Free Chain Locker by Bob Chaulk Page B

quickly running out of unbruised spots.
    He wished he could see the water so he could prepare for the onslaught of each wave. Instead, he got caught unawares by each wall of water that, rather than rolling underneath, slammed into the right side of the ship’s bow, causing her to corkscrew and making Jackie’s head wobble violently as though it was on the spring neck of a toy clown. A couple of times his head banged against a timber, and though his woolen cap had prevented him from cracking his skull, it did nothing to help his headache. The effort of protecting himself from injury had initially warmed him up, but as the hours ground by he was getting cold again and more tired than he had ever been. To make matters worse, water had begun to run down through the two holes in the ceiling—not enough to put the ship in danger but certainly enough to make him wet, and that was the last thing he needed.
    For the first time since he had slipped out the back door of his home, his thoughts drifted to his family.

chapter eleven
    Jackie’s family was certainly thinking about him. He was sometimes late for a meal but rarely ever absent for the whole event. Before dessert made it to the table his sisters proclaimed him guilty, their case based entirely on the fact that they were having raisin pie and he never, ever missed raisin pie. But if sisters are the accusers of wayward youth, then mothers are their loyal defenders. “Sure, you all heard him promise that he wouldn’t stow away. He’s just off somewhere with the boys and he’s lost track of time; that’s all.”
    â€œYes, but he’s been just dying to get out there and kill something, Mom,” said Alice. “Don’t you remember when him and Hubert made after poor Muffin with the broom?”
    â€œOh, he was just playing. He wasn’t going to hurt her.”
    But as the evening wore on a great feeling of dread overtook her. Sending Alice up the road, Jackie’s mother went in the other direction to check with his friends, starting with Hubert, who clammed up like a prisoner left behind after the big breakout. There was still time to find him and have him put ashore, so Hubert said as little as he could get away with. He owed it to Jackie for telling Barb their plans. The others owed Jackie nothing: “Oh, for sure. He’s been talkin’ about it for weeks.”
    So, he stowed away on a sealing ship after all—the barefaced little liar! First thing the next morning she checked with Harvey’s and Bowring’s and Job Brothers to see if any of the ships had sent word of a stowaway.
    â€œIf he’s aboard a sealing vessel I don’t suppose you’ll hear for a few days,” the man at Harvey’s cautioned her. “They won’t put him ashore if they’re past Cape St. Francis, and with this bad weather I imagine they’re too busy anyway. If there’s no wireless in a day or two, then he’s probably somewhere else.”
    â€œThey won’t put him ashore?” she gasped. “What will happen to him?”
    â€œHe’ll probably be aboard until the trip is finished. They’ll put him to work doing something to earn his keep.”
    â€œHow long will that be?”
    â€œI wouldn’t think it would be much more than a month,” he assured her. “It depends on how long it takes them to get a load.”
    â€œA month! How will he manage? Sure, he didn’t take his toothbrush or any clean underwear.”
    The man gave her a kindly smile and shrugged.
    She reported him missing to the police and endured three long days of waiting before Bowring’s delivered the news that he had been found on the Viking . Her relief barely outweighed her anger. The nerve! He had lied so smoothly, telling her he had no intention of running away, and he with the plans already in his head. It was more than a fib and he knew it!
    For the longest time Jackie tried