by John Molloy
“Look, it’s far too big. I’d only lose it.”
Threading it back through the chain, he placed it round her neck and remarked, “It’s beautiful anywhere.”
Henry pondered the earlier reaction from Tukola and when he had a chance while passing the hospital, he looked at the door. Sure enough, he saw scrape marks done most likely with a knife or a sharp tool. He couldn’t really make any sense of the scrapes; they were hurriedly done but they looked like a head and slits for eyes, mouth and nose, with little lines running down them like stitches. Maybe he was imagining things, he thought, as he turned and walked along the deck and sat down for a smoke. He noticed he was smoking a lot more since they left Colombo. He knew there would be a big investigation of all the crew when they arrived in Melbourne. If only he could contact Danny, his buddy in Perth, who he knew would make it his business to be in Melbourne when the ship docked. He would get him to tell the customs do a very thorough search of Tukola’s cabin. The customs men wouldn’t need search warrants and they could turn it upside down. He looked up at the boat deck and there was the captain and Pippa going for their evening stroll; ‘the old man’ as he was sometimes affectionately referred to, was besotted with this young daughter he never had. He escorted her to all meals and had her check with him when she was going to her cabin last thing at night. He or some officer escorted her from the bridge if she was late, which usually she was. He was so protective of her - much to Henry relief. However, he couldn’t help thinking that the murderer in their midst would surely be looking for some slip up or lax chaperoning to do the girl harm.
The tension in crew’s quarters was even more pronounced than before Dhanya’s burial. There was no trust among the crew, only suspicion and malicious whispering.
Henry was willing the ship faster as she plowed what seemed an endless furrow through the turquoise water. He wondered if there would be officials from Colombo waiting for them in Melbourne, and if so, would they have the arrest warrant issued in Bombay. The warrant would almost certainly mean that he would be sent ashore. And even if they were to accept that he was not responsible for Nilima’s murder, the crew would know that something was amiss, so it would be too dangerous for him to return to the ship. In effect, his role in the investigation would be over.
Days merged monotonously into one another until it was impossible to remember anything special about previous days. The sight of Cape Leeuwin on the south east tip of Australia was welcome as the alteration of course eastwards signified Melbourne was only four to five days sailing away. The weather turned remarkably cooler and light clothing was the order if you went on deck for an evening stroll. Henry resolved to hide the master key somewhere it would be near impossible to find. But there weren’t many places on a ship that a custom man might not look. And it wouldn’t do to be caught with it if the chief officer did somehow miss it. He decided to hide it somewhere away from his cabin. That evening he walked the after deck and again looked at the scrapes on the hospital door. There just didn’t seem anywhere to safely hide the key. He noticed small groups of men talking and eyeing him suspiciously as they stood around the decks. Some were going aft to have their little meetings. There were sea birds flying astern waiting for the galley boy to throw his bucket of food waste over the side. The lights of fishing boats were numerous now and also freighters sailing west with their cargos of grain, wool or frozen lamb for Britain. He heard Gary Conrad before he saw him.
“Wouldn’t mind being on her. Probably bound straight for Suez and then Britain.”
“No,” replied Henry, “I suppose it won’t be too long before we’re homeward bound ourselves.”
“Not likely mate, you don’t know this company well enough yet. We’ll surely have another six months before we see the white cliffs of Dover. At least we have a decent port to look forward to in Melbourne; plenty of civilized women those Asian girls are ok, but at the end of the day you can’t beat an Aussie tart.”
“I’d say you are right, but the crewmen are going to get a fair going over from the Australian police about the murdered girl. Our shore leave might be curtailed.”
“You’re can’t be serious, Henry. They surely can’t stop us going ashore that would be an outrage. The whole fucking crew would go on strike if they tried to pull something like that.”
“They know there’s a murderer on this ship and if they can’t find and arrest him, they’re not going to chance letting him commit crimes ashore.”
Gary slapped his hand on the gunwale. “As pussies are hairy, I’d say you’re right. The bastard will have to be caught or we’ll all suffer imprisonment on this tub, and fuck knows, the next port after that could be the same. I’m telling you now, if this bastard isn’t caught and arrested, this ship’s going to turn into a prison ship with us the prisoners.”
He cleared his throat and spat over the side. “Here have a lucky strike, I’m getting depressed what with all this whispering and suspicion, it’s turning out to be some voyage.”
They lit up their cigarettes and watched three of the elder inquisitors walking forward after their deliberations behind the poop house. They slowed as they passed and looked askance at them. It looked like all the young members of the crew were suspects and the older crewmen were now acting as judge and jury.
“Come on, we’ll go for a cup of tea and a sandwich. If this gets any worse I might contemplate jumping over the side.” Gary laughed at his own cynical humor.
There were a number of sullen faced men brooding in the pantry. The tension was getting too much - the atmosphere was now becoming septic. So when Henry and Gary got their tea and sandwich, they went out on deck to eat their supper.
Henry still pondered where to put the master key.
Danny was notified to travel from Perth to Melbourne to meet the ship and bring Henry up to date with their latest information which he had just received. After reading the file himself he was shocked to see two girls were murdered in Bombay and how Henry through negligence, was now a suspect for one of these murders. He would have to liaise with his counterpart in Melbourne and also get Henry’s side of the case; particularly how his name and address was found on the girl. He wondered if it was planted on her or did Henry stupidly have some kind of tryst with the girl. They would have to brief a team of detectives to interview all crew members and it would be up to the discretion of the chief of police whether to curtail shore leave. He could also come under local political pressure if word got out about this ship and the murders. He saw a warrant for Henry from the Bombay judiciary but it was marked not for the local police chief; it was to be kept secret between the members of the special force in case it might jeopardize Henry’s position. Danny now knew that at least the number of suspects was narrowed down to three. If there wasn’t a breakthrough before the ship left Melbourne, reluctantly, he might have to recommend withdrawing Henry from the case.
Two days before their arrival in Melbourne the weather deteriorated to south east gale force nine, a cold wind originating in the Antarctic was whipping and screeching around the rigging. The old man’s constitutional walk had to be cancelled. Pippa and the captain spent the time in his cabin discussing her future as she thought it might happen. The captain had sent a communication to the ship’s agents to arrange for accommodation for her until permanent residence could be arranged. He assured her she need not worry about money and also that her future education would be looked after. Her admiration for the kindly captain seemed boundless. It was obvious to all that he felt the same about his new ‘daughter’.
The captain had written a long letter to his wife of forty years telling her about the stowaway on his ship and relating to her how she would like her as much as he did. He vowed he would take her to visit Pippa when he had leave; a cruise would be a nice break for them both, even if it seemed a bit like a ‘busman’s holiday’ for him. He took special care to make sure she was safely locked in her cabin each night. He even asked her to come into him so he could see her to
her cabin and be sure she locked the door. She was under strict orders to open the door to no one and to shout out if she thought anyone was at her door; the captain’s cabin was in close proximity and he would hear her calls.
The sub list was going around the evening before they were due to dock in Melbourne.
“What the hell good is there in subbing if we can’t get ashore?” Gary whined.
“We needn’t take the sub in that case,” Henry reasoned.
The third mate came to their cabin with the sub list. “Now lads, how much?”
“I’ll have twenty,” Gary said. The third wrote it down.
“I’ll have the same sir.”
“Good! I have a list here. I don’t know whose idea it was, but everyone seems to be in agreement with it. It’s a present from all members of the crew to our young stowaway. You probably know she has no money, so it’s up to yourselves, there’s no obligation; give what you want or nothing if you so like.
“I’ll give ten” said Henry.
“I’ll give ten too. I think it’s a lovely gesture from the crew,” said Gary, smiling.
“Thank you lads, that’s kind of you. It will be appreciated.”
Henry was sorting cloths for washing. “Some people get it hard in life, but that young kid will make out ok. She seems to be intelligent and has a flair for the art.”
“You’re right Henry, and I’d say our captain will keep in touch to see how she’s doing. He’s really besotted with her.”
Henry went to the wash room with an arm full of cloths. He still hadn’t decided where to put the master key which he now carried in his pocket for safe keeping. Then he noticed the fire hose coiled up in its box on the bulkhead. I’ll just slip it in between the flat coiled hose. It will never be seen there, he thought. After making sure no one was watching, he quickly opened the box and hid the key between the third row of hose from the bottom. He closed the fire hose box. They’ll never find it there, he mused.
He was looking forward to meeting Danny; he felt he needed to discuss this case with someone and get another opinion. He went to the crew’s pantry and grabbed a sandwich and a cup of tea. Gary Conrad was stuffing his face with a double ‘doorstep’ sandwich. A couple of older men with scowls on their faces came into the pantry. Gary looked pointedly at Henry as the two shook their heads promptly walked back out. “I hope something happens in this next port to stop this suspicion among the crew. A fellow couldn’t keep sailing on a ship like this. Personally, I was thinking of jumping ship in Melbourne if it continues.”
“Bloody hell, Gary, there’s no need to take such drastic action. Jumping ship is a serious decision.”
“No, it’s not such a big thing to do here in Aussie. You just have to lie low until the ship sails. They can’t deport you or anything - you’re like a citizen here.”
“I realize that, but what about your family back home, what would they think?”
“I haven’t really anyone, only my mother and father and they’d understand. I’d easily get a job here and I know a few people who’d put me up for a while.”
“Let me know if you decide and I might be able to help you,” he lied.
“Thanks Henry, it’s nice to have someone to rely on.”
As he lay in his bunk trying to get sleep he kept going back to what Gary Conrad intended doing. This could throw everything into the melting pot; two suspects on board and one ashore in Australia - what a mess.
Pippa was still on the bridge at midnight when the watch changed over. The third mate pointed out to the second mate a ship approaching on their port side. She would pass well clear but the third mate was showing off a bit to Pippa. He had the aldis lamp (signaling lamp) out ready to contact the approaching ship. “I’ll just give her a call up,” he said to the second mate.
“Aye, do that.”
The wheelman changed and put the lookout on the wing of the bridge as it was too rough to have him on the forecastle head. Tukola was ‘farmer’ on the watch; that meant he had no duty only acting standby for the first hour, but he had to come on the bridge and fill the kettle and wash the mugs for the next officer’s watch. The third mate was making good with his signaling, the ship was nearly alongside and they could see by the lights along her superstructure, she was a passenger liner. They signaled their name and said they were bound for Fremantle and then home through Suez. She was a Shaw Savill liner, ‘The Southern Cross’.
The third mate gave them the name ‘Rangoon’ bound Melbourne from Bombay carrying a cargo of jute. The liner passed quickly - she was doing about eighteen knots. Pippa was excited with the exercise. The liner reminded her of her father’s ship.
With both officers accompanying her, they took her to the captain’s cabin.
“Hello Pippa, as you can see I’m burning the midnight oil, just finishing a few reports for customs and the ship’s agents. Come, I’ll see you to your cabin.”
The morning was bright and sunny; a blazing sun sparkled off the small wavelets. Sea birds circled the ship, their cries piercing on the warm northerly breeze. Despite the gloom on board, the saloon was a little more cheery than usual. The officers were chatting; even Sean Sweeney had something to say to the third engineer. It was eight thirty and the third officer remarked to the second, “No sign of Pippa, she must be having a lie in.”
“It wouldn’t surprise me since you had her on the bridge so late.”
“That wouldn’t keep her in the bunk this late.”
The captain came and sat at the table. Tucking into his grapefruit he looked around and saw Pippa’s place not touched. “Any sign of Pippa, it’s not like her to be this late for breakfast; has she been up on the bridge this morning?”
The third mate said he hadn’t seen her yet. Adding that he had just come down from the bridge. Maybe she is having a little lie in sir, he volunteered. The captain called Oswyn Welland who was leaving the saloon.
“Excuse me sonny.”
“Yes sir.”
“Go to Pippa’s room and call her for breakfast.”
“Aye-aye sir.”
Henry was serving when Welland came back in and spoke to the captain. “She is not in her room sir and her door is not locked, so she must be out around somewhere.”
“Get three other lads and go and find her and tell her come in for breakfast. Even if she’s not hungry, tell her I want to see her.”
“Aye-aye sir.”
The four crewmen split up and headed off to different areas of the vessel. After they had searched every possible place on the ship to no avail, Oswyn Welland looked down by his feet and saw a hair slide on the boat deck not far from her accommodation. He picked it up and knew it was hers - he’d seen her wearing it many times. He put it in his pocket and walking briskly along the alleyway met the junior radio man.
”Have you seen Pippa about this morning, Sweeney?”
“No, and she wasn’t down for breakfast.”
“Yes, we know that. If you see her, tell her to report to the captain.”
“I’ll do that. Do you think she has come to any harm?”
“Goodness no, she must be around somewhere.”
Oswyn went back into her cabin. It was still open so she hadn’t returned. The radio operator’s remark made him a little apprehensive. He noticed the bunk was very disturbed, the pillow was on the floor. “Good Lord,” he exclaimed, there was blood on the bed linen. He immediately headed back to the saloon and was met by the captain coming up the stairway.
“Sir, I think you should come and see this in Pippa’s cabin.”
Oswyn pointed to her bunk. The captain turned deathly pale and had to hold onto the bunk board to steady himself.
“Call the chief officer immediately.”
He ran down the stairs and into the saloon, the chief officer was finishing his breakfast.
“Come immediately sir, the captain wants you urgently.”
“What is it young man?”
“It’s Pippa,” come with
me, sir.
The captain was sitting in a chair in her cabin his head in his hands.
“What is it sir?” the urgency in the chief officer’s voice only added to the sense of desperation.
“She’s gone. Look at her bunk, what can I do?”
“Good Christ almighty, if she’s nowhere on the ship, we better turn round for a sea search.”
“Give the order reverse course and send the senior radio officer to me. I’ll be in my day room,” the captain muttered.
The chief officer took charge on the bridge and ordered all hands to mount look out. He sent two men aloft and the ship did a complete turn to reverse her course. Christ, he thought, what could have happened to her. How could anyone have gotten into her cabin? we were looking after her so carefully.
Men going up onto the monkey island stopped to ask the mate.
“What are we looking for sir?”
“The young girl is missing, presumed lost overboard.”
Their looks were incredulous. “Lost overboard sir?”
“Yes, I’m afraid so. Keep a good look out now.”
“Aye-aye sir.”
The captain had the senior radio officer in his dayroom and broke the news to him.
“I just can’t believe this is happening sir, you say you saw her to her cabin and she locked the door, how! Just how could anything like this happen? It just doesn’t seem possible anyone could have gotten into her cabin.
“Oh my God! The master key, exclaimed the captain, “I will check to see it is where it should be. I’ll do that now. Will you get a message away to our agents? Tell them the situation and we’ll let them know in due course our new E.T.A.”
“I’ll do that immediately, sir.”
The captain went to the chief steward’s room and asked him about his master key. He reached up and took it down off the key board.
“Here it is sir.”
“Would you know if it had been missing for a time?”
“I really couldn’t say sir as I’ve had no cause to use it.”