Strange Cargo Page #5

Moll.

- Hello, kid. How are you?

- Cambreau gave us food and water.

- We'll be all right.

- Sure you will be. Where are the others?

Dunning was shot

as we were leaving the island.

At the Indian village,

Benet went after food. They got him.

What about Telez? Huh?

What about Telez?

He didn't have the strength.

There was nothing we could do.

He just died.

It's true, Moll, we tried to save him.

I swear it.

Who cares? So he died.

One less to go in the boat.

Five of us.

And more than enough room for seven.

It's too bad Verne was hurt.

Maybe it's healthier where he is.

Maybe he wouldn't fit in my plans.

Plans often have to be changed, Moll.

You're such a pessimist, Cambreau.

Has nothing ever turned out well for you?

Quite the contrary, Hessler.

Many things have happened

just as I planned them.

Telez!

I'll kill them. They stole my crucifix.

A healthy-looking ghost, Monsieur Dufond.

He had food, he wouldn't give us any.

It was our lives or his.

What would you have done, Moll?

We were starving.

I'd have done the thing up right

and finished him.

They took my bread and my cross.

They left me to die.

Easy, you're hurt.

Let's have a look at that leg.

Dufond, tear away the trouser.

He's been bitten by a snake.

- Let us help you, Telez.

- No, not you. Don't you touch me.

Don't let him touch me. He's the devil.

He's the devil, I tell you.

Do you suppose that's the answer, Moll?

Interesting idea there, anyway.

Cambreau, the devil.

This swelling will have

to be lanced, Cambreau.

- You seem to know what you're doing.

- I was a medical student, a lifetime ago.

Let's have your knife, Flaubert.

- I haven't got a knife.

- Moll, get his knife.

Moll, I...

Easy.

- It won't drain unless someone...

- Well?

I can't do it. My lips are chapped.

I'll get the poison in my system.

Then again, you might not.

The point is, it has to be done.

I hope that'll help you, Telez.

That was a pretty gesture.

But lancing that wound

and drawing out the venom won't help.

- He'll be dead at dawn.

- Could we let him die believing

that none of us cared

whether he lived or not?

Why not? It's the truth, isn't it?

Why should he die believing a lie?

Maybe he won't. Maybe Telez

will know the truth when it's time.

Where are all the others?

They're getting the sloop.

They won't sail without me.

How little you know men.

How evil they are. Only God is good.

But the good in man is God, Telez.

Only God is good. Only God can forgive.

They stole my crucifix, Cambreau.

Without it, I'm lost. I'm afraid.

A crucifix is a piece of wood, Telez,

only a piece of wood.

The miracle is not in the wood,

but in the heart.

- But I've prayed, I've prayed.

- And your prayers were only words.

Like your crucifix,

they found no way to your heart.

Telez, the bread stood

between them and your heart.

But it wasn't enough.

I had to look out for myself.

And will you look out for yourself,

then, through all eternity?

- I know, God has forsaken me.

- You have forsaken him.

I'll die in darkness and be cursed.

I'll never find peace or forgiveness.

Cambreau, help me, help me to find God.

Then look for him, Telez.

Search your heart.

You drew the poison

from my body into your own.

I had bread and I would not share it.

"Or what man is there of you,

"whom, if his son ask bread,

will he give him a stone?"

It's not too late?

It's never too late.

A moment ago,

there was so much darkness. I was afraid.

It's lighter now. My fear is gone.

You brought me peace, Cambreau,

and rest.

And if, some time,

things are said against me,

you'll speak for me?

I'll speak for you, Telez.

What makes you think he'll like it better

under a lot of dirt

than in the belly of a shark?

Well, maybe he rates a grave at that.

He paid for it.

- Here, here's your end.

- I'm afraid I can't use it, Verne.

Oh, so I'm a swine for robbing the dead?

Maybe if I'd crack through with enough

for a boat to take us to the mainland

you wouldn't come along.

Here, here's your book of rules. Maybe

you can talk him into a set of wings.

I can try.

"Know ye not

that ye are the temple of God,

"and that the spirit of God

dwelleth in you?

"If any man defile the temple of God,

him shall God destroy

"for the temple of God is holy,

which temple ye are. "

That's nice music,

only what does it mean?

You heard what he said, didn't you,

about the temple of God?

You know who he's talking about,

don't you? About me.

All right, you don't have to believe it

if you don't want to, but I'm telling you.

Whenever you want, what's the word,

Cambreau, sanctuary.

Whenever you want sanctuary, babe,

here's where you'll find it.

Right here in the old temple.

Don't tap your heart,

you'll break your finger.

And if you're sanctuary,

I'll take whatever else is lying around.

Yeah? Well, you better get ready

to take it, babe, because here it comes.

So, Verne made it, did he?

Give me that knife of yours, Flaubert.

And he brought a woman

along with him, too.

Now ain't that thoughtful?

Hello, Verne. You made it through, huh?

I'd have been here sooner if a shoe

hadn't slipped out of somebody's hand

and landed on my head.

You ought to fire your valet

for being so careless.

I see you brought a friend

along with you, too.

Always room for one more in the boat.

And if there isn't,

you can always stay behind.

We'll cut up our rations with you,

and our water. What do you say?

- Big-hearted, ain't you, Moll?

- Why not? We're all together, aren't we?

Everything is share

and share alike with us.

With all of us, ain't it, with everything?

Sure it is, with everything

that's yours and not mine.

Do you get that, Moll?

And do you get it, you mugs?

Take a good look, because

that's all any of you are going to get.

Anybody got any other ideas?

- I have some.

- Wait a minute.

Let's have your knife, Flaubert.

Where is it?

I gave it to Moll.

Nothing like a little edge,

huh, sweetheart?

I don't need any with you, Verne.

I forgot I had it.

Throw him in the boat

and let's get out of here.

From now on, I'm in charge.

- Looking for something, Moll?

- Yeah, something I lost.

- Where'd you lose it?

- On the beach.

Somebody got lucky with a punch.

Well, maybe someday you'll get lucky, too.

When you stop leading with your chin.

How do you like being

the only woman in the world, Julie?

Well, I don't take

these shipboard romances seriously.

- Still it has its advantages.

- And perhaps its disadvantages, too.

We might decide we don't want

any women in this particular world.

And you're just the baby to take care

of that, aren't you, Hessler?

But then I figure I'm safe.

You always married your women

before you poisoned them, isn't that so?

And I don't think the captain

would marry us.

Or why don't you start

reading out of that book,

and I'll jump off the boat.

Don't give me any of that "sister, come

to salvation" look. I'm not buying any.

I know the routine.

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