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Authors: Dennis Wheatley
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volunteered.
‘Thanks. I’ll tip off the Colonel and Mr. Vedras too. Between us we’ll watch him plenty.’ Luvia yawned and lowered himself to the bottom of the boat. It was many hours since he had closed an eye and almost instantly he was asleep.
Through the long hours of the afternoon the whole party tried to make the most of every inch of shadow, and where it was insufficient they hid themselves under blankets or odd pieces of clothing from their bundles. They sweltered there in acute discomfort, but that was better than suffering the agony of being blistered by the relentless sun.
Unceasing watch was kept for smoke trails or any other sign of shipping, but when sundown came, and the shadows crept in upon them from the surrounding emptiness, there had not even been a false alarm from the look-outs during the whole day.
By the light of a hurricane lantern Luvia superintended the distribution of the evening ration; a slice of meat, a biscuit and half a mug of tea laced with a dash of rum. The men could hardly restrain themselves from snatching at the pannikins. It was over seven hours since they had sipped down their third of a pint of water, and in the baking heat of the afternoon the thoughts of all of them had become centred in wishing away the crawling minutes which separated them from their next drink.
When the other members of the crew had gone forward Harlem Joe remained behind and sat himself down on the rear thwart. Having drunk his tea and rum in sips, rolling each noisily round his mouth, he looked at Luvia and said, ‘Der boys had a li’l meetin’ dis afternoon, Bass. Dey ‘pointed me dair spooksman to ask yoo one or two questions.’
‘Ask away,’ Luvia replied quietly.
‘Jus’ where d’you reckon we is right now?’
‘About a thousand miles from the coast of South America.’
‘Is dat so! An’ how do we go fer der eats?’
‘Our stores will last us about two more days.’
‘We’ll need to be a whole lot faster dan we are to git der in dat time.’
‘We may be picked up.’
‘Shoo—but say we ain’t?’
‘Well—what then?’
Harlem cocked his head on one side. ‘If der was less folks dey could make der eats last longer. Den dey’d stan’ a better chance o’ commin’ to der land.’
‘Perhaps, but fate’s already fixed our number for us.’
‘Fate! dat’s jus’ another word fer God. Well, Harlem don’t believe in God. No sur! He’s seen der mighty cities o’ der world an’ lived rich like der white people do. All dat Hosanna an’ der Lawd business is jus’ fer der poor coloured folk what don’t know no better.’
‘The fellow’s crazy,’ boomed the Colonel. ‘Never heard such blasphemous nonsense in my life. Send him about his business, Luvia.’
‘I’ll have you leave this to me, Colonel,’ Luvia replied evenly. ‘Go on, Harlem, but make it snappy.’
‘Shoo, Bass. I’d jus’ hate to make you late if yoo’s goin’ some place—yoo’s got a date with a dame, maybe? I’se a great one for der dames myself.’
A little titter of laughter greeted the Negro’s sally. The rest ofthe men had come quietly up behind him and settled themselves just beyond the circle of light on the midships thwarts, where they were listening to the conversation.
Luvia’s eyes narrowed. At that moment he would have given a lot for the apt retort that would turn Harlem into a figure of ridicule in front of the others, but unfortunately he lacked the gift of repartee. He itched to exercise his authority in a curt reprimand, but he was no longer on the
Gafelborg
and knew by what a slender thread that authority remained attached to him in these very different circumstances. If it was to be put to the test, it must be on some major issue where he could depend on the support of all the best elements of the boat’s company—not because Harlem had raised a laugh at his expense.
‘Never mind dates and dames, Harlem,’ he said mildly. ‘I was only trying to keep you
‘Thanks. I’ll tip off the Colonel and Mr. Vedras too. Between us we’ll watch him plenty.’ Luvia yawned and lowered himself to the bottom of the boat. It was many hours since he had closed an eye and almost instantly he was asleep.
Through the long hours of the afternoon the whole party tried to make the most of every inch of shadow, and where it was insufficient they hid themselves under blankets or odd pieces of clothing from their bundles. They sweltered there in acute discomfort, but that was better than suffering the agony of being blistered by the relentless sun.
Unceasing watch was kept for smoke trails or any other sign of shipping, but when sundown came, and the shadows crept in upon them from the surrounding emptiness, there had not even been a false alarm from the look-outs during the whole day.
By the light of a hurricane lantern Luvia superintended the distribution of the evening ration; a slice of meat, a biscuit and half a mug of tea laced with a dash of rum. The men could hardly restrain themselves from snatching at the pannikins. It was over seven hours since they had sipped down their third of a pint of water, and in the baking heat of the afternoon the thoughts of all of them had become centred in wishing away the crawling minutes which separated them from their next drink.
When the other members of the crew had gone forward Harlem Joe remained behind and sat himself down on the rear thwart. Having drunk his tea and rum in sips, rolling each noisily round his mouth, he looked at Luvia and said, ‘Der boys had a li’l meetin’ dis afternoon, Bass. Dey ‘pointed me dair spooksman to ask yoo one or two questions.’
‘Ask away,’ Luvia replied quietly.
‘Jus’ where d’you reckon we is right now?’
‘About a thousand miles from the coast of South America.’
‘Is dat so! An’ how do we go fer der eats?’
‘Our stores will last us about two more days.’
‘We’ll need to be a whole lot faster dan we are to git der in dat time.’
‘We may be picked up.’
‘Shoo—but say we ain’t?’
‘Well—what then?’
Harlem cocked his head on one side. ‘If der was less folks dey could make der eats last longer. Den dey’d stan’ a better chance o’ commin’ to der land.’
‘Perhaps, but fate’s already fixed our number for us.’
‘Fate! dat’s jus’ another word fer God. Well, Harlem don’t believe in God. No sur! He’s seen der mighty cities o’ der world an’ lived rich like der white people do. All dat Hosanna an’ der Lawd business is jus’ fer der poor coloured folk what don’t know no better.’
‘The fellow’s crazy,’ boomed the Colonel. ‘Never heard such blasphemous nonsense in my life. Send him about his business, Luvia.’
‘I’ll have you leave this to me, Colonel,’ Luvia replied evenly. ‘Go on, Harlem, but make it snappy.’
‘Shoo, Bass. I’d jus’ hate to make you late if yoo’s goin’ some place—yoo’s got a date with a dame, maybe? I’se a great one for der dames myself.’
A little titter of laughter greeted the Negro’s sally. The rest ofthe men had come quietly up behind him and settled themselves just beyond the circle of light on the midships thwarts, where they were listening to the conversation.
Luvia’s eyes narrowed. At that moment he would have given a lot for the apt retort that would turn Harlem into a figure of ridicule in front of the others, but unfortunately he lacked the gift of repartee. He itched to exercise his authority in a curt reprimand, but he was no longer on the
Gafelborg
and knew by what a slender thread that authority remained attached to him in these very different circumstances. If it was to be put to the test, it must be on some major issue where he could depend on the support of all the best elements of the boat’s company—not because Harlem had raised a laugh at his expense.
‘Never mind dates and dames, Harlem,’ he said mildly. ‘I was only trying to keep you
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