Parallel Me

Parallel Me Part 18

I had a message waiting for me when I arrived back at Hasler; I had to ring the Admiral's office as soon as possible. When I rang I got the Admiral's aide and was told to report to the Admiral at ten hundred hours the next day, I couldn't think of what I had to see him for, but I made sure I was there early.

"Sit down Joseph I won't beat around the bush, I've heard a roomer the first sea lords had a report about your fitness, and it's not from the Doctor or anyone at the hospital. The Commander was overheard telling his lordship, he had a report from reliable sources. It seems you were out dancing and went socialising at some garden party. Have you any ideas who it could be, and where did you go." I leaned back in my chair and smiled it could be only one person, but did she tell Madeline who passed it on to the commander.

"I went to the New Year's Eve dance at the social club, and then was invited to a small party. Madeline and Margret's friend Catherin was at the party, I think she and Madeline were at the dance but I didn't see them." I said smiling at the Admiral and shaking my head slowly, and saw him nodding his head, as he picked up the phone.

"Get me RNH Hasler; I want to talk to Doctor Martin A.S.A.P." He put the phone down, and then he sat back in his chair.

"That post you were taking at the clearance diving school is still open for you; I'm going to tell the Doctor to do a full report on your fitness, and get his recommendations on how long you are to be hospitalised. What rehabilitation leave you would require, I want it all down in writing for the record. I am not asking the Doctor to fabricate anything, but he can be as colourful as he wishes. The First Sea Lords term in office is up on the thirtieth of June, he wants to be reappointed for another three years, so he can't be seen to be using his influence to manipulate."

"You're out of the Navy on the thirty first of July, if you decide to go after all. If we can delay you returning to duty for as long as we can, it will keep you out of the way. You may call this mutiny, but the group of officers I am a part of doesn't want his Lordship to remain in office and wish to replace him. I don't want you to be used as porn either way; I like you too much to let my side use you to oust his Lordship." I was taken aback by his frankness, I knew he liked me but this was unbelievable, I had all the respect in the world for this man as an officer, now he had my respect as a man.

"Thank you, Sir I don't know what to say, I don't want you or anyone to be uncomfortable on my behalf, though I have made up my mind and will be leaving the Navy in July as planned. I know I'm going to miss the life, and the wonderful friends I've made, but thanks to you and a few others, I have had a good life for the last six and a half years." He held out his hand for me to shake, and I left his office thinking what a wonderful man. Two days later the doctor called me into his office and told me what they had planned for me.

"You're staying here till the thirty first of January, and then you have two weeks annual leave which is outstanding. Two weeks survivors leave, and a further four-week rehabilitation leave. You return here on the first of April for reassessment, we'll see how you are when you return. There might be a case for early retirement, but keep that under your hat."

"We will look into the possibility of that when we do the assessment." I looked at the Doctor a little taken aback; I had only seen the Admiral two days ago. I hadn't expected a response so soon, let alone all the hard work the Doctor must have put in, to have to sort this little lot out, he must have worked overtime.

"Well, Doc I seem to be getting better if you're going to let me lose for eight weeks on my own." He looked at me smiling; and sat back in his chair.

"Had a request from the First Sea Lord's office, wanted to know if you were fit for duty as of now, had to fob them off for two days, telling them I had to run tests. Your friend the Admiral; convinced me you weren't ready to return to duty yet, and he told me the reasons why; your Admiral seems quite a nice chap; promised me shit loads of stuff for the hospital."