Page:The Cannery Boat.pdf/28

18 important, but as a matter of fact you don’t count any more than a scrap of stinking fish. D’ye understand? If we go getting mixed up in these kind of things we’ll lose a week. It’s no joke even to get a day behind. And then it’s just cruel the amount of insurance she carries. The old blub, we’d make more out of her if she sank.”

The cabin-boy thought to himself, “Now for a devil of a row!” It couldn’t end just with that. But wasn’t the captain standing there paralysed, as if cotton wool had been stuffed down his throat? This was the first time the boy had seen him in such a position. Didn’t the captain’s words carry any weight? That was nonsense! The boy couldn’t make it out at all.

“I didn’t expect pity from a man of your type, and if you begin showing it now do you think we can get the better of other countries?” the boss spat out.

In the wireless room the receiving apparatus was ticking continuously and at times giving out bluish sparks. Everyone went into the room to know how things were going.

“Listen! It’s getting quicker all the time!”

The operator translated for the captain and the boss. They all stood dead still with their chins set involuntarily and their shoulders braced. Their eyes were glued on the operator’s fingers and followed them as they glided deftly over the different switches and buttons.

Every time the ship pitched the electric light, set like a pimple in the wall, brightened and dimmed. The sound of the waves breaking side on mingled