China Marine: Tsingtao Treasure

by Buzz Harcus

  "Please, no, sir," Harry interrupted. "I'd rather stay on duty." He looked in the direction of Peter. "I'd feel bad going back to our cabin at the moment; he was a good friend. I'd rather work if you don't mind."

  With a condescending sigh of understanding, Captain Andress agreed to his request "As you vish. But if it pains, tell Mr. Helmstrund und he vill haf somevun replace you." Waggling his finger under Mr. Helmstrund's nose, the captain said, "Make sure you keep an eye on dis man. He is valuable to us."

  "Aye, sir," Mr. Helmstrund replied.

  "Oh, und make sure all dis information is entered in der ship's log. Harry can report vat caused der incident, und I also vant to report der Oricon. Ve ver in der right." Again, he looked at Harry. "Ve talk later. Ve haf much to discuss."

  Turning his attention back to the electrical engineer, who knew he was being watched as he worked feverishly, the captain fixed him with a blistering look, roaring, "You fix der damned radar right dis time or I vill personally trow you overboard to der sharks!"

  Satisfied that everything was once again shipshape, Captain Andress departed the bridge. A loud cheer rang out from the thankful crew who still milled about on the deck. The captain stuck his head in the wheelhouse and called Harry to come outside with him. Under the glare of lights, Captain Andress raised Harry's arm high with his, a sign of victory. Again, the cheers and hand clapping rang out.

  On deck, Osa clapped her hands together, looking up at her uncle and Harry with mixed emotions. How could she tell her uncle what a sadistic person Harry was when he was such a hero. Uncle Karl's eyes had lit up with admiration when he talked of Harry and how he had found the explosives, and now this!

  She had relived the other night a thousand times, sickened at the vulgar thing he had wanted of her. Yet, up to that point she had enjoyed being held in his arms, the press of his body to hers, being kissed, even being caressed.

  "Dat Harry Martin is vun good man," Gueder said as he passed by "Ve are lucky to haf him on board ship."

  "Yes," Osa found herself agreeing, and she turned quickly heading for her cabin. What could she do to drive all thoughts of the man from her mind!

  Chapter 44

  COGNAC WITH THE CAPTAIN

  Harry awoke with a start. Had he heard Peter snoring? He rolled over and glanced down at the bottom bunk. It was empty. Peter was dead. Last night had all the makings of a bad dream, but it was real. The man was gone.

  Emitting a soft groan, he rolled over on his back. Every joint and muscle in his body ached, tested to the maximum during the frantic effort to avoid the collision.

  An over-sized bandage was taped to his shoulder. Luck had been with him. It was only a flesh wound, the slug barely breaking the skin, nothing to get overly worked up about, but an hour further into his watch the captain had returned to the bridge and ordered him relieved of duty through the rest of the day. No argument; he was relieved.

  Glancing at the clock, he let out another moan; he'd slept the day away. It was almost dusk. Soon it would be time for his watch again. "Shit," he muttered under his breath. Sliding off his bunk, he stood on the deck stretching, trying to loosen up aching muscles. A light tap at the door startled him.

  "Yes. Who is it?" he called out.

  "Hans. I haf a message for you."

  "Come in," Harry called reaching for his pants, sliding into them, pulling them up just as the chubby-cheeked cabin boy who served in the galley entered, cap in hand.

  "Well?" Harry asked eyeing the youth.

  "Captain Andress asks dat you join him in his cabin," Hans replied, staring in awe of the man who had twice saved the ship. The stories about his heroic efforts had been flying rampant throughout the ship the entire day.

  "Now?" Harry asked. "Like this?" he gestured at his unkempt appearance.

  "Yah, if you vould, please," Hans said apologetically.

  Harry studied the boy. Captain Andress had brought him aboard as cabin boy, a favor to his mother when he started running around with an older gang of kids, tough kids bent on getting into trouble. Now, he assisted Osa in the galley and as runner and cabin boy for the captain.

  "Damn," Harry muttered under his breath. He glanced at the clock again. "Tell you what, Hans. You tell the captain that I'll be there in fifteen minutes, time to clean up a bit and look more presentable. Okay?"

  "Yah. Okay." Hans beamed. "I vill tell him." He backed awkwardly toward the door.

  "Did I miss any good meals today?" Harry asked.

  "Yah. Good food," he grinned. As an afterthought, he said, "Mrs. Peterson vas not feeling too good today. She has spent most of der day in her cabin. Probably a headache."

  Harry smiled. Probably wearing her halo too tight.

  Fifteen minutes later, showered, shaved and looking somewhat presentable, Harry headed for the captain's quarters on the double. A myriad of thoughts raced through his mind. What does he want to talk about? The ship? The near collision? Peter? My wound? He recalled the captain saying early on in the voyage that one day they would get together and talk about the good old days in China.

  Or was it Osa? Maybe he wanted to talk about Osa. Maybe she had gone blubbering to her uncle about his attempt to seduce her, had probably even exaggerated, telling him he tried to rape her. Shit! From hero to jerk, just like that, he thought with a snap of his fingers. The conniving bitch. Then he stopped: she wouldn't have, would she?

  He hesitated outside the captain's cabin, and then taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door. "Come in," boomed the captain's voice. Harry steeled himself for the inevitable, then entered.

  "Harry, good of you to come on such short notice," a smiling, cordial Captain Andress greeted him. "Come, sit down." He waved Harry toward a large overstuffed chair. "Vould you care for a glass of cognac?"

  "Ahhh, yes, thank you," Harry replied somewhat hesitantly. "A glass of cognac sounds good."

  Crossing the room, he settled in the plush chair. A sweeping glance of the small room showed it to be tastefully decorated but sparsely furnished. A couple of nice, comfortable chairs, coffee table, end tables with lamps. Two large framed black and white photographs of vintage World War II cargo ships hung on either wall. No frills, but cozy. A plus was the thick carpeting. The room definitely conveyed the bold, masculine personality of the captain. All it lacked was a fireplace and a crackling fire.

  Harry could see into his bedroom. A double bed, dresser and mirror, and beyond that the bathroom with a tub. That's a plus for command, he thought. Except for Osa's cabin, all the other cabins he had seen were furnished with showers.

  Harry rose and crossed to one of the large photographs. "Interesting ship," he commented. "One you sailed on before?"

  Captain Andress, who was engrossed in pouring two snifters with cognac, replied without looking up, "Dat vun is my first command, der Viking Prince. Ve ver in Shanghai in 1937 ven der Japanese attacked. My captain vas killed by gunfire. I took command to get us der hell out of dere. Ve had hundreds of refugees on board. Sadly, ve ver torpedoed just north of der Philippine Islands. Tragic.

  "Der odder photo is der North Star. I vas in Shanghai vis der ship ven der Marines left in 1949 und der communists took over der country. I barely got out dat time, too. Dey vas firing machine guns at us. Again, I had lots of refugees on board. Only dis time ve got avay safely."

  "Shanghai wasn't exactly your cup of tea then," Harry observed, with a light chuckle.

  "Shanghai is okay. It's you damned Marines alvays leaving ven I'm in port." He winked at Harry as he approached with two snifters of brandy.

  "To der rest of der voyage und dat it be successful und less eventful," Captain Andress said, chuckling as he handed Harry a snifter of rich, amber cognac.

  "Amen," Harry agreed touching his glass to the captains. A warm burning all the way to his stomach greeted his first sip. "Good," he nodded. The captain beamed.

  "Are you feeling better now?" the captain inquired.

  "Yes, sir, but a little worn." He rotated his
shoulder for effect. "I don't know about you, sir, but I ache all over. I mean, I really ache. I didn't realize I'd strained my poor old body so badly -"

  "Me, too," Captain Andress roared. "I am pooped! Dat is der most vork I haf done in ages." He took a sip of cognac. "Harry, ve must admit it; ve are getting older, older but viser. Yah?"

  He emptied his glass at that remark and raised it, a sign for a refill. "Sure thing," Harry responded downing the last of the liquid and handing the glass to his host. Why not, he thought. It tastes good and he's offering.

  "Ve missed you at der funeral service," Captain Andress said while refilling their glasses. "It vas sad sending a shipmate to der bottom of der sea."

  Harry jerked erect. "I'm sorry!" he blurted, shocked that they had held the service so soon. "I was asleep. Someone should have fetched me."

  "Don't be upset. It is done." He handed Harry a fresh cognac, and then sank down in his chair. "We haf no means of keeping a body for any length of time. It vas necessary to bury as qvickly as possible."

  He took a sip of cognac, and then set his brandy snifter on a coaster on the small end table next to his chair. Searching through a collection of pipes in his pipe stand, Captain Andress finally selected an ornately carved meerschaum pipe. Harry watched silently as he tamped fresh tobacco into the bowl. Then, using three matches to get it lit to his satisfaction, he blew clouds of bluish-white, aromatic smoke out across the room.

  "I listened to your report of der incident," he said nodding toward a tape player on the coffee table. "Interesting. I am sad about Peter. He served vis me for over ten years. I had high hopes he vould become captain of vun of our ships, even as early as next year."

  "Someone had promised him a promotion to captain," Harry interrupted.

  "Yah. I haf been in contact vis der home office. All hell is breaking loose back dere. It is hard to believe dat such scurrilous people exist. Money and power. Dat's all dey vanted, no sense of guilt or responsibility about the loss of human lives, der ship or cargo. Vun man scheming to get more money und more power. Lindstrom. Der bastard! I am sorry Peter und Ernst got involved in dis scheme to sink ships for der insurance monies, und Peter, just for a command, a command he earned und vould haf gotten in anodder year or two."

  He sat back puffing on his pipe, his mind slipping away deep in thought. Harry sipped at his cognac, watching, waiting. He'd let the man talk. Be a good listener. He recalled the phrase from his days working in public relations. You couldn't learn a damned thing while you were talking. Listen, be a good listener. The phrase had stuck with him, and he felt, had benefited him.

  "Yah, I feel sorry for Peter, but more-so for his vife und children. It vill be devastating to her ven she learns of his disloyalty, und it may scar der children for life. Who knows?"

  Harry nodded in agreement. "I thought Peter was a square shooter," he said, not wanting an answer. "There wasn't a sign, not the least indication that he was involved in anything underhanded. Someone had to promise him the moon to get him to go along with sinking this ship."

  "Never can I recall any incident in vich I could fault der man. Not vunce in all dese years."

  "I'll admit I became somewhat suspicious when he bought Ernst's story about the putty. Yet, I could see where he was coming from, believing in one of his shipmates, a man he trusted. But then, they were in it together. Even the cable from the home office advising him to continue the mission had me confused at first. I thought it odd that the cable went to him and not you."

  "Ahh! Dat's ven I suspected him!" Captain Andress bellowed, jerking forward to sit on the edge of his chair. "Sparks brought me a copy of der cable. It made me vunder vy der vice-president of our company vould send a cable to Peter und not to me. I vas very upset. I vas going to demand an explanation from Peter, but I held off. After all, he vas upset over the unfortunate loss of Ernst. Yet, late last night chust before going to bed, I read it vun more time. Ven I read it, it suddenly came to me - der bastard vas a part of dem! Dat's ven I hurried up to der bridge."

  "And just in the nick of time," Harry added.

  "Yah. I jus' knew someting vas wrong. I had to get to der bridge in a hurry. I vasn't even avare of der odder ship."

  He took another long draw on his pipe. It looked small in his big, beefy hand. Another cloud of smoke curled upwards toward the overhead. "Again," he said leaning forward patting Harry's knee, a sincere look on his face, "Ve are grateful to you for your qvick tinking. Both times der ship could haf been sunk."

  Harry squirmed back in his chair, uncomfortable at having praise thrust upon him.

  Captain Andress sensed his uneasiness and, with a wave of his hand, moved on to a new subject. "How does it feel being at sea again after all dese years?"

  "Good, sir. Good to have the feel of a solid deck under my feet again, especially after I finally got my sea legs."

  Laugher erupted from the captain. "Dey surely gave you a hard time about being seasick. Ahh, dat is part of life, being able to poke fun at ourselves. Ve must haf some fun, even at our own expense." Another cloud of smoke billowed upwards as he puffed contentedly on his pipe.

  Harry watched, smiling, recalling several years before when his wife had practically begged him to smoke a pipe. It was the "manly" thing to do, she had stated quite emphatically, almost inferring that he was less than manly for not smoking. To keep peace in the household, he had struggled with the habit trying several pipes and various blends of tobacco, but never actually embraced the habit. Then, one day, his wife introduced him to her pipe-smoking boss, a "successful" businessman. Three pipes and five packs of rich, aromatic tobacco ended up in the wastebasket that very day.

  "Are you getting along veil vis der operation of der ship? Any problems or suggestions on how ve might improve our operation and efficiency?" Captain Andress set his pipe down. "You know, sometimes an outsider can see tings dat are so obvious, but vich ve don't see. Vat's dat old saying, you can't see der forest because of der trees?

  "Yeah," Harry chuckled. "I know what you mean. Actually, you run a good ship, a tight ship, a ship with a dedicated crew who know what their jobs are and do them well. The only foul up I've seen was the radar."

  "It had better be vorking right. Dat scoundrel knows he vill be trown overboard if he screwed up again." He laughed. "He is number vun on my shit list!"

  Harry laughed. "I'd like to have been a mouse and seen him when he went back to his room. I bet he cleaned a pile of shit out of his pants after the way you read him out."

  "Yah," the captain laughed. "He should haf shit his pants!"

  Abruptly, he rose and fetched back the bottle of cognac, offering a refill to Harry, who raised his glass in acceptance.

  "You keep your cabin, Harry," he said. "You earned it."

  A feeling of relief warmed Harry. He had been concerned about where he might end up what with Peter gone. It would be more difficult to work on his special project surrounded by a dozen crewmen in their quarters. "Thank you," he replied. "Much appreciated."

  "You vill be vorking vis Second Officer Sigmund Helmstrund now. He is a nice chap. Young, headstrong at times, but a very good officer. Strictly by der book. But I tink you vill like him. I haf already spoken to him about you. He seems to haf a favorable impression of you. Yah, der two of you should vork veil togedder."

  Harry nodded, smiling for his benefit. What could he say? Helmstrund was a dink! He was young and overbearing, a damned know-it-all. Oh well, he reasoned, the voyage can't last forever. Maybe my first impression of him was wrong. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, keep an open mind.

  "How old did you say you are?" the captain asked.

  "I'll be fifty-four in August, sir."

  "Ahhh, a Leo. I am a Gemini. My birthday is May 29. Ven is yours?"

  "August fifteenth."

  "Good. Good. My cousin, Benji, vas born on August fifteen."

  He paused, picked up his pipe and puffed at it for a couple of puffs, silently reflective for several moments. H
arry sat quietly, sipping the amber liquor. "Yah, Benji vas lost off a fishing boat in der North Sea und drowned tree days before his tventieth birthday." His eyes misted. He blinked, then dabbed at the corners. "Damned smoke smarts ven it gets in my eyes," he said quietly. "He vas a great influence on my life, urged me to go to sea. He vas my idol."

  Suddenly, with a slap of his hand on his knee, startling Harry, he said, "But enough of dat. Ve are getting older. I enjoy birthdays. Dey are fun times, especially vis my family und friends. Dat's vy I am happy ven I am home to celebrate. My vife spoils me rotten." He laughed heartily. "She is a great comfort to me. I look forvard to retirement, to staying home und being spoiled by her."

  "Well, I've got several more birthdays to celebrate before I consider retiring," Harry replied. "I've got a hell of a lot of living to do between now and then."

  "Osa has a birthday coming up soon. She vill be forty-five. Now don't you tell anyvun I told you dat!" he exclaimed shaking a finger at Harry.

  Harry laughed. "No, sir. I won't tell a soul."

  "She is a good voman, jus' reaching her prime. She is smart und is very attractive." He loosed a long sigh, and then took a sip of cognac. "It is too bad vat happened to her. Did I tell you?"

  "No, sir," Harry replied. "I heard -" but he had no chance to mention having heard about Osa from Peter as the captain had already launched into a lengthy explanation of what had happened to her.

  Harry saw just talking about Rudy upset the captain, the sudden rapid puffing on his pipe, the plumes of smoke shooting upwards like the puffing of an old coal fire driven steam engine, and the sudden refilling of their glasses.

  "I had seen him vis dat young whore shortly before der accident dat killed dem. It made me sick. I tried to talk to him vunce before about his vomanizing, but to no avail. I should haf beat der crap out of him!

  "Osa is a nice girl. He really hurt her. He vas a sick man. She don't deserve to be hurt. She deserves to haf a good life. She is my favorite niece, a nice, clean girl, high moraled, und very intelligent. Vun day she vill meet a good man, a man who appreciates der beauty und luf of a fine voman." He poured yet another cognac for himself, nodded to Harry, who held out his glass. "Just a touch, Captain."