“What did you think of it?”
“It was good. I’m just sorry you had to write it.”
“You don’t owe me an apology,” he said diplomatically.
We passed the spot where, weeks ago, protesters had called for the U.S. Navy to pack it up and go home.
“Things have been quiet lately,” I said.
Teo agreed. Anyone on theMirfieldwho was awaiting trial had been transported to Naples, and the sub had finally received enough replacement crew members to head back out to sea.
“But I guess when things are quiet, you have less reason to be here.”
He laughed at this. “Don’t go making trouble just so you can see me.”
“I’m done with trouble,” I said, and if he took it two ways, that was fine.
“Actually,” he said, “CNEN is sending a team to La Maddalena in a few weeks, and I’m going to go out with them on their boat. So I’ll be back soon.”
I was happy to hear it, but I didn’t let on. Instead, I asked him to remind me who CNEN was.
“Italy’s Atomic Energy Commission.”
“That’s right,” I said. “What are they doing here?”
“They come out every six months to test the water. Ever since the U.S.S.Fultonshowed up back in ’72.”
“Is that enough? If there was ever an actual problem?”
“Everyone’s pushing for more,” he said. “And CNEN says they can do more. Conduct a preliminary survey of the area and start doing more regular testing. But it all costs money, and no one can figure out who should pay for it.”
“Shouldn’t we pay for it,” I asked, “since they’re our subs?”
He laughed. “That’s a very logical argument, Mrs. Archer. But so far, Washington’s refused. They say the navy conducts its own environmental testing internally.”
He was, of course, referencing the work Paul did with RADCON.
“Francesca says the navy won’t share its results.”
“It’s a big problem.”
I thought about this for a minute, then asked, “Is it possible they know there’s something in the water?”
He bumped his shoulder, gently, against mine. “That’s a good question to ask your husband.”
I was about to say something when I saw Laura and Bobby walking toward us. They were maybe a dozen yards away, but the sidewalk was crowded, and I didn’t think they’d seen us. With zero warning, I took Teo’s hand and dragged him into a tabacchi shop.
“What are we—” he started to ask, but I cut him off, said something about how I wanted to buy a pack of cigarettes.
He was a smart guy and figured out what was going on right away. “Are we hiding from someone in particular?” he whispered in my ear.
“No,” I said quickly, because if I’d admitted to that, it would have meant admitting there was something to hide.
77.
THE AUGUST CAWS MEETINGwas at Mary Lou’s house, and all anyone could talk about was theGilmore’s upcoming cruise.
Once a quarter, the tender went to sea for ten days so the crew could run through a series of training exercises—the type of stuff they’d have to do if the U.S. ever went to war and the tender needed to resupply or repair subs on the open sea. Since these cruises were so short and there was no real risk that anything would go wrong, the wives tended to see them not as a hardship but as a gift. “I’m not going to cook once the whole time Tim’s gone,” said Bev, and everyone nodded appreciatively.
