Into Uncharted Seas

by E. C. Williams

  After an interval, more aircraft were launched, one by one, and they rose from the water, flew in sedate circles around the Charlemagne, and alighted much closer aboard for retrieval. That seemed more like it.

  Sam decided that the first pilot must have been a novice after all. He chuckled as he imagined Dave Schofield pinning the junior bird-man's ears back for joy-riding.

  He also reflected on how much more they had yet to learn about aviation at sea. What sea-state would prohibit the launching and recovery of aircraft while the Charlemagne was underway? Would the carrier need to be anchored in sheltered water, as she was now, to engage in air ops at all? If so, they would have to find some suitable cove within aircraft range of Stone Town that was defensible against Caliphate gun-dhows. He hoped very much that it would prove feasible to do air ops underway. But the Charlemagne would be nearly helpless to protect herself then, and would always need an escort of at least one, and preferably two gunships.

  They were still debating, too, about how the aircraft would be armed: with guns, bombs, or some combination of the two. Rao and his mates had come up with detailed and workable plans for mounting one or two semi-automatic one-inch rifles in the plane's nose, and for a reliable bomb release mechanism for mounting under the wings. (Rao had considered placing the bombs and the release mechanism inside the aircraft's hull, to lessen drag, but that meant a more complex set of linkages, and also created the problem of making the bomb compartment and doors watertight.)

  Fitting the aircraft with both a gun and bombs involved a weight trade-off. Carrying bombs only, when they as yet had no idea how accurately they could drop them, limited their options. On the other hand, if they relied on guns alone, the aircraft could either carry more ammunition for one gun – if they could perfect a method of feeding ammo to the gun that didn't restrict it to a five- or ten-round magazine – or could mount two rigged to fire alternately, nearly doubling the rate of fire, which seemed an important consideration given that the speed of the aircraft would be in excess of a hundred knots, and the firing window would necessarily be brief on each approach. On the other hand (how many hands was he up to, now?), there was some doubt about just how effective one-inch shells alone could be against a masonry battery, the most important target for the aircraft, at least initially.

  Sam was glad he didn't have to make these decisions. They would be made by Schofield and Rao, empirically. Dave had told him they planned to fit one aircraft with bombs and another with a gun, and “attack” a dummy battery, mocked up to look from the air just like the one guarding Stone Town harbor, to gain more data.

  The day of the Governor's gala in celebration of the recent victory arrived. Sam showered and shaved with special care, and donned his new dress uniform of starched white cotton, blindingly white in the late afternoon tropical sunshine. He took the motor launch ashore, with all the rest of his officers except for the unfortunate one whose name came up on the watch rotation. The Governor's car and driver were waiting there. This caused some embarrassment for Sam. All of the officers could have been packed into the limo, saving them cab fare, but Sam, of course, had to pick up Maddie. He explained this to them rather shamefacedly, like a boy on his first date. They accepted it with good cheer, however, scattering to whistle up taxis.

  Maddie's appearance stunned Sam: she was especially beautiful, coppery hair done up elaborately, and a form-fitting ball gown with a daring décolletage that exposed to his view more square millimeters of Madeline Dupree than he had heretofore been privileged to gaze upon.

  She was pleased with the obvious effect her appearance had upon him. She only thought it was a shame that a ball required a full-length gown. She thought of her legs as her second-best feature.

  “You're right on time, Sam, dear,” she said. “I'm glad I didn't dawdle over dressing.”

  “And you are the very first woman of my acquaintance to be ready on time, Maddie; bless you.”

  They departed for the Governor's residence. Sam was intoxicated by her appearance, her scent, and her very near physical presence in the rear seat of the limousine – so much so that his conversation was rather distracted. He casually laid his arm along the back of the seat behind her. She promptly scooted closer, so that his arm fell naturally around her shoulders. She turned her face up to his and they exchanged a gentle, tentative kiss. Her smile was full of promise, so much so that Sam's feelings for her, now physical as well as emotional, threatened to become embarrassingly obvious in his snug uniform trousers. Providentially, however, they arrived at the Governor's house in the nick of time, and Sam was able to give his uniform tunic a quick, fierce tug downward as he got out of the car and walked around to open the door on Maddie's side.

  Quite a crowd had already arrived. There was a reception line on the lawn, and those who had already run the gauntlet were scattered about, chatting and drinking. Fairy lights twinkled in the trees , and white-draped tables laden with food and drink, manned by staff engaged for the evening, were scattered about at convenient intervals. A small band was tuning up next to a dance floor assembled from smooth planks of tropical hardwood and laid on a level patch of lawn.

  Maddie and Sam fell in on the tail of the reception line, and when their turn came to be greeted by His Excellency and wife, Sam introduced Maddie.

  “Yes, I've heard of Mrs. Dupree, and her establishment of a branch of Campbell and Son on Nosy Be. I want to thank you and your firm for taking the risk of investing on our island in a time of such hazard for the maritime industry. If there's anything I can do to help – with officious bureaucrats, for example – don't hesitate to call.”

  “Thank you, sir. I won't.”

  The conventions satisfied, Sam and Maddie danced, ate, drank, and danced some more. Sam enjoyed the contrasts among the soberly dressed civilians, the gaudily uniformed militia officers, and the stark white of the Navy. The women were much more varied in appearance, but all colorfully dressed and elaborately coiffed.

  Almost inevitably, they encountered Marie Girard, this evening on the arm – the remaining arm – of Commodore Ennis, who looked healthier and stronger to Sam than at any time since he had sustained his dreadful wound, followed quickly by the blow of his wife's death along with that of his infant child. As the two couples exchanged pleasantries, Sam could not help but contrast the two very beautiful but very different women before him: the dark, very slender, somewhat exotic looks of Girard with the fair, also slim but fuller-figured beauty of Dupree. The image of a naked Marie flashed through his mind unbidden.

  The two women praised one another's dress and hairdo, all the while exchanging gazes of cool evaluation. Sam was relieved when they parted to dance again. Sam watched Ennis and Marie dance for a moment, surprised and pleased at the natural grace with which the couple moved in spite of Ennis's handicap. As he watched, Marie moved in close to Bill and laid her cheek on his shoulder. His view was then blocked by other dancers, and he returned his attention to Maddie.

  Who reflected on the looks Sam and Marie Girard exchanged: The affection in Girard's glance was obvious; was it reciprocated in Sam's?

  After a few more dances, she said to him, “Sam, dear, I'm a bit tired – still getting used to this climate. Do you mind if we go back to my apartment? The evening needn't end – we can have coffee – but I'd like very much to get out of these shoes!”

  “Of course, Maddie. That suits me, too. I could stand to sit a while myself.” Sam departed to round up the Governor's driver. Maddie stood and watched Commodore Ennis and Marie Girard dance, studying the nuances of their interaction.

  Sam quickly returned and said, “Transport all laid on. Come on, Maddie – we're off.”

  The Governor's limo delivered them at Maddie's door, which she unlocked, and then led Sam up to her apartment over her office. As he closed the door behind them, instead of turning on any lights, she came into his arms and whispered, “Let's leave the coffee for later, Sam. Come into my bedroom.” They kissed, deeply and lingeringly
, for a long time. Sam, tremendously aroused, found himself trembling slightly with emotion and desire.

  Maddie took his hand and led him to her bed. There she turned and, in a few deft movements, allowed her dress to fall to her ankles, and stepped out of it Underneath it, she was wearing a lacy, practically transparent shift. “Take off your uniform, darling”, she said, and she rid herself of her undergarment, to stand for a moment for his inspection. Maddie, nude, took Sam's breath away. Her full, pale breasts, and the full length of her long and shapely legs, were illuminated for him by a beam of moonlight through the bedroom window.

  He quickly undressed, and impatiently took her in his arms. They kissed again, and she pulled him down onto the bed.

  They made love, first quickly, with fierce urgency, then again, slowly and lingeringly. They slept for a while in one another's arms, then awoke, gradually, to find themselves making love again. They finally slept, exhausted, for the rest of the night.

  In the light of the tropical morning, Sam found her as beautiful as ever. Over coffee, they talked about their future. It was now taken for granted by both, without a formal proposal on Sam's part, that they would marry as soon as possible. Sam assumed that she would want the wedding to be back home on Kerguelen, where her family and friends could attend. “But the trouble is, liefling, I have no idea when I'll be able to get back to the Rock – certainly not until after the … after an upcoming operation. So it may be a long while.”

  “No, Sam. Let's get married right here, on Nosy Be. No fuss, no big wedding. I've already had one of those. And Sam … let's make it very soon. I don't want to run the risk of losing you before you put a ring on my finger!”

  Sam laughed. “There's no danger of that, sweetheart. I'm yours.” Oh, really? Maddie thought but did not say aloud. I've seen the looks you exchange with that … that Doctor! And I know you've slept with her! But she only smiled sweetly and said again, “Soon, Sam. As quickly as we can arrange it.”

  “Well, that suits me. I've loved you from the moment I met you, so a long engagement doesn't appeal.”

  Conversation tapered off at this point. Maddie was wearing only a thin, translucent robe, and Sam was becoming distracted. Maddie, noticing this, allowed the robe to slip open a bit more. Soon they were back in bed. After a bout of slow, languorous morning sex, they lay together in one another's arms, truly, totally exhausted by now. They talked a bit about planning their wedding, and Maddie volunteered to find out what the legal formalities were in the Dominion of Nosy Be, and then go ahead and schedule the event – to be as immediate and informal as possible.

  Then they dozed a bit, until Sam awoke with a start. “Cher, I hate to say this, but I really ought to be getting back to the ship. There's a lot going on that I have to see to.”

  “That's all right. I ought to be in the office. I heard Charlotte come in a while ago and open up.”

  It gradually dawned on Sam that, in order to leave, he would have to go down the stairs and exit through the office – in full view of Maddie's young clerk. Who could easily guess that he had passed the night in Maddie's flat. He turned scarlet.

  “Is there – could I – is there a back stairs?” Maddie immediately guessed at the cause of his discomfiture and giggled like a girl.

  “Oh, Sam, we're adults, and we're about to be married. Don't worry about scandalizing young Charlotte. I get the impression she would be hard to shock. And no, there's no back exit. The only way out – unless you climb out my bedroom window, which I'm not going to allow! – is through my office.”

  So there was no getting around it. Once they had both washed and dressed, they descended the stairs to the ground floor, where Maddie introduced him to Charlotte. Sam tried to preserve the dignified mien appropriate to a Commodore in full dress (if rather wrinkled) uniform, but the young clerk's giggle as she took his hand threatened this effort. As sorry as he was to leave Maddie, he was very glad to finally make his escape from the office and young Charlotte of the knowing smile.

  The day before had been a public holiday throughout the island in celebration of the recent victory, and the streets were quiet, as most citizens seemed to be sleeping in. It took Sam some time to find and flag down a cab, the driver of which appeared to be nursing a severe hangover.

  At Navy Landing, there was of course no boat from the Albatros awaiting him, since he hadn't arranged for one, but he was able to hire a boatman with a small skiff to row him out to his vessel. The craft and its owner both smelled strongly of fish, and Sam suspected that the seat of his pants would retain yet more evidence of the boat's usual occupation. But the uniform had to laundered anyway.

  “Port side,” he said to the boatman, to avoid the ceremony of sideboys and pipes. He climbed slowly up the pilot ladder, an effort which reminded him of just how tired – but in a very pleasant way – the previous evening had left him. He was greeted as he stepped over the rail by his new Executive Officer, Acting Lieutenant Commander Low. “Good morning, Commodore. Hope you had an enjoyable evening ashore.”

  Sam, very conscious that he had very rarely stayed ashore overnight before, stared intently at Low, but the young officer's broad, pleasant face was innocent of any trace of irony; it had been a mere polite form.

  “Thanks, Tom. Very pleasant indeed – the Governor, bless him, really knows how to throw a party.” Sam looked around. “Where's the officer of the watch?”

  “You're looking at him, Commodore. I took the overnight anchor watch so the other officers could go ashore and enjoy themselves.”

  “How self-sacrificing of you, Tom!”

  “I had a ton of paperwork to do, anyway, which I could do in the chartroom just as well as below in my cabin. And now I needn't be shy about asking for that bit of extra effort from them, when I need it.”

  Sam looked at Low with new respect; the young officer was displaying signs of becoming a very effective leader. And this was what Sam would need in an XO, very soon.

  Sam was amazed by the speed at which the news spread of his engagement to Maddie. He shouldn't have been – the fact that he now spent every night ashore, for one thing, when he had hardly ever done so in the past, signaled to all who knew him at all well that something was up. Hell-ville, for all that it was a bustling port town, was still a village when it came to gossip. Many had seen them together at the Governor's gala, and the women in particular had taken note of their obvious affection for one another. Maddie's mere presence in Hell-ville, too, excited talk, both because of her novel position as a woman in an industry still male-dominated, and her striking good looks.

  Sam happened to overhear a conversation between two petty officers who were unaware that he was within earshot, that illustrated just how difficult it was to keep secrets in the crowded community of the Albatros.

  “I ain't surprised. Soon as I saw that gorgeous redhead with the big tits, and how they grabbed each another, I knew somethin' was up.”

  “But, you know”, his mate replied, “I allus thought him and that Doc Girard had a thing goin'. Guess the redhead cut the Doc right out of the picture, 'though.”

  Sam turned and walked away quietly. He smiled to himself at the sailor's bluntly succinct description of Maddie, and resolved to share that with her. It concerned him that he and Marie had been so obvious, in spite of all their efforts to be discreet, but that was past, now, and no longer mattered.

  Maddie, self-tasked with the wedding arrangements, soon found that Nosy Be had no regulations governing marriage. Various wedding customs existed on the island, given the variety of backgrounds from which the inhabitants came, but so far as the Dominion was concerned, a couple was married if they said they were. Maddie wanted a religious ceremony, and approached the pastor of the tiny Mariner's Chapel, the church nearest her home and office. He readily agreed to marry them, asking only for statements that at least one of them was a baptized Christian, and that neither had a living spouse.

  Sam and Maddie had finally agreed that it would be a comple
tely private event – no guests at all, other than the two witnesses the priest required – because Maddie had not yet had time to make many friends on the island, and Sam felt that he couldn't invite any of his officers if he didn't ask them all.

  And privately, he felt very reluctant to invite Marie Girard, who should certainly be on any list, however short, of officers with whom he was particularly friendly. He did not share these thoughts with Maddie.

  In the end, Maddie chose Charlotte as her witness, and Sam simply told Tom Low to turn over his duties for the day to the next senior lieutenant, change into dress whites, and accompany him ashore. Sam only told his XO what was up once they were safely in the town, out of earshot of any Albatros sailors. Low was struck dumb with astonishment, then gloated in the coming pleasure of being the first to disclose this remarkable news with his messmates.

  The marriage ceremony itself, from the ancient Book of Common Prayer, was brief but moving. Maddie and Charlotte were each, in their very different ways, beautiful, Maddie radiant, Charlotte weeping a little, but very prettily. Tom Low was dumbstruck again, this time by Charlotte.

  Afterwards, all four signed the parish register, and the elderly priest presented Sam with a hand-written marriage certificate. They then adjourned to Maddie's flat, where a catered wedding luncheon had been arranged. Tom took full advantage both of the liquid refreshments and of the opportunity to become better acquainted with Charlotte.

  When all had eaten, and drunk numerous toasts to the couple, the party broke up, Tom to return to the Albatros, smitten and slightly tipsy, Charlotte to re-open the office and answer the phone (it was, after all, a business day), and Sam and Maddie to depart for their brief honeymoon. Sam had booked a beachfront cabin near Andilana, and a car with driver.

  The cabin came with a cook to prepare three meals a day, and a maid, both of whom lived out, so the couple were freed of any domestic chores and enjoyed complete privacy in the evenings. There they spent three blissful days, swimming in the surf and sunning themselves on the beach during the day. Sam, normally olive-skinned, grew even darker, while Maddie, with great caution because of her fair skin, developed a golden glow. Nights were spent in love making.