Wednesday, July 30, 2008





102.
   At the harbor we boarded a tug painted in the shimmering pastels of Valparaiso. The city rose behind us as we steamed away, its buildings glinting in the afternoon sun.
    “The El Telo is anchored in the middle of the harbor.”, announced Conrad. “It will take us some time to reach her. There she is!” He pointed to a hulking derelict in the distance.

   “A tramp steamer!”, I shouted over the pounding of the engine. “We’re sailing on a tramp steamer! I’ve always wanted to sail on one! I’m thrilled!” 
   “And so am I.”, growled Conrad.
   Pat rolled his eyes.
   Nanette looked over the rail at the water. “I better not get seasick. 

   “Just don’t tell me we’re on our way to Skull Island to find King Kong!”. I babbled. “I’ve seen enough monkeys for a lifetime. Pat and Nanette saved me from a sixty-foot monkey just a few days ago. I had a friend. We had a friend, but we lost her.”
   “You will see her again.”, said Conrad.
   “I will?”, I said, catching my breath. “Do you know where she is?” 

   “You will see her again.”, he repeated.
   This guy isn’t much for words, I thought but part of me wanted to believe him. A part of me almost believed him. Consider the crazy world you are in, I thought. She might just be aboard the ship. Hell, she might just be its captain.

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