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CHAPTER 1
The River Front
Ecorse, Michigan river front. A man and a team of volunteer work non stop restore a Detroit Treasure. The focus of they're efforts was well aged riverboat named the Ste. Clair. A vehicle approached the dock and came to a stop. A well dressed middle aged man stepped out of the Land Rover. The man smiled with confidents as he looked upon the Ste. Clair. One of the volunteers caught sight of the man approaching, he put down the board he was caring, called out to the man. "Can I help you?" questioned the volunteer.
"I need to speak to Dr. Katzman, can you get him for me?" requested the man as he stepped closer.
The volunteer hesitated for a moment. "Yeah give me a minute." Said the volunteer as he disappeared out of sight. The volunteer proceeded To the center deck where he found Dr. Ron Katzman. "Ron there is somebody On the shore that wants to talk to you. It is some guy in a suit, he showed up in a Land Rover." Explained Vincent.
Ron just shook his head. "Oh great, I wonder what this is about?" questioned Ron as he left to meet the man. With in seconds Ron was a the dock rail of the Ste. Clair. The man caught sight of Ron. "Permission to come aboard Dr. Katzman." requested the man.
"Call me Ron. What can I do for you stranger?" asked Ron as the man approached.
"I want to talk to you about a business proposition." Explained the man. "Alright come a board, careful that plank is not that sturdy."
* * *
Explained Ron as the man stepped on the plank. The man easily made his way up the Plank then on to the Ste. Clair. "I didn't catch your name." asked Ron.
"Michael James." Answered the man as he shook Ron's hand.
"The Ceo of Zero Gravity Flight. That Michael James?" asked Ron.
"Yes Ron the very same Michael James. Call me Mike." Answered Mike "Well Mike I truly honored. So ..." Ron paused for a moment as he noticed another man boarding the boat. Ron then addressed the man. "Hey can I help you?" questioned Ron. The man stopped and stepped closer. "Hello my name is Pete. I am a Volunteer, I am here to join the crew on the second deck. I am here to help with the planks." Explained Pete.
The explanation surprised Ron. "Wait a minute we still have to weld the Main support. We wont be able to lay any planks until that is done." Ron paused The turned to Mike. "Excuse me for a minute I need to talk to the crew." Explained Ron.
Mike did not seem concerned as he was preoccupied with the Ste. Clair. "Don't worry about it, We are good, being here is like taking a trip down memory lane." Added Mike.
Ron and Pete then made they're way to the second deck. Mike turned Away from them and faced the front rail of the Ste. Clair. He then walked over To the rusted railing. Mike then put his hand on the railing and looked out onto The water. Saturday June 13, 1981 Boblo Island dock. Detroit riverfront. The Ste. Clair was ready to depart to pick up the last load of passengers For that Saturday. The crew was ready pull the loading platform when a frantic Woman showed up with a Detroit Policeman.
The man oppurating the platform was surprised, the woman and the Policeman quickly approached the man. "Stop the launch!" ordered Policeman.
The man then pulled out a walkie talkie. "I will do what I can." Said the Man as he turned and spoke into the walkie talkie. "Stop the launch we have a Police situation!" insisted the man. At that moment the engines of the Ste. Clair shut down. The line holding The boat were resecured. A voice came back over the walkie talkie. "You secured to drop the platform. This better be good." Insisted the voice.
* * *
The man Then threw the switch to drop the platform. As soon as the platform contacted The boats edge the woman ran aboard with the policeman close behind. Once aboard the woman ran to the back half of the boat on the first Deck, she frantically searched the rear deck. The woman's momentum was stopped by the sound of the policeman's voice. "Hey lady!" shouted the policeman.
The woman stopped to see were the policeman was calling from, she Then began to run to the front of the boat. She caught sight of the policeman. "Is this your kid." Asked the policeman pointing at a skinny teenager.
The boy had his hands on the front rail starring out into the river. The Woman approached she turned to the policeman and nodded yes, confirming That the boy was her son. The policeman stepped back and let the woman talk To her son. The woman approached the boy, she noticed that he was mumbling Something. She stepped closer. "Michael why did you run away from me On the dock? Why did you come back here?" question Gwen.
"I could of saved him. I could of saved him with a boat like this." Mumbled Michael. It took Gwen a second she then understood what Michael was talking About. Gwen tone suddenly changed to more sympathetic. "Nobody can bring Him back not even with a boat like this. We need to go Michael. We need to Go home." Explained Gwen as she reached out for Michael.
Michael slowly released his grip on the railing of the Ste. Clair. Gwen Slowly pulled him away and the three left the Ste. Clair. As they stepped off The platform began to question. "Is the kid going to be ok?" questioned the Policeman. Gwen shook her head yes. "he is adopted, his father died in a ship Wreck. We thought he would be ok. I guess he will need more time." Explained Gwen. "I wish you the best of luck with him." Added the policeman as he turned and walked away.
Gwen held Michael closer and began to walk towards the parking lot. "Come on time to go home." Said Gwen as the two made they're way throught the parking lot.
Years later on the front deck of the Ste. Clair, Mike's reflection Was interrupted by the voice of Ron. "So Mike what did you want to talk About?" question Ron. "What a memory." Mike said to himself, he then let go of the railing and turned to Ron. "I want to help you fix up the Ste. Clair." Said Mike as Ron's eyes lit up. Mike then continued. "I am going to need something in Return." Ron's facial expression change from excitement to disappointment. "and what would that something be?" questioned Ron.
"I want to take a trip with the Ste. Clair." Explained Mike.
This immediately drew a chuckle out of Ron. "You are aware of her Condition. The engines haven't run in years and she structurally needs more Work." Explained Ron.
"I have the means to make her worthy of travel. The first destination you pick, and you are satisfied we go on the trip I want to take her to." Explained Mike. "Is that so. Do you have any idea what type of resources it going to take to get the engines going. Most of those parts don't even exist. They will have to be fabricated." Explained Ron.
"I am not going to need the engines I can make the Ste. Clair move with a new form of propulsion." Mike confidently explained.
Ron was extremely skeptical. "Really you can this boat move with Out the engines. So do you plan to tow it." Enquired Ron.
"No I will not need another boat to make her move. I am not just going to make her move I want to make her fly." Explained Mike. Ron almost began to laugh. "You are aware the wait of this boat. This boat has a lot of history, a lot of people love this boat. It any thing where To happen her a lot of people would be very angry, including me." Insisted Ron. "You knew who I was when I stepped this boat. You know I have lot of resources. I am not going to waist my time if I thought it was a bad venture. I am serious with my offer. Let me prove it to you. Take time to think about It if you want. Take my card, call me when you have make a decision." Explained Mike.
Ron took the card. "Alright you got my attention. So how are you Going to make Ste. Clair fly?" questioned Ron.
"I know it sounds impossible, that what I thought until about a year ago. I met this inventor by the name of Paula Reins, she had been working on Hover technology. I seen a working prototype, it convinced me. I want to take The technology to the next level. That's where the Ste. Clair comes in. I want To retrofit her to fly." Explained Mike. Ron's stood there in shock, he then shook it off. "Make her fly. ...
* * *
Wait A minute. How big of a prototype? You mean to tell me you are convinced this Technology work so well you are confident it can lift the weight of the Ste. Clair." Insisted Ron.
"I am that confident. I also have to point out you decide the first trip and if you are not convinced then that where it ends no hard feelings." Added Mike. "That is a pretty bold statement. Lets say I agree we take both trips what dose that mean for the Ste. Clair?" asked Ron.
Mike just smiled. "You get all the funding you need to put the Ste. Clair in any shape you want her to be." Explained Mike.
"I am going to need some time to think about it." Added Ron as he put the business card in his shirt pocket.
"Don't take to long this offer dose not stand forever." Insisted Ron as he turned to leave.
Ron watched Mike leave, he then noticed Vince was standing there. "So you must of heard about the flying ship." Asked Ron.
"So you going to do it? You going to take the offer?" questioned Vince.
Ron just stood silent for a moment. "I don't know Vince. I got to do Something. On the one hand we could loose the boat to this eccentric. Or We get pushed out in the river by this dock owner. Sounds like a loosing Proposition either way." Explained Ron.
Vince agreed and the two went back to work on the Ste. Clair. Hours Had passed and the work for the day was done. Everybody had left the Ste. Clair except for Ron. He then secured a anchor line and was ready to leave For the night. Ron turned to notice something, there some activity in the dock area Next door. Instead of walking to his car. Ron walked over to investigate. As He stepped closer he heard a voice. "How are you doing neighbor." Said the Voice.
Ron turned to notice the person approaching. The man was short, he was Also an older gentleman with grey hair. The man wore a dark blue work shirt and Pants to match. "I finally get to meet you. My name is Larry. I own the dock right over there. You and the crew are so busy fixing her up, I never get a chance To say hi." Explained Larry as he offer to shake Ron's hand.
Ron accepted. "It is nice to meet you Larry. I wish my landlord was as Nice as you." Added Ron.
"Why thank you. I think it good you trying to save her. A lot of memories in this boat for me. I hope things work out for you." Explained Larry.
"Thank you I appreciate that." Ron paused for a moment and redirected the conversation. "So what's going in here Larry. You got a crew out, you are cleaning stuff up. What is happening?" questioned Ron.
"Oh we got a boat coming in, he rented the dock for six months. The man paid up front which is nice. But he freaked out about the stuff I had around the dock. So the crew and I are going to clean it up." Explained Larry as the facial expression changed as a thought came to his mind. "Oh by the way I owe you thanks, because my tenant thought it would be cool if his boat was parked next to the famous Boblo boat. The Ste. Clair." Explained Larry.
"I am glad I was able to help. If you ever want a tour of the Ste. Clair don't hesitate to ask." Added Ron. "That's good. Thank you for the offer. I am sure after we get the dock cleaned up. It is probably going to take all night and that's ok. I will definitely take you up on that offer." Explained Larry.
"You just wave me down on the down on the boat." Ron then had another thought. "No I have a better idea, I am going to give you my number, any time you want a tour give me a call." Explained Ron.
Larry just smiled. "Thank you I will do that." Added Larry as the two Exchanged numbers. A moment later Larry was call back to his clean up by one On his crew. Ron then left and went home. A couple hours had past Larry and His crew had just about finished they're clean up. When Larry noticed a A tug boat approaching, he then see two vehicles arrived at the Ste. Clair's Dock. Larry stopped what he was doing and approached one of vehicles He stopped at the edge of his property and called out to the man getting out of the car.
The man did not respond, he just pulled out a walkie talkie and began To speak into it.
Larry turned to notice the tug boat getting closer. Larry pulled out his Cell phone and called Ron. After about ten rings Ron picked up. Larry heard A semi coherent Hello on the other end. "This is Larry at the dock, we got Man down here at your dock and a tug boat next to the Ste. Clair. You better Get down here quick." Explained Larry.
Ron jumped up out of bed, got dressed and ran to his car. Back at the Dock Larry approached the man on the walkie talkie. "Hey Buddy what's Going on here? I called the owner he is on his way." Explained Larry.
The man put his walkie talkie down. "Just doing my job mister. The Owner of this dock want this boat gone." Explained the man.
"Ah come on give me a break. That boat is Ste. Clair The Boblo boat. I need just a couple of minutes to the owner gets here." Pleaded Larry.
The man paused for moment, he then got on his walkie talkie. "Hold Up for a minute." He then turned to Larry. "Your man better be here quick." Insisted the man.
"Thank you." Said Larry as he notice the tug boat shining its lights on the Ste. Clair.
A couple of tense minutes had passed, Larry was relived to see Ron Had arrived. Ron's car entered the dock area and came skidding to a halt. He Then jumped out of the car. "What the Hell is going on here?" asked Ron.
The man turned and quickly addressed Ron. "My name is Sid, I have Been hired by your land lord to remove this boat." Insisted Sid as he handed Ron the eviction paper work.
"Wait a minute, he said he was going to give me more time. I have no way of moving it." Pleaded Ron.
"I am sorry man there is nothing I can do. It is just business the boat has got to go." Explained Sid.
Ron was speechless. He then looked at Larry, he was about to Ask to use Larry's dock but he knew he had another boat coming in a Couple of hours. Ron then turned back to Sid. "So what happens from Here?" questioned Ron. "Dose the Ste. Clair have an anchor?" asked Sid as Ron shook his head no. "We have a make shift anchor on the tug. We are going to have to tow you out of the dock and put you in the shallow part of the river. That is the best I can do." Explained Sid.
Ron realized his options where exhausted. "Thank you for at Least doing that." Added Ron.
Sid then began to talk on the walkie talkie. "I need a line an Anchor for the Ste. Clair. We are going to tow her to the shallows" instructed Sid as the tug boat moved in position.
Something the occurred to Ron, he pulled out his cell phone and Went through his contacts. The contact list on the phone scrolled down, Ron Stopped it at Mike James and placed the call. The phone rang for a couple Of moments then came the voice mail. "Mr. James this is Ron Katzman the Owner of the Ste. Clair I am interested in taking you up in that offer. They Are pushing the boat out to the river. Where it will be anchored I will be Waiting on the Ste. Clair until tomorrow afternoon. Call me back." Said Ron.
The expressions in the faces of Sid and Larry were that of astonish-Ment. "Look man that is extremely dangerous." Advised Sid.
"Look I started this project and I am going to finish this project." Explained Ron.
Sid could not believe what he was hearing. He then got on the Walkie talkie again. "I want you to ready a life boat, attach it to the Ste. Clair once you drop it." Ordered Sid.
"Thanks again." Said Ron as he began to walk towards the Ste. Clair. Once he arrived at the Ste. Clair Ron began to loosen up the anchor lines. The Final line was done, Ron then threw it in the deck of the Ste. Clair. Ron noticed The boat began to drift, Ron immediately ran across the plant and boarded the Ste. Clair. Ron ran to the other side of the boat and acknowledged he was aboard. The tug boat hooked up a tow line and began to pull the Ste. Clair. Ron felt he was in uncharted territory as the Ste. Clair began to move. The journey took all of ten minute to get the boat shallow part of the river. The Tug boat then came to a stop, the Ste. Clair drifted up to the back of tug and bump It to it stopped. A moment had passed Ron heard someone boarding the boat. He Went to investigate, and found a man with a anchor and chain loading on to the Front deck of the Ste. Clair. The man looked at Ron. "Hello my name is Juan, Give me a hand with this chain." Instructed Juan as Ron rushed to help.
"Where can I secure this chain?" asked Juan as they dragged the last bit of chain on the deck of the Ste. Clair.
Ron took a look around and found a suitable stop. "Right there." Instructed Ron as he pointed out a place to mount the chain. The two men took The end and secured it to the front of the boat. Juan then asked Ron to help With the anchor. The two men threw the anchor overboard, the anchor only took Up three quarters of the chain. Juan helped Ron make the adjustment on the Chain to keep the boat from drifting.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "Skies of November"
by .
Copyright © 2018 Timothy McDonnell.
Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
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