Chapter 28 - All hope gone

Having travelled all night with the gang land group, Gammelnok is close to despair, knowing he is going to miss the departure of his ship that will take him to his Garden Pond in England.

He is now presented to the group elders, who are sitting around the fire enjoying breakfast.

The youth who brought him here is standing next to him, towering but not looking the least threatening.

He explains to the elders about how Gammelnok comes to be here. He explains about the Andalusian passport. Gammelnok is asked to produce it.

Handed from hand to hand among the group of elders, there seems no doubt, that they considers it to be genuine.

Gammelnok is asked to explain, and hurriedly relates how he met the Woodcarver in the Christmas Cave in Holland nearly a year ago and wanting to pay his respect and thanks to the family and friends of this generous person.

He also tries to convey the urgency of reaching the ship in Algeciras port that will take him to his Garden Pond in England.

Eventually the elders agree to send a runner down to the coast. But it will take a few hours for the round trip. Meanwhile, they are content to listen to Gammelnok's story, feed him and show him around the camp.

Eventually the runner returns with bad news. The ship was getting ready to leave port for Cádiz. No way to get their guest down there before cast off.

There is much discussion as to what to do. Eventually, someone has a bright idea. The horse and cart used to transport timber to Holland is due in a few hours. Maybe it can be used to transport Gammelnok along the coastal road of Costa de la Luz and reach Cádiz before the ship continues its journey north to England.

When the horseman arrives with his cart, it is put to him that his help is needed. For old time’s sake and the memory of the failed attempt to rescue Gammelnok last time, he agrees to try. Although both he and his horse are tired after their long journey south, they set out along the track leading to the coastal road.

It will be a race against time.

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Meanwhile aboard the ship, the below deck crew are settling down for lunch.

It does not take long before someone notices that Gammelnok is missing. Questions are asked but nobody remember seeing him since dinner the night before.

Then the boatswain starts to behave strangely, patting worktops and shelves. Moving things around mumbling "Where are you Gammelnok, show yourself. This is no laughing matter." This carries on for some time and eventually he gives up, saying "He is not here. We have lost him."

He sits down at the table, distraught. Asked to explain himself, he eventually relates the tale of how the customs officer failed to find anything during the search of the ship when they arrived in New Zealand.

Time for reflection.

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On the coastal road the old horse is struggling along. Not being used to fast travel it falters every now and then and the driver has to stop for a while. At this pace, it will probably take them the same time as it will take the ship to reach their destination. Providing nothing goes wrong along the route.

At one point when the road follows the coast closely, they think they can see the old rusty freighter some way ahead of them.

More speed needed, but that proves counterproductive. The horse tires and swerves onto the verge and the waggon sink into the soft sand.

Gammelnok is of no help at all in the attempt to pull the waggon free. His shoulders do not even reach the bed of the waggon, so pushing is not an option.

He is asked to try and lead the horse by the reins while the horseman pushes from behind. After several hours of effort they manage to get the waggon back onto the road. They move slowly forward, all three of them exhausted by the efforts of the last few hours.

It is well after dark when they reach the narrow strip of road that leads across the water to connect with the peninsula that contains the port of Cádiz.

They finally reach the port area. The gates are closed for the night. They park up, crawl into the waggon trying to get some sleep before dawn when they hope to enter the port area although they have no legitimate reason to do so.

Inside the port area, Dockers have been busy throughout the night finishing the loading of the old rusty vessel that Gammelnok is trying to reach.

When the port gates open, the sleepy guard lets the waggon through without a second glance, assuming that it being there in the early hours is reason enough to let it proceed.

The port is big, with cruise liners, container ships and navy vessels lining the quays. They finally locate the general cargo area, spot the vessel they are looking for, only to see the gangway being lifted and the mooring ropes being pulled on board.

The ship slowly pulls away from the quay. On the aft deck, two young sailors watch the dock area as they move further out into the harbour.

One of them spots the horse and waggon with Gammelnok standing as high as he can get, staring forlornly at his ship, all hope gone.

The young sailors wave, remembering the day they rescued Gammelnok from the rocks after he was shipwrecked. Gammelnok waves back.

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To be continued..?