During the long hike to see the amazing waterfalls of Dominica, the Captain spoke about his SeaSwan stuck in a lock-up in Venezuela. Khan and Olympia could see how much this vessel meant to him. It was the most that the Captain had ever spoken to them. The Captain explained that he wanted to pay off the fees and sail home to Plymouth. Olympia, struggling with the steep rough terrain, squatted on a rock and asked “What is stopping you?”
The Captain pulled a resigned expression and simply said “This contract!” He said that if he did not return to Miami with the charter yacht, safe and sound, he could kiss his salary goodbye.
Olympia smiled that ‘I can fix this’ reassuring grin with which she loved to disarm her friends. “Leave it to me!” she stated and twinkled at him, with the first of many waterfalls energising the very air around them. Khan pulled her off the rock and they continued battling the overgrowth as they aimed for an even higher vantage point.
Was it really THAT easy? Thought the Captain as he followed them. Olympia never seemed to be phased, no matter what was happening. Does extreme wealth do that for you? he wondered. Maybe it does. How would I know?
They did not return to the charter yacht until well after dark. They had eaten with Khan’s friends at the orphanage. They had spent hours with the children and were completely exhausted.
“Goodnight, Sir, Madam!” said the Captain, intending to go straight to bed.
“Khan and Olympia!” insisted Lymp, laughing. “Conspirators are seldom formal!”
—0—
Diamond Duhdashian followed Fanny’s every move and did her very best to copy. Regaining her usual elegance was paramount, so they were trying a few gentle exercises. The iPhone jingle announced a message and was ignored. Pru Dense waited for a response to her message for about five minutes before getting the hint to give up and get a life. She picked up her handbag, rummaged for her car keys and said “Pru Dense has left the building!” with a flounce towards the door. Tarquin Slain had announced that he was back in town and looking for work to keep him occupied. Pru gave him a call.
“Hi, Tarkie! Good holiday was it?” she asked when he answered, but she wasn’t really interested to hear about the Caribbean. She had other ideas. “Can I book you to photoshoot Dim next week?” and Tarkie was willing to begin filling his diary. “Excellent!” triumphed Pru. “Next Friday, at your studio, Christmas theme? Under your hat, mind!” Tarky laughed and said “Claro, jefe!” Why does he always show off how many languages he speaks? Wondered Pru, knowing fine well that Tarky’s wealthy parents had taken him all over the world and he liked people to know it. She knew that he had returned to London to spend Christmas with his generous family before jetting off to Davos for the annual butt kissing season with Klaus Schwab and his acolytes. Always an splendid photographic opportunity, and in close proximity to some excellent off-piste skiing.
Pru disconnected the call as she reached her car. She sighed as she settled into the driver’s seat, immediately switched on the radio and sped off to see her masseur who was waiting to treat her like fine wine. Ooh, I love this track!
Khan and Olympia were figuring out their plans and so far, they had a vague outline of the changes they were planning to make to the schedule. It was simple. Head straight for Venezuela, disembark with the Captain and send the charter yacht back to Florida so that the rest of the crew could be home well ahead of Christmas and paid in full at the end of the contract. They ran the idea past the Captain and he saw the sense of it so far. “Would you two care to come aboard the SeaSwan to island hop back to Antigua?” he suggested.
“Well, actually….” began Olympia, “We were thinking to accompany you all the way back to good ole Blighty! Let’s take the ‘lost luggage’ home! If that is acceptable to you, of course!” she added hopefully. “That way we can be in London for the New Year! What do you think?”
The Captain blinked. “Madam, er…. Olympia, sorry!” he was yet to feel comfortable using informal terms of address. “The SeaSwan is an Oyster 46 Ketch. She is less than fifteen metres in length and has zero luxury fittings!” He fished a small photo out of his wallet.
But Olympia was hugging herself. “I don’t care! That looks lovely!” she said firmly. “You two can teach me to become an old salty sea dog like you!”
Khan was laughing. “First sailing lesson - crossing the Atlantic in winter!” and both men struggled not to seem doubtful about this plan. But Olympia had decided. That was more than obvious. She was not going to change her mind.
“Have I told you about my heroine?” Olympia asked Khan and he shook his head. “Doris Duke!” she declared. Khan was none the wiser and Olympia reached for her iPhone to find him a link. Khan scanned the astonishing Wikipedia entry, whistled and said, “Guess who is MY hero?” and Olympia shrugged, she had no idea.
“Charlie Chaplin! Cos I must be as clumsy as him to get mixed up with the likes of you!”.
Under his humour lurked an excitement that he could barely contain. Do I want to see London? He thought…. and without a moment of hesitation he answered himself:
Hell, yeah.
To access all the episodes of this ludicrous fictional tale of social media influencers and their self indulgent life, simply go to the pinned comment on:
Episode 17 -https://francesleader.substack.com/p/diamonds-are-occasionally-dim
A winter crossing of the Atlantic...indeed. Not for the faint of heart.
Finally Lymp arrives at the first name hurdle and clears it marvelously, with the Capt...been waiting for that dough to rise, for a few episodes. 🤣🤣
Personal observation...as a rule I have no issue with those who have money, so long as they remember, that their chite stinks just like the rest of us. This past year during a road trip visiting friends, I was in the company of a multi-millionaire. My friend, is old friends/business associate with this guy and while we were out one day, we made a stop at said richie's abode. Pretty big spread, that was previously owned by a well know celeb. It was interesting to see the difference between the guy...a self made success & the plastic arm candy he married. He clearly enjoyed his money and success, but spoke and related to all at the table, as if we all grew up together. The wife was polite and welcoming, not snobby at all, but clearly was fixated on their projected image and facade.
Happy to see Lymp arrive, at the humanity ball. Can't wait to see her tango.