‘The Barrier Reef though, they were only there a month ago; seems like we have a Chuck fixation on our hands.’ Ollie sounded resigned as he turned to the ship’s monitor and Daniel took a seat beside him.
They would have to turn around, and although Ollie was a great boatsman he admitted that he would rather they made it a two-man job.
‘The last time we went it was Annie manning the ship …’ Ollie had a strange distant look in his eye. ‘I probably shouldn’t have gone to bed.’ He seemed to be talking to himself.
‘Annie is Captain Harleston, I presume?’ The old captain, the one who had been ‘sent away’ suddenly.
Ollie bristled at the mention of her name. ‘Yes that’s right. She was a great captain; it isn’t fair really.’
Daniel had tried to stay out of it, but every crew member on this boat seemed determined to upset his blissful ignorance. He felt like Ollie wanted him to ask, so he obliged.
‘What happened to her?’
Ollie scoffed. ‘You really want to know?’
He didn’t, and yet he said, ‘Sure.’
‘Let’s just say that one of Chuck’s buddies took a liking to her, and friends of Chuck do not like it when they can’t have what they want.’
The memory of Chuck’s leering gaze over his exposed chest and the ease with which he asked for favours flashed into Daniel’s mind. In combination with what Vicky and Natalie had already told him, Daniel was totally unsurprised by Ollie’s revelation.
‘I see,’ said Daniel flatly. He had not intended for it to come out sounding so cold. Ollie seemed taken aback – perhaps he had expected outrage. He looked as though he might have more to say and then thought better of it. Maybe he remembered that he was talking to his captain.
‘Anyway, I’ve plotted the new coordinates. Are you OK to take over for the rest of the afternoon? I’ll relieve you for a few hours tonight and then we can both be at the helm for the midnight manoeuvre.’ Ollie was all business now.
‘Sounds like a good plan. Thank you, Dudley.’ Both men looked straight ahead as they spoke and when Ollie left the room, he did so in silence.
