Indiana Jones and the Philosopher's Stone by Max McCoy

Author:Max McCoy
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Published: 2014-08-11T16:00:00+00:00

5

Flotsam and Jetsam

The lights of London slid slowly past while the garbage boat continued its methodical journey to the sea. The sun had dipped below the horizon a quarter of an hour before, leaving the western sky smudged with gold, and the Thames resembled a dull sheet of lead. Sitting at the stern of the boat, watching the city recede in the distance, Alecia shuddered.

"You cold, miss?" the captain asked. He had a dark wool coat in his weathered hands.

"Thank you," Alecia said.

The skipper draped the coat around her shoulders.

"I'm afraid we haven't much to eat on the Mary Reilly," he said. "But you're welcome to what we have. Coffee, bread. Some cheese."

Alecia nodded.

"I'm sure it's none of my business, but if you don't mind my asking, what are you afraid of back there? Are you running away from something? Is somebody following you?"

"Something like that," Alecia said.

"A man, I'll bet," the skipper said. He made a sound in his throat. "I've got three daughters myself, and I understand. Seems as if the good Lord is punishing me for the transgressions of my youth."

Alecia smiled.

"Life will go on," the skipper said gently. He patted her on the shoulder. "I'll be up in the wheelhouse if you need anything. Don't worry, miss—it doesn't matter what you're running from, or to. You're safe while you're on my command. Even if she is only a garbage scow."

"I'm sure of it," Alecia said.

A pair of running lights on the river grew closer, and as they did she could hear the insectlike drone of an outboard motor laboring at top speed. Alecia went to the wheelhouse.

"Are you expecting anyone?" she asked the skipper.

"No," he said.

"Is there someplace to hide?"

"Not to worry," the man said. "I won't let anything happen to you."

"You don't know the kind of people I've been dealing with lately," she said. "They'll kill you."

The skipper made the sound deep in his throat again. Without taking his left hand from the wheel, he reached to a box on the wall and withdrew a revolver. He slipped the gun in his pocket.

The motorboat pulled alongside and throttled back its engine.

"Snopes," he called. "Forget those lines for now. Get up here and take the wheel."

The skipper relinquished the vessel to his first—and only—mate. He gave Alecia a reassuring smile and said, "You'd better stay here, miss."

A man leaped from the deck of the motorboat onto the Mary Reilly. He nearly lost his hat, but caught it before it went into the dirty river water.

"You'd better get right back where you came from, son." The skipper motioned with the barrel of the gun. "She doesn't want to see you."

"Jones!" Alecia called from the wheelhouse.

Indy smiled and held his hands palms out.

"It's all right, skipper," Alecia said. She came down from the wheelhouse.

"You want him here?"

"This is not one of the men I'm afraid of," Alecia said. "Well, not very much, anyway. Please let him stay."

Indy grinned and waved at the motorboat. It swung away, leaving a shimmering wake as it turned back toward London.

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