Monday, May 5, 2025

Two Tamas In Paradise; Episode 19, The Negotiator

This is the nineteenth episode of the novel Two Tamas in Paradise. It is the fourth novel in the Trace  Troy South Pacific Adventure series. It will be posted in episodes. The plan is for two or three a week. There are fifty episodes. It has not been published yet. The reader is given a sneak preview. 

It suffices to say that because this is one novel in a series, there may be things not understood unless one knows what has taken place in previous novels from this series. Here is a link to the first novel in the series: The Big Gamble in Paradisepaperback or Kindle



The Negotiator

Five days passed. Sage and Coyote traveled around Fiji. They played the role of tourists. They behaved themselves. They had a couple of meals with Adam and Trace, but they either came from different directions or headed in different directions before and after the meal.

Trace and Adam checked back with the bartenders. It results boded a dismal outlook. None of the prospects were legitimate prospects for working on a schooner. 

They drove to the dry dock. Trace wanted to check on the progress of The Tramp Islander. They walked around the boat. They were accompanied by a short, thin man named Higgins. A crew of at least half a dozen men was working on the hull. 

“When will it be ready?” Trace asked Higgins as they walked around the ship.

“In three days, it will be where we picked it up and ready to go,” Higgins said confidently and loud enough to hurry the workers.

“We replaced your main generator,” Higgins said. “Your backup is fine.”

“Did you check out the engine?” Trace said.

“Indeed,” Higgins said, “it has years remaining. It’s in tip-top shape. We did the usual maintenance. Oh yes, we replaced your prop and resealed the shaft.”

“Could you restock our oils and lubricants?” Trace said. “And make sure we have replacements for the things that might go wrong.”

“That’s a part of the usual service,” Higgins said. “I had our electrician look over your refrigeration and pumps. They work fine, but are not as efficient as newer ones. It’s something you might think about in the future.”

“What is it they say?” Trace smiled. “The future is tomorrow. Replace them. And I was listening to one of those captains of a yacht talking. He said something about a dishwasher. Can you put one in our galley?”

“It’s already done,” Higgins said.

“What!” Trace stopped walking.

Higgins stopped and turned to Trace. “Sure, there was this guy named Makani who came by here two days ago. He paid me cash to install one.” 

“Next thing you know, he’ll want a washer and dryer,” Trace said.

Higgins grimaced. “He paid for them, too.”

“Is there anything else?’ Trace said. 

“He had a small TV and VCR with headsets installed in his room,” Higgins said.

“Geez,” Trace grinned, “that kind of thing could cause real dissension on the boat. Can you put that in all the cabins?”

“They’re already on the way,” Higgins said. "Makani said that’s what you would do.”

“Kind of makes you wonder who’s the captain,” Adam said.

“In some ways, it is a different ocean than you knew,” Trace said to Adam. Then he turned to Higgins. “And you installed the new electronics, right?”

“All done,” Higgins said. “There will be a man come along when your boat docks to show you how they work. They do offer classes at a local college.”

“I’ve been on the Bering for three years,” Trace said. “We used all that stuff up there. I really like doing it old school, but sometimes old school can end you up in a life raft.”

“It’s good you have those skills,” Higgins said. “There’s a lot of new school seamen who are no more.”

“By the way,” Adam said, “I’m one of those old school guys. Back in the day, we never negotiated for the work done because we always trusted the work. After all, bad work could cost lives. But we used to haggle over the contractor's discount. You’re worthy of what’s yours, but so are we.”

“You are old school,” Higgins said. “I haven’t dealt with someone like you in years. We’ll split the contractor's discount.”

Adam winked and inquired, “Down the middle, right?” And held out his hand to shake.

Higgins grasped Adam’s hand and then Trace’s. “Half,” Higgins said.

“Let me know how much Makani spent,” Trace said. 

“I have it in my pocket,” Higgins said. “He said you would ask for it.”

“He didn’t order a hot tub, did he?” Adam said.

Higgins handed Trace a slip of paper containing all the money spent by Makani. “He’s a tough negotiator,” Higgins said. 

Trace looked over the bill. “There’s nothing on here for his TV, headsets, and VCR for his cabin.”

“He negotiated them for free if you got them for the other cabins,” Higgins said. “I told you, he’s tough.”

Trace and Adam walked back to the car.

“The next time I sell some cattle, can you send Makani to Texas?” Adam said.

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