A Seaview Christmas

by Diane Kachmar

Lee Crane stood in the bow of the submarine Seaview and looked out the great herculite windows into the dark sea. He had wanted to get his men home for Christmas, but they were

under top secret orders. Crane leaned against the bulkhead. Congress went home for Christmas, why couldn’t the Pentagon? Nelson would not have taken the mission if it wasn’t important. He had to remain on station until the Admiral returned. If he returned.

Lee raised his arm to look at his watch. Almost midnight, Christmas Eve. No doubt the party was still at full tilt in crews quarters aft. Let the men have their fun. If they couldn’t be with their families, they at least deserved a celebration. Damn Washington and their secret missions. His crew had worked hard, they should be on shore leave, not stuck at sea, waiting.

Those serve who also stand and wait. Lee smiled wryly. Yeah, but they didn't have to like it. He shook his head. Quit being a Scrooge. The men would pick up on his mood and Lee did not want to dampen their holiday spirit. Chip would have found a way to have some fun, but he was with the Admiral. Risking their lives on Christmas Eve.

The P. A. system clicked on, chiming the bells. Zero hundred hours. It was now Christmas Day. Behind him, Lee could hear movement in the control room. Change of watch. Another six hours would bring the dawn. Maybe they could surface and watch the sun rise. Perhaps he would hold service on deck for the men Dinner formation...

Lee shook his head again. He could not lose himself in planning the next day's activities, not any more than he could stop worrying about his two best friends. It wasn’t Christmas with them gone. His eyes moved back to the dark sea beyond the ports again.

There had been other missions, in fact his first Christmas aboard Seaview had been spent at sea. Lee shifted his leg and a slight pain ran through his knee. He needed to get off it or it would seize up again. Crane moved away from the bulkhead and flopped down into one of the conference table chairs. He extended his leg, rubbing his knee absently. Had it not acted up, he could have persuaded Nelson to take him along, but Jamieson wouldn’t budge.

Chip would protect the Admiral. Morton was a more consistent shot than he was. Crane had never liked guns and killing, he had seen too much of it in Naval Intelligence. Chip had told him not to think, only remember they would blow his head off, given the chance. Morton was right, of course, but Lee still did not like cold steel in his hand. Fists were more honest, but that style of fighting was long outmoded. The weapons got more complex each year. Technology. Where would it all end? Lee rubbed his sore knee again, wishing Chip was there to bring him out of his gloomy mood. Heck of a way to be on Christmas.

“Skipper?”

Lee turned in the chair.

Nick Peatty stood behind him, a slip of paper in his hand. “Thought I'd bring you a little Christmas cheer.”

Lee took the paper from Sparks’ hand. “From the flying sub?”

Peatty nodded. “From the strength of the signal I’d say they'll be docking within half an hour.”

Lee pushed out of the chair. “Well, then, let’s give them a reception they won’t forget.”

Nick grinned. “Aye, aye, sir. We were only waiting for you to give the word.”

“Consider it given.”

*******

Lee often wondered where the crew stowed all the things that they dragged out for parties. Garland hung from every conceivable anchor in the bow , catching the light and reflecting off the herculite ports. His lady had never looked lovelier. It was beginning to look like Christmas after all. The wheel spun on the flying sub hatch, and it raised. Lee bent down to pull it back as Chip’s blonde head appeared.

Morton glanced up at him. “Kind of past your bedtime, isn’t it?”

Lee grinned. “You’re late.”

Chip gestured down into the flying sub. “I had a slow driver.”

“I heard that.” Nelson's voice floated up from below, and a parcel was shoved up the ladder.

Chip wrestled the package out of the hatch. “Here. We decided to pick up a few things along the way.”

Lee took the brown wrapped parcel. “I’m almost afraid to ask.”

Morton climbed the rest of the way out. “Don’t worry, it won't go off.”

“I wouldn’t be too sure of that, Lee.” Nelson appeared in the hatch way with another parcel that he held tightly.

Lee rested the first package on the hatch rail and reached for the one Nelson carried. “Let me – ”

The Admiral shook his head. “No thanks, this one I want to distribute myself.”

“Would it be 12 years old by any chance?”

Nelson laughed. “You know me too well, son.”

Lee picked up his package and carried it over the table. Nelson and Morton followed him. “Actually, if there was a liquor store open, I knew Chip would find it.”

“Only one problem, Lee,” Morton grinned, catlike. “Your Russian is better than mine.”

Crane faced both of them. “You didn’t?”

“It was a good cover. We must have hit every shop in the square. Chip makes a very convincing drunk.”

“Must be all the practice he’s had.”

Chip laughed. “All we really did was blend in with the crowd. They were really celebrating. No one even noticed the exchange.”

“Is the information as good as they say?”

Nelson unwrapped his package slowly. “No, it’s only a variation of the old Lenski theorem, and has the same built in problem, but at least Washington can stop worrying about it.”

“And for that we were on alert.”

Nelson shrugged. “They couldn’t know until we checked it out. That’s the way it goes sometimes, son.”

“But why us?”

“Seems somebody got us the reputation for getting the job done,” Chip replied.

Lee looked over at his friend, then smiled. “All right, I’ll quit grousing. Better late than never.”

“Amen.”

The P. A. clicked on and Christmas music began to play over the speakers.

“That's more like it.” Nelson lifted his bottle of Scotch from the table. “Let's get this show on the road.”

Lee looked down at his package as several of the officers and crew gathered around Nelson at the table.

“Well, go on, open it,” Chip urged, at his elbow.

Lee untied the string, and pulled the brown paper back. Inside were several tins of various sizes. Caviar, candy, cheese. All the labels were different. Lee lifted them out one by one and placed them on the table. “You forgot eggnog.”

Morton laughed. “It didn't go with the cover.”

It took a while to get everything opened, but Crane really enjoyed watching the men dig in. They had a few things in stores but his men hadn't had a treat like this in a long time. Maybe there was some good to Washington missions after all.

Lee felt a hand on his shoulder. It was the Admiral.

“How's the knee?”

“Better. Guess I reinjured it during the drill.”

Nelson smiled. “It’s age catching up with you.”

“You're a fine one to talk.”

Nelson raised his glass. “Rules don't apply to me, remember?”

“How could I forget?”

The Admiral reached into his pocket. “Here. I know it was hard for you to stay behind. I saw this when I was in Gorov, and figured with the holiday and all – ”

Lee took the chocolate bar. “You can’t get this in the states.”

“I know.” Harry looked up at him. “Merry Christmas, son.”

Lee broke the bar in half, and offered half back to Nelson. “Merry Christmas.”

Nelson took it with a smile, setting down his glass. “She looks good, they must have spent all evening decorating,” he observed between bites.

Lee nodded, enjoying the taste of the rich, dark chocolate. Nelson always remembered, it would be a pleasure to see his face in the morning when they opened their presents in the wardroom.

A couple of crewmen started singing. Lee looked around the control room with a growing contentment. It was Christmas, his friends were home and all was right with the sub. Tomorrow was soon enough to worry about the rest of the world.

*******