“Look, you’re obviously not thinking clearly,” Randy said. He patted Hank on the back in a gesture that was probably supposed to look good-natured, yet somehow instead came off as demeaning. “We’ll talk about this later, after we’re out in the field.”
Randy walked away before Hank could say anything. Morgan came up to Hank after the little bastard was gone. He lit a cigarette and offered one to Hank, which Hank declined. Hank always declined, and yet Morgan always offered. It was as much a part of their long-standing routine as the “introduction” line.
“Kid’s gunning for your job,” Morgan said around a puff of smoke. It was a statement rather than a question.
“It’s certainly seemed that way for a while now,” Hank said.
“You know as well as I do, a lot of accidents can happen out on the Amazon,” Morgan said. He said it nonchalantly, playfully, so much that anyone else might not have realized that Morgan was being dead serious. “It would be a shame if something went down and the little rat bastard never came back.”
Hank made sure that Morgan was looking him in the eyes as he replied to ensure that the captain knew he was serious. “Nothing is to happen to him. Nothing at all. I don’t work that way, understand?”
“Of course I understand,” Morgan said. “And I knew you’d say that. Just as you knew I had to offer.”
“And just as you know that I’m appreciative in my own way,” Hank said.
“Seriously, though, you’ve got to be getting close to retiring from this kind of thing, right?”
Hank looked at Erin. “Maybe,” Hank said. “Maybe it’s time for other things. But I get to make that choice, not people like Randy.”
Erin saw him looking at her from her place near the end of the dock. Everyone and everything was on the boat now except her, Hank, and Morgan, and as Hank watched, she boarded. Not, however, before giving him the most beautiful smile and a cute little wave.
“Come on then,” Morgan said. He put out his half-way finished cigarette on the bottom of his shoe before putting the rest in the pocket of his shirt. “Time to shove off.”
Hank followed him, wondering idly if this would really be his last time boarding the Lucky Lucy and going out to explore the Amazon.
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Monsters In The Clouds Page 14
