Passage to Marseille Page #3

Tell Cook to bring them some broth.

Then let them sleep.

And you might ask the men

if they can spare them some clothes.

Aye, sir.

Captain Malo, what is your opinion

of these fellows? Are they French?

One of them is, at least. But what would

they be doing in an Indian canoe?

They are not seamen, that's plain.

If we're off the African coast,

I'd wager 10-to-1 that they were deserters

from one of our disciplinary battalions.

Don't you say so, Major?

No, I do not.

Since we're not off the African coast,

your reasoning lacks something

of being brilliant.

Learn to examine the facts, man.

Use your eyes.

Captain Freycinet,

perhaps you can do better.

If you want the facts, you'd better let

the men explain for themselves.

I will, and hear a pack of lies.

You condemn them without a hearing?

Isn't that unfair?

No, it is not unfair,

because I know who they are.

- You mean you've seen them before?

- No, I never saw them before this morning.

But that is immaterial, since I have

certain modest deductive powers.

Lenoir was on the right track, though he

lacked the logic to carry it through.

These fellows have

the convict look about them.

Some of them may have served in the

disciplinary battalions, but not recently.

Gentlemen, beyond a shadow of a doubt,

they are fugitives from Devil's Island.

From Cayenne? lmpossible.

We are at least 1,500 miles from Cayenne.

Do you mean to tell me they have made

such a voyage in that small open canoe?

You don't know these fellows, Malo.

The type, I mean.

I was stationed in Cayenne

a dozen years ago.

I learned the smell of the convict.

A more depraved and desperate set

of scoundrels cannot be found.

No matter what your opinion,

I suggest we hear

what they have to say for themselves.

As you wish.

I shall be amused at their lies

and by exposing them.

- We'll see, gentlemen.

- Thank you.

- Good evening.

- Good evening, sir.

Come to attention, you men.

You, too.

Haven't you been taught to stand

in the presence of officials?

No.

Never mind. This is a free ship

and not an armored compound.

I think we can all be seated.

Thank you, sir.

Well, you men seem

to be a long way from home.

- You're French? The lot of you?

- Yes, sir.

What's your name?

Renault.

Perhaps these men will now tell us

who they are and where they come from.

Willingly, sir.

They are gold miners from Venezuela.

Three of us, though born in France,

are naturalized Venezuelans.

The other two were born in Venezuela

of French parentage.

I see. Where?

Well, we were working a placer claim

300 miles up a branch of the Orinoco.

Doubtless, you've never been there, sir.

It's deep in the jungle.

You reach it only by canoe.

We heard of the war only two months ago.

- It must be a wilderness, that place.

- Oh, yes, sir. It's terrible.

There's no radio, no settlement,

no civilization within 100 miles.

- How did the news reach you?

- Just by chance, Captain.

You see, there are Indian rubber gatherers

in that region.

Three of them, just coming in

from the coast, stopped at our camp.

Remember?

Well, so we bought a few supplies

from them,

among other things, an axe wrapped in

a Caracas newspaper many months old.

- What paper was that?

- The Caracas Diario.

I even remember the date. November 3.

The first news of the war we heard

told us of a raid

from the Maginot Line in Alsace.

Very odd.

- And you were interested?

- Naturally, sir.

We are Frenchmen, just like yourselves.

- We wanted to go home and... To fight.

- Likely.

- You. What's your name?

- Matrac.

Obviously, you are the leader.

Suppose you tell us?

- I'll speak for my friend.

- Speak when you're spoken to.

Sit down, sit down.

Well? Go on.

We have no leader. We're all equal.

We're a group of free men.

- You. You who wished to speak just now.

- Thank you, sir.

You were incredulous over our attempt

to return to France, and I don't wonder.

Because it was an adventure

that only the deepest feelings

of patriotism could inspire.

All we had, sir, was our little canoe,

together with 200 ounces of gold dust.

Our plan was to sail westward

to where we could catch a boat

for Panama and from there to France.

But we were upset by a huge swell,

and the iron box that contained the gold

and our passports were lost.

We righted the boat and went on,

nevertheless.

From then on, we were lost.

Helpless. No mast, sail gone,

and, mon Commandant,

on my word of honor,

all this happened

three weeks before you sighted us.

You're one

of the naturalized Venezuelans?

- Yes, sir.

- Where was your home there?

- Ciudad Bolvar.

- You at the back there.

So? You didn't catch him.

His accent is perfect.

And you have no papers of any sort?

No proof of identity?

No, sir.

As Marius so truthfully told,

they're all at the bottom of the Orinoco.

I see.

All at the bottom of the Orinoco River.

- Yes.

- Very good. Very convenient.

Or is it? We shall see.

Do you have any further questions,

Captain Malo?

No, Commandant. You've asked

quite enough questions for all of us.

Yes, I think I've been thorough.

- Have everything you need here?

- Thank you, Captain.

Yes, Captain.

You've been more than good to us.

Fine.

Well, Commandant,

I'm afraid they spoiled your evening.

Their story seemed perfectly plausible

and straightforward to me.

Plausible, sir? It was a structure

of transparent falsehoods.

I always trust my instinct, sir,

never what men tell me,

especially convicts. All convicts are liars.

The Commandant has said it.

I don't believe a word of their story.

Captain Malo, I've come to a decision

regarding those rogues.

- You have?

- Yes, in the first place,

- you allow too much freedom.

- What do you propose I should do?

Turn them over to the police, of course,

the moment we arrive in Marseille.

If they are honest men,

as you so naively suppose,

- they've nothing to fear.

- Anything else?

In the meantime,

they're to be locked up in the brig.

Captain Malo, as the ranking

representative of the Army of France,

I demand it.

I'm glad you remembered

to call me Captain.

No one will be locked up on my ship

while I command.

Man's becoming insufferable.

Fortunately, his word will not be

the final one when we get to Marseille.

You're absolutely right,

mon Commandant. The man's insufferable.

- What's our speed?

- Ten-and-a-half knots. 180 revolutions, sir.

- Full speed and 195 revolutions.

- Aye, aye, sir.

I want to reach the danger zone

by nightfall.

Full speed. 195 revolutions.

- Good evening.

- Good evening.

Fine day.

Any day that takes us closer

to France is a fine day.

I wonder. On your account, I mean.

I was coming in to tell you,

to warn your men of something.

Commandant Duval is of the opinion

that you and your friends have escaped

from Cayenne.

Some of the others, too.

And I wouldn't be fair if I didn't tell you

that I've come

to the same conclusion myself.

Will you wait here a moment, please?

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