Previous – Book1 Page162 – Next
create a diversion. As long as nobody tells him that he’s a part of a plan, nor that it’s his job to draw attention away. That could allow MickeyWarr enough time to make a dash for the exit.
Fleetingly, MickeyWarr wonders if SpudGunn is actually a master tactician. Is it all an act? Is he acting dumb in order to get thrown out? Is it an unorthodox escape plan?
No! He’s not that clever! He’s been here two months. SpudGunn is no master tactician!
OK, the overall strategy is use the cover of food deliveries in order to escape. Now all that’s needed is a step by step plan. The diversion has to be set up so that SpudGunn doesn’t suspect anything. This is the easy bit. Invent some story about food. SpudGunn will fall for it, and the pirates will too. Who doesn’t like a bit of food? Well not this stodgy porridge obviously, but some story about something nice.
The hard bit is going to be creating an opportunity to talk to Lieutenant Slender. MickeyWarr is determined to leave, but before he does, he wants to understand more about her. Why is she here? She doesn’t fit. He’s convinced she would willingly leave as well. What if the two of them could run away together?
It’s time to sow the seed, and see if SpudGunn can be persuaded to help with a plan, even without knowing that he’s a part of the plan.
“I don’t know what they’ve done to this oatmeal today,” says MickeyWarr, picking up a spoonful and letting it drip from the spoon back onto his plate, “I wonder if the pirates get something better?”
SpudGunn has finished his plate of slop, and looks up clownishly, “they might get a better version of slop.”
“And the officers?”
“I bet the officers get proper food!”
“What do you think they get?”
“Dunno!” he replies, “eggs … sausage … bacon? Ooooh, bacon! I’d luvva bit of bacon! And an egg! Two bits of bacon, and two eggs, sitting on top of two lovely slices of fried potato waffle!”
“No cabbage?”
Previous – Book1 Page162 – Next