TITANIC: A STORY TOLD
Chapter Two
The safe, dripping wet in the afternoon sun,
was lowered onto the deck of a ship by a winch cable.
They were on the Russian research vessel Akademik
Mistislav Keldysh. A crows had gathered, including most of the crew of Keldysh,
the sub crews, and a hand-wringing money guy named Bobby Buell who represented
the limited partners. There was also a documentary video crew, hired by Lovett
to cover his moment of glory.
Everyone crowded around the safe. In the
background Mir Two was being lowered into its cradle on deck by a massive
hydraulic arm. Mir One has already recovered with Lewis Bodine following Brock
Lovett as he bounded over to the safe like a kid on Christmas morning.
Bodine waved a bottle of champagne.
"Who's the best? Say it. Say it."
"You are, Lewis."
Bodine gave Lovett an ebullient kiss on the
cheek, then popped the cork on the champagne bottle. Champagne sprayed
everywhere.
Lovett stuck a cigar in his mouth.
"You rolling?"
The cameraman nodded.
"Rolling."
Brock nodded to his technicians, and they set
about drilling the safe's hinges. During this operation, Brock amped the
suspense, working the lens to fill the time.
"Well, here it is, the moment of truth.
Here's where we find out if the time, the sweat, the money spent to charter
this ship and these subs, to come out here to the middle of the North Atlantic...were
worth it. If what we think is in that safe...is in that safe...it will
be."
Lovett grinned wolfishly in anticipation of
his greatest find yet. The door was yanked loose. It clanged onto the deck.
Lovett moved closer, peering into its interior. He dug into the safe, pulling
out an ancient portfolio and handfuls of wet paper. Nothing. He felt around the
inside of the safe. A long moment, then his face said it all.
"Shit." He stood up.
Bodine watched him, half with sympathy, half
with amusement.
"You know, boss, this same thing
happened to Geraldo and his career never recovered."
Lovett was too disappointed to be amused. He
noticed the cameraman still filming him.
"Turn the camera off," he snapped,
walking away.