Introduction

This chapter is one of thirty-six and is 6880 words out of 135459 Words so far as the story is ongoing. This chapter, if you like, is a mini story of the whole story as on the sea voyage the past life of J J Lacey is revealed by a passenger visiting the high commissioner in Singapore. There are true life revelations in it, only I'll not tell you which ones.  

Chapter 26.

After leaving the Navy, JJ emigrates to Australia. This is the sea voyage.

 

 Twelve on the dot, my friend the Admirals car pulled into the car park. Sid put my luggage into the boot, and I got in the back with the Admiral, we greeted each other warmly but hardly spoke on the hour drive to Southampton docks. I was due to board the ship by two, so after handshakes from him and Sid, and with a quick check at customs. I boarded the liner at one forty-five and shown my quarters for the voyage, which was a shared cabin. His gear was already in the cabin, but he was not, and he had already picked his bed, by putting his case on it, it made no odds to me, one bed was as good as another I just hoped he didn't snore.

 

I left the cabin to explore and find my way around, and to see what amenities were onboard. I had been given a plan of the ship's layout when I boarded, and in it were stipulated no-go areas, like the bridge and engine room, crew quarters and workspaces. Of course, if you were not first-class passengers, certain parts of the ship reserved for first-class only were off-limits to the rest of us. When I found the tiny gym, there was someone in there fiddling with a circuit board, who said the gym could only be used, with written permission and then under supervision.

 

 "Do I get permission from the P, T, I or the captain, and does it open twenty-four hours?" I asked and he finally looked up at me, from what he was doing.

 

 "What's a P, T, I?" he asked.

 

 "Oh forget it," I replied and went on exploring, and found the second class dining room, more like a cafeteria than formal dining, where there were people having coffee and chatting. There was a lieutenant there looking very bored indeed, properly from answering the same questions.

 

 "Where do I get permission to use the gym? I do a ten-mile run and an hour's gym in the mornings. Is it open at six am? Can I use the whole of the promenade deck to run?" I bet he hadn't been asked that question before, and he didn't have an answer.

 

 "Err I'll have to check on that one for you sir, can I have your name and cabin number," I gave him it and went for a coffee, and saw him talk to a steward who left. There were young couples and families with small children, talking in groups around the room, I couldn't tell if they all were pairs or singles, but there was a large group talking to one side. I had a mouth full of sausage roll when this lad came up and asked.

 

 

"Hi, I'm Gary Yates you travelling alone mate?" he asked and waited for me to answer him.

 

"Yes, are you in cabin one-twenty on deck three?" I asked, and his eyes went wide as he said.

 

 "Yes, how did you know?" he asked with a puzzled look.

 

 "Just a guess, Joe Lacey is the name we're sharing," I said with a grin.

 

 "Glad to meet you, Joe, I'm Gary Yates, where you going to Perth or Sidney. I'm for Perth myself, got my sister already out there, her husband got a trucking business. I'm going over to drive for him, what do you do, you got a job to go to?" He seemed to be a likeable lad, I bit younger than me it was hard to tell.

 

 "You seem to have it all sewn up Gary, me I'm going out on speck not sure yet," I answered, but then was interrupted by the lieutenant.

 

 "Excuse me, Mr Lacey, if you would follow this steward, you will get your questions answered," he said, indicating the steward I had seen leaving earlier.

 

"This way sir if you please, sir," he said, and I started to follow him.

 

"See you later Gary, I've got something to attend to," and followed my guild onto the upper deck, then up to the entrance to the bridge.

 

"Excuses me, sir, Mr Lacey to see the captain, sir," the steward said to a lieutenant, just inside the bridge area.

 

"Captain Mr Lacey to see you, as requested sir," the lieutenant said to an officer of about forty-five, sitting in the captain's chair.

 

"Hum Mr Lacey you have made a request, to use the gym out of hours when you would be unsupervised." He stated, looking me up and down, with his hand out to an officer by his side, who placed an open folder into it, and the captain read from it.

 

"I have copies of all my passengers travel documents, Mr Joseph John Lacey. Your file states you're on unsponsored, assisted passage to Perth Weston Australia. Quite unusual to say the least, so I am assuming your skills and talents are wide-ranging and unique, and from your unique luggage are Royal Navy learnt. That old seaman's donkey jacket your wearing makes you look overweight, may I see what you hide under it," he did, then handed me a bunch of keys.

 

"Mr Lacey you have the freedom of my ship, I'm glad to meet you, at last up close. I watched you beat my boy, on your way up to winning the home fleet boxing title. I hope you have a fine trip with us, now if you don't mind I have a ship to get underway." He let go of my hand smiling and turned his attention to the job at hand. As I descended to the boat deck, I felt the ship vibrating we were underway. It would take us six days to get to our first stop the port of Gibraltar, then ten days through the Med to Port Said. Singapore was twenty-three days away from Port Said, and Perth another twelve days further on. That was fifty-one days at sea; add three days in the ports. A total of seven weeks to get to Freemantle, and hopefully a new life away from the guilt I felt.

 

Back in training was making me feel good, and I only had one day I couldn't run because the deck was heaving, and that was in the bay of Biscay before Gibraltar. Very early mornings and late nights I ran, gym work after the morning runs, brought me to breakfast at about nine after showering. During the days, I would lazy jog around the ship, skipping and doing weights in the gym, and Gary never knew what time I got up. We were two days out of Port Said, and I was jogging towards the pool, it was hot and some people had looked at me sweating in my thick Navy tracksuit as I passed them. I was approaching the pool and saw on the other side of it, two young children running, and heading towards a grope of teenagers talking on the side of the pool.

 

They were blissfully unaware of the approaching children, and of the danger, they were to them. I seemed to see in slow motion, what was about to happen and diverted to dive into the water. I come up on the other side of the pool, just as the young children bumped into one teenager, and he set off a domino effect. The young woman standing by the edge of the pool with her ankles crossed, lost her balance and squalled as she toppled. I had surfaced just under her, as she was hitting the water. With the water only coming up to my shoulders, she got wet but she didn't go under.

 

She stared at me shocked to find herself in my arms, as I waded through the water. To put her down safely on the deck, she was unhurt so I left her with her friends and went to the nearest toilet to wring out my tracksuit, before heading for my cabin to change.

 

Chapter 26a

 

 I thought no more of the incident, and two days later Gary and I went ashore in Port Said. I had been here years ago, and it hadn't changed one bit. I had to shoo man away, who were trying the sell their sisters to Gary and there was the same man rounding up parties of tourist, to watch his wife with the donkey. Then there was the slave girl dancer, with the pet snake that did the disappearing act in the same shady bar. I had to explain to Gary if you went down one of these narrow alleys alone, you might never be seen alive again.

 

He wasn't convinced, so I told him the story of a rating, who wanted to make some money because he had spent all he had. He went to sell a pint of his blood, they found him in the morning in an alleyway, completely drained of the life-giving liquid. We ventured into the markets and wandered down the rows of tourist tat on sale there. I saw the young woman from the pool, with an ornate box in one hand, and a wad of notes in the other. She was trying to buy the box, from the seller who just held up both sets of fingers. I pulled a one-pound note from her bundle and waved it at him saying in Arabic.

 

 "This is twice its worth, you can buy a camel with your profit," he went off faster than I could understand, but I got the gist of it. My mother was a camel herder's bed warmer, and his children will starve if he doesn't sell anything, and the box is worth four times what I offer. I took it from her hands and placed it on his stall, then turned her away. We didn't get two steps before he was calling her back, and in broken English offered her the box for the one-pound note.

 

 "Here pretty lady I give you this because your unworthy husband won't buy you pretty things." I smiled she blushed and I said farewell, and as Gary and I moved into the crowd I heard her say.

 

 "That's him, dad, he the one that pulled me from the pool."

 

We were in the Suez Canal when a steward, knocked on my cabin door.

 

 "Beg pardon sir, the captain wishes to see you at your earliest convenience," he said staring at my muscles because I was soaking wet from the shower, with just a towel around my waist, and was drying my hair as he knocked.

 

 "As soon as I'm dressed I'll be up to see him, any idea what it's all about?" I asked and he shook his head and was off. A rating opened the door to the bridge, as he saw me approaching it.

 

 "Arr Mr Lacey you wasted no time, can I offer you coffee we have nothing stronger up here," he said, holding out his hand in greeting.

 

 "I have had a request, to find someone aboard this ship that has twice saved a damsel in distress. The description given matched only you, if you are free tonight I would like to invite you, to dine with me at my table in first-class dining?"

 

 "I would love to captain, but my dress suit is away at the cleaners. I still have my mess kit, but as I am no longer in the Navy, so I cannot wear that. So you see I will have to decline your kind invitation, no matter how much it pains me." I answered trying to stop from smiling too much and saw he was smiling a cheeky smile.

 

 "We thought of that didn't we Mr Tankard, try this on Mr Lacey we have a tailor onboard, a tuck here and a tuck there, dinner is at seven Mr Lacey." I left the bridge shaking my head, the old sea-dog had outmanoeuvred me. I had a dress shirt and trousers that needed ironing and a bow tie from my mess kit. It was my mess dress jacket I couldn't wear, it still had navy badges and campaign medals. I was no longer able to wear, the medals ribbons maybe but not all the rest of the gold brad. Outside the dining-room door, I was met by a steward with the white dinner jacket.

 

 "Mr Lacey may I introduce you to the honourable Lord James Keats, the new ambassador to Western Australia, and his wife the lady Pamela Keats, and this is their daughter Annabelle." His lordship thrust out his hand, his wife bowed her head and Annabelle curtseyed.

 

 "Pleased to meet you, sir, ladies," I said shaking his hand and nodding to the two women.

 

 "I owe you a diet of gratitude sir, you saved my daughter from the swimming pool." His lordship said, I smiled and looked at the girl, who was looking shy.

 

 "She wasn't in mortal danger; sir, anyone could have pulled her from the pool. I was just lucky enough to see it happening, and was the first to react that's all." Then a few eyebrows were raised, when I was asked what I wanted to drink.

 

 "Fruit cocktail if you please," was my answer, and I toasted the health of all there with it, as I sat at the long table, with the rest of the captain's guests. After the meal, they stood or sat around in groups, chatting and politely laughing at each other's jokes. As I was talking to the engineering officer, I spied Annabelle heading my way so I excused myself from the officer and turned to greet her.

 

 "Please, it's Anna." She said after I had welcomed her, as Miss Keats.

 

 "I must thank you myself, for your help in the market the other day. I would have paid him five pounds for that box, he didn't look too happy with you. I was very surprised, to get it for the one pound." I smiled and looked around as if to see if anyone was listening and said.

 

 "So was I, I expected to pay three maybe four as he started with eight, so he expected to get four. They always ask high and you bid low, then you barter your way to an agreement." I told her smiling face and then interrupted by a largish woman.

 

 "Did you join us at Port Said, I can't remember seeing you before?" she asked, taking a sip of her cocktail.

 

 "Oh, Mr Lacey has been on board, since Southampton Mrs Barrington. He's the Captains guest tonight, at the request of my father, he's emigrating to Australia, isn't that right Mr Lacey." A smiling Annabelle said to the startled Mrs Barrington, before turning to me.

 

 "Please Anna call me Joe, I'm pleased to meet you, Mrs Barrington," I said extending my hand, to the woman who was rapidly flushing red and refused my hand saying.

 

 "You're not in first class, oh my," she said and turned away and quickly joined another group. She must have told them, she had just met someone from another race because they all looked our way and looked at us down their noses.

 

 "Snobs, I hate that," said Anna, turning back to me.

 

 "I've seen you jogging around the ship, in that Team Navy tracksuit, you had on when you rescued me from the pool. I thought you were one of the crew, and went to the Captain, after port Side to ask if I could thank you. When I asked the captain and told him what you looked like, he said he knew who you were, but said you were not part of his crew and that you are emigrating. He also told me you used to be in the Navy, and that explains the tracksuit," Anna said happily smiling at me as if she had uncovered some deep dark secret.

 

 "My you have been a busy bee, but there's no need to thank me I was happy to help, have you been to Australia before Anna?" I asked just as her father, came strolling towards us.

 

 "No I haven't nor has my dad, but he's been waiting for this posting for years. He has been in the diplomatic serves, for twenty years and has always wanted this job. I was born in India when he was out there, but we haven't stayed anywhere for too long. This posting is for five years, and maybe longer if he wants'. Have you been to Australia before Joe, I suppose you've been all over the world?" Anna said happily smiling at me, trying to make conversation.

 

 "Yes, I've been there twice, once for seven days on an aircraft carrier. The second time for two months, that was last year about this time," I told her just as her father joined in with the conversation.

 

 "Is my daughter monopolising you Mr Lacey, I hope she isn't boring you," he said smiling at Anna.

 

 "Not at all Sir she has been pleasant company, in fact, nobody seems to want to talk to me," I said looking around.

 

 "I'm afraid that's Mrs Barrington, she has told everybody your an immigrant from steerage. There are some who still think because they have money they are better than others," I smiled and looking at him said.

 

 "If Mrs Barrington is going to live in Australia, she is going to find it a strange place. I've met many people in fairly high places in Australia that talk, without smelling salts up their nose," Anna laughed, and his lordship smiled.

 

 "Haven't heard that one before, but it does some up people with their noses in the air, when were you in Australia last Mr Lacey, I think I heard you say you were there for two months."

 

 "That's right sir, and please do call me Joe, I was there this time last year. There was a commonwealth boxing tournament, and I was part of it," I said; but didn't want to add more, and Anna didn't ask the question.

 

 "You had just come back from Kuwait dad, which was the beginning of October." My ears pricked up, as soon as she mentioned Kuwait.

 

 "Kuwait you were out there last year, did you know an Anwar Ben Hamdan out there?" I asked as I thought of Alice's Arab friend, and if he was what Alice thought he was.

 

"That's Bin Hamdan Joe, Prince Anwar Bin Hamdan; he's the trade minister for Kuwait, the younger brother of the Emir of Kuwait. He is next in line to rule, a very powerful man and he is very pro British, he went to Eton and Sandhurst. How do you know of him, Joe, he's not easy to get close too." God, I know someone that gets very close to him, I thought, hell does Alice know he's a Prince.

 

 "My brother in law is a part of a grope that deals in exports with him that's all," I answered and felt I was spying on Alice, by finding out his identity.

 

 "The captain told me about the Jacket, Joe, still a bit big at the waist but the tailor did a fair job, seeing how round our Mr Tankard is." His lordship said nodding towards the man in question, in a much larger dinner jacket than he gave me, he had obviously grown out of this one. I didn't think he would want it back, though I did offer it to him when I said goodnight to the captain.

 

Chapter 26b

 

We were heading south to the Equator, and it got hotter as we approached it, people were sunbathing and the swimming pool was the place to be and to be seen. I had just come out of the gym, in my tracksuit and was passing the pool, when I heard Anna call my name, she was in a trendy one-piece swimsuit with a little skirt, that looked very nice on her, and she was waving at me.

 

 "You really should cool off Joe, you must be boiling in that tracksuit, you shouldn't worry what people think, we're not all perfect." She was right I should come out of hiding, and dress for the weather and not for modesty. Unzipping my top and pulling off my trainers and tracksuit bottoms. Off came my tank top, and the crowd parted and looked at me, as I went to the poolside shower, to wash off my sweat. Then I turned to see an opened mouthed Anna staring at me, as I walked back towards her, I did the pose and the dancing muscle routine, making her giggle and hide her big smile behind her hands.

 

 After the Gulf of Aden, we headed almost due east, south of Ceylon and into the Malacca Strait then down to Singapore. My first stop was Mr Wang's tailor shop; before I left home, I had sent him a request for two dinner jackets. One white one black, that Alice had designed before she had fallen out with me. The white one had black lapels, and black pocket tops, they were both made from a velvet material. Which had a textured embossed pattern, and was tailored to fit me like a glove. Mr Wang wanted an hour, to do some minor adjustments; he could have more than that, as I was going to the garrison from here.

 

 "Arrest that man, he's out of uniform," I heard as I approached the gate, and tiny Singleton came from the gatehouse shaking his bonker stick at me. He hadn't actually bonked anyone on the head with it, but he always had it with him, just in case he had to. The highly polished wooden club was made from the jarrah tree and was a traditional Maori war club call a Pelu, and had been handed down from his ancestors.

 

While I was stationed here, he had been Master at arms, and we had become good friends. Tiny was six foot six, and two foot at the shoulders, a gentler giant you couldn't find, and he had a hug like a bear.

 

 "Heard you were out you daft bugger, now I've got all these lovely wrens all to myself," he said lifting me off my feet, and turning around.

 

 "Come to see the skipper Joe, he's up in his office thinking of promoting me to the guardian of wrens virtues, and the key holder of their chastity belts." He said wistfully looking skyward, hoping for a Wren to fall into his arms.

 

 "Don't you ever stop thinking of somewhere, to put that dick of yours?" I asked as he put me down.

 

 "Nope," came his answer, as he appointed a rating to escort me into the garrison, and up to Captain Foster's office. Where the Capitan's wren secretary Doris opened his door and announced me. He was already coming from behind his desk, smiling and holding out his hand in welcome.

 

 "Tiny just told me you were here, good to see you, Joseph, you're looking well, I'm sorry about what's happened. Couldn't believe it when we heard, did you get the box of get-well cards, everybody put one in," he said pumping my hand.

 

 "Yes thank you, sir, did Captain Andy Southwark get posted here?" I asked, taking the seat he offered.

 

 "Yes Joseph he did and he showed me the photo you gave him, I do believe he's won her over, but are you planning to see them?" The captain asked looking a bit wary, I had wondered that myself.

 

 "Can I speak to Andy on the quiet, I doubt if my presence hasn't been broadcast. I've seen a few wrens that know me, so I'm sure the whole garrison knows by now." I said hoping I was wrong, and Captain Foster picked up his phone.

 

 "Get me Captain Andy Southwark office Doris, and stand by for borders," he said then put down the phone.

 

 "What happens if she comes up here Joseph, it's a long way down for you to jump from this window." He was Indicating the window behind him, which was on the outside wall of the barracks, and had a seventy-foot drop down to the rocks and sea. Then pick up the phone as it rang, he asked.

 

 "Hello Captain; oh you've heard; yes he is here, if you would I'll tell him." He put the phone down and looked at me sideways.

 

 "She knows and he's bringing her up now, do you want to use the conference room?" he asked pointing to a door to his right.

 

 "No sir that won't be necessary, but I'd like to contact Robert and Susan while I'm here if I can," he immediately picked up the phone.

 

 "Doris get me the gym, right send them in please," the phone went down.

 

 "Margret's here!" he said as the door opened, and she stood looking at me. God, she was a lovely girl, but she was just not my lovely girl.

 

 "Hi Joe didn't expect to see you here, what do we owe this to," Andy said holding out his hand, but looked a bit curious.

 

 "On my way to Australia ship docked here, had to look up old friends that's all. Hello Margret looking lovely as ever, have you forgiven me yet your sister has?" I said as she walked towards me, and I didn't know if it was going to be a kiss or slap, until she said 'hello Joseph', and kissed my cheek.

 

 "Madeline mailed me told me you were going to Australia, she said now she understands! What, did she mean by that?" I shrugged my shoulders and looked vacant.

 

 "Search me," I replied, but she squinted her eyes and looked at me suspiciously.

 

 "Were getting engaged Joe, I'm not letting her get away from me," Andy said taking Margret's hand.

 

 "Will you wish us well?" he added.

 

 "I will indeed, and as soon as I am settled I'll send the captain my address, I want an invite Andy, no matter where you tie the knot."

 

It looked like everything was hunky-dory, and we all had a chinwag until lunchtime. I made a promise to see the captain, and Andy again before I left, then went to meet Robert and Susan in the cafeteria for lunch, as arranged by the captain's Doris.

 

 "God your embarrassing Susan, stop climbing all over him," Robert said as Susan jumped into my arms, and gave me a flurry of kisses. She hadn't changed, and she said it again like she used to.

 

 "You can start to worry when I don't do this in front of you, and take him behind the bike shed instead."

 

 "How's my Hannah?" I asked as we sat with your meal, at one of the long tables.

 

 "At school now she'll be here soon, they come up for lunch at twelve-thirty." Sure enough dead on the dot, in came a paraded of tiny people. She had grown a lot, but she was still my Hannah, I wondered if she remembered me, but I shouldn't have worried. She saw me kneeling with my arms outstretched and came running, and just like her mum, jumps into my arms. We had a lovely chat until she had to go back to school, and she made me promise, I would visit her again.

 

 I had to be back on board at four, by way of Mr Wang's to pick up my jackets. They all wanted to make sure I got on the ship, so I had a two-car escort to the docks. After handshakes and kisses, I stood at the rail waving the two Navy cars away. I was thirty minutes early, and as I turned the officer on the gangplank said smiling.

 

 "A military escort sir, now what did you do ashore?"

 

'Your presence is requested at dinner, captain's table at seven if you please,' read the note; Gary gave me as I entered the cabin.

 

 "Steward came an hour ago with it, they can't be kicking you off the ship unless they want you to swim, that's an hour after we sail." I checked out my new jackets, and as always Mr Wang had been precise, they fitted like they were a second skin, with just enough room to let you move.

 

 "Wow, where did you get them?" Gary asked feeling the material and shaking his head.

 

 "Never seen anything like them before, they must have cost a packet," he said, standing back to admire the one I had on. I also got an admiring look from Anna as I entered the dining room.

 

Chapter 26c 

 

"My you do look smart Mr Joseph Lacey, let's see if Mrs Barrington looks down her nose at you tonight," she said taking my arm, so I could lead her to our dining table, where the captain, looked at my jacket and said.

 

 "Now that's an improvement on Mr Tankard's jacket, did you get it back from the cleaners," he said smiling, throwing back the jib I had made.

 

 "No sir my tailor in Singapore made them for me, from designs we sent to him," I answered, and saw Mrs Barrington look at me suspiciously.

 

 "No doubt you knew him when you were stationed here, Joseph," his lordship said smiling at me, and I thought yes and how do you know that.

 

 "That is true sir, but may I ask how you know?" I asked, and the whole table looked at him.

 

 "You may Mr Joseph John Lacey, formally Petty Officer Lacey of the Royal Navy. When we were first introduced, your name rang a bell in my memory. Although I couldn't place the source of that memory, it had bothered me all the way here. Today I found the answer to that question, in the British embassy in Singapore. We went to pay our respects to the commissioner, and his daughter took Anna on a tour. She came back very excited, to where we were having tea. 'There's a photo of Joe Lacey, hanging in the gallery Dad,' she said taking my hand, and the commissioner asked 'do you know him.' When we went to look at it, it showed you in uniform, between the commissioner and the premier of Malaysia, receiving a medal from the Malaysian government."

 

 "They were building an extension to the school when they dug up a Japanese world war two bomb. You sat for an hour alone defusing that bomb, and they called you the angel of Singapore. When I told him that it wasn't, what I was trying to remember. He told me you were the commonwealth, combined forces boxing champ and the far east fleet champ, as well as the home fleet champion. It still didn't ring the bell, and then he said you went to Israel and that was it. We had just come back from Kuwait, and I was in the government house in London. There was a flurry of messages, coming and going from Israel Singapore and London."

 

 "From Israel, there was a message about a Petty Officer, being in a hospital there after a bomb blast. From London a message asking for confirmation, of the Petty Officer identity. Then to Singapore to confirm said Petty Officer, had left by ship to return to England. The last message I can remember coming from Singapore said the Petty Officer had flown to Israel to get engaged, I can't remember any other communication after that, but that was almost a year ago. I just could not put your name to it until now, but am I right Mr Lacey."

 

 "You are indeed Sir; I am guilty as charged although I don't broadcast it normally." Anna opened her mouth, but Mrs Barrington beat her with a question.

 

 "Your here on your own Mr Lacey, I take it the girl didn't accept your proposal?" She asked with a smile and an arrogant tone, and I wiped the smirk off her face.

 

 "No Madam, she died in the blast before I could ask her," I said it calmly, but loud enough for all to hear. It went deadly quiet, except for the sound of a chair being pushed back. I hadn't heard Mr Barrington speak before, but as he pushed his chair back from the table he said.

 

"Excuse us, ladies and gentleman; I think I need a few words with my wife." As he stood she looked up at him and was about to say something, but his stare and his head to one side told her to shut her mouth and he led her away. The rest of us eat our meal in relative silents until coffee.

 

 "Sorry Joseph I had no idea, please forgive me I was so pleased with finally working it out, I never thought." Said his lordship, holding his hand out to me over the table, I excepted it willingly and saw him looking at my left breast pocket.

 

 "Is that a shuttle display of your medals ribins Joseph, or it a smudge of colour on your top pocket." I smiled at him and undid my jacket, and opened the left side. To reveal my row of miniature medals, a third of the normal size pinned to the top of the inside pocket, then turned to Anna as she asked.

 

 "How long were you in the Navy Joe," then she turned to her dad and said.

 

 "He told us to call him Joe dad," when he went to correct her.

 

 "That is true sir, and I would extend the same protocol to all, and Anna, I was in the service for seven years. Seen all the world and fell in love with Australia last year, I'm about to find out if Australia is going to fall in love with me," I said smiling at her, and her father said.

 

 "I'm sure they will and if I can open doors for you, please knock on mine Joe," his lordship said and lifting his glass, he stood looking at me.

 

 "Ladies and gentlemen I'd like to propose a toast, the Angel of Singapore a hero amongst us," he said and I quickly held up my hands.

 

 "No please I am no hero if you want to toast a hero, toast the one, at the head of this table. I spent an hour sitting on one bomb! According to his medals, he spent years sitting on ticking time bombs. On the convoys to Murmansk, I will toast these unsung heroes, without them we would have lost the war! Please the Captain!" They all held their glasses high, and said 'the Captain' and drank his health. He looked lost for words, way out of his comfort zone, but he soon recovered and lifting his glass said.

 

 "When I first saw you, Mr Lacey I didn't like you, you had just beaten my boy in a boxing match. My boy has humbled me, by saying he had been beaten by a gentleman. Since you have been on my ship, you have proved my son right, ladies and gentleman, to a gentleman!"

 

 I hadn't indulged a lot in the onboard entertainment, and there was quite a good selection. Apart from the theatre that put on shows, and individual acts, there were several bars and a nightclub with entertainers. Daytime quizzes and bingo for the nonathletic, dance lessons and keep the fitness classes for the energetic. At each port, an act would depart, and go to another ship, and one would join this ship, on route to the next port. As some passengers departed, new ones joined the ship.

 

A new act had joined at Singapore, from a ship that had sailed from Freemantle and was returning to Fremantle. I found out about it, three days out from Singapore, it was at Anna's seventeenth birthday party, that his lordship arranged to be held in the nightclub. We were confined to a ship, so seeing one another occasionally was unavoidable; I seemed to be bumping into Anna, a lot more since Singapore.

 

 "Do you dance Mrs Keats?" I asked her ladyship as I saw her swaying in her seat as if dancing quietly with herself, as she was enjoying the music.

 

 "Yes, but James isn't that fond of dancing, do you dance Joseph?" She asked still bobbing in her seat, to the band playing a Glyn Miller tune.

 

 "Yes, Ma'am with three sisters, and a mum who liked to Charleston, I had to learn all types of dance, it helped my boxing as well, would you do me the honour?" I asked, holding out my hand.

 

 "Look James I'm being taken to the dance floor, watch you might learn something," she said smiling at him before she and I, quickstepped around the floor.

 

 "This might sound a bit improper, for me to say to you about your daughter, Mrs Keats but I feel I have to. I think your daughter is a lovely girl, and I like her I really do, but that is all Ma'am. Lately, I have been bumping into her a lot, and I'm beginning to suspect it's not accidental." Mrs Keats was smiling, almost laughing in fact, and as we came around close, to our table where Anna was waving at us she said.

 

 "I've had this same conversation with Anna, she likes you too but you're a bit too old for her," we both laughed and danced a seconded quickstep.

 

 "Lovely party Anna sorry if I had known, I'd have bought you something in Singapore," I said to her, as I returned her mum to the table. I had just pushed Mrs Keats chair in when there was a waiter by my side.

 

 "Excuse me, sir, the bandleader would like a word." I closed my eyes, I was afraid this was going to happen. As we had danced close to the band, I had seen two of them looking at me. Mrs Keats had heard the exchange and looked a bit puzzled.

 

 "Looks like my past, is catching up with me again," I said smiling at her, "but all is well, please believe me."

 

 I made my way around the edge of the dance floor, then to the front of the bandstand. I took the hand that was extended to me, had a few words then went back to the table.

 

 "Well, what did he want Joseph?" Mrs Keats asked, eager to find out why I was called to him.

 

 "Wants to know what your favourite song of Dean Martin is Anna, he's going to play it just for you," I said taking her hand and walking her onto the dance floor. They had stopped playing, and the floor was empty of dancers, at the front of the stage, she told the bandleader. 'Besame Mucho', he looked at me and I nodded, then he said into the microphone.

 

 "Ladies and gentlemen, the birthday girl, Miss Annabelle Keats." She curtseyed, and I held Anna ready to dance with her, then as the band played we danced, and I sang Besame Mucho to her.

 

When that ended, the band played 'You belong to me', as it ended I sat her in her chair, still looking at me gobsmacked. I went back to the bandstand, where the bandleader, was just starting the band to play sway and held out his hand to help me jump up. We did five more tunes, and I returned to the table to be applauded, by all at the table, and a very surprised lord-lieutenant with a question.

 

 "You are full of surprises Mr Lacey, can we expect more or is that it." I wasn't sure how to answer him, I wasn't sure what would come out of the woodwork to haunt me.

 

 "Don't think so sir, but keep an open mind, you never know something might creep up on me," I said laughing, and Anna punched my arm.

 

 "You made me blush out there singing that to me, and how do you know the band." I looked shocked and rubbing my arm as if hurt and asked.

 

 "Didn't you enjoy your birthday present from me, I had to promise to sing six more to get that one and to answer your question, I know them from Perth. Their part of the Royal Perth philharmonic orchestra, they form small bands to earn money. They come together, to do concerts and big occasions, I sang with them, at one of their concerts in kings park. David Brand the premier asked me to do it with them after he heard me singing at a function." His lordship with his mouth open was shaking his head.

 

 "You know David Brand the premier? I was going to open doors for you, where in fact you could open them for me. You said you had no more surprises; I shall keep an open mind about you. Mr Joseph John Lacey, I have a feeling we won't hear the last of you when we get off this ship." He held his glass up, and silently toasted me, and I danced with his wife and daughter, a few more times before the nightclub closed.

 

I then said my farewells that night, as the next morning we were docking at Freemantle.

 

This is the end of Chapter 26, but not the story. If you have enjoyed this, please read! Parallel Me

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Tag der Veröffentlichung: 12.04.2018

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There are some of my old mates in here, under assumed names of course.