They painted in companionable silence as Alexander MacGillivray thrust through seas as sombre as Watters"s thoughts.
Alexander MacGillivray"Here we are, mate." Ted"s grin seemed permanent as he perched himself on an iron stanchion. He bit into a hunk of tobacco. "I see you"ve met Scouse."
Scouse offered a hand like a gorilla, although his grip was surprisingly gentle.
"This other blackguard," Ted nodded to a rangy man who stood behind him, "is Niner."
Niner nodded his wind-reddened face while surveying Watters through chillingly cold blue eyes.
"The name Scouse I understand," Watters said. "You"re from Liverpool."
Scouse nodded. "Paradise Street," he said in a husky croak. "I worked on the Black Ball line to Boston."
"Ah, you were a Packet Rat," Watters said. A packet ship was one t
