Ore smiled again, as though she hadn’t noticed the condescending tone and totally unnecessary addition ofvery important.
If she only had fifteen minutes, she would have to be sparing. First things first. ‘I was really hoping to speak to members of your crew, just to get some background, as you suggested yourself yesterday.’
He’d slipped back into looking like he was in total control of the situation. ‘Of course, I have asked Dan to show you around, and take you to anyone you would like to speak to.’
Ore was a little surprised. ‘You mean the captain?’
‘Yes, why? Is that a problem for you?’
‘No, not at all,’ Ore fumbled. ‘I just bumped into him on my way here, and he didn’t seem … willing to talk particularly.’
Chuck Regas laughed softly and rattled the glasses on the table. ‘Oh don’t mind him – he seems a little stern but he’s an easy enough nut to crack. You officially have my permission to speak to any and all of my staff, but as I said Dan will introduce you.’
‘Do you mean to accompany me? Will he be present at the interviews?’ Ore knew when she was being surveilled, but she wanted him to know that she knew.
‘We’re like a family on this boat, Ore. Anything they can say to you, they can say in front of the captain, and me for that matter! I have nothing to hide.’
There were two things that Ore had picked up in the year since she’d graduated, having worked both as a freelance reporter and as an office temp. One, that any job where they insist they are ‘like a family’ is toxic as hell. And two, only people that have something to hide tell journalists that they have nothing to hide.
Ore hadn’t come onto this boat expecting to investigate anything; she was here to write a profile after all. But now Chuck had, unwittingly, intrigued her, and she wouldn’t be able to let that sniff of adeeperstory go.
‘That’s fine – thanks for arranging that,’ Ore said sweetly, eager to avoid an interrogative tone. ‘And my second question, and then we can leave it there, was just about this new venture that you’re obviously very excited about: your new mega batteries. What made you want to get into that market?’
Chuck didn’t look startled. Ore surmised that after last night Agatha had made sure that he was prepared with an answer to this question. ‘Well firstly—’ he held up his index finger, a teacher, explaining an equation to his enthralled class ‘—it is something that I believe we’ve relied for too long on Asia for. We need an American competitor to drive competition.’ He looked over at the notepad again and Ore began writing on command.
‘And secondly, I don’t know if you know this, but I’m a bit of an environmentalist, and well, a philanthropist, and the way that batteries are produced now, it just isn’t sustainable, and the human cost …’ He trailed off, shaking his head slowly and looking down solemnly.
His empathy felt performative, but Ore chimed in. ‘I know, it’s awful, the children—’
‘The children! Exactly, the children in the mines – it’s just awful,’ Chuck interjected as if suddenly remembering his lines. ‘Anyway yes, that’s why I’ve worked so hard to develop ethically and environmentally sustainable batteries, for the planet and, well, for the children.’
He looked at Ore as though he expected a round of applause,but she had one burning question. ‘So whatareyou using instead of cobalt?’
Chuck tapped the side of his nose conspiratorially. ‘That, I’m afraid, is top secret. Can’t have everyone else stealing the family recipe now, can we?’
‘But if the point is philanthropic, then surely it’s better for the planet, and the … children.’ She felt a little ridiculous repeating his slogans. ‘Surely the rest of the industry would benefit from knowing how to circumvent the use of cobalt?’ She knew she had pushed it too far even before she finished the sentence.
Chuck tensed and averted his eyes, pulling out his phone. ‘I’m terribly sorry, Ore, I have to take this call now.’ He stood up abruptly, throwing the napkin from his lap onto the table, and bringing the phone to his ear as he strode off. Ore berated herself for spooking him so soon. His phone hadn’t been ringing.
