ROCKS AND SHOALS

by M. L. Maki

  “Thank you. You may call me Elizabeth. May I call you Samantha?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “Samantha, what are your intentions at the conclusion of the war?”

  “I don’t know right now. Assuming they retain me in some capacity, I want to serve through the war. Then, I want to find a way to save as many lives as I have taken.”

  Johnson, “Excuse me, your Highness. Sam, what are your orders?”

  “To report to NAVAIR in Washington. That’s all I know.”

  Johnson, “That’s irregular. Still, I’ve no doubt they’ve something important and probably classified for you to do.”

  Sam, “They didn’t say.”

  Elizabeth, “I need to convince my father to stop smoking?”

  Sam smiles, “It could give him years and give you time to prepare. It would also allow your children to grow up somewhat out of the limelight.”

  “How many do I have?”

  Sam, “It may not happen, but you had four; three boys and a girl.”

  “Hm, productive.” She looks at Sam and Johnson, “I know this date became a political thing which grew beyond what either of you imagined. I very much appreciate you allowing me to co-opt it for a time.”

  Johnson, “Of course, your Highness.”

  Elizabeth smiles, “Is there any other bits of advice you might give me?”

  Sam, “I’m sure, even now, you’re contemplating joining the woman’s auxiliary. You absolutely should join the service in some capacity. It’s understood that you can’t go off to battle, but the fact that you wore a uniform and served your people is very important.”

  Elizabeth, “Thank you again. Would you be willing to start a correspondence with me?”

  Sam, “I would like that very much.”

  “Please, do have a good evening.”

  They’re escorted out of the castle and Johnnie hands her into the coach. In the coach they are quiet. Then Johnnie says, “You amaze me.”

  “How so?”

  “You just made a dear friend of the future queen.”

  “She wanted the information I know of her future. That’s all.”

  “That isn’t all. Sure, she wanted information, yes. She invited you to call her by her first name. That is almost unheard of.”

  “What are you saying?”

  He meets her gaze, “I’m saying you’re amazing.”

  She holds his gaze, “I want to help her. She’s a good and kind person. I like her.”

  He smiles, “You know you broke the rule by talking about your orders.”

  “Yes, I know. You talked about them, too.”

  The carriage stops. Johnnie hands her down and offers his arm. She accepts and they walk down the quay to the launch. They go aboard and retire to the saloon. On the table is an open bottle of champagne and two flutes. He pours the champagne and offers her a flute. They sit on a cushioned divan.

  She sips her champagne, “What’s the forfeit? Or, do they cancel each other out?”

  “Ladies first. What is your wish for my forfeit?”

  “The truth. Are you just flirting with me?”

  He smiles, “Direct and to the point. Good. I know about your naval commando. I have enjoyed flirting with you. My wish was to give you a magical night, not to destroy your relationship. Tonight, I wanted you to feel like my princess.”

  She smiles, “You succeeded. I’ve felt like a princess all night, Johnnie. Do you have someone?”

  “I think so. It’s very new.”

  “What is she like?”

  He smiles, looking out into the darkness, “She’s a firecracker. Fun, beautiful, and kind.” He looks at Sam, “You’re wonderful and kind, but you’re a stronger person than I am, and the better pilot. It’s a dynamic that wouldn’t work for me.”

  She chuckles, “I don’t think I’m stronger than you. I can see where two pilots in a relationship would be competitive. It’s not a dynamic for long term success. I don’t need to compete with Jeremiah. We don’t do the same thing. He says he’s comfortable with my continuing service, but it worries me. That, and the rank difference.”

  “Does he care about your rank?”

  “No. It’s big navy that I’m worried about. It could screw up my career. Hell, it may already have.”

  “You said that you want to save as many lives as you’ve taken. How are you going to do that?”

  “I don’t know yet. Just, my soul balance is off and I want to right it.”

  “Doesn’t all the Brits you saved count?”

  She looks at him, “I don’t know if I can ever save enough people to erase all the death I’ve caused.”

  “That’s why you don’t talk about your kills.”

  “Yes. Bragging about murder is wrong. I get how people on the outside of it don’t understand, but I do.”

  “I don’t either. In truth, I let others do it for me.”

  “Yes. They want to. I get it.”

  “So, may we be friends?”

  “Yes. You’ll always be my prince. Thank you.”

  DOOR 1, ELECTRONIC MANUFACTURING FACILITY, OUTSIDE RICHLAND, WASHINGTON

  1612, 15 October, 1942

  Vice Admiral Lee gets out of a sedan and walks up to the door. The security guard salutes and opens the door. He goes in and bounds up the stairs to Captain Richardson’s office. “Is Admiral Klindt in?”

  “Yes, sir. He’s in with Captain Richardson. They’re expecting you.”

  Lee walks in, “You wanted to see me, Admiral?”

  Klindt and Richardson are bent over a long table studying blueprints and schematics. Klindt looks up, “Hi, Rick. Scott, would you give us a minute?”

  Richardson grabs a stack of papers, “Yes, sir.”

  The secretary looks in, “Would you like coffee, sir?”

  Klindt, “In a minute, Lori. Thank you.”

  When the door is closed, Lee asks, “Is there something wrong, Admiral?”

  Klindt, “Yes. You’re an ass. What would it mean if you were given orders to turn over your command and those orders did not include a promotion or follow-on orders?”

  Lee pales, “I would interpret it to mean I’m being dismissed.”

  “I agree. So, why did you do that exact thing to your daughter?”

  “I didn’t. She was given orders to report to…oh, shit. Orders to report to NAVAIR would be interpreted as a dismissal. Oh God, I fucked up.”

  “Yes, you did. Her whole command is freaking out about it. I’m fielding phone calls from her subordinates. If the British found out, they will assume you’re dismissing a war hero. Your fuck up will cause a diplomatic incident. You call her your daughter. What the fuck were you thinking?”

  “I need to go over there.”

  “No. You can’t. We both know Admiral King forbids it because of the hot dogging you did last time.”

  “I wrote her a letter. I explained it to her. I know she won’t like the war bond tour. God, I fucked up.”

  “The Navy stopped their mail a couple of weeks ago. She never got it. I suggest you be there when she lands at Patuxent. I would be on my knees.”

  “I will. I will.”

  “Now, I’ve been informed that they are installing AP warheads on the AIM-1 to hit targets with some stand off from anti-air. We need to design purpose-built missiles. That, and I want to show you the Phoenix missile project. It’s nearing completion.”

  CHAPTER 10

  GYM, RAF KENLEY

  0815, 16 October, 1942

  Sam, wearing grey shorts and a Navy t-shirt, is lifting weights while Gloria spots her. Gloria, “Was it amazing?”

  “Yeah, it was. The whole night was magical. I felt like Cinderella.”

  Gloria adds five pounds on each end of the bar and Sam repeats her set. Cooper walks up just as she finishes and racks the bar. “Yeah, Radar?”

  “You have guests in your office, Spike.”

  “Who?”

  “Some enlisted air force folks who e
scaped from Germany.”

  “Really? Right. I need a shower. I’ll be there in a few.”

  Twenty minutes later she walks into her office. The five men and one woman stand and salute. The one in Army uniform says, “Sergeant First Class Henry Holmes, ma’am, reporting with five personnel.”

  Spike returns their salutes, “At ease. Cooper, coffee and tea in the conference room.” She walks them in, “Please, sit.” Cooper brings in coffee and cookies and serves everyone. “Thank you, Radar.”

  “Yes, Spike.” He walks back into the office.

  She smiles, “Okay, what’s your story?”

  Holmes, “I was TAD to Brendenmeyer when we came back in time. A black Marine officer ordered me to take care of these techs. They have special skills.”

  She nods, “Just a sec.” She puts her head around the door, “Cooper, get me Shotgun, if he’s available.” She turns back, “Okay, the rest of you are Air Force?”

  “Master Sergeant Kelly O’Brien, ma’am. We are.”

  “You are aware that it’s the Army Air Force now?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “What’s your MOS?”

  There’s a knock and Major Louis ‘Shotgun’ Mossberg walks in. He sees them and smiles, “Oh, thank God. I was worried about you.” He takes a huge breath. “Two of you are missing.”

  O’Brien, “We lost the lieutenant and Randall. No one was captured.”

  Shotgun, “Thank God. Ma’am. These guys loaded my jet before I shagged it out of Brendenmeyer. Thank you, SFC, for bringing them out.”

  Spike smiles, “Right. Guys, the objects you loaded are currently being prepared for shipment in Scotland. Now, I know what you do. Holmes, you’re Army, so I’ll need to handle you differently. But, the rest of you.” She pauses, looking them over. “Those devices, including those you loaded on Shotgun’s bird are, right now, under the control of the US Navy. The Army Air Force lacks the knowledge and expertise. We could use you. Also, the Army is not allowing females to serve.” She looks at the woman, “What’s your name, Sergeant?”

  “Tiffany Van Zandt, ma’am.”

  Spike frowns, “Any relation to Captain Christian Van Zandt?”

  “Um. Yes, ma’am. He is, well, he was my father.”

  Spike softens her voice, “He still is. He was Admiral Ren’s chief of staff on the Vinson when we came back. He is PCO of the aircraft carrier George Washington right now.”

  Tiffany’s voice raises in excitement, “He’s here?”

  “Probably at Newport News where his carrier’s being built. I take it you were close?”

  “Yes. I thought I’d lost him.”

  “Can I talk you into joining the Navy?”

  O’Brien, “But, we don’t have our service records.”

  “My people will put together new ones and we’ll honor the medals and ribbons you specify.”

  Van Zandt, “Will we keep our rank?”

  Spike smiles, “You won’t be demoted. That isn’t going to happen. I’ll need a report of your journey for the record.”

  Tiffany, “We put one together on the destroyer and gave it to your chief of staff.”

  “Good, now, I’m sorry to put you on the spot, but I need to know. You see, I turn over in four days. At that point, I won’t be able to do what should be done.”

  Cooper walks in with a small wood box and hands it to her, “Thank you, Cooper.”

  The Air Force personnel all nod, “Yes, ma’am. We’ll go Navy.”

  Spike, “Good. Please stand. Please raise your right hands and repeat after me.” She reads the commissioning oath and they repeat it. Then, she pins each of the specialists with ensigns’ bars, Tech Sergeant Van Zandt with the silver bar of a JG, and O’Brien with lieutenant’s bars. As she does, she shakes their hands. “Lt. Van Zandt, we’ll try to get your father on the phone. No promises, but we will try.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Now, you look pretty healthy. Have you been to the clinic?”

  “Holmes, Yes, ma’am. We’re all cleared.”

  “Good. I’m going to give you some time to put together your sea bags, then I’ll send you to Scotland. Lt. Commander Chatman is disassembling the devices we recovered to prevent a stray current from causing a mess. They spent several months on the bottom of the ocean.”

  Van Zandt, “How did you retrieve them, ma’am.”

  “That’s classified. Once you finish helping with that, we’ll all be flying home for thirty days leave. After that, you’ll be assigned to Admiral Klindt’s staff.”

  O’Brien, “Ma’am, how could you know that. We just got here?”

  “He’s in command of the Manhattan Project, the Wartime Production Board, and the Navy’s nuclear power and nuclear weapons program. He’ll want you. Now, my chief of staff, Major Andrews is through this door. He’ll get you set up with your uniforms, seabags, and service records. Van Zandt, I’ll get my staff working on finding your father.”

  “Thank you, ma’am.”

  “Thank you. Holmes, please come with me.” She walks into her office, “Andrews, would you let General Eisenhower know I’m coming over with a gift? You know what to tell him, right?”

  “Yes, I do. Got it, Spike.”

  Cooper hands her the keys to her sedan. In the car she asks, “What’s your specialty?”

  “I’m a Ranger, ma’am.”

  “Eisenhower will like that. How long have you been in?”

  “Nine years, ma’am. Are you going to commission me, too?”

  “I can’t. Wish I could, but no. Would you like to be commissioned?”

  “Now, in World War II, yes.” They pull up to Eisenhower’s HQ.

  “I understand. Thank you, Cooper. SFC, please come with me.” She walks him into the HQ building and straight to Eisenhower’s office.

  His secretary says, “He’s expecting you, Commodore.”

  “Thank you.” She walks in with Holmes, “I have a gift for you, General. Sergeant First Class Henry Holmes, Ranger, US Army. He just came here from Germany via France and Andorra. He brought out five naval officers for me.”

  “Excellent. Thank you, Spike.”

  “My staff will get the report to you today.”

  “Good. Sergeant, how is your health after your ordeal?”

  “Um, sir, you’re General Eisenhower. Holy crap, um, sir. Sir, my health is good, though I’ll need to build up my endurance.”

  Eisenhower grins, “It’s alright, soldier. Sergeant, would you please raise your right hand and repeat after me…”

  AIR MARSHAL DOWDING’S OFFICE

  1213, 16 October, 1942

  Squadron Leader Johnson is escorted into Dowding’s office, “Sir, thank you for seeing me.”

  Dowding stands, “Certainly. How did the date go?” Dowding calls for tea and motions for Johnson to sit.

  “Actually fabulous. She’s an amazing woman.”

  Dowding looks at him, “But?”

  “As you know, she’s turning over her command very soon. The Yanks have not given her follow orders. I’m concerned.”

  “I see. I’ll look into it. Now, please don’t tell me you spent the evening talking shop.”

  “No. I did my best to treat her like a princess. We talked. Truth, she’s in love with that naval commando.”

  “Good for her, and lucky him. Well, not that I could bear my wife flying combat sorites. Any other tidbits?”

  “She and Her Royal Highness got on very well. They’re starting a correspondence. It seems the princess’ future husband is serving in our navy. His name is Philip Mountbatten.”

  “And he takes the throne?”

  “Not at all. He wants it, but she keeps it. Sir, apparently she’s beloved by the people on both sides of the Atlantic.”

  “I see. Good to know. Who’s the monarch in 1990?”

  “Queen Elizabeth, sir. Another thing, Her Royal Highness is considering joining a woman’s auxiliary. According to Samantha, she did so, and should. Is the
re an actual commission we could offer her?”

  “I’ll look into that. Our Commodore has changed a great many things. Our own women are clamoring to serve. How can we rightly lift up the Commodore and at the same time, deny our own women?”

  “I have to agree.”

  COMMODORE’S OFFICE, RAF KENLEY

  1230, 16 October, 1942

  Spike, wearing her flight suit, walks into her office and checks her watch. She sits down at her desk and goes through the stack of paperwork waiting for her. Most are requisitions, which she checks through, then signs. Cooper comes in with a cup of tea. “The C-130 is on its way to Switzerland. Lizard is pre-flighting your bird for your proficiency hop. You know, if you get in the shit again, Washington will have a cow.”

  “Yes, and I don’t care. It’s been fairly quiet and I’m planning to stay out of France.”

  “Your load out is four, two, two, just in case.”

  “Thank you, Cooper.” She smiles at him. She sees Shawn’s letter and picks it up.

  Hi Samantha,

  This letter should leave the boat in Hawaii. We have to pull in briefly for repairs and supplies. I’m going back to where I was stationed before. I’ll check on our investments while I’m there. I can tell you now that we were involved in the battle of Savo Island. It was a night fight between two Japanese surface groups and my surface group. We got hammered pretty hard, but we gave as good as we got. I was the First Lieutenant during the battle and was stationed on the bridge. It was hard. A shell hit forward of the bridge and I lost a watch stander. Another hit the number 1 fire room and killed all the watch standers, including the CHENG. The Captain assigned me as his replacement. With the assignment I got three full stripes.

  I caught up some with the news in Hawaii. Oh my God, are you in it. I know death can come to any of us at any time. It’s something I don’t think I could have really understood a few months ago. As you read this, I hope you are well. I admit, I’m afraid for you. At the same time, if anyone can figure out how to win it, you can.

  I bought you something in Hawaii I hope you’ll like. Hawaii is way different now. It’s even more beautiful without all the towering hotels. It would have been nice to share it with you. You’ve been non-committal about an ‘Us.’ I’ll have to live with that, but I hope there comes a day when you can accept love. You accuse me of being too understanding. Someday maybe, you will understand how I feel.