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Subject: {ASSM} Joanna and the Sea Devil (By Katzmarek)  (Hist, Slow, Rom Teen)
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Date: Sat, 30 Jul 2005 19:10:02 -0400
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<1st attachment, "Joanna and the Sea Devil.txt" begin>

JOANNA AND THE SEA DEVIL

   By KATZMAREK

   -----------------------------------

   This is a work of erotic fiction.  It remains the Author's property and
may not be used for gain without his express permission in writing.

   ------------------------------------

   'Tickety tick, tick, tick, tick.' The Morse stream from the earphone was
barely audible.  The two men leaned closer to the radio set, frowns on
their faces.

   "What do you make of it?" asked the taller of the men to the harried
Radioman.

   "The hand's not experienced, like amateur," he replied in halting
Norwegian.  "The signal's faint...  I think running low on battery power,
maybe?"

   "Where are they?" asked the bearded, stooping, older man.

   "I think no more than 12 kilometres to the Northeast of us.  Drifting,
they say...  engine stopped."

   "Identification?"

   "MV Senator, is American...  Private yacht," the radioman explained,
"200 registered tonnage."

   "That's big for a yacht!" remarked the tall man.

   "Sir," the third man spoke, drawing the other man aside, "perhaps we
should ignore it?  It could be a ruse?"

   "Possibly," the tall man considered, "but I think she's too near
American territorial waters for a trick.  I think we should check it out.
Perhaps they might have information, newspapers.  I think it's worth the
risk."

   "Should we start the motors?"

   "No, under canvas.  There's a good breeze so why should we waste fuel?
Lay in a course."

   "Yes, Skipper." Their boots rang on the metal of the ladder as they went
back topside.  The sky was clear and blue, the warm wind filled the
billowing sails and sang through the rigging.  Underneath, the ship creaked
in the fashion of all wooden sailing ships.  The white hull gleamed in the
strong sunlight like some picture postcard.

   The skipper squinted at the top of the mainmast and observed the
triangular red flag and blue cross of Norway's Merchant Marine.  He took
one long look along the deck.  Everything seemed innocuous; the stacks of
timber deck-cargo fore and aft, the crew casually dressed in striped shirts
and Bermuda shorts.  Some had tied the flaps of their trousers tight with
cord.  Many had bare feet, the better for climbing the rigging.  Beards
were 'de rigeur' among the crew.  Straw boaters or woollen fisherman's hats
the preferred headwear.

   The ship lurched under the helm as she swung onto the new bearing.  Crew
vigourously wound the sheets of the square-rigged foremast tighter.  The
Skipper instinctively watched the big boom of the mainsail as it was
adjusted to the wind.  Many an inexperienced crewman had been knocked off
their feet, or even worse, by the metal-banded, foot thick length of wood.

   "Olaf!" yelled the Skipper, "get up top and see what you can see!"

   "Aye, Sir," answered a seaman.

   The SV Stavanger's Second Officer came back forward, having given the
sailing instructions to the helm.

   "What do we do with them?" he asked.

   "Whatever's practical," shrugged the Skipper, "if they have engine
failure, maybe the Engineer can get it going for them."

   "Won't they be suspicious of an Engineer on a sailing ship?"

   "It's not uncommon for vessels of our type to have an auxiliary motor,
Theo.  Stay relaxed, they won't suspect anything."

   "If you think so," muttered the 2nd Officer.

   Eventually, from atop the mainmast, the lookout bellowed, "mast top, off
starboard bow!"

   "Bear on it," ordered the Skipper, "nice navigation, Theo!"

   "Thank you, Sir."

   "Oh, don't be so formal!"

   --------------------------------------

   Gradually the vessel revealed itself over the curvature of the Earth. 
First, its single mast, then its black hull.  It was rolling heavily in the
freshening swell.  Plainly it was adrift in the current, being carried
slowly down to the Baja Californian coast.

   Pointlessly, the yacht fired a distress flare.  The Stavanger's crew
watched it hang in the sky before slowly plummeting to the sea.  The big
Schooner, at nearly 1800 tons, was considerably larger than the American
Yacht.  It had to maneuvre carefully to avoid swamping or even striking the
smaller craft.  The Stavanger's crew, however, were skilled, and the
Schooner came to a stop off the Yacht's lee.  The squaresails were backed,
the fore and aft, triangular mainsail dropped.

   Five figures on the deck of the American waved enthusiastically at the
Stavanger.  A man called out to them in English.

   "Get Peters," ordered the Stavanger's Skipper.  He closely observed the
other vessel with his binoculars and waited for the English speaker to
arrive.  The crewman hurried to the Skipper's side.  "Ask them what's the
trouble."

   He waited patiently while an unintellible exchange continued with the
foreign crew of the American.  Eventually, Peters turned to his Captain and
translated the Yacht's requests.

   "Sir," said Peters, "they say their motor has broken down and they're
taking water.  It's up to two feet in their bilges, sir.  Their battery
power is low, their radio's failing and they're low on fresh water and
food."

   "Their bilge pump?"

   "Runs off engine power, sir."

   "That's stupid!  Haven't they hand pumps?"

   "Yes, but they say the water's gaining on them.  They're exhausted and
fear the boat will founder in a matter of hours."

   "Sir," cried the Second Officer in alarm, "we can't have them on board!"

   "Are you saying we should let them drown?  Are we barbarians?" the
Skipper snapped back, "no.  We'll see what we can do over there and, if we
can't get their motor going, we will have to rescue them."

   The Skipper decided to check on the vessel personally and had himself
and his translator, Peters, rowed over in the little skiff.  He legged
himself over the side as one long-experienced at sea and stood on the teak
deck of the American.

   He saw it was a well-built vessel, the main saloon was built with fine
mahogany and the whole displayed excellent workmanship.  If the crew was
correct, there was no saving the ship and he thought it a pity.

   And his experience told him it was true, the ship was doomed.  It lifted
reluctantly in the swell, he could feel the heavy, wallowing motion of the
roll, evidence there were tons of seawater down below.  He had to check,
though, and confirmed that the engine compartment was partly flooded.  His
Engineer wouldn't be able to get the pumps working.

   There were five people on the Yacht, three men and two women.  Two of
the men appeared to be the crew.  The other man and the women appeared to
be a family; man, wife and daughter.  Through Peters, he introduced
himself.

   "I am Lars Gundersson, Master of the SV Stavanger, this is Ivar Peters.
We are Norwegian."

   "American, sir," said the older man, "Robert Begg, my wife Margaret and
daughter Joanna.  These two are my crew," he indicated the other men,
"Hiram and Rufe.  I thank you for coming."

   "I see your ship will sink shortly.  I'm sorry, but I fear you will have
to accompany us on board my vessel."

   The Americans looked exhausted and hungry.  Clearly they'd experienced
an unpleasant couple of days on board the wallowing vessel.  Particularly
the women, seemed overjoyed to be getting off the thing.  Lars watched them
being rowed over to the Stavanger two at a time.  He sent Peters back with
the last crewman then went down to the saloon for a look around.

   Robert Begg had taken all the ship's papers and log, however, scattered
about were other things of interest.  When the skiff returned he had a box
of stuff waiting.

   "Where are the Americans?" he asked the crewman.

   "We took them down to the mess, Skipper, they were very hungry."

   "Good.  Come with me, let's have another look around."

   In the cabins there was a scattering of personal items.  They put some
of these in a sack to take back for the Americans.  However, in the main
cabin he found what he was looking for, a newspaper.

   "Schopf, do you see this?" the Skipper said, holding up a copy of the
'San Diego Chronicle,' "is this what I think it is?"

   "Sir!" said the crewman in shock, "America has declared war!"

   --------------------------------------------

   Immediately upon returning to the Stavanger, the Skipper called for the
Senior Officers to attend a meeting in his cabin.  Five of them trooped in,
the Engineer, 2nd Officer, 3rd Officer, Navigator and Sailing Master.  He
had them all sit down in the small cabin, on whatever they could find to
sit on.

   "Gentleman," he started, "the situation has changed.  The Americans have
declared war on Germany."

   There were general exclamations of shock and surprise.  This had not
entered their calculations.  Obviously, some kind of plan of action had to
be worked out.

   "Any suggestions?" asked the Skipper.

   "American harbours are obviously out," Theo said.

   "We will need to replenish supplies before the end of the month,"
commented the 3rd Officer, Erik Thorvald.

   "Perhaps a supply ship got out before the declaration?" suggested the
Engineer, "we should sail to the grid reference just in case."

   "What if they were interned?" said Theo, "how long should we wait for it
out there.  We will run out of fresh water before..."

   "South America, we should go to a South American port for supplies. 
That would be the safest option," suggested the Engineer.

   "But we'll be inspected by their Customs," protested the 2nd Officer,
"they're sure to discover..."

   "Yes," the Skipper agreed, "they'll discover that we're not what we
seem. We'll have to take what we need, from prizes."

   "This must include American ships from now on," the Engineer said.

   "Yes, you're correct, Engineer.  In the absence of official notification
I think we can assume that American vessels are now fair game."

   "What about our Guests, Skipper, are we going to tell them?" Theo asked.

   "I will," he said.  Standing up, he kicked the panel under his bed.  It
flicked open and he reached in and retrieved a uniform jacket and cap. 
Donning these, he left the cabin and went down the passageway to the mess.
Entering, he stood stiffly at attention before the startled Americans.  He
spied Peters acting as host to the famished crew of the Yacht.

   "Peters," he said, "you will translate, please.  Ladies and Gentlemen,"
he announced, "welcome to Seine Majestat's Schiffe 'Seeteufel'.  We are a
ship of war of the German Kaiser." The Americans looked at Lars Gundersson,
their mouths hanging open in shock.  "My name is Kapitan zur See Count von
Seydlitz.  I regret the deception." With that, he spun on his heels and
left them to absorb the news.

   --------------------------------------

   Joanna Begg sat with her back against the foreward capstan, writing. 
There was nothing much alse to do on the Seeteufel except grumble.  That
task was being ably accomplished by her Mother and Father and their two
crewmen.  She decided to keep a record of their capitivity, she was tired
of listening to the others' complaints.

   At first, her Father couldn't believe that the Germans would use a
windjammer as a warship.  He didn't know for what purpose such a vessel
could be employed.  He could only think of landing spies and saboteurs
somewhere down the American coast.  Joanna overheard the others talking
last night.  They were thinking of ways they could alert a passing ship.

   Her Mother said that they should think of the ladies.  That if they
antagonised the Germans then they might harm the women.  She thought it
best to go along with everything they said and perhaps they'd put them on a
passing ship or on Hawaii.

   "You seriously think," her Father had said, "that the Krauts are going
to put us ashore on American territory?  They're in disguise, for Christ's
sake.  They ain't going to let us go to spill the beans."

   Her Mother had complained about him blaspheming.  Her Father had told
her that that was the least of their worries.  It ended in an argument and
Hiram and Rufe came and sat with Joanna.

   'Dear diary,' she began, 'what I hate worst is the smell.  The men can
go topside and wash.  The Germans rig a shower in the rigging and all the
men get naked and stand under it in turns.  We women have to wait down
below.'

   'After a day on the Seeteufel, the Germans let us up on deck for a few
hours during daytime.  A crewman stands guard by us at all times armed with
a pistol in his belt.  Daddy has funny nicknames for each of them.'

   'We are only allowed between the bows and the foremast.  The Germans put
up a rope across the deck to stop us going aft.  They are very serious
about it as Daddy found out.'

   'Yesterday he walked aft to the rope and put his leg over.  The guard
went bezerk at him and pointed his pistol.  Daddy told us there was
something strange about the deck cargo.  He said he spotted a shiney piece
of metal on it and went to have a look.  He said he thought it was part of
a hinge.  What do you suppose they'd have a hinge on a stack of timber for?
He asked us.  I don't know, Daddy's the builder, I don't know about such
things.'

   Joanna looked up as they relieved the guard.  It was the guy her Father
called 'boggles.' He always had his head in a book.

   'Boggles' knew some English.  Joanna thought he understood more words
than he could speak.  Her Father had urged her to talk to him, to find out
anything she could.  Her Mother disapproved, but then she always
disapproved of everything she did.

   "What are you reading?" Joanna asked him as clearly as she could.

   "Gesichte...  ah...  History, Yes?" he answered.

   "What is your name?"

   "Rupert, as in Prinz Rupert von der Rhein, yes?"

   "Who?"

   "Is big leader in English Civil War, he capture Bristol for English
King. He came from Heidelburg, same as me."

   "You were named after him?"

   "Prinz Rupert, ja!" he beamed in pleasure.

   Later, when she told her Father all that she'd discovered, he shrugged
his shoulders.

   "So, I'm the Goddam Queen of Sheba!" he told her, "ask him where the
Hell we're going, ferchrissake!"

   --------------------------------------

   The Beggs had left San Diego 10 days ago for a cruise among the Channel
Islands before heading down to Tijuana.  A self-made millionaire, Robert
Begg had made a fortune constructing low-cost housing until he now ran one
of the biggest construction companies on the West Coast.

   The price of all this wealth had been heavy.  He barely knew his
daughter, his family was all but alienated from him, as he worked more than
12 hours a day building up the company.  He'd decided to buy the MV
Senator, go for cruises with his wife and daughter and recapture some sort
of family life.

   However, a sudden squall off San Diego had sprung some timbers on the
Yacht and water had contaminated the Diesel oil.  They'd been drifting for
three days before being rescued by the Seeteufel.

   --------------------------------------

   Von Sedlitz/Gunderson watched Olaf swinging from high in the rigging of
the mainmast.  The man was like a monkey with the eyes of an eagle, he
thought.  He held onto the ratline with one hand while pressing his
binoculars to his face.  Apparently satisfied with his observation, he let
go of the binoculars to let them dangle from his neck, then slid down the
rope to the maindeck.

   "Sir," he told his Captain, "too much smoke for a single ship.  They
look to be a small squadron of some sort...  or a convoy."

   "Warships!" von Seydlitz told the man, "there'll be no convoys this far
to the East.  The Americans are still 'single sailing'.  Theo!" he called,
"lower the sails.  Summon the Engineer...  start engines.  Helm, port 90,
come about!" He strode quickly aft calling out orders.  "Alarm, alarm,
everyone topside, now!"

   The hatches flew open as men tumbled out from down below.  Quickly they
ran to the masts to bring the canvas in.  This was a well-practiced
routine.

   Down in the engine room, the Engineer sent his Mechanics down the banks
of cylinders lighting the spirit preheaters for the two big, 1000
horsepower, M.A.N, submarine-type, Diesel engines.  He fitted the two crank
handles into their recesses on the massive crankcases and two men each
began to wind on them.  At the top of the mizzen mast, puffs of dense white
smoke emerged from the exhaust concealed alongside the thick length of
Baltic pinewood.

   The engines began to rock, emitting a slow, dull thudding.  The Engineer
walked down the catwalk between and opened the vent-piece on each cylinder
in turn.  With a wheel fixed onto each injector, he carefully adjusted the
fuel flow until he was satisfied with the colour of the flame.  At last, he
announced he was happy with the running of the engines and rang the
telegraph.  Watching the dial, he saw it curl into the 'full ahead' zone.
With a wave of his hands, he ordered the engines to be run up to full
speed.

   Topside, the ship vibrated, heeling over as the helm was swung
frantically to port.  Waves rose up over the bows and crashed onto the
fo'cstle to drain away through the scuppers.

   "Quick!" 'Boggles' said to the Beggs, "down below, down below."

   Joanna stumbled and fell as the family sprinted for the hatch. 
'Boggles' stopped and helped her to her feet.  Before she followed the
family down the steps, she saw a group of the crew run to the stack of
timber on the deck.  Like magic, a secret door opened and the men
disappeared inside.  Before 'Boggles' escorted her down the ladder she saw
a large, black, cylindrical object inside.

   "A gun!" her Father said in astonishment when she told him later, "this
ship is armed!"

   --------------------------------------

   HMS Sussex was a County Class cruiser of the Royal Navy armed with 6
inch guns.  Her Captain was Commander Alexander Debenham, a Regular Naval
Officer of long experience.

   Four Counties, HMS Sussex, HMS Suffolk, HMS Northampton and HMS
Cornwall, were on their way to coal at San Diego before continuing down
into the Atlantic on their voyage home.  They had been operating out of
Hong Kong for the last 6 months.  The crews were happy to be going home.

   Debenham had no idea that there was a disguised German raider loose off
the West Coast of North America.  He was, though, ordered to keep watch on
neutral shipping and to examine suspicious vessels.  Therefore, he was
interested when the lookout spotted the masts of a sailing ship well to the
South of them.  He was further interested when the vessel took in its
sails.

   "He's gone," the lookout reported via the telephone, "sir, he was there
and now he's gone."

   "Well he couldn't have vanished into thin air," he told the lookout,
irritated, "look again!"

   "He dropped his sails, sir, then turned away!"

   "Captain, perhaps we should check it out?" his 1st Officer suggested,
"it's very suspicious, don't you think?"

   The Commander of the squadron was Rear Admiral Arthur.  At this time he
was in his cabin on the flagship, HMS Suffolk.  Commander Debenham decided
to report the sighting to the leader of the Squadron.  The Admiral detached
Northampton because it had the largest reserve of coal.  Consequently it
bore off from the rear of the squadron and gradually worked up to full
speed, giving chase.

   ------------------------------------

   On board the Seeteufel, the lookout gave the terrible news.  After 20
minutes on their new bearing it was obvious that one of the warships was
pursuing them.

   The crew was at action stations, the two 88mm Krupp guns loaded and
their 'timber cargo' disguise ready to fall away.  Below, the magazine and
shell room crews were anxiously waiting.  Olaf was swinging from the
mainmast reporting their pursuer's position.

   Despite its aggressive pretentions, the Seeteufel still only had a
wooden hull.  It was just a sailing ship with a couple of naval guns
grafted on it.  It was no-more capable of a stand up seafight then flying.
Although it was fitted with a couple of powerful Diesels, in a long chase,
it couldn't possibly outrun a cruiser such as the Northampton.

   Von Seydlitz was well aware of the precarious situation.  He was the
younger of two brothers in a family steeped in military and Naval service.
From Koenigsburg, Capital of Royal Prussia, seat of the Knights of the
Sword, von Seydlitz had behind him centuries of tradition that said that to
strike one's colours was unthinkable.

   In the flag locker, ready to raise at a moments notice, was the huge
battle ensign of the Imperial German Navy.  As well, von Seydlitz had a
personal pennant, a white flag emblazoned with the coat of arms of the von
Seydlitz family, featuring the black cross of the Teutonic Knights, the
Knights of the Sword.

   Von Seydlitz, though, had one possible trump card.  Below the waterline
the Imperial Dockyards in the Jade River had fitted her with torpedo tubes,
one on each side of the ship.  All he needed was for the British cruiser to
stop close on his broadside and he could hit it with a torpedo before she
could react.

   "Load fish," he ordered down the voice tube, "open outer doors and
pressurise tubes...  then stand by."

   Grimly, he ordered the Seeteufel to slow and come about to await the
British.

   ----------------------------------------------

   'Dear Diary," wrote Joanna Begg, 'we are back in our corner of the mess
room.  The Germans have closed the shutters over the windows so it is quite
dark.'

   'Rupert is sitting at the table.  For once he's not reading.  Instead
he's looking around him nervously.'

   'There was a lot of banging and shouting from up top.  Now it's deathly
quiet, even the booming from the engines has stopped.  I don't know what's
worse, the noise or the silence.'

   'Hiram said he thought it was just another drill.  He used to be in the
Navy so he knows about such things.  Daddy argued with him, he said this
was different from the other drills.  He said the Germans seemed in a
panic, as if a Navy ship was chasing them.'

   'I do hope the Navy has found us.  Hiram said this ship is no match for
even the smallest American warship.  He said the hull is wooden and they
wouldn't dare get into a fight.'

   'Daddy, Hiram and Rufe are making plans.  They say they'll try and
signal the Navy to let them know we're here in case they fire on us.'

   -------------------------------------

   "What are you writing?" Rupert asked Joanna, "always you writing, what
are you writing?" His voice was not interrogative.  Rather, Joanna thought,
he sounded frightened and wanted to take his mind off what was happening on
the deck above.

   "A diary, I'm writing a diary," she replied.

   "Can I see?" he asked.

   "No, you can't!" she told him, alarmed.

   "Oh," he looked disappointed, "secret?"

   "Yes, secret!"

   "Ah!"

   "Can you tell us what's happening?"

   "Not sure," he said, dropping his voice, "I think ship coming.  I think
British Navy.  Is not good for us."

   "What is to happen to *us*?" she asked.

   "Um, not sure.  Maybe we fool them, ja?  Maybe we won't have to fight
them!"

   "Fight them?  How?" Joanna asked, shocked.

   "With cannons.  Is all right, we fool them, you see."

   Rupert didn't inspire confidence, however.

   ---------------------------------------

   The distant ship resolved itself into a four-funnelled, British cruiser.
Her Morse lamp began flashing, asking the Seeteufel to hove to.  That was
pointless as the sailing ship had been stopped for 25 minutes.

   But instead of approaching the Seeteufel on her port side, it approached
her on her port forequarter, coming to a stop across her bows.  This was
tactically the worst possible position for the German ship.  Because of the
foremast, the Seeteufel could not fire her guns dead ahead.  The torpedo
tube was fixed, not trainable, so it wasn't possible to aim it at the
British ship.  Lastly, because the German raider was stopped she was unable
to maneuvre in any way.  She was helpless.

   Von Seydlitz was alarmed.  There was no choice but to bluff their way
through.  The Northampton's lamp began flashing again.  2nd Officer Theo
Seekt translated the signal for the Captain.

   "'Norwegian vessel, please identify...  last and next ports of call...
cargo'."

   "Ok, signal, repeat, 'SV Stavanger, Oslo, from San Diego to Suva,
timber,' see if they accept that." Soon the reply came back from the
British warship.

   "Bon voyage, Stavanger," repeated the 2nd Officer.

   "Bon voyage?" asked the Captain in surprise.

   "Yes sir, it's French."

   "I know it's French," Von Seydlitz snapped, "they chase us halfway
across the Pacific to say, 'bon voyage?"

   "Apparently, these English are very friendly."

   "Are you trying to be amusing?"

   "Of course not, sir," said the 2nd Officer, smiling.

   --------------------------------------

   Commander Mortlock of HMS Northampton had followed his instructions to
the letter.  The flagship had ordered him to intercept a vessel to the
South of the Squadron and identify.  It was not explained why, he was not
briefed as to its strange behaviour, Mortlock merely assumed it was a
routine check of a neutral vessel.  Happily, he signalled the sailing
ship's identification back to the flaghip.

   'Flag to Northampton,' the reply came back, 'suggest you examine
Stavanger's papers and interview Master.'

   "What?" said Mortlock, aghast.  The Northampton was already steaming
hard to catch up with the rest of the Squadron.  He read the signal again.
"Examine papers?  Interview Master?  What in blazes for?"

   "Perhaps it's a U boat in disguise?" said his 1st Officer, chuckling.

   "A very good disguise, Wilson," he told the Officer, "very well, let's
turn around and have another look."

   ---------------------------------------

   Meanwhile, the Seeteufel had restarted her engines and was motoring hard
to the South West.  Von Seydlitz was surprised by his luck but was taking
no further chances.  The ship was under full power, exceeding her design
speed of 16 knots.

   Gone was any hope of making the 'Mid-Ocean Meeting Point,' that grid in
the Central Pacific of about 100 square kilometres where German raiders
could expect to meet supply ships, called 'Milk Cows.' Instead, he decided
to head for the Marquesas, where he could replenish their fresh water. 
Perhaps too, he might find an island trader and capture it for supplies.

   By the time Northampton resumed the pursuit, Seeteufel was over the
horizon on a diverging course.  Reluctantly, Mortlock had to signal the
flagship that he'd lost sight of the sailing ship.  He was ordered to
return to the Squadron, he'd burned up enough coal.

   Down below in the mess hall, Joanna was feeling a little seasick.  The
ship was pitching and rolling in the manner of all sailing ships under
auxiliary power and without sails.  She sat at a mess table, her knuckles
white as she gripped the edge of it for support.

   Above, the shutters were opened allowing light to once again filter in.
It was stifling hot, all the portholes were shut to prevent water from
coming in as the vessel pounded South towards the Marquesas.  Rupert had
taken off his shirt, his torso was shining with perspiration.  He was
sitting opposite her.  She watched his silver dogtags swinging to and fro
across his chest in fascination.

   His body was lean and sinewy, skin well-toned from months at sea. 
Joanna became aware of his very maleness.  She also became aware of her
blouse soaking wet and clinging to her skin.  She felt dirty and smelly,
her hair ratty and tangled.  Idly, she wondered what Rupert was thinking of
her.  Strange, such things now seemed to be important to her.

   Her Mother looked ill and miserable.  She was slumped in a corner with a
pillow behind her that someone had found for her.  The men talked quietly
among themselves in the other corner.  Joanna supposed they were plotting
something.  She suspected her Father wanted her to keep Rupert occupied and
out of the way so they could talk.

   "We fool British," Rupert explained, "we go now to get supplies.  Maybe
Captain will let you go?"

   "Do you think so?" she brightened.

   Ja, prisoners is burden," he told her, "they use supplies...  will be in
way if we have to fight.  Is not safe for you here."

   "Where are we going?" she asked.

   "They not tell me.  I think, maybe, we go to meet supply ship somewhere.
Or go to French Polynesien to capture ships, get water from island, ja?  If
we meet ship, they will put you aboard and take you to South America,
maybe. Maybe leave you on island to be rescued by French?  These are
possibilities, I think."

   Later, she passed on all she'd learnt to her Father.  He nodded and
looked slyly at Hiram and Rufe.

   -----------------------------------------

   Joanna had had little to do with boys during her schooling except in a
strictly confined setting.  At St Mary's Diocesan Residential High School
they held four Balls a year to which boys from the nearby Catholic Boys
Boarding School were invited.

   The Sisters and Brothers stalked the dance floor like a school of
prowling sharks.  If a couple seemed to be getting too close, they'd
strike, separating the offending couple or insisting they return to
opposite sides of the hall.  There, they'd try and peek at one another
through the crowds of dancers for the rest of the evening.

   Despite the strictures, love did blossom, and many a couple went to
extraordinary lengths to meet each other alone.  For Joanna, though, no-one
had caught her eye, or indeed, no boy had sought to slip her a single rose.
No poem had been pressed into her palm by a giggling go-between.

   She worked hard at her lessons, absorbing herself in Greek and Latin,
the Classics.  Her dream was of one day bonding in love and marriage,
spiritually and with the blessing of the Church.  The boy would have to be
special and she was sure she'd know the instant they met.

   Her body she would offer to her husband on their wedding night.  It was
a precious gift, she believed, for the sanctity of the marriage bed.

   -----------------------------------

   'Dear Diary.  The German Captain, von Seydlitz, came to see us this
afternoon and told us we were heading for the Marquesas in French
Polynesia. He told us we'd be there within seven days.'

   'We are now back under sail.  The Germans have stopped the engines.  I'm
glad, because the noise and the vibration were starting to get us all down.
The Germans let us all back on deck.  Mother is looking much better now she
has some fresh air.  It's very hot as we're now well into the tropics.  We
women still haven't had a decent wash, although the Germans rigged a screen
of sailcloth so Mother and I could at least sponge ourselves down.  We took
turns, with Mother standing guard for me like a Mother Superior.'

   'All the Germans, though, are behaving themselves impeccably around us.
Some of our guards are not very talkative and just scowl at us.  Some, like
Rupert, chat to me as best they can.  Only the one they call Peters can
speak English really well.  Many of the others have some English but
they're hard to understand.  I can understand Rupert, though, even if he
does get some of his sentences around the wrong way.'

   'Rupert brought me some clean clothes to change into so we could launder
ours.  I had to wash Mother's, she's not used to doing laundry.  The
clothes he brought were one size to big and I feel like a clown at the
circus.  The linen shirt is rough on my skin and the short trousers baggy.
They feel cool in the heat, however, much cooler than our own clothes. 
Instead of a bonnet, Rupert brought me a straw hat.  Mother said I looked
like a boy.  I replied that at least I wouldn't have any of the crew
bothering me in that case.  She shut up, but had an evil look on her face.'

   'Mother told me that Rupert was being too attentive.  She said I musn't
encourage him but Father said I should get as much out of him as I could.
He insists that I tell him everything we talk about, no matter how trivial.
He and Mother argue about it.  She told him that he was whoring his own
daughter.  He was very angry about that and they didn't speak to each other
for a whole day.  Father whispered to me that I should get even friendlier
with Rupert.  I'm not sure what he expects me to do, let him kiss and touch
me?  I'm not sure I could go through with that.'

   --------------------------------------

   Von Seydlitz peered through the binoculars at the thin black streak on
the horizon.  Sea birds now squawked and swooped around the Seeteufel and
schools of dolphins kept them company.  He turned to Theo similarly
occupied.

   "There is a landing on the other side.  Streams run from the top of the
island but dry out quickly if there hasn't been any rain."

   "Inhabitants?" asked the 2nd Officer.

   "There are campsites.  Locals from the bigger island to the Southwest,
Eiao, collect eggs, shellfish etcetera.  They stay for a week, perhaps,
then return.  There is not a big enough permanent source of fresh water for
year round habitation."

   "So, you think there's anyone there now?"

   "Who knows?  In any case, we are a Norwegian timber carrier stopping for
fresh water and fruit."

   "Should we go to the bigger island, perhaps?  We might replenish
completely?"

   "Too dangerous!  There's a French Resident with a radio.  It's better if
we have no contact at all with any of the locals.  In the North anchorage
we should be safe enough.  The water is deep enough for us to anchor
beneath the cliffs."

   Forward, Joanna and Rupert stood together watching the tiny island draw
closer.

   "What is it called," she asked the young German sailor.

   "Hatutu," he replied, "is not very big...  no peoples."

   Two other crewmen yelled something at Rupert who turned away, red-faced
with embarrassment.

   "What did they say?" she asked him, curious.

   "Is nothing," he shrugged.  She pressed him, however, and he reluctantly
told her that it was nothing he could tell a lady.

   "Go on!" she urged, laughing, "I've heard worse things!"

   "They say...  things," he told her, plainly uncomfortable, "bad things
about...  you and me.  I can't tell."

   "What?" she continued, "give me a hint?"

   After a long pause he said, "they say that you and I...  that you and I
should find someplace on island to...  to..."

   "Oh, I see," she replied.  Now she shared his embarrassment and stood
silently staring with him out to sea at the island.  She felt a riot of
emotions, it disturbed her.  She was too aware of the young man standing
beside her, aware that went beyond mere acquaintance or even companionship.
She went and sat with her parents.  When she looked at her hands they were
trembling.

   "What did he say to you?" her Mother asked, scowling at her daughter.

   "Nothing, nothing at all," she replied, hastily.

   "Maybe," her Father said quietly, "if they let us go to the island you
could take him for a long walk?"

   "Robert!" her Mother said, aghast.

   "Hiram's going to make a run for it," he continued, "keep Boggles off
our backs.  Hiram's going to see if he can find a canoe or something. 
There's a bigger island nearby, he says, with a radio.  He's knows these
islands real well.  Visited them a couple of times when he was in the
Navy."

   "Robert, you can't ask her to do that," her Mother complained.

   "Margaret, we're at war with them ferchrissake!  She'll be all right. 
That Boggles is besotted, he wouldn't do anything..."

   "That's what I'm afraid of," his wife told him, "that German *has* a
crush on her and for all we know our daughter has a crush on *him*."

   "That right, Honey?  You fancy that Kraut?" her Father asked.

   "No," Joanna retorted, "of course not.  How can you say those things? 
I'm not going to go walking with him.  You can't ask me to do those
things!"

   "You'll do as your told!" her Father replied, "it's your Goddam duty as
an American."

   "It's not!" she cried, "I'm a civilian." She got up and ran crying to
the rope barrier.  Rupert hurried over, concern on his face.

   "What's wrong?" he asked.

   "Go away!" she yelled.  Tears streaked her face.  Rupert retreated,
confused.

   -----------------------------------

   "We'll send each Watch over in turn," von Seydlitz told 2nd Officer Theo
Seekt, "I want to be able to get underway immediately if we are discovered.
Those on shore will have to wait behind until we can return for them."

   "What about the prisoners?"

   "Ah!  We may leave them here, I haven't decided.  If we do, we'll have
to make sure they have enough water and food to last until they're rescued.
In any case, send them ashore with the first Watch."

   "Perhaps we should separate the women and men?"

   "For why?  Where are they going to run to?  Set that young Heidelburg
lad to watch over them."

   "Unteroffizier Rupert Sachsenburger?  Yes, I don't think he'll find the
duty too onerous," Theo laughingly agreed.

   "Yes, let the crew have some fun and relax."

   The Seeteufel anchored close inshore and an armed party lowered a boat
immediately and went ashore.  There was a tense hour or so while they
combed the island.  Eventually, they signalled from the beach that the
island was uninhabited.  Upon hearing the news, the crew relaxed and the
first men of Gold Watch began to go ashore for rest and recreation.

   Lastly, Rupert announced to the prisoners that they were allowed to go
ashore.  Joanna was sullen as they rowed to the beach.  She felt Rupert's
eyes on her, still with the same confusion he'd displayed when she'd sent
him away earlier.

   A team was already carrying water casks back to the beach as the
prisoners landed.  They explained there was plenty of water not far inland.
There was a pool, they said, where they could bathe.

   Upon hearing this, Joanna perked up.  It had been so long since she had
a decent wash.  Her Parents and the their American crewmen agreed to
accompany her with Rupert tagging along as guard.

   They trooped up into the dense bush, following the directions given by
the water party.  Eventually, they found it, a pool surrounded by ferns
with the carved image of a Polynesian God watching over it.  The men waited
down the track to give the ladies some privacy.  Rupert watched the little
exchanges between the Americans, a wink, an inclination of the head, that
put him on alert.  He touched the pistol in his belt for comfort.

   The cool water was envigorating.  Joanna sat hunched under a trickling
waterfall wearing just her cotton blouse.  On the rocks she had a change of
clothes, the shirt and trousers that Rupert had given her.  Reluctantly,
the women got out to allow the men to have a turn.  Joanna dressed in her
borrowed clothes and went back down the track to the men.  Her Father,
Hiram and Rufe trooped back up the track.  Before he left, her Father said,
"Say, why don't you take Boggles for a stroll, somewhere?" She scowled at
her grinning Father.  Rupert looked on, still confused.

   "Joanna, you don't have to do this?" she told her daughter.  She sat in
silence, her emotions, again, running riot.

   "What is wrong?" asked Rupert, concerned.  Margaret Begg moved away,
herself worried about the whole situation.

   "Nothing!" Joanna mumbled.

   "Is something I say?" he continued, "I sorry if I offend." Joanna shook
her head.  He reached into his pocket.  He brought out a wooden object and
gave it to her.  "Here," he said, "is for you!"

   It was a carved wooden clown with strings attached.  The arms and legs
were hinged, when Joanne pulled the strings the limbs moved.  The clown's
face had big eyes and a red smiling face.  She began to cry.

   "What is wrong?" he repeated, "I make mistake?"

   "No!" she squeaked through her tears, "it's nice!"

   "I make it," he continued, "for you."

   Joanna collapsed in tears, burying her face in her hands.  Rupert looked
at her Mother, frightened.  "I do nothing," he told her, "I swear!"
Margaret shook her head slowly.

   Joanna watched the trickle of water over the basalt rock as it made its
way down to the sea.  Gradually she made up her mind.  She stared at the
young German, looked into his wide innocent eyes.  'How can anyone be so
stupid?' she thought.  'A blond, blue-eyed, devastatingly handsome, 21 year
old Junior Officer, and as thick-headed as two short planks of cut timber!'
"Come," she said to his sweet, guileless face, "come, let's go for a walk."

   ---------------------------------------------------

   They picked their way slowly down the rough track to the beach.  Some of
the German crew were cavorting naked in the surf.  Some appeared to be
drinking.  Rupert hurried Joanna down the beach and over a rock outcrop. 
Some of his comrades jeered, thankfully they were unintelligible to her.

   They walked for kilometres around the small island.  Each time Rupert
suggested they stop, Joanna urged him to keep going.  She wanted to put as
much distance between the others as possible.  Eventually they arrived at a
cliff, it dropped precipitously to the sea below.  Seabirds circled,
Gannets and Albatrosses, shrieking against the intrusion.  There was a
rookery further along the cliff.  Joanna didn't want to disturb the chicks
so she suggested they stopped.

   Joanna's legs throbbed with the effort.  Rupert set himself against a
rock and took in the cool breeze on his face.  He smiled, then fished into
his pocket and brought out a Meerschaum pipe.  He fumbled with a tobacco
pouch and pressed a plug into the pipe, lighting it with a brass Ronson. 
The blue smoke was carried instantly away in the sea breeze.  He had a
contented smile on his face.

   Sitting beside him, she asked what he did before the war.  It was the
only question she could think of.

   "Navy," he told her, "school, then Navy.  I leave Gymnasium 1914.  War
declared, so I join Navy.  My friends join Navy.  I want to be with my
friends.  They send me to Cadet School in Kiel, make me an Officer.  My
Mother is Norwegian.  I serve in Hochseeflotte...  how you say,
Battlefleet, ja?  Am Unteroffizier, how you say in American Navy, 'Ensign,'
ja?  Am on Linienshiff Kaiserin when Von Seydlitz come and ask who speaks
Norwegian.  I know a few words from my Mother, so, he says, 'ok, you must
come and serve on Seeteufel.' We train for long time to be like Norwegians.
Von Seydlitz say we must think and act Norwegian at all times.  We must
fool English, he say."

   Joanna smiled at his quaint use of English.  She thought his way of
speaking was cute, almost like a child's.  "Why a sailing ship?" she asked.

   "Is not something British think of.  Wooden ship stupid for warship, ja?
Wood catch fire, go boom!"

   "Yes," she agreed, "if you get discovered your ship will be sunk."

   "Ja, sunk!  British sink us.  You know?" he continued, "that Britisher,
we have torpedos.  We could sink British Kreuzer like that," he snapped his
fingers.

   "Why didn't you?"

   "Ach, Kreuzer stopped in wrong place.  Is bad luck."

   "There were probably hundreds of men on that ship!" Her voice had more
than a hint of reproach.

   "Ja," Rupert agreed, "and 50 men on Seeteufel.  Is war, ja?"

   "Ja," she aped.  He was right, of course, war is war.  "Yes," she
repeated, sadly, "that's true!"

   As the sun began to dip, they decided to head back to the beach.  Light
was visibly fading when they returned.  They both stared in horror at the
wide blue bay.  Right under the far cliffs, where the Seeteufel had
anchored that morning, the sea ran unhindered onto the rocks.  The ship had
gone.

   ---------------------------------------

   It had been noon when the Radioman ran up to the wheelhouse to find the
Skipper.  Von Seydlitz had found a deckchair and was peacefully dozing in
it when the crewman stood over him.

   "What's the matter?" he asked.

   "Intercepted message, Sir, shall I read it?" The Skipper nodded.  "SS
Nantucket Respect to Papeete Radio.  Position 9'31"S by 155'6"E..."

   "That's close!" von Seydlitz remarked, "American?"

   "Yes, a whale factory ship.  She's on her way home from the Antarctic.
Apparently she wants to coal at Tahiti."

   "Does she now?" Von Seydlitz thought for a minute.  "Theo!" he called,
"get the crew back, we're going hunting."

   ------------------------------------------

   "What are we to do?  Where are my Parents?" Joanna cried, "they've left
us here."

   "I think that maybe they spot ship and go to investigate.  Or maybe they
run away?" he shrugged, "she will return for us, you'll see!"

   "For you," she corrected, "they'll return for you.  Remember they're
going to leave we prisoners here to be rescued." Rupert nodded grudgingly,
clearly unenthusiastic about the idea.  Joanna thought of Hiram and
wondered if he'd got away.  Perhaps he was now paddling to that nearby
island to summon help.  "Do you suppose the French have a warship nearby?"
she asked.

   "I don't know," he shrugged, "is possible.  French have base at Tahiti,
is maybe 4 or 5 days away."

   "And how long do you think the Seeteufel will be?" Again he shrugged.

   "Depends."

   Joanna wondered what to do.  Should she pass on the news that Hiram may
shortly alert the French that there was a German raider in the vicinity? 
Should she say nothing and maybe let the Seeteufel fall into a trap?  Would
the German ship return in any case?  For all they knew it was now battling
a French Squadron over the horizon somewhere.  She thought suddenly that
her Parents may be on board.  On board a wooden warship in a seafight
against modern guns.  She shivered.

   "You cold?" the ever-attentive Rupert asked.  "Here," he said pulling a
jacket out of his pack.  Carefully he draped it over her shoulders. 
Delicately, he put his arm around her.  Reluctantly she leaned against him
as fatigue began to overcome her.  They sat down against a boulder.  Rupert
pulled out some sandwichs and passed one to her.  Together they ate in
silence staring out at the empty sea.

   ----------------------------------------

   On the other side of the island, Hiram collapsed in exhaustion.  Half
the day he'd searched for a canoe or something and had drawn a blank.  He'd
found the fishermen's camp, but there'd been slim pickings there.

   The other island looked tantalisingly close, but he knew it was maybe
four or five miles away across shark infested waters.  At last he thought
he'd make a fire on the beach.  Hopefully someone may spot it and come to
investigate.  Dragging his tired body upright, he began to search for
firewood.

   -------------------------------------------



   "Radio?" von Seydlitz asked.

   "Clear, sir," came the reply.

   "Lookout?"

   "Nothing, sir, all clear."

   "Come about on her lee, Theo.  Guns?"

   "Loaded and ready, sir."

   "Run up the flag, Theo.  Unmask the guns!"

   The walls of the 'timber deck cargo' collapsed outwards with a crash. 
The two 88mm guns swivelled rapidly around to point at the American ship.
Above, the big German ensign was run quickly up the Mizzen to unfurl like a
great sheet.  Von Seydlitz's personal pennant broke out on top of the
mainmast.

   "Ahoy American vessel," Peters shouted, "hove to!" At first there was no
response from the startled crew of the whaler.  "Do not attempt to use your
radio," Peters continued.

   "Fire across their bows," the Skipper ordered.  'Crash,' the ship
shuddered and heeled slightly with the recoil of the big gun.  Brown smoke
drifted behind them.

   "Sir!" yelled the radioman, "they're sending!"

   "Number two, fire!" von Seydlitz barked.  This time the gun was aimed at
a point behind the American vessel's bridge, where the radio shack was
located.  With brutal efficiency, the shell struck its mark, blowing pieces
of timber and metal high into the sky.  The American's crew could now be
seen running around on deck waving and shouting.  Several jumped into the
sea.  "That's got their attention!" The Captain said with satisfaction.

   ----------------------------------

   Hiram had a good pile of firewood on the beach.  He went back into the
dense undergrowth for one last piece he'd seen sticking out earlier.  He
siezed the wood in both hands and pulled.  Reluctantly it slid a little way
out from it's blanket of scrub.  When he saw what he was holding, he fell
back in laughter.  It was the prow of a canoe.

   -------------------------------------

   On the other side of the island, Rupert and Joanna settled down amongst
the dunes.  Rupert had made a crude lean-to of woven palm leaves and this
offered them a little shelter.  He made a fire and they boiled water in an
old tin they found discarded in the sands.  Rupert had a little coffee and
they drank it hot and black.  She accepted his arm around her again and
cuddled him to sleep.
   KATZMAREK(c)

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