Gretchen adjusts the midriff of her tweed suit and peeks at her reflection in the brass pressure gauge on that nearby bulkhead...
...she whispers to herself. Thirty-Seven isn't old, but her charms just didn't work like they used to. And she had to make a good impression. Dr. Moore had not chosen her as Assistant Geologist. But how could he refuse her if she took the trouble to pack and come all the way to the boat? The chance to explore the last uncharted mountain range on earth. I shall not be left behind zist time.
Gathering her courage she knocked with a gloved hand on the metal door. *Ahem* pardon me, Dr. Moore? It's von Hammersmark. From the University? Forgive this intrusion, but might I have a vword vith you?
Smiling at Commander Douglas as he eyes her. Just like Mister Chastain said we are all members of the Expedition. I am Phoebe Barrett. I am the Nurse Dr. Moore recruited. It is a pleasure to meet you.
The Captain smiles at Phoebe, "Still all things considered, I am surprised that Starkweather is allowing a woman on the Expedition. I mean no offense my dear, it is his own prejudice of which I am aware, that leads me to be a bit surprised. Let me guess, Dr. Moore brought you into the group yes?"
The elevator softly dings and the doors open. He leads you down the hall towards the room and pens the door. The room is pleasant enough but no ostentatious. There is barely room in it for you all to stand much less sit comfortably.
He takes a seat at the small desk in the corer of the room and turns the chair towards you all, "Have you all been to the ship? What were your impressions of the crew assembled?"
The door is opened by Moore, "Dr. von Hammersmark? What an unexpected surprise. Did the University send you to discuss something with me before I leave?"
Did the University send you to discuss something with me before I leave?"
Well, not exactly, Dr. Moore. It's just that...I vould like to present my case one final time that you should take me with you on this expedition. You will need an assistant Geologist, someone other than you who understands the delicate equipment and can help with the experiments when you are not available, or doing more administrative tasks...
"It's a nice ship, I think," says Stanley. Really, though, he doesn't have much of an opinion when it comes to sea vessels. "I've met a few of the crew, but not enough to get much of an impression, to be honest. There's a lot of people involved." Stanley pauses for a moment, trying to think tactfully. It's not very easy for him, but he'll do the best he can.
"Speaking of lots of people, you're probably aware that it's hard to keep secrets among so many. Professor Moore said you like to stay out of the spotlight, and I can empathize with that, but with the high profile nature of this expedition, you might want to brace yourself for some inevitable, uh," he snaps his fingers twice, looking for the words. "Inevitable public awareness," he finishes.
Dr. Moore sighs and steps out into the hall closing the door behind him, "My dear. I have one woman on the Expedition already and Mr. Starkweather strongly objected to her.
If you insist on going, stay here in the city for the next few days and I will see if I can talk him into it. Agreed?"
The Captain grimaces at Stanley's speech, "I know that publicity will grow but I am hoping it will wait until we leave. I had a run in with a stranger who seemed adamant that I not take this position. The man looked familiar but I could not place him. The intensity of his desire to have me reject the offer convinced me that, at the time, I should tell him what he wanted to hear. I daresay the man was a bit frightening and I do not scare easily".
Sank you Dr. Moore, Sank you! You will not regret this.
|
Thomas approached the Captain for the first time.
So I wasn't the only one...
I think we could have been visited by the same man, Commander Douglas, even if we chose different manners to answer to him... I hope we do not discover any of us gave the wrong answer... oh, I'm Thomas by the way... Thomas A. Greenwood.
"Pleased to meet you Mr. Greenwood. The man visiting me looked..." by his description it is the same man and you confirm it to be so.
The Captain places his hand on his chin in thought, "We should alert Moore and Starkweather to the man's appearance. This way if he shows up at the Ship we can have someone detain him and perhaps even hand him over to the authorities.
Well I hate to ask you good people to vacate my rooms so suddenly but I am quite tired from driving all night to get here. Can we perhaps meet at the Gabriel tomorrow in the morning and I will take you all on a tour of the ship?"
Stanley looks between the Captain and Mister Greenwood with a confused expression on his face. This is the first he'd heard of any such attempts at sabotage. The reasons a person might have for doing so is rather beyond him.
"Certainly," he says, nodding his understanding as he backs toward the door. "It's been a pleasure to meet you, and I look forward to that tour."
That could have gone worse, he thinks to himself with a sigh of relief.
Moving back towards the door, We will not keep you. I look forward to the tour tomorrow. Rather short visit but he at least seems pleasant.
Once back into the hall. Mr. Greenwood that man you mentioned had you ever seen him before? It seems odd that anyone would try to do that.
Gretchen heads down to 2 East 61st Street at Fifth Avenue where she has a room at the Pierre. After getting changed up she heads down to the lounge for gin and tonic. An easy jazz ensemble plays. But Gretchen just sits at a table alone, re-reading her copy of Volume II of Ancient Records of Egypt by the famous Archeologist James Henry Breasted. I shall have to meet this wonderful scientist some day...
" Hafe a good night, Captain. It vas good to see you again, and to know zat our ship vill be in such good hands. "
In the hall. " Vee should keep a lookout for zis man. Hopefully he von't be a problem. "
The prior night's hotel stay was rather pleasant though you did hear some odd rumors about the state of affairs on the ship.
About a fifth of the items listed in the full Manifest have not yet arrived. Moore apparently spent time into the late night tracking down the items, by telephone,to ensure that they are stowed safely aboard the Gabrielle by the Expeditions launch date. Other shipments—
about one in ten—are present in the warehouse on the pier, but do not contain what they are supposed to—the contents of some containers, clearly labeled, are different from whatever the list says they should be. Many of the crew staying at the hotel now that the days are so few complain of poor administration of the entire project.
You are all awoken by the pounding of a fist on a door in the hallway. The pounding and yelling are so loud you wake up to see what is the matter.
When you open your door, you see James Starkweather in his robes holding an early morning edition of the paper and raving like a lunatic in front of Moore's door.
“Moore!” he shouts in an utter rage. “Blast you, man, I want you awake! Moore!”
As people fill the hall he pays them no heed, the door still does not open after his furious assault. If the rumors are true Moore was likely up all night working on the Expedition's problems.
The lack of answer does not stop Starkweather, he takes a step back and kicks Moore's hotel door down!
“It’s her, Moore! All the time it was her! I should have known! Who else could it have been? The conniving witch! I should have suspected her hand in things from the beginning! Blast it, Moore, listen to me! How else could she stop me? Who else would have switched those cans of fish with oil? Who else has the money to spy on us? To throw things in our way? Ruin our goods! Sabotage the dog cages! Delay our trains! Poison the minds of trusted employees! To bribe, to steal, to throw barricades before us, for her own spiteful little reasons! “I won’t allow it, Moore! Not this time! She won’t get the upper hand this time! I’ll prove to everyone that she’s nothing more
than a—”
Starkweather stops in mid-sentence. He looks around, still breathing heavily, suddenly aware of the watchers in the hall, and visibly makes a decision. Throwing the newspaper down with a snap in front of the
disheveled professor, he says, in a terrible steely voice,
“Advance the schedule, Moore! We’re leaving on the 11th. The 11th,
Moore! See to it!
“And Moore . . . get me a woman!”
Moore responds quietly, "James, we have a woman on this trip with us already remember?"
James turns his gaze and looks at Phoebe, "Then dammit man, get me another one!"
With that, Starkweather storms out through the door, brushes roughly past the onlookers and, ignoring everyone, stomps up the stairs to his room. Moore sits quietly in his room. At first he seems as confused as the the rest of the crew; after he picks up the newspapers left
behind by Starkweather and glances at the open page, he goes quite still for a moment, then sighs.
Looking up at the crew crowding in the doorway, he straightens his glasses and says, with deadpan composure, “Gentlemen, and Mrs. Barrett, you heard Mister Starkweather. The schedule is advanced; we now leave on the 11th. I shall see you at breakfast. We’ll have to work a bit harder, I’m afraid. Now, if you will excuse me, I must dress.”
He closes the remnants of his door.
You wake in your hotel room to a firm knock on your door, "Ms. von Hammersmark, I've a message for you marked urgent from a Professor Moore. I apologize to wake you so early but..."
Stanley watches the scene in the hallway with a bleary confusion. All this talk of sabotage, first with the Captain and the writer and now with Starkweather, is completely new to him. He's sort of excited that the group will be leaving early, since he's fairly eager to get going, but while he hasn't seen any sign of sabotage himself, yet, if there is someone or something trying to doom their expedition, then it's his job to make sure that doesn't extend to their aircraft.
Rather than go back to bed, he gets dressed with a distinct sense of urgency and heads down to inspect the expedition's planes with intent compare their current state to their schematics. There's still three days to fix anything if he finds any sign of foul play. Better to find it now in New York, where parts are more readily available, than when they're on the bottom of the world.
Sitting up with a start Gretchen reaches for a robe. Oh...okay...hold on I'm coming! Within moments she's opened the door 6 inches and peers out. Has the Professor asked for me in person or have you a letter? This is it. We find out if I've impressed my collegues over the years. Will the professor have me along? Gretchen bites her bottom lip in anticipation.
Arnault frowns as he watches Starkweather ranting at Moore's door. After the professor heads back into his room to dress. Arnault does the same before heading down to breakfast searching for a copy of the mornings paper as he goes.
With wide eyes Phoebe watches Strkweather rant. Small wonder that man gets anything done. Maybe if he was not such an ass people would not go after him.
Feeling his eyes on her and hearing him yell for another woman. Narrowing her eyes and glaring at him as he leaves People are not things! With any luck the next woman gives him the slap he deserves.
Letting out an agitated huff Phoebe whirls around and goes back into her room slamming the door behind her.
Taking her time to get dressed and apply her makeup before heading down for breakfast.
You head to the Gabriel and security, which was not in place early in the day yesterday, waives you through onto the ship after checking your name against the crew manifest.
You head to the planes on deck and find two men already working on them. They both turn to you.
"Morning, I am Miles, the main mechanic. Stanley right the avionics engineer? These damn planes only arrived two days ago, not a lot of time to check em over before we go. The damn schedules are ridiculous".
The other smiles, "Morning, don't mind Miles he's always cranky. Besides Miles, I gotta fly 'em your feet are always safely on land!"
You all head downstairs and get breakfast. Arnault steps out to buy the paper. The headline on the front page catches everyone's eye.
Seamus has not come downstairs yet nor has his friend Mick.
Blonde Beauty to Fly to Pole
New York (INS)–In a startling announcement from her home in Queens today, millionaire industrialist Acacia Lexington told reporters that she intends to set aside her ledger books in favor of seal furs and snow goggles, in an attempt to be the first woman to stand at the bottom of the world.
Lexington, only child of the late P. W.Lexington of this city, has for years impressed friends and adversaries alike with her skilled maneuverings in troubled financial waters. Now she intends to venture into a new realm. Accompanied by a hand-picked team of journalists,
photographers, and wilderness experts, the lovely Acacia will cross the Antarctic wastelands in a specially modified Northrop Delta aëroplane and a Cierva C-50 autogyro.
“It’s about time a woman did this,” she told our reporters. “Today’s women are capable of anything that men can do. If I am the first, it only means that others will find it easier to follow.” When asked if her planned expedition was in any way affected by the presence of no less than four other parties on the Antarctic ice this summer, Miss Lexington declined to comment.
"He is on the telephone for you ma'am. Are you decent to come to the front desk and speak with him?"
"Stanley, yes. Good morning to the both of you, too," says Stanley, amicably. He always feels a bit more generally comfortable around those also involved in aviation. It probably has a lot to do with essentially speaking the same language. "I'm glad to finally get to meet you both, and the planes too. It's been," he pauses to blow out a deep breath, "a weird last few days. That weirdness has to do a lot with the sudden jump in the timetable."
Given that sudden jump, I'd like to assist you guys with giving these planes their thorough checkout. That should help the work get done faster, and I'd also ask that you both keep extra vigilant between now and the departure date. There have been several other aspects of this expedition that have been the subjects of attempted sabotage, and I'd like to make sure that we catch it early if it starts to happen to us. Have either of you seen anything so far that looks like it might have been damaged or misplaced maliciously in your checkouts so far?"
Make 3 Electrical Repair & Mechanical Repair checks, 1 for each plane that has arrived thus far.
Yesyes, I'm coming! Gretchen flings a robe over herself and hurries down stairs. As the guests in the lobby eye her scantily clad form with surprise she shrugs. Vwhat are you staring at?
She answers the phone: Dr. Moore? It's me Gretchen. I'm so glad you decided to call. Have you made a decision about me yet?
From what you can tell, all planes are in good working order though the electronics on the third plane you may want to have someone double check.
The first plane you ask Miles to do another check on to ensure all is in order.
Miles responds, "Alright, you're the Engineer, I'll spend more of my day looking at something I already looked at..."
Dr. Moore responds, "Mr. Starkweather had an, er, change of heart. Please head down to the ship today as Mr. Starkweather would like to have a press conference to add you to the crew. Does 11 am work for you?"
A waiter approaches you all with an irritated look on his face. "Are you in the party with the rude young man?"
"I'm understand it's annoying," says Stanley, "but I'd much rather put in the extra effort to be sure that the planes don't contribute to the expedition's derailment. If the ship's captain quits, that's just unfortunate. It the plane's engine quits people are probably going to die."
"Alright, I'm pretty sure these two planes are clean," he says, finally, after spending some time on thorough examinations. "If you'd be so kind as to make sure I didn't miss anything on the third plane we can call it a day and I'll buy you good, understanding fellows a drink, or several, to make up for the extra time. I want you both to understand that I appreciate the assistance."
This is it. My chance. I will see things no one has ever seen before! Gretchen has planned for this possibility. She dials the phone, connects through the operator. Boris? Yes, it's Gretchen. I'll be getting on that ship after all. Bring the suitcases down to the piere. And please, for Valkyrie's sake don't forget the rock hammer kit! That's all I need is to get 200 miles off shore and realize the geologist has forgotten her hammers - mark my words!
After getting ready she heads to the dock. This will be the adventure of a lifetime.
Miles takes a second look as you watch him walk through and inspect the planes again. He does not grumble the second time around.
The pilot chuckles next to you, "I am Halperin by the way. So, what got you hooked into this Expedition?"
Josephine your Editor brings you into his office for a meeting.
"Josie, there is a presser for one of the Expeditions to the Arctic. Tom is working on a presser for Acacia Lexington, can you get to the SS Gabriele within the hour to cover whatever the hell it is Starkweather is going to announce?"
Arnault puts the paper down and looks about as if to see the 'rude young man'.
" I'm sorry, is someone from our party causink you trouble? " he says to the waiter.
Josephine your Editor brings you into his office for a meeting.
"Meeley, there is a presser for one of the Expeditions to the Arctic. Tom is working on a presser for Acacia Lexington, can you get to the SS Gabriele within the hour to cover whatever the hell it is Starkweather is going to announce?"
Meeley tries hard to hide her disgust to the menial task she is giving, without much success, but nods and leaves the offices of the newspaper, looking for a cab that takes her to the docks.
"I am sick of this job. I need something new, something that brings the spotlight! Something big!"
"Good to meet you, Halperin. For me it was a lot about changing the status quo in my life. I'm from a small town in Massachusetts, moved to a small town in upstate New York and had a steady job for years. I've never done anything particularly exciting. When I was recruited for this expedition, it seemed like a good way to both experience some more of life and the world, while at the same time gaining some experience without the safety net of an entire firm around me. Maybe all of that is just the excuse created to indulge a case of itchy feet, I can't say for sure, but the timing was impeccable.
"What about you? How did you get involved?"
"Yes, the young man. Why last evening he ordered food and drinks in the lobby and did not sign for them. Now I cannot seem to locate him or at least he will not answer the door to his room. If I must I will take it up with Starkweather!"
Meeley and Gretchen arrive at the SS Gabriele simultaneously both stepping out of a cab at the same time.
You see numerous dock workers working at a frenzied pace moving equipment and crates from the street through a checkpoint with several watchful guards checking identification and the packages being delivered.
One of the workers begins complaining, "Buddy, I been through here four times already today, why do you keep checking me!?"
The security guard, an Irishman responds, "It's me job. If ya don' like it take it up wit' Staarkwether".
Meeley spots other journalists arriving at the scene. All of them heading towards the entrance as well.
You both stick out in this crowd as the only two women present!
"I've flown a few planes for Expeditions to the North pole. Figured I would see ow the south compared. Plus Starkweather has promised me a nice payday when we return, assuming of course that we make the discovery of a lifetime down there.
I didn't follow the last few expeditions, you know what they found that has some many people excited to get down there at the same time?"
Meeley push her way to the entrance, trying to get the best place possible for the announcement.
Raising an eyebrow, Well that is unfortunate. I wonder if the young man scampered off?
"I was aware of the last expedition, but I was pretty busy at Curtiss at the time and only have vague notions of what happened. I think they found some interesting and bizarre fossils and a mountain range that caught them by surprise? I'm not entirely sure how that works. I think the press release five months ago mention an -- how did Starkweather put it -- an 'entirely new kind of life'? That's probably the major draw with all the expeditions. I'd imagine being the first to recover proof would be huge.
"I asked Moore more about the previous expedition at one point, but he was pretty tight-lipped. It ended tragically, as I understand it, and he was close with some of the lost. I think, for him, part of the draw is to recover the bodies so they don't lie forsaken forever."
Stanley pauses for a moment, lost in thought.
"So you've flown to the North Pole a couple times, you say? I imagine that sort of experience has generated some invaluable insight into how the planes will handle the extremes. I've only been able to look at things from a theoretical standpoint, myself, plus analyzing research data. I'll welcome any insights you might have for keeping them running well down there, especially ones that might be non-obvious or counter-intuitive. Sometimes materials behave in strange ways in new environments."
Gretchen stands watching the ship and the jib cranes as the cabbie unloads her belongings. She breaths the salty sea air and listens to the seagulls. Sir I'll give you an extra $0.50 to stay with my bags for a moment while I figure out how to check in on zat boat. Okay? She walks toward the security checkpoint and holds her arms up for ta git frisked...
"Yes, the young man. Why last evening he ordered food and drinks in the lobby and did not sign for them. Now I cannot seem to locate him or at least he will not answer the door to his room. If I must I will take it up with Starkweather!"
Raising an eyebrow, Well that is unfortunate. I wonder if the young man scampered off?
" Perhaps vee could look into zis for you, " Arnault says, looking at Phoebe and Thomas and then back to the waiter. " On Starkveazers behalf... To safe him some trouble... Vas zere a spare key to zee young mans room? "
The driver shakes his head in agreement as Gretchen moves into the crowd.
As both Gretchen and Meeley approach the men begin to step back and give you both room. Together you move to the front of the line where the security guards are checking people.
One of the male reporters steps in front and is shoved back by one of the dock workers, "Mind your manners pal".
The security guard eyes you both, "How can I help you lasses today?"
Halperin begins to discuss some of the insights he learned from his time in the north pole as Miles finally finishes his triple check of the planes.
He walks back over in your direction, "I don't see anything wrong. At least they are in good working condition even if they arrived later than I would have liked", he pauses. "Thank you for the help", he then extends a hand to shake and walks away after a firm handshake.
Halperin laughs, "I guess you must have made a good impression on him, he's never thanked me for anything!"
Thomas shrugs, "A good idea Arnault. After that should we head to the ship to check in on the Captain?"
The waiter heads to the front desk and brings you back the spare key. "Please return it to the desk as it is the only spare we have".
My name is Gretchen Von Hammersmark and I am a memeber of this crew. Is Professor Moore already aboard?
She looks around at the crowd. And can you tell me why so many people? And also where all the women are? Has the crowd gone mad and thrown them all into the sea??