It was almost four now as they approached the piers. The night had reached the full pitch of darkness and the street lamps had been turned off and the only lights were the tiny lights here and there along the sides of the ships. As they came onto Pier Nine they could hear the dim sound of activity on the deck of the freighter. It was an orange-and-white ship, a converted Liberty. The paint was new and the ship was shining there in the darkness.
A pier watchman came toward them. Cassidy cursed under his breath. He had seen the watchman now and then in Lundy’s Place and he was sure he would be recognized. He tensed himself, started to turn away. Shealy grabbed his wrist and said, “Easy, easy.”
The watchman said, “What are you doing here?”
Cassidy had pulled up the collar of his jacket. He
