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“No papers?” the captain asks, turning to me with hardened features.
“No.”
“Where are you from?”
“I’m a Portuguese citizen, but I’ve been living in the US for many years.”And I should have never left.
He nods. “Where you going?”
“I read it’s best to be flexible about location and departure when traveling on a cargo ship. I’m willing to be adventurous.”God, I sound like a moron.
The captain scratches a sideburn as he glances at Joey. He seems to be weighing the decision. “We’re leaving for Barcelona tonight, and we go on to the Middle East from there.”
“Barcelona sounds wonderful.” It’s perfect. I won’t have to be on the freighter for too long, but it will get me out of the country. “I’ll get off the ship there. What time do you leave?”
“In a few hours. I’m shooting for two o’clock, but it’s likely to be closer to two thirty. There’s a lot of traffic in the port tonight.”
“That sounds perfect. How much is the fare?”
“Without documents, one thousand euros.”
A thousand euros. A plane ticket to Barcelona would cost only a small fraction of that, and a train ticket even less. But I’m not getting on a plane or a train without documents.
“Would you be willing to take seven hundred and fifty euros?” I should have offered him less, because if he agrees, I’ll be out of euros.That was foolish, Daniela.
“Sorry.” He starts to leave.
My heart plops into my stomach as he turns.
“Maybe she has something else of value,” Joey pipes up.
The captain pivots. “Like what?”
Joey cocks his chin at me. “Do you have a watch or jewelry, anything?”
“I have some American dollars.”
“No use to me,” the captain mutters.
My watch is a piece of junk, but I hold my wrist out to him.
“That’s not worth anything,” he grumbles. “What’s that around your neck?”
My heart breaks, but I keep my head up. “It’s an antique locket. I’m sure you can recoup your money if you sell it.” I take the necklace off and open the locket, using my fingernails to pry the pictures out carefully. He’s not getting these photos. I don’t care if I have to swim to Barcelona.
“I’m not sure it’s worth two hundred and fifty euros, plus the trouble of selling it.” He gazes at me. “But you seem like a nice girl. I’ll take you to Barcelona.”
I smile at him, even though the longer I stand here, the more nervous I am.
My anxiety about being caught and dragged back to Antonio has melded with the concerns about getting on the ship alone. It’s all a jumbled mess, and I don’t know what worries me most.
“Thank you,” I say softly. Because no matter how unsure I am, I have to take my chances with the captain.
“You’ll need to board now and settle in before we pull out. But you can’t come aboard until I have the cash and the necklace. Your watch too.”
This is extortion, but it’s his freighter, and I can either ante up or find another way out of the country.
As I dig in the backpack for my wallet, the knife blade winks at me. It’s not large, but it has a sharp point.I have scissors too.Hopefully I won’t need to use either, but having them makes me feel a little better.
