Blood Alley Page #5

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Do you know how many hours

you've been at the wheel?

You can't steer

with your back to the helm.

You've fallen in love with the ship,

haven't you?

Last night, I found out...

I've fallen in love with you.

You got me mixed up with the storm.

The weather's clearing...

and once you get to Hong Kong,

you'll wake up.

And if we ever get there,

I won't want you around.

Keep that straight,

and we'll get along just fine.

You'll find somebody else...

some Hong Kong taipan

with a villa on The Peak...

and money in the bank.

May even introduce you to one myself.

The course is 045.

We can count the grains of rice,

but only the children feed their hunger.

This stuff will burn. Have it broken up

and taken to the boiler room.

The artist carved 10 years of his life

into this scrap of wood.

You would turn it to ashes?

Hide it someplace.

Don't get anxious down there.

This is no canoe.

I got to walk her in.

Full astern.

Stop engine!

We'll have to pull her in by hand.

- You got a carpenter on board?

- Yes, Captain.

Get him.

We'll stay just long enough to refuel

and look for some water.

And something to eat?

There may be villages around,

but stay out of them.

We'll eat in Hong Kong.

How long it take you to put

this Humpty Dumpty together again?

Why? You in a hurry?

Yeah. I'm running out of cigars.

I'm running out of things, too.

You'll be in Hong Kong tomorrow.

Tell them to find some planks

to fill in this wheel.

Captain, look. We feast.

All 179 of us?

Snap it up. We've got to clear out of here

before the fog lifts.

Cousin Lee's a craftsman.

He cannot be hurried.

First thing we better do

is get rid of the Commies aboard.

Round up the Feng family,

and we'll put them ashore.

- Be that many less bellies to feed.

- It will be a pleasure, Captain.

Captain, it is one of God's footsteps.

It's cannibalism, that's what it is.

One ship feeding on another.

We'll be doing it next.

Put this on the menu.

We catch a few fish, too, eminent brother.

Perhaps we can remain here the night

and catch more.

No. We're shoving off within the hour.

My people worry

about our illustrious captain.

- He is in pain. He has had no rest.

- I'm in the pink.

Your China Sea pirates

have been dragging their plunder in here...

and stripping it for years.

This graveyard gives me the willies.

Cathy?

Where's Cathy?

- She's gone?

- You bet.

I told you to call me

if she tried to leave ship.

Why girly go Hong Kong? For you?

You don't want she. You got plenty girlies.

- When did she leave?

- Long time now.

Maybe she find Daddy.

We stay here. Maybe she come back.

Little idiot.

Big idiot.

Big idiot, huh, Baby? She said a mouthful.

Wait a minute.

I got something to say to these people...

but I don't know

whether my Chinese is good enough.

I don't know whether my English is.

A couple of you Fengs understand English.

Explain to the rest of them.

You're all afraid,

but these villagers are your friends.

They proved it

when they brought you along...

instead of leaving you there

to take the blame for their escape.

And what do they get in return?

They're going hungry...

and cut down their chances

of making it themselves.

Your old China

is as dead as your ancestors...

and your new China...

is as misguided as that pompous,

miserable old elder of yours.

It's being run by fear...

fear that would make a man

sacrifice his own son...

in order to treacherously

poison his friends.

You got to make a decision.

You can go along and follow your elder...

or you're welcome aboard here

with your friends.

Make up your mind.

What do we do?

Get them aboard! Cut the lines!

Full ahead!

They can't come any closer.

The water's too shallow.

That's close enough.

Captain, look!

Full astern!

- Get below and give her a hand.

- Yes, sir!

Stop engine!

Full ahead!

- I found out the truth. He's dead.

- Can't you see I'm busy? Welcome aboard.

You needn't have arranged

a 21-gun salute.

- Where are you going?

- Where I can do some good.

Forget your steam gauge! Pour it on!

Slow ahead.

Stop engine and kill all smoke.

Look at them, Baby.

Let them make it. They gotta make it.

The bleeding heart of China.

You can pin one on my sleeve, Baby.

Chief, full ahead.

Let's get this grand old lady to Hong Kong.

Old men and old ladies...

young people and babies. Refugees.

God bless them.

Powder your nose, Baby.

We're coming in to Hong Kong.

Here. You take the wheel.

Maybe you'd better help.

I'm not quite sure I know where I'm going.

I do. Goodbye, Baby.

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