50Shadows followed the procession behind Basil. Swan kept her pistol pointing at him through her purse, frequently checking behind her where Bandi supported the foot of the stretcher holding Osman. Managing the stretcher down two flights of stairs had been challenging as he and Afa prevented Osman from flipping over. Bandi stopped as they approached a winch house. “If you want to get off the ship without being stopped I need to go to the bridge.”
“Why?” Matu asked.
Osman tried to shout, but the gag muffled him.
“My brother will relieve the Officer on Deck so you can slip off.,” Bandi stated. “That means you’re going to have to let him walk ahead.”
“I’ll go with him,” Swan said. “He can make any explanation he wants but I’m not going to let him out of my sight.”
“That’s not going to wo
