Photo by: Barbara W. Beacham
Paying Tuition
Dropping her line into Fool’s Lake, she patiently waited for something to bite. It took but a moment.
She pulled hard on the pole….
She pulled harder…
She pulled really hard…
…and a Russian nuclear submarine surfaced.
Weight training class is getting results, mused Hannah.
The captain called from the conning tower in Russian. “Excuse me! We’ve had a navigation error. Is this Baltiysk Naval base?”
The Russian navy base?
“Nyet,” she replied. Luckily, she was taking Russian in college. “This is Sweden!”
“Chyort!” The Russian gathered himself. “Sorry! Please don’t tell anyone, okay?”
Hannah crossed her fingers, “Not a word.”
“Spacebo!”
The captain disappeared back into the sub.
She took pictures as the top-secret AS-12 dived. Swedish Intelligence had handed out cameras ever since Russian subs appeared in Swedish waters, and western analysts had wanted pics of this submarine for years. Now they would have them.
Hannah grinned and accessed her email.
College tuition? Paid!
________________________
Author’s Notes:
There’s lots of background for this story.
Russian Sub in Swedish waters:
Still looking for confirmation… http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29722500
Confirmed… http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/14/world/europe/sweden-russia-submarine-mystery/
Info on the Russian AS-12
http://www.nbcnews.com/watch/nightly-news/magazine-may-have-published-image-of-secret-russian-submarine-383421507810
http://www.inquisitr.com/1753490/russian-submarine-photo-outs-russias-top-secret-nuclear-sub-the-ac-12-losharik/
Russian Translations:
Chyort! = “Damn it!”
Spacebo = “Thank you.”
Every Monday, it’s time to finish the story. Each week, we get a photo prompt, and an opening sentence. This week, the sentence was, “Dropping her line into Fool’s Lake, she patiently waited for something to bite.” Look here for more stories based upon this week’s prompts: https://mondaysfinishthestory.wordpress.com/2015/02/09/214/
EagleAye
Momus News 
Brilliant I love the bi-lingual aspect and the great twist at the end~Nyet problem ~ 🙂
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Thank you! I only know a tiny bit of Russian, so some research was involved. Glad the twist was fun. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
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I laughed out loud at “weight training class is getting results”. I find writing funny stories rather hard, and you make it look so easy…
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I hoped folks would enjoy that. Funny stories aren’t always easy for me either. It takes a lot of thought…and sometimes a couple of beers. 😉 Glad you got a laugh. I’m so happy to hear that. Thanks kindly!
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Weight training can do so much? lol. Very amusing story.
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A very intensive workout, apparently. 😉 I’m glad to hear it entertained. Thanks very much, Indira! 🙂
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Haha–if only everyone could pay college tuition that way…though I guess your world is full of dangers! Nice one.
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A lucky break for Hannah. She happened to be in the right place at the right time. Glad you got a laugh. Thanks! 🙂
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Very funny tale. Thanks for teaching me some Russian Now I’m off to the gym to hit the weights!
Chris
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Haha! Let me know when you’re bench pressing battleships. 😉 Russian language lessons come free of charge. Glad you had fun, and thanks for stopping in! 🙂
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You never disappoint me with the story you compose, well done again. I think a photo of her face as the sub emerged would have been a sight to behold.
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You mean the photo with her eyes bugging out in shock? Yeah, that would be amusing. 😉 Glad to know I didn’t disappoint. I do aim to please. Thanks very much!
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Maybe she should go out into the Pacific where there are ships that sank many years ago. Who knows what treasure she can lift up off the bottom! 😀 Loved your story Eric! Thanks again for taking part in this challenge and I hope to see you next week! Be well… ^..^
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Haha! That would cover tuition and a whole lot more. Glad you enjoyed the story. Thanks so much for the kind words. See you next week! 🙂
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🙂 Loved the story Eric! See you next week too!
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Like Michael said, You never disappoint with the story you compose If the captain keeps making stuff ups like this, he and his sub are going to end up at the Kola Peninsular 😀
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Haha! No doubt. With a nuclear sub, he won’t run out of fuel very easily. If he ends up in the Pacific, I will laugh! Thanks so much for the encouragement. You give me the fuel to write often.
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I absolutely love the thought that you can throw in your fishing line in Sweden and pull out a Russian submarine. OMG the center of the earth is water! (That’s how my strange mind saw it). LOL!!
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Haha! I like strange minds, especially since I have one of my own. 😀 You know, when you go fishing, there’s always a size limit. I’m thinking she’s exceeded her catch limit by thousands of tonnes. 🙂 Glad you had fun, and thanks!
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Yes, she sure did! She was really strong too to bring up a nuclear submarine from Russia! haha! Loved it.
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Like your footnotes. You have a strange mind. Perhaps that is why I like reading your posts.
DJ
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It’s true. I really do have a strange mind, but I’m comfortable with it. Glad you’re enjoying my posts and footnotes. When I learn stuff, I love to share it.
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As an old submariner myself I found this most entertaining. Your stories are always entertaining so maybe a better word for this one would be “engaging”, I found this most engaging, as well as entertaining.
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Hehe. Either one sounds good to me. It’s good to hear the stories are having a positive effect either way. Thank you! That’s cool to hear you served on subs. I don’t think I could’ve done that. Too confined. I think I’d get claustrophobic.
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I love this one. A very funny story and great dialogue. That must have been an extremely strong (and costly) fishing line to pull out such a prize. At least Hannah’s set to have her tuition fees paid for her efforts. 🙂
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Haha! Well, the sub just happened to surface anyway because they were lost. It was mere coincidence. Hannah knew that but couldn’t resist an amusing notion. And yeah, she’s set for college, and maybe a job with the intelligence services. Thanks so much, Millie!
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It was a great story!
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Great story! I was not expecting a Russian submarine to be pulled out of the water. I love the line about weight training class. 🙂 That is one way to make your tuition fee money!
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Hehe. It surfaced willingly rather than got pulled. Hannah is no superhero, but she was sure feeling like one. Glad you loved that line. It’s my favorite too. Thanks so much! 🙂
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Great take. :–)
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Thank you! 🙂
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I like it. If you can see Russia from Alaska, I’m sure there are Russian subs in Swedish waters. Made me laugh. 🙂
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Hehe. That’s right. I wonder if lost Russian subs end up off the coast of Alaska? Might’ve happened. Glad to hear you laughed. It’s what I hope for. Thanks much! 🙂
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Hilarious, Eric. 😀 I especially loved the part about the weight training class, also her happening to be taking a class in Russian. Especially well done. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Cool. I’m glad to hear you got a laugh. That’s my favorite part too. Thanks so much, Suzanne! 🙂
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