Please consider the Preamble for Day 1 as an integral part of this episode.
Also, at just over 20,000 words, this is another fairly long episode, but much of this is a lengthy transcript of recorded conversations. This sets the background for subsequent episodes, but 'could' be skipped if it holds little interest for the reader.
Words: 20,115
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Title: Lust on the High Seas: Day 6 – Malaga.
I was up early the following morning, and in the bathroom long before my mam and dad were even awake.
"Good morning dear," my mam greeted me as I was getting dressed. "You're up early. Are you going to watch the ship dock?"
I hadn't really thought about having a reason for being up, but that seemed as good as any. I didn't really want to lie to her so I just said, "I thought it might be interesting."
"Well, we'll probably see you at breakfast then," she told me, rolling over and putting an arm around my dad.
"Bye," I whispered as I slipped out of the door. "Sorry I woke you." It was still only 8:30, but I didn't want to waste a second more than I had to.
I grabbed a quick bite of breakfast, snatching up anything and everything as I went along the buffet. I didn't really care much what it was, just as long as it looked appetising. I was more interested in getting down to see Georgia, so we could find out about how we could help poor Seiko.
I ended up with a weird mixture of sliced processed meat, cheeses, dried fruit, bread, preserves, and a miscellany of assorted bits of cooked foods like sausages and bacon, scrambled egg, etc. and a glass of fruit juice.
People were giving me the strangest looks, but I just smiled. "Protein diet," I told them, and they all seemed to think that was OK.
I hurried my breakfast and arrived outside Georgia's suite by ten minutes to nine.
"Good morning," she greeted me with her endearing Spanish accent. "You're a bit early, but come in," she said, opening the door.
Clarita was still in bed with her arms wrapped around the sleeping Anna, spooning her, and I looked across to the other bed where the Asian sisters slept. Preeti was pretending to be asleep, or just waking, and Dina must have been in the bathroom.
Clarita looked up as I entered. "You come too?" she asked, smiling and inviting me into her bed. I was about to reply when Georgia answered her for me.
"We have to go to the Purser's office! I told you!"
She looked disappointed, but snuggled up to the sleeping blonde, kissing her ear and the nape of her neck as I noticed her arm move down under the covers, and Anna let out a moan of pleasure, raising one knee slightly, to allow Clarita's hand to wake her in the most beautiful way.
"That woman iss insatiable," Georgia laughed softly. "I always have to find new friends for her, or she would wear me out."
"Is that why you love her?"
Georgia turned to look at me with an expression of surprise, but she smiled. "Partly," she said softly.
"I wonder if I might stay with you one night," I said quietly to Georgia as I jealousy watched Clarita and Anna together.
"I should think we could arrange something," she told me, sliding her arm around me and gathering me close to kiss my temple, then my cheek, then my neck.
She pulled me in close and planted a deep-tongued kiss on my mouth, but I pulled away. "Let's not forget what we are here for," I reminded her, laughing.
She smiled. "You had better keep reminding me," she laughed. "Si. OK. We go now. Let us see what we can do," she smiled.
We queued for ten minutes at the reception desk to see someone. The ship was in port and it seemed that half of the 2,000 people aboard had some irritatingly pointless question to ask about the town, or their passports, or some other insignificant rubbish, and of course they all had to wait until they were about to go ashore. I know that wasn't really true of course, but I was impatient and I couldn't stop thinking about poor Seiko being worried, locked away and not knowing what the future might hold for her. I just wanted to get her freed as soon as possible.
When we finally did get to see someone, it was an attractive Asian looking woman. I had spoken with her when we first came aboard and I'd asked about a soft drinks package (you can buy drinks at all the bars, but they are ridiculous prices, or you can buy a 'package' and they charge you a fixed price 'per day' up front, and mark your Cruise Card, so you can get as many drinks as you want at the bars without paying again). But I digress.
"Hello," she greeted us with a smile. "I hope you're enjoying your cruise," she added, leaning forward and smiling 'especially nicely' to me, then she looked at Georgia curiously. I'm sure she must have recognised Georgia and probably wondered why we were together. Thinking about it, I should imagine most of the crew would have known Georgia and Clarita by then.
"I need to speak with one of your crew... A lady called Seiko?" Georgia began.
"Ahhh... Yes. I'm sorry but Miss Seiko Wan is unavailable at present," the woman replied, giving us a sympathetic look. I supposed that the rumour had got around by then.
"I know this," Georgia replied, "and I know why. I believe she has had some... 'problem' and I would like to help."
"Oh. I see. Well, would you mind waiting a moment? I'll go and enquire for you." She went away for a few minutes, and on her return she invited us into the interview room where the kind man had taken me the previous evening.
"If you wouldn't mind waiting here for a few minutes, I've put a call out for the Second Officer. He should be able to explain the situation for you."
We waited there for ten minutes or more, during which time the lady came in and asked us if we wanted some drinks. Georgia had a coffee and I just had water.
Eventually the second officer arrived, looking resplendent in his smart Summer Whites with two gold flashes on his epaulette.
"Good morning," he greeted us. I couldn't help thinking how dishy he looked in his crisp white uniform.
"I understand you are concerned about Miss Seiko Wan?" he asked.
"Si. I wan to pay her fine," Georgia told him. She was smiling at him in that unmistakable way. Clearly she found him attractive too. That surprised me. I thought she was completely gay, but evidently not.
"There is no fine madam," he explained. "I'm told that Miss Wan has breached the terms of her employment, and as a result her position with the company has been terminated with immediate effect. As part of the terms of her agreement, she will be required to leave the ship when we next reach port. Until then..." he didn't finish.
"OK. I will pay her fare," Georgia interrupted, "so she can stay aboard as a passenger." I turned to look at Georgia in amazement, as did he, thrown off his guard by her sudden intervention.
He paused before asking, "Would you mind waiting for a moment?"
"Huh. Wait for this. Wait for that." Georgia was clearly becoming as agitated as I had been.
I reached for her hand. "Georgia. Are you sure about this?" I asked.
"Do you know another way?" she countered, almost curtly. I withdrew and shrugged.
"Oh, I am sorry little one..." she apologised for snapping at me. "I just feel so annoyed when these... 'people'..." she paused to choose a sufficiently inert word, "they just mess about with their red tapes."
"Do you need some money?" I offered. "I promise I will pay you back."
"Don worry for that little one," she smiled kindly. "I have all the moneys I need."