The White Voyage Read Online Free PDF

lit it, turning away from the wind and cupping the flame between his hands. After he had drawn on it a couple of times, he said:
    ‘When I was a boy, I always looked forward to things up to this point. It was after that it all turned flat.’
    ‘Going out to India, or coming back?’
    ‘Both. It was the journey I looked forward to – the voyage especially.’
    ‘I wish I’d been able to travel.’
    ‘It was always a disappointment. Anyway, you are travelling now. With a long journey ahead.’
    ‘It’s different when you do things as a child.’
    ‘I suppose it is.’
    She said: ‘If we’d gone by air, we would have been there by now, wouldn’t we?’
    He heard the anxiety in her voice and put an arm round her shoulders. She was a slight thing, even wearing an overcoat. He thought of the thin back under the layers of clothing, the lines of bone under the white skin, and tightened his hold.
    ‘It’s safer this way,’ he said.
    ‘I suppose so.’ She looked up. ‘Which is our cabin?’
    ‘The second and third port-holes from that end.’
    ‘Did you lock the door?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘But …’
    ‘I locked the case,’ he said. ‘Stop worrying. Everything is all right.’
    She said apologetically: ‘I’ll try not to fuss. It’s just that – I’m more nervous than I thought I would be.’
    ‘It doesn’t matter.’
    ‘You have enough, without my being difficult as well. Darling, I think I’ll be all right. But back there – you know – I wanted to scream so badly. I had to, well, tighten myself up to prevent it. That’s why I turned away.’
    ‘You’ve done fine,’ he said, ‘and the worst is over.’
    ‘Really?’
    ‘Yes, really.’
    ‘I feel tired,’ she said. ‘Could we go up now? I think I’d like to lie down for a while.’
    He nodded. ‘Of course.’
    They met Thorsen coming down from the cabins as they were preparing to climb the stairs. He stood back to let them come first.
    ‘Is there anything I can do for you?’ he asked.
    ‘Not just at present,’ Jones said. ‘What time is lunch?’
    ‘One o’clock, sir.’
    The two centre cabins were larger than the outside ones, and had twin beds instead of bunks. Their three suitcases were by the dressing-table; with them was a portable typewriter. Jones went to this and examined the lock. Sheila Jones closed the door and stood against it looking at him.
    ‘It’s all right, isn’t it?’ she asked. ‘Nothing’s been touched.’
    ‘I want to make sure.’
    He took a key-ring from his pocket. The key he selected was heavier and more complex than would have been usual for unlocking a typewriter case. He turned the case upside down, unlocked it, and lifted the base.
    ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘Everything’s all right.’
----
    ‘The bear goes a walk,’ Mrs Simanyi said. ‘Would the little Annabel wish to see this?’
    ‘I’m sure she would,’ Mary said. ‘Thank you. Where is it?’
    She pointed and smiled. ‘On the deck. That way.’ She bent down towards Annabel. ‘You must not be frightened. She is a very good bear.’
    The front of the crate had been removed, revealing the iron-barred cage within. While several members of the crew watched from a respectful distance, Nadya bent down and slid the heavy bolts that secured it. She was wearing blue jeans and a yellow jersey, and her hair was tied up in a red and yellow silk scarf. She secured a heavy leather lead to the bear’s collar, and called her out with endearments. Katerina shambled out, and Nadya led her round the corner of the hatch to a patch of deck that was empty except for a dozen steel lager casks. Katerina put a paw up on to one of the casks and followed it with the other paw. She stood up, leaning forward on the cask and looking out over the level waters.
    ‘Hi, up,’ Nadya said. ‘Come, my dear one, my love.’
    She took one of Katerina’s paws and lifted it. The bear swung round and put both paws up to her shoulders. The brown, furry head peered forwards,