Flight to the Lonesome Place Read Online Free

like a frightened shadow in the opposite direction.
    On his right the bridge made a huge, glittering arc across the sky. Directly ahead was the dark area he had noticed earlier. He thought the street would continue on through it, but it came to an abrupt end and he found himself stumbling along a path winding treacherously over broken ground between piles of rubble.
    This obviously was not the right way to the wharf. But to find the main approach in the dark might cost him time he couldn’t afford to lose. Besides, he could see the glow of lights from his destination some hundreds of yards straight in front of him.
    Ronnie paused just long enough to take a small flashlight from his bag. With its help he hastened onward, running whenever he could. Presently he crossed railroad tracks, and suddenly found his way barred by a string of freight cars. He scrambled under the first car, and saw he was close to the long loading platform at the rear of the wharf’s warehouse. It was the scene of loud and vast activity. On the other side of it the Cristobal Colón was still being loaded.
    He slipped his flashlight into his jacket pocket, watched his chance, and managed to climb upon the platform without anyone’s seeming to notice him. His first thought was to dart through the nearest huge doorway, and try to slip unseen around the piles of freight to the dock. Then he realized he would attract far less attention if he ignored everyone, and headed boldly for the ship as if he had a perfect right to go aboard.
    The warehouse appeared to be acres in extent. He had never been in one before, and every few paces he was forced to leap away from one of the numerous little darting machines trundling freight to the shouting gangs outside. The noise and confusion grew as he neared the dock, and there it became bedlam. With the ship looming before him he stopped, momentarily bewildered by the racket and the swirling activity around him.
    There was a yell, and a gloved hand jerked him away from a dipping cargo sling that could have brained him. A man who might have been a foreman said, “Watch it, boy! What are you doing here anyway? Are you one of the passengers?”
    â€œY-yes, sir,” Ronnie gulped.
    â€œThen get aboard before you get killed.” The man raised his arm and shouted above the din, “Hold it, Mike! Let this kid up the accommodation ladder.”
    Ronnie swallowed and darted across the dock. Hesitantly he started up the long, iron steps suspended from the vessel’s superstructure. He swallowed again when he saw the burly figure in a white jacket waiting at the head of the ladder watching him curiously. If only he had been a little more careful, and waited for the right moment, he could have gone up the ladder unnoticed. But once on deck …
    He fought down his sudden terror as he reached the top of the ladder, nodded to the jacketed man, and managed his best smile.
    The man surprised him by smiling back and saying pleasantly, “Welcome aboard, son! I’m the chief steward. Getting here a little late, aren’t you?”
    â€œI—I had an errand to run,” Ronnie found himself saying. “Didn’t they tell you?”
    â€œMaybe they told Josip. He’s the cabin steward. Have you met him yet?”
    â€œNo, sir.”
    â€œWell, Josip’s new. Our regular man’s in the hospital. But Josip will take care of you. If you want anything, just ask him.”
    â€œYes, sir. Are—are there many passengers this trip?”
    The burly man shook his head. “Too early in the season. You folks will probably have your side of the boat deck all to yourselves.”
    â€œBoat deck? Is that the one the staterooms are on?”
    â€œRight. It’s just above this one.”
    Ronnie thanked him, turned, and saw the companionway leading upward. He climbed thoughtfully to the next deck. He had no plan except to hide until the vessel was well out to sea. After