2、Chapter 2: The Sail's Adventure Team Chapt ...
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Chapter Two: The Sail’s Adventure Team
“Ah… How I missed you guys. America’s youngest professional sailor, Melinda and John Hanson. Here, have a seat. You two are actually early.”
When Melinda and John arrived at the base of the Sail’s Adventure Team at 8:30 the next day, they weren’t exactly surprised to see Captain Mark already being there, although they were half an hour early themselves.
Captain Mark had this face that perfectly showed the art of mystery and kindness. He had bushy brown hair and an equally-bushy mustache. His deep, black eyes and his generous smile that was always on his face seemed to be the only things that kept him away from looking like those strict math teachers you’d see in high school. As a matter of fact, the most inaccurate description for him was “strict”. He was more of a bearded, warm hearted big kid.
“We missed you too, Captain.” John bowed immediately, trying to seem polite, although his shaking voice gave everyone the hint that he was more than a little bit nervous to see Mark.
The captain gave a knowing smile as he patted John on his shoulder: “Calm down, son. There’s no need to be so serious. Although you two are fresh blood in this team, your father used to be one of the core members. He was the proudness of our team, and so will you be.” He said as he patted on John’s shoulders and sunk into the ocean of memories.
John, however, was a bit embarrassed and definitely awkward for Captain Mark to be in a position like this. He tried not to disturb a man reliving his good-old-days, but it’s kind of hard to stay put and quiet when a nearly 60-year-old man putting his hand on your shoulder, looking as if the ceiling is playing a movie.
Thankfully, a gentle knock on the door put an end to this situation. Well, opening up to another at the same time.
“Excuse me, Captain, I suppose we’re having a meeting here in a few minutes And, no offense, but talking to children is not a good use of this time.”
From the sly and irritating way the words were spoken, Melinda and John figured out who it was immediately, and meanwhile annoyingly realizing, even after one year without seeing him, Louis Kept still sounded and looked as disgusting, sophisticated and arrogant as how he had ever been.
“Well, greetings there, Louis! Why, I was just catching up with the Hanson twins here, doesn’t seem any inappropriate at all. Have a seat.” Mark said as he smiled and pulled a chair for Louis to sit in.
The Hanson twins have hated Louis Kept since the moment they were announced members of the Sail’s Adventure Team. There was absolutely nothing likable about him, perhaps except the way he looks. Despite how they hate him, Melinda and John would still have to say that Louis was a fine looking man, to tell the truth. He was around his thirties, but still glows and shines like a 20-year-old fellow. He had blond hair that was in the perfect edge of being too long. And he had perfectly shaded blue eyes, that if you didn’t know him well, you’d practically fall in love with. Anywhere he went, he always wore a proper suit and a tall, black hat that Melinda secretly thinks made him look like a circus animal trainer. No one in the team really had an idea of why he wore this hat 24-7 (He actually doesn’t, but that’s how the Hanson twins thought) but the twins agreed on the idea that it actually mirrors his overwhelming proudness and narcissism.
“Hanson. Well Care to even say a word here I guess your father didn’t teach you any manners, although that was reasonable since he didn’t have the opportunity to.”
As Louis sat down beside Captain Mark, he placed his coat on the back of the seat and crossed his arms in front of his chest, saying this as he gave a provocative smirk to the twins. John’s fist is already shaking below the table, but Melinda held it and, with a move no one else would realize, slightly shook her head to John.
“… Morning, Mr. Kept.”
Melinda literally pushed these words through her teeth as she remained in standing position, secretly giving Louis a furious stare.
The tense feeling in the room is now something even Captain Mark is unable to defuse. Louis, for some reason, just didn’t get along well with the Hanson twins practically since the day they came. He didn’t exactly hate them—instead he gave John and Melinda the feel that they owe him huge amount of money, and frankly, they’ve done nothing and owed him nothing. Which was sort of the deal, you wouldn’t exactly like someone who hates you for nothing, wouldn’t you
Really thankfully this time, more teammates came in the room, and Louis finally let go of the twins, for his own sake. He is not somebody who wants to be the “bad guy” in front of everyone in the team. That doesn’t hide the fact that almost everyone still hated him—well, perhaps except of Captain Mark, but Melinda and John could understand. As the leader of the team, Mark had to put no personal feelings into account.
What’s worth mentioning, John always takes Melinda behind his back when they come across Louis.
“It’s all been quite a while, team, and I’m sure you missed each other quite a lot.” Captain Mark was using the speaker at the very end of the long table, his voice echoing aloud in the room.
“Yeah, most of us.” Murmured John, who was taking a glimpse at Louis, the latter combing his hair in front of his forehead, finally taking off his hat in order to show respect.
“Our mission, this time, would be to discover some new-founded islands on the Atlantic. It wouldn’t be as difficult as some we did before, but we’d still have to schedule and arrange each of our tasks.”
“Ms. Chris and Mr. Kept, you will be in charge of collecting samples and reconnoitering. We will have tools on our ship, as well as safety equipment. Oh, and Louis, please bring more everyday-life sort of clothes, seriously. Keep in mind you’re a sailor, not a freakin CEO.”
Melinda and John just couldn’t keep a chuckle from coming out, as Kept stared from Captain Mark’s “it’s-hard-to-explain-but-you-gotta-do-it” face to Melinda and John’s “you-just-deserve-that” face, nodding emotionlessly as he stayed his hand put on his hat. Ms. Chris, a 20-year-old young girl, on the other hand, was proud that she got an important job, and on the other hand, not so OK with who she’s working with.
“Poor woman,” said John to himself.
“Mrs. Watts, calculation and statistics. Mr. Allen and Mr. Every, you would be looking out for our teammates, in case of any emergencies. After all, we still have no idea what the new islands hold. And as for you two kids, you can follow our reconnoitering team, and remember to stick to them. Just don’t try and, well, make trouble.”
Captain Mark grinned as he looked to the twins.
“Wha…” John let out an unbelieving whisper, as he turned to Melinda, exchanging looks of shock and unwillingness. But it didn’t seem like Captain Mark was taking their answers into account. He went on, “…and lastly, all the data you collected will be summarized by Mr. Adams.”
As Captain Mark looked up from his hand-written list, he scanned the room with his eyes, and it made Melinda felt that his eyes could see right through anybody.
“And that will be the end. Now, you can stay here and make preparations if you like, if not, you are all free to go now.”
There was a short period of silence, and then sounds of chairs moving and people standing up. The first thing Louis did was to put on his hat and suit jacket, and stride out of the meeting room within a few seconds.
“Yeah, as if he has anything else important to do rather than sitting in his home, admiring himself.” John sneered as he grunted these words by Melinda’s ear.
“Kids”
Just when Melinda and John were about to leave, they were stopped by a gentle voice of Mark’s. They turned back in unison, surprised that Captain Mark was actually calling them for a personal talk, since almost everybody had left.
“I’ve noticed, well, not very recently, that you and Louis have been having a rough time together. To be honest, that is reasonable, since he hasn’t really had a good time with any other teammate either.”
“Tell me about it.” Melinda grunted as she rolled her eyes, though clearly not to Captain Mark but to the person they were talking about, now out of the room.
Captain Mark chuckled at Melinda’s words: “Just trust me that he’s not the bad guy you’d probably think he is. Well, I’d have to say he’s not the best company, but I assure you that you will be safe with him.”
John, apparently not convinced, gave a suspecting stare: “Umm, you’re sure”
“I can promise.” Captain Mark said, taking his coat off the coat hanger at the same time. His eyes, though, were still on the twins, giving them the kind of look you dare not to doubt, “might not be easy to trust, I know. But you’ll see.” His tune was light, yet trustworthy.
“Well, you’d better head home now, I believe Mrs. Hanson would be waiting for you to eat dinner.” Captain Mark answered the twins’ question in their eyes by showing them a texting image of him and Mrs. Hanson.
John’s “oh come on!” echoed across the meeting room, along with Captain Mark’s chuckle and Melinda’s eye-roll that could basically be heard.
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第2章 Chapter 2: The Sail's Adventure Team
