Chapter 72: Trouble Part 3
"What in blazes is so important it can't wait until morning." Paul pointed over the rail and Cal stomped over to look. A man in a uniform glared up at them, flanked by men dressed in the same loose black clothing as the ones in the alley. "Who are you and why are you disturbing my ship?"
"Five men were found dead in an alley not far from here. I was told two of your crew were late. I want to question them." The man struck a pose which suggested he was used to immediate obedience.
"Why?"
"If they attacked and killed citizens of - "
Cal roared with laughter.
"You think Oswald and Jorges could take on five men? Only reason Os is still on the ship is he's small and useful in the engine room. He couldn't kill five flies never mind men. Jorges is a sailor, not a soldier."
"Yet, even so, I demand - "
"You demand? You demand? Did you see the fight? Any witnesses? No? Then go away and let me sleep. Keep a watch on the wharf if you must, but you aren't stepping foot on one of His Majesty's ships on some flimsy excuse. Probably one of you is an engineer and you want to steal the design of a good Anglian engine."
The man stared at Cal with his mouth open, then turned to snarl instructions at the men before stomping off.
Cal turned from the rail and lambasted Paul and Hank until she figured the official was out of hearing. She finished with orders to toss Os in the brig for causing trouble and marched back to her cabin. Bundo waited for her, dripping on the floor.
"Good." Cal sat in her chair and let out her breath. "What a fiasco. I'm sure they'll be back with reinforcements. If they want on the ship, there's nothing we can do to stop them."
"The paper is important?"
"A diagram for a machine. I studied it and burned it. Go through the ship. Anything which might cause trouble gets disposed of. I'm taking no chances. First thing in the morning, signal the embassy ship." She smiled up at him. "Thank you, Bundo. I knew I could rely on you to keep me safe."
Bundo grinned and bowed.
"One last thing." Cal handed him the clothing and cap she'd worn on shore. "Put this and some other things in one of the empty crew berths. Make it look used. We'll need someone to play Os in the brig. Maybe Franz can do it; they haven't seen him yet." Bundo nodded and left, closing the door gently behind him. Cal closed and fastened the porthole. The only one on the ship to open. Too filled with adrenaline to sleep, Cal lay on the bed and plotted.
***
At mid-morning, the official from the previous night returned in the company of an older man in an elaborate uniform.
"Many apologies," the official called up. "We are searching all the ships." He pointed down the dock where other groups of officials were being allowed on board. "It is a customs inspection." He stared at her with a completely blank expression.
"Customs?" Cal rolled her eyes. "Drop the gangway for these gentlemen, Second Mate. Then go make fresh tea." She was certain the official paled a little; he must have had Anglian tea before.
When the men reached the deck, Cal stepped forward and bowed low to the official. "My apologies. I am not at my best when freshly woken. I hope I didn't offend."
He bowed in return but didn't speak.
"Let us begin." The older official took out a notebook and pencil. "You may not be aware, but we've had problems with art being stolen and smuggled out of the country. All art for export will be stamped with a red seal."
"Very well."
Cal spent the rest of the day watching the two men very thoroughly inspect every nook and cranny of the ship. They opened each crate in the hold and picked through their contents. Cal ground her teeth as she took note of what looked nothing like scientific samples. There were rocks and bits of wood, dried herbs and odd contraptions, little of it labelled as it should be. Franz sealed up each crate as the officials were finished with them.
She convinced them to take tea and scones with her and Paul. They didn't touch the tea but finished off the scones and jam. When she was escorting them off the ship, Cookie ran out to hand them a wrapped bundle of still warm scones.
"Cap'n said you liked them."
The older official smiled and bowed as he took the bundle, then led the way down to the dock.
The next morning, a young boy hailed them from the dock and pantomimed giving the package in his hand to the ship. Cal had the gangway lowered and waved the boy up. He looked around with wide eyes before bowing and handing her the package. As soon as Cal took it, the boy fled. She sniffed and sighed.
"Tea."
The boy had hardly disappeared when Captain Jenkins hailed them from the dock. He was accompanied by a grizzled man in an immaculate dress uniform.
"Permission to come aboard."
"Permission granted, and welcome." Cal handed the package to Jorges. "Go make some for us."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
