Off Sea Cat's dock, Roseau, Dominica.
Last night I slept poorly, our water pump kept going off, signalling a poorly closed faucet or a leak somewhere in the system. Lots of rain and strange gurglings around the boat woke me about 2:00 am. The currents off the dock change with the tides. About 3:00 I heard a bump and looked out of the hatch to be sure we had not swung into one of the other moored boats, no, probably just Boffo bumping her engine against the hull. A few minutes later, I realised we had unwanted company. A shadow was in the cabin with us, where a shadow should not have been. I gave a loud growl, as fierce as could be
"Get out of here"
The shadow darted out with me in hot pursuit. He skipped out through the cockpit and over the stern, onto his surfboard, scattering the contents of K's belly bag all over the cabin. I saw him lying flat out on the board, but he had not unhooked his tether and was still attached to Django. He was very dark and slim, if clothed he was in black. Seizing the tether I made to drag him into the stern as hard as I could, scaring the poor bugger even more than he already was, so he bailed out and disappeared under the boat. I cast loose the board and pulled out one of Django's emergency air horns, the very loud variety, and let off with that for thirty seconds or so. Our neighbours awoke and we scanned the sea with flashlights trying to spot our wayward thief. The board drifted out to sea. After some fruitless searching we all went back to bed.
It turns out he swam ashore and ran down the stony beach. Sea Cat heard the alarm and was up in a trice. Seeing the fleeing man he called three of his mates and set off in pursuit, although slowly because he has broken his Achilles tendon and is in a delicate condition. Nevertheless, they searched the neighbourhood, cudgels in hand. The thief managed to escape, but Sea Cat was grateful for the alarm. He felt sure that they had very nearly nabbed the naughty nasty, and has enough information to help bring him to ground.
With our valuables well hidden in plain sight, the thief left emptyhanded. K and I got a lift from Sea Cat into the Roseau police station to make our report. That took rather a long time, starting at the police complaints desk, where the complainants stand at a 5" high counter peering up up at the raised constable behind. So once through the story there, we were ushered into the criminal investigations division and introduced to the sergeant, who was very sympathetic, hoping this unfortunate experience would not put us off Dominica for good, and wanting to know all about our travels, which K narrrated succintly. Finally, we were directed to the investigating officer, who took a long detailed statement beginning in Antigua two weeks before, and culminating in the attempted theft. I suspect, as do the police, that the thief was an indigent drug addict, trying to get casdh to feed his habit. I support the the idea of legalising all drugs and making sure addicts can get their supplies without resorting to preying on the rest of us.
By the time that was all done, it was beer o'clock and time to have a look around Roseau. A Carib beer and a couple of small quiches in the pastry shop set us up remarkably, and we proceeded to search out the provisions we required. Ice was the one thing we were not keen to hump back to Django, about a mile down the shore. As we strode out of town, who should appear but Sea Cat, who kindly offered a lift back, with a short detour to pick up three young daughters from school. They all crowded into the front seat, althouh Sea Cat's van has three rows of seats behind. He stopped for our ice. He is a kind hearted man and knows everybody. Tomorrow we will take his tour up the Emerald Pool and the Carib indian reservation. He spent the morning in the hospital while we were at the police, having strained his leg in his exertions last night; but with the wound redressed, he says he is willing and able to drive us tomorrow.
Never a dull moment, aboard Django.
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