She stopped. They were sufficiently alone that she could speak privately by lowering her voice. “Tom Cat.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t call me ‘Captain’—you are Captain until I’ve passed my tests. Then we’ll see. And don’t call me ‘Ma’am.’ I’m either ‘Mrs. Salomon’ or ‘Joan,’ depending on the company, just as before. But in private I’m still your ‘Pussy Cat’. I hope I am.”
“Well…okay.”
“Let’s hear you say it.”
“Pussy Cat. Brave little Pussy Cat. Puss, you surprise me more, longer I know you.”
“That’s better. Torn Cat, Jake knew all along about your tomcatting with me.” (Oh, what a lie! Eunice, she never told me—and I suspected only once and decided I was mistaken.) (I know, Jock. Boss is a deceitful one and not at; all truthful and besides she tells fibs even to me.)
“He did?”
“Yes, Thomas Cattus. But Jake Salomon was a true gentleman and saw only what he was expected to see. He never teased me about my little follies. Simply indulged me. But he didn’t tell on himself, either. Do you know if he ever made it with Hester?” (Now see here, Johann—) (Pipe~ down, Jock; I’ve wondered, too.)
“Uh. . . hell, Pussy, all men are alike, all after the same thing.”
“And all women are alike, we’ve all got it. Well?”
“Hester spread for him first chance we gave ‘em. But she didn’t tell me. Ashamed. Had to catch ‘em at it, then twist her arm.”
“Surely you didn’t hurt her?”
“No, no, Puss, I don’t rough a broad, never. Didn’t catch ‘em, not to hurt, neither. Backed out fast—then asked later. Told her I knew for certain, so how about coming clean, was all. She did. She hadn’t told me—because of you.”
“Oh. I trust you then told her about me?”
Her sailing master looked horrified. “Pussy, you think I’m out o’ my frimpin’ head? Look, I like what you got, just fine. But I ain’t foolish. I don’t rat on broads. If I did, you’d be last on the list. Believe.”
“Tell Hester if you wish, dear; it can’t matter now. Then at some later time, she would not be surprised if she found me doing what widows so often do.” (‘They don’t tell, they don’t yell, they rarely swell—and they’re grateful as hell.’) (Jock, you’re a dirty old ghost.) “Well, let’s set our course. What ETA, Tom Cat? If it’s later than midnight, I’ll relieve you for the midwatch.”
“You will like hell, Ma’am—Pussy Cat. You sack in a full night, you need it. I’ll put Fred on the wheel now and Hank on lookout—and I’ll drag a corking mat back near the helm and catch some sack drill till we get close in. Pussy Cat, you’ve got to promise me you’ll stay in your cabin. Not go wandering around, I’ll think you’re meaning to jump overboard.”
“Is that an order, Captain?”
“Uh—yes, damn it, that’s an order!”
“Aye aye, sir. It won’t be necessary to check on me; I’ll be in my cabin, door locked, and I will be asleep. I promise not to jump overboard earlier than tomorrow night.”
“Pussy Cat, you wouldn’t jump? Would you?”
“With Jake’s baby inside me? Captain, I do have a concept of duty. Until I have this baby, my life is not my own. I not only must not suicide—I would not in any case—but I must also keep calm and happy and healthy and not risk so much as a dirty drinking glass. So don’t worry about me. Good night, Tom.” She headed for the cabin.
(Nothing doing at that shop tonight, partners—we’re faced with nobility. I think Anton is our best bet.) (The Passionate Pole! Jock darling, I’m not sure your heart can stand it.) (Fortunately, my dears, my old pump no longer has to stand anything—and the one you turned over to Joan, Eunice, is a Swiss watch among tickers. Doesn’t race even when she is racing. But you know that.) (Quit chattering, you two. Either of you have any idea how to get Olga out of the way?)
(Push her overboard?) (Eunice!) (Can’t I joke, Boss? I like Olga, she’s a nice girl.) (Too nice, that’s the problem. Not a tart like you, or me—or Hester.) (Hrrrmph!) (Jake, you’re not in court, dear. The subject is tail. Mine. Ours, I mean.) (Johann, I simply wanted to say that, if you took our problem directly to Mrs. Dabrowski, you might find her sympathetic. I always found her so.)