A Different Boy by Paul Jennings

Author:Paul Jennings
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Published: 2018-07-19T16:00:00+00:00

Six

Anton’s mind was in a muddle. But he was still alert enough to know what the three knocks meant. The game was up. He was caught. Max’s mother would report him as a stowaway.

What did they do with stowaways? He’d heard stories about it. Bread and water, locked up in a cell and then handed over to the police at the first port.

Another three knocks demanded a response. Max’s mother opened the door to reveal the man who had found Anton on the deck.

‘It’s about your boy,’ he said. ‘He was alone on the deck in the dark. In bad weather on the first night. You can’t let them wander like that.’

‘I’m sorry, officer,’ she said. ‘It won’t happen again.’

‘I’m not an officer,’ he said. ‘I’m a steward on Deck A.’

‘Well, we appreciate your trouble,’ she said. She went over to the bed and fetched a purse. She selected two notes and held them out. The steward looked at her disapprovingly. But he took the money and headed back down the corridor without another word.

Anton’s head began to spin. What was going on? Why hadn’t she handed him over? Why did she act as if he belonged here?

Max’s mother waited until the steward was out of sight and then shut the door.

She regarded Anton silently and gave him a sad smile.

He noticed her black dress draped across the bed. And Max’s jumper with the labels and the black armband. From somewhere deep inside he could feel the clamouring of questions that could not be asked.

‘Well,’ she said in a kindly voice. ‘You must be ready for bed too.’ She opened her suitcase and handed him a towel and a pair of Max’s pyjamas. ‘But first dry yourself and put these on.’

Anton went to the bathroom and changed.

When he returned, the woman turned to Max and pointed to the top bunk. He groaned in protest.

‘Bed,’ she said. ‘Now.’

Max climbed into the bunk and screwed his eyes tightly closed.

‘I am asleep,’ he said.

His mother gave another sad smile. She reached into her bag and gave Anton a small package wrapped in newspaper.

‘Here,’ she said. ‘Eat this. Then sleep.’

She went back into the bathroom and closed the door. Anton feverishly tore open the paper and started to shove small pieces of cold chicken into his mouth.

When it was finished he lay back and closed his eyes. A little later he heard the woman come out of the bathroom. By now Max was breathing heavily. Anton could tell by the regular sound that the boy really was asleep.

Anton lay there with one arm across his chest, the green puppet on the pillow next to him. He kept his eyes closed. He didn’t want to answer any questions the woman might ask. He heard her bed squeak and then a click as she turned off the light.

The motion of the ship was now rhythmic like the gentle swing of a cradle. And, although he did not believe its promise of peaceful slumber, the movement was comforting and he allowed himself to fall into a deep and dreamless sleep.

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