Chapter 12 The red and white bobber drifted at the end of the fishing line while Chief Woods sat in a lawn chair at the end of the dock and occasionally gave it a little wiggle. He had his feet up on a cooler and a bucket of salt water with a few small snappers inside awaiting their fate. “Hey, do you plan on helping?” shouted Bae from behind him. Bae stood on the deck of the big blue sailboat while Massi heaved crates of supplies up to him. Chief half turned his head to see the boys from the corner of his eye. “My contract doesn’t call for loading sailboats, call me when ninja are attacking.” Massi put his hands on his hips and looked up at Bae from the dock. “Hey, maybe I should check my contract.” “Jokes, everyone’s got jokes,” replied Bae. “I’d like to be underway by tomorrow.” Chief Woods pulled the fishing hat he’d bought this morning at the tourist bait and tackle shop down over his eyes. “You’re not going anywhere until we have a crew that can safely operate that boat,” said Chief. “Massi and I can handle it,” said Bae. Chief let his mind drift away from Bae’s complaints, he wasn’t going to argue with a 14 year old. He’d been a little surprised when Trey told him he was being reassigned to Rin and would be spending the summer on a sailboat hunting for treasure. It felt like he should give back his paycheck, this was a vacation. He’d had some unusual assignments in his career, but treasure hunting was a new one. Chief heard Bae call out, “Hey, Dan.” “Morning, Bae, are you getting ready to go on an adventure?” “We’re going on a treasure hunt,” said Bae. “Are you going with us?” “I don’t know anything about that, I got a message from Captain Sal to come down here and see Chief Woods. I figure it’s probably about what happened at the ice cream parlor.” “He’s down there at the end of the dock pretending to fish,” said Bae, and raising his voice added, “And not helping.” Chief listened to the footsteps of the 1st Mate walking towards him. The man had a purposeful stride with the slightest pause between steps; a sailors gait gained from years of ensuring his full weight was well positioned before taking the next step. “Master Chief Woods?” the man announced his presence. “Mr. Keau, please, have a seat.” Chief motioned at a second lawn chair next to him. The 1st Mate of the Night Star Fishing Trawler peeked into Chief’s fish bucket and sat down in the lawn chair. “You can call me, Dan. Snappers, huh? Yep, that’s about all you’re going to catch inside the marina. So, is this about that tourist from last week? I’ll be more than happy to be a witness in court, if that’s what you need.” Chief pushed his hat back as Dan sat down. “He did file a complaint, but Captain Sal assures me there isn’t a Judge anywhere in the islands that will give him the time of day.” Dan nodded. “That’s probably true, Bae is well liked.” Chief wiggled his fishing pole before setting it in a holder on the side of his chair. “I sailed at summer camp once as a boy, and that’s where my sailing experience ends.” “Aren’t you Navy?” “I was Special Ops assigned to a Carrier, not much need to learn to sail there.” “What can I help you with?” asked Dan. Chief jerked a thumb back at the yacht. “Can you tell me about that contraption Bae is standing on?” Dan laughed. “That was Governor Baestar’s yacht. It’s a fine boat, fast, steady, and well built. The Governor was getting old and couldn’t handle the boat anymore, it was just too hard on his old bones. He hired me a few times to take him and Bae out for a sail around the island.” Chief removed a small notebook from his shirt pocket and flipped it open. He glanced at his notes, then up at Dan. “You were hired fourteen times to take Bae and the Governor out for a weekend sail?” “I didn’t keep track,” said Dan. “That’s okay, I only needed to know that you’ve sailed this particular boat before,” said Chief. Dan raised a curious brow, but didn’t say anything. Chief continued, “Can Bae and Massi handle that boat on their own?” “No, of course not, that’s a 77 foot single-mast blue ocean cruiser. That boat needs a crew of at least three experienced sailors, if one has a Master’s Certificate.” “What if Tath were with them?” asked Chief. Dan shook his head. “Tath is a good sailor, but he doesn’t have a Masters Certificate, or the experience to handle that boat if the sea got rough. No, that boat needs a qualified Captain and crew.” The fishing pole wiggled, but Chief ignored it. “That’s what I thought. Alright, what if that boat had a 1st Mate with extensive experience on trawlers, and sailboats, has taken his Masters test two months ago, and has Tath, Massi, Bae, and myself?” Dan nodded, understanding now where this was going. “You’re beating around the bush, Chief, if you’re making me a job offer, say it plain.” Chief tipped his head. “Fair enough, I’m offering you the Captain’s position on the Governor’s yacht.” Dan was silent for a moment and tapped a finger on the armrest of the lawn chair. “I won’t leave my trawler unless I’m moving to a permanent position.” “Captain Sal said that Bae is going to want to sail more often in the coming years, so yes, I’m authorized to tell you the position is permanent, with year-round pay at entry level Captain’s pay and benefits.” Dan kept his face neutral, it was a dream job. “I want a permanent crew of two deck hands, with the option to bring temporary crew on when needed.” Chief glanced at his notes again. “Will there be any regrets leaving the Night Star?” Dan shook his head. “I’m not saying it will be easy to leave, I’ve been on her since I was a boy, but no, I’ve taken my Master’s test, but there are three 1st Mates in the fishing fleet ahead of me for a Captain’s position. I could either take a position outside the fleet when it’s offered, or I could end up waiting decades. Now I have a question for you, why me?” Chief smiled and spread his hands. “You were in the right place at the right time, and you put yourself between Bae and me until you knew if I was safe. That takes the kind of guts I’m looking for.” Dan smiled back. “I’m no stranger to a fight, are you really that good?” “Yes, I’m that good.” “What about that fella I saw with Lord Lothan?” “That’s Trey, and he’s also very good, but he got his position by being Lothan’s half-brother, I worked my way up.” “I think we’ll get along well, Chief, I worked my way up from a dock boy. When do you want to sail?” “Tomorrow morning.” “No, that would be foolish,” said Dan. “That boat just weathered a hurricane. I want at least two days to check it top to bottom.” “I’m not so sure Bae will accept that answer,” said Chief. “Then you don’t know Bae,” said Dan. “He’s an Altain sailor, and he was trained by Captain Sal. Watch and learn, Chief.” Dan turned his head towards the boys loading the yacht. “Hey, Bae. I’m your new private yacht Captain. That boat is not setting sail tomorrow. Where’s Tath?” Bae hesitated answering for only a moment, the disappointment obvious on his face. “He’s getting some ice.” “As soon as he gets back, both of you get your tanks on, I want a full inspection of the hull and rudder, and make sure you check the bow thrusters and all the water seals. Is that Master Rinathian on the foredeck?” “Yes, umm… Captain?” replied Bae. “Either teach him to coil a line or get him the hell off the boat, he’s making a mess,” shouted Dan. “And isn’t he 10 years old? What’s the rule about under 13 and jacklines? And if I see any of you out of your life vests again, the only thing you’ll be sailing is a rubber ducky in your bathtub. Rin stopped what he was doing and looked at the ropes he was holding. There wasn’t much he could say, he really didn’t have any idea how to coil the lines Bae had told him to get stowed. Bae rushed to Rin and fastened a harness around his waist, then hooked the safety line to the jackline. “But we’re at the dock?” Protested Rin. “Shhh… it doesn’t matter, you’re under 13, you have to be hooked to the jackline no matter where we are. Massi and I are 14, so at dock or a sheltered anchor to leeward, we’re allowed to unhook from the jackline. Massi, grabbed the three neon green life vests that were lying on the dock. He slipped one over his head, jumped onto the boat and shoved another at Bae, then helped Rin get into his. Dan turned his head back to Chief Woods and smiled. “See, they’re good boys, but they still have to be reminded sometimes. They knew they were in the wrong trying to rush the launch. Now they’ll slow down and prepare the boat correctly.” “Not bad,” said Chief. “Now I can go back to my vacation.” “Unless you plan on hiring a Steward, this is a working boat. You can head down to the Galley and start stowing the provisions. I imagine if you’ve been on a Carrier, you have experience on KP, so you should know how to do it correctly.” Dan stood. “I’m going to go get the Marina mechanic and have him certify the engines. Let’s go, Chief, we’ve got work to do.” Dan walked back along the dock without looking to see if Chief was getting up. “Massi, I want the fire extinguishers and smoke detectors serviced.” “Yes, Captain,” said Massi. The next four days were gruelling, exhausting, and long. The new Captain Dan was meticulous with every detail of the preparations. The boys slept on the yacht, falling asleep nearly as soon as their heads hit the pillow. Mrs. Hansson brought meals and cold lemonade out to them, and always with a special treat, like cookies, or brownies. Captain Sal visited and approved of the preparations being made for the long voyage. More supplies were brought out until every spare corner was occupied. The dirt bikes couldn’t be brought, but three terrain bicycles were brought out and tied down in the lazarette. The day finally arrived and everything was ready. Lord Lothan, Mrs. Hansson, Gunther, Trey, and Captain Sal came to see them off. Lord Lothan barely recognized his own son; Rin was already well on the way to being as brown as any Altain from the long days in the sun. Bae was bare chested with his sun-bleached blonde hair tied back in a ponytail. Captain Dan called for the lines to be cast off. Massi and Rin jumped down to the dock and each went to the moorings that held the yacht in place. They unwrapped the lines from the moorings and threw the ropes onto the boat. Massi was the last aboard and pulled the gangplank onto the yacht and stored it. Bae stood at the mast with a black folded flag draped over his arm. Massi looked over the side as the yacht slowly moved away from the dock. “That’s it, we’re no longer touching,” shouted Massi. Captain Dan glanced at Massi from the wheel. “What?” “Go ahead, Bae, we’re clear,” shouted Massi. Bae connected the flag to the cable that would raise the flag to the top of the mast. He pulled the cable hand-over-hand and the flag rose. The wind caught the black flag and it unfurled to reveal the blood-red silhouette of a wolf wearing an upside down crown and crossed sabers laid beneath the wolf.” Captain Dan looked up at the flag. “Oh great Neptune’s beard, you boys have got to be kidding.” Standing on the dock waving the boys off, Mrs. Hansson gasped. “Oh dear, that boy will be the death of me.” “Good Lord, where did he find that?” growled Captain Sal. Gunther was nearly bent over double laughing and slapping his sides. “It was bound to happen eventually, the little wolf has slipped off his leash.” “Is that what I think it is?” asked Lord Lothan. “Yes, it is,” sighed Captain Sal. “That is the original pirate flag of Zachariah ‘Blood Beard’ Tares, the Wolf of the Sea, and later became House Tares’ first flag when Captain Blood Beard decided they were the Noble House of the Corsair.” Bae was now standing at the bow of his yacht, his feet spread apart and his arms crossed as his boat slipped beyond the docks. “Oh great day, did Rinathian take that spear with him?” asked Lord Lothan. Rinathian's voice easily travelled across the marina as he shouted at people on other yachts and waved his spear at them. “Lower Ye’ colors when this ship be passing, Ye’ scurvy dogs, or I be sinking Ye’ to the bottom of the briny sea.” “You people have turned my son into a pirate,” said Lord Lothan. “I’m without a doubt that our little apple didn’t fall far from the tree,” said Mrs. Hansson. “And I’m pretty sure yours didn’t either. I do believe I read that they call you the Wolf of the Financial World.” “That they do, Mrs. Hansson, that they do,” said Lord Lothan.