White Cargo Read Free Page B

run it up there for you. You’ll have to stay inside the fenced compound here, unless you want to start messing with customs.”
    â€œYou work here?” Cat asked as they climbed down the ladder to the yacht.
    Denny grinned, exposing a set of good teeth. “Nobody works much around here,” he replied. “I work the sport boats, hire out when somebody hauls a boat, clean a bottom now and then.” They were walking toward the boat, Jinx ahead of them. Denny couldn’t take his eyes off her. Cat felt almost sorry for him.
    They reached the boat, and Katie stuck her head through the hatch. “Katie, this is Denny; he’s going to give us a hand with the alternator. Denny, this is my wife, Katie.”
    â€œHello, Denny,” Katie said.
    â€œHi, Mrs. Catledge,” Denny said, shooting her an infectious grin. Katie waved and went back below.
    They climbed aboard, and Cat led the way down the companionway. He lifted the ladder and unlatched the engine cover.
    â€œBeautiful boat,” Denny said, admiringly, looking around the saloon. “I haven’t seen a Swan around here for a long time. She looks new.”
    â€œBrand-new, nearly,” Cat replied. “We shook her down from Lauderdale to Antigua, now we’re headed for the Canal and the South Pacific. Gonna take a couple of years. Right after we get this alternator up and running.”
    â€œBet 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.”
    â€œCat . . .” 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.”
    â€œRight,” Denny said.
    Jinx spoke up. “Say, Mom and I want to get cleaned up. Is there a shower around here?”
    â€œYep, over behind that building there. No hot water, but around here the water doesn’t get very cold. Lock the door, it’s coed.”
    â€œMaybe I’d better go with you,” Cat said. “What do you think, Denny?”
    â€œIt’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?”
    â€œNope,” 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.”
    â€œYou’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.
    â€œJust 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