Francis

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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