Deadly Straits (A Tom Dugan Novel) (32 page)

Reyes smiled. Much improved. “You are both right. Yes, Paco, that is a fireboat, and yes, Miguelito, I do believe the ship is
Luther Hurd
.”

His words were drowned out as the people of Panama bid farewell to
Luther Hurd
.

M/T Luther Hurd
Passing Balboa Docks, Panama

Blake paced the bridge as McCluskey conned the ship. Arnett was at the console, and the ACP had provided a helmsman, leaving Blake no real duties and edgy. And, he admitted, gazing down at his filthy, rust-streaked ship, embarrassed. It was like walking around with your fly open, hoping no one noticed. He wished again they’d departed at night.

McCluskey smiled. “Don’t worry, Captain Blake. I won’t run into anything.”

Probably wouldn’t matter much, Blake thought as Balboa docks loomed to port. “What the hell’s that?” he asked as berthed ships all began to sound their horns.

“Ships in port wishing
Luther Hurd
Godspeed,” said McCluskey, puzzled at the reaction.

Blake gave a tight-lipped nod. So much for slipping away, he thought as they negotiated the waters of the port and turned south. “What the hell—”

“Dead slow ahead,” McCluskey ordered.

“Dead slow ahead, aye,” Arnett confirmed.

McCluskey grinned. “This may be a bit tricky, Captain, but I think we’ll get through OK.”

***

“Slowing down,” said the first engineer. “Wonder what’s up?”

Milam shrugged. “Who knows? We gave up sightseeing when we decided to push her rather than point her.” The phone buzzed before the first could reply.

“Engine Room. Chief.”

“Jim. Come up. You've got to see this.”

“I’ve seen Balboa before, Cap. I need—”

“Just come, Chief! Now.” Blake hung up.

“Shit,” Milam said. “You got it, First? The Old Man has a bug up his ass.”

The first engineer nodded, and Milam started the long climb, muttering about rope chokers with no regard for people who worked for a living.

As he exited the machinery space into the quarters, he heard a strange noise outside. Concerned, he raced up the central stairwell, two steps at a time, and burst onto the bridge to join Blake at the forward windows. The harbor was jammed with boats of all descriptions, stretching under the Bridge of the Americas to the sea.
Luther Hurd
moved slowly seaward through a narrow lane marked with temporary buoys and patrolled by police boats, tugs bow and stern to see her safely through, and a fireboat preceded her, throwing arcs of water skyward. The air rang with handheld air horns and whistles and sirens and bells, the less well equipped beating pots with large spoons. Flags were everywhere, most Panamanian, but also a liberal sprinkling of US flags among them. People were cheering and waving signs saying Thank You and
Muchas Gracias
.

“Christ,” Milam said as they moved toward the Bridge of the Americas, where a banner hung reading
Muchas Gracias, Luther Hurd
, and in smaller letters below
De parte de los niños de Panamá
. The bridge walkway shimmered with flags in thousands of small hands.

“Who’s that on the bridge?” Milam managed as Blake raised his binoculars.

“It’s… it’s kids,” Blake said, “a lot of ‘em.”

As they moved under the span, McCluskey shot them a knowing smile, and a large net hidden by the banner released thousands of tropical flowers and handwritten well-wishes to cascade on the ship, covering
Luther Hurd
like a float in the
Carnival
parade. Milam lost it.

“Damned allergies,” he growled, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. “Christ, these fucking petunias are gonna clog the ventilation intakes. I gotta go reverse the fans.” He fled to the sanctuary of his engine room as Blake and Arnett smiled at his retreating back.

***

Later under tow, Milam stood with Blake on the bridge wing as the coast receded.

“What do you figure, Jim,” Blake asked, “three months?”

Milam shrugged. “Should take two, but it’ll probably be four, depending on the priority they give us. And you know everybody has a warm and fuzzy feeling now, but as soon as I start insisting we tear into things and somebody has to pay, the honeymoon’s over.” He sighed theatrically. “Everybody wants to save a buck, but when it goes tits up at sea, I’m the guy stuck with it. I see nothing but arguments, long hours, and midnight inspections ahead.”

Blake couldn’t contain his laughter. “Who’re you bullshitting? You love it.”

Milam failed miserably in an attempt to look indignant. “Well anyway, we should start our second ‘maiden voyage’ in four months.”

“Maybe this time I can get her to the load port,” Blake said.

Milam chuckled and leaned back against the wind dodger as the battered bow of
Luther Hurd
plowed slowly through the swell behind the tug. Blake watched scattered flowers blow along her dirty deck and drift down her rust-streaked sides, but somehow, he didn’t feel the slightest bit ashamed.

Thank You

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Fair Winds and Following Seas,

R.E. (Bob) McDermott

More Books by R.E. McDermott

Deadly Coast
- Dugan thought Somali pirates were bad news, then it got worse. As Tom Dugan and Alex Kairouz, his partner and best friend, struggle to ransom their ship and crew from murderous Somali pirates, things take a turn for the worse. A US Navy contracted tanker with a full load of jet fuel is also hijacked, not by garden variety pirates, but by terrorists with links to Al Qaeda, changing the playing field completely. Learn more and read a sample on
Amazon

Deadly Crossing
- Dugan’s attempts to help his friends rescue an innocent girl from the Russian mob plunge him into a world he’d scarcely imagined, endangering him and everyone he holds dear. A world of modern day slavery and unspeakable cruelty, from which no one will escape, unless Dugan can weather a Deadly Crossing. Learn more and read a sample on
Amazon

Table of Contents

Deadly Straits

Dedication

Acknowledgements

From the Author

Books by R.E. McDermott