White Cargo Read Free Page B

Gonna take a couple of years. Right after we get this alternator up and running.”
    “Bet it’s the diode,” Denny said, kneeling to the engine. “Got a wrench?”
    Cat handed him a wrench set rolled in canvas and watched as Denny quickly unbolted the alternator. He seemed to know his way around engines, something Cat admired. He, himself, was something of a genius in electronics, but unlike most other technical types, he didn’t much like mechanical things.
    Denny stood up. “Give me an hour or so,” he said, “if it’s the diode and my guy has the part. If he doesn’t, I’ll have to scrounge around some. Suppose he has to order it from Bogotá? That would take a couple of days, even if it’s airfreighted.”
    “Cat . . .” Katie said, worriedly.
    Cat shook his head. “In that case, just bring it back. I don’t want to hang around here. We’ll get it fixed in Panama.”
    “Right,” Denny said.
    Jinx spoke up. “Say, Mom and I want to get cleaned up. Is there a shower around here?”
    “Yep, over behind that building there. No hot water, but around here the water doesn’t get very cold. Lock the door, it’s coed.”
    “Maybe I’d better go with you,” Cat said. “What do you think, Denny?”
    “It’s okay,” Denny replied. “Safe enough; I wouldn’t worry.” He climbed into the cockpit with the alternator.
    Cat followed him up and glanced around the cockpit. “Katie,” he called below, “did you take the binoculars down with you?”
    “Nope,” she called back. “They were in the cockpit a few minutes ago.”
    Cat looked around the cockpit and on deck in vain.
    Denny stood by, nodding slowly. “Welcome to Colombia, Mr. Catledge,” he said sorrowfully. “First thing youhave to learn is never leave anything lying around. Tell me, did you used to have a spinnaker pole?”
    Cat looked at the foredeck and was greeted by the sight of empty chocks. “I don’t believe it,” he said. “I wasn’t gone five minutes and Katie was on the boat the whole time.”
    “You’ll be lucky if you’ve still got an anchor and warp,” Denny said.
    Cat ran forward and opened the anchor well. “It’s still here,” he said with relief.
    “Just one guy then, and he had his hands full,” Denny said. “I’d take it below now, and your winch handles, too. Make sure your cockpit lockers are secured, or you won’t have any sails, either.”
    Cat nodded dumbly and started getting the anchor out.
    “Be back in an hour or so,” Denny said, hopping onto the catwalk and starting for the ladder. “Depending.”
    Cat waved him off and struggled aft with the heavy anchor and chain. Then he stopped. Jesus, he’d had his binoculars and spinnaker pole stolen, and now he’d just let a perfect stranger walk off with his alternator. He’d been a little slow in adjusting to the local climate.
    The women were leaving the boat with soap, shampoo, and towels. “We’ll be back after a while,” Katie said.
    “You’re not taking any money or anything valuable with you, are you?” Cat called to them.
    Katie took off her wristwatch and handed it to him with her wallet. “You’re right, and believe me, we won’t linger in the shower.”
    “Maybe I’d better come with you,” Cat said. Having a thief on board in broad daylight had rattled him.
    “No,” Jinx said, “if you do, when we get back the boat might not be here. Don’t worry, we’ll take care of ourselves, and we can scream real loud if we have to.”
    “I guess you’re right,” Cat said. “Somebody had better stay here with the boat.” They left and he went below to the chart table. He grabbed the chart, a pencil, and a plotter and headed back for the cockpit, checking to make sure his shotgun was still secured in its hidden cupboard behind the clever flap that concealed it. He’d had that done in Fort Lauderdale, and he felt better knowing they had some sort of protection aboard in this part of the world. He’d heard the horror