Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2012 23:00:45 +0200
From: Amy Redek <adultreading@gmail.com>
Subject: Francis. Part Twelve.

    This story is for persons of eighteen years or over.  All comments,
good or bad, are welcome and all will be answered.

     Part Twelve

     Then the passengers started to come on board and we were kept busy,
answering the questions and guiding some of the passengers to their
cabins. Then my heart leapt as I saw Donald presenting his boarding pass to
the officer in charge. He was carrying his small overnight bag and a
steward was behind him with his two suitcases. Diane was the next in line
for escort duty, but she let me step forward as we were pointed out by the
officer. He smiled as he came towards me and I dropped him a curtsey with a
smile on my own face.

     `Welcome aboard the Andaman sir,' I said.

     `Thank you. It's a pleasure to be aboard.'

     `If sir would so kind as to follow me, I will show you to your cabin,'
which I already knew the number of. We didn't speak as we went up to A deck
and along the passageway to the cabin. I opened the door for him and he
went inside, followed by the steward with his cases. He gave the steward a
tip who rushed off to get hold of another passengers bags, because the more
he could carry on board, the more tips he got. I closed the door behind him
and went into Donald's arms and we had a long passionate kiss.

     `Well darling, what do you think?' I said breathlessly when we broke
apart. He was as randy as I was, both of us feeling our erections beneath
our clothes as we had pressed against each other.

     `It's wonderful and I didn't think the ship would be as big as this,
and you look wonderful too,' he replied, holding me at arm's length so that
he could look me up and down properly.

     `Oh God I do love you Francis,' he said, suddenly crushing me to
him. Tears came to my eyes as he squeezed me tight, it being the first time
he'd prayed to God about me. My knees were trembling with my need for him,
but I had to break away from him.

     `We don't have time my darling, as much as I need you as you have need
for me. I mustn't be away from my station too long. You do understand?'

     `Yes my dear,' he said, letting me go.

     `Get unpacked and watch us sail. I'll see you at the cocktail party,
till then darling.' I gave him a quick kiss on the lips and hurriedly left
the cabin before I lost control of myself and stripped off my clothes for
him. I carefully dabbed my eyes as I went back down to the entry port and
was much better composed when I got there.

     The influx of passengers never seemed to end, this ship taking nearly
three hundred more than the Indus, and it was close to our departure time
before the last came aboard. Diane, Ralph and I tried to watch our leaving
Southampton for the first time, but there were too many passengers crowding
the rails, so we went down to the lounge and into our dressing room.

     We kept to the same seating arrangements and we had a drink and rested
our feet and ran over a quick programme for the cruise. We could fill in
the details later, and as we hadn't had any time to rehearse anything new,
we decided to start off with the same shows as we had on the Indus. Before
we left the lounge, I had a word with the barman and slipped him five
pounds, telling him what I wanted, and he agreed. It was to be a surprise
for Donald, but he wouldn't find out till the night of our first show.

     We all then went below and had lunch in the after saloon, after the
passengers had eaten. There were two large dining saloons on this ship. The
forrard one was for the upper deck passengers, and the aft one for the
lower deck ones. There are no seating arrangements for lunch on sailing
day, it's catch as catch can for lunch, but from dinner onwards, each
passenger had their designated seat.

     After we had eaten, I left Diane and Ralph and went forward to the
other saloon and checked the seating plan that the Head Waiter had drawn up
and would be displayed out in the foyer. Donald had originally been
allocated to a nondescript table, so I had approached the Head Waiter the
day before and told him that the Reverend Sinclair was a share holder in
the company and known to the Staff Commander. Completing the lie, I'd said
that the Staff wished the vicar to be on his table and that the vicar had
given me to give him a small gratuity, and I gave him twenty pounds, as
that was what was normally done to secure a good table. When he queried how
had the vicar given me the tip to pass along I told him that I too knew him
and had been with him only a few hours earlier. I insisted on the second
sitting too, as this was the normal time the officers dined with the
passengers.

     With all this done, I then went to my cabin and Diane and I went off
for our shower and to change for the cocktail party that was only an hour
away from starting. I was now just being able to do my bra up at the back,
and I began to miss the quick kiss and suck of my pecker by Diane as she
used to fix my stockings.

     I would liked to have had time to go to the hairdresser's, but it
would have to do for that night. My hair now reached halfway down my back
and Diane had to fix the jade clip for me now. All my dresses covered my
shoulders, some with sleeves that just covered my biceps, some were down to
the elbow. I couldn't really wear off the shoulder things because I only
wore a small padded bra, and I didn't want any accidents to happen.

     Thank heavens for theatrical make-up too. I used it to cover up the
scar on the right under forearm. This scar from the first bullet was about
four inches long and it started at a point and then widened to about half
an inch before tapering off again. With this make-up on, it was hardly
noticeable. The other one, well two really, because the second bullet went
in one side of the soft flesh of the back of the upper arm, and had come
out the other side. These two scars had puckered the skin, but most of the
time the sleeve of my dress covered them, but I put make-up on them
too. Then with our faces done, we were ready and we sallied forth up to the
lounge.

                                                           *

     The invitations for the Captain's cocktail party this first night was
for those passengers who were dining in the forrard saloon. There would be
another the following night in another lounge aft for the other passengers,
though we wouldn't be on hand for that one as we would be performing in
this lounge. It wasn't until the Captain arrived in the lounge that I
recognised him. He'd moved up in the shuffle of officers when Clement
became Chief Officer of the Indus, so his was the final position that
Clement was aiming for, Captain of the Fleet.

     Ralph spotted Donald first and gave me a nudge as he passed me,
pointing him out. Me being shorter than most people even when I was wearing
my high heels couldn't see over half the shoulders of the people gathered
there. Both Ralph and Diane knew that I wanted to do the introductions, so
they steered clear of him. I hadn't as yet done any intros, so I made my
way over to him, and saw that he'd already been given a drink by one of the
stewards on duty.

     `Hello Donald,' I said, touching his arm, making him turn round.

     `Francis! You look ravishing,' he said with a smile.

     `Shush Donald,' I said, quickly looking round, `remember you're a
vicar and you shouldn't be saying such things,' I chided him in a low
voice. `What would the others think if they heard you?'

     `Francis my dear, to quote Clark Gable, I don't give a damn. I'm sure
that every male in this room would say the same, and I would look damn
silly if I didn't compliment the most beautiful attractive woman here.'

     `Have you been drinking?' I hissed at him.

     `Just the one,' and he leaned forward to whisper, `it's your beauty
that is making me intoxicated.'

    `Well take that lecherous look off your face and let me introduce you
to the captain,' I said, taking his arm and leading him forward.

     `Excuse me sir,' I started, but the Captain interrupted me.

     `Why Francis! What a nice surprise to have you on board. Better than
the Indus eh?' he asked, waving his arm.

     `Yes sir, and it was a surprise to see you too. Congratulations on
your promotion. Would you allow me to introduce you to the Right Reverend
Donald Sinclair from Wiltshire.' With that, they shook hands and had a
minute or two of conversation before he had to turn away to greet another
passenger.

     `So the Captain knows you already.' Donald said.

     `So does the Staff Commander, but not in your Biblical sense,' I said
smiling, to take the sting out of the remark. `Let me introduce you to him
too. He saw to it that we got the cabin for you.' I waited till there was a
break, and then did the introductions there. After that, I had to leave
him, giving his arm a squeeze instead of a kiss.

     There were many more people to see to and I didn't get to see him
leave the lounge for his dinner, and there didn't seem to be any respite
from the passengers waiting to see the Captain. It was only after we
noticed that he had gone that we knew it was after ten o'clock, but it was
still another two hours before we could say that enough was enough, and we
left the lounge.

     At least we had decent chairs on this new ship for us to flop into
when got to the cabin, mixing a drink first.

     `Well, how was Donald? I never got a chance to speak to him,' Diane
asked.

     `Well he seemed pleased enough, but I didn't get long to talk to
him. I'll find out tomorrow, but now,' I yawned, `I think it's time I hit
the sack, I'm absolutely bashed.' With that, we both dragged ourselves out
of our chairs and prepared for bed.

                                                           *

     After breakfast, we went up to the lounge and tested all the lights,
the switches by the piano so that Ralph could work them without leaving his
seat. They were very good too; coloured lights, spotlights that could be
directed in either direction. The stage also had a microphone, but this
restricted movement about the stage when you were singing, so we tried one
of my solos without it, and Diane could hear me quite well at the back of
the lounge, so we decided to dispense with it except for maybe some
announcements.

     To our dismay, we found that they had increased our duties, (and pay,
to compensate) by doing an afternoon show in the lounge aft. Three thirty
till five thirty there and then from nine to midnight in the main
lounge. The only benefit for us was that it knocked out us doing duties at
any parties for children, of which there were very few on this cruise. This
meant we only had the mornings to rehearse and we had to restrict our
afternoon programme because of changing costumes. It only being two hours
in the afternoon, meant we could manage this.

     As we hadn't checked this lounge back aft as of yet, we decided to
scrounge some food from the galley and we ate it sitting in one of the
pantries. Then it was off to this lounge and we were surprised to find that
it was almost a replica of the one of the Indus, and even had a small
dressing room, which would be a big help to save us dashing backwards and
forwards. Ralph tinkled on the piano and found that it had been tuned, so
he was satisfied on that score, and we wouldn't need much in the lighting
department, as the shows would be in the afternoon with plenty of
daylight. We transferred some of our costumes to this dressing room to make
life easier.

     We had time to have a drink at the bar and to introduce ourselves to
the barman before we began our first show on our new ship. The lounge was
only half full when Ralph stood at the edge of the stage and introduced
himself and us to the passengers there, but by the time we were on our
third number, it was full of passengers. Ralph, keeping an eye on the
clock, gave us the cue for our final number, which went very well and we
received a very good response from all that watched us.

                                                           *

     We stopped again at the bar at the request of some of the passengers
and were bought drinks, and had to refuse more than we accepted. It was
about six o'clock before we could get away and get down below so that we
could have a shower and relax for an hour or so.

     Ralph liked our cabin, but with only two chairs, I laid on my bunk so
he could sit down, and he said that he was going to find us another chair
later. We talked over the show and were satisfied with what we'd done, and
we would have to come up with some new songs etc, or we'd being doing the
same show almost twice a day. I dozed off while we were talking and it was
nice that they let me sleep for over an hour before waking me up to get
dressed and ready for the next show.

     We stopped at the bar for a drink and I was pleased to see that the
barman had arranged the tables as I had asked. Why, I'll explain in a
minute. We ordered a drink and looking round the lounge, I saw Donald and
beckoned him over, and he left his drink on the table and came up to us. He
shook Ralph by the hand and gave Diane and me a kiss on the cheek.

     `What do you think of the ship so far Donald?' Ralph asked.

     `It's wonderful and the food is superb. Now I've come to see what the
entertainment is like,' he said with a grin.

     `Well were about to go on now and there's a special treat for you,' I
said, giving one of the stewards a nod who then brought out another
table. The tables near the stage had been slightly rearranged so that one
small one could be fitted in. A chair was put there and Donald's drink was
fetched from the one he had been sitting at and placed on it.

     `Here is your table for the show,' I said to Donald, thanking the
steward, and led Donald to it and sat him down.

     `We have a fifteen minute break and I'll join you then,' I said,
giving his hand a pat, and went off to the dressing room with the others.

     A few minutes later we were on the stage and Ralph introduced us to a
very nice round of applause. I gave Donald, sitting right near the front, a
wink and a smile, and then we began the show.

     The fifteen minute break was for Diane and myself because of our
constant singing and dancing. Ralph then played a few piano pieces and told
some jokes while we had a rest. I slipped into a chair placed at Donald's
table especially for me to sit down with him for those few minutes.

     `How do you like it?' I said, a bit out of breath, accepting my drink
from a steward.

     `Excellent! You look wonderful up there. So fresh and different. It's
as if I'm watching another you and wondering if other men are having the
same feelings as myself.'

     `Such as?' I asked with a coy smile. He leaned in close to me.

     `I want to take you in my arms and kiss you and make love to you. I
need you Francis!' he whispered.

     `I want you too Donald, you just don't know how much. But I've got to
stop these thoughts because I'm getting a hard on and it will show because
I'm not wearing any panties.' It was true. I was as stiff as a board, and
as loose as my dress was, I was sure that it would be noticeable if I had
stood up there and then.

     We talked for a few more minutes before I went back to the dressing
room and then back onto the stage. We finished to a wonderful applause as
we took our bows

     `I've got to go to Donald tonight,' I said to Diane as we took off our
stage make-up.

     `That bad huh?' she replied.

     `You don't know how much,' I said, lightly dusting my face, `don't
wait up for me.' With that, I left her and Ralph there and went out into
the lounge. Donald was still sitting there in the nearly empty lounge. The
people who were still there were up at the bar end, so I wasn't noticed as
I sat down with him.

     `Can we go to your cabin now?' I asked him with urgency in my voice.

     `That's why I'm waiting here for you,' he said hoarsely. I gulped the
drink down that he'd bought for me, and he finished his as we stood up and
left the lounge. The passageway on A deck was deserted, thankfully, as we
went to his cabin and over to the bed and laid me down. He kissed me from
the face down till he reached my throbbing erection, which he licked as
well as kissed before taking it into his mouth. With his lips, teeth and
tongue he quickly brought my passion surging up to erupt in his mouth, his
head bobbing on me as he sucked and swallowed. He had relieved the ache in
my balls but not the deep intense burning desire in my lower belly that
could only be helped by his penetration of me.

     I rolled over onto my stomach and raised myself up in offering for him
to take me. With a light dab of cream placed on me, he pressed his erection
against it and pushed himself forward. I gurgled with joy as his hard flesh
expanded my soft insides as he moved into me, making all my nerves
tingle. To feel my bum nestle into his thighs as I was then impaled on his
shaft was sheer heaven. He throbbed inside, and I could feel the heat of
him making me glow all over as he paused, making it pulsate to give me
pleasure. Then with rhythmic strokes, he fucked me. His thighs slapping
against my bottom at every inward push was a delight beyond words, making
my balls swing back to connect with his at every stroke. He proved his need
and urgency by coming all too quickly, his strokes quickening as he began
ramming himself tight up to me as he strained to penetrate even
further. Then with a great shudder of his body, held me fast as I felt his
cock twitch and enlarge itself as he came in short bursts, quenching the
fire inside me.

     I held my muscles tight to hold him in as I slowly slid down onto the
bed covers, his full weight bearing down on me as he stayed inside me. I
gave out a big sigh of contentment with his still hard shaft filling that
small expanse of me as he kissed my neck, and whispering words of love. We
lay like that for some time before he began to shrink and reluctantly
pulled out and went and washed. I also liked it when he washed me, as
gentle as any nurse would to an invalid, the warmth of the cloth bringing
desire again to my balls.

     Within an hour, it was me behind Donald, giving him my small length
which he enjoyed as much as I did by using it in him. Then later, I fell
asleep with Donald's cock in my mouth, sucking upon it as would a baby on
its own thumb.

     Donald kissing me and whispering my name over and over again woke me
up. `It's nearly five o'clock in the morning Francis.' I stretched and
cuddled up to him, not wanting to leave the warmth of his bed or his arms,
but I knew I had to. It would not do for me to be seen up in that part of
the ship at that time of the morning. After a little more time spent
kissing and petting, I reluctantly got out of bed and put on my dress. I
didn't bother with the underwear, I just stuffed that all in my bag, as I
slipped on my shoes. I gave him one last kiss and let myself out of the
cabin.

     The ship was very quiet, the only sound being the constant throb of
the engines, not loud at this height above the engine room. You could feel
the vibration more than you could hear the sound as the ship ploughed
through the ocean. On all decks, there are pantries where the stewards
prepare the passengers morning tea trays and the like. These are all
connected by a spiral staircase going right down through each deck to the
working alleyway, and this was the route I took to avoid the passenger
areas. I had to go down barefoot because my high heels were not only
dangerous footwear on this metal spiral, but made one hell of a noise,
clacking away at each step. Once I had reached the working alleyway,
anybody would think I was coming from the galley, so it was okay from
there. I slipped on my shoes and made my way to my cabin, still not seeing
a soul, which saved any curiosity on anybody's part.

     Diane was fast asleep, gently snoring as I took off my dress in the
dark and got into my own bunk, somehow missing that bit of athleticism by
swinging up on the overhead pipes. At least I got another couple of hours
sleep.

                                                           *

     So our routine was set, and for the six day run to our first port of
call, I only missed one night from Donald's bed. Fort Lauderdale in Florida
was our destination, and we arrived there in the early hours of the
morning. In port, meal sittings went by the board and it was a first come
first served basis, so those wishing to go to Miami, just down the coast
were in early.

     This is where I first found out about American bureaucracy and how
part of their immigration policy works. Passengers, in order to travel,
have to have a passport. We didn't. Our seaman's books are our
documentation for joining a ship and may be considered as a kind of
passport but only for transit purposes. We did have identity cards which
had our picture in and other details such as nationality etc, which so far,
I've only had to produce once while abroad, though it must be carried
whenever ashore in a foreign port.

     Not so in the United States of America. No official passport, no
entry. Donald had a passport and visitors from ships would get it stamped
with a one day visa by the immigration authorities. We couldn't do it with
our identity cards. We had to fill up a lengthy form and they wanted to
know so much, almost to what did you eat for breakfast. Then you would have
your photograph taken and a complete set of your fingerprints. Then, and
only then would they issue you with a one day visa card. They said that the
official pass would not be available for about six months and would be
posted to you at your home port.

     This I did not want to do because it would have meant completely
revealing myself to the American authorities. I could just image me going
ashore and into a crowded office and having to put down male on the form
when I was dolled up as a woman. Look at the fuss that would have
generated, not only on shore, because the word would have got back to the
ship like a forest fire.

     So I declined to subject myself to this, and surprisingly so did many
of the other crew members, not wishing to be fingerprinted and photographed
like a criminal. But I insisted that Donald go and see Miami, it probably
being his only ever chance to do so. He didn't want to go without me, but I
eventually got him to go ashore on a tour and that he could tell me all
about it when he returned. I caught up on some sleep as we didn't have any
shows to do that day. Ralph and Diane felt the same way as I did, so they
too stayed aboard and slept.

     I was pleased that we still retained the status as hostesses, well
Diane and I, Ralph being a host I suppose you would call it. This meant
that we could mix with the passengers in our off duty periods and have our
drinks at the bar. We'd had our dinner and were up in the bar when Donald
arrived, he too having eaten. There we sat and talked for the rest of the
evening, it being too early for me to slip away to Donald's cabin without
being seen.

     He told us of his tour, and though he enjoyed it, it being his first
visit to a foreign country, it didn't strike me as being very good. He
talked of the strangeness of the vehicles being on the wrong side of the
road and how dangerous it was trying to cross one without being knocked
down by the huge cars that they drove. He had bought some souvenirs and
talked of how helpful and polite all the shop assistants were. The money
too being different, but it was easy to work out, and they talked a strange
sounding form of English with some new words such as sidewalk, automobiles
and five n' dime. These being pavement, cars and our equivalent of a
Woolworth's. But he enjoyed himself which was the main thing.

     I could see that Donald was tired, so I suggested that we called it a
night. Diane and Ralph got the hint and soon left us alone, so that we
could go off to his cabin. There we made love and it was him that fell
asleep on me that night. I left his cabin just as we put to sea, so I stood
at the ship's rail and watched us depart for our next port in the Bahamas,
Nassau.

                                                           *

     Nassau! The named screamed at me. I'd completely forgotten about the
handbag in the Purser's office, but it was too late to do anything about it
then, I would have to collect it in the morning. I went down below and was
soon asleep.

     I was up early and after a shower and getting dressed and made up,
went for breakfast, and then collected this bag from the office. From
there, a boy went up to find Donald for me and soon we were off the ship in
Nassau. No problems here like America, and I didn't even have to show my
I.D. card.

     Where we docked, we were only one small street away from the main
shopping centre of the town. You wouldn't believe the myriad of colours of
the shops and of the clothes that the native people wore. You would have
thought that the coloured shirts or blouses would clash with multicoloured
scarves being worn, but they didn't. With their smiling black faces, they
fitted them perfectly. The roads were dusty and there was a constant stream
of high lilting voices shouting out in pidgin English as well as their own
language as they called out for people to buy their wares at the stalls and
shops. We even went to what's known as the Straw Market, this being in its
own building but still selling what all the other stalls outside were
offering.

     Donald was fascinated at all this, and I was happy to be on his arm,
delighting in every exclamation of surprise from him as we wandered down
the crowded street. I was hanging on like grim death to this bag, not
wanting to have it snatched at so short a distance from where I was
supposed to deliver it. If they didn't dare send the contents by the
ordinary post, I didn't want to be the person to lose it.

     There were only a few street names up and I didn't want to ask
anybody, so we wandered into several before I saw the sign for
Garibaldi's. We went into this little emporium that seemed to sell
everything. A young black man in a floral shirt with huge white teeth in
his broad smile asked if he could be of help.

     `My bag here has a broken clasp. I would like it repaired please,' I
said to him. He smiled at me and disappeared through a beaded curtain
behind the counter. I smiled confident looking, I hoped, at Donald, and at
the same time, fingering my Leopardi brooch. An older man came through the
curtain and asked the same question, to which I gave the same reply.

     `Ah Miss Francis. Yes, we've been expecting you. May I have the bag
please?' He too had large teeth, though not so white, but his smile was as
broad as the younger man's was. I handed over the bag, glad to be rid of
it.

     `Thank you Miss Francis. I shall see that it is returned before you
sail to be given back to Pietro. I hope you will go and enjoy our town and
have pleasant memories of it. If I may, I would like to suggest that you
take a boat and go and visit Paradise Island. There is a new casino just
been opened there, and if you feel inclined, go to the second roulette
table on the right. There, place one hundred pounds on number seven and I
think you'll find yourself very lucky with that number. My son here will
deliver the bag when I have repaired it. Good day to you both.'

     He smiled once more and disappeared back through the curtain. There
was nothing left to do but for us to leave the shop and enter the crowded
little street.

     `Well Donald! Let's find a boat that can take us to Paradise Island.'

     `We can't really go gambling Francis; we can't afford it!'

     `Donald, believe me, we are not going gambling,' I said, slightly
exasperated, `I'm going to get my wages.'

     `Wages?'

     `Oh Donald, really! Come on and let's find the island.'

     We wandered down to the waterfront again and there asked about the
island. We were pointed in the direction of a small jetty where some boats
were tied up, and we soon were on one chugging across a narrow strip of
water to another jetty that welcomed us to the Paradise Island Casino. Both
Donald and the boatman assisted me up onto the jetty and then we strolled
up to a new looking building that was obviously the casino.

     On going inside, I could see that some of the passengers had already
found their way here, and were playing both roulette and blackjack, or what
we called pontoon.

     `Give me one hundred pounds,' I whispered to Donald.

     `Now really Francis, I don't think we should.'

     `Donald! Give.. Me.. The.. Money,' I fiercely hissed at him, and
reluctantly he pulled out his wallet and counted out one hundred pounds,
which was a lot of money in those days. It was like pulling teeth from a
cannibal he was so loathe to give up what really amounted to being my money
anyway.

     `Thank you!' I said sardonically, and led him to the second table on
the right. Four other people were playing there and we stood and watched
for a couple of spins.

     `What is the table limit,' I asked of the croupier.

     `One hundred,' he said. I passed over the money and he counted out ten
chips and passed them across to me. I then put it all on red number
seven. I saw him motion to a floor manager who came over and looked at the
whole stake on number seven and just nodded to the croupier who then spun
the wheel announcing no more bets.

     Donald and I watched that ball go whirring round the rim of the wheel
while the smaller spoked wheel in the middle went in the opposite
direction. The other three players at the table also watched, fascinated to
see one hundred pounds being bet on a single number. The little white ball
started to slow, rolling round the rim until it dropped and touched one of
the flukes and started to jump around, dropping first into one slot before
bouncing out into another and then it stopped moving and stayed put as the
wheel came to a stop.

     `Sept rouge,' intoned the croupier, and gasps came from everybody
round the table including Donald. Losing chips were raked away and a big
stack were counted out and put with my staked money. The others were
whispering to themselves as I picked up the chips, passing my original
chips across to the croupier who nodded his thanks. Donald was still
standing there open mouthed as I turned away from the table with my
winnings.

     `Donald!' I said, a bit too sharply, and he turned away to follow
me. `Cash these in for me please,' I said, passing the chips over to
him. It was funny to see the incredulous look on his face as he took them
and went over to the cashier's window and watched in amazement as the money
was counted out.

     `This is three and a half thousand pounds!' he said, showing it to me
before putting it away in his pockets.

     `I know. The payout odds are thirty five to one. Now let's go and
celebrate.' I said, hugging his arm.

     We dined well that evening, trying all the local delicacies and drinks
at the best restaurant in the town. Our table was on the veranda and we
watched the people still milling about the street, and then I spotted Diane
and Ralph walking by. I shouted out to them and they came and joined
us. They had eaten as we had, so we sat, the four of us again, drinking
some of the local cocktails that were full of fruit and very, very strong
in their potency as we found out.

     `You're smelling of roses again,' said Diane when she was told of our
win at the casino.

     `I still think it was rigged,' Donald said, beginning to feel the
effects of these cocktails. I winked at Diane and Ralph and we laughed at
Donald's naivety.

     We were a merry foursome as we wended our way back to the ship that
evening and parted at the entry port. Ralph and Diane going below, while
Donald and I went up. We drunkenly undressed each other and, going through
his pockets, I threw and spread the money all over the bed. I then rolled
naked over all that money and got Donald to get on the bed. I wanted him to
make love to me on top of it, but he didn't like the idea, besides, it was
a moot point, because neither of us could get it up anyway in our state. So
we just slept on it together till the morning.

                                                           *

     I woke up and got out of the cabin just in time before the steward
came round with the morning teas. I slipped out onto the deck as though I
was up and out for a morning stroll before making my way down for an early
breakfast. I only hoped that Donald had picked all the money up before the
steward did get in there with his morning tea. We were due to sail at noon,
so there was no point in my going ashore again though many passengers did
for some last minute shopping. I hung about on deck till I saw the figure
of the shopkeeper's son start to come up the gangway. I hurried below to
the entry port and met him there.

     `I'm sorry miss,' he said, giving me back the handbag, `the clasp is
still broken. You must give it back to the one who first gave it to you.' I
took the bag back and thanked him and watched as he went back down to the
quay. Then I hurried down to my cabin and stowed the bag away to take back
home, wondering what it had contained that was worth paying me three and a
half thousand pounds. I found out years later that I had taken out some
bearer bonds and details for the setting up of off shore accounts in
various names that could be used by the Leopardi family and friends. I
never heard the term money laundering till a little later.

     We arrived in Kingston, Jamaica in the late afternoon on our eleventh
day out and were to stay there till the following night. I liked these
evenings in port, because we didn't have to work and could go sightseeing
and see the night life and get some ideas for our own shows. Kingston was
dirty and rundown in comparison to Nassau. The people were not as happy and
of a carefree disposition either. The colour was there as well as the spicy
foods and abundance of different fruits, which were mixed in their drinks
as well. It was an uneasy place to be in I personally felt, but Donald
loved it, so I put aside my feelings so as not to spoil his pleasure. He
had got a picnic basket packed and having hired a car and driver, he had us
dropped off at an isolated beach, telling the driver to pick us up in the
late afternoon. Then the two of us spent most of the time swimming in the
sea, naked, before devouring our hamper of food and sunning ourselves in
the sun. No we didn't do it on the beach, but I would have loved to have
spent more time there to be able to do it.

     I had made sure he was covered in sun cream, but he still looked like
a lobster when we got dressed just before the car came back. We gave him
his little bonus, which was the incentive not to leave us stranded that far
away from town, but it had been a lovely day for the both of us. We rounded
off the day eating very well at a local sea food restaurant.

     There were shows to do between there and our next stop at Bridgetown,
the capital of Barbados. A lovely island where the people were as happy as
the Jamaicans were dour. Diane and Ralph accompanied us on this tour of the
island and we all fell in love with the place, this paradise on the outer
fringe of the Southern Caribbean islands. All too soon we left and the ship
was now on its homeward leg with only one more stop. That being Madeira,
just north of the Canary Islands and south east of the Azores. Only Donald
went ashore of the four of us with the threat that we wouldn't let him back
on board unless he brought some of the island's famous wine back with him.

     We were only there for the one day before setting off for the home
port of Southampton. So it was now that we discussed whether we would sign
on for the next voyage. I didn't really have any choice as long as the
three of us stuck together. I had the itinerary of the forth coming trip
and I thought it was quite exciting.

     From Southampton it was to Madeira, Cape Town, Durban, Mauritius,
Singapore and Hong Kong. Then back to Singapore, Colombo, Port Said and
home, a total of thirteen weeks. Diane wanted to go, especially when I told
her that I would buy her a cheongsam to match mine and then we could do
some Oriental numbers. Ralph was a bit dubious at first, but when I pointed
out that it would mean us being on the beach for at least six weeks without
any guarantee that we would get another ship or even stay together.

     The clincher was the trip after that. That would be a straight run to
Australia, but with another Christmas cruise taking in Tasmania, New
Zealand and Fiji. With Fiji on the International Date Line, the company had
decided to have two New Year's Eve's, by being across the line for the old
year and then back again to have it for the second time, if you can work
that out.

     So it was agreed that we would stay with the ship till that voyage
finished which would be about the end of February of the next year. Now
came the problem of leave this time. We would only have a week off and
Diane said that it really wasn't worth travelling all the way home, she
would lose two days just going back and forth. When I suggested that they
stay at my place, all in, for our leave, they both jumped at the chance,
especially when I said that we would be having a wonderful wedding party on
the Saturday.

     As we didn't have a show while in port, we had the evening free, and I
went up top to see if Donald had returned from the island. He had, and had
brought the wine we asked for. So armed with four of these bottles, I
smuggled Donald down below and Diane went and scrounged a large tray of
food in the form of sandwiches and snacks. So we had a nice little party
with Donald and I sitting on my bunk and Diane and Ralph, on hers. A bottle
was passed round to fill the glasses and then the food went on the same
course, gin and tonic was drunk in between bottles.

     It was a known fact between us that Donald and I were lovers and
Donald now, was quite open enough to kiss me in their company, but that was
as far as he would go. So as the evening wore on, with only one dim light
in the cabin, we finished up kissing and stroking each other's face the
same as Diane and Ralph were doing. When things started to get really
serious, that's when Donald and I left the cabin to go up to his, leaving
Ralph and Diane stretched out on her bunk to go as far as they wanted
to. Both Donald and I wanted the same thing, and so we did, on his bed. It
was a slow glorious loving for both of us, in the giving and sharing of our
body fluids.

     It was the throbbing pulse of the ship's engines that roused us, so,
getting up and dressed, we went out and up to the boat deck to watch our
departure from Funchal. We stood in the shadows of one of the boat's
davits, my arm linked through his as the ship slowly moved out into the
ocean. I hugged this man that I loved tighter to me as we watched the sea
cream along the ship's side.

     The age difference of twenty two years was of no consequence to me for
he was still strong and virile, and would be likely to remain so for many
years yet to come. I loved this man and I cursed the fates for giving me
male genitalia when in my mind, heart and soul, I was a woman. It was only
the fact of my being born with a small penis and balls instead of a slit
prevented me from being his wife. Men desired me for the picture I
outwardly displayed, but Donald loved me for what was behind the façade,
another man, loving him as he loved me.

     It's only been in the last few years that science and surgery have
come to accept the premise that many men find themselves trapped in the
wrong sexual body, and now do something to change that fact. Child bearing
is the one aspect that they cannot overcome though they can take away the
male sexual organs and give instead, the nearest thing to a vagina to be
used instead of the anus in the act of love between two people. It is too
late for me now, so I made do with what I had in those days, so to be loved
by this man as I was, was enough for me. Before I became too emotional
there, on deck in the moonlight with the man I loved, I kissed him fiercely
and fled down below.

     We did our final show in the after lounge and finished to huge
applause from our audience, and then it was repeated in the forrard lounge
that evening. We were feted by the passengers and kept up there till well
after midnight. We mingled with the passengers getting drink after drink,
though the stewards took our hint and finished up serving us tonics only. I
did notice that an elderly couple had collared Donald for nearly half an
hour and felt sorry for him for not being able to share some of my delight
of the evening with him.

                                                           *

     We docked during breakfast time, and we'd had ours early so that we
could be on station when the gangway was hauled up to the entry port. I'd
brought up the handbag in a plastic bag and left it in the Purser's office
until it was called for. With our usual patter, we said farewell to the
passengers as they made their way ashore. Donald had gone ashore early to
try and secure us a large car as the normal taxi's plying for hire would
not be big enough to take the four of us, plus our baggage.

     The stream of leaving passengers was beginning to dwindle when I saw
Pietro come up the gangway. I quickly retrieved the bag from the office and
met him at the entry port.

     `Hello Francis, did you have a nice cruise?'

     `Yes,' I told him, handing him the bag, `I'm afraid that the clasp is
still broken.'

     `So I was led to believe,' he replied. `Did you have a chance to go to
the casino while you were there?'

     `Yes,' I smiled at him. He gave me a wink and a smile as he turned and
made his way back down the gangway. Donald came bounding up the gangway,
missing Pietro by a couple of minutes to say that he had a large car all
arranged. He had his bags taken down and told me that he would wait for us
to change for the journey and do our signing off. As most of the passengers
had left, we said our goodbyes to the officers there and went down to our
cabins. We'd already spoken to the Staff Commander that if wanted, we would
be sailing on the next voyage, and he said that we were definitely
wanted. So our costumes were locked up in the dressing room, leaving us
with only a suitcase each to carry. It could have only been half an hour
before we too, joined Donald on the quay having done all the necessary, and
got into the car to go home.

     Southampton was closer than Tilbury, so it wasn't long before we
turned into the lane of home and slowly cruised down to my house. Flora and
Beatrice, obviously one of them had been watching out of the window, were
there at the door to greet us. Peter Blake was at the door of the vicarage
too, giving us a wave.

     Flora was pleased to see us and said that it would be no trouble to
feed the extra mouths we had brought to savour her delicious meals. Ralph
and Beatrice took in our bags while Donald went across to the vicarage with
Peter helping him with his suitcases.  It had already been agreed that the
car that brought us home would take Peter back to the station, so I got
Flora to give the driver a late lunch. This was to give Peter time to fill
Donald in on what had gone on in the parish whilst he had been away.

     With the driver, filled with home cooking and well paid, he was ready
when Peter said his goodbyes to us all and went off back to his own home
town. Donald then came into the house and we all sat round in the parlour
and had some drinks as we talked over the cruise. When there was a lull in
the conversation, Donald threw a newspaper in my lap, indicating that I
should open it.

     `I bought that when I went for the car,' he said. I opened it up and
looked at the headlines. They didn't mean a thing to me and I gave him a
quizzical look. `The financial page,' he said with a smile. Then the penny
dropped and I quickly turned the pages till I found the one I wanted. I
quickly scanned down the columns until I found what he wanted me to see.

     `KuOil! That's fantastic!' I exclaimed, looking up and seeing Diane
and Ralph exchange puzzled looks. Donald caught the glance and explained,
enigmatically.

     `Francis has made another small fortune it seems,' he said
laconically.

     `Two pounds ten!' I exclaimed. `Why didn't you tell me earlier?' I
demanded.

     `I wanted to wait until we were here and not have you jumping about in
the car.'

     `Flora!' I called out, `Bring out some champagne and five glasses. I
can't believe it,' I said to Donald and the other two.

     `How much is a small fortune?' asked Ralph.

     `A million pounds or two,' Donald answered. Ralph choked on his drink.

     `A million pounds?' Diane gasped taking a quick swallow of her drink.

     `Well we won't know the true figure till we see the solicitor. He's
been handling the deal.' Flora came in with a chilled bottle of champagne
which Donald opened, making it pop loudly and sent the cork flying across
the room. He poured it out into the glasses on the tray that Flora held,
and we all took one and drank a toast to KuOil.

     `Flora! We're increasing your wages by half. Beatrice too. Now tell
me, how are the wedding plans progressing?' So she told us of how the young
Mr Blake had read the banns and everybody was very excited and the hall was
already being decorated for the reception.

     `What about the reception, the food and drinks?' I asked.

     `Oh we'll manage by doing a few things and get some drinks in,' she
said.

     `Nonsense,' I snorted. `First thing in the morning I'll sort out the
catering and I'll see Dave about the drinks. And don't worry about the
cost,' stopping her from saying anything, `I'll take care of that, so don't
you worry about a thing. Just enjoy your daughter's wedding.' She stammered
her thanks and fled back to the kitchen in tears.

     `Well what's money for but to be spent!' I said, looking at their
faces `We might as well get pleasure out of it. Also I might add, that you
two aren't going to spend a single penny on this coming voyage because I am
paying for everything.' There were smiles and thanks from both of them and
we drank some more champagne and then had a wonderful merry dinner.

                                                           *

     It wasn't that late when we'd finished, but we were all tired, so
saying goodnight to Ralph and Diane, Donald and I went over to the
vicarage. We had a kiss and cuddle before going upstairs to his bedroom
where I began to undress. I took off my dress and opened the wardrobe to
take out a hanger and as I put it back, I noticed something odd. A
suspicious thought crossed my mind and I went to the dresser and opened my
drawer and looked at the contents, and what I saw almost confirmed my first
thoughts.

     `Donald,' I said, turning round, still wearing my bra, suspender belt
and stockings (no panties), `what do you know of Peter?'

     `How do you mean?' he asked, taking off his trousers.

     `Is he like us? You know, does he er, prefer men? You know what I
mean.'

     `Not that I know of,' he replied, now hanging up his trousers.

     `Well I had this strange feeling when I first shook hands with
him. Then I find this,' and I pointed to the open wardrobe door. `Look
inside here and tell me what's different.' Donald went over and looked
inside, moving a few dresses about on the hangers.

     `I don't see anything strange. They're your dresses and that's all.'

     `Look at this dress,' I pointed out, and slowly unhooked the hanger
from the rail. `This dress is round this way, whereas all the others are
the same way. All the fronts are facing to the left. This one is facing to
the right.' I flung the dress on the bed. `And this,' and I pulled the only
pair of panties I owned out of my drawer and held it to my nose before
throwing that on the bed too. Tears were in my eyes as I pulled out some
stockings and threw them onto the bed.

     `He's been wearing my clothes,' I said and started to cry. `I can
smell him in my panties and the stockings are rolled the wrong way. I can't
wear these now! He's made me feel dirty,' and I sat down on the bed and let
the tears flow down my cheeks.

     `Well I never,' said Donald, sitting down and taking me into his arms
and began patting me on the shoulder. `I wouldn't have thought

  it. I didn't know, honestly darling. There, there, don't cry.' He looked
around to find something to dry my tears and his hand fell upon the panties
and as he brought them to my face, he realised what he was holding and this
made me cry even more. He flung them to one side and quickly got a clean
handkerchief out of his drawer and started to wipe my eyes. He then cleared
the bed of the things I had thrown there and dumped them in the corner of
the room and then shut the wardrobe door.

     `Come and lie down, you're tired and I can see that this has upset
you.' He unclipped my bra and took it off and put it to one side as I lay
flat on the bed. Then he slowly undid the clips to unroll my stockings and
then it was the suspender belt he took off, adding these to the bra. Then
he started kissing me from my toes right up to my lips, not missing a quick
suck on the pecker on his way up.

     He then got up and quickly took off the last of his clothes and turned
out the light, leaving the landing light on so that we could still just see
one another in the darkened room. He pulled the pillows out from under my
head and helped me lift my hips so that he could put them underneath me. I
lifted my legs straight up and open wide and he moved in between them so
that my heels rested on his shoulders. Looking down my body and over my
erection and balls, I caught sight of the white cream on the end of his
rampant cock before it disappeared from sight below me. Then I felt the
cold cream touch me and I welcomed that against the heat of my body as he
slowly pushed himself into me. He shuffled slightly on his knees as the
back of my legs tightened up against his chest as he put more of himself
inside me, filling me with his love, taking my mind off what Peter had
done. Then with his thighs tight against my bum, he rode me with a gentle
rocking motion, his cock making short thrusts, throbbing all the time to
his heartbeat.

     I motioned towards my erection laying stiff against my stomach, so he
took me in his hand and slowly worked the outer skin up and down my small
hard muscle. His grip was strong but gentle as he moved his hand in time
with his own movement in and out of me, till he could no longer hold
himself back. As he came inside me, I came upon my chest, shooting my come
high and in profusion. As he squeezed the last drops from my penis, I
milked his with my inside muscle, trying to hold him there as he pulled
out, feeling the cold air waft round my backside as he did so.

     He went off and washed himself and I just lay there waiting for him to
come back with a wet flannel for me. He wiped the mess off my chest and
then sucked on my still hard dick, cleaning off the residue with his
tongue. Then he lay down beside me and took me into his arms for me to go
to sleep in the safety of his embrace.

                                                           *

     Next morning I emptied my underwear drawer of things that looked as if
they had been worn by Peter, throwing them in the corner with the other
things from last night. I then had a shower and got dressed in the clothes
I had worn the day before and then I prepared our breakfast. I had cooked
his favourite, boiled eggs, and soldiers for dipping into the runny
yolk. As we ate, I told him what I wanted to do that day, in Trowbridge,
and he said he would come with me. So I phoned for a taxi to come and pick
us up, but till it came, I went and picked some flowers from my
garden. These I took into the cemetery and laid them on the graves of my
family and said my usual prayer.

     Then I went into my house and changed my clothes and did my make-up
and told Ralph and Diane that I was going into town and asked if they
wanted to come too. Both agreed and hurried and got properly dressed and
were in time when the taxi arrived. My first stop was at a caters to
arrange the wedding lunch for the Saturday, an order they were only too
happy to accept. Next stop was the garage to confirm that they had ordered
a Rolls Royce for me, which they had, and that when it arrived, to see Mr
Truell for payment. Then to let the Rev. Sinclair know and he would arrange
for it to be collected by Allen Farthing.

     The next stop was the solicitor's office and Mr Truell. He was very
pleased to see me, his demeanour a far cry from our last meeting, being
most unctuous. We all sat in his office and were served tea and biscuits
while he riffled through his papers, reading and telling us the extent of
the dealings in respect of KuOil.

     `From the sale of Bethune, we bought in small parcels, shares of KuOil
as follows. Six hundred thousand shares three times over at a buying price
of five shillings, five shillings and sixpence and at six shillings per
share. This came to four hundred and ninety five thousand pounds. We had to
buy small to keep the price down but it still rose because of our
purchases.

     We managed to buy to your limit before the news was announced of the
tanker purchase and the formation of their own fleet to ship out the
oil. So with one million eight hundred thousand shares at today's stock
market price, they are now worth four and a half million pounds!' He sat
back with a smug smile on his face as if he had personally achieved this
miracle for me. We all gave a collective gasp at the figure he had just
thrown at us. It was too much to take in, they were just numbers and I
could not get my mind round what that amount of money would look like in
front of me.

     `Er, Mr. Truell, would you like to have a drink with us. I think that
a certain person is badly in need of a drink, no, make that four people are
in need of a drink,' said Donald. In a daze, we went to the nearest pub and
had some stiff drinks and a sandwich each. Then we all started talking at
once and not making much sense at all of what we were saying. I could see
that Donald was happy for me, as were Diane and Ralph and even old Truell
was enjoying himself. Then I took the smile off his face by telling him to
sell what was needed over the next three months. Slowly so as to keep the
price up, and cover what was on the list of things I gave him that I wanted
done for the church and village.

     Mr. Truell started to bluster, but I cut him off at the knees.

     `Mr. Truell, how much commission did I agree to give you for handling
my affairs in respect of the Bethune and KuOil deals?'

     `Half of one percent,' he said quietly.

     `So if my calculations are correct, then KuOil alone has given you at
least twenty odd thousand pounds, if not more, am I right?' Ralph let out a
low whistle as Mr. Truell slowly nodded.

  `Then if I say I want to sell something, then it will be sold Mr. Truell,
will it not?'

     `If you say so Miss Francis,' he said sheepishly.

     `I do so say Mr. Truell, and I'd like to see that all on that list is
handled with the utmost expediency. You have very little time, because I
wish to see it all done by the time I get back from this next voyage which
has a duration of about thirteen weeks. You will see to the builders and
contractors whatever, and Mr. Donald will supervise and report on whether
the work has been carried out to his satisfaction. There will also be other
small items coming through for your attention, Mr. Donald will advise you
as to what they are as they crop up, and I would not like to hear of any
foul ups. Have I made myself clear Mr. Truell?'

     `Yes Miss Francis,' he said.

     `Well I am glad to hear that, and I'm sure that you must now have some
pressing business back in the office that needs your attention.' I smiled
sweetly at him as I said this, and he then stammered out his goodbyes and
left the pub.

     `Christ,' said Ralph, `sorry Donald. Francis, I sure don't want to get
on the wrong side of you in business. You tore the man to shreds there.'

     `I'm sorry and I apologise for that, but he deserved it. I know what I
want and no little man is going to stop me. Now let's cut this out and
enjoy ourselves. Let's have another round.' I had half of our winnings from
the casino in the Bahamas in my bag and it was beginning to burn a hole in
it. We finished our drinks and went on a shopping spree, if that's what you
can call it in Trowbridge. But in spite of the lack of decent shops, we
still outfitted Donald and Ralph in a man's shop, and then made them wait
in a ladies store while Diane and I were attended to. We were loaded down
with lots of goodies and the shops were just coming up to closing time and
we definitely needed a car to take us back home.

     As we approached our lane, I asked the driver to drop Diane and me at
the pub on the corner, and asked Donald and Ralph to see to our things at
the house and then join us. But Donald cried off, saying that he'd had
enough to drink and he still had a sermon to write, and insisted that Ralph
got out too and that he would see to our purchases and pay the driver. So I
gave Donald a kiss and said that we would be back home in time to change
for his evening service.

     We waved him off and went into the pub, but I was going in for more
than just a drink. After we had been served I tackled Dave about the forth
coming wedding of Beatrice and Allen. Yes he had been approached to supply
a couple of kegs of beer and some other drinks, but I told him to forget
about what other people had asked him for. I told him that I wanted a full
bar set up in the hall and all drinks were being paid for by me. This
pleased him immensely and promised to put out the best he could give, and
then gave us another drink on the house.

     It was only when I sat back in my seat, warm and contented with a
drink in my hand and my friends by me did I realise what I had done that
day in town. I had felt and exercised power. Power to dictate to a much
older man and then with some shame, realised that I had also belittled
him. The erection I had first got from the original thought, now wilted
down to its original insignificant size, and also that in future I must be
more diplomatic and sensitive to other people's feelings. Using power as a
force is not the way to get things done, but by talking and bringing them
round to your way of thinking can bring about the desired result; and
eventually have them doing what it is you want with pleasure and apparently
of their own free will.

     Back at the house, I had my shower and began getting dressed. I pulled
on my stockings and fixed the side suspender belt clips to the tops before
clipping up the belt and then fixing the tops of the fronts of the
stockings to the belt, and then standing up to see that they were
straight. I had gotten an erection from the sheer pleasure of donning these
few bits and I looked at myself in the mirror that was fixed to the inside
of the wardrobe door. My pretty face framed by my long blonde hair,
suspender belt and stockings and an erect penis looked back at me as I
twisted and posed myself before this mirror.

     That was when I understood Peter. A lonely man moving from parish to
parish without a permanent person or body to love except his own. If I
could get a thrill from dressing up as I was doing, so he must get the same
feel of sexual excitement as I did by putting on these feminine garments. I
had Donald to help me through my sexual urges, but Peter didn't, so I now
felt pity for him and forgave him for what he had done. I then put my
padded bra on and sat down and did my make-up before selecting my dress for
church.

                                                           *

     I was downstairs in time to see Donald move from the vicarage and go
toward the church for the start of the evening service. Diane and Ralph
were dressed up in their new clothes, and we went off also to the
church. As I sat down in the front pew with the other two beside me, I had
a premonition as to what the sermon would be, and it made me
tremble. Donald had not said a word about what I had said to Mr Truell, but
now I recollected at how he had looked at me, so I knew what he was going
to say and it would be directed at me.

     I was right, for when he stood up at the lectern, he didn't look at me
but at the congregation.

     `Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed
are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

     These are the words according to the gospels of Matthew.' He then went
on to explain the words of these three sayings. The first and third
directed at me, and I felt very small as he spoke of the meaning behind
them. I was glad when the service was over, and as we filed out of the
church, I stopped in front of him at the door.

     `I'm sorry Donald for the way I behaved today, please forgive me.'

     `You understood the sermon then?' he said softly.

     `Yes, and I knew before you started that that was exactly what you
were going to say. I realised what I had done when I was getting dressed
and, for what it's worth, I've also forgiven Peter.'

     `Bless you Francis,' he said as he patted my shoulder, `now go with
the others and I'll be along shortly after I've seen to the church.' I
joined the others who had waited for me, and we went to the house for a
drink before Donald arrived and we could have dinner.

                                                           *

     The Thursday and Friday we lazed about, the three of us with Donald,
bantering about songs and dances that we could put into future shows. We
practised in the classroom during the day and enjoyed Flora's meals and the
drinks in the evening, and then it was Saturday. The day for Beatrice and
Allen to get married. The ceremony wasn't due to start till eleven o'clock,
but I was up at the hall early to see the caterers when they arrived and to
see Dave about the setting up of the bar. I even had a couple of sherries
while I was there, and everything seemed to be well in hand by all
concerned. The hall was gaily decorated and the tables and chairs had been
set out for at least seventy people. It was going to be crowded because the
whole village would be crammed in there later, so I made sure all the
windows were open because it would get rather hot when it was full.

     I went back home and dressed up and stood with Diane and Ralph in the
crowd that was gathering in the churchyard to watch the bride arrive. As
soon as the pony and trap turned into the lane at the top, Allen and the
best man went inside the church, while the rest of us waited to see our
Beatrice in her white wedding dress arrive. She looked lovely and blushed a
bright red as her father helped her down from the polished and gaily
painted dog cart. Everybody clapped as she did so before going into the
church to take their places.

     There were flowers everywhere inside and it made one quite heady from
the mingled scents of all the different varieties of blooms and the
arrangement of them was perfect in the colour co-ordination. The two
families took up the front pews and I sat in the row behind with Diane and
Ralph and looked at Donald standing in front of the altar, waiting to
perform his first marriage ceremony in nearly eighteen years as parish
priest.

     Then the wedding march started to sound throughout the church and all
heads turned to see the bride walk slowly down the aisle on the arm of her
father to stop next to the man who was about to be her husband. I felt a
pang of jealousy as she passed me, her beautiful white dress brushing
against my sleeve, wishing it were me going to stand beside Donald.

     I shook myself to find that the ceremony had started, and within a few
more minutes, I heard Donald pronounce them man and wife. Flora was crying
as was Allen's mother, even I had tears in my eyes. Then the bride and
groom went and followed Donald into the vestry for the signing of the
register, while a general hubbub broke out among the congregation as we
waited.

     It wasn't long before they came out to the appropriate music and they
walked down the aisle, Beatrice smiling shyly, looking radiant in her dress
and Allen looking sheepish in his wedding suit. They went out and the rest
of us followed to watch the photos being taken, first of the bride and
groom and then came the family groups.

     `Come on,' I said to Ralph and Diane, seeing Dave move off up the
lane, `the bar is about to open.' We moved off with quite a few of the
others and headed towards the hall. With a drink in hand we then waited
outside in the lane and watched the procession come up to the hall and go
inside to take their places. The bride and groom and their respective
parents and best man at the cross table at the top, and the rest of us
filling up the other seats.

     As weddings go, and this being the first one I had ever attended, I
thought was very good. The caterers did us proud with the food and the
three tiered cake, as did Dave with his bar, but I thought Donald was best,
but then, I'm biased in that respect. The packed hall clapped and cheered
the best man as he read out the cards and made his speech and we all surged
out after the meal was over to see the two off in the dog cart to go and
get changed for their honeymoon in Blackpool. Then everybody went back into
the hall to drink and finish off the wonderful food. I collared Dave and
told him to close the bar at five, and if anyone was still standing, they
could buy their own in his pub.

     We left then, quite merry and feeling happy for the young couple. I
was glad that it was such a good turn out and that everything seemed to go
off very well, and that we weren't called upon to do a turn on the
stage. Flora had the night off, so if you wanted it, you had to get your
own food that night, but the lunch had been enough, so we didn't bother
with eats.

     The loving was sweet and tender that night though I cried that it
wasn't my wedding night as I lay with Donald. He comforted me with his
gentle caresses and soft kisses and calmed me down enough to go to sleep in
his arms.

                                                           *

     We had less than half the normal congregation on Sunday morning, the
rest still nursing hangovers I didn't doubt. We looked bad enough, but we
did attend, but were glad to get home and go back to bed. The next day was
very depressing because it was our last full day here before leaving for
three and a half months. Donald did his best to cheer us up but this was
the first time that all three of us didn't really want to go back to sea,
but he did manage it by remembering something he was supposed to have told
us when we first got back from the cruise.

     `I just cannot think of any excuse for forgetting to tell you about
something that happened on our last night on board the ship. Do you
remember the elderly couple that kept me talking after your final show
Francis?' I said I did, vaguely.

     `Well he gave me his card and I said that I couldn't speak for you all
there and then, but would talk to you whilst on leave. He wants you all to
appear on television.'

     We looked at each other in amazement, our day suddenly brightening up,
and our faces wearing huge grins.

     `He apparently,' Donald continued, `is a producer for the B.B.C., and
wants you to do a half hour show during your next leave. I told him that
would be around the end of October and he said that would be fine and asked
me if I could pass it on to you. So what do you think?' We broke out of our
shock and all started talking at once, but then remembering Sunday, I kept
quiet until the other two had spoken, knowing that they would let me have
the final decision.

     `I'm all for that!' Ralph said.

     `So am I,' echoed Diane, `what do you say Francis?'

     `What can I say but yes,' grinning at the pleasure on their faces. So
the afternoon was spent working out our schedules and finalised the date,
if acceptable to them, to coincide with Diane and Ralph coming down here
for rehearsals, or rather the day before. I could go up to London and us
all meet there, do the show and stay over for the night, and then back with
me to home. With that sorted out, Donald agreed to act as manager and make
the necessary arrangements with this producer.

     Dinner was lively with talk of what we could and couldn't do, and
having to decide on at least three variations so that they could pick the
one they wanted. We had brandy with our coffee and though I wanted to talk
some more, decided that it was late enough and I wanted to go to bed with
Donald, it being our last night. Our car was booked for ten in the morning,
so Donald and I went over to the vicarage, leaving Diane and Ralph still
talking in the parlour.

     We undressed quickly and got into bed and I didn't need to try and
rouse Donald because he was already rampant and waiting to go. We only
kissed for a few minutes before I rolled over and had the pleasure of
Donald entering me from the rear. I tried to memorise the way he slowly
pushed himself in and the way that his hands held me as he worked his way
in and out, but I lost myself in the sheer joy of him doing it to me. It
was like waves on the shore pushing up onto the beach in time to his
movements.

     He would pulse and throb and beat a tattoo against my soft inner
membranes, sending minute tremors rippling throughout my body as he slid in
and out of me. Then he slammed into me and held me in a crushing grip as I
felt his cock head swell and send out short bursts of semen into me. I fell
forward, squashing my rock hard little penis to the sheet, taking his full
weight as he then lay atop, still working himself with short sharp
thrusts. My body movement rubbed my erection against the sheet making me
come in squishy jets, coating my stomach as well as the sheet with my
sticky flow.

     I held him inside for as long as I could as he kissed and nuzzled the
back of my neck and whispered words of love into my ear. I was so happy to
hear his words as well as bear his weight and feel his hardness inside
me. The ultimate happiness would have been able to suck on a hard cock at
the same time as we both came, feeling that swell and spew out the seed
into my mouth, but you can't have everything, and I was content as I was
there and then.

     After a thorough wash, we lay down in the sixty nine position and just
sucked and licked each other for at least half an hour before turning round
to kiss and cuddle before falling asleep.

                                                           *

     Awake early, I was soon making love to Donald, trying to give him the
pleasure that he gives to me, though I think my little staff did little
more than tickle him, but he still seemed to enjoy me doing it to him. Then
he took me as he did the night before and I loved this man even more, my
heart swelling up to almost bursting point with this love.

     We showered and dressed and had breakfast like any old married couple
do, I buttered his toast and he buttered mine as we then fed each other
across the table. But time marched on and it was time to do my make-up and
prepare myself for leaving. I had to curb my tongue and not act like a
nagging wife as I thought of things that he had to do while I was away, and
not to remind him to do them.

                                                           *

     The car arrived and Donald took my bag down and left it with the
driver to come back to me still inside the house. I didn't want farewells
out in the garden, so we kissed and held each other tight in the hallway,
until with one final long kiss, I broke away and ran down to the car and
got inside. Diane and Ralph joined me, their bags already stowed away in
the boot, and we were off. Beatrice waving from my house and Donald from
his until we turned at the top of the lane and they were lost to sight.

     It always puzzled me as to why we always had to report to the ship
several days before departure. Today was Tuesday and we would sign on in
the afternoon but the ship wouldn't sail till Friday morning. It wasn't as
if we had tasks like helping in the provisioning or the cleaning of cabins,
we just hid ourselves away when we weren't rehearsing. But we got paid, so
there was no point in bucking the system.

     We were soon at the docks and with the driver paid off, we went aboard
and put our bags in our cabins before signing on. My next stop was the
Purser's office where I lodged my money, as I didn't want to leave nearly
five hundred pounds laying loose around the cabin. Then I joined the others
up in the dressing room in the lounge to unpack our trunks and hang up
clothes to get the creases out. There were gin and tonics there too, so we
had drinks while we did this small chore, and that was it till sailing day.

     This day arrived and we did our bit to make the passengers welcome,
though there wasn't anyone of note that I could see. I was in my usual
dress for this job, wearing my leopard brooch as well as the house of Chen
symbol. I didn't bring the palm tree brooch because it would be a
temptation to any thief because it was quite valuable, so it was left at
home in Donald's care. But as neither brooch was acknowledged, I deemed
that we didn't have someone with a past or high up in the kind of finance
that both houses seemed to deal in.

     We didn't do an afternoon show on our sailing day, but began that
night in the main lounge. It was a very responsive audience and it was a
pleasure to sing and dance for them.

     Madeira came and went without us having Donald go ashore and get us
some wine. Our next event was the crossing of the line for which there
wasn't an afternoon performance on the stage, but we were there as the
queen and acolyte with Ralph being the announcer. It was a good turn out
and fun was had by all.

     I knew Donald would be faithful, but I couldn't be as faithful as he
was to me. I needed the feel of a man, both in his arms and inside
me. There was a lack of any decent prospects among the passengers and I
didn't want to start a liaison with any of the crew. I was hoping that
there might be someone coming aboard at Cape Town who might fit the bill as
well as fit me.

     We were two days out from Cape Town when Diane slipped on the
stage. It was during our first half of our evening show and some idiot,
passing the stage while we were dancing, spilt his beer and it splashed
onto the stage. It was just as she was turning, and she stepped onto the
puddle of beer and went sideways, banging her head hard against my knee. I
nearly went down and was just about to leap off the stage at the drunk when
I was pulled back by Ralph, who had immediately left the piano and rushed
over. He pulled me back and so I then turned and helped Diane up from the
floor and supported her to the dressing room.

     Ralph announced that we would be taking our break now and would one of
the stewards please wipe up the spilt beer. He came into the dressing room
as I was just bathing her head and asked how was she.

     `There's no cut but she's got a headache and it looks like it might
bruise, but then it might not. I've put some witch-hazel on it, so it might
be all right. Look, she's not in a fit state to carry on tonight. Now I'll
take her down below and you can change the rest of the program for just us
two, okay?' He agreed and Diane wasn't arguing, so I helped her down below
and got her onto her bunk and gave her two aspirins and a damp cloth on her
forehead and went back up to the lounge. Ralph quickly told me what we
would do for the rest of the show and I just followed his lead. It was only
for an hour and a half, but it was still tiring doing every number one
after the other, and we got a good ovation for finishing the show.

                                                           *

     We collected two drinks from the bar when we finished and took them
into the dressing room. There, with the door locked, I dropped my dress to
the floor to wipe myself down from the heat and sweat. Now Ralph had seen
me like this before, just in my underwear without panties, but I caught
Ralph looking at me as I glanced into the mirror as I wiped under my
arms. He'd already taken his coat off and his shirt was wide open as he
wiped off his stage make-up. I then deliberately bent over the chair to
look closer at my eyes in the mirror, watching him as I did so, and saw his
eyes fasten on my bum, and start to get an erection. I then went and moved
behind him as he sat in his chair, and I leaned over and rested my chin on
his shoulder so that we were cheek to cheek.

     `Ralph,' I said softly, our faces touching and our eyes looking at
each other in the mirror, `I'm getting desperate. Would you please fuck
me?' Our eyes held for a few moments before he nodded so I then turned my
head and kissed him gently on the cheek. `Thanks.'

     I then moved away from the chair so that he could stand up and I
helped him undo his trousers and as they dropped to the floor, his erection
sprang up into view.

     `It's a beauty you have there Ralph,' I said, giving it a stroke
before turning round and pushing the cream towards him, bent over the
chair. I liked the mirror there because I watched him put some cream on the
end of his cock and then moving towards my rear. It disappeared from sight
as I felt it slide into me, his hand partly obscuring my view as he pushed
himself into me.

     I gave out a groan at the pleasure of a hard cock entering me to quell
the smouldering fire deep within me. He was rougher than Donald was, but I
didn't care as I was being reamed by a hard piece of male flesh. He pounded
at me for only a couple of minutes before he stiffened and held me tight as
he came, sending his load deep inside me. He stopped for a couple of
heartbeats before giving me another couple of quick thrusts before pulling
out. His face was flushed and he was breathing heavily as he stood there,
his hand on the dressing table as I straightened up and got some tissues to
wipe him before using a wet cloth, and then cleaning myself.

     `You ought to do some exercising,' I said, giving his stomach a pat,
`you're all out of breath,' and then gave him a quick peck on the
lips. `Thanks Ralph, I needed that as I also think you did too.' He grinned
at me and started to pull up his trousers and doing up the buttons. I
finished my drink and then put my dress back on and when we were both
ready, we went down below to our cabins.

     He came into ours first, to see how Diane was, and she said that she
was feeling fine now. She had dropped off to sleep and that had helped,
along with the aspirins. I put a fresh damp cloth on her forehead and a
couple of minutes later, Ralph said goodnight and went off to bed. I got
undressed and put my robe on to go for a shower, but Diane asked if she
could have a drink before I went. Well why not, aspirin or not, I poured
her out one and then went for my shower.

     Back from my shower refreshed and fully serviced, I had a drink myself
and got Diane off the bed and helped her undress. I couldn't help but give
her nipples a kiss after I had taken off her bra and then put her clothes
away while she got back onto her bunk. She lay on the top covers, naked as
we both did in the tropics and I hung up my dressing gown and was about to
get onto my bunk when Diane spoke.

     `Francis,' her voice was low as she spoke my name, `would you get into
bed with me tonight?' I didn't need asking twice.

     `What's up darling?' I asked as I lay down beside her. She lay her
head on my shoulder and started to cry. I pulled her to me and cuddled her
as she sobbed.

     `Ralph and I had a spat just before we left home, and we haven't
really spoken to each other properly since then. I need a man now and
again, the same as you do, and we haven't done it since then.' No wonder
Ralph was so easily aroused and ready to fuck me, though I hadn't noticed
anything between them. I had a hard on and let her feel it as I rolled
myself closer to her, kissing away her tears as I stroked her back and
shoulder.

     `I'm here if you want me. I'll always be here, even if it's just to
soak my shoulder and hair with your tears,' I said to her with a smile in
my voice.

     `You know I love you more than I love Ralph,' she said, her voice
muffled in my hair. I liked that, and continued to stroke and caress her
bare flesh. I rolled her onto her back so that I could still kiss her but
stroke her breast at the same time. Her nipple came up as hard as a rock
under my ministrations, and I moved my head down and suckled on it. Then it
was downhill from there, kissing her lower chest and licking the underside
of her breasts before teasing her navel with my tongue. Then tracing that
very thin line of hair down to the pubic hairs that I parted and made a
path with my tongue and lips.

     Her legs parted in anticipation and I was soon sucking and tickling
her clit, holding open the lips of her labia with my fingers, using them
too as I excited her. First one finger and then my tongue and then two
fingers were inserted into her vagina, feeling, stroking and widening her,
my thumb rolling over and over her clit. She began twitching and moaning
and starting to pull at my hair as she started to reach her peak of
orgasm. I moved quickly then and covering her body with mine and entered
her, the juices making the entry so easy. Her legs came up over my hips and
the ankles locked in the small of my back as I started to fuck her. She
gave out a cry and came immediately, but carried on rocking herself
downwards to my upward thrusts and came for a second time as I too shot my
load. Now I really had been fully serviced in all departments, and as I
supported my light weight frame off of her body with my elbows, I found
that I liked my small cock in that warm slippery cavern. But I revealed my
baser instincts by then slipping out of her and going down on her again, to
suck out both of our juices from her vagina, and revelled in the sticky
mess in and about my mouth. It was nectar to me, the fluid from a woman and
to have it mingled with my own was heaven.

     This act also proved that I was definitely getting a slight fuzz on my
upper lip as the juices had stuck and I could now feel it as I tried to
clean myself with my tongue. I decided then that I would have to seriously
have a talk with a beautician in the very near future in respect of somehow
getting rid of it without actually shaving. Once a man puts a razor to his
face, that is his cross to bear for the rest of his life unless he lets it
grow, and I didn't want to become known as the bearded lady. So this was
something else I had to worry about to keep up the pretence of my being a
woman.

                                                           *

     Then we arrived in Cape Town! What a sight that was. Table Mountain
lived up to its name, covered with its snowy white tablecloth as the sea
mist slowly disappeared as we got nearer to the land. It can only really be
appreciated when seen from the sea, to see the whole expanse of mountain
rearing itself up from the land with the blanket of cloud over the very
top. The ship's side was crowded with passengers to see this and watch as
we entered port in the early hours of daylight.

     We docked during breakfast, and soon there was a steady stream of
passengers going ashore to visit and sightsee. We three wanted to be among
them, so with our breakfast over, we quickly got ourselves ready to
go. Diane got to the mirror first, so I decided to use my other handbag, so
I transferred my I.D. card and purse and lipstick to this other one. The
one I'd almost emptied out, I left on my bunk as she was just getting up
from the chair. I carried the full bag over and put it down at the side and
started to see to make up my face before going ashore. I used what was out
on the dresser for this purpose, and when I was satisfied with my
appearance, stood up and announced that I was ready to take Cape Town by
storm.

     Diane and I left the cabin and went along and collected Ralph. Then
just as we were about to go, Diane sneezed and rummage in her bag for a
tissue. She couldn't find one and I said that I had some and then realised
that I had left my bag behind in the cabin.

     `No problem,' Diane said, `I'll get it. I want some tissues
anyway. You carry on and I'll catch you up.' So Ralph and I carried on to
go topside as Diane went back to the cabin for her tissues and my bag. She
caught up with us on the gangway and passed me my bag as we went down to
the quay. A taxi had just pulled up and one of the passengers was just
about to get in when he saw us. He recognised us and asked if we would like
to share his taxi into town. This we instantly agreed upon and piled in
with him for the trip into the city.

     He dropped us off near the centre and I said that the first thing I
would like would be a cup of coffee, as I'd only had one cup at breakfast
time. They agreed and we went into the nearest hotel, which was called the
Kimberley. We went into the lounge and sat down and ordered three coffees
and then talked about what we should do now that we were in town. The
coffees came and I opened my bag for my purse to pay for them, and found
that Diane had picked up the bag I had left on my bunk, the one that I'd
taken my purse from, not the one by the dressing table.

     `Shit!' I exclaimed, slamming the bag down on the table, knocking my
cup flying and spilling coffee down the front of my dress. `Shit again!' as
I tried to push the wet coffee off my lap. A waiter came over and mopped up
the mess I had made and said that the cup must have been wet and promised
to bring a fresh cup.

     `I'm sorry,' I said to them, `but I've got the wrong bag. My purse and
money are still on the ship. Look I'm just going to wash my hands and then
I'll get a taxi back to the ship and come straight back. Okay?' They nodded
their agreement, so I went off to the ladies powder room and set my bag
down on the edge of the wash basin surround as I washed my hands. I pulled
out a paper hand towel and as I wiped my hands, decided that I'd better
have a pee first before going back to the ship. Instead of throwing the
towel into the bin by the side of the basin, took it into the cubicle with
me. It's easy when you're dressed like I was. It was just a matter of
pulling up my dress and sitting down on the seat. I found it far easier to
have a piss this way instead of standing up and holding my dick because the
hem of the dress could easily get wet. I still tried to wipe at the coffee
stains with this towel as I heard the outer door slam open. There was a
small noise and then I heard it slam shut again. Finished, I flushed the
toilet and went back out to pick up my handbag which I had left out there.

     It was gone from where I had left it.

     `Shit!' I said for the third time that morning, and threw my screwed
up towel into the basket. As I did so, I saw something black in there, and
putting my hand in, pulled out my bag. I felt relief though there was
nothing of value in it, it was just the fact of losing it that made the
heart leap. Whoever had rushed in and rushed out, must have knocked my bag
into the waste paper bin.

     I smoothed down my dress and with a quick check of my hair in the
mirror, went out and hailed a taxi. We were only about ten minutes from the
city centre, so I was soon at the ship, and telling the driver to wait,
raced aboard. I threw the handbag into my wardrobe and pulled out a clean
dress into which I quickly changed. Then picking up the other bag, checking
that my purse was in there, went back down to the taxi to take me back to
the hotel.

     I paid off the taxi with money I had changed on the ship and was back
in my seat in a total of thirty minutes. My coffee was now cold, but I
drank it and then I paid the bill and we left and went for a walk
round. Having walked around for about an hour, I was still thirsty and now
a little hungry, so we stopped at an outdoor restaurant where we sat down
and ordered our lunch. For the first time, we were about to have a South
African meal, but it had to wait, because before the meal could be brought
to the table, my handbag was snatched.

     It happened so quickly that all I could tell the police down at the
station was that it was a black hand that reached out and took it. People
had been passing by when suddenly, this hand grabbed the bag and was
gone. I had shouted and jumped up, but I couldn't even say in which
direction the thief had gone.

     All three of us had moved out onto the sidewalk, but couldn't see
anyone running amongst the people going about their normal business, and
this is what we told the police. We had been in the hot stuffy police
station for over an hour, giving our worthless statements, each one being
written down in long hand and then they had us sign them.

     `This is the fourth bag snatch today,' the officer told us, `so don't
hold out much hope for getting it back Miss Lyon'

     `Hey sarge, did I hear you say Lyon?' This was from an officer further
down the counter, and he held up a black handbag. `This has just been
handed in, and there's an I.D. card inside of the name Lyon.'

     `Pass it over. Where was it found?'

     `Couple of blocks down. It was tossed out of a car, no number. This
woman picked it up and brought it in. No purse though.'

     `Is this your bag Miss Lyon? The photo looks like you,' he said. I
took the bag from him and sure enough, it was mine. My make-up bag and card
were inside, but as the other man had said, no purse. I told him it was
mine and he accepted that.

     `Sorry about the purse. I think you'll have to write that one off.' I
thanked him for his time, and I think the others were as glad to get out of
that hot house as I was.

     `Well that was great,' said Ralph. `First you throw coffee and now
your bag's snatched, what have you got planned next?'

     `How much money was in the purse?' Diane asked.

     `The first sensible question. About forty pounds.'

     `Aw shit!' Diane exclaimed.'

     `I've already said that three times since we came ashore, and that was
before the bag was taken,' I said, giving out a hollow laugh.

     `What do we do now?' Ralph asked.

     `Well I'm hungry and I need a drink and I've got no money to buy one
or the fucking other,' I said angrily, `If it's all the same to you, I'd
rather go back to the ship and have a bloody good cry.'

     `I'll come back with you,' Diane said, taking my arm in hers and
giving mine a squeeze, `and we can cry into a stiff gin and tonic and raid
the galley.' I laughed and squeezed her arm back.

     `I might as well go back with you. It won't be much fun on my own,'
Ralph said.

                                                           *

     So instead of taking a taxi, we walked the two miles to the ship and
were glad to get into the cool interior. Even better was getting into the
cabin and having a large drink poured out as we rested our feet, Ralph
doing the honours.

     `South Africa sucks,' I said, taking a large mouthful of my drink. `So
what about the eats then?'

     `I'll go and get some,' Diane said, finishing her drink and leaving
the cabin, as I got up and poured out some more drinks.

     `I understand you and Diane have had a spat,' I said, passing him his
drink.

     `Not really, nothing serious.'

     `Ralph, we can't afford to have problems between us, we are a
group. Why don't you apologise and kiss and make up, please.'

     `It was as much her fault as mine,' he said with a petulant look on
his face. I moved round and knelt down in front of him, placing my hands on
his knees.

     `Ralph, be the gentleman and apologise, please! Whatever it was,
please forget it and let's be a team, the three of us. Please?'

     `Can we then play cards?' he grinned.

     `You cheeky monkey,' I said, laughing and giving him a slap on the
knee before getting up and sitting back in my chair. `You'll have to ask
Diane, after you've apologised.' She came in shortly with a big tray of
food.

     `How did you get all this?' I asked, taking the tray from her and
passing across her drink.

     `I told the cook that you'd give him a blow job the next time you were
down there.'

     `Ha! That means I can't go to the galley anymore. You've just voted
yourself to be the chief food getter of this cabin.'

     `Oh shit. I didn't think of that.'

     `Er, Ralph has something he wants to say to you,' I said.

     Ralph took her hand and sat her down on his lap, and it was a lovely
apology that he made to her. She was delighted and gave him a kiss on the
cheek.

     `Can we play cards now?'

     `You cheeky thing,' she said, giving him a friendly slap.

     `It was Francis's idea,' Ralph laughed.

     `No it bloody wasn't. I just said that you'd have to ask Diane.'

     `Okay,' she grinned, jumping up from his lap and quickly started
removing her bedding and then pulling the mattress down to the floor. I
sighed and got up and did the same to my bed. When the game, after much
laughter, came to an end, Ralph, for the first time, didn't mind being the
meat in the sandwich. I loved being the first to put myself inside him.

     I had no wish go ashore in Durban, though Diane and Ralph went, and
came back disappointed. But only three hours ashore didn't give them enough
time to explore. We thought that the next stop was going to be Mauritius,
but I had originally looked at an outdated brochure, so we bypassed it and
went on to Singapore.

     It was hot and humid, and it's this humidity that is so strength
sapping, leaving you very wilted. It helps the vegetation grow though,
making it very lush and prolific, the flowers bigger and the trees
stronger. On entering this heat, the first place we aimed for was Raffles
Hotel and getting a cooling drink. Then we hired a taxi for a complete tour
of the island and visiting the infamous Changi jail where so many Europeans
were incarcerated during the occupation by Japanese forces. That place
alone was worth the trip ashore.

     Next we arrived in Hong Kong and I had my doubts about going ashore,
remembering my last trip and seeing a man killed. But that was nearly a
year ago and I had promised Diane that I would get her a cheongsam. We had
arrived at lunchtime and were due to stay for twenty four hours, so I
decided to go ashore with them. We were just leaving the cabin when the
strap on my handbag snapped as it got caught on the door handle.

     `Shit,' I exclaimed, and then I remembered the bag that I'd thrown
into the wardrobe. `Look you two go up top and wait, I'll only be a couple
of minutes,' I said to Ralph and Diane, and went back into the cabin. I
emptied out my things onto the bed from this bag and then got the other one
out of the wardrobe. I knew it was empty, because I'd transferred the
contents to my other bag in Cape Town, but I automatically turned it upside
down and out fell a leather pouch. This hadn't been in there before, but
then, neither had the other things that had come out also. I stood there
puzzled for a moment until the light began to dawn. I had picked this bag
up from the waste paper towel basket in the Kimberly Hotel in Cape Town
thinking that it had been mine that had been knocked into the basket.

     I had assumed that when I was in the cubicle in the ladies room that
it had been my bag, because I knew that I had left mine alongside the
basin. Whoever had dashed in, must have thought that my bag was theirs,
grabbed it and rushed out again.

     Then there was the bag snatching incident an hour or so later. The
policeman in the station had said something about mine being the fourth one
that day, so maybe that's why they were being stolen; for this leather
pouch. It wasn't very large and it had a leather drawstring tied in a bow
to keep it closed. I undid the bow and emptied the contents onto the bed
and gasped at what fell out.

     Diamonds!

     Uncut, but still diamonds in their raw state. I trembled as I saw them
and wondered what had I got myself into this time. I poured myself out a
drink and nearly choked on it for I'd forgotten to put any tonic in with
it. I then poked about the stones and picked up the biggest, which was
about the size of a walnut and wondered what it would be like when it was
cut and polished. They ranged in size from that walnut down to two about
the size of a silver three penny piece. I counted forty two as I slowly put
them back into the pouch and tied it up again.

     What to do now was the thought running through my mind as I drank the
last of my drink, choking again on the raw spirit. This was almost as bad
as the package last time here in Hong Kong. But then I had Lee Chen to give
that to. Lee Chen! He would know what to do, but how did I contact him. I
knew he lived on the island, but I had no means of contacting him. But I
did! Didn't I phone before? That was it, so putting the pouch under my
pillow, raced up top.

     `There you are! You said only a minute,' Diane reproached me.

     `Sorry,' I said, slightly out of breath, `but I can't come with
you. You'll have to go ashore without me. I can't explain now, but I've
some very important things to do. You go ahead and get measured for that
dress and we'll collect and pay for it in the morning before we sail.' I
started to push them towards the gangway unheeding their protestations
telling them that I'd explain later, but not to expect me back till the
morning. This they didn't like either, but with shrugs of the shoulders,
they finally left me alone on the ship.

     I then went to the Purser's office and got the number of the land line
and then asked for a number to be called and I waited at the booth for the
connection to be made.

     `Francis for Carlo,' I said to the Italian query.

     `Oh hello Francis,' the male voice switching to perfect English, `what
can we do for you?'

     `Could you please get in touch with Lee Chen here in Hong Kong. It's
very urgent.'

     `Give me the number you are at and can you tell me anything about it?'

     `Not on an open line and it's for the ears of Lee Chen only. I must
see him but do not know of any other way of contacting him, I'm sorry.' I
then gave him the ship's telephone number, being prepared this time.

     `Don't worry Francis. Stay by the phone and someone will call you
within the hour.' Then came the burr to tell me he had broken the
connection. I went to the office and said that a call would be coming
through for me and I would be waiting outside. I fretted in the passageway
of the office, walking up and down for half an hour before a head poked out
of the office telling me that a caller was on the line.

     `Hello,' I said breathlessly into the receiver.

     `Hello Francis. This is Kim Chen; we met briefly last time you were
here. I understand you wish to see my father?'

     `Yes Kim. It is important and I may be in some trouble again and the
only person who can help me is your father.'

     `Can you tell me what it is about?'

     `Not on an open line I can't.'

     `Okay. There will be a car at the gangway of your ship in, say, forty
five minutes. It will take you to the launch and I will meet you on the
island.' He gave me the make of car and registration number and then rang
off.

     I rushed down below and had a quick shower and put on my pale blue
cheongsam with my leopard brooch fixed above the left breast next to the
Chen House embroidered symbol, and then sat and made up my face in the
Eurasian fashion that Wen Chi showed me. Satisfied with my effort and after
a quick brush of my hair, I put everything back in the Cape Town handbag,
including the leather pouch and then placed the bag inside a brown paper
bag I found in the cabin. I then went topside and saw that the car was
waiting for me at the bottom of the gangway. I scuttled down as fast as my
high heels would let me and got into the car beside an obvious bodyguard, a
heavy brute of a man with an ugly scar running down his left cheek from
some knife fight.

     It was only a few minutes and then we were out of the car and got
aboard the waiting launch to be whisked across the bay to Hong Kong
Island. There was Kim waiting beside the car for me and he bowed as I
approached and I bowed back to him before getting into the car. He politely
asked after my health and that it was a pleasure to see me again etc, in
small talk till we drove into the grounds of his house and the magnificent
view again of the sea and harbour.

                                                           *

                                             To be continued.

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