BILL was as good as his word. Scarcely two hours had passed before the one loud and three soft knocks were heard at the door: Rachel quickly went to unlock it, and Bill pushed his way in, shut the door and hastily locked it again. He had food in his bag: some sausages, some bacon, a loaf of bread, some butter and cheese, a few apples—and another bottle of rum—all of which he dumped unceremoniously on the table.
“You’re in luck, my friends. I’ve been down to the harbour: there’s a ship berthed there which is due to sail on the morning tide three days hence. It’s only going as far as Lark on Newf, carrying timber—then it returns to Rigo. But it’ll certainly be safer for you to be on Newf than in Rigo—or anywhere else on the mainland. And I’ve had a word with the captain, an old friend of mine, and he’s willing to take you on board for thirty dollars apiece.
“In fact, I don’t mind coming along with you myself, if you’re willing to pay my passage for me: more than I can afford. Yes I know I said, the other day, I feel I’m too old for the sea. But you can’t keep an old sea-dog like me on dry land forever! I’d offer to work my passage if I could, but I’m getting a bit too old for that. It’s a long time since I’ve been to sea, and I know a couple in Newf—a retired seaman like me, and his wife—whom I’d be glad to meet up with after all these years. They keep writing to me, inviting me to visit, and I’ve kept putting them off. If we go together, I could introduce you to them: they’re a lovely couple.”
Michael and Rachel at once jumped at this plan. The sooner they got away from Rigo, and away from possible pursuit, the better. Even if Luke was indeed trustworthy, as he gave every appearance of being, he could hardly hold his brother off the trail for long. Every day they continued to spend in Rigo was more and more dangerous. And they were happy for Bill to come along: it seemed only fair to pay his fare as some sort of recompense for all the help he had given them.
A question suddenly occurred to Rachel. “Have you been married, Bill?”
“No. I’m a confirmed bachelor, and happy that way.”
“A pity,” Rachel continued. “You’d make an excellent husband—if you ever changed your mind…
“But we now need to make arrangements. All our belongings are back at our lodgings, and Michael’s supposed to be still working at the shipyard. How are we to get to these places safely, what with this ‘Simon’ on the prowl?”
“And we simply must say good-bye to Benjamin and Laura, too,” added Michael. “And through them perhaps we could get a message through to Peter’s group—and even our parents at Waknuk. Besides, I still owe Peter some money.”
They looked enquiringly at Bill, who sat pondering for a while. “Let’s think about this in the morning. Perhaps it’d be safer to travel around town by cab.”
“ ‘Cab’? What’s that?” asked Rachel.
“Haven’t you noticed them? Small one-horse carriages plying the streets of Rigo, just big enough for two or three people. You can hire one for a dollar or two if you hail the driver, he’ll carry you anywhere you like in town. I suppose you’ve been walking all the time. You’re safer in a cab. But now let’s eat.”
It was already quite late in the evening, and they shared a hearty meal of sausages, bread and cheese, followed of course by rum-and-water. Then they settled down for the night: Rachel and Michael wrapped up together in their blankets, rather uncomfortably on the floor. Despite the blankets the night was chilly for them, and they slept little. Towards dawn they did manage to drop off.
When they woke it was already daylight. They found that Bill was already up and about: he’d been out to the pump and there was a pail of fresh water on the floor; Bill was heating another pailful on the stove. He placed it before them and then tactfully turned his back while Rachel quickly washed herself, followed by Michael. Then they settled down to toast, bacon and tea, finished off with an apple each, and, once again, a generous mug of rum-and-water. Michael was at last getting the hang of it!
Bill announced that he would go down to the waterfront and try to summon a cab. After reminding them to lock the doors and wait for the secret signal, as last time, he popped out, promising not to be long.
In less than twenty minutes he was back. “I’ve hailed a cab, but it can’t come right up to the door: the cabman says the streets are too narrow. At least, that’s what he says: I think the cab would just about pass through, there’s a route without steps—but maybe he’s worried about the horse taking fright. Anyway, I’ve asked him to wait on the waterfront.”
Michael and Rachel took the cue and at once followed Bill down the stairs and out into the street. They quickly wound their way after him through the narrow streets until they reached the waterfront. Sure enough, there was a small cab standing there, the horse snorting and tossing its head as if it were eager to get going again. Michael and Rachel clambered aboard.
“Just tell the cabman where you want to go,” shouted Bill. “Don’t bother to give directions: these chaps know their way around Rigo better than anyone. And I’ll be back in my room when you want me.” With that, he waved as they set off, the horse at a canter.
The first place to call at, they decided, was their lodgings. As the cab drove through the streets they kept their heads down and avoided looking out of the windows, to reduce the chance of being spotted. When they reached the house they asked the cabman to wait and quickly slipped indoors, but not quickly enough to escape the attention of Mrs Norman, who was curious to know why they hadn’t returned the night before. Rachel quickly came up with a story about their having fallen in with some friends and stayed the night at their place. Mrs Norman gave them a knowing smile at this—perhaps she’d noticed the smell of rum on their breath! But luckily she didn’t ask any more questions.
They quickly went into their room and gathered up all their possessions, which they stuffed into a couple of large bags, and the rest of their money. When they emerged Mrs Norman was still standing there. Now came the difficult part. Rachel insisted on doing the talking.
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“I’m afraid we shan’t be staying here any longer, Mrs Norman,” she announced, tentatively. “We’re going away from Rigo in a couple of days, so we need to give up our tenancy.”
“Well, that’s more of a surprise!” replied Mrs Norman. “I suppose I should be asking you why you suddenly need to leave Rigo: after all you’ve been holding down a good job at the shipyard, I hear, haven’t you, Michael? But I’ve had other tenants quit for no apparent reason, and I’m thankful that you at least had the courtesy to tell me rather than just do a ‘flit’. I guess you’re in some sort of trouble.” Michael nodded. “But don’t worry,” continued Mrs Norman, “I’ve been in the business long enough to know not to ask questions.”
Both Rachel and Michael showed visible relief.
“But I’m afraid I require my tenants to give notice, so I’ll be asking you for two weeks’ rent to cover it.”
Michael was minded to protest at this, but Rachel pounced on him with a quick thought-shape. Reluctantly he brought out the requisite number of notes and handed them to Mrs Norman, who quickly stuffed them in her apron pocket.
“Oh, and another thing,” added Rachel. “If anyone comes asking after us, giving a description of us—you don’t know anything.”
“Why, you have got yourselves in trouble—I can see that. But I’ll do as you ask.”
Having said their farewells to Mrs Norman, they climbed back into the waiting cab.
“Where now?” asked Rachel.
“I think the shipyard,” replied Michael, “where I’ll have to go through this awkward explanation all over again.”
Once at the shipyard, they again asked the driver to wait. Rachel stayed in the cab with their luggage, while Michael made his way quickly to the foreman’s hut, hoping not to be seen. Once there, again he hesitantly delivered his message.
“You want to leave—just like that?” said the foreman, alarmed. “That’s very disappointing: you’ve been an excellent worker here and I’d be sorry to lose you. May I ask why?”
“It’s personal—but we’ve got to leave Rigo straight away, Rachel and me. I can’t say any more.”
“I suppose you mean to sail on the Pinta, which leaves for Lark in a couple of days… But I insist on knowing what’s up: are you in trouble with the Police?”
“No, it’s not the Police.” Michael realised he had to give a plausible explanation. “It’s just that someone bears us a grudge and is after us. That’s all I can say.”
“All right. I believe you. But, Michael, I’m not going to let you go, just like that. I’ll give you a week’s leave so that you can sort out your affairs. Then, if you’re still in Rigo, come back here and, if you want, your job will still be open. And I’ll give you your wages to date. That fair enough?”
Michael had to agree to this. Hurriedly he returned to the cab and they set off again, this time heading for Benjamin and Laura’s house.
“I think we should let the cab go this time,” said Rachel. “All this waiting will have cost us a lot of money.” So they paid off the cabman; he whipped up his horse and drove away.
When they knocked, Laura answered the door, surrounded by her children. She welcomed them in, explaining that Benjamin was not at home; he was working at the hospital. They sat down and watched the children at play while Laura busied herself with cups of tea.
“Good of you to come and see me; I’m sorry you’ve missed Benjamin, unless you’re willing to stay a while until he comes home.”
But Rachel explained that they couldn’t stay long. “We’re leaving Rigo, in two days’ time. Ship to Newf,” she explained. “So this is good-bye, I’m afraid.”
“Good heavens! That is rather a surprise. I thought you were well settled here, and you’ve got your steady job at the shipyard still, haven’t you, Michael?”
“I handed in my notice this morning,” replied Michael. He knew he needed to explain, and luckily he remembered the cover-story they’d used before. “You remember, when we first visited you, we talked about some people were after us? Pursuing us because we’d been sheltering a Mutant, so we were told?” Laura nodded. “Well, they’ve nearly caught up with us,” continued Michael. “We’ve had reports that they’ve been seen in Rigo, searching all over for us. So we need to hide for a couple of days, then take ship and hope for the best. We can’t stay any longer here: it wouldn’t be safe for you if these guys turned up—and they might have got on to you.”
“I think I understand,” said Laura. “Well, all I can say is, good luck!”
“Oh and another thing,” said Rachel. “We ought now to pay back the money Peter lent us—now we can afford to. If we give it to you, could you send it on to him?”
“We’d be glad to,” replied Laura. “And we’ll write him a letter too, telling him where you’ve gone to. If you think that’s advisable…”
“It’d be all right if the letter doesn’t fall into the wrong hands,” replied Michael. “No, better not mention Newf, if you don’t mind. Just say we’ve put to sea in an ocean-going ship—be vague about it, don’t say where to.”
With that, Michael and Rachel stood up and took their leave of Laura, who kissed them both. Rachel also picked up each of the little girls in turn and kissed her. The girls were a bit tearful upon realising that the visitors were about to depart, so Laura had to comfort them.
“Oh, one last thing, Laura. Can you tell us where we can hail a cab?”
Laura explained that if they walked to the corner of the road they might find a cab standing there: if not, one should turn up in no more than a few minutes.
Once outside, Michael and Rachel lugged their heavy bags as far as the corner, but there was no cab in sight.
“Do you think we could walk all the way to Bill’s place?” suggested Michael.
“With these bags? You must be joking!” retorted Rachel. “You may be able to carry yours that far, but I can’t. Besides, it’s dangerous.”
So they waited. Sure enough, in just over five minutes a cab came along and they hailed it. Climbing aboard, they realised that they would need to give directions to somewhere near Bill’s room. Luckily, Michael remembered the name of the bar where they had first met Bill, so he called up to the cabman, and they were on their way.