Free Touch the Sky (Young Underground #8) by Robert Elmer Page B

deck.
                  “ Wow! ” Peter slammed the door behind him. “ What a pit. ”
                  “ We ’ ll take a look at the crew areas next, ” Matthias said, hurrying ahead. Peter almost had to trot to keep up, and he put his hand out a couple of times to catch his balance. The floor didn ’ t seem to stay still.
                  Even though Peter had been on the ship once before, nothing seemed the same. Near the crew ’ s quarters, Peter could tell that the old ship had once been a lot nicer, a lot grander. The tables in the dining room were rich red mahogany, but they were chipped and scratched from years of hard use.
                  Only one man was in the dining room, reading a dog - eared magazine in a language Peter didn ’ t recognize. The reader didn ’ t look up, but Peter could tell through the dark cloud of cigarette smoke around his head that it wasn ’ t the man they were looking for.
                  “ The crew is from all over the world, ” explained Matthias, answering the question Peter hadn ’ t asked. “ That is, mostly Greek, a few Italians. I think the first mate is Norwegian. ”
                  “ How many are there? ” asked Peter, wondering where the rest of the men were.
                  “ Good question. ” Matthias led Peter down another passageway. Now Peter was completely turned around. “ Let ’ s ask Captain Papanikolas. Up this way. ”
                  Peter peeked into several open doors as they walked down the hall.
                  “ Is this where all your people are going to stay? ” he asked, and Matthias laughed.
                  “ Peter, we ’ re going to put hundreds of people on this ship. ”
                  Peter stopped for a second to look into one of the small cabins. There was just enough room for a built - in bunk bed and a small dresser. A white canvas duffel bag hung in the corner, dirty clothes spilling out.
                  “ But there ’ s not enough room, ” Peter said.
                  “ They ’ ll stay out on deck, Peter. ” Matthias laughed again. “ It ’ s going to be one great camp - out. Now let ’ s go see the galley. ”
                  The ship ’ s kitchen was roomier than Peter had expected, with three men in white aprons preparing a meal of something that must have used a lot of potatoes, judging from the piles of peels on the floor. One of the men looked up, smiled, and waved his peeler.
                  “ Good morning, gentlemen, ” Matthias said. He didn ’ t step in but gave Peter a sideways look.
                  “ Nice place, ” commented Peter, taking a step backward.
                  “ Okay, one more stop, ” answered Matthias as he hurried up the nearby ladder. Up above, they could hear the captain barking out a mixture of English and what had to be Greek.
                  “ Coming up, Captain, ” announced Matthias.
                  “ Karlsson, boss - man! Join us! ”
                  Once Matthias was out of the way, Peter looked up to see the almost toothless smile of the big captain looking down at him.
                  “ And your young friend, what does he think of the old Acropolis , eh? Oh yes, I forget. Karlsson says the new name is Alisa . ” He shrugged. “ So we call it Alisa for one trip. And who cares, eh? ”
                  Matthias cleared his throat. “ Uh, Captain, that ’ s Aliya . Ali - ya . ”
                  “ Yes, yes, Alisa, Aliya . You can call ship after your girlfriend, sure, as long as you pay good money. What ’ s the difference? ”
                  Matthias sighed.
                  “ Nice old lady, this ship, eh, boy? ” Captain Papanikolas slapped Peter hard on