Innocent on the run Part 7.

He pointed to a metal locker and pointed at Ricky. Ricky pointed at himself. Doc nodded. The room was just big enough for the two of them to stand in at the same time. There were blankets and sheets folded on the top bunk and a pillow. Doc had to back out of the cabin motioning Ricky to follow. Ricky left his bag on his bunk. They climbed back up to the mess room, past the din in the engine room, and when they got there, Ricky couldn't hear for a while. Doc showed him the hot water boiler which the crew used for making tea and coffee. 'One of your jobs is to see that the boiler doesn't go dry,' he said. 'If it gets dry, I'll have your guts for garters and the Bosun will probably keel haul you.' As Ricky didn't know what keel haul meant, he said nothing. Doc got two cups from hooks hanging above the boiler and poured them both a cup of tea from the teapot standing on top of the boiler. The boiler had a steel guardrail running around the top of it to prevent the teapot sliding off when the ship rolled. He got milk from an opened tin of evaporated milk and put sugar in both cups. They sat down at one of the mess tables. 'Your first trip?' Doc asked. 'Yes,' Ricky replied. 'I remember my first trip,' Doc said. 'It was 1930 out of Newport on a tramp steamer. They were all coal fired in those days. I was deck boy, mess boy, galley boy and steward, all at the same time. Slave labour it was, but at least I didn't have to trim coal. As the ship burnt up coal, the trimmers had to keep shifting the coal around to keep the ship on an even keel. They were shovelling coal from the time they went on watch to the time their relief came. Bloody hard, dirty work.' Another crew member had entered while Doc was talking, a big burly man in seaboots and overalls. 'Back on the coal burners are we Doc,' he grinned. 'Doc's sailed on them all son, you listen to what he says.' 'They were clean, them coal burners,' Doc replied. 'A lot cleaner and quieter than these diesel engines nowadays.' 'The pilot should be dropping off in five minutes,' the man said, ignoring Doc's comments. 'Come with me son, we'll go to the bridge.' They walked forward along the passageway, turned at a cross passage and climbed up a ladder. There were more doors on this level all with little brass plates above them. Second mate, Third mate, Second Engineer, Third Engineer, Apprentice. They climbed another ladder to the next level and the doors here announced, Chief Officer, Chief Engineer, Radio Officer, and the last door had Captain above it. There was another ladder half way down this passageway and when they got to the top of it they were in the darkened bridge. There was a light from the compass in front of the man at the wheel, but that was the only illumination. Ricky recognised the Captain's voice although he couldn't see him yet. 'Is the pilot ladder down Mr. Mate?' he asked 'Yes Captain, all ready.' The man who had brought Ricky up was evidently the mate. 'The pilot boat is almost alongside,' the Captain said. 'Take the pilot down please.' He turned to the pilot. 'Thanks very much Pilot, see you next time.' They shook hands. Copyright by Deric Barry 2005.