The Atlas Murders by John Molloy

Author:John Molloy [Molloy, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Mystery, Retail, Suspense, Thriller
Amazon: B00EWDSRFG
Publisher: The Electronic Book Company
Published: 2013-08-30T04:00:00+00:00

Three days out to sea and work was progressing in the forward holds. The weather was becoming remarkably warmer. Henry tossed around in his head the idea of Tukola’s cabin search, and now that both he and his roommate were on day work, it would be nigh impossible to search while they were on deck. Even with the master key, it would still be too dangerous. He pondered the consequences if he were caught. He would be hauled before the captain and branded as a thief; a serious charge on a ship, akin to being a leper. No, he knew he’d have only one chance and that would be somewhere going through the Panama Canal, so he’d have to wait.

The captain called the mate on the bridge and asked him to call into his cabin on his way off watch.

He knocked and heard his voice.

“Come in, take a seat there.”

The captain was at his big leather-topped desk going over some overtime sheets.

“How is the work on the holds progressing?”

“Fine, I have a gang in number one and two and they’re making good progress. I took the four apprentices off watches and put them on day work to make sure the feeder boards are stacked in proper order and I assigned them to that, much to the disgruntled complaints from the boatswain.”

“A good idea, it’s very important for the next chief officer who’ll have the job of putting them back up again to have them stacked in numerical order. My first trip as chief officer was on a ship that had come from Vancouver with a timber cargo, and we were bound for Galveston for a cargo of soya beans for Japan. My God, but the feeder boards and shifting boards were all over the place. It took as much to sort and find them as it did to put them up. We barely had her ready working until midnight every day and for eighteen days.”

The mate was shocked at the change in the captain’s appearance. He had aged and dark circles under his eyes made him look gaunt and worried.

“My relief won’t have that to bother him. We’ll be all glad of a bit of leave after this trip, including yourself sir.”

“Yes, I’ll be glad to walk down the gangway and I’m seriously considering retirement, although I’ve three years to go.”

“You could always do a bit ashore, like the coastal duty and shore command.”

“Yes, you’re right of course, I could do that. Tell me, has there been any trouble with our crewmen, have you noticed any incidents since the one with the young galley boy?”

“No, there’s nothing come to my attention and by having the apprentices on day work, it helps to keep a bit of normality, at least during the work day.”

“That’s good. Could you come with me into Pippa’s room and help me sort out her few belongings.”

“Sure.”

They went into Pippa’s cabin and he watched the captain as he opened the small suit case that lay on the couch.

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