Chapter 27 - Heading for Spain

The boatswain has kept his promise and Gammelnok's secret is safe.

The crew though are curious as to how Gammelnok escaped detection.

The consensus seems to be that he might have hidden himself in the big soup pot. It would be big enough to hide a small person, but small enough to escape the customs officer's attention.

Let them believe what they think. Two persons on board knows better but are keeping quiet.

Moving northwards to Japan, then southwards to Hong Kong and Singapore, they do not have to change the clocks too often, but from there on and until they reach the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, its back to half an hour a day as when they crossed the Pacific ocean towards New Zealand.

Having finally negotiated the Suez Canal without getting stuck, they are now in the eastern Mediterranean and heading towards the homeland of the below deck crew.

Anticipation is growing the closer they get to the Strait of Gibraltar. As the rock is spotted, the Spanish crew boo and shake their fists. This disputed territory in their view, belong to Spain but has been part of Great Britain since around the time Gammelnok was born.

Maritime traffic is intense around the narrow strait and care has to be taken to join the queue and stay in lane.

But they make it and the ship should now be heading for Cádiz in Andalusia. Last port of call before England. Gammelnok is getting very excited  at the prospect of soon being able to reach his garden pond. The below deck crew are equally exited to be docking in their homeland, albeit at the wrong end of the peninsula.

But there is a change of plan. The ship is ordered into Algeciras within sight of the Rock of Gibraltar. Some urgent cargo needs to be shipped between the two ports.

Gammelnok is not disappointed at all. He has studied the map of southern Spain and discovered that Algeciras suits him a lot better than Cádiz. He had been planning to leave ship and try to make contact with the family of the Woodcarver he met in the Christmas Cave in Holland and who had carved him an image to be used as a passport in Andalusia.

But Cádiz port is situated far from the mainland on a peninsula. There would never be time enough to get ashore, find who he wanted to see and get back on board before the ship sailed for England. In Algeciras however it would be far easier to slip ashore and reach the woods and mountainous region just to the west of town. 

With his carved passport, Gammelnok expects he can find the Woodcarver's family fairly easily, pay his respects and return to the ship in time before it leaves for the port for Cádiz.

As soon as it is dark, Gammelnok makes his way down the gangway, this being his first attempt to get ashore since being rescued of the rocks outside the English port nearly a year ago. Surprised as to how difficult this is, the steps being wider apart than he is used to, he scrambles partly on his behind and sometimes on his knees and he finally makes it down. He crosses the quay finding his land legs after a short while and makes it through the port gate into the city. Keeping to the shadows he heads west and soon reaches the outskirts.

But now he needs help and transport. He sees a gang of youths approaching and creeps deeper into the shadows. Too late. They have spotted him and slowly encircle his hiding place. 

"What is this then." the leader exclaims with some bravado. It was not every day they come across a bearded midget, and they intend to have some fun. Poking Gammelnok with a stick makes him hiss and snarl in good old GammelDansk. They stand back in surprise, daring each other to try again.

"OK" the bravest of them says. "Let us see what you have in your bag." He slowly approaches Gammelnok and stretches out his hand to grab the Haversack. Once again Gammelnok hisses, spits and swears in the foulest way he knows how. Not enough though to deter thugs used to gang warfare. They grab the Haversack while Gammelnok watches in despair. It is turned upside down and emptied onto the ground. But the only thing that falls out is the carved image of Gammelnok, his passport to Andalusia.

The gang leader picks it up, looks at in amazement and then looks at Gammelnok.

All hostility is gone. Friendly smiles all around and both the carving and Haversack are handed back.

What just happened? Gammelnok is puzzled but relieved to have his Haversack safely slung around his neck and shoulder. He is obviously surprised that no other object had fallen out or that the gang leader had found nothing else inside. Silently Gammelnok thanks his mother again for helping him out in an emergency.

Now the gang leader signals for Gammelnok to follow them into the night. Reluctantly he does so, as he is well aware he cannot outrun them nor escape.

They move silently westwards into wooded hills and are soon swallowed up by the night. This goes on for hours, and Gammelnok starts to worry about missing his ship's departure. What can he do? Can he get back to the port in time?

Finally, dawn starts and the sun rises in the east casting long shadows over the eerie landscape.

Gammelnok is now seriously worried. His chances of getting back on board in time are diminishing by the minute.

The group reaches a large open area in the woods, with gipsy caravans circled along the outskirts and with a large fire burning in the centre.