Jet Skis, Swamps & Smugglers by Robert Muchamore

Author:Robert Muchamore
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bonnier Publishing Fiction

24. BEST-LAID PLANS

Robin and Neo were stuffed as they left the restaurant with half the ocean in their bellies. They grabbed a coil of rope and a multi-bit screwdriver at the marine supply store and saw Swamp King approaching its berth as they strolled out.

The U-shaped walkway through the dock met the shore at both ends, and they went the opposite way from last time to avoid another encounter with Starlet McGill.

Robin had only seen Swamp King in the dark from across Landing Dock Y and wasn’t prepared for the scale of the vessel close up. After the gangplank slammed on the wharf, forty boozed-up staff of a Capital City accounting firm came stumbling ashore. Some loud, some seasick and a few carrying bags with dead fish sticking out.

Once the accountants were clear, a three-person cleaning crew hurried aboard, while deck staff in waiters’ uniforms threw off rubbish sacks filled with glass bottles and wheeled empty catering trolleys and clattering racks of used champagne flutes down the gangplank.

Robin studied a woman two decks up. She was tall and wore a white captain’s uniform as she stood in the open doorway of Swamp King’s bridge, puffing clouds of vape smoke. She seemed familiar, but Robin wasn’t certain until she yelled down at the cleaners.

‘Someone’s wig got sucked down the upstairs crapper. You’re gonna need the big pump.’

‘That captain was there the other week,’ Robin told Neo. ‘She had camo trousers on and smashed a woman’s nose in for asking a question.’

‘Nice lady,’ Neo said, then tutted.

The dock had benches for passengers waiting to board. They decided the best thing was to sit and watch for a while. Neo bought coffees and freshly fried donuts from a stall by the dock’s entrance, to make it look like they had a reason to be there.

‘This boat has to be clean, stocked and ready to depart in an hour,’ the captain shouted to the waiters, as she walked down steep steps from the top deck. ‘Let’s see some hustle. Has anyone seen the refuelling crew?’

The captain was yelling into her phone as she strode purposefully off the dock, sweeping past Robin and Neo without seeing them. ‘I need fuel on the boat, John. I’ve got another cruise in an hour . . . Did you pay the last invoice? Because they’re not here.’

As soon as she was out of earshot, Neo spoke quietly to Robin. ‘Boat leaves in an hour, captain’s gone. You fancy our chances if we sneak up there?’

Robin nodded. ‘If it’s lunch, she’ll be at least fifteen minutes, and I can’t see anyone else on the bridge.’

‘I had no idea there would be so many people servicing the boat,’ Neo said. ‘This could be our only shot unless we hang around until night-time.’

‘I think we should chance it,’ Robin said. ‘If we’re stopped, just act confident. Say we’re here early for the afternoon trip. Worst thing they’ll do is kick us off.’

Neo led the way through the open gate onto Swamp King’s dock.

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