Pirates - Starboard Side!: A Simon Fonthill Short Story (Simon Fonthill Series) by Wilcox John

Author:Wilcox, John [Wilcox, John]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
ISBN: 9780749016500
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Published: 2014-02-13T05:00:00+00:00

And so the SS Bellingham steamed on through the next couple of days, cutting her way leisurely through a sea as flat as a blue billiard table and under a sun that beat down without respite, so adding to the tension of the passengers on board. It was a stress that ratcheted up when Dixon reported to Fonthill that the key to the weapons’ cupboard was missing, although it remained locked.

‘Hmm.’ Simon pondered for a moment. ‘It looks as though the boarding is near and Laxer is taking precautions. Does the ship have hydrants and hoses fitted on the upper deck?’

‘Yes, for washing down after coaling. But I wouldn’t exactly say that they operate at high pressure.’

‘Never mind. Show me where they are and how to operate them, can you – without attracting attention?’

‘Aye. It’s not difficult.’

It was a little before dawn the next morning when a discreet knock on their cabin door woke Simon and Alice. In the half light, fully dressed, stood Dixon and Jenkins. They slipped inside. The ship’s engines had slowed perceptibly.

‘This is it, I think,’ said Dixon, his face white in the semi-darkness. ‘From the bridge, Durham’s organising the rigging of lines to hang over the starboard guard rail, obviously to make the ship easier to board. Chung Li’s men are doing the work – and they’ve got their swords slung over their backs.’

Alice drew in her breath with a hiss.

‘Where’s Chung Li and the skipper?’ demanded Fonthill, slipping on his trousers and tucking the Webley revolver behind his belt. ‘And what about the chief engineer?’

‘The skipper is at the helm himself, as far as I can see, and I think that Chung Li is on the fo’c’sle, ready to let go the anchor. Macintosh is down below, with his Laskars, tending to the engines. It’s his watch.’

‘Right,’ said Simon. ‘Now here’s the plan. Freddy, you man the deck hose on the starboard side, ready to knock back any of the pirates if they board. Here, 352’ – he took the revolver from his belt and gave it to Jenkins – ‘you stand over us and shoot anybody who tries to interfere. Give me your knife.’

‘What are you going to do, then, bach sir?’

‘I shall cut the ropes they have rigged. Alice …’

She nodded mutely.

‘Do you have your pistol?’

‘Yes. Here.’

‘Good. You stand by, out of harm’s way as best you can, but be ready to shoot to back up 352 if we get into trouble. Is all that clear?’

Three voices chorused assent.

‘Good. But no shooting until we have clearly made sure that it is pirates who are about to board. Give me your binoculars, Freddy.’

It was noticeably lighter as the four slipped out of the cabin door onto the deck on the port side. The mainland of China now loomed as a great blue mass to starboard and Simon glimpsed the flickering lights of a fishing village only a couple of cables away. He drew in his breath. They had left it late!

He stole around the corner of the deckhouse, trained the binoculars on the shore and focussed them.

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