Mindbend

Adam put on the filthy clothes and stashed his own in the back of the locker. Then he looked at himself in the mirror above the sink. He looked terrible, but for once he appreciated his rapid-growing beard. He certainly no longer looked like one of the passengers.

The door opened again and Adam almost fainted, but it was only José.

“Next time, why don’t you knock,” Adam said.

“Hey, this is my fucking cabin,” said José irritably.

Adam couldn’t argue that point.

José sat back down on the bed. “I just talked to a friend of mine about getting you off the ship. He knows a way. Seems he used it himself one day when the crew wasn’t supposed to go ashore in St. Thomas. The problem is that it requires all your money up front. I got to pay off two other guys.”

Adam shook his head.

“Listen,” said José, “if you’re not happy with the arrangement, why don’t you leave?”

Adam got the point. He didn’t have any leverage at all. If José wanted to, he could take the money by force.

With a sigh of resignation, Adam pulled out his wallet.

Keeping twenty-five dollars for himself, he handed the rest to José.

“You act as if you’re doing me a favor,” the sailor said, stuffing the notes into his pocket. “But let me tell you, we wouldn’t be sticking our necks out for this kind of money except we hate those steward bastards.”

“I appreciate it,” said Adam, wondering what the chances were that José was just taking him for a ride.

“You can hide here for the rest of the night. In the morning, after we dock, I’ll come and get you. Understand?”

Adam nodded. “Can you give me an idea of your plans?”

José smiled. “I’d rather let that be a surprise. You make yourself comfortable and don’t worry about a thing.”

Adam could hear José laughing as he closed the door.

Looking at his watch, Adam guessed that it was going to be a long night. He thought he was much too tense to sleep, but after a while he drifted off. He didn’t know how many hours had passed when he was awakened by loud shouts in the corridor. Adam recognized the voice at once.

“In this part of the ship, I am in command, and no one is going to search without my permission.” It was the captain speaking.

A deeper voice responded, “I’m in charge of the ship, so please let me through.”

Adam thought it might have been Raymond Powell.

Other voices began shouting, and Adam could hear doors being opened and slammed shut.

In panic, Adam glanced around the tiny room for someplace to hide. There was nowhere. Even the locker was too narrow to squeeze into. Then he had an idea. He pulled his hair forward over his forehead and yanked the grease-stained pants down around his ankles. Hobbling over to the exposed toilet, he sat down. A Penthouse magazine was laying next to the toilet, and he picked it up and put it on his lap. In a couple of minutes he heard a key in the lock and the door swung open.

Adam looked up. A steward was standing in the doorway.

Adam saw Mr. Powell right behind him and heard Captain Nordstrom, who was still protesting. Powell gave Adam a look of disgust and moved on. The steward slammed the door behind him.

For a moment, Adam didn’t move. He could hear the group noisily moving farther down the corridor. Finally, he stood up and pulled up his pants. Taking the Penthouse over to the bunk, he tried to read but was too scared the search party would return. In the end, he fell back to sleep until a loud banging announced the ship had docked. It was five-fifteen.

The next hour and a quarter were the longest in Adam’s life. People would occasionally pass in the passageway, and each time Adam was sure they were coming to find him.

At six-thirty José came back.

“Everything is ready,” he said, going over to the locker and getting out the bottle of dark rum. “First, I think you better have a drink.”

“Do you think I need it?”

“Yup,” said José as he handed Adam a glass. “I would take it if I were you.”

Adam took a small sip, but the liquor was rough and bitter. He shook his head and handed the glass back to José.

Unconcerned, José tossed it down.

Returning the bottle to the locker, José rubbed his hands.

“Your name’s Angel in case someone asks. But I don’t think you’ll have to do much talking.”

José opened the door to the corridor and motioned Adam to follow him.

CHAPTER

14

Jennifer had a restless night and was in the kitchen when the phone rang at seven forty-five. She answered it quickly, thinking that her parents were still sleeping, but her mother had already picked up.

“I’ve got it, mother,” said Jennifer when she heard Dr.

Vandermer’s voice.

“Good morning, Jennifer,” he said. “We’re all set to take you at three-thirty. I’m sorry it’s so late, but we’re so busy we had trouble even fitting you in. Just stick to clear liquids and by tonight it will be all over and you can order whatever you want for dinner.”

“OK,” said Jennifer without much feeling. “How long will I be staying?”

“Probably just overnight. I’ll explain things to you when you are here.”

“What time should I check in?”