Unintended Consequences by Richard Woodman

Author:Richard Woodman
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Tags: Mystery, Naval, Fiction, Historical, Crime, Thriller
Publisher: Sharpe Books
Published: 2021-03-30T00:00:00+00:00

7

‘D’you have the key to the inner strong-room, Mr Shu?’ Sanford asked the Purser as the Schroff sat at the chair in the cubby-hole that, situated between Shu’s cabin and that of the Chief Mate, served as the ship’s office. The Purser was riffling through the paper-work sent aboard by Singapore Shippers regarding the outward cargo they would begin loading the following morning and did not welcome the interruption, even by Sanford. It was Argent’s turn for local leave but between Mr Abbott, the Chief Crani, or tally clerk, and Purser Shu, the loading of the Merdeka followed a certain regular routine.

Looking round briefly, he said, ‘on the key-board there, sir,’ nodding his head at the wooden cupboard on the bulkhead. ‘Oh! you’ve already looked.’

Sanford turned from his survey of the opened cupboard and its green-baize-backed interior with its rows of a score of keys hanging on hooks. ‘Yes. According to the list, it’s the only one missing.’

‘There’s a book here somewhere…’

Sanford held the notebook up. Officers were supposed to sign for keys removed from the key-board. ‘No mention of it in here either.’

With an obvious reluctance, Shu abandoned his task and got up from his seat, scratching his over-full head. ‘That’s odd. Mind you, we hardly use it… Perhaps it’s been mislaid, or lost… I’ll ask David, he’s on deck.’

‘Leave it to me,’ Sanford said, conciliating. ‘You’ve got your hands full.’

But Dromgoole did not have the missing key, nor did the Chief Steward, which left only one other person, unless the thing had been stolen – which seemed unlikely since the inner strong-room itself was as bare as Mother Hubbard’s cupboard. Sanford gave up his quest; solving the little mystery would have to await Argent’s return. In the meantime he needed to call on the Company’s solicitor.

*

Francis Chou presented himself at the gangway of the Merdeka about half-an-hour before the ship was due to move out to the anchorage in the Eastern Road to complete her loading. The duty Kermudi sent him up to Sanford who asked him a few routine questions, examined his Liberian Certificate of Competence and suggested he exchanged it for a Panamanian one.

‘Pay for it yourself and if you pass a voyage’s probation, I’ll reimburse you,’ Sanford said briskly. ‘We’ll be in the anchorage until early the day after tomorrow, so I suggest you come aboard tomorrow at ten o’clock and we’ll get you signed-on the Articles. You say you’re newly married, well you Mates will run a roster for local leave and take every third voyage off unless we’re running express from Sandakan, in which case the voyage doesn’t count. Understood?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘I’ll see you tomorrow then… Oh, by the way, where did you learn of the vacancy?’

‘The Missions to Seamen’s place,’ Chou said, referring to Connell House, the large neo-colonial building that stood imposingly in Anson Road.

*

‘We’re just waiting for the Chief Mate, sir,’ David Dromgoole said as Sanford entered the chart-room, his cap in one hand, his binoculars in the other.

‘He’s late,’ Sanford

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