Page 8 of Ruining His Smirk

August nodded. “It is. They’ve got an icebreaker cutting channels for them. One of the research teams has been taking samples from the seafloor.”

Dexter and I exchanged a glance.

August continued. “They found something.”

“What?” Dexter asked eagerly.

August’s expression softened for my brother. “A whale skeleton.”

“A whole one?” Dexter’s voice held a note of awe.

“A whole one.” August nodded. “Apparently it’s a big deal.” He turned to me.

August and I weren’t men of science, but everything we did was for science in some way. Antarctica was the only continent where research was the sole thing that everyone was involved in.

“Anyhow, they’d love to bring it up.”

“But…” I prompted.

“But the thing’s enormous.” He held his hands apart as though that explained everything. “And fragile. If they try hauling it up the obvious way, there’s every chance they’ll destroy the very thing they’re trying to preserve.”

Ah! I leaned back against the workbench. “So they’ve hit a wall.”

“They have.”

“And you think we can help?”

“I told him I didn’t know.” August pointed a finger at me. “But I’ve got a man right here who has an irritating habit of looking at impossible jobs and asking for a tape measure.”

I barked a laugh. “You giving me too much credit there, Chief.”

“Maybe,” August drawled. “But I’d rather have you tell me it can’t be done after seeing it than tell my friend no from the comfort of my office.”

I hesitated. That ship carried Nate. I’d challenged the man fair and square. If I showed up on his ship before he’d answered, I’d be caving in before the duel had even started. My note had been clear.

I challenge you to a duel, Nate Braddock. Meet me at Waypoint Station. We fight until death.

I’d asked for a rematch. The fucker had cheated the first time we had the stupid fencing match during the stupid holiday gathering and it’d been eating at me all year. If I went to him now, what was the point of sending the note in the first place?

“I don’t know, Chief…” I started when I saw Dexter doing that thing he did where he thought he was being subtle but everyone could see his eye twitching violently. I cleared my throat. “How about I think about it and let you know at lunch today?”

“Sounds good.” August turned around and started walking out of the workshop but then he paused at the entrance. “You know the heating system’s been down on its last leg?”

“I know it.” Government money meant it didn’t move until the thing fell apart. Funding was hard to come by.

August said, “The research group’s agreed to sponsor a full replacement. Brand new, state of the art, top to bottom.”

My eyes widened. “How the hell do they have that kind of dough?”

“That ship isn’t government funded.”

“No?”

August shook his head and flicked the ash off his cigarette’s tip. “Some billionaire sponsoring the whole trip and the ship is owned by him as well.”

I whistled. “Well, shoot,” I said. “Ain’t nothing to talk about then.”

August nodded at me with a twinkle in his eyes. The bastard knew he had me. “Think about it and we’ll talk at lunch.”