by Buzz Harcus
That set off another warning bell in Harry’s brain. Exploring the ship. That meant both Doyle and Ace were learning every aspect of the vessel. Why?
“Well, I’ve got some exploring to do too,” he said to Gueder. “I think I’ll take a tour of the belly of the beast.”
Gueder laughed waving Harry off as he disappeared from sight. Harry recalled how the oiler, Ernst, had placed a number of explosives below deck set to go off at night to sink the ship and kill off the crew. He had found the hidden explosives and nipped the plot in the bud. Were Doyle and Ace involved in yet another plot to sink Nurad?
His tour took Harry through the various passageways of the ship, checking and double checking, and finding nothing. An hour later he passed by Gueder, gave him a thumb’s up, and headed topside to talk to Captain Andress about his suspicions.
Something was wrong, he felt, as he stopped outside the Captain‘s cabin and knocked. He’d had this same feeling in the pit of his stomach when they were crossing the Pacific Ocean headed for China, and it had proven right. Two crew members were trying to sabotage Nurad and sink her in the deepest part of the Pacific ocean. Yes, something was definitely brewing among the new men and he had to get on top of it.
CHAPTER 16
Growing Suspicions About New Men
Captain Andress sat in his easy chair listening as Harry told him of his suspicions about the new men “They all tell the same story about the ship sinking, but when you get each of them alone, the story has just enough of a change as to raise my suspicions,” said Harry. “Alward said the ship went turtle, but that he managed to release several life rafts and a life boat for the crew. Yet, only he and the other three survived.
“Doyle said the ship rolled over, stood on it’s stern, then sunk, bow up. No other crew made it out, only the foursome. Ace Dingman said the ship went down bow first like it had plowed into the waves and just continued right on under. None of them showed any remorse about the loss of 30 crew members. Doyle said the ship was the Pollo Olympus.”
Andress had listened intently as Harry spoke, detailing his concerns with good logic. “I vill check out der ship Pollo Olympus and find out who der ship’s owner is, and who der captain vas.”
As Harry rose to leave Captain Andress said, “Sit, ve haf cognac.” Andress reached over to a small cherry wood table with a large lip around it on which sat a bottle of amber colored cognac. He carefully filled two small brandy snifters, then gave one to Harry. “To success,” he said, then downed the glass. Harry was surprised to see the captain slug down a whole snifter. Andress looked at him, waiting. Harry got the cue and slugged down the amber fluid. It burned good all the way down.
“Another,” Andress said. It was not a question. He filled Harry’s glass, then his. Instead of sitting down in his favorite overstuffed chair, he went over to the shelf where he kept his collection of pipes. He touched several before picking out a carved cherry wood. Harry took a moment to glance around. Same austere setting, very sparse. Two framed pictures of his former World War II cargo ships hung on the wall. He’d already heard the stories about the ships so, instead, sat back in his chair waiting.
Captain Andress took a moment to clean out the pipe bowl with his penknife, then tamped tobacco into the bowl, lit it using several stove matches, and finally blew out a plume of sweet smelling smoke. “Yah. I haf growing doubts about dose four men. I’m sure dey are all competent, but I vish I had more information on dere backgrounds,” he said settling back in his chair. “I vill check dis out personally.”
“I’ll feel better,” said Harry.
“Der boarder repelling practice vent vell, yah?”
“Yes. The men learned well.”
“I haf heard of pirates in the southwestern waters of the Pacific Ocean,” said Captain Andress. “Nasty business. Several fast boats. Many men vis machine guns. They attack quickly. Ve must be alert.”
“I think we’re ready,” replied Harry
Captain Andress sat quietly thinking, then looked over at Harry, a twinkle in his eye, a smile breaking on his face as he raised his glass, saying, “To you and Osa.” Surprised, Harry raised his glass. They touched, then Andress slugged his down. Harry followed suit.
“I vant to talk to you about Osa.”
Captain Andress took a couple of puffs on his pipe.
Harry waited, wondering what this was all about. “Osa is a beautiful girl, my favorite niece,” Andress said, “but I haf told you dat before. I am pleased dat you proposed to her. She is ecstatic—and I vant nossing but der best for her.”
Although his demeanor was warm and friendly, Harry sensed the captain had some thoughts he wanted to impart— important thoughts, and he should pay attention.
“You already know about her husband, Rudy, getting killed vis dat whore. Vat an asshole!” A stern look crossed his face as he looked at Harry. “I chust don’t vant anyting like dat happening to her again.”
“Understood, sir,” said Harry, quick to assure him, that Osa was the love of his life. “I intend to take good care of her, sir. Promise.”
“Marriage is a sacred event,” Andress continued. “I am concerned about der marriage, your religion und vere you vill live. I know you ver married before. You had children, und are now divorced.”
“Divorced, yes. Children, yes. Marriage? I haven’t gotten that far in my thinking, haven’t had a chance to discuss it with Osa—”
“You must tink of it,” thundered Andress. “I vant nossing but der best for Osa.”
“I . . . uh . . . I plan on talking to Osa soon—”
Andress took a couple more puffs on his pipe, then asked, “Vere vould you live?”
“Saginaw, most likely—”
“Vhy not Stockholm?”
“Uh, well, that might work—” Harry offered, beginning to sweat.
“She has her professorship vaiting for her back at der University.”
“Yeah. Good point. Yes, I do see your point.”
“Vat vould you do?”
“Uh, well, that’s another good point.”
Harry was sweating nervously. Andress had him under the gun and was turning the screws. Yes he loved Osa, but no, they had not talked about a damned thing as yet.
To stop the inquisition, Harry stood up, saying, “Yes, sir. I’ll have a talk with her tomorrow. I will let you know exactly what was discussed.” To his surprise, Captain Andress got to his feet facing him, a somewhat devious smile appearing.
Suddenly he moved into a boxing stance taking a couple of wild swings with his fists. Seeing the surprised look on Harry’s face, he laughed. “I understand you cleaned Bert’s clock. Dat vas good. I vas glad to hear it. He is an overbearing shit!” That brought a round of laughter from the two. “Good vork Harry. Now I shall see vat der bastards are up to.”
Harry went back to his cabin chuckling all the way. Andress never ceased to amaze him. He was on top of everything. He laughed aloud. Stripping to his skivvies, he got in bed and pulled a blanket over him . However, the captain’s comments about Osa, marriage and where they might live crossed his befuddled mind. Yes, they needed to have a talk, and soon, but then his tired body betrayed him as sleep overtook him.
The sound of tapping awoke him a couple of hours later. “What the hell,” he growled. What was going on up on deck? Groggily, he dressed, and headed topside. A crew of sailors, hammers and chisels in hand, were busy chipping paint.
Sven saw Harry and yelled, “Paint chipping time. Care to join us?”
“No,” Harry replied, but as long as Sven was involved, he decided to get a hammer and chisel and join the party.
Chipping paint was an on-going job aboard a ship, any ship: battlewagon to barge, even this fine grain carrier. Rust has a way of getting started and eating into the metal. It was a constant job fighting rust. Harry turned to, kneeling along with several others, and chipped paint. A large circle of rust soon appeared as the paint chips popped off. The rusty circle suddenly reminded
When Sven called a halt, Harry made a beeline for the galley. Osa had outdone herself again. Sliced ham, boiled potatoes, green beans, canned pears, fresh rolls, coffee and blueberry pie. The crew let her know she was tops, the best cook ever.
Osa laughed, enjoying the banter from the crew. Catching Harry’s eye, the thought, Mrs. Harry Martin ran through her mind again for the hundreth time today. It did have a nice sound to it. It made her proud of him. She would make him a good wife.
Harry sat alone at a table eating, and glancing time and again at Osa. She was the one. He knew it, but yes, they really had to have a good talk about themselves and their future. When he finished eating, Harry headed below to his cabin, hitting the sack for an afternoon nap. All kinds of thoughts crossed his mind as he settled in for his nap. Not just Osa, but those four guys. They were potential trouble, he just knew it. What he had to do was get on top of it to prevent whatever. Different tales of their ship’s sinking, loss of the entire crew except for these four. It really bothered him.
His alarm went off at 3 P.M. startling him out of a deep sleep. Rising, he exercised for thirty minutes, took a shower and dressed. As was his routine, he wore a blue denim shirt tucked into his khaki pants, leather belt and work boots. And, since the four new crewmen had come on board, he had carried his old USMC issue utility knife with him in his front right pocket. For some odd reason he felt better carrying the knife on his person.
He pulled on a Detroit Tigers cap Sandy had bought him one day when they attended a Tiger‘s game at Tiger Stadium. Detroit had beat Cleveland 6–3. He grinned, it had been a real fun day.
Dressed to his satisfaction, he headed topside, stopping momentarily to grab a sandwich and bottle of pop from the galley, then on to the bridge. The 1600 to 2000 watch with George Alward was about to begin.
CHAPTER 17
Tension on the Bridge
Arriving on the bridge early, Harry was met by Sven, the Second Officer, who told him the watch had gone well, although Bert Kilgrew kept up his irritating babble about pirates to the point where he and his helmsman, Otto, were ready to throw him off the bridge.
Third Officer, George Alward, arrived on the bridge a few minutes late, with apologies. “Sorry, gentlemen, I had some last minute things to take care of.” He conversed briefly with Sven, by which time Harry had already relieved Otto at the helm.
Bert brushed past Harry without a word. He was obviously still stewing about the old man getting the drop on him in the fight. Lucky punch. There would be another time, and soon; he‘d get even!
“We’re getting closer to the Philippine islands,” Alward said, taking command. He moved to the front of the bridge gazing out the large windows. With binoculars to his eyes, he scanned the white-capped seas ahead of them, then swept first the port side seas, then the starboard side seas. “Staying light longer now,” he commented, pointing toward the sun sinking lower toward the horizon. “Barometer’s still falling. No problems that we can’t
handle,” he said cheerfully. “Coffee?”
“Sure,” replied Harry.
“You like it black, right?”
“Like my heart,” Harry retorted, breaking into a grin.
Alward chuckled at the remark. “Yes. Black like the heart of a pirate. Kill or be killed, isn’t that the way pirates used to operate—like old Blackbeard down off the Carolinas coasts.”
“Just black,” Harry answered, “without the pirates!”
That brought a guffaw of laughter from Alward. “Black it is.”
Harry stood at the helm sipping his coffee, glancing periodically at the many dials, the compass and the radar. The seas rocked Nurad as she moved through increasingly larger swells. The barometer’s continued falling indicated serious bad weather ahead.
“What was the name of that ship you were on when it turned turtle?” Harry asked.
Alward turned around looking at him. “The Pollo Olympus,” he answered. “Why?”
“Nothing. We’re in for a good storm. I was just wondering what it must have been like to have your ship suddenly turn turtle during the storm. There must have been really big waves to cause it to suddenly flip over.”
“To be honest, I think the cargo had shifted. We’d been riding the storm for the best part of the previous day and night, and now in the morning, bingo! Like I said, Doyle, Bert, Ace and I were lucky to get off.”
“But to lose your crew—”
“Shit happens!” Alward said with a shrug of his shoulders. “I didn’t want to lose them; it just happened that way!”
Harry nodded. Thirty guys gone. No apparent remorse.
He was surprised a few minutes later when Alward said, “I want a side-arm to wear.” Alward slapped his right side. “I’d feel more comfortable going deeper into the south China sea with a loaded gun.”
Harry looked at Alward. He was serious. “You’ll have to talk to the captain or Sigmund. They control our armaments.”
“No problem. I‘ll talk to him later.” He turned away from Harry looking forward through the binoculars. “I understand you and Bert had a misunderstanding today.”
“No misunderstanding. I told him to clean up his act. Osa is a lady and shall be treated with respect.”
Alward turned, facing Harry. “Friend, let me tell you something about Bert Kilgrew. He holds grudges. You may have knocked him down, got the best of him this round, but he’ll get even with you. Mark my words. You best watch your back.”
“We have a brig on board if the need arises,” Harry retorted. “As far as Bert’s concerned, I think he’s an asshole. Any time he wants to mix it up again, the invitation stands. I’m not afraid of the sonofabitch!”
Alward grinned, and turned looking forward again. “I’ll say this,” he said over his shoulder, “Bert’s a bad guy to cross—”
“Are Doyle and Dingman as bad as Bert?” Harry interrupted. “If so, we can put them ashore when we reach Davao—”
“Not so fast, matie,” Alward snapped, angrily turning to him, his eyes hard on his helmsman. “Those three are my men,” he bellowed holding his index finger under Harry‘s nose. “They are accountable to me. You don’t have a thing to do with them! Any problems? I’ll square them away! You do not interfere with them; I’ll handle them!”
“Well see that you do,” retorted Harry just as sharply, slapping Alward’s finger away from his face. “We’ve got a good ship here and we don’t need some loose cannons hell bent to interrupt our operation.”
The bridge turned deathly silent. Tensely silent. Alward stalked away, stopped as if to say something, then shook his head. He looked to the west where the sun was dropping ever lower on the horizon. Ahead blue-black storm clouds were building. Al-ward tapped the barometer, then said, “I hope Sigmund’s a good First Officer.”
“The best,” retorted Harry. ”An asset to this ship.”
The bridge phone rang. Alward snatched it to his ear. “Martin? Okay,” he said handing the phone to Harry. “Captain Andress.”
Harry took the phone, moving aside while Alward took the wheel.
“Ve got dem, Harry,” Captain Andress said. “Ven you come off duty stop by my cabin. Ve haf to vork out a plan. Dos four men are dangerous. Der ship dey ver on, der Apollo Olympia, had been stolen by pirates. Der crew is still missing. Dey haf no idea who George Alvard is, but he vas not der captain. Der captain vas Matsui Osaka. Alvard said it vas der Apollo Olympus, vich is wrong! See me as soon as you get off duty.”
Harry hung up the phone and returned to his post at the helm.
“Something wrong?” asked Alward.
“No. He got a wire from some guy by the name of Matsui Osaka saying he would meet the ship at Davao. He wants me to read the damned wire and see if I can make heads or tails of it.
Dumb!”
“Yeah,” Alward said. He moved away looking out the front windows into the teeth of the forthcoming storm.
Chew on that one, Harry thought. I don’t know what you four are up to but we’re going to nip it in the bud. Pirates, he thought. Hmpf! Terry and the Pirates must have run into this situation. Yeah. Often some guy was a hero in the comic book, only to end up as the bad guy—a pirate! He looked at George Al-ward. Was he a pirate?
Alward grabbed up the phone and rang a number. Covering the mouthpiece, he quickly spoke into the phone, then hung up. “I talked to Gueder. Warned him about the storm and to be ready to slow the ship if necessary. Don’t want the screws out of the water and fouling up.”
“Yeah,” Harry replied. He studied Alward as he turned away. Something he’d said once about pirates had stuck in his mind, that when pirates take over a ship, sometimes they kill the crew; no witnesses. Had he killed the crew of the Apollo Olympia? No! No man could be that cold hearted as to kill innocent people.
CHAPTER 18
Man Overboard—Make that Two!
Osa quit the galley at seven o’clock and returned to her cabin. As was her routine, she took a leisurely bath, perfumed, and today, decided on slacks and black pullover sweatshirt. Tonight she and Harry had to sit down and talk about their future. It was very important to her.
She slipped from her cabin and, unnoticed, sneaked down to Harry’s cabin and let herself inside. Sitting on his bunk, she rehearsed several times all the important things she wanted to talk to him about: when they would be married—and she knew it was when they crossed the International Dateline—their religious affiliations, where they would live, meeting her parents, his parents, what to do with all that money, and as such thoughts weighed on her mind, her eyelids grew heavy. It had been a long day. She yawned; maybe she’d just lay down on his bunk for a few minutes before he came back to his cabin. Then they would talk.