Chapter 27

Darwin is an interesting place ... and like all interesting places there's places one can go in perfect safety ... and there's places the constabulary go in pairs ... with the patrol car doors locked. The wharfs and the area behind weren't the most friendly places in the world.

It's like Seattle. It's nearly impossible to go much farther west without having a boat or being a REALLY good swimmer. For years, Seattle had the reputation of being the bum magnet off the US. Forever told to, 'Move along ... we don't need your kind, ' the down on their luck, the uneducated, the unemployable kept moving ... Seattle became a haven of last resort. There's no where left to go.

Darwin was like that before the war and the whores and the bullies propagated ... the waterfront wasn't the best place in the world.

The Penny was moved from dockage to mooring ... to make room for the tourists. Andrea and company were going to be there until the ROV was fixed ... and the baby was born ... and that might be as soon as three months but not longer than five.

Houston was going to have to MAKE the parts before they could send them and the technicians out to OZ.

Yup ... stuck.

"Where did the cat come from?" asked Andrea.

Pyewacket stopped and stalked back. Andrea was sniffed ... rubbed ... circled ... before Pye decided. She leaped. Andrea was surprised but used to a ship load of cats. She caught the levitating Pye. Nose to nose ... each sniffing the other ... Junior almost laughing..."Cats ... both of them," she said.

'My name is Pyewacket, Junior is my pet ... I am magick. My spirit is as old as the Egyptian kings. I was ... before the Pharaoh. The Pharaohs are gone but I am.

'There are denizens of the Dark here. I go before ... I go after ... they are gone and you are safe. It is my calling.'

"Junior! Did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Talk in my head."

"Nope ... Oh ... Pyewacket ... she does that ... you hear her too?"

Andrea nodded, still holding the cat.

David haltingly confessed that he did too.

Connie tootled her fingers, "Me too. Thought I was going nuts."

"Well, we need to go back to the boat. Brownings all around. Coming, Bill?"

' 'SammataU? don't trust me?' thought Pye.

"No, Pyewacket. Thank you for the warning ... Just in case ... you understand?" Andrea looked up. Bill was looking like he was looking at a mad woman.

"Cats ... did you know cats have over 900 different sounds ... almost a language?"

"We left a boat load of cats in Hawaii. Angel and Angela have theirs ... I think Felix has his ... and Box is somewhere on the boat. Box is the cat we picked up in Mexico ... she has broken ears," explained David.

"Bill?"

"Yes?"

"I'm Junior ... Princess Wendolyn Elizabeth Wanzor Austin ... the Third. What is your last name?"

"Tindle ... Bill Tindle ... William Tindle. Am I supposed to bow?"

"Oh, please ... just once ... my brothers won't ... for all I'm the Heir Apparent."

"I'm pleased to meet you," he bowed.

"I'm pleased to meet you, Mr. Tindle." Junior performed a perfect court curtsy. "How was that?"

Tindle was astonished, David applauded ... a golf clap but an applause just the same.

"I practiced for days ... I hope I get to meet the Queen." Junior had diverted Bill's attention from Pyewacket to herself.

By now, they were back to the Marina. The Avon hard bottom was waiting in the tender slip. They motored out to the Penny and dressed for the occasion.

The occasion being in harms way.

Greenish grey one piece coveralls with a plethora of zippered pockets, greenish grey webbing, maroon beret and boots with spats were winter gear ... the same but coverall shorts for summer. Browning 9mm sidearms in webbing holsters with three spare magazines were the weapon authorized by the Ambassador. Rank badges ... including Midshipman for Connie and Junior ... they were, after all ... volunteers. They carried a dirk ... and watches ... never forget the watches.

They were not a patrol boat and therefore abstained from the disruptive pattern so favored by those who go in harms way ... guarding the coasts from all and sundry ... sundry being gun runners, drug smugglers and human traffickers.

Pyewacket led the way. Even the dogs shied away.

Passage out of the wharfs achieved, they took a taxi to the nearest Holden dealer and dickered. No one seemed really interested in meeting their price so they walked across the street to the Range Rover dealership and concluded a purchase of a one year old repossession ... for cash ... gold. Very old gold ... coin of the realm of 1810 ... the Penny having several tons as ballast.