He had been told by the Baron of the great ships that crossed the high seas delivering their cargoes to foreign lands, but these were so much bigger than he had ever imagined, and they stood in a line as far as the eye could see.
Stefan interrupted his thoughts. 'See that one over there, the big green one; well, what you have to do is pick up a basket at the bottom of the gangplank, fill it with grain, climb up the ladder and then drop your load in the hold. You get a ruble for every four trips you make. Be sure you can count, Muscovite, because the bastard in charge of the gang will swindle you as soon as look at you and pocket the money for himself.'
Stefan and Wladek spent the rest of the afternoon carrying - grain up the ladder. They made twenty - six rubles between them. After a dinner of stolen nuts, bread, and an onion they hadn't intended to take, they slept happily in their carriage.
Wladek was the first to wake the next morning and Stefan found him studying his map.
'What's that?' asked Stefan.
'This is a route showing me how to get out of Russia." 'What do you want to leave Russia for when you can stay here and team up with me?' said Stefan. 'We could be partners.'
'No, I must get to Turkey; there I will be a free man for the first time.
Why don't you come with me, Stefan?'
'I could never leave Odessa. This is my home, the railway is where I live and these are the people I have known all my life. It's not good, but it might be worse in the place you call Turkey. But if that's what you want, I will help you to escape because I know how to find out where every ship has come from.'
'How do I discover which ship is going to Turkey?' asked Wladek.
'Easy. We'll get the information from One Tooth Joe at the end of the pier.
You'll have to give him a ruble!
'I'll bet he splits the money with you.'
'Fifty - fifty,' said Stefan. 'You're learning fast, Muscovite.' And with that he leaped out of the carriage.
Wladek followed him as he ran swiftly between the car. riages, again conscious of how easily other boys moved, and how he limped. When they reached the end of the pier, Stefan took him into a small room full of dust - covered books and old timetables. Wladek couldn't see anyone there, but then he heard a voice from behind a large pile of books saying, 'What do you want, urchin? I don't have time to waste on you.'
'Some information for my tr - avelling companion, Joe. When is the next luxury cruise to Turkey?'
'Money up front,' said an old man whose head appeared from behind the books, a lined weatherbeaten face wearing a seaman's cap. His black eyes were taking in Wladek.
'Used to be a great sea dog,' said Stefan in a whisper loud enough for Joe to hear.
'None of your cheek, boy. Where is the ruble?'
'My friend carries my purse,' said Stefan. 'Show him the ruble, Wladek.'
Wladek pulled out a coin. Joe bit it with his one remaining tooth, shuffled over to the bookcase and pulled out a large green timetable.
Dust flew everywbere. He started coughing as he thumbed through the dirty pages, moving his short, stubby, rope - worn finger down the long columns of names.
'Next Thursday the Renaska is coming in to pick up coal, probably will leave on Saturday. If the ship can load quickly enough, she may sail on the Friday night and save the berthing tariffs. She;ll dock on berth seventeen.'
'Thanks, One Tooth,' said Stefan. 'I'll see if I can bring along any more of my wealthy associates in the future!
One Tooth Joe raised his fist cursing, as Stefan and Wladek ran out on to the wharf.
For the next three days the two boys stole food, loaded grain and slept.
By the time the Turkish ship arrived on the following Thursday, Stefan bad almost convinced Wladek that be should remain in Odessa. But Wladek's fear of the Russians outweighed the atiraction of his new life with Stefan.
They stood on the quayside, staring at the new arTival docking at berth 17.
'How will I ever get on the ship?' asked Wladek.
'Simple,' said Stefan. 'We can join the chain gang tomorrow morning. I'll take the place behind you, and when the coal hold is nearly full, you can jump in and hide while I pick up your basket and walk on down the other side.'
'And collect my share of the money, no doubt,' said Wladek.
'Naturally,' said Stefan. 'There must be some financial reward for my superior intelligence or how could a man hope to sustain his belief in free enterprise?'
They joined the chain gang first diing the next morning and hauled coal up and down the gangplank until they were both ready to drop, but it still wasn't enough. The hold wasn't half full by nightfall. The two black boys slept soundly that night. The following morning, they started again and by mid - af temoon, when the hold was nearly full, Stefan kicked Wladek's ankle.