Argosy: The Short Story Magazine — page 92: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

g2 DAVID BEATY The steel gates opened. “‘ I am Olivarez,’’ the man said when they were through them. Now that there was room, they could shake hands. ‘‘ I am the man who is so much in your debt.” “The tugs did the job,’’ Kelston said, ‘‘ I expect they’d have found her without me.” “TI do not think so.”” The shipowner’s tone was quite definite. ** Not before darkness. She had been blown well out of position.” He seemed determined to pin the credit, like a medal, on Kelston’s breast. They walked along the edge of the quay. A few feet away, a ribbon of illuminated water lapped contentedly against the stone. “* Anyway,” the pilot said uncomfortably, ‘“‘ glad they found her. How far away are they now? ”’ “Two miles. The lighthouse has sighted them.” “This lull, it won’t last long. Can they make it in the time? ” “'They are making 4 knots.”’ Kelston whistled. ‘‘ That’s damned good. Dunno how they manage to tow her at all in that sea.”’ *“'They say it’s calmer out there now. The swell’s not as bad as they expected.” *“ And if the gale catches them again at the harbour mouth? ” Olivarez shrugged his shoulders. “The tugs could not manceuvre. ‘The best would be to tow her out to sea again. The rocks are too near. They’d save the men. That is the main thing —the men.” They walked on past rusting iron chains, towards the cranes and the sheds. Kelston saw a little knot of people waiting beside a low building, the only one on the quay that was lighted. There were women with black shawls over their heads. The men doffed their caps to Olivarez. The electric lamps on the wharf struggled to keep the surrounding darkness away from them. Kelston felt the man’s nervous unhappiness suddenly increase. ‘“'The families,’” Olivarez said, jerking his head towards them. “This waiting is the hardest part.’’ ‘Then he added fiercely, ** Until she is safely moored here, I will believe nothing. Nothing.” Then he put his arm round Kelston to guide him. “‘ This way, Captain. Mind the steps. My office is to the left.” It was quite dark inside. ‘‘ The bulb has gone,”’ Olivarez said. ** It is a thing I have been meaning to get fixed. One of so many things. But Karena will have coffee ready. I think a cup of coffee...’ His voice trailed away as though it could not compete with the sound of their steps on the concrete corridor. They stopped outside a door framed by a thin gold band of light. Olivarez seemed to hesitate before he opened it. At the end of the room, a girl in a green coat was standing by a table pouring coffee from an urn. Not looking round, she called out, “‘ Carlos, they are so cold outside I am taking coffee down. They know it will be half an hour at least, but they wll wait outside. ‘They are so anxious to be the first to see her lights.” ** Karena,” Olivarez said, “‘ this is Captain Kelston.”’ The girl turned the tap off carefully, and put the cup on the comiclooks.comn