I got the “Where did you get to? We looked high and low.” I said I’d decided to get lost and managed to get a lift from a lady. They were thrilled. Millicent laughed, “Anything to get out of repaying me for that ticket!” I began to suss out nearby tables. I’m hopeless at seduction, because women are always ahead of me, but they’re sometimes kind and gullible. Chat up someone with whatever line would convince, I might be in with a chance. Somebody mentioned the cost of sending a fax. I listened, heard there was e-mail available. “Telephoning’s expensive once we’re out of port,” Jim grumbled, “but at least you can do it from your cabin.” On the whole they were good company. I felt fond of them. So far, they had provided me with the one opportunity of escape, and here they were almost guiding my next steps. If we were in prison, they’d be offering me files, and shovels to start a tunnel.
