooms here.’
‘And the Captain’s cabin is taken before you ask!’ A gruff booming voice echoed down from above them, the owner was leaning over the side from the flying bridge above. Jacob beaming shouted back ‘And it can be kept by the part timer who lives here!’
Dumping his gear and striding up the small stairway to the flying bridge, Jacob clamped a hearty handshake with his friend. ’Teddy you old sod, how are you, and what have you been doing with my ship?’
‘Your ship? Well if anyone is part time, you are swanning off to the Arctic and conferences for months at a time!’
‘True my friend, unfortunately true, but someone has to keep the money men happy.’
‘That is Stoney’s job, not yours, but if they need a face for the Institute, I thought they could have picked a better looking one!’
Andy and Kevin were now standing behind Jacob, Teddy noticed them glancing up and down ’And who are the puppies following you around then?’
‘Sorry Teddy, this is Kevin Shotbolt and Andy Huang, gentlemen this is the ’Captain’ of the Arcadia, Edward “Teddy” Steenberger.’
Kevin was dwarfed by the ship’s captain. Teddy was as tall as Jacob but much broader, his arms were the size of most people’s thighs, not able to fall to his side when at rest. He was tanned all over and with many faded tattoos on his arms and calves. His long grey plaited beard covered most of his lower face, his head was completely bald and brown, the sun glaring off his polished skull.
‘Kevin, you grew up fast. I am definitely getting too old, too fast. So boys, I will let Debra give you the grand tour, while I show Jacob our latest acquisition.’
Debra was shouted over the ships intercom system, while Teddy squeezed down the staircase and took Jacob to the rear of the ship. Andy and Kevin met Debra back on the port side, they were subdued and she noticed, ‘So intimidated by Teddy then?’
‘That man is enormous, he would scare anyone.’
Debra laughed at Andy’s reaction, ‘Listen, Teddy is soft really, hence the name Teddy, and he can fix anything, mechanically intuitive he calls it. He has known Jacob forever, and if Jacob trusts him, you know you can.’
Laurent had come to the bridge to meet Jacob, a pre-emptive strike before he could speak to Katherine, but did not find him, he heard Teddy’s laugh and realised they were aft, he moved quickly pursuing them.
Teddy had arrived at the large green tarpaulin and was pulling it off with ease, arms swelling with the effort. ‘Jacob may I present to you ‘The Wasp’’
Jacob couldn’t believe it; in front of him was a forty-foot long black and yellow stripped hovercraft, a single large fan at the rear. ‘Teddy you bought a hovercraft?’
‘Well after getting stuck in that river in Africa I knew we needed a better supply boat, more versatile so I found this.’
‘From where? You don’t just go onto eBay?’
‘This is a Griffin 2000 was used by the Royal Marines, but they replaced two with the 3000 and I bought this one, she’s a beauty.’
‘And who is footing the bill?’
‘Paul knows all about it, you should read your email.’
‘Yeah right, until two years ago you could not even send an email!’
The two friends were still laughing and joking, exploring Teddy’s new toy when Laurent arrived.
‘Jacob can I talk with you?’
Jacob stopped laughing and poked his head out from the hatch in the top of the pilots section turning to face the Frenchman. ‘What can I do for you Christophe?’
‘I need to discuss with you my status on this dig.’
‘Very well, stay there.’ Jacob clambered out of the hovercraft, jumping onto the deck just in front of Christophe ‘so what is your, I mean the problem?’
Teddy laughed from inside the hovercraft, Christophe tried to ignore it, ‘can we talk in my cabin?’
‘To be honest Christophe this will do, no one around, so out with it man!’
‘Well I am concerned that you are undermining my authority!’
‘Really and what makes you think that, I am just visiting, or are you referring to Katherine’s issues with you, or should I say her discoveries?’
‘How did you know about that?’
‘I have my sources, and no, Katherine did not tell me, but that does not matter.’
‘It matters to me, having people talking behind my back, it is disrespectful!’
‘Well perhaps you should respect them more and it would not happen!’
‘So you think I don’t respect my people eh?’
‘I know you don’t, you only respect money and recognition!’
‘You arrogant pig, how dare you!’
‘Truth hurts doesn’t it!’
At this point Teddy intervened, his imposing physique stopping both men from coming to blows. ‘Listen you two idiots, I thought science and discovery was about collaboration? And you are fighting like school children.’
‘Jacob started it!’
‘I don’t care! Finish it, work together otherwise I will throw you both overboard!’
Jacob and Christophe both knew that Teddy meant it and was capable of carrying out his threat. Jacob reluctantly extended his hand to Laurent ‘Truce, so we can solve this puzzle?’
‘Okay but only if you support and inform the team that I am in charge?’
‘Done. Christophe you are a good archaeologist, great instincts and a proven track record.’ Jacob knew how to get around Laurent, pander to his ego, it worked. ‘Now can we talk about your findings on the ship, I have someone who would love to see what you have’.
The afternoon went more smoothly, Andy reviewed the images taken from the site and Kevin took photos and interviewed people for an ad-hoc article on the Arcadia. Jacob checked his email as advised, and pulled more information sent by Paul on the Ten Suns legend, preparing a presentation for later.
After lunch they were invited by Teddy to be taken to camp in The Wasp, she had been moved by one of the substantial cranes, pontoons moored against the side of the ship, as a temporary launch platform. Laurent, Kevin, Andy and Jacob climbed into the passenger compartment running down the centre of the vessel like a wide corridor. There were only six seats, the rest had been removed to allow for cargo. Teddy had loaded up food and equipment for the camp. The sides were canvas flaps that pulled down over the two metre openings, the only solid doors were the gull wings by the cockpit. They strapped in the moulded car seats, four point harnesses securing them and the large diesel engine started up.
The hovercraft rose up on its black skirt, turning as Teddy dropped half a metre off the pontoons onto the water, barely noticeable to the passengers. The craft drifted and rapidly accelerated to full speed approaching the river delta, manoeuvring across the silt deposits with consummate ease and into the marshlands beyond. La Tola passed rapidly in a haze of spray. Kevin had brought his camera to record the journey but a combination of Teddy’s driving and the spray meant that little was visible on his screen.