Soviet people were cautiously testing a new freedom Abby obviously took for granted. There was something positive to say for democracy, after all, Alec decided.
Abby turned to Alec. “Would you mind staying at my place?”
“Not at all.”
When Tim went to talk to the two pilots and radio the request to Anchorage, Abby explained to Alec, “Our Coast Guard isn’t really a military service. They’re budgeted by the Department of Transportation. I’ve worked closely with them so many times, especially on oil spills or chemical spills, that I’m really glad they’re orchestrating your stay. They have top-notch, reliable people.”
Alec watched Atkin speaking on the radio. There was an energy around the Coast Guard officer that impressed him immediately. He sensed Atkin was one of those officers who very quietly, but smoothly, got things done behind the scenes. “We’ve usually had very good relations with the Coast Guard,” he told Abby.
Although she was dressed in a pair of jeans and a sweater, Abby had brought along all the luggage she’d taken to sea with her. Earlier, she had showed Alec the outfit she would wear for the press conference. It was a pair of light tan wool slacks and an accompanying blazer, an ivory blouse with ruffles and a very old cameo given to her by her grandmother. Today, she informed him, she would have to look official. Even her lovely hair, which Alec liked to see loose and free about her shoulders, was tastefully arranged in a chignon at the nape of her neck. The earrings she wore were small gold dolphins. The pin on the lapel of her blazer was a gold whale. He smiled to himself. Abby wore her jewelry like a badge of courage for those mammals she had nearly given her life for. There was everything to admire about her.
“Okay, it’s set,” Tim Atkin told them sometime later as he rejoined them. “The Coast Guard has no objection, and I’ve got an okay from Captain Rostov.” Tim pulled out several pages of paper from his attach;aae case and gave each of them a copy. “This is the itinerary for the week.”
“Looks like a lot of activities,” Abby said, surprised.
Tim smiled broadly. “Well, I had a little to do with it. The Coast Guard is proud to be a part of this
glasnost
opportunity. We thought Captain Rostov might like to see a little America, some tours, and to get a good look at the way we live.”
“Wonderful!” Abby said, clapping her hands together.
“Have you penciled in time for me to sleep and eat, Lieutenant?” Alec asked with a smile.
Tim grinned broadly. “Yes, sir, I have.” He pointed to Alec’s copy of the itinerary. “After this first press conference, I’d like you to look over this schedule. If there’s something on there you don’t want to do, let me know. Or, if there’s something that interests you that isn’t on there, it can be added.”
Alec nodded, fully impressed. “Thank you, Lieutenant.”
Tim looked at them. “Well, are you ready to enter the fray after we land at Anchorage International Airport?”
Eagerly, Abby nodded. “You bet!”
Without thinking about his action, Alec gently laid his hand on Abby’s arm. “I’m ready.”
Her skin tingled where Alec had momentarily touched her. The sense of protection that he afforded her was new to Abby. He was always the officer and a gentleman, a far cry from the way a lot of men behaved toward women in the U.S. But then, Abby reminded herself, Alec was a Soviet, and his culture had far different moral codes and values. From what she had observed so far, Alec was very old-fashioned, and she liked that about him.
As she sat there in the confines of the helicopter, Abby wondered abruptly how Washington, D.C. would react to their press conference. She knew her mother, Vera, would be thrilled with the notoriety given the whales. On the other hand, she knew without doubt that Dr. Monica Turner from the State Department would probably be livid.
* * *
“I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS
Abby turned to Alec. “Would you mind staying at my place?”
“Not at all.”
When Tim went to talk to the two pilots and radio the request to Anchorage, Abby explained to Alec, “Our Coast Guard isn’t really a military service. They’re budgeted by the Department of Transportation. I’ve worked closely with them so many times, especially on oil spills or chemical spills, that I’m really glad they’re orchestrating your stay. They have top-notch, reliable people.”
Alec watched Atkin speaking on the radio. There was an energy around the Coast Guard officer that impressed him immediately. He sensed Atkin was one of those officers who very quietly, but smoothly, got things done behind the scenes. “We’ve usually had very good relations with the Coast Guard,” he told Abby.
Although she was dressed in a pair of jeans and a sweater, Abby had brought along all the luggage she’d taken to sea with her. Earlier, she had showed Alec the outfit she would wear for the press conference. It was a pair of light tan wool slacks and an accompanying blazer, an ivory blouse with ruffles and a very old cameo given to her by her grandmother. Today, she informed him, she would have to look official. Even her lovely hair, which Alec liked to see loose and free about her shoulders, was tastefully arranged in a chignon at the nape of her neck. The earrings she wore were small gold dolphins. The pin on the lapel of her blazer was a gold whale. He smiled to himself. Abby wore her jewelry like a badge of courage for those mammals she had nearly given her life for. There was everything to admire about her.
“Okay, it’s set,” Tim Atkin told them sometime later as he rejoined them. “The Coast Guard has no objection, and I’ve got an okay from Captain Rostov.” Tim pulled out several pages of paper from his attach;aae case and gave each of them a copy. “This is the itinerary for the week.”
“Looks like a lot of activities,” Abby said, surprised.
Tim smiled broadly. “Well, I had a little to do with it. The Coast Guard is proud to be a part of this
glasnost
opportunity. We thought Captain Rostov might like to see a little America, some tours, and to get a good look at the way we live.”
“Wonderful!” Abby said, clapping her hands together.
“Have you penciled in time for me to sleep and eat, Lieutenant?” Alec asked with a smile.
Tim grinned broadly. “Yes, sir, I have.” He pointed to Alec’s copy of the itinerary. “After this first press conference, I’d like you to look over this schedule. If there’s something on there you don’t want to do, let me know. Or, if there’s something that interests you that isn’t on there, it can be added.”
Alec nodded, fully impressed. “Thank you, Lieutenant.”
Tim looked at them. “Well, are you ready to enter the fray after we land at Anchorage International Airport?”
Eagerly, Abby nodded. “You bet!”
Without thinking about his action, Alec gently laid his hand on Abby’s arm. “I’m ready.”
Her skin tingled where Alec had momentarily touched her. The sense of protection that he afforded her was new to Abby. He was always the officer and a gentleman, a far cry from the way a lot of men behaved toward women in the U.S. But then, Abby reminded herself, Alec was a Soviet, and his culture had far different moral codes and values. From what she had observed so far, Alec was very old-fashioned, and she liked that about him.
As she sat there in the confines of the helicopter, Abby wondered abruptly how Washington, D.C. would react to their press conference. She knew her mother, Vera, would be thrilled with the notoriety given the whales. On the other hand, she knew without doubt that Dr. Monica Turner from the State Department would probably be livid.
* * *
“I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS
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