Blood Alley Page #5

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- All right?

- Can do.

Captain sailorman have

before time pretty wife?

Married?

Likey Missy Cathy?

Missy Cathy, she likey Captain sailorman.

My thinky so.

- What you thinky about Missy Cathy?

- I thinky you talky too muchy.

You remind me of a barber in Baltimore.

Missy Cathy get old now.

Needing husband man.

She makey pretty fine wife, you bet.

You likey? My fixy.

My fetchy Tao's pigeon man.

Are you blind, Susu?

Can't you see that it's you

who's got the saily man's eye?

- You crazy.

- I'm crazy about you!

I thinky hair all cutty.

- Give me a kiss.

- You crazy crazy. Full of ginger!

Captain sailorman crazy, full of ginger.

Bell go ding-dong, my come chop-chop.

- Yeah?

- Capt. Wilder, can I come in?

I wouldn't recommend it.

I'm full of ginger, and also in the bathtub.

Mr. Tao's nephew has come home.

He's here.

- The chief engineer?

- Yes.

Send him in.

American?

Call me Tack.

- Light your cigar and stay a while, Tack.

- I bring these for you.

- Been San Pedro, Captain?

- Sure.

That town for the birds. Wish I back there.

I train, learn marine engineer in States.

Light?

Who blew up our ferryboat?

Me.

Amoy paper, see? Today we on front page.

- What happened?

- Iron boiler no good. I blow.

- You what?

- Damage not bad.

Old wine sack in pilothouse

want more steam.

I give.

We never make Hong Kong

with old iron boiler.

I plenty good engineer. Know my stuff.

- Now repair yard give us new steel boiler.

- How long will it take?

Maybe five days.

You worried about comrade in kitchen?

I'll put today's paper in his pocket,

dump him far away on South River.

They figure he been in Amoy,

forget about us.

Good deal. That will take about five days.

We'll need a black gang.

All set.

Wine sack old skipper never know

what go on under his feet.

I train my cousins many months ago.

Great black gang.

- Oil.

- Oil no worry.

- She burn wood.

- Wood?

Yeah. Low-pressure steam. 50 pound.

Tell me more

about this ocean-going stove of yours.

- She plenty fine ship. Got strong bottom.

- Flat as a pancake.

Give it to me straight, chief.

- Has she got 300 miles left in her?

- Aye, Captain.

- She number-one ship.

- Yeah. She can do 8 knots.

Six.

Now all I need is a ship.

How much longer?

Thank you.

How long has it been, Baby?

And I haven't even made a pass at her.

Jail sure must have aged me.

Who am I trying to kid?

Look, Baby, you stay here...

but if you hear a bell go ding-dong,

you better come chop-chop.

Captain.

- Yes?

- Mr. Tao here.

Ten thousand regrets

that I must call at this hour.

My unworthy nephew

has just brought word...

the ferryboat will be ready for us

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