The People Traders by Keith Hoare Read Free Book Online Page B

metres square. As the ship lurched in the swell, the cases creaked under the strain, giving a constant frightening sound above the noise of the engines. In a corner a camp bed had been laid out with blankets thrown on top. Alongside was a portable toilet, a small table and on top, a tin cup and flask.
    She went to the bed, pulled the blankets straight, then climbed inside. The day had been bearable, the work very little. After the first encounter with the two crew members, the cook had kept her away from others coming in to eat. At the same time he warned her not to talk to other crew members about her problems. Assam had lots of eyes and ears, so almost certainly he would hear about it. However, after the conversation and news report in Assam's room, followed by the incident on deck, her confidence was at an all-time low. She couldn't help feeling that what had already happened would be nothing to what the future held for her.

CHAPTER 5
     
     
    The following two days were the same; working again in the kitchen, with Garrett coming at the end of the day and taking her back to the hold. However, this time Assam collected her in the early evening and took her back to his cabin.
    "There's a shower through there," nodding towards a door, "when you're finished I want to talk to you. We've many things to sort out."
    She thanked him, asking if he had a toothbrush.
    He pulled open a drawer to his desk, handing her an old used one. "I've no toothpaste," he commented.
    "I'll use salt if you have any, my mother always used salt, she swore by it," Karen replied.
    He removed a small salt-cellar from his cupboard, passing it her. Just as she was going into the bathroom he called her back.
    "The bottom drawer of that chest, Karen," he said pointing at a chest in the corner of his cabin. "Open it, will you? You'll find a brown bag with clothes inside. Put them on after your shower then rinse what you're wearing in the hand bowl."
    Within seconds she was standing under the warm cascade of water. It felt good. With working in the kitchen, her hair was full of grease, her body smelling. Quickly drying herself, she opened the bag, but her heart sank. Inside was a pair of knickers so tiny they would hardly cover her, a short-sleeved blouse which tied with a knot at the front, and tight silk shorts. Dressing quickly, she stood for a moment in front of the mirror, combing her hair. Dressed this way she felt decidedly uncomfortable, but with these or nothing, there was no option but to wear them. Going back into the cabin, Assam looked her up and down. "You're looking better; I've a drink here for you."
    She thanked him and sipped it slowly. The liquid caught her throat and she began coughing. The drink was neat vodka. "May I have some water with it please, it's too strong like this, I'll be sick?" she gasped.
    He pushed a jug of water over to her. "I forgot you're a landlubber, sailors don't water their drinks. What do you think of the clothes then?"
    She looked at him for a moment before answering, not wanting to dissuade him from giving her extra clothes. The knickers and t-shirt she'd worn since arriving on the ship were dirty and were clinging, leaving little to the imagination.
    "I like the blouse, it's really cool, but the shorts are a bit small for me. I hope you don't want me to wear this outfit in the kitchen tomorrow because they'd be ruined?"
    "No, I've found you a pair of jeans and a jumper. The cook was saying you're distracting the crew too much, dressed as you are. He can't get them back out to work," Assam replied, trying to make light of the conversation.
    She breathed a sigh of relief. 'Thank God,' she thought. By now she'd drunk nearly a whole glass and Assam filled it again.
    He lit a cigarette. "I suppose you've had thoughts about your comments and your desire to die, rather than live, like I propose?"
    Karen looked a bit sheepish. "I was perhaps a bit hasty, I really don't want to die but I do desperately want to go home.