Innocent on the run. Part 39.

Chapter 14. The Jamaicans were ecstatically happy as they trooped down the gangway to make their way to their homes. Ricky watched them go. They had been great fun to be with, and he had shaken hands with all of them as they left the ship. Immigration officials and a representative from the sunken ship's owners had come aboard when the cattle boat had docked. They had told the crew to be ready to be called on if necessary at the enquiry in Cuba. In the meantime they were free to go. As for Ricky, he would have to see the British Consul in the morning. He would stay aboard the boat for the night and would be sent for when the Consul was ready to see him.He went back to his bed of straw for another night. This time with only the pigs for company. They hardly smelled at all now. He was up quite early in the morning, and leaned on the guardrail looking at the view. It was a beautiful island, rich in tropical vegetation, brilliantly coloured flowering shrubs, bougainvillea, oleander and shower of gold, and many varieties of multicoloured birds and parrots. He could see some large low buildings in the near distance and some cylindrical oit tanks further on. Fields of vegetables and orchards of fruits stretched to the foot of some sharply rising hills in the background, where villas and large houses were partly hidden in the lush palm trees and foliage. To the left around the curve of the bay were the distant buildings of the city, reflecting the strong rays of the sun. It was a beautiful setting, the city nestling at the water's edge in a natural bowl, formed by the hills rising around it. At eleven o'clock a car pulled up at the ship and a Jamaican driver came aboard. The Captain talked to him then called Ricky over. ` Dis driver will take you to de consul.' he said. Ricky thanked the Captain, and followed the driver to the car. He set off towards the city, past the industrial sites, then through the suburbs, past the railway station and into the residential area. They drove slowly through the crowded streets of Montego City, where throngs of people jostled each other in the crowded markets. Huge varieties of fruits and vegetables, bread, cakes, and meats were on sale. Clothing, hardware, electrical, mechanical and handicraft stalls all vied for business. The driver sounded his horn constantly, creeping through the throngs of people who grinned at him and waved. He pulled up outside a white colonial style building, and told Ricky to go inside. There was a desk with a Jamaican behind it in the foyer, and Ricky approached it nervously. `I've got to see the Consul.' he said. `Name, please sir.' `Ricky, er Richard Davies.' The clerk looked at a list of names in front of him. `Yes, Sir. Please take a seat.' He indicated the easy chairs scattered around, and picked up the phone. Ricky sat in one of the chairs and waited. Half an hour later a tall, fair haired young man of about twenty five approached him. `Davies?' he asked. 'Er, yes.' The young man grimaced. 'Pooh, you stink.' Ricky flushed. ‘Yes, it was a cattle boat, you see,' he started to say... `Come!' the man said, putting his handkerchief up to his nose. Ricky followed him in to an office. It was quite spartan, with only the desk and one chair behind, and one in front of it. The man sat behind the desk. Ricky was about to take the chair in front when the man barked, `Don't sit. You've already dirtied one of the easy chairs.' He put a printed form on the desk in front of Ricky. `Fill that in.' he said. Ricky took the pen and filled in his details. When he'd finished, the man took the form and read through it, then threw it to one side. `Why did you stow away on the Jamaican ship ?' he shouted. Ricky was startled. `I, I wanted to get home to Wales,' he stuttered.'It was not going to Wales, it was going to Jamaica.' 'I didn't know that.' 'You should have made sure before you committed a criminal act and stowed away on a ship.' he shouted. `Why did you stow away, did you not have a return ticket ?' `No, I didn't. I was stranded when my ship sailed without me.' ‘What ship?' `The Llanerin. She was in Port Arthur.' `Why did you not go to the consulate. He would have sent you home D.B.S.' `D.B.S? What's that?' Ricky asked. `Distressed British Seaman. We have to do it all the time for drunken British Seamen like yourself,' he glowered. `Because of your behaviour, the British Merchant Navy is despised in every country in the World. You're animals, and a cattle boat is where you belong. If I had my way I would send you home in a cattle boat.' He threw some paper across the desk. 'I want a full report. The name of the ship you were on, the owners, the Captain, your reason, or excuse for missing it, and your home address and next of kin.' He bellowed, `Now write.' Ricky's hand was shaking as he wrote. D.B.S.He'd never heard of that. He could have gone to the consulate in Port Arthur and been put on another vessel going to the U.K . He'd gone through all this running, hiding, subterfuge, lying, getting shot at, for nothing. What a nightmare. He put down as much as he dared, giving his reason for ending up at Corpus Christie as flight from the police, who he thought would lock him up as an illegal immigrant. When he'd finished he handed it to the blonde man. He read it through and grunted. 'Well, at least you've admitted you were drunk and missed your ship.' he said. `Now I have to telegraph U.K. and check out your story with the shipowners. Have you any money?' `Yes, about thirty dollars.' `Then I suggest you get a room for tonight at one of the guest houses. They are cheap and clean. Have a bath and launder your clothes and be back here tomorrow at eleven.' He waved his hands in a dismissive movement, 'Shoo.' he said. Ricky walked out, seething. The bastard, he thought to himself. Snobbish, hoity toity bastard. If he's like that tomorrow, I'll punch his toffee nosed head for him. Outside, the sun on his body, and the thought of going home soon restored his sense of humour, and he went in search of a guest house. There was a row of houses in one of the side streets with vacancy notices in the front windows, and he knocked on the door of the first one. A large, round, black lady answered his knock, and to his request for a room, she grinned and opened the door wide. 'Come in, man.' she said. She showed him the room, a spotlessly clean, bright bedroom. It was perfect. The lady looked him up and down. 'You been working on de farm, man ?' `Cattle boat,' he answered. `Whee,' she said. `You'se best give me dem clothes, and I'll wash dem for you. Wait here a minute.' And she disappeared to reappear with a shirt and some trousers, socks and underwear, all beautifully clean and ironed. `Dese is my son's ' she said. ` He don't live here now, but you can borrow dem.' `Thank's very much.' Ricky said. `Now, you get changed. Have a shower first, it's right across the hall. Then you call me, and I'll wash your stuff. Just holler, Betty, when you'se done.' `O.K. Betty, thanks a lot.' Betty rolled out of the room, her great hips swaying. The shower was marvellous. Ricky stayed under for a long time, luxuriating in the sweet smelling soap, and the hot water which washed the stink of the pigs off him. He dressed in the clean clothes, which were baggy on him but clean, and he felt miles better. Betty came up the stairs when he called down and she gathered up his dirty clothes. ` Dey'll be dry and ironed by tonight.' she said. `An de front door is always open. Just come an’ go when you like. We eats at seven o'clock, so don't be late.' Ricky went out into the sunshine. He walked through the crowds in the market, smelling the flowers and fruits that were on offer. It was good to be clean again. He offered a stallholder an American dollar for some fruit, but she said, ' No, we take only Jamaican money. You must change it in de bank.' There was a bank in the next street, so he changed the thirty dollars he'd got from the skipper of the fishing boat, and went back to the market for his fruit. He walked past the library and the Coral Theatre, and along Gloucester Avenue to the beach. There was a steel band playing on the beach, the men dressed in colourful shirts and trousers, playing on cut down oil drums, each section of the drum top beaten out to produce a different note. The sound was fantastic, and people were dancing and swaying to the lilting music. Ricky sat on a bench and ate his fruit, watching the happy people on the beach. There was an open air bar under a thatched roof, and people were sat on the stools around it drinking from tall glasses decorated with fruit. Two poles had been set up with a long stick separating them about three feet off the ground, and some tourists, pink from the sun, were taking turns, trying to get under the stick in a Limbo dance. They were falling flat on their backs in the sand, until one of them mastered it, and the attendant lowered the stick another six inches. They shouted in glee, as the one who had done it, tried again and fell over backwards. The Jamaicans loved it and were hooting with laughter at the antics. The tourists made the attendant do it himself to show them how it was done, and he lowered the stick to one foot off the ground ! They all clapped in time to the music as he slid his body under the bar without touching it. A great shout went up as he completed it and he leapt to his feet, dancing around, singing ` Limbo, Limbo, get de Limbo beat.' Further on there were some boys playing cricket on the hard packed sand near the water's edge, so Ricky walked on a bit to watch. They were as keen as the men on the cattle boat had been, every stroke played with great concentration, and every ball bowled with ferocious determination. When the ball was knocked into the sea, three of the players would run and dive in after it, splashing around and having great fun in the breakers. People were swimming out to the larger breakers on flat boards, and standing on them when a big wave came along, riding the surf back into the beach. They were expert, riding up and down the huge breaker as it approached the shore and tumbling off the board into the shallows, before the wave dissipated it's power on the white beach. Ricky watched them for a long time, laughing at the antics of some learners who came along. They spent more time under the water than on top of it. It was obviously exhausting, as they tried three or four times to get up on the board, then lay on the beach recovering. He turned away eventually and walked back to the town. There were some really beautiful old buildings dating back to the late 1700's and early 1800's, and he stood in Charles Square looking around him. An old Jamaican man came up to him. ` Dey's beautiful old buildings, aint dey? ' `Yes, magnificent.' `Dat one over dere,' he pointed to a magnificent building. `He de Old Court House. Dat where hundreds of black slaves wuz sentenced to hangin' in 1832. Dey mutineed against de bosses. Dat building opposite, dat de Cage, which was de jail for de slaves. Dis whole place is a shrine to the hundreds of slaves who died in the uprisin', an' a memorial to the great Samuel Sharp who preached that all men is equal. He raised his eyes to the sky and shouted, 'Hallelujia,' before shuffling off, muttering 'De bad old days, ' and shaking his grizzled old head.

Innocent on the run. Part 38

Ricky ran to the dockside and to his great relief saw that the ship was still tied to the quayside. The only problem now was to get back aboard without the guard stopping him. He waited behind some packing cases trying to work out how to slip back aboard past the guard when a large box van pulled up at the gangway. The driver got out and opened the rear doors. ‘Muchachos,’ he shouted up to some crew members leaning over the side. ‘Por Favor.’ The crew trooped down the gangway and started unloading boxes from the van and carrying them aboard. Ricky slipped out from behind the crates, slid a box out of the van and carried it aboard. **** One week later, they were still confined to the ship in Havana. Most of the survivors had settled down into a routine. The time passed quickly if there was a little work to do, and Ricky had joined the crew of the freighter in painting the ship. The cargo was being unloaded and would take only another day, then they would start loading cargo for the return trip to Mexico. Ricky had asked the Mate if he could help in the painting, when he had got so bored that he felt like screaming. The Bosun had found some overalls for him and he had started on the superstructure. To go on the quay was out of the question as the guard was still at the bottom of the gangway. Ricky mixed with the crew at mealtimes and tried to learn a few words of Spanish. One of the crew could speak some English so they got along quite well. On the ninth day alongside the quay, they got the news that they'd all been waiting for. There was a ship sailing that night for Montego Bay in Jamaica, and they were all going on her. Everyone's spirits soared and the Jamaicans were in great humour, laughing and joking with everyone. Ricky had been with them so long now, that they treated him as one of them, and he was caught up in their enthusiasm. It was a very light hearted crew who filed down the gangway that evening, to board the bus that had been provided for them. The Spanish crew waved them off after they had all said their goodbyes, shaking everyone's hand as they left the ship. One of the Jamaicans started singing a calypso called, 'Time for man go home, ' and the others joined in, singing it all the way through the docks, to the ship that would take them to Jamaica. The bus pulled up at a large, smelly cattle boat that was resounding with the noise of pigs and cows. They filed on board and Ricky held his nose as the stench from the cattle pens assailed his nostrils. It was dreadful. The Captain came out on the wing of the bridge and shouted down at them to go inside, as they wanted to cast off. The smell of the animals was everywhere, a thick, cloying aroma that permeated every nook and cranny of the ship. It didn't worry the Jamaicans, but Ricky felt quite sick. They found the messroom and sat down to wait. The ship started getting under way, and after a few minutes the engine speed increased. The conditions inside the ship were terrible. The messroom looked as though it had never seen a mop or brush. Filth was ingrained in the deck and bulkheads, the furniture was battered, and stained from countless amounts of spilled food and drinks. A boiler for tea and coffee making was begrimed from being handled by very dirty hands, stained and blackened, with the piece of old oilcloth it was stood on, cracked and broken. Dirty and chipped mugs were scattered around, milk was spilled and left to harden in rings, and a bowl of sugar was lumpy and discoloured from numbers of wet spoons being left in it. Cockroaches scattered as people walked near them, scurrying back to their damp and dark dwellings, to hide before venturing forth again when the coast was clear, to suck at the sugar and partly eaten fruit that had been dropped on the floor and table tops. It was disgusting. Ricky stood rather than sit amongst this debris, holding his bag off the floor. The Captain of the cattle boat came in after a while, and told them that they would be four days on passage to Montego Bay. At the sound of the Jamaican port, a cheer went up from the survivors. They were very happy to be going home. The Captain grinned, exposing a huge mouthful of startlingly white teeth. He was a small round man with a black, cherubic face. ‘De boat look big,' he said. 'But most of it is for de livestock, so you have to sleep where you can find room. Of course, dere's plenty of room in de cattle holds, if you don't mind sleeping on straw.' He laughed, and his face split into a wide grin. `We had a complaint last trip, when a man slept with de pigs, that de smell was bad. It was de pigs what complained, man.' He roared with laughter, and the Jamaicans joined in. It was a huge joke, and they fell about, tears streaming down their faces. `Help yourself to the food and drinks,' he said and left them to return to the bridge. Ricky went exploring the ship to see if he could find a place to sleep that was not covered in filth. The passageways and ladders were encrusted with dirt, and he was reluctant to touch the handrails. There was no lounge that he could find, and after ten minutes of looking for a place, he gave up and went back to the messroom. One of the Jamaicans had been searching the boat as well and he came back and told them that he'd found a good place to sleep. A crowd, including Ricky, followed him and he led them down a deck and through a door. It opened out into a hold and there were pigs penned off at one end. The rest of the hold was free and there were plenty of bales of straw lining the bulkheads, so the men started laying it out on the floor, and laying down in it. Ricky did the same. There was no alternative. It was either suffer the unspeakable filth of the mess room or sleep in the straw, and the straw was much cleaner. Someone started singing calypsos, and the others joined in the choruses. They could make up songs about any subject that was named, and they had a great time singing about home, and bananas, ships and love. They eventually quietened down, as one by one the singers tailed off and slept. During the night Ricky was awakened by some tiny insects biting him, and he lay there slapping various parts of his body, until he fell asleep again. In the morning his legs and arms were covered in little red bites, from the fleas that had infested the straw. He ran to the bathroom and ran a shower, but all that came out was a trickle of rusty water, so he had to dress again, still dirty. Breakfast was some fruit that had been dumped on a table in the messroom. Ricky grabbed a Banana, an orange and a slice of melon, before they were all snatched by the Jamaicans. He took them up on deck to eat them as the smell below was dreadful. Not only was the odour from the ship bad, but twenty five unwashed bodies crowded into the mess room had their own aroma. The breeze was very welcome, as it was fresh air and also cooled the body a little. Though it was still early morning the sun was hot. Later in the day he would not be able to stay out in it for very long. The sea was as calm as a mill pond, the sun's rays beating down from a cloudless blue sky, heating the decks and sending small clouds of water vapour up as a fine mist. Ricky sat on a fairly clean part of the deck with his back against the superstructure, and ate his breakfast. He wondered if at last he was on the start of his homeward trip. It seemed like he'd been away for years. He was certainly more mature than when he'd left home a young, inexperienced boy. The experiences he'd gained and the situations he had found himself in, in the past two months, had done more to make him grow up, than years at home would have done. He'd had to think for himself, form his own judgements, and act on them, as well as to discipline himself to obey orders. He dozed off in the hot sun and woke with a start, as someone kicked his foot. `Come on, man,' one of the Jamaicans called as he went down the ladder to the deck. `We'se playing cricket.' They had chalked some stumps on the bulkhead and half a dozen of them were fielding, while one used a stick as a bat and another bowled a tennis ball at him. Ricky fielded out, and joined in the shouting when the fielders thought the man had been bowled out. The pitch was across the ship and people were perched on handrails and stood in the cattle pens as fielders. The cows looked at them impassively and continued chewing, while the fielders rustled around in the straw to find the ball. One of them had the others in stitches when he grabbed a handful of cowdung, when looking for the ball. They fell about laughing at his horror stricken face, as the dung dripped off his fingers. He wiped them in his trousers! There was nearly a calamity when Ricky, who was sat on the hand rails, leaned backwards to catch the ball and nearly fell over the side. One of the others alongside him caught him by the legs and two more rushed over to pull him back inboard. They all roared. They thought it was hilarious. Ricky was shaken for a while but the Jamaicans' sense of fun soon restored his spirits. `Hey, man,' one shouted ` Dat's no way to take a bath.' They played until lunchtime when one of the other Jamaicans came out to call them in to eat. It was rice and cold ham, cut into cubes, and one had to be quick to get a share, as it was placed in the middle of the table. The routine was to grab a plate and spoon, and dig into the bowls of food before someone pushed you out of the way to get his share. It was chaos, but done in good humour and high spirits. After washing his plate and spoon in the bucket of water provided, Ricky went back on deck. There was very little for them to do on board, so he followed the example of the others and sat in the shade, dozing. Once the sun had lost some of its power in the late afternoon, the men got the bat and ball out again and resumed the game of cricket. They were fanatical about the game, and not only knew the names of all the West Indian team, but also the English, Indian, Australian and South African teams. The game was, that if you got the batsman out, then you took over as batsman, and there were some hotly contested decisions, as the enthusiasm of the players wanting to bat, gave rise to some doubtful calls. Ricky caught a man out , so it was his turn in to bat, and he made such a wild swing at the first ball that three of the fielders grouped around him giving him advice on how to play defensively. They taught him the forward defensive movement, taking a step forward with the bat straight and the left elbow up in the air, and the rear defensive movement, swaying backwards on to your heel, covering your wickets, again with the bat straight up and down. They showed him the wrist movements to control the bat, deflecting the ball to either side neatly, and how to step out to meet a short ball and hook it for a boundary. They were very keen, and had been taught from a very early age how to play the game properly. Even with a piece of wood as a bat, and a tennis ball, their concentration when taking a stroke was absolute. The game ended when it got too dark to see properly, and they trooped in to the mess to get the fruit that had been left out for them. Once their supper had been eaten it was time to turn in again, and Ricky went back to the hold and lay in his bed of straw. He was getting used to the smell of the pigs by now, as it didn't seem to be quite so bad as it had been. The straw was comfortable enough, and he wasn't bothered by the fleas that night. Maybe they recognised a kindred spirit? He slept well after all the fresh air during the day. The following day passed very much the same as the previous one had, dozing and playing cricket. The food was exactly the same. On the third day they turned South into the Windward Passage between Cuba and Hispaniola, and headed Southwesterly around the southernmost tip of Cuba , making for Jamaica. The constant breeze was beautiful, and Ricky spent hours in the bows, breathing in the fragrant perfumes brought on the wind, breaking off only to eat. The Jamaicans also were spending their time looking out towards the horizon, waiting to get a first glimpse of their homeland. It was only with reluctance that they turned in that night, hoping that in the morning the beautiful island of Jamaica would be there in view before them. They were not disappointed, and at first light they were up on deck dancing with excitement at seeing their island off the port side. The ship was steaming well within sight of land and throughout the day they were able to name the towns and bays that they passed. Buff Bay, Port Maria, St. Ann's Bay, Salem, Falmouth. The coastline was very beautiful, with the lush green of the vegetation contrasting with the azure of the sea. Sugar cane, coconuts, bananas and citrus fruits were in great profusion along the coastline, standing back from the perfect white beaches. They sang songs and calypsos about Jamaica, until finally in the late evening they rounded the point at Donald Sangster International Airport, and steamed into Montego Bay. Copyright Deric Barry 2005.

Innocent on the run. Part 37.

The brandy had gone to Ricky's head and he felt a sensation of floating about a foot above the ground. He grinned hugely, overjoyed to be walking arm in arm with a beautiful older woman. Her scent was intoxicating and one of her breasts was pressing against his arm. He felt wonderful. Maria led him out onto the main boulevard and they walked through the throng of people happy in the company of each other. Maria was singing a Spanish love song and the young lad glided along as if on the crest of a wave. He loved the world, he loved Maria and he loved every person who passed, grinning at them all as if he’d known them for years. He had no idea where they were going and he didn’t much care! As long as he was with Maria he would go to the ends of the earth and back. She steered him up a side street and through an alleyway to a block of flats. Maria’s flat was on the second floor and she opened the door and led him in. The flat was beautifully clean, the floor polished to a high gloss, the covers on the settee newly washed and ironed. Pictures of Jesus Christ and the Madonna decorated the walls, and ornaments of Jesus bowed down under the weight of the cross as he dragged it through the streets stood on the mantelshelf and sideboard. Maria threw her purse on the table and went through to the kitchen. Ricky heard drinks being poured into glasses and ice being broken from the mould, tinkling into the glasses.  She reappeared carrying two glasses and gave on of them to Ricky. Holding her drink up to him she said, ‘Salud.’ ‘Cheers,’ Ricky answered and took a drink. It was delicious. ‘What is it?’ he asked. ‘Cuba Libre, Rum and coca cola.’ ‘Mmmm, its lovely.'Caribbean Rum Tasting (Google Affiliate Ad) He took another sip. She indicated the settee. ‘Sit, please, Ricardo.’ Ricardo! He swelled with pride. Ricardo! Better than Ricky any day. He sat on the settee and Maria snuggled up to him. She held his hand. Her hair was brushing his face as she had leaned her head on his shoulder. He drank to hide his confusion. He was getting hot, sweat breaking out on his brow and he could feel the hot blood in his face as he looked down and saw the front of her blouse sagging open, almost exposing the perfectly formed and slightly heaving breasts. She sang softly in Spanish. He said, ‘You are beautiful,’ in a slightly drunken slur, and she giggled. She raised his hand and placed it on her naked breast, raised her face to his and kissed him on the lips. ‘Ricardo is beautiful,’ she whispered. Her other hand came across his front and started unbuttoning his shirt. Her fingers played up and down his body, feeling the muscles of his stomach. She felt the money belt. ‘What is?’ she asked. ‘Oh, ah, valuables. Seaman’s book, passport,’ he babbled. She pushed his shirt back and kissed him on the chest. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled as a thrill of ecstasy shivered up his spine. ‘Come,’ she said getting up from the settee and pulling him to his feet. She took him into the bathroom and started the shower running. He watched in amazement as she started taking her clothes off. When she was naked she stood in front of him. Her breasts were beautiful with large brown nipples, her waist narrow and her belly curving downwards to two long, shapely legs. She was gorgeous! ‘You like?’ she asked. ‘I love,’ he answered. She crossed to him and started undressing him, dropping his clothes and money belt on the floor. When he was naked she led him into the shower and started soaping him down with sweet smelling soap. She gave him the soap and he did the same for her, marvelling at the way her beautiful breasts wobbled. They stood under the jet of stinging water, locked together, kissing until they were breathless. Maria turned the water off and reached for some towels. Wrapping one around herself she dried Ricky off and led him to the bedroom. She threw the covers off the double bed and lay down, opening her arms wide to him. ‘Ricardo,’ she whispered. The eager young lad nearly dived into the bed. She slowed him down by whispering soft noises in his ear, cooing to him and gently stroking him. Then, when he thought that he would explode and disgrace himself, she gently guided him into her and gave him his first lesson in lovemaking. Afterwards he collapsed, exhausted on top of her, and she ran her fingers up and down his spine, stroking, tickling, massaging, kissing his face and ears tenderly until he felt himself once again responding. She was magnificent, slowly and gently making love until, with sweat pouring out of the both of them the pace quickened, their breathing became faster and faster until at the crescendo she cried out long and low, her heels drumming on the mattress, her arms wrapped around him, holding him tightly against her. He collapsed exhausted again. Ricky awoke with a start. For a second he panicked, not knowing where he was. Then it all came back to him and he stretched luxuriously and yawned. Maria was at his side sleeping peacefully. The bedside clock told him that the time was 0750 hours and he realised with a sudden shock that he had to get back to the ship in case they found a vessel to take the shipwrecked mariners to Jamaica, and he would be stranded once again in a strange country. He jumped out of bed and raced into the bathroom, found his clothes and hurriedly started dressing. He was putting his boots on when Maria appeared in the doorway rubbing her eyes. ‘What you do?’ she asked sleepily. ‘I have to get back to the ship, Maria. She may sail without me.’ ‘Stay with Maria,’ she pouted. ‘I’d love to, but I must get back.’ He hopped on one foot, pulling his boot on. ‘Why you no love Maria?’ ‘I do love you, Maria. I think you’re wonderful.’ He fished inside his shirt and took out a note. It was a hundred dollar bill. He held it out to her. ‘Look, Maria, buy yourself something.’ She looked at the banknote and flushed scarlet. Her eyes blazed and she knocked his hand away. ‘You think Maria a bad girl? You think you have to pay? She snarled, anger contorting her beautiful face into a mask of hatred. ‘No, Maria, no. But I want you to have a present.’ ‘You think Maria a whore? she screamed. ‘A whore.’ She raised her hand to slap his face. ‘Out ,’ she yelled. ‘Out of my house, bastardo.’ She swung at his head but he ducked and she missed. Her head swung around looking for a weapon. Grabbing her hairbrush she lunged at him and slammed the brush down on his head. ‘Bastardo,’ she screamed. ‘Get out. Get out!’ And she lambasted him as he dashed for the door. ‘Maria, please,’ he shouted, covering his head with one arm, trying to unlock the door with the other. She continued slamming the brush down on his head and arm. ‘Maria not whore,’ she yelled. ‘Maria good girl. Out, out bastardo.’ The door opened at last and Ricky leaped into the passageway. Maria’s foot caught him in the backside and he limped to the stairwell with the furious girl still pursuing him, raining blows on him and screaming hysterically. He leapt down the stairs and ran for his life! In the alleyway he slowed to a walk and found that he was still clutching the hundred dollar bill in his hand. He thrust it back in the belt. Christ, she’d been furious, he thought. What a change in a woman. One minute tender and loving, the next a spitting hell-cat. He shivered. What a temper. He grinned to himself; then laughed out loud! She was magnificent. It had been well worth a few bruises. She had made a man of him. Now he was a real sailor. He turned back to face the block of flats. Maria was nowhere in sight but he waved to her anyway. Copyright Deric Barry 2005.

Innocent on the run. Part 36.

Chapter 13. Ricky searched the lounge in panic, but the holdall was nowhere to be found. One of the Jamaicans sat up on the floor and said, `What you doin' man?' 'My holdall's gone from the cupboard. Did you see who took it ?' ‘De steward came in earlier and was cleanin' dat cupboard out. Maybe he took it.' Ricky dashed out of the lounge and down to the mess room. The Steward was just putting his cleaning things away. `My holdall,' Ricky shouted. ` It was in the cupboard.' The Steward shrugged his shoulders, not understanding English. Ricky opened a cupboard in the mess room and mimed picking up a case in his hand. 'Ah,' the Steward said, and mimed throwing something. Ricky looked at him in horror. `Thrown away.' he shouted. 'Si. Trash.' and he pointed through the porthole. Ricky ran to the porthole and looked out. There was a rubbish container on the quay. Thank God. He dashed outside and looked over the side into the container. There it was. Along with a load of other rubbish including the junk that had been in the cupboard. But the Cubans had placed an armed guard at the bottom of the gangway to make sure none of the Jamaicans went ashore. Ricky looked around for something to use as rubbish and picked up a cardboard box that was on deck. He carried it down the gangway, hoping that the guard didn't know he was with the survivors, and he walked past him with his heart thumping and his stomach in a knot. The guard was leaning on the gangway smoking a cigarette, and Ricky, remembering the Spanish that Doc had used, said `Bueno Noches,' as he passed him. The guard grunted. At the skip a dirty and dishevelled tramp was standing in the rubbish at the far end, rooting through the junk for anything of value. Ricky climbed up on the side and threw the box in, grabbing his holdall and pulling it out from under some kitchen refuse. It stank. The tramp looked up as the holdall was pulled free and, with a roar of rage, he dropped the rubbish he was holding and tried to run towards Ricky, shouting, ‘Mio, Mio!’ The lad turned away from the furious tramp whose arms were reaching out to grab him, and fled. Thoughts raced around in his mind. If he ran aboard, the tramp would follow him and catch him. The guard wouldn’t stop him as he was standing with his hands on his hips laughing uproariously at them. It was entertainment to him. Ricky dashed across the quayside and out into the roadway, dodging cars and buses, the tramp in hot pursuit. He made it safely to the pavement on the far side and raced through the crowds of people, pushing and shoving, barging into people, scattering them out of his path in his haste to escape the clutches of the furious tramp who was shouting, ‘Alto, Alto.’ Spying a department store on his left, the lad dashed into the shop and mingled with the crowd of shoppers. Luckily the shop was crowded and he made his way to the far end of the ground floor. He waited behind a large pot plant and peered out from the foliage. The tramp was nowhere in sight. After waiting five minutes he came out from behind the plant and made his way to the side entrance of the shop. He walked out and was about to step off the kerb to cross the road when he spotted the tramp on the corner, looking around him. He dashed back into the shop without being spotted and watched the tramp through the window. He was mouthing something to himself, turning his head slowly from left to right. With a gesture of disgust the tramp finally gave up and crossed the road to the skip. Ricky watched him until he was out of sight then walked out of the shop and turned left, away from the dockside. He would have to lay low until the tramp gave up searching the rubbish skip. The street that he was in was narrow with tall buildings on either side. A few cafes and bars were doing good business, laughter and loud music coming from the open doorways. Ricky wandered on, clutching his bag. He glanced quickly inside the bag and found that the money was still there so he took some bills out and shoved them in his pocket. It would be best if he got rid of the bag, he thought. It was too conspicuous and also awkward to carry. Another worry was that he could get mugged at any time. There were some desperate looking characters in the streets. The brightly lit shops were crowded with Cubans and Ricky looked into a lot of shop windows before finding what he was looking for. It was a shop selling leather goods. He went in and inspected the range of leather belts on display. Some were thick leather with enormous buckles, others interwoven with leather strips and others fancily decorated with coloured beads. There were plain leather ones and others with intricate tooled designs. He eventually found what he wanted. A soft leather body belt with pockets sewn into it, big enough to conceal banknotes yet slim enough to go undetected under a shirt. He picked it out and paid for it at the counter. There was a bar next door, crowded and noisy and the lad went in and crossed the floor to the door with the figure of a man painted on it. The toilet stank with a breath-catching rawness, and he nearly gagged on the stench as he locked the door and transferred the money from the bag to the body belt, lining up the notes neatly before sliding them into the pockets. He tightened the belt around him and tucked his shirt in, before threading his way back through the bar and out into the street. The fresh air outside was like nectar and he gulped it down into his lungs gratefully. In a side alley up the street he threw the bag into a pile of rubbish awaiting collection. At a loss to know what to do to kill time, he wandered back the way he’d come and walked among the crowds on the main thoroughfare. The Cubans were a very happy crowd, nearly everyone smiling and talking to their friends as they walked. At a road junction, Ricky turned left again and walked up a wide avenue. The road had been pedestrianised and was decorated with palm trees and flowerbeds. Wooden bench seats lined the walkways through the sweet smelling flowers and people were sitting talking, laughing, some of them animatedly waving their arms about and gesticulating to get their point of view across.The cafes were full of people, the waitresses moving quickly around the pavement tables taking orders. There was a rich aroma of coffee and cigars in the air. Ricky sat at a vacant table and looked around. Most of the men were smoking large, thick cigars, blowing out clouds of thick, grey smoke. The waitress came to Ricky’s table and started speaking in Spanish. ‘Sorry,’ he answered. ‘I’m English. Well, Welsh, actually.’ ‘Ah,’ she exclaimed. ‘I spik inglis good.’ Ricky felt very relieved. ‘Oh, great! I’ll have some coffee, please.’ ‘OK. Coffee, cognac?’ He would have agreed with anything she suggested. ‘Yes, please.’ She scribbled on her pad and Ricky watched her as she wrote. She was beautiful with shoulder length raven hair, flawless pale skin, ruby red lips which were smiling at him in amusement, displaying perfectly white, even teeth. Her wicked, jet black eyes flashed with laughter as Ricky caught himself staring at her with his mouth open. He flushed scarlet as she laughed and turned away. Her blouse was cut very low and she forced her bosom out in front of her, tightening the thin white cotton material to breaking point. The tight, black skirt stretched across her hips and thighs rustled as she moved away and Ricky’s eyes followed her all the way into the café. She returned with a tray loaded with coffee a cup and saucer, cream and sugar  and a small glass of amber coloured liquid. She placed them on the table and sat down in the chair opposite him. ‘You are on vacation?’ she asked. ‘No. I’m on a ship in the port.’ ‘Ah! Sailor man. I like sailor mans.’ A man came out of the café, a dark, swarthy individual with a pock-marked face and a white apron tied around his waist. He called out to the waitress, ‘Maria, Maria!’ then followed her name with a staccato burst of Spanish. The girl with Ricky turned to him and shouted back at him in fast Spanish and he glared at her before turning back into the café. ‘He’s your husband is he?’ She burst out laughing. ‘That pig? No, but he want my body.’ She spat on the floor. ‘I tell him I kill him first.’ She raised her hand to her throat and made a cutting sign across it. Ricky took a drink from the glass in front of him. Immediately tears sprang into his eyes and he started coughing as the fiery liquid burned its way down his throat. Maria was convulsed with laughter as she got up and slapped him on the back. He croaked, ‘What is it?’ ‘Cognac. Brandy. It go with coffee.’ He sipped the coffee. ‘Wow!’ he said wiping his eyes. Maria picked up his glass. ‘Drink Cognac in one go, like so.’ She put the glass to her mouth and mimed throwing it down her throat in one movement. ‘Oh, right. Let’s try that then.’ He picked up the glass and shot the liquid down his throat. ‘Not bad,’ he whispered throatily as again, Maria roared with laughter. She stood up and picked up the glass. ‘I get you more,’ she said as she went across to the café. Ricky sipped the coffee, soothing his burning throat. Maria came out of the café shouting something over her shoulder at the owner. ‘He pig!’ she said, sitting down. ‘What you name?’ ‘Rick.’ ‘I Maria.’ ‘Yes.’ He agreed. She was much older than him, probably in her mid twenties, he thought. ‘How old you?’ ‘Eighteen,’ he lied and she nodded in acceptance. He had grown in height and filled out bodily since the start of the trip so he could easily be taken for eighteen. His tan had helped to age him also. ‘You come shore alone?’ she asked. ‘Yes, none of my friends could get away. They’re all on duty.’ ‘Oh, poor boy.’ She made her lips pout. ‘Maria cheer you up, yes?’ ‘Yes, please,’ he answered eagerly. ‘Drink up, then,’ she coaxed, and the lad took the glass and threw the contents down in one swallow. She clapped her hands in glee when he didn’t choke this time. ‘Good, good,’ she encouraged. ‘You learn quick.’ The owner of the café came out again ‘Maria,’ he bellowed, and again, ‘Maria.’ She leaped to her feet with an oath in Spanish and stormed across to him. Ricky watched in amazement as she stood in front of the owner with her hands on her hips and berated him in front of the customers. Everyone listened to her ranting at the poor man, they couldn’t help but overhear, as she was shouting so loudly. Some were laughing and some applauding her. Maria waved her fingers in his face and spat on the floor in front of him. She ripped the apron from around her waist and threw it in his face before storming into the café with the owner following behind, placatingly calling her name. She reappeared carrying her purse with the owner still pleading with her but she ignored him and crossed to Ricky. ‘I quit! Finish,’ she said. ‘Come, we go.’ Ricky stood up. ‘My bill?’ he asked. ‘I haven’t paid yet.’ ‘Forget bill,’ she said, taking his arm. ‘We go.’ Copyright Deric Barry 2005.

Innocent on the run. Part 35.

The Captain looked at Ricky. `What's you're name boy?' Ricky told him and he said, `If anyone asks, you're my cabin boy.' The captain and officers were given cabins to sleep in, but the rest of them made do with sleeping on the settees and easy chairs in the lounges. Ricky found a space on the floor of the Officer's lounge. It was hard on the back, but he didn't mind. At least he was out of America, and hopefully would be given a passage home from Cuba. The ship that had collided with them was a general cargo boat, plying between Cuba and Mexico. She was a lot bigger than the one that had been sunk, and as they were left pretty much to themselves, Ricky walked around the decks for exercise and spent hours leaning over the rails, gazing into the beautiful clear blue sea. Up in the bows there were no ship noises, and he watched the dolphins racing alongside the ship then leaping out of the water in front of her, the water cascading from their backs in rainbows, before diving to the depths again. Shoals of small flying fish leaped out of the water, fins working at a furious pace, as they soared for a few yards, then plummeted back into the sea. Some of them landed on deck, flapping around and gasping, and Ricky picked them up and returned them to the sea. The weather was beautiful, the sea flat calm and the sun burning down from a bright blue, cloudless sky. The crew were happy go lucky Cubans, chattering away in Spanish among themselves, not bothering the shipwrecked crew. The food was not very special but there was plenty of it. Rice and beans seemed to be the staple diet as it was served every mealtime, with some kind of spicy meat. There was plenty of bread and fresh fruit, milk and coffee. The two days passage would pass quite quickly, and after the initial shock of losing their ship, the crew regained their sense of humour. After all, no one had been lost, and they were going home to spend their survivors leave with their families, where they would be fussed over and treated like heroes. Most of the Jamaicans spent their time sleeping. It was amazing how many hours they could sleep in one session. They would wake up at mealtimes, go for their food, then go straight back to their chair, settee or place on the floor, and go back to sleep again. Any time Ricky went in to the Officers' lounge, loud snores would be coming from every corner. He had stowed his holdall in a cupboard in the lounge. There were just a few old books and papers in there, the papers being years out of date, so he assumed no one used it very much. Two or three times a day he checked the bag, and at night he used it as a pillow. The captain of the sunken vessel found Ricky on deck as they were entering Havana harbour. `Now, listen,' he said. ` Don't tell these Cubans that you were stowing away. If you do, they'll shove you in jail as an illegal. I've put you down as a crew member, so keep your trap shut, otherwise we're both in trouble.' `Thanks very much, captain.' `That's O.K. I wouldn't let my worst enemy go to one of their stinking jails.' `Won't they be suspicious that I'm a white kid ?' The captain grinned, ` Hell, you're nearly as black as me. You looked in a mirror lately?' The ship steamed in to Havana harbour and tied up at the quay. It looked to be a very beautiful city, with large impressive buildings in the Spanish style, and wide tree lined avenues filled with cars, buses and trucks. People crowded the sidewalks or sat outside the cafes, drinking coffee and talking in the early evening. The immigration Officers came aboard and gathered them together in the lounge, telling them that they would be transported to Jamaica as soon as a ship could be found to take them. In the meantime they would stay where they were, on the ship. They were not allowed to go ashore, not even on the quay, and anyone found to be disobeying would be jailed immediately. The Jamaican Captain, Mate and Bosun were told to be ready in the morning to leave the ship, for the start of a preliminary enquiry into the shipwreck. Time dragged for Ricky. It was boring being confined to the ship. The Jamaicans didn't mind, they went back to their sleeping habits to pass the time. Ricky wanted to go ashore to see something of the city, but he had to content himself with watching people and traffic from the confines of the ship. He leaned over the rails, watching the hustle and bustle of Havana, the cars honking and the brightly lit bars and cafes, and wondered how long it would be before they were sent on a ship to Jamaica. Giving up trying to guess, he went up to the lounge to turn in, and went to the cupboard to get his holdall. It was gone. The cupboard had been cleared out completely. Copyright Deric Barry 2005.

Innocent on the run. Part 34.

Chapter 12. Ricky came out of the cinema at eight o'clock after watching the show twice. He went into a burger bar and ate two burgers with a bottle of coke. Then, on his way to the docks he stopped in a delicatessen and bought bread, meat and cheese, and three bottles of coke. He was feeling great, happy to be doing something which might be the start of his trip home. It was nine o'clock by the time he'd walked to the docks, but the ship was still there, which made him feel better still. She was loaded, as all the trucks and dockers had gone. The gangway was still down and there was no one on deck. He waited in the alleyway across from the ship, keeping it under observation, hoping that there was not a watchman on deck somewhere, hidden from view. The cook came out from the after accommodation in his white apron, and leaned over the rails, smoking a cigarette. He was a big black man with a fat stomach, and he puffed away on his cigarette for a few minutes, looking down at the water. After a while he threw the lighted end into the water and went back inside. Ricky stayed where he was for another hour, but there was no further sign of movement on deck. It was getting dusk when he decided that it was now or never. Scanning the midships windows for anyone looking out, he quickly walked across to the gangway and climbed up to the deck. He hoped that to any casual observer, he would appear to be just another crew member joining his ship, carrying his bag. Turning aft, he walked to the accommodation, then crossed in front of the bulkhead to the Port side. He climbed the ladder up to the boat deck and stopped at the Port lifeboat. Untying the canvas cover at one end, he slid his bag into the boat, then hoisted himself up on the gunwale and slid in after it. He peered out from underneath the canopy, but there was no one around, so he fastened the canvas down again as well as he could from inside the boat. There was plenty of room in the boat, and he lay down on the bottom boards, putting his legs underneath the wooden seats. His bag he slid under his head and neck for a pillow, and he could hear the steady growl of the generators, far below him in the engine room, amplified by the thin steel of the decks. He was ecstatic. At last he was on his way. Just a few weeks on this old tub, across the Atlantic, and it would be back to good old U.K. He felt safe at last. The British crew would treat him as a bit of a joke. A stowaway, something of a novelty. He could see them now, gathering around him, slapping him on the back and laughing at his story of getting drunk at the party and missing his ship. The rest of his escapades he would keep to himself, there was no reason to tell them anything. It was quiet outside the boat, and he lay in one position until he became stiff with cramp, so had to change positions to ease the ache in his body. He looked at his watch, it was nearly midnight. He must have dozed off shortly after, because he was awakened by the noise of the crew lifting the gangway and thumping it down on deck. Faint voices came filtering through to him, then a roar which made him jump out of his skin. It was the main engine starting up and after the initial high speed clatter, it settled down to a steady pulsating beat. After what seemed an age, the engine noise increased and the ship got slowly under way, manoeuvring out of her berth. She crept out of the docks and made her way out into the channel, where the engine note increased as the Captain put her into Full Ahead. Ricky was delighted. He almost gave a shout of joy, but stifled it at the last moment. It felt great to be on his way home, and he lay in his cramped position, dreaming of his homecoming. It would be a great shock to his friends and family when he recounted the experiences that he'd been through. Of course, he wouldn't be able to tell them the whole truth, they'd never believe him. How could anyone believe that three desperate criminals had been so incompetent as to get blind drunk, forget to lock him up and then pass out giving him the opportunity to escape. What nonsense! they would say. How could they believe that he'd been chased around Galveston, shot at and nearly killed. Imagination, they would think. Yes, it was too incredible for them to understand. But truth is very often stranger than fiction, he'd heard somewhere. Anyway, he'd cross that bridge when he came to it, and he dozed off again, happy that he was out of danger. He woke with a start ! What was that? A noise of some kind had woken him and he listened , holding his breath. There were voices, and he could hear them plainly. Two men were talking together and laughing at some joke. Ricky looked at his watch, it was eight twenty. He dare not move in case the men heard him. They were very close. By their voices, they were not English. They had the drawl of some West Indian tongue. He'd heard that way of talking many times around the docks of his home town. It was the way the crews from the fruit boats from the Windward Isles talked. It was deep, resonant, and full of humour. They loved life and treated everything as a joke. He remembered going on a banana boat at home to ask if they needed a galley boy, and one of the black men in the crew had shouted `Catch', and thrown something off a shovel at him. It had landed at his feet and it scuttled away on black hairy legs. It was a huge Tarantula spider. He'd looked at it in horror, turned and bolted down the gangway. The crew members had roared with laughter at his panic stricken run off the ship. One of them had leaned over the rails, tears of laughter streaming down his face and shouted,` Hey, Man, you quicker dan de spider, an you got only two legs.' The voices outside the boat tailed off as the men went about their business and it was quiet again. Ricky eased his body into a more comfortable position and opened up the holdall. He could sit up comfortably in the centre of the boat where the canvas formed a tent - like canopy. It was dark inside the boat so he had to get his food out by feel, and he breakfasted on bread and cheese, washed down with coke. The weather was good, that was a consolation. The ship was rolling easily as she steamed along on the gentle swell. Ricky wondered where they were headed, and hoped it was a U.K. port, but decided he didn't really mind if it was somewhere on the continent of Europe. He could easily get home from there. The morning dragged on and about one o'clock he couldn't wait any longer, he had to take a leak. One of the bottom boards moved easily so he dragged it to one side and relieved himself in the bilge. He dozed off in the afternoon and woke at four thirty. It was still quiet outside so he ate the last of his supplies. He worked it out that at ten knots, the ship would have covered about 160 miles by now, so to be safe, he thought he could climb out of the boat about midnight, when they would have gone nearly 250 miles. The hours dragged, and Ricky kept looking at his watch willing the hands to turn faster. To pass the time he started reciting all the songs and poems that he knew, even the Welsh songs that old Griffiths their Welsh teacher had tried to drum into the class. He couldn't remember all the Welsh words, but he couldn't when he was in school, so it was no different. Half way through a Welsh song there was a terrific crashing noise, somewhere on the other side of the ship. It was a metallic screeching, grinding noise that made Ricky sit up in panic. What the hell was it? Voices were shouting, feet were running up ladders, the main engine stopped and a constantly ringing bell sounded the alarm. Ricky quickly untied the rope holding the canvas canopy down and leaned out of the boat, trying to find out what was going on. There was pandemonium on the boat deck ! Dozens of black men were running about in panic. One of them ran to the boat that Ricky was in, looked up and saw his head sticking out, and screamed. Another one shouted at him `Who are you, man.' `Stowaway,' Ricky shouted back at him, as more black men arrived. They started winding the handles to swing the boat out over the side of the ship, which had started to tilt at an angle. `What's happening,' Ricky shouted , starting to panic again. ‘We're sinking,' one of them shouted at him. `Collision.' someone else shouted. The boat was lowered to the level of the ship's side and about a dozen men climbed in. The two men at the winding handles continued lowering the boat to the water then slid down the wires. They cast off from the wires and started getting the oars out, pulling away from the stricken ship. When they got around the stern, they could see what had happened. A large freighter had collided with their rusty old ship, and her bows had cut a huge gash in the side. The freighter had managed to extricate itself from their ship, and the holed vessel was settling stern first into the water as hundreds of tons of water rushed in to her. Two lifeboats had been launched from the ship and were now making their way towards the ship that had sunk them. The only damage to her was a dent in the bows, otherwise she was perfectly sound. The boat that Ricky was in was being steered by a huge negro who was shouting and cursing the other ship and it's captain for all he was worth. `That stupid bastard came right at us,' he shouted. ` I'm turning away from him and he follows me around and crashes into me. He should be driving a pram, not a ship. Stupid bastard.' He looked at Ricky. ` Who the hell are you,' he yelled. ‘Stowaway.' Ricky told him. `Stowaway.' he shouted. ` Where were you stowing away to.' ‘U.K, I hoped.' ‘U.K? That rust bucket wouldn't make it across the Atlantic, man. We were headed for Jamaica.' Ricky's spirits sank. Far from being on his way home, he was going in the opposite direction. He wondered what other disasters could happen to him. Their boat bumped alongside the other ship and they climbed out of it, up the Jacob's ladder that the crew had lowered for them. They stood on deck watching their vessel getting lower in the water, until the other boat came alongside and the rest of the survivors climbed on to the deck. Everyone stood and watched as the bows of the stricken ship suddenly reared up out of the water, exposing the rusted keel, then slid backwards into the water as the weight in the stern pulled her under. There was a huge disturbance on the surface of the sea as the trapped air escaped from her, then she was gone and it was perfectly calm again, with only a few drums and some rope left floating on the surface. The helmsman from Ricky's boat turned from the scene and told them to go aft with the seamen. He was going up to the bridge to see the stupid bastard who'd crashed into them. They were herded into the messroom and given mugs of coffee. The crew of the sunken vessel sat around silently, shocked at the disaster which had befallen them, and the dreadful sight of their vessel sinking. They were given blankets to wear around them, and a seaman came around topping up their coffee with rum. After an hour, their captain came back to the mess room. `This ship's going to Havana, ' he said, taking the cup that he was offered. ` We'll get home from there, but I'll have to come back for the enquiry into the loss of my ship.' `How does he say he came to run us down ?' one of the others asked. `Says it was my fault. Says I turned in to him, the lying bastard. Well, I got plenty of witnesses. The Mate and the Bosun were on the bridge. The enquiry will get the truth out of the bastard. Meanwhile, we take it easy until we get to Havana in two days time.' Copyright Deric Barry 2005.

Innocent on the run. Part 33.

Once the Skipper and Hank had gone to their homes, Ricky got showered and made himself some supper. He didn't want to go wandering around the town in case the police were looking for him, but it had been nearly a week since he'd passed the new ten dollar bill, so he hoped that the heat had died down. He turned on the radio in the mess room and listened every time the local news came on, but there was no mention of the robbery. Feeling a bit more secure, Ricky locked up the boat and climbed up on to the quay. After a week of being cooped up on the boat, he needed to stretch his legs and get away from the smell of fish for a while. There were plenty of people on the seafront, and he spent a couple of hours wandering about in the cool of the evening. There were some young people playing volleyball on the beach and he watched them jumping at the net and slapping the ball down on the other side, amid cries of exultation, and laughter, as they tripped in the sand and fell full length. Further on there were people bouncing on trampolines, performing somersaults and complicated aerial moves, revelling in the applause from the watching crowds. The Americans seemed to do everything with great enthusiasm, throwing themselves into the spirit of things with gusto. He stopped at an ice cream stall on the promenade and bought a chocolate fudge, licking away at it while walking. Some young lads came whizzing by on roller skates and Ricky had to jump out of the way as they sped past, shouting amongst themselves. A street entertainer was drumming up business, shouting his patter to attract the attention of passers by and Ricky stopped to watch. The man had a wooden ladder which he was balancing upright on the promenade and attempting to climb it unsupported. He made a few obvious slips off it, before starting properly, balancing on every rung with one leg, the other one stuck out at an angle. It was a tremendous balancing feat, and he got to the top amid wild applause. He then took out three tennis balls from his pockets, and juggled them, sitting on the top rung of the ladder, all the time keeping up his non stop patter. People were throwing coins in the cap that he'd placed on the ground, and he slowly came down from his perch, thanking everyone for their generosity. Ricky carried on walking up Ocean Drive, around the curve of the bay until he came to the Corpus Christi State University. He decided that that was far enough for one night, and turned back towards the docks and walked slowly back to the boat, admiring the sunset that splashed colour all around the horizon. He locked himself in, and went to bed, hoping that he could go looking for a British ship the following day. It was ten a.m. before the Skipper returned and woke Ricky up by banging on the cabin door. He shot out of bed and opened up. ` Sorry Skip,' he said, ` I overslept.' Skipper grinned at him. `Fishing's tiring work, huh? ' `Yes, I slept right through.' Skipper counted money out on to the messdeck table. `There you go.' he said. ` Thirty five dollars.' `Wow ! That's a lot of money for a week's work, Skip.' `Well, we had a good catch. You must have brought us luck, we don't normally do that good.' `I'm not normally lucky.' `Maybe your luck's changing then.' Ricky hoped that Skip was right. He poured coffee out and got dressed as he drank it. Skip said, ` My other crewman is back from vacation today, so we'll be sailing tonight.' `Right, so you won't need me any more.' `That's right Rick, but don't hurry away, take your time, and I sure do thank you for helping us out like that.' `That's O.K. Skip. I needed the money.' Which was no lie. He needed clean money if he was stuck here again. Ricky spent all morning on the boat, and in the early afternoon said goodbye. He went towards the ship's turning basin, saw that there was nothing going on there, and walked around the piers looking for a ship with a British flag. After half an hour he was starting to lose hope again, when he stopped and stared in disbelief. It was definitely a red duster flying on that old, rusty freighter. He approached the ship cautiously, keeping alert for any sign of danger. What if the three bank robbers were keeping watch here in Corpus Christie. No, that was impossible, they couldn't keep track of every British ship that came to the Gulf of Mexico. He stood in the shadows opposite the ship and kept watch. The dockers were loading her with cargo. Loads and loads of boxes were being lifted off the quay in cargo nets and swung into her holds by the dockside cranes. Trucks were waiting their turn to unload as well. She was quite low down in the water, so she must be well on the way to being finished. He stayed watching for over an hour. There was a man with a clipboard on the quayside checking the cargo before it was loaded. The door in the building alongside Ricky opened and a man stuck his head out. ` Frank.' he yelled. The man with the clipboard looked up. `Phone.' the head shouted and disappeared. Frank handed the clipboard to one of the dockers and walked towards the building. He disappeared inside. When he came out Ricky was waiting. ` Excuse me.' he said. ` When's this ship sailing?' The man didn't even look at him. ` Tonight,' he snarled. Ricky faded into the shadows again. This was it. His luck was holding. He studied the old ship. It had been many years since she'd seen any paint. The superstructure had once been white and the hull black, but years of neglect had rendered her a horrible, dirty reddish colour, most of it rust streaks. The officer's accommodation and bridge was midships and the crew's quarters aft, with cargo holds in between. None of the crew were in evidence, the deck being manned by dock workers. Ricky turned away and made his way off the pier and into the town. He had some hours to kill before he would return to the ship and somehow sneak aboard to stow away in one of the lifeboats on the stern. He would need to bring enough provisions with him to keep him going for twenty four hours, by which time they should be well out into the Gulf. He doubted that they would turn back, just to drop a stowaway off. In the meantime, he would while away a few hours by seeing a film, so it was with a light heart that he walked up to a cinema and paid his admission.