Chapter Two Thousand Three Hundred Seven
22nd July 1974
Wilhelmshaven
It felt weird being back in their home port after so much time, especially because the Grindwal was in for refit. Everything aboard the ship was getting refurbished and updated. A new weapons system was being installed amidships, a version of the Luftwaffe’s RK30 autocannon which had been adapted into a close defense weapon for the Navy. Chaff and flare dispensers had also been installed which had caused many of the crew to joke about how the Grindwal was slowly becoming a fighter plane.
For Louis Ferdinand Junior that meant long days with a staggering amount of paperwork. The crew all had jobs that they understood and liked going home at the end of the day. However, there had been some turnover when they came into port this time with transfers and a number of crew who that reached the end of their tenure in the Navy. That meant that there were a number of new crewmen, many of whom were just out of basic training and their respective specialty schools, to Louis’ surprise that included three Seekadetts out of Mürwik. He had put Borchardt in charge of the whole lot of them. To no one’s surprise the Oberdeckoffizer was absolutely merciless with them because Louis had told him to make them earn their place on the Grindwal. He had found that life was easier when he ordered Borchardt to do what he would have done anyway.
“Think the Sea is going to be any kinder or play favorites?” Borchardt said when one of them had dared to complain about their treatment.
Fortunately, the weather was good, and Louis was working on signing stacks of requisition forms that the Ship’s Yeoman, Bootsmann Alex Mogens had prepared with the two portholes of the Captain’s cabin open to let fresh air in, with the door open on the other side there was a nice breeze. Still, he knew that Mogens was a notorious Sea Lawyer and wasn’t above self-dealing if the opportunity presented itself. Of course, no one else in the crew was better at processing the blizzard of paperwork that a ship generated on a daily basis. So, Louis kept him in that position even though that meant that he needed to make sure that everything that he was signing was what in it purported to be.
“Sir” A tentative voice said from the open doorway of his cabin. Louis looked up and saw that it was one of the Seekadetts who was looking in on him with apprehension. “You have a guest, Sir.”
“Then see them in” Louis replied.
“This is not an ordinary guest though, Sir” The Seekadett said nervously.
“For fuck’s sake, you will find that there is nothing special about me” Kiki said before practically shoving the poor Seekadett out of the way and Louis had to stop himself from laughing. They were going to have to get used to the comings and goings of Louis’ family if they were going to be aboard the Grindwal for any length of time. He had seen what had happened when Freddy came aboard in the past. Even with an experienced crew the result was pure bedlam as they had rushed to make the ship presentable for the Emperor in the time between when he got out of his car and walked up the gangplank, it not being an inspection was immaterial. Kiki wasn’t as demanding but getting in her way was not for the faint of heart. Today, she was wearing the dress uniform of the Medical Service with all the medals and orders pinned to it. Just the sight of those tended to cause officialdom to vanish before her, which was probably why she wore it when she visited Louis while the Grindwal was moored within the Naval Base as opposed to out in the Jade Bight.
“This is irregular, Sir” The Seekadett said aware that Kiki was pointedly ignoring him.
“My sister is a high-ranking Medical Officer” Louis said, “She has every right to be here, so if you could leave us.”
The Seekadett didn’t need much prompting to disappear.
“Other people’s children” Kiki muttered.
“Who you shouldn’t take things out on” Louis replied, “Now what brings you here to my ship, besides the need to be a complete bitch.”
“I am not being a complete bitch” Kiki said, “Or at least I am trying not to be. The last couple weeks have been bad.”
“What happened this time?” Louis asked as he unlocked one of the drawers of his desk and pulled out a bottle which he uncorked and poured a measure into a coffee cup and a water glass which he had handy. He handed Kiki the water glass. She looked at it apprehensively before taking a sip and choked.
“What is this?” Kiki asked, “Petrol?”
“Havana Club, Special Select” Louis replied, “Aged fifteen years.”
“I wasn’t expecting that” Kiki said, “You were in Cuba a couple months ago, weren’t you?”
“Yes” Louis replied, “And you are trying to change the subject.”
Kiki gave him a look of displeasure. She had clearly come here to talk with him, but not didn’t want to. No matter how much time passed, Kiki was still Kiki.
“Ben’s wretched mother asked me if I was considering having another baby” Kiki said, “She also broached the subject with Ben, and while he told her that it was none of her business, he also told me that it was something that we should consider. Planned this time.”
“I see” Louis said, “And knowing you, you are conflicted and examining the idea to death before you do what you wanted to do in the first place anyway.”
“I came to talk with you because you know me and wouldn’t judge” Kiki replied, “I am starting to think that might not be such a good thing.”
“Why not talk to your mentor, Doctor Berg?”
“Nora is not much better than Ben’s mother” Kike said, “She has always seen me as a surrogate daughter and Nina as a granddaughter. She would love the idea of me and Ben having another.”
“And what is your objection?” Louis asked.
“That it is not without cost” Kiki replied, “That I would have to pay.”
“How bad could that be?” Louis asked, “I remember that you hardly showed when you were pregnant with Nina.”
“You pay in so many other ways” Kiki said, “I had perfect teeth until a few years ago.”
Kiki pulled back her cheek with her index finger and Louis saw two gold crowns in her molars. Learn something new every day, Louis thought to himself as he took a sip of his drink.
“Now what is the deal with you and Margaretta?” Kiki asked and it was Louis’ turn to choke.