Strange Cargo Page #6

It starts out with a prayer,

and ends up with a Bible in one hand

and me in the other.

Hey, baby.

Stop messing around with the crew

and get back here.

You belong at the captain's table,

don't ever forget that.

- What was that for, baby?

- For fun, that's what.

So we're playing games, are we?

Okay. What'll we play, sweethearts?

Why not? It's a game

we're good at anyway.

Then get one up here fast.

Again.

Again?

Very pretty.

So sweet, so touching and sickening.

What good can ever come

from a man like that?

Or a woman like that?

I've heard of it happening before.

Why can't it happen again?

We ought to make the mainland in a couple

of days, kid, if the wind holds out.

- And what then?

- That's what I was wondering.

I thought maybe you and me

might string along together.

You wouldn't want me around, Moll.

I'd just get in your way.

I'm not a good thief.

Not that I have the conscience,

it just is I haven't got

what it takes to make a man steal.

Oh, but you wouldn't have to.

You see, I've always dodged around alone,

because I figured

a guy shaves a percentage against himself

if he plays it alone.

But I've gotten to like you

quite a bit, kid, you know?

Like a guy does his kid brother.

How does that strike you?

Well, why shouldn't I like you, Moll?

You have everything I haven't got.

Courage, for one thing.

And you've been decent to me.

I'd never have made it alone

if it hadn't been for you.

And I'll see you through from here on in.

We'll travel far and we'll travel fast.

Does that make it a deal?

- Who's your pal, kid?

- You are, Moll.

Right. Let's have some more

of that song you were singing, huh?

Over the far horizon

Riding the tides of night

Perhaps we should all sing.

But what have we got to sing about?

Well, we're alive and the past is behind us.

And there's always a chance

of something better up ahead,

if the wind holds out.

Dreaming the whole night through

Hoping you'll shine on some...

One two, three, four, five.

Five days.

We'll die here. All of us.

Moll. I've got to have water.

Now hold onto yourself, kid.

If you drink yours now,

you'll be thirsty by night.

The sun'll dry it out of you

just as fast as you pour it in.

But it's so hot, it's so hot.

Why doesn't the wind come?

Cambreau, why doesn't the wind come?

The wind should come soon.

But before it comes, some of us may die.

Did you hear what he said, Verne?

Before the wind comes...

That's what he says, and I say he's wrong.

I know as much about it as he does.

But he knew when the wind was dying.

He told us to be careful of the water

because there'd be days of calm.

- He does know, Verne.

- All right, he knows.

Any minute now, he'll pull a fast one out of

that little book of his and it'll rain milk.

Come on, Cambreau, go into your miracle.

Don't be a fool, Verne.

I'm no more religious than you are,

but does this look like a good time

for blasphemy?

That's not what you'd call

good politics, my friend.

How do you figure

some of us will die, Cambreau?

Possibly because

there's no sign of any wind yet,

and if the wind doesn't come,

it becomes a matter of endurance,

doesn't it?

And some of us may not have

the strength to pull through.

It's simple enough

when you reason it out, isn't it?

I'm sorry to disappoint all you big,

strong gorillas, but I feel fine.

You're the second best man

in the boat, baby.

I can't stand it any longer.

Moll, I've got to have water.

- All right, kid.

- No, you can't have it.

- Get away from that keg.

- You can't give him any.

- What about the rest of us?

- He can have my share, can't he?

Get away from that keg, Flaubert.

Get back where you were, Moll.

Get away from that keg

or I'll pitch you out of the boat.

Now.

- Let's see you get it now.

- You fool.

- Well, that's the end of the water.

- And the end of hope.

You're thinking it's my fault.

Why don't you say so?

Shut up. It's done and that's that.

Well, why doesn't somebody

do something about getting it back?

Sharks.

- Aren't you going to do anything to me?

- Why should we?

But I threw away your water

and you'll die.

You'll die with us if we do.

We know that's not what you wanted.

No. I thought they were trying

to take something away from me,

but they weren't, were they?

All these years, I've been afraid

of things that didn't exist.

I looked for enemies

where I might have found friends.

I tried to escape a life

that I might have been forgiven for.

Flaubert!

No, let him go, kid.

Moll thinks I'm afraid, but I'm not.

You know I'm not afraid,

don't you, Cambreau?

You're not afraid, Dufond.

Verne.

Come back here.

- Come back here.

- Let me go.

I didn't mean to hurt you, kid,

but it would have been suicide.

- You wanted to save him, didn't you, Moll?

- Sure, that's all.

- He'll be all right in a jiffy.

- I'm afraid not, Moll.

- Why? What do you mean?

- He's dead.

But he can't be. Why? Why should he be?

Kid.

That's two dead.

Don't let me be afraid, Verne.

Do you hear? Don't let me be afraid.

Why should you be? Men die every day.

Hessler, come to life and haul in that keg.

The sun's going down, Verne.

What about the water?

All right, Cambreau,

dish out what we got coming to us.

The barrel might have leaked.

There may be saltwater in it.

Well, give it here, then.

I'll take a swig of it.

We'd better draw lots for that, Verne.

If you took one swallow of saltwater,

your thirst would increase

thousands of times over.

And that would mean... Tell him, Hessler.

The tongue swells

until it protrudes from the mouth.

Not a very pleasant way to die.

Well, why swallow the water?

Why not taste it?

Our palates are in no condition

to taste anything, Verne.

You couldn't tell freshwater

from salt until it was down.

That makes it one man's game.

How do we draw lots?

Here, here are four strips.

The one who draws

the longest drinks the water.

Why four strips

when I count five of us in the boat?

There are only four men, Julie.

But all five of us drink, don't we?

I don't want any free rides.

Here, add that to your collection.

Take your choice.

Well, it leaves you and me, huh, baby?

And one of them is the long one, ain't it?

You're out of luck, Verne,

I always get the short end of the deal.

Here, in case I lose, this will get you

to Marseille. Give my regards to the girls.

So, a man's tongue swells

until it chokes him to death.

- How does that sound to you, Moll?

- What are you waiting for?

- You aren't afraid, are you?

- Maybe I am. A man don't like to die.

You don't want to die either,

do you baby?

Take one.

- All right, Moll, take the tiller.

- Wait a minute sweetheart, sit still.

You don't think we'd ask you

to get your own, do you?

Sit right where you are,

I'll fetch it for you.

A little cup of water.

Maybe it's good and maybe it's bad.

Up until now you've been pretty lucky,

what with one thing and another.

- How lucky do you feel now, Verne?

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