Escape Read Online Free Page B

The barber looked at him in astonishment.
    â€œDon’t you know?” the man said rather rudely. “Don’t you know about the soap ration? No one has had a shave at a barbers for two years!”
    James gave an embarrassed shrug, and fled from the shop in a near panic, certain that everyone in the street was looking at him.
    Feeling flustered, he booked himself into a hotel, where he left his suitcase, and headed for the docks. Here things looked up. The first thing he saw on the quayside were two Swedish ships. But between him and them were guarded dock gates.
    A guard stood at one side of the road, so James followed a large truck which was going into the docks, taking care that he stayed on the other side of it from the guard. Once on the quayside he walked up the gangplank of the nearest Swedish ship, and headed for the crew quarters. The ship was taking on a cargo of coal, and coal dust hung in the chilly winter air, making him cough.
    James could hear Swedish voices coming from a cabin, and knocked on the steel door. He walked in and saw two men sitting at a table sipping coffee. They looked up expectantly. Then one of them smiled and spoke to him in excellent English.
    â€œRoyal Navy, I believe. I’d recognize your uniform a mile away!”
    James laughed. He was relieved that the man was so friendly.
    â€œYes,” said James. “It’s not much of a disguise. I’m actually supposed to be Ivan Bagerov of the Royal Bulgarian Navy!”
    The men invited James to share a cup of coffee with them, and he told them his story, and asked if they would take him to Sweden.
    The man who spoke English gave a sorry shrug.
    â€œLook my friend, I’d love to help, but it can’t be done. When this coal is loaded into the hold, we’ve got several German dock hands coming on board to refuel the ship. They’re bound to see you on board, and if they suspect you’re a stowaway, then we’ll all be arrested. You can see for yourself that the ship’s just too small for there to be anywhere to hide you.”
    James was crestfallen. The man had been so friendly he felt sure he would help him. He had even begun to think his ordeal was almost over.
    â€œPlease,” he begged. “I’ve been on the run for three days now, and this is the first time I’ve felt safe. There must be somewhere I can hide?”
    But the Swede had made up his mind. He spoke firmly, in a tone that made it plain that there was nothing more to discuss.
    â€œI’d like to help you, but I certainly don’t want to end up in a concentration camp. Look over there,” he said, pointing out of the cabin porthole. “That ship is heading for Sweden, too. It’s leaving any minute, so try your luck there.”
    That was that. James thanked the man and got up to leave. Standing on the deck, he surveyed the route down the gangplank and onto the other ship. Having felt so safe and near to success mere minutes ago, the trip between this ship and the next seemed terribly dangerous, and a huge unreachable distance. James’s nerve was finally going.
    As he walked down the plank, he saw to his horror that the other ship was about to leave the quayside. James ran, but he was too late. For one crazy moment he thought he could just leap on board, but he was sure he would be spotted and the boat would be stopped before it left German waters.
    â€œRight,” he said to himself, “back to the hotel, and try again tomorrow.” But now, dispirited and exhausted, James became careless. He did not bother to hide from the guard at the entrance of the dock, and he was spotted and stopped. Perhaps his unshaven appearance gave him away, for this time the Ivan Bagerov story did not work. The guard insisted that James go with him to the local police station to have his papers checked more thoroughly.
    There was nothing James could do but go. Besides, he was not too worried. There was still a