Chapter 5: Disrupted

“This is quite a mess you have made, Captain.”

“I made a mess, Mr Tynsall? That is a rather bold unfair statement!”

“True, never-the-less.”

“Did or did I not warn you month’s before we sailed, you should apply for work visas for all the crew without delay because it takes months to get them? Didn’t you tell me, you had important contacts among high level officials assuring you we would have no problems regarding the lack of work visas?”

“We discussed something about visas but I don’t recall precisely those things being said.”

“Your poor wife. You probably forget your anniversary and her birthdays too!”

“I have warned you in the past not to insult me, Captain. You will never receive a work visa in Nigeria under the current administration and that is a direct consequence of your insulting attitude. The pipeline company is bringing over their own four point captain. You will return to Abidjian until I decide what to do with you. Stay aboard the Appeal to Heaven as Tiger’s guest for the meanwhile. You will be without salary until you have an employed position again, on one of my other boats.”

“No thanks. I’ll pass on our ungenerous offer.”

“You are in no position to refuse, Captain.”

“My contract requires I be paid everyday until I’m on US soil again. If you don’t want to pay me, you must fly me home.”

“You are a valuable employee, a flawed personality, but a brilliant manager. I have no intention of losing you.”

“I have no intention of staying with you without a salary. Pay me or buy my ticket home.”

“You are not in a position to dictate terms, can’t you understand?”

“You are the one who is refusing to understand reality, George. I will board a plane to the states tomorrow, if I choose.”

“You will have to buy the ticket out of your own pocket if you do.”

“No, George. I have your surety money in my pocket. I’ll spend that.”

“That’s petty cash belonging to the ship. You signed for it. You can’t keep or steal it, or I’ll have you arrested for grand larceny.”

“Wrong George. Petty cash isn’t mentioned on the receipt I signed. What is written is, I ackowledge receipt of surety funds for security of payment of wages and transportation costs. That’s what my copy reads, and we both signed both copies. Yours too.”

“I’m TELLING you NOW! That money is the vessel’s petty cash fund and you WILL turn it over to the new captain when he arrives. I will instruct him to seize it by force if necessary.”

“Bye George. See you in court.”

Well that tears it.

“Hey Warren, I’m unemployed, and free as a bird. What are you and Francine going to do?”

“When are you leaving, boss? We go when you go.”

“Not today. We’re all still on payroll today. Let’s thaw out some of Mr. Tynsall’s imported American steaks, smoked sausages, and shrimps and fire up the grill? Thaw out a Virginia ham for later and to make sandwiches for the road tomorrow! What d’ya say? Should we buy one case of beer? Or two?”

“And girls for Enrique and you! I’ve got Francine.”

“Enrique? Are you available for a beer run? Pick out a nice selection of honey’s and invite them to the boat too. Half dozen girls should do. And THREE! Make it three cases of beer. Here’s the money.”

“Young girls, Capitan? How young?”

“Pick one special one for yourself. The rest, grown women, no kids.”

‘Francine? Will you make us some potato salad if I make the cole slaw? Warren? Are there any more of those gallon cans of molasses baked beans remaining in dry stores? Or did we eat them all?”

“All gone, boss. Plenty of Pork-N-Beans, in all sizes of cans.”

“Any molasseses?”

“Will Steen’s syrup do?”

“Guess it will have to. We’ll doctor up the Pork-N-Beans and make them into baked beans.”

“Won’t be the same.”

“Have a little faith! Maybe they’ll be an improved baked beans?”

“Are we doing deviled pickled eggs, too? I don’t want to leave my pickled eggs for those new hard legs.”

“Sure, Chief. Let’s eat up all your secret recipe pickled eggs before we go! Or, to be nasty, you could leave a scarce few. Cruel to tempt the FNGs to enjoy them only once and never again have another opportunity.”

“That’s just plain mean, boss!”