Free Angel's Ransom by David Dodge Page B

been. He said, ‘Don’t let it bother you too much. He ’s inclined to be graphic when Freddy Farr ’s comfort is interfered with,’ then changed the subject by inviting her to take the wheel while he ate.
    ‘Keep the compass card as nearly on one hundred and ninety as you can. When it slides off don’t bring the wheel too far over too fast to put it back. You’ll wobble a little at first. It doesn’t matter.’
    ‘What happens if I wobble a lot?’
    ‘Jules will be up to straighten us out. I’d rather it didn’t happen.’
    ‘Oh.’
    He explored the contents of the stew-pot while he waited for her to talk. She had brought, besides the bread, sausage, cheese, and fruit. He discovered that he was very hungry, and remembered that he had not eaten since breakfast. While he was making up for the lack of lunch, she said un expectedly, ‘Are you going to go on doing just what they tell you to do as long as they tell you?’
    ‘Unless I see a chance to do something else with safety, yes.’
    ‘I liked you better when you tried to wreck us.’
    ‘It didn’t accomplish anything, beyond getting us both beaten up.’
    ‘That ’s not the point.’ There was obstinacy in her voice, and something else. ‘It was a gesture. It showed that you weren’t afraid of them.’
    ‘I’ve learned to be afraid of them since then.’
    ‘I shouldn’t think you’d want to confess it.’
    ‘It would be unintelligent not to confess it. Holtz is a killer. They’re taking a big risk for an amount of money that means nothing to Freddy. I’m willing to help them get it, if it ’s necessary to assure that they’ll let him and us go afterwards.’
    ‘You’re the only one who will help them, then.’ She was standing very straight at the wheel, in profile toward him, and he saw the stubborn set of her chin. ‘Freddy is fighting them. So is Bruno.’
    ‘In what way are they fighting?’
    ‘They’re going to break into the bar.’
    As an anticlimax it was stunning. He could think of nothing to say before she went on coolly, ‘They’re going to put messages for help in the bottles and throw them overboard ! And if it is only a gesture, I admire them for it.’
    ‘It ’s a gesture that can bring them more harm than help. There isn’t a chance in ten thousand that a message will be picked up in time to do us any good. Tell Freddy I said to leave the bar alone.’
    ‘Tell him yourself, if you want to!’ She motioned at the door. ‘Go ahead! I’ll hold the wheel for you. Go give your own orders!’
    ‘I can’t leave the pilot-house.’
    ‘You mean you’re afraid to leave! You’re taking orders now, not giving them!’
    She was deliberately taunting him. He did not under stand what she was trying to goad him into, or why, but he said, ‘Certainly I’m taking orders. We’re all taking orders. If we refuse, we die. It ’s as simple as that.’
    He had finished his meal. When he went to take the wheel, she turned suddenly to face him, her back against the spokes, her arms wide, barring him.
    ‘Wait! Isn’t there anything that can make you oppose Holtz?’
    It was a plea. He said patiently, ‘Why do you want to oppose him? To save Freddy ’s money?’
    ‘He tricked me!’ Her eyes were angry, too bright. ‘He hit me in the face, and threatened to kill me, and laughed at me for a fool! I’m not going to forget that!’
    ‘He’ll do worse than laugh at you and hit you in the face if you try to fight him. Let me have the wheel.’
    ‘I’m going to fight him!’ As he came closer she backed away, toward the door. Fiercely, promisingly, she said, ‘We’re all going to fight him, except you! Bruno said you wouldn’t help, but I didn’t believe him! I do now! You -you coward!’
    ‘Tell Bruno I’ve given orders to keep away from the bar.’
    ‘I will not! I’ll help him break it open! I’ll write messages for him! I’ll throw the bottles into the sea!’
    ‘Don’t be the fool that Holtz said you were!