Senior Captain Bob Taylor. "The life that I have..............."
They had just four days before they were due to meet the O6 and Scott and Paul met for much of it discussing the possibility of retaking a captured ship, who should board, who should crew the RIB and planning the actual attack. It took some time, but after the second day had agreed just about every thing that needed to be planned and rehearsed to give them a good chance of it's success.
In short Scott and Paul would attempt to board with handguns for personal defense, tazers to disable pirates, handcuffs and duck tape to hold them captive, stun grenades and a fair supply of luck. Janet would crew the RIB and Marcell would fly his Apache from it if a platform could be fixed. The reason they chose Marcell was because everyone in the RIB would have to blacken up. Work it out for yourselves! Neil and Andrew were already looking into attaching a platform that could easily be dumped if it were no longer required and also making a boarding ladder. Paul would give Andrew a lot more rifle training and firing practice as he would be on the fly covering them during a raid and also the ship while they were off the Jean. Scott was pleased that Paul agreed that Andrew, next to Paul himself, was the best shot they had and it would stop him from going on a possible boarding, but he would NEVER say that to Andrew. He would not have too, Andrew worked it out for himself. Neil would take command of the Jean.
They all met on the bridge and Paul gave them the details of what they had discussed. "But as skip says the chances of it happening at all is very much up to the situation at the time. Can we get to a ship at night, weather conditions, very dark night and where the ship is located, in other words how far from the coast, how far other boats are from them. Jon suggested we at least plan and train for it and that's as far as it goes. Ok every body?" Andrew said what he thought. "I always thought a captain stays with his ship. And a captain who happens to be as good a shot as me." Andrew stared at Scott and then out to sea. Everyone got Andrew's message, not least Scott.
Later and after Andrew finished his watch they went to the fly. It was a beautiful evening, a clear sky, full moon and a calm sea. The Jean Peterson looked completely different now as she had on navigation lights and deck lights which reflected on the sea all round her. "You still angry with me?" He asked Andrew. "I don't know how to be angry with you, never have been. I just wonder what excuse you would have come up with if I was a lousy shot. I'm not asking because I don't want you to have to lie to me. This is a beautiful evening and too nice to be angry anyway, for what it's worth, if this had been the other way round, I would do the same to you." He looked at Scott. "Just be safe, please Scott."
"Would it help if I got romantic and recite a poem? I do have a classical education and it could help. I know two verses of one and one whole poem, but the complete one I will save for another time." "Oh fuck, I know i'm going to regret this. Go on."
Scott cleared his throat and took up a classical stance. That meant looking Andrew in the eyes and a serious classical look on his face and his hand on Andrew's crotch. He was now classically prepared.
"Twas on the good ship Venus By Christ you should have seen us. The figurehead was a whore in bed And the mast was the Captain's penis!"
Scott waited for the applause which did not come, but undaunted continued with his second classical offering.
"The cabin boys name was Kipper A cunning little nipper He lined his ass with broken glass and circumcised the skipper!"
Scott already knew there would be no applause, but did get some satisfaction now that Andrew had his hand down the front of his shorts! That was until he squeezed that tender of all tender places which made Scott hop around calling Andrew some fairly strong stuff. At last Andrew let go and legged it to the saloon. Scott followed him and as he got to the saloon, put on a show of pain and injury. He staggered to his seat and sat next to Andrew who had his hands and knees up as though protecting himself, with tears pouring down his face. "You look as though you've just had your nuts crushed skip." "Can't explain Colin, just take it from me I will never get classical again. It's too painful." They cuddled up and finally Andrew stopped laughing.
The following day Paul and Scott cleared an area in the saloon and got an exercise mat from the gym. Paul then proceeded to throw his captain all over it as a part of his self defence and attack training. It was not a pretty sight and Scott felt like a bag of shit by the time they had finished! After the second day Scott did much better and only felt like half a bag of shit when it was all over. Andrew and the others would pop in from time to time and did a collective wince as they saw their captain once again smash onto the mat, stand up and return a few seconds later! Scott never gave up and he even realised the frequency of his visits to the mat were becoming fewer. However, the best piece of advise that Paul gave was when he said. "Skip when we train I see a pirate, when you train you see Paul. THAT skip is why you will never get me on the mat." Very soon after that Paul went down for the first of many times. Mind you all this was over quite some time, about two weeks in fact. Scott also went to the gym more often and spent ages with Gerry exercising purely for gaining strength. It just happened it did his physic a lot of good as well. Paul took Andrew out to the stern for firing practise at a target towed behind them. He was already good and was improving all the time. He took it very seriously, it could help both Paul and Scott out of trouble eventually.
They met the O6, passed her and came back on her course and fell in a quarter of a mile on her port beam. Captain Taylor asked if he and Andrew would like to join him for dinner and stay over night. "It will be good to catch up Scott and meet Andrew." It was going to be a meeting that would remain with them for ever.
Bob Taylor was on deck to greet them as they came on board and after Scott had shook his hand introduced Andrew. Captain Taylor was about 50 and a very striking man, 6ft tall, slim with a mass of white hair and tanned. He was very handsome with an air of authority about him. Andrew was sure Scott had told him he had never married and wondered why not! As they shook hands Andrew knew he had just caught up with the history that Scott and Bob shared regarding the attack on the O6 nearly two years ago. Bob lend the way to his cabin. "I have given myself 24 hours off lads, so lets have a drink." He poured out the wine and they all raised glasses, drank their health and sat down to talk. Scott took him through the plans they had about the possible boarding of a hostage ship and Bob gave his permission for Scott to train with the O6. "Obviously you will not want me to mention this to Sir William Scott, so I wont. I just hope that if this ever happens you have the luck with you that you will need. Take care dear boy's, please do take care." That remark surprised Andrew, calling them "boy's." He liked it.
After a while Bob invited Scott to take Andrew on a tour of the ship. "I will come to the fly later Scott." They went off and Scott was able to show Andrew the ship that he had crewed with, learnt a huge amount and qualified as a navigator. "That was my cabin when we used to skype. I wish I could take you in and show you my old bunk were I used to wank off thinking about you." They met a few crew Scott knew and it was nice to see them again. They came across a Filipino in his late 20's Andrew guessed. "He's a good looking guy Scott, really nice as well." He had noticed how pleased they were to see one another again. "Gerardo? Yes he is a really nice guy and before your mind goes down the dirt track, we were good friends and even better crewmen. Still, if you want to think otherwise thats up to you." Scott let the way to the bridge. "Sorry Scott." Scott squeezed his bum.
They got to the bridge and the officer of the watch greeted them. Scott chatted to the guy while Andrew wandered around and tried to visualise Scott on the bridge taking his navigational qualification and being on watch when the O6 was attacked. It all seemed a bit unreal. He was standing some distance away looking at Scott when an other Captain came on to the bridge behind Scott. "Hello Captain Peterson, nice to see you again." Scott spun round with a look of total surprise on his face. "Oh, Captain Morton! Good to see you again." The two men shook hands and it was obvious Morton was very pleased to see Scott. "Lets do away with the ranks Scott. It really is very nice to meet you again." Said Phillip Morton and it seemed to Andrew, Phillip was being very genuine. Philip Morton was not what Andrew thought him to be. He expected someone short fat and miserable, after all he had put Scott through a lot of stress during the qualification and it is human nature to have a less than complimentary picture of someone with an "attitude!" No, Morton was much different, not bad looking, 50 something, slimish around 5 10 and, like Bob had an air of authority which he assumed all ships captains had. (Scott certainly did, but he would say that) His hair was black streaked with grey as was his full but trimmed beard. "May I introduce Andrew one of the Jean's engineers Philip." They shook hands and Andrew was pleased to see a friendly smile coming from him. "Good to meet you Andrew, heard a lot about you." That surprised both Andrew and Scott. They wondered exactly what he had heard.
"So, Philip are you on board to put some other poor sod through the mill?" They both laughed. "No Scott I did all that in Australia, i'm going back with Bob and taking early retirement. I have bought a small farm down in Cornwall. It's something I have always wanted to do and now seems the right time. Bet that surprises you, but my time at sea has finished now, but I am also going to write a book so I will be still as busy as normal. Anyway enough of me I know you want to go to the fly. See you at dinner tonight." He waved to both of them and left the bridge.
They forgot Philip and every one else as Scott took Andrew up to the fly. Neither said a word as they got there. Andrew slipped his hand into Scotts and together they stood there with their own thoughts. After some time they heard a noise behind them, it was Bob Taylor. He would have noticed the two holding hands, but neither of them let go.
"I often come up here Scott. I find it to be a good place to think when I need to. I have in fact been up quite a bit lately." Scott wondered why, but did not ask. They stayed there and once again deep in their own thoughts. Bob left them to it and said he was going to his cabin. "Come back when you are ready, no hurry."
They stood together and looked over to the Jean. "She looks even better from here Scott. I am so pleased I am with her, oh and you of course." Scott put his arm around Andrew and pulled him close. "Yes she is beautiful Andrew. Maybe one day we can sail with her and do something which is more peaceful and not have the threat of being attacked. There is so much we could do and be happy doing it." "Like what?" "Surveying, specialist voyages to the Artic, Antartica, even converting her to the smallest passenger ship in the world, but still keeping her search and rescue role, I would not want to stop doing that." "You have thought about it then?" "Yes. What I do know is that this role has it's limits and unless other ships like ours takes up escorting, we are limited to how long we can sail before we have to go back to England, we all need a break at times. Just thinking that's all Andrew." They stayed there a while longer and once again each in his own thoughts. "Andrew, after dinner I would like us to come back here. I love being with you on the fly, I feel so much closer to mum like this and with you here we are both close to her." "Of course love, I would like that." They looked into each others eyes and saw nothing but love in them.
Dinner was very pleasent and it was good to have Philip Morton there as well. It's always good to realise someone is quite different than what you actually thought they were. Philip was funny, friendly and a joy to be with. Scott already knew that Bob was all those things and the four got on very well. The conversation and drink flowed from mouth and bottle and it must be said each complimented the other! No one was getting drunk, the older men had too much experience to do that and the young ones had youth! However, as the evening went on so they all became even more relaxed and it was a surprise to Scott when Bob announced that he too was retiring after this trip. "Good lord Bob, I would have thought you would have gone on for years yet! You are going to be one hard act to follow. Does dad know?" "Of course Scott and he was as surprised as you, mind you, only you know about it just now. I hate goodbyes and fuss, so I will just pack my bags and move to Cornwall and go to the farm." Bob stopped talking and waited for the next question that MAY be asked. Scott wanted to ask and of course so did Andrew, but knew he couldn't. "The farm Bob, you mean.........?" "Yes Scott the same farm as Phil. Phil and I decided that after our relationship of 20 years we would make honest men of one another and come clean, get married and settle down together in blistful heaven, or it maybe hell, we will have to wait and see." They both laughed at that, but Scott was speechless. Andrew of course was not quite as close to all this and just sat there taking it all in.
"Ok guys let me explain, it's only fair. " Phil said. "I know you wont want details, but Bob and I have been, lets just say involved, for 20 years and only your mum and dad knew about us. It's been difficult and our relationship quite distant at times because of being on different ships at the same time and having only leave time to be together. Still, I did serve with Bob for 10 of those years as first officer, that's why I never made Senior Captain, but would not change a thing. It was very difficult even then sailing with your partner and not being with him at the same time. That is why we are retiring to make up for a bit of lost time."
"Why are you telling us all this? There is no problem with us knowing I can assure you, but why us?" "We spoke about it when we realised you two were an item and saw how wonderful it was to be able to be out in the open, work together and have a life together. Of course having an all gay crew has helped you, as well as your crew Scott and in some ways it helped us decide to pack it all in and live together for as long as we have got left. That's why we wanted to tell you about us. Scott, as I say your parents knew about Bob and me, today is like coming out fully and I can tell you we feel in some way liberated. As you two will already know it's a huge relief and we now know we should have possibly done this years ago. Still, we didn't, but now we look forward to a life that will not mean being apart, except for milking time when Bob will be up at 5 every morning!"
They got to the guest cabin sometime later still with this buzzing about in their heads and in some ways still not comprehending it all, but more than happy, one to be confided in and two, their new future being together. "Christ Andrew. I would never had guessed that was coming. They do look good together though I must say, now I know what they are about anyway. Still it's a bit of shock to be honest." Scott kissed Andrew. "Lets hope they are as happy as we are Scott. I think they are great guys. It must have taken some guts to come out to two more than half their age. I have nothing but resect for them." They wrapped arms around one another. "Come to the fly with me pleased Andrew."
When they got there they had more quite time and after that Scott took Andrew to the port rail and looked out at the Jean. She was lit up and looked wonderful, beautiful in fact to these two lovers. Scott got behind Andrew and put his arms around him. Andrew held onto Scotts hands. "I want to say a lot Andrew and you know it will not be stupid, not where we are right now." Andrew knew that and just waited happy to have Scott's arms around him. Scott kissed his cheek and put his face against Andrew's.
"I'm going to tell you the poem I know. This is one of the most beautiful and meaningful poems I have ever read. I take no credit for the poem of course, but when I tell it the words are exactly the words I want for you and mum, simply because they are relevent in life as well as after life. I suppose in a way the first part is for you, from me and the second part from mum, to us. I know she is here right now.
The life that I have
is all that I have and the life that I have
is yours
The love that I have
of the life that I have
is yours and yours and yours.
A sleep I shall have
a rest I shall have
yet death will be but a pause
For the peace of my years
in the long green grass
will be yours and yours and yours
They stayed like that for some time until Scott turned Andrew to face him. He put both hands on Andrew's face and looked into his eyes.
The next words would be all his.
"Will you marry me? Please Andrew?"