Angelique

by Carl Leckey

  I had a word with the manager Mr Gillon about young Collin Collins. To cut a long story short Mr Gillon arranged for me to interview him there and then with his Mother present.

  The kid is a wonder. He knows every Liverpool shipping company in existence, where they sail to, what cargoes they carry. He can even name nearly all the ships in their fleets and to top it all he can tie nearly as many knots as me. As a result of the meeting I offered him a place on my ship. He is to start at the bottom rung of the ladder as Peggy and work his way up to Able Seaman as he gets in his sea time.

  I shall keep a personal eye on his progress. If he is good with navigation and all the other skills required I will train him to eventually become an officer. All being well he should realise his ambition to be a Captain of his own ship, hopefully one of our ships Adam. You’ll like this part. I asked him when it would be convenient to start working for me he replied.”

  “Right now Sir if I may.”

  I request. “Please keep in touch with me about his progress. I think I took to him because he reminds me of myself at his age.”

  Bill continues telling me about Colin. “Of course I will Adam. He has been aboard since we sailed and I am able to report I am more than pleased with him. He has settled in very nicely, he’s a very good worker and he gets on famously with the rest of the crew particularly my cook Jesus.” On the mention of his name I ask him. “Jesus how is he, is he still stateless and confined to be permanently on board the ship?”

  Bill explains. “No thanks to our mate Alec I resolved that one for him. When we were at Alec’s hotel for that meeting I mentioned I was worried about the cook because I was transferring to my new ship. I was signing on a completely new French crew but I wanted to keep Jesus with me. After leaving Portia we had to travel from Liverpool to Germany to collect the new ship from the builders. It meant travelling by rail and ferry, crossing borders and passing through immigrations.

  Of course as you know Jesus had no papers. Alec gave me an address to contact a chap he knows of in Le Havre. It cost me quite a bit but he arranged for Jesus to have a British passport, a French identity card, and a British seaman’s discharge book. I don’t know how he did it but I thought not to question him. They all look genuine to me and we passed over the borders with no trouble.”

  I smile when he finishes explaining. So, the mysterious man that helped me and Alec out with documents is still up to his old tricks eh? Major whatever his name is with the British intelligence has not caught up with him yet.

  I enquire. “By the way how is the new ship working out?” Bill replies. “She is an absolute beauty, I have to give the Germans credit they sure can build ships, completed on time, on budget. It is a pleasure to have no more, shitty.” He realises that he swore in front of a lady and apologises. “I beg your pardon Susan.” She shrugs her indifference. Bill continues extolling the virtues of his new ship.

  “No more dirty coal, no ashes to dispose of, or filthy smoke to contend with. But the best of all I have no bloody drunken firemen to deal with. I even have a snug wheehouse to shelter me in from the elements. I have electric lights throughout the ship. Even the winches are electric driven. There are no steam ones clattering away while you are trying to sleep.”

  I remark. “Well Captain you sound to be a very happy man. What happened to your old ship Bill? The last I heard of her she was laid up in Liverpool.”

  “Ah! She was that for a while. She was in the hands of ship brokers. I have just been informed the Greeks have bought her.” He explains with a sarcastic laugh.

  “The Greeks are not so fussy about regulations as the British Board of Trade. She will spend the rest of her life trading around the Greek Islands. Now that location should be more forgiving on an old ship than the Irish Sea in winter I reckon. In a way I am sorry to see her go. She has been a good and lucky ship for me and she was my first Captains job. She got me through the war unscathed as well.

  Portia is getting old and I was having trouble insuring her without spending lots of money on the old girl to bring her up to date. She wouldn’t have complied with the new regulations parliament has introduced since the war ended. Huh! They didn’t care what condition the ships were in during the hostilities as long as they kept going supplying the war effort. One good thing came out of it however. The cash I got for her enabled me to buy into OSCADA without borrowing so much from the bank.” He laughs and adds. “There is only one drawback with the new ship.

  I miss the fiddly to nip in and thaw me old bones out when it’s been a long cold watch on an open bridge.”

  Paul intercedes. “Excuse my ignorance of nautical matters Captain, I heard you mention you are employing the lad as a Peggy. I have two questions to ask you, the first one is what is a Peggy? The second is what on earth is a fiddly?” The Captain laughs and explains.

  “A Peggy is usually a fresh starter at sea he is the general dogsbody and looks after the crew while learning seamanship from them. On some bigger foreign going ships he would be classed as a cabin boy but on a smaller coastal vessel like mine he is known as the Peggy. The fiddly to answer your second question is the area above the boilers. As I said before it’s nice and warm to hide in during the winter. I had one in my old ship Portia because she is a steam driven vessel but my new ship the Denise is diesel powered consequently, no boilers, no fiddly, no sneaking in for a quick thawing out.

  Paul remarks. “We live and learn.” With a dreamy look on his face he adds. “I wouldn’t mind doing a trip with you Captain, when I have time that is. I have always wondered what is like to be at sea on a lovely starlit night and visiting foreign countries.” I chip in with a laugh.

  “It will be a long time before you do that Paul with all your commitments and a baby on its way.”

  “You are right there Adam, but a man can dream can’t he?”

  Captain Hawkins says. “Aye! Lad. There is not much time for dreaming in mid winter in a force nine gale rounding Lands End, take my advice stick to your four legged land horses. Seahorses are not as forgiving.” We have a laugh until Gunter announces. “It’s time to go I am afraid. Estelle will be wondering where I am. I was supposed to be back yesterday.” Suzanne offers to ring the hotel and let them know he is on his way. Gunter requests. “Before we leave Adam may I have a word please it‘s something personal I wish to discuss.”

  I don my coat and walk with him to the large warehouse where he stored his automobile when he flew to England. He reveals his concern. “I didn’t like to say anything in front of the others but this Major Doomsday appearing on the scene is more serious than I admitted. He will certainly have someone spying on us now.”

  Alarmed I ask. “But you have done nothing wrong have you?”

  Gunter replies. “Adam you know I am involved with the world peace movement and the Jewish home state organisation. Both these are reason enough for British Intelligence to take an interest in my life. I am not worried on my own behalf. I have been living with their threats and interference for years. But it could now involve you and your family because of my association with you.” Shocked by his revelation I ask him. “What do mean by threats Gunter? I know he threatened me in Paris but he never carried them out when I invited him to do his damndest.

  He was all bluff in my opinion.”

  Gunter replies. “I wish it was that easy Adam, the Major and his very powerful colleagues would dearly like to see me and many of my friends disappear off the face of the earth. We are definitely thorns in their backsides. I have had a long association with him over many years.

  To give him credit he has even changed his name to Doomsday as a clear warning to me the gloves are now off. My peace movement connection won’t bother them so much since the war has ended. It is my activities in the demand for a Jewish homeland that will be activating his renewed interest in me. All I am trying to warn you Adam is to be careful. If anything suspicious occurs for example if anyone you don’t know approaches you with questions about me. In fact i
f anything out of the ordinary occurs, let me know immediately please.”

  Gunter’s warnings leaves me in a quandary, how will I know what to expect, is he really fearful for his very life? I have never lived in his shadowy world of intrigue before and don’t particularly want to be there now. It wouldn’t have bothered me so much when I was single and carefree. I now have a family to consider and don’t mind admitting his warnings scare the pants off me

  We leave Gunter to drive his own vehicle back to the HOTEL OSCADA. Paul has brought my Rolls to transport us back to the depot. From there after seeing Harry I will decide my itinerary for the next week. I am sitting alongside Paul in deep thought contemplating Gunter’s warning when we approach the Gabrielle depot we have recently purchased. I request Paul to stop the car. What a change has taken place since I last saw the place. The site has been cleared of all signs of the transport depot ready for the construction of the planned number of houses. Marcel has been busy. I am glad he kept to our agreement to finish the house by the lake using our new construction company before beginning this next assignment. When I remark on what progress they have made. Paul assures me that Marcel didn’t take any workers away from the Lake House, he utilised the workers from the depot to clear the site. I query. “Where are they now then?” He informs me. “They all decided to retire since they cleared the site.”

  I remark. “Oh I thought we may be able to use them in Le Havre, we always appear to be short of experienced drivers.” Paul replies with a laugh. “You never met the Gabrielle men did you Adam? The youngest one was nearly seventy. I heard they only stayed on at work because of the war. The old men would only drive the steam wagons and the horse drawn carts anyway. They weren’t interested in driving any of the modern vehicles.” I enquire. “Where are the steamers and wagon’s then? They are not cluttering up the Le Havre depot are they?”

  Paul answers hesitantly. “You better see Harry about those. As far as I know the three steamers are in a warehouse in the docks. The wagons and horses have been sold to farmers.”

  I reply. “Hmm that’s interesting. Paul have you had any word of when you take over the stables and house at the chateau?” He advises me. “The last time I spoke to Louise she reckoned it will be about June next year before everything is finalised. To tell you the truth Adam the funeral and wedding business have taken off in a big way. I don’t have much time to drive the trucks anymore. Yvette doesn’t drive the coaches either she was having trouble climbing aboard.

  To be honest I don’t want to risk anything while she is pregnant. I don’t even want her near the horses at this time.”

  “How are you managing on your own?” He discloses something that pleases me a great deal. “The young trainee mechanic Frances, Billy brought from the chateau? He is helping out when I’m busy and I require the two coaches. He is a natural mechanic. Billy has taught him well and he is also great with the horses. I have to tell you Adam that boy is a Godsend.”

  When we arrive at the depot as Paul climbs out of the vehicle he informs me. “Before I forget and you get involved with Harry, you are invited to dinner tonight. Yvette is cooking a special meal for you. An English roast beef dinner with all the trimmings. Will you be at our place about seven o’clock this evening?” His invitation throws me momentary. “Er, er. Yes of course I’ll be there. I shall look forward to it.” Oh Lor! I hope her cooking has improved. He also invites Bill who promptly declines the invitation. Bill thanks him for the invite and explains he has to be back aboard his ship to oversee the loading of his cargo. Lucky man! Maybe Yvette’s reputation as a cook has spread as far as the shipping fraternity.

  I leave the Rolls at the depot and walk home collecting a few items of shopping on the way. Apprehensively I arrive at Paul and Yvette’s place about quarter to seven clutching a bunch of flowers and bottle of their favourite wine. To my astonishment I am greeted warmly at the door by Yvette. Unbelievably she gives me a hug, a kiss on the cheek and utters “Welcome home dear Adam.” I have a whiff of a very expensive delectable perfume. This is a scent I have detected on a previous occasion but can’t for the life of me remember where. She then leads me by the hand into the one large living room. For this occasion they have transformed it into a splendid dining room. The table is already set for three, it looks terrific and would do credit to Mr Humphreys table in England. The silver and crystal sparkle in the candle light, snow white linen adorns the table. They have done wonders to their apartment in such a short time I congratulate them.

  It feels so homely now, on my last visit it was Spartan very much a bachelor’s residence.

  Paul is opening the wine as he greets me I am ushered to my seat at the head of the table by Yvette.

  The dinner is a great success the food is wonderful the roast beef is cooked to perfection the conversation is enjoyable. I no longer feel the need to choose my words in Yvette’s presence. She appears to be a completely changed woman. There is no more bullying of Paul, no more catty remarks. In fact she is the perfect hostess. Pregnancy evidently suits my dear Sister in law thank goodness.

  I can’t wait until I tell Denise about her transformation. About midnight after a splendid evening slightly the worse for the drink I retire to my lonely apartment over the coach house.

  Before going to the depot in the morning I decide to stroll over to the cafe to see my old friends and have breakfast. As I pass what was Oscars house Collette is closing the front door. He is dressed immaculately in very fashionable ladies clothes. He greets me like a long lost friend and drops in alongside me “Oh! Hello Adam dear so you are home from jolly old England, are you? How is that gorgeous Wife of yours doing? I heard she went over to join you is she home as well?”

  Keeping my head down I reply in a kind of Mumble. “She is in England now she will be over there for Christmas. My Wife is doing very well, thank you.” He reveals where he is going.

  “I am on my way to that lovely cafe for brecky. Where are you going my Dear?”

  If I had not been aware of his strange profession, and his real sex and the fact he is attired in such an extraordinary manner. I would have been thrilled to be associated with such a delightful person. As it is I am ashamed to be in his company in case he is recognised for what he is. Especially as it appears I am accompanying him. I am about to make an excuse and take the next turning going in the opposite direction to the cafe. Then I change my mind I lift up my head up and say to myself. Sod everyone else’s opinion. This person has shown me nothing but kindness and has never tried to proposition me in any way. Who am I to judge his strange lifestyle? I have read somewhere that through history many of our greatest artists, performers, even soldiers adopted a similar way of living usually in private but nevertheless they have.

  The ancient Greeks after all considered it a part of everyday life and they ruled the known world. Collette links my arm when I inform him.

  “I am also going to the cafe for breakfast and I would enjoy your company, if you don’t mind?” It is at that moment when I am close to him I have the whiff of the very same perfume I had when Yvette greeted me last night. What a coincidence Yvette and Collette wear the same perfume. To my surprise we get along famously he is a fund of funny stories nothing rude either. We have ordered breakfast when Collette asks. “Oh yes Adam did you enjoy your dinner last night?” Collette is evidently a regular patron by the remarks the staff make.

  One of the lads from the OSCADA depot enters he greets everyone present including Collette. From the back chat between them Collette is evidently popular with most of the drivers and the staff.

  I very soon discover there is an exception however. The door swings open I recognise three of our drivers entering the cafe in the mirror over the bar. Two are English one is French. One of the English drivers sees Collette sitting opposite. He evidently doesn’t recognise me from the rear. He complains to the cafe proprietor in a loud voice.

  “What’s that bleeding great puff doing in here? This place is for real men not
Nancy girls, should I chuck the bugger out for you Raymond.” His English mate Reg attempts to quieten him. “If I were you Tony lad I would shut up, Collette’s alright.“ As I begin to stand to confront the man Collette reaches over grasping my wrist he restrains me and says in an equally loud voice. “Don’t you bother with the likes of him Adam. I have dealt with his type on many occasions before. It is usually the ones with loudest and biggest mouths that are latent homosexuals.”

  Collette stands he tidies his dress and hair in an exaggerated manner and confronts the angry driver. “Now my little friend do you have a problem with me? Would you like to go outside where we can have a nice little chat and settle our differences once and for all?”

  The driver grins at his mates and readily accepts the invitation. They leave together. Reg tells his mate. “Tony does not have a clue who he has to reckon with, he’ll be sorry he upset Collette, take my word for it.” Within minutes Collette returns alone, he takes his seat opposite me and asks. “Now where were we before we were so rudely interrupted?” Reg the driver asks with a laugh. “What have you done with Tony Collette?” Collette replies. “Oh! Hello Reg. Your friend Tony is hanging about outside waiting for you.”

  I have to have a look where the stupid Tony is. When I go outside accompanied by the two drivers and Raymond we find Tony suspended from the tall iron railings. Collette has evidently lifted him up and allowed the fence spikes to hook the back of his jacket.

  His mates laugh at his predicaments and lift him down.

  Reg says. “I did warn you Tony.” He adds further information about my breakfast companion.

  “I knew Colin when he was in the Army he was only the undefeated regimental wresting champ. Come on Tony let’s get you back to work before you get into any more trouble with that big gob of yours. We have no time for brecky today thanks to you.”