High Seas Series
The Explorers
Book Two
Chapter 05
Charles W Bird
©2016
[email protected]
This story is a fictional account of a period that begins after The Carson Family and their many ships had settled in Australia and helped civilization to cling to life after much of the world had suffered from Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) and chronicles what happens to that family, who had saved many youngsters from death or a life so horrible, death would have been welcomed.. While the story is completely fictional, actual names, characters, places and incidents that might coincide with actions, places, people or events have been changed to protect both the innocent and the guilty or are the product of my imagination and used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental. The actual shipboard processes, however, are based upon experiences of the author.
This story is copyrighted and may not be reproduced by any means without my express, written permission.
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From Chapter 4; Robby was stunned, he had not thought his son was interested in working on ships and worse, was he that old already? He suddenly realized that his son was 16 years old! Where had the time gone? Andy would be one of the few who followed a Carson Shipping tradition and would receive both a Third Mate and a Third Engineer License.
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ADVANCE TRADERS
New Third Mate Andrew Robard Walkingstone, known to his family and friends as “Andy” reported on board The Gabe Carson, the newest ship in the Carson Fleet and also the Fleet Flag Ship. He knew he was in for a hard time, his father, Captain Robard Walkingstone, was the fleet’s Senior Captain and Master of the Gabe.
Andy had graduated from the Carson Ship School as number one in his class and had passed both Third Mate and Third Assistant Engineer License Examinations with the highest score the examiners had ever seen. They attempted to discover “cracks” in his knowledge during the oral phase of the exams, but, instead, he sent the examiners scrambling for their own books to verify his answers.
Robby had been in the gallery watching his son as he calmly wrapped the examiners around his little finger. He was sure Andy had not seen him, but, in that, he was mistaken. Andy had not only seen his Dad, he was proud as all hell that his Dad had witnessed his triumph.
Andy calmly knocked on the door to the Captain’s stateroom and then entered. He stood at attention as he said, “Sir, Andrew Robard Walkingstone reporting on board as Third Mate, sir.” Robby replied with a wide grin and said, “Welcome aboard Mr. Third Mate!”
Robby pointed to a chair and the Father and Son sat for a while, discussing their upcoming voyage to Japan. The Japanese were difficult customers to please. Robby and his crew were part of a very small group of sailors who were always welcome in that reclusive kingdom.
After the Great Collapse, Japan had reverted to its ancient style of government and reinstalled the Emperor as HOG. (head of government) The acronym did not translate well into the Japanese language, but Robby was very careful not to antagonize one of their best trading partners.
Any Carson ship that Robby was Master, was automatically accorded preferred status in Japan and his crew members were always allowed in almost every place in the Forbidden City of Tokyo.
Several years earlier, Merchant Ship Cadet Andrew Robard Walkingstone had been introduced to the Emperor and his son Nakihito. They had begun a long distance friendship by letters carried by any Carson ship calling at Tokyo.
Robby pointed out the porthole to a Royal Currier Service Jitterbug (motor scooter) sitting on the pier. He said to Andy, “I suspect we are being invited to the Palace, so, before I place you on the Watch Bill, I guess I had best see what’s the Emperor wants.”
Sure enough, there was a knock on Robby’s door and The Bos’n was there as escort to a Messenger from the Palace. The man bowed and said in perfect, if a little accented, English, “Sir, I have been instructed to wait for your reply.”
Robby quickly read the letter and then handed it to Andy. He turned to the messenger and said, “Please tell His Majesty that My Son and I will be pleased to join the Emperor and his son, Crown Prince Nakihito for the evening meal this day.
As soon as the messenger had departed, Robby hugged his son and said, “I guess we had better break out our fancy uniforms. Can you walk without tripping on that damned sword?”
Andy chuckled and replied, “Yeah, I had the blasted thing shortened so it doesn’t drag on the street!” Andy was fully an adult man now, but he was short statured, probably the result of serious deprivations before Robby had rescued him.
What he lacked in height, he made up for in sheer physical power and strength. He had been the school’s wrestling champion and uncontested master in weight lifting.
Other parts of him were equally commanding, but he sure as hell was NOT going to discuss them with his father!
Both Father and Son attended to their ship board duties for the rest of the day and at 1800 hours (6 pm), they met on the Quarter Deck, freshly showered, shaved and in dress uniforms, complete with swords. Merchant sailors do not, as a rule, dress fancy, but in this case, the two men were representing both Carson Shipping and their nation of Australia.
A car had been sent for them and the Palace Major Domo was waiting for them at the door. They were escorted to a large banquet room filled with local dignitaries and military officers.
The Emperor and the Crown Prince were standing at the head table and Prince Nakihito discreetly waved at Robby, indicating that he and his son were to dine at the head table.
The meal was a grand affair and, when it was finished, the Emperor and his son departed immediately.
The Major Domo came up quietly to Robby and bowed, “Sir, I have been instructed to lead you and your son to the Private Quarters of His Majesty, the Emperor. Please to expect that you will remain the night with us. A message has been sent to your vessel saying that you are spending the night and will return first thing in the morning.”
Robby had always been treated with courtesy and dignity while in Japan, so neither father or son was overly concerned. They were led to a small room that contained two beds and were offered a chance to wash and change to silk lounging robes.
As soon as they had changed, the room servant led them to a door and he knocked, then opened the door and bowed as the two men entered the private quarters of the Emperor of Japan.
They were seated facing the Emperor and Crown Prince and served hot tea by a man servant. Courtesy demanded that both Robby and Andy say nothing until they all had finished their tea. Then, Robby nodded his head and said, “How may we assist your majesty?”
Prince Nakihito stood and bowed to Robby and Andy before he began to speak, “Sir Captain and Third Mate Andrew, we are friends here and you both have earned our trust. My Father, the Emperor of Japan, is much beset by enemies within our government. There is a strong faction among our Nobles, who wish to return to the ancient ways and toss aside the modern things that my Father has instituted here. They wish to return our people to the slavery of ancient times and close our lands to outsiders, such as yourselves.”
Before the young Prince could continue, a worried Emperor stood and said, “My friends, I fear the Council of Nobles plan a coup, they mean to kill me and install Nakihito as a puppet Emperor and rule our nation as they did long ago. This, I will NOT stand for. Therefore, I beg you to take my son and heir with you when you leave tomorrow. Hide him on your ship and protect him from the agents that the Nobles will send, they will attempt to either retake him or assassinate him!”
The young Prince was making it plain that he did not wish to run away and leave his Father to the devices of the Nobles. The Emperor, however, was adamant that Naki was to flee with his friend Andrew and his Father!
Andy was, as had been noted earlier, a powerful young man, so they devised a large burlap bag that had a loose weave so that the young prince could breathe inside it. Naki climbed in the bag and they placed several stalks of bananas poking out the top. Andy placed the bag over his shoulder and carried the Royal gift out to their car.
The same servitor as had led them to the Royal Quarters, also drove the automobile back to the ship. As he opened the door for the men to clamber out, he said, “Sir Captain, I am brother to the Emperor and Prince Naki is my nephew, please sir, may I be allowed to attend him while he is in your custody?
Robby replied, “Yes, I can agree to that. Drive the car over to a dark corner of the pier and I will send a sailor out with some clothing to hide you. You come on board our ship and I will assign a cabin for each of you. You will have no problems with my crew, by the time you return, everyone on board will know to keep you hidden until we sail.”
So it was that Andy’s newest best friend escaped his homeland and would live for many years while his father, the Emperor, fought rebels and assassins throughout the Kingdom of Japan.
THE PRINCE PURSER
Andy carried his friend on board The Gabe, slung over his shoulder as a common bag of fruit. As soon as they were in the hatch, he set the bag down gently and assisted Niki out of the bag and standing in the passageway. They all went up to Robby’s stateroom and sat down. Naki asked, “Please sir, may I have a cup of coffee, my nerves are shot.”
Robby rang for the steward and ordered up a pot of fresh coffee and three cups. As soon as the steward departed, they helped Niki get over his ordeal. Andy shared some of his clothing with him, they were both very close to the same size, although Naki was not as muscular as Andy.
They decided that Naki could work as the Ship’s Purser. That would afford him a stateroom next to the Third Mate and keep him hidden in plain sight.
Naki’s Uncle was a bit more difficult, but, with Uncle Shinzi’s agreement, he would be the Steward for the Ship’s Officers. That would allow him freedom of any part of the ship and going in and out of Naki’s stateroom would not be seen as unusual.
There was a cubby nearby, where the new steward could live and sleep and he could still see the door to Naki’s stateroom.
There were no further information from the palace and they finished working all the cargo. They took on a load machine parts for the shipyard and bales of raw silk on consignment. Naki tried to tell Andy and Robby that the raw silk was to pay for keeping him safe.
Neither man was buying it, Andy said, “Naki, we keep you and your Uncle because you are both our friends and we respect your Papa. Friends DO NOT charge friends to keep them safe!”
Naki settled in as Ship’s Purser and he proved to be a “slick” trader. Of course, he spoke perfect Japanese as well as another dozen trade languages spoken throughout the region.
It was not long before the young man was the principal business agent for the ship. Dressed in “western Australian style clothing”, there was nothing to distinguish him from any other immigrant who had arrived on the shore of that land. His English was perfect and he soon affected an “Australian twang” that had them all in tears of laughter.
At sea, he also assisted the Radio Officer and could so mimic that man’s voice, no one could determine whether it was Joe Crawling Toad or Naki speaking on the radio! He was also a pretty fair mind-speaker and that ability would save his life in the near future.
The life of a crew member on a trading ship was one of more sea time than port time. They would stay in a port only long enough to deliver or receive cargo and then head for their next destination. That destination would frequently change in mid-voyage as the result of a frantic radio message that some remote island was nearly out of food.
They wandered down the coast of Korea. Some Korean entrepreneurs were attempting to restart the Korean automotive industry. So far, they had managed to get the engine factory going and Naki managed a favorable deal on two hundred four cylinder automobile engines. He figured they would be easy to install in the few automobiles that remained in Australia.
Andy told him that the cars in Australia smoked terribly and clattered and roared as they went down the street. When the head office was told about the buy, the entire lot was sold and no engine would ever leave Onslow!
Robby was able to snag a couple of the engines for his family living in Darwin. The engines proved to be so popular, any Carson ship had standing orders to purchase as many engines as they could.
In Taipei, Naki hooked onto a deal in hand held industrial radio sets and he purchased the manufacturer’s entire inventory.
When they finally got back to Onslow two months later, Naki was hiding from the Smelter Superintendent, who wanted to kiss him! In fact, he even offered to marry him if he would promise to purchase some additional radios!
In Manila, Naki happened upon a manufacturer who had a warehouse full in linen cloth that he could not sell. The poor merchant was practically in tears, claiming that Naki was sending him to the poor house.
Naki bought out the entire warehouse of linen cloth and the manufacturer was secretly grinning in glee. Naki wasn’t concerned, he knew to the quarter peso what that cloth had cost the dealer and he knew the man would have another warehouse load the next time The Gabe sailed into Manila harbor!
In port after port, Naki was gaining a reputation as a sharp dealer, but also that he was fair and just. He never “skinned” a merchant and he paid in honest coin! The practice of “clipping” gold and silver coins was alive and well throughout the area.
In Ho Chi Minh City, he spotted a bargain in farm tractors and Andy had told him that the farmers in Western Australia needed tractors to develop their new farms.
He purchased two hundred “knock-off” copies of Caterpillar D-4 track laying tractors at barely over cost. The manufacturer had built them on speculation and they were not what the Viet farmers wanted in their rice paddies.
By the time they departed Viet Nam, all the holds were filled and the Gabe Carson was down on her load line. They headed for home and Naki sent a cargo manifest to the home office to be published in Darwin and Onslow.
They pulled in to Darwin first and there was a mob on the pier all wanting to bid on the linen cloth. Not only was it suitable for clothing, it was perfect for sails on the small fishing boats of the area! The entire load of linen did not last even a half day!
Local farmers bought about half the tractors and some of the gasoline engines on a trial basis. By the time the Gabe had sailed, brokers were wailing that they had not purchased all the engines! They were almost an exact fit to be bolted on a Ford Pickup transmission. Fords were the most popular vehicle in Australia.
Their last stop was Onslow and buyers were already on the pier. They had been alerted by friends in Darwin, and pallets of engines were snatched off the hook as fast as they were swung out of the hold.
As they began to work the tractors out of the hold, they found buyers down in the hold, putting their names on the tractors they wished to purchase!
The smelter buyer thought he was going to need armed guards as his men carried off the crates of hand held radios. The Super had told him that if he did not come home with those radios, don’t bother coming home at all!
When all the cargo had been discharged and the shouting had quieted down, the Carson Shipping Accounting Department arrived. Naki had all the accounts up to date and tallied, the head accountant told Robby to hire some more Nakis!
Robby did not clue them in on who and what Naki was, but he made damned sure that he told Naki why he was raising his salary!
DURANCE VILE
A trade ship makes no profit tied up to a pier, so, as soon as the cargo was discharged and fuel taken on, additional food store brought on board and the water tanks refilled, Robby headed the Gabe back out to sea. Their course this time would take them to Surat, India.
That was all the closer Robby wanted to get to the Arab lands. Surat was known for its fine carpets and wall hangings. The population on the west coast of Australia was maturing and housewives were tired of just making do. They wanted some of the finer things that life had to offer.
It was a fairly long voyage to Surat and the weather AND the seas were warm. The ship had no air conditioning, so all the ventilator fans were running full blast.
Andy was doing this voyage as Third Assistant Engineer, just to get some time on that license. He would come off watch in the “hole” and flop on his bunk with the fan blowing across his naked body. Naki would peek in and call him a “Roasted Chicken”.
Robby was pretty sure the two boys had feelings for each other, but he was sure not gonna ask. That was something they would have to tell him. They would, ….., eventually.
In Surat, Naki bought a large number of carpets, they were all wrapped in protective linen cloth. He had been impressed with the bright colors and he purchased sufficient smaller carpets so that there was a bright splash of color in the bunk rooms and staterooms on the Gabe Carson.
As he left the last vendor, he had the uncomfortable feeling that he was being watched, but he could not spot anyone in particular, so he forgot about it.
Their next port of call was Mumbai, there were a large number of manufacturers there. He had special instructions to locate some wheeled tractors for the row crop farmers just getting going near Onslow.
Again, Naki had the feeling that someone was watching him, he had just left the office of the Sales Agent for Mumbai Farm Machinery Corporation when he was suddenly hit over the head with a weighted club.
Sometime later he woke up in a locked room that had no windows and only a single electric light bulb suspended from the ceiling that cast a feeble glow of light in the room. He had no idea where he was or who had snatched him, but he knew that he had to get help somehow, otherwise he would never be free again.
Naki was not as powerful a mind speaker as his friend, no, he corrected himself and thought, “My Life Partner Andrew Robard Walkingstone.” The two young men had pledged each other for all eternity the night before.
Naki gathered his strength and sent out a mental blast that surprised even himself. He had no idea he could command such mental power as what went into that call for help. Perhaps desperation helped power his mind.
He addressed his call to Andy and it was answered immediately by a very surprised Andrew Robard Walkingstone. He told Andy what had happened and Andy replied, “My Love, keep sending to me, I shall trace your mind and find you or I shall die in the trying!”
Naki’s call was so powerful, Robby caught part of their conversation.
Robby ran down the passageway to Andy’s stateroom. He was only half dressed, but need took precedence over all else at that moment! He burst into Andy’s stateroom and found his son in fearful tears as well as anger.
Andy attempted to run out the door of his stateroom and his Father tackled him. Robby said, “I understand son and I know your secret, but let us concentrate on getting Naki back before we make any announcements, besides, it would be better if you had some clothes on!”
Andy tried to argue with his father, even knowing that he was right.
Robby stuck his head out of Andy’s stateroom and shouted for the Chief Mate. While they waited for the Chief Mate, Jacob Daniel Carson, he helped Andy finish dressing and made him sit down and calm himself.
Jacob arrived, out of breath, he had caught snatches of Naki’s cry for help also. He said to his Captain, “Let me gather some men and then we can ask Naki to talk to us mentally. We can follow his mind to wherever he is being kept. We must do it soon, otherwise they may move him somewhere beyond his range to call us or even drug him so that he cannot call us at all!”
In a very few minutes there were twenty sailors standing on the pier, armed to the teeth and all were very angry. They all counted Naki as one of their own, they would become even more angry when they learned that he had become Andy’s mate and was, therefore, one of THEM!
The Bos’n hugged Andy and whispered, “We will get him back for you!” Andy’s eyes went kind squirrelly and Boats just smiled and said, “Yeah, I know and I approve!” Andy would soon discover that his and Naki’s secret was no secret at all!
When all the men had gathered, Boats handed out pistols and ammo, while his assistants brought clubs and fire axes. Robby then said, “Son, ask Naki to mind speak to us, keep him sending as we follow the trail to wherever they have him locked up.”
As soon and Andy and Naki had established a two-way mind stream, Robby found that he could “tune in”. By swinging his head, he could detect the direction from which the mental energy was coming.
Their path took them all the way across Mumbai, at least twenty miles from the ship.
In the shanty quarter of the city, they zeroed in on a tumbled down warehouse that looked to be ready to fall down. They discovered however, it was all a ruse, the building was actually in good repair and constructed of heavy timbers that they could not budge.
Andy was frantic and nearly screaming in fright that the man he loved was being hurt. In frustration, he directed an emotional burst of mental energy at the door that barred their way into the warehouse and the door suddenly flew apart. Nothing but splinters and broken boards remained of the door they could not break down!
Their men looked at Andy in fear and Andy threw caution to the “winds”, he shouted, “The man who I wish to spend the rest of my life with is imprisoned in that place, I will destroy this whole damned building if need be, to rescue him!” At that, boards and timbers flew in all direction as the whole wall crumbled into firewood!
Standing in the middle of the wreckage was Naki. Andy literally flew over the broken building parts and grabbed Naki, physically imprisoning him in his arms.
There was no denying the boys’ love for each other as they held each other in a mutual embrace. Andy picked up the smaller young man and carried him to the safety of the circle of angry crew members, where he grabbed a blanket to cover his mate’s nakedness.
Men came boiling out of the ruined warehouse and Robby’s crew laid them all out cold. Knowing there was no law enforcement in that part of Mumbai, the crew surrounded Andy and Naki and escorted them all the way across town, daring anyone to interfere.
They later found out that the thugs had been hired by some “Japanese men” who used the name, Fukuhara and Sashimoto. The names meant nothing to Naki, but he did not stop shaking until they got him back on board the Gabe.
Robby made a two-man stateroom available and moved Naki and Andy into it. He said, “Never again son, shall you be left alone and on your own.”
None of the ship’s crew had any problems with the Purser and the Third Mate being together, it simply was a non-issue to them.
SHARP TRADING
Whenever Naki had to go ashore to attend to his duties, Boats assigned two large seamen, armed with clubs and swords, to go with him. He made it plain to the seamen that, should anything happen to Naki OR Andy while under their care, there was no place they could hide, EVER!
Several more attempts were made to capture Nakihito Anjimoti and there was a trail of broken bodies all over the business district of Mumbai.
Naki attempted to apologize to the Bos’n for all the trouble because of him and Boats soon set him straight. He said, “Young man, you are the beloved of the son of our Captain. We have watched over Third Mate Andrew Robard Walkingstone since he was a toddler. He is family to us and that makes you family to us also. Family takes care of Family an’ we ain’t gonna stop now!”
Over the next several days, the entire crew discovered finely woven carpets in all their quarters and, when they questioned the Purser about the carpets, he swore he knew nothing about them. Food delicacies native to the ports they were visiting began to show up in the mess and, again, the Purser swore he knew nothing about the food items.
The crew knew, however and they quit asking, but they watched over Purser Nakihito like a lion watches a rabbit! His abductors had about as much chance of success as a swimmer in a lead swimming costume would have in winning a race!
Their next port of call was Goa. Naki had a request from the repair yard at Darwin to find some tin and lead. They needed to make babbit to reline the bearings on the engines of the ships in their fleet.
Goa was known as a rough port, so Andy joined the sailors guarding Naki. They made the rounds of metal dealers and Naki purchased twenty tons of lead ingots and 15 tons of tin. He felt the price was very good, he was accused of stealing it when they got back to Darwin to deliver the metals.
Naki also spotted fifty tons of raw brass being offered at what he considered, were give away prices. He purchased the entire lot and another five tons of sheets of spring brass!
While he was in the foundry, he spotted a large lot of brass pump castings. He was sure they could be used as water pumps that supplied irrigation water to the farmers near Onslow. He purchased the whole lot of the pumps. He knew their next stop was going to be Mangalore and he had read that there were some large electric motor manufacturers in that city.
They had no trouble in Goa or Mangalore, so Naki began to relax a bit. Fortunately neither Andy nor the sailor guards relaxed.
PUDUCHERRY
Their next scheduled stop was the industrial city of Puducherry on the west side of the Bay of Bengal. Naki had discovered a small manufacturer who was making industrial diesel engines. The engines were suitable for pumps and small trucks as well as factory drive lines. He was certain they would be a hit in both Darwin and Onslow
They docked at the boat basin some distance away from the manufacturing portion of the city. They had a factor in that city whom the Carsons had used several times before. The man came down to the ship and offered his services. Naki made arrangements with the man to go the next day to visit Basimi Engine Works.
Andy and Boats were not about to let Naki go by himself, particularly so far away from the ship. Andy got the Second Mate to stand his cargo handling watch for him and Boats insisted on a third sailor be added to the group. Andy was armed to the “teeth”, he had two pistols secreted about his body, several daggers and a short sword! The sailors were similarly armed as well.
The man arrived promptly at watch change the next morning. He was surprised at the large party, but he said nothing, only grinding his teeth in anger. The visit to Basimi Engine Works was very productive and Naki purchased 100 small diesel engines to be delivered to the ship that same day.
On the way back to the ship, Andy noticed they were taking a different route. He queried the sailors, who had noticed the same thing.
Without scaring Naki, the three men began edging their weapons into their hands, they were expecting trouble. They were not disappointed, the driver took a sudden turn into an alley and their car was surrounded by thugs.
The battle was brief but intense. By the time the shooting was over 20 thugs lay dead or dying. Andy had the driver by the neck, shaking him like a terrier with a bone. The driver was wide eyed and so frightened, he lost control of his bowels and soiled himself.
Andy’s glaring face was eyeball to eyeball with the driver and Andy growled, “Tell me now, who ordered this. If you tell me, you will die easy, if you do not, you will take hours in dying!”
As soon as the frightened man confessed, Andy slit his throat and tossed him aside like an old boot. Andy did not enjoy killing the man, but he sure as hell was not going to leave the guy around to make a second attempt of his lover’s life!
It was the Japanese Ambassador to India who had arranged to have Nakihito and anyone with him to be killed! Andy swore terrible vengeance, but he carefully concealed his vow from Naki.
Unknown to anyone except his father, Andy and a dozen sailors paid a visit to the Ambassador’s residence that night. The Ambassador did not survive the visit, nor did any of his staff or household. The entire building contained not a single living soul when Andy set fire to the place.
A BRIEF REPREIVE
The next morning, Andy was exhausted and the Second Assistant Engineer stood his watch in the Engine Room while Andy slept off the night’s activities.
Naki was worried about Andy, but Andy told him he was not sick, just tired. It would be many years later that Naki learned of what his life partner had done. By that time, Naki was not dismayed, he knew how much Andy loved him and he also know what his husband was capable of.
They crossed the Bay of Bengal and made for Bangkok, where Naki purchased colorful silks, dried fish and several skids of dried nuts. He spotted some skids of dried tropical fruits and he added them to the tab also.
He happened upon a vendor who had bagged rice at a price he could not pass up. He took hollow-pipe samples of the rice and he found the rice to be superior to rice he had purchased elsewhere. He inquired if the vendor had any more of the rice, so they waited for another day and finished filling the forward hold with bagged rice.
They did not have much more space available. Their final port of call was Jakarta, where they were scheduled to take on 1200 tons of dried and wrapped furniture grade hard woods.
Naki could not help himself, he discovered 20 tons of cast iron grates and covers for the new sewer system in Onslow. They could have been cast by their own foundry, but the price for the grates and covers was less than they could pour them themselves.
The poor Gabe was down on her load line, again and they could not safely take on any more cargo. Robby told Naki that he could not purchase any more “good deals”, unless he wanted to swim home!
They departed Jakarta and headed home. They had been gone over a year and everyone was anxious to see their homes and families.
The ship’s engines were pounding and the ship was sitting low in the water as they edged into Onslow Harbor. Robby was on the bridge, worried if he was going to take out part of the pier as they tied up.
It was getting dark and the pier had no lighting as yet, so Robby gave everyone overnight liberty and let the night watchmen guard the ship. As he was leaving, Naki and Andy were waiting for him at the gangway.
The two young men looked nervous and, finally Andy blurted out, “Dad, we got some problems on board.” Curious, Robby asked, “What kind of problems?” He had an awful feeling that he KNEW what the problems were. They came on two legs!
The two young men had collected eight young boys that they had snatched from a coffle of slaves in Jakarta!
Robby wondered where they were going to put the boys, but he need not have worried, between Andy and Naki, every boy had a new family from among the crew and they were waiting at the bottom of the gangway to great their new sons.
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TBC
The more things seem to change, the more they remain the same. The Carsons have been recovering children from slavers now for the last three hundred years!
©2016
[email protected]
This story is a fictional account of a period that begins after The Carson Family and their many ships had settled in Australia and helped civilization to cling to life after much of the world had suffered from Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) and chronicles what happens to that family, who had saved many youngsters from death or a life so horrible, death would have been welcomed.. While the story is completely fictional, actual names, characters, places and incidents that might coincide with actions, places, people or events have been changed to protect both the innocent and the guilty or are the product of my imagination and used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental. The actual shipboard processes, however, are based upon experiences of the author.
This story is copyrighted and may not be reproduced by any means without my express, written permission.
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From Chapter 4; Robby was stunned, he had not thought his son was interested in working on ships and worse, was he that old already? He suddenly realized that his son was 16 years old! Where had the time gone? Andy would be one of the few who followed a Carson Shipping tradition and would receive both a Third Mate and a Third Engineer License.
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ADVANCE TRADERS
New Third Mate Andrew Robard Walkingstone, known to his family and friends as “Andy” reported on board The Gabe Carson, the newest ship in the Carson Fleet and also the Fleet Flag Ship. He knew he was in for a hard time, his father, Captain Robard Walkingstone, was the fleet’s Senior Captain and Master of the Gabe.
Andy had graduated from the Carson Ship School as number one in his class and had passed both Third Mate and Third Assistant Engineer License Examinations with the highest score the examiners had ever seen. They attempted to discover “cracks” in his knowledge during the oral phase of the exams, but, instead, he sent the examiners scrambling for their own books to verify his answers.
Robby had been in the gallery watching his son as he calmly wrapped the examiners around his little finger. He was sure Andy had not seen him, but, in that, he was mistaken. Andy had not only seen his Dad, he was proud as all hell that his Dad had witnessed his triumph.
Andy calmly knocked on the door to the Captain’s stateroom and then entered. He stood at attention as he said, “Sir, Andrew Robard Walkingstone reporting on board as Third Mate, sir.” Robby replied with a wide grin and said, “Welcome aboard Mr. Third Mate!”
Robby pointed to a chair and the Father and Son sat for a while, discussing their upcoming voyage to Japan. The Japanese were difficult customers to please. Robby and his crew were part of a very small group of sailors who were always welcome in that reclusive kingdom.
After the Great Collapse, Japan had reverted to its ancient style of government and reinstalled the Emperor as HOG. (head of government) The acronym did not translate well into the Japanese language, but Robby was very careful not to antagonize one of their best trading partners.
Any Carson ship that Robby was Master, was automatically accorded preferred status in Japan and his crew members were always allowed in almost every place in the Forbidden City of Tokyo.
Several years earlier, Merchant Ship Cadet Andrew Robard Walkingstone had been introduced to the Emperor and his son Nakihito. They had begun a long distance friendship by letters carried by any Carson ship calling at Tokyo.
Robby pointed out the porthole to a Royal Currier Service Jitterbug (motor scooter) sitting on the pier. He said to Andy, “I suspect we are being invited to the Palace, so, before I place you on the Watch Bill, I guess I had best see what’s the Emperor wants.”
Sure enough, there was a knock on Robby’s door and The Bos’n was there as escort to a Messenger from the Palace. The man bowed and said in perfect, if a little accented, English, “Sir, I have been instructed to wait for your reply.”
Robby quickly read the letter and then handed it to Andy. He turned to the messenger and said, “Please tell His Majesty that My Son and I will be pleased to join the Emperor and his son, Crown Prince Nakihito for the evening meal this day.
As soon as the messenger had departed, Robby hugged his son and said, “I guess we had better break out our fancy uniforms. Can you walk without tripping on that damned sword?”
Andy chuckled and replied, “Yeah, I had the blasted thing shortened so it doesn’t drag on the street!” Andy was fully an adult man now, but he was short statured, probably the result of serious deprivations before Robby had rescued him.
What he lacked in height, he made up for in sheer physical power and strength. He had been the school’s wrestling champion and uncontested master in weight lifting.
Other parts of him were equally commanding, but he sure as hell was NOT going to discuss them with his father!
Both Father and Son attended to their ship board duties for the rest of the day and at 1800 hours (6 pm), they met on the Quarter Deck, freshly showered, shaved and in dress uniforms, complete with swords. Merchant sailors do not, as a rule, dress fancy, but in this case, the two men were representing both Carson Shipping and their nation of Australia.
A car had been sent for them and the Palace Major Domo was waiting for them at the door. They were escorted to a large banquet room filled with local dignitaries and military officers.
The Emperor and the Crown Prince were standing at the head table and Prince Nakihito discreetly waved at Robby, indicating that he and his son were to dine at the head table.
The meal was a grand affair and, when it was finished, the Emperor and his son departed immediately.
The Major Domo came up quietly to Robby and bowed, “Sir, I have been instructed to lead you and your son to the Private Quarters of His Majesty, the Emperor. Please to expect that you will remain the night with us. A message has been sent to your vessel saying that you are spending the night and will return first thing in the morning.”
Robby had always been treated with courtesy and dignity while in Japan, so neither father or son was overly concerned. They were led to a small room that contained two beds and were offered a chance to wash and change to silk lounging robes.
As soon as they had changed, the room servant led them to a door and he knocked, then opened the door and bowed as the two men entered the private quarters of the Emperor of Japan.
They were seated facing the Emperor and Crown Prince and served hot tea by a man servant. Courtesy demanded that both Robby and Andy say nothing until they all had finished their tea. Then, Robby nodded his head and said, “How may we assist your majesty?”
Prince Nakihito stood and bowed to Robby and Andy before he began to speak, “Sir Captain and Third Mate Andrew, we are friends here and you both have earned our trust. My Father, the Emperor of Japan, is much beset by enemies within our government. There is a strong faction among our Nobles, who wish to return to the ancient ways and toss aside the modern things that my Father has instituted here. They wish to return our people to the slavery of ancient times and close our lands to outsiders, such as yourselves.”
Before the young Prince could continue, a worried Emperor stood and said, “My friends, I fear the Council of Nobles plan a coup, they mean to kill me and install Nakihito as a puppet Emperor and rule our nation as they did long ago. This, I will NOT stand for. Therefore, I beg you to take my son and heir with you when you leave tomorrow. Hide him on your ship and protect him from the agents that the Nobles will send, they will attempt to either retake him or assassinate him!”
The young Prince was making it plain that he did not wish to run away and leave his Father to the devices of the Nobles. The Emperor, however, was adamant that Naki was to flee with his friend Andrew and his Father!
Andy was, as had been noted earlier, a powerful young man, so they devised a large burlap bag that had a loose weave so that the young prince could breathe inside it. Naki climbed in the bag and they placed several stalks of bananas poking out the top. Andy placed the bag over his shoulder and carried the Royal gift out to their car.
The same servitor as had led them to the Royal Quarters, also drove the automobile back to the ship. As he opened the door for the men to clamber out, he said, “Sir Captain, I am brother to the Emperor and Prince Naki is my nephew, please sir, may I be allowed to attend him while he is in your custody?
Robby replied, “Yes, I can agree to that. Drive the car over to a dark corner of the pier and I will send a sailor out with some clothing to hide you. You come on board our ship and I will assign a cabin for each of you. You will have no problems with my crew, by the time you return, everyone on board will know to keep you hidden until we sail.”
So it was that Andy’s newest best friend escaped his homeland and would live for many years while his father, the Emperor, fought rebels and assassins throughout the Kingdom of Japan.
THE PRINCE PURSER
Andy carried his friend on board The Gabe, slung over his shoulder as a common bag of fruit. As soon as they were in the hatch, he set the bag down gently and assisted Niki out of the bag and standing in the passageway. They all went up to Robby’s stateroom and sat down. Naki asked, “Please sir, may I have a cup of coffee, my nerves are shot.”
Robby rang for the steward and ordered up a pot of fresh coffee and three cups. As soon as the steward departed, they helped Niki get over his ordeal. Andy shared some of his clothing with him, they were both very close to the same size, although Naki was not as muscular as Andy.
They decided that Naki could work as the Ship’s Purser. That would afford him a stateroom next to the Third Mate and keep him hidden in plain sight.
Naki’s Uncle was a bit more difficult, but, with Uncle Shinzi’s agreement, he would be the Steward for the Ship’s Officers. That would allow him freedom of any part of the ship and going in and out of Naki’s stateroom would not be seen as unusual.
There was a cubby nearby, where the new steward could live and sleep and he could still see the door to Naki’s stateroom.
There were no further information from the palace and they finished working all the cargo. They took on a load machine parts for the shipyard and bales of raw silk on consignment. Naki tried to tell Andy and Robby that the raw silk was to pay for keeping him safe.
Neither man was buying it, Andy said, “Naki, we keep you and your Uncle because you are both our friends and we respect your Papa. Friends DO NOT charge friends to keep them safe!”
Naki settled in as Ship’s Purser and he proved to be a “slick” trader. Of course, he spoke perfect Japanese as well as another dozen trade languages spoken throughout the region.
It was not long before the young man was the principal business agent for the ship. Dressed in “western Australian style clothing”, there was nothing to distinguish him from any other immigrant who had arrived on the shore of that land. His English was perfect and he soon affected an “Australian twang” that had them all in tears of laughter.
At sea, he also assisted the Radio Officer and could so mimic that man’s voice, no one could determine whether it was Joe Crawling Toad or Naki speaking on the radio! He was also a pretty fair mind-speaker and that ability would save his life in the near future.
The life of a crew member on a trading ship was one of more sea time than port time. They would stay in a port only long enough to deliver or receive cargo and then head for their next destination. That destination would frequently change in mid-voyage as the result of a frantic radio message that some remote island was nearly out of food.
They wandered down the coast of Korea. Some Korean entrepreneurs were attempting to restart the Korean automotive industry. So far, they had managed to get the engine factory going and Naki managed a favorable deal on two hundred four cylinder automobile engines. He figured they would be easy to install in the few automobiles that remained in Australia.
Andy told him that the cars in Australia smoked terribly and clattered and roared as they went down the street. When the head office was told about the buy, the entire lot was sold and no engine would ever leave Onslow!
Robby was able to snag a couple of the engines for his family living in Darwin. The engines proved to be so popular, any Carson ship had standing orders to purchase as many engines as they could.
In Taipei, Naki hooked onto a deal in hand held industrial radio sets and he purchased the manufacturer’s entire inventory.
When they finally got back to Onslow two months later, Naki was hiding from the Smelter Superintendent, who wanted to kiss him! In fact, he even offered to marry him if he would promise to purchase some additional radios!
In Manila, Naki happened upon a manufacturer who had a warehouse full in linen cloth that he could not sell. The poor merchant was practically in tears, claiming that Naki was sending him to the poor house.
Naki bought out the entire warehouse of linen cloth and the manufacturer was secretly grinning in glee. Naki wasn’t concerned, he knew to the quarter peso what that cloth had cost the dealer and he knew the man would have another warehouse load the next time The Gabe sailed into Manila harbor!
In port after port, Naki was gaining a reputation as a sharp dealer, but also that he was fair and just. He never “skinned” a merchant and he paid in honest coin! The practice of “clipping” gold and silver coins was alive and well throughout the area.
In Ho Chi Minh City, he spotted a bargain in farm tractors and Andy had told him that the farmers in Western Australia needed tractors to develop their new farms.
He purchased two hundred “knock-off” copies of Caterpillar D-4 track laying tractors at barely over cost. The manufacturer had built them on speculation and they were not what the Viet farmers wanted in their rice paddies.
By the time they departed Viet Nam, all the holds were filled and the Gabe Carson was down on her load line. They headed for home and Naki sent a cargo manifest to the home office to be published in Darwin and Onslow.
They pulled in to Darwin first and there was a mob on the pier all wanting to bid on the linen cloth. Not only was it suitable for clothing, it was perfect for sails on the small fishing boats of the area! The entire load of linen did not last even a half day!
Local farmers bought about half the tractors and some of the gasoline engines on a trial basis. By the time the Gabe had sailed, brokers were wailing that they had not purchased all the engines! They were almost an exact fit to be bolted on a Ford Pickup transmission. Fords were the most popular vehicle in Australia.
Their last stop was Onslow and buyers were already on the pier. They had been alerted by friends in Darwin, and pallets of engines were snatched off the hook as fast as they were swung out of the hold.
As they began to work the tractors out of the hold, they found buyers down in the hold, putting their names on the tractors they wished to purchase!
The smelter buyer thought he was going to need armed guards as his men carried off the crates of hand held radios. The Super had told him that if he did not come home with those radios, don’t bother coming home at all!
When all the cargo had been discharged and the shouting had quieted down, the Carson Shipping Accounting Department arrived. Naki had all the accounts up to date and tallied, the head accountant told Robby to hire some more Nakis!
Robby did not clue them in on who and what Naki was, but he made damned sure that he told Naki why he was raising his salary!
DURANCE VILE
A trade ship makes no profit tied up to a pier, so, as soon as the cargo was discharged and fuel taken on, additional food store brought on board and the water tanks refilled, Robby headed the Gabe back out to sea. Their course this time would take them to Surat, India.
That was all the closer Robby wanted to get to the Arab lands. Surat was known for its fine carpets and wall hangings. The population on the west coast of Australia was maturing and housewives were tired of just making do. They wanted some of the finer things that life had to offer.
It was a fairly long voyage to Surat and the weather AND the seas were warm. The ship had no air conditioning, so all the ventilator fans were running full blast.
Andy was doing this voyage as Third Assistant Engineer, just to get some time on that license. He would come off watch in the “hole” and flop on his bunk with the fan blowing across his naked body. Naki would peek in and call him a “Roasted Chicken”.
Robby was pretty sure the two boys had feelings for each other, but he was sure not gonna ask. That was something they would have to tell him. They would, ….., eventually.
In Surat, Naki bought a large number of carpets, they were all wrapped in protective linen cloth. He had been impressed with the bright colors and he purchased sufficient smaller carpets so that there was a bright splash of color in the bunk rooms and staterooms on the Gabe Carson.
As he left the last vendor, he had the uncomfortable feeling that he was being watched, but he could not spot anyone in particular, so he forgot about it.
Their next port of call was Mumbai, there were a large number of manufacturers there. He had special instructions to locate some wheeled tractors for the row crop farmers just getting going near Onslow.
Again, Naki had the feeling that someone was watching him, he had just left the office of the Sales Agent for Mumbai Farm Machinery Corporation when he was suddenly hit over the head with a weighted club.
Sometime later he woke up in a locked room that had no windows and only a single electric light bulb suspended from the ceiling that cast a feeble glow of light in the room. He had no idea where he was or who had snatched him, but he knew that he had to get help somehow, otherwise he would never be free again.
Naki was not as powerful a mind speaker as his friend, no, he corrected himself and thought, “My Life Partner Andrew Robard Walkingstone.” The two young men had pledged each other for all eternity the night before.
Naki gathered his strength and sent out a mental blast that surprised even himself. He had no idea he could command such mental power as what went into that call for help. Perhaps desperation helped power his mind.
He addressed his call to Andy and it was answered immediately by a very surprised Andrew Robard Walkingstone. He told Andy what had happened and Andy replied, “My Love, keep sending to me, I shall trace your mind and find you or I shall die in the trying!”
Naki’s call was so powerful, Robby caught part of their conversation.
Robby ran down the passageway to Andy’s stateroom. He was only half dressed, but need took precedence over all else at that moment! He burst into Andy’s stateroom and found his son in fearful tears as well as anger.
Andy attempted to run out the door of his stateroom and his Father tackled him. Robby said, “I understand son and I know your secret, but let us concentrate on getting Naki back before we make any announcements, besides, it would be better if you had some clothes on!”
Andy tried to argue with his father, even knowing that he was right.
Robby stuck his head out of Andy’s stateroom and shouted for the Chief Mate. While they waited for the Chief Mate, Jacob Daniel Carson, he helped Andy finish dressing and made him sit down and calm himself.
Jacob arrived, out of breath, he had caught snatches of Naki’s cry for help also. He said to his Captain, “Let me gather some men and then we can ask Naki to talk to us mentally. We can follow his mind to wherever he is being kept. We must do it soon, otherwise they may move him somewhere beyond his range to call us or even drug him so that he cannot call us at all!”
In a very few minutes there were twenty sailors standing on the pier, armed to the teeth and all were very angry. They all counted Naki as one of their own, they would become even more angry when they learned that he had become Andy’s mate and was, therefore, one of THEM!
The Bos’n hugged Andy and whispered, “We will get him back for you!” Andy’s eyes went kind squirrelly and Boats just smiled and said, “Yeah, I know and I approve!” Andy would soon discover that his and Naki’s secret was no secret at all!
When all the men had gathered, Boats handed out pistols and ammo, while his assistants brought clubs and fire axes. Robby then said, “Son, ask Naki to mind speak to us, keep him sending as we follow the trail to wherever they have him locked up.”
As soon and Andy and Naki had established a two-way mind stream, Robby found that he could “tune in”. By swinging his head, he could detect the direction from which the mental energy was coming.
Their path took them all the way across Mumbai, at least twenty miles from the ship.
In the shanty quarter of the city, they zeroed in on a tumbled down warehouse that looked to be ready to fall down. They discovered however, it was all a ruse, the building was actually in good repair and constructed of heavy timbers that they could not budge.
Andy was frantic and nearly screaming in fright that the man he loved was being hurt. In frustration, he directed an emotional burst of mental energy at the door that barred their way into the warehouse and the door suddenly flew apart. Nothing but splinters and broken boards remained of the door they could not break down!
Their men looked at Andy in fear and Andy threw caution to the “winds”, he shouted, “The man who I wish to spend the rest of my life with is imprisoned in that place, I will destroy this whole damned building if need be, to rescue him!” At that, boards and timbers flew in all direction as the whole wall crumbled into firewood!
Standing in the middle of the wreckage was Naki. Andy literally flew over the broken building parts and grabbed Naki, physically imprisoning him in his arms.
There was no denying the boys’ love for each other as they held each other in a mutual embrace. Andy picked up the smaller young man and carried him to the safety of the circle of angry crew members, where he grabbed a blanket to cover his mate’s nakedness.
Men came boiling out of the ruined warehouse and Robby’s crew laid them all out cold. Knowing there was no law enforcement in that part of Mumbai, the crew surrounded Andy and Naki and escorted them all the way across town, daring anyone to interfere.
They later found out that the thugs had been hired by some “Japanese men” who used the name, Fukuhara and Sashimoto. The names meant nothing to Naki, but he did not stop shaking until they got him back on board the Gabe.
Robby made a two-man stateroom available and moved Naki and Andy into it. He said, “Never again son, shall you be left alone and on your own.”
None of the ship’s crew had any problems with the Purser and the Third Mate being together, it simply was a non-issue to them.
SHARP TRADING
Whenever Naki had to go ashore to attend to his duties, Boats assigned two large seamen, armed with clubs and swords, to go with him. He made it plain to the seamen that, should anything happen to Naki OR Andy while under their care, there was no place they could hide, EVER!
Several more attempts were made to capture Nakihito Anjimoti and there was a trail of broken bodies all over the business district of Mumbai.
Naki attempted to apologize to the Bos’n for all the trouble because of him and Boats soon set him straight. He said, “Young man, you are the beloved of the son of our Captain. We have watched over Third Mate Andrew Robard Walkingstone since he was a toddler. He is family to us and that makes you family to us also. Family takes care of Family an’ we ain’t gonna stop now!”
Over the next several days, the entire crew discovered finely woven carpets in all their quarters and, when they questioned the Purser about the carpets, he swore he knew nothing about them. Food delicacies native to the ports they were visiting began to show up in the mess and, again, the Purser swore he knew nothing about the food items.
The crew knew, however and they quit asking, but they watched over Purser Nakihito like a lion watches a rabbit! His abductors had about as much chance of success as a swimmer in a lead swimming costume would have in winning a race!
Their next port of call was Goa. Naki had a request from the repair yard at Darwin to find some tin and lead. They needed to make babbit to reline the bearings on the engines of the ships in their fleet.
Goa was known as a rough port, so Andy joined the sailors guarding Naki. They made the rounds of metal dealers and Naki purchased twenty tons of lead ingots and 15 tons of tin. He felt the price was very good, he was accused of stealing it when they got back to Darwin to deliver the metals.
Naki also spotted fifty tons of raw brass being offered at what he considered, were give away prices. He purchased the entire lot and another five tons of sheets of spring brass!
While he was in the foundry, he spotted a large lot of brass pump castings. He was sure they could be used as water pumps that supplied irrigation water to the farmers near Onslow. He purchased the whole lot of the pumps. He knew their next stop was going to be Mangalore and he had read that there were some large electric motor manufacturers in that city.
They had no trouble in Goa or Mangalore, so Naki began to relax a bit. Fortunately neither Andy nor the sailor guards relaxed.
PUDUCHERRY
Their next scheduled stop was the industrial city of Puducherry on the west side of the Bay of Bengal. Naki had discovered a small manufacturer who was making industrial diesel engines. The engines were suitable for pumps and small trucks as well as factory drive lines. He was certain they would be a hit in both Darwin and Onslow
They docked at the boat basin some distance away from the manufacturing portion of the city. They had a factor in that city whom the Carsons had used several times before. The man came down to the ship and offered his services. Naki made arrangements with the man to go the next day to visit Basimi Engine Works.
Andy and Boats were not about to let Naki go by himself, particularly so far away from the ship. Andy got the Second Mate to stand his cargo handling watch for him and Boats insisted on a third sailor be added to the group. Andy was armed to the “teeth”, he had two pistols secreted about his body, several daggers and a short sword! The sailors were similarly armed as well.
The man arrived promptly at watch change the next morning. He was surprised at the large party, but he said nothing, only grinding his teeth in anger. The visit to Basimi Engine Works was very productive and Naki purchased 100 small diesel engines to be delivered to the ship that same day.
On the way back to the ship, Andy noticed they were taking a different route. He queried the sailors, who had noticed the same thing.
Without scaring Naki, the three men began edging their weapons into their hands, they were expecting trouble. They were not disappointed, the driver took a sudden turn into an alley and their car was surrounded by thugs.
The battle was brief but intense. By the time the shooting was over 20 thugs lay dead or dying. Andy had the driver by the neck, shaking him like a terrier with a bone. The driver was wide eyed and so frightened, he lost control of his bowels and soiled himself.
Andy’s glaring face was eyeball to eyeball with the driver and Andy growled, “Tell me now, who ordered this. If you tell me, you will die easy, if you do not, you will take hours in dying!”
As soon as the frightened man confessed, Andy slit his throat and tossed him aside like an old boot. Andy did not enjoy killing the man, but he sure as hell was not going to leave the guy around to make a second attempt of his lover’s life!
It was the Japanese Ambassador to India who had arranged to have Nakihito and anyone with him to be killed! Andy swore terrible vengeance, but he carefully concealed his vow from Naki.
Unknown to anyone except his father, Andy and a dozen sailors paid a visit to the Ambassador’s residence that night. The Ambassador did not survive the visit, nor did any of his staff or household. The entire building contained not a single living soul when Andy set fire to the place.
A BRIEF REPREIVE
The next morning, Andy was exhausted and the Second Assistant Engineer stood his watch in the Engine Room while Andy slept off the night’s activities.
Naki was worried about Andy, but Andy told him he was not sick, just tired. It would be many years later that Naki learned of what his life partner had done. By that time, Naki was not dismayed, he knew how much Andy loved him and he also know what his husband was capable of.
They crossed the Bay of Bengal and made for Bangkok, where Naki purchased colorful silks, dried fish and several skids of dried nuts. He spotted some skids of dried tropical fruits and he added them to the tab also.
He happened upon a vendor who had bagged rice at a price he could not pass up. He took hollow-pipe samples of the rice and he found the rice to be superior to rice he had purchased elsewhere. He inquired if the vendor had any more of the rice, so they waited for another day and finished filling the forward hold with bagged rice.
They did not have much more space available. Their final port of call was Jakarta, where they were scheduled to take on 1200 tons of dried and wrapped furniture grade hard woods.
Naki could not help himself, he discovered 20 tons of cast iron grates and covers for the new sewer system in Onslow. They could have been cast by their own foundry, but the price for the grates and covers was less than they could pour them themselves.
The poor Gabe was down on her load line, again and they could not safely take on any more cargo. Robby told Naki that he could not purchase any more “good deals”, unless he wanted to swim home!
They departed Jakarta and headed home. They had been gone over a year and everyone was anxious to see their homes and families.
The ship’s engines were pounding and the ship was sitting low in the water as they edged into Onslow Harbor. Robby was on the bridge, worried if he was going to take out part of the pier as they tied up.
It was getting dark and the pier had no lighting as yet, so Robby gave everyone overnight liberty and let the night watchmen guard the ship. As he was leaving, Naki and Andy were waiting for him at the gangway.
The two young men looked nervous and, finally Andy blurted out, “Dad, we got some problems on board.” Curious, Robby asked, “What kind of problems?” He had an awful feeling that he KNEW what the problems were. They came on two legs!
The two young men had collected eight young boys that they had snatched from a coffle of slaves in Jakarta!
Robby wondered where they were going to put the boys, but he need not have worried, between Andy and Naki, every boy had a new family from among the crew and they were waiting at the bottom of the gangway to great their new sons.
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TBC
The more things seem to change, the more they remain the same. The Carsons have been recovering children from slavers now for the last three hundred years!