***** Vol.1 Chap.37 Narrow escape *****
For several minutes, Kristin hid inside the meat locker, cold and shivering. Fortunately, it wasn’t much longer until George showed up at the top of the stairs. He looked slightly frazzled and nervous. After making sure that no one was in the kitchen, he came inside the kitchen, flipped the “Close” sign, and locked the door.
Quietly, he whispered her name.
“Kristin, are you here?”
Inside the meat locker, Kristin thought she heard some movement in the kitchen and perhaps George was calling her name. She maneuvered to the door, but she found no handles to unlock the door from the inside. She tapped on the door, but became afraid that if she made a racket, she might alert the guards outside the kitchen.
Outside the locker, George scanned the kitchen but found no one. He unlocked the kitchen door and peered outside. Nothing. Back inside, he locked the door again and re-scanned the kitchen. Nothing but the familiar sight of pots and pans. No stowaway anywhere.
Did she got apprehended by the guards? Surely not. If she did, there would be quite a commotion in the kitchen.
He re-scanned the kitchen and tried to listen for any breathing. Nothing. He was getting nervous now. In desperation, he softly opened the cabinets. Nothing.
He sat down and considered for a moment. Now, where would I hide if I needed to hide?
Again, he scanned around the kitchen. This time, his eyes fell on the meat locker. Immediately, he understood. Quickly, he ran and opened the locker and there she was, shivering like a popsicle on the other side of the door.
She stumbled out of the meat locker, freezing, and barely croaked a sound. She was shivering so much that she stumbled out and could not walk. But he was so relieved at the sight of her alive before him. Immediately, he poured her a cup of hot coffee. With shaking hands, she took the cup and somehow barely managed not to drop the cup. She also was relieved that he found her and she was face to face with him at least one last time.
“Ge-o-rge, -I–am–so–glad-to–see-you.”
She staggered towards him and gave him a big hug.
“I was surprised that you were out of the crate.”
“I overheard Chuck, the security chief, told the two guards to open every crate. So, when they left to get the manifest, I sneaked out of the crate.”
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“Smart girl. Good thinking. I heard that too, and I feared for your safety all evening.”
“Yeah, they had another security meeting down at the hold. Jonas wanted me found…and dead, no doubt.” She exaggerated a bit.
“At least thrown into the brig.”
“Well, so far, so good. I’m still alive,” she added, “…and free.”
“I wanted to come earlier, as soon as I got the news, but I could not break free. Too many guards milled around. Jonas got really mad when he got word that you were nowhere to be found in Miami. They are turning the entire ship upside down.”
“Well, the two guards say that they searched the chimneys and air ducts as well.”
“Some passengers got extremely upset that their private things were secretly searched.”
“Oh, before I forget.” She took out the envelope with the letter and the key from her backpack and gave it to George. “Promise me you would not open this until such a time when I have not contacted you for a week. In the meantime, keep it in a safe place.”
“I will put it right inside my front pocket behind my apron and will defend it with my life.”
“You are a real hero, George.” She took his hands into hers. The warmth of those hands comforted her.
“More coffee?”
“Yes, please.” She handed him the empty cup. “Now the main thing is to figure out a way to get to the sub.”
“They have posted a guard in front of the sub.”
“We have to distract the guard somehow, then. But before that, I have to get to the lower deck without being seen.”
“The stairs to the lower deck are all being watched.”
“Then we wouldn’t use the stairs.” She laughed, and he laughed as well.
“Going through the chimney is the only way out of the kitchen.”
“Maybe. I have been looking around the kitchen today and I have an idea.” He said to her, “If you can fit through the porthole here, it is only a five-foot drop to the waterline. You can swim around to the stern and get up the ladder to the lower deck.”
She looked at the porthole. “George, you are a genius.”
Just then, footsteps from the hallway grew louder. She dashed into the meat locker without a second to lose.
Two guards came in and George scooped up the cups and pretended to be cleaning up the kitchen and washing the cups.
“Still working, George?”
“Yeah.” He faked a yawn. “I just want to make sure that we have all the supplies for the special breakfast tomorrow morning.”
“You mean in a few hours?”
“I guess you are right.” He laughed, and they laughed as well. He feigned another yawn.
“Any more of that famous coffee of yours?”
“Sure, I have some here. It is still hot. You guys have to work double-shift, so I kept a big pot brewing over there. I figure you all will use it sooner and later.”
“George, you are okay.”
“Thank you, sir. Thank you.”
The two guards left.
George opened the meat locker door and Kristin cautiously walked out of the meat locker.
“George, I better get going. The longer I stayed here, the more dangerous it was for you. Thank you so much for everything.”
“You better be careful now.”
She gave him a big hug and kissed him on the cheek.
The porthole opening was small. She took off her backpack and put the whole thing in a plastic sack and wrapped the sack into another plastic sack and then another one to make sure that the package became completely waterproof. With great difficulty, she wriggled out the window feet first, with George pushing and shoving her out. While hanging on with one hand on the porthole, she swung around to wave to him, grabbed the bundle, and dropped to the water. Hardly a splash sounded from the drop.
George walked over and locked the porthole. He sat in the kitchen and prayed for her safety. He sat down wondering how he could help her get to the sub. After ten minutes, he cleaned up the kitchen, grab the coffeepot, and left.