'n
Lekker uitstappie |
A nice little trip |
"Daisy, dis ek – Ted." Speurinspekteur
Singleton bel sy gunsteling-privaatspeurder. |
"Daisy, it’s me - Ted," Detective-Inspector
Singleton was telephoning his favourite private detective. |
Hulle het tydens 'n saak ontmoet en sedertdien gaan
hulle saam uit wanneer hul werk dit toelaat. |
They had met on a case and ever since they had been
going out together, when work permitted. |
"Hoe staan jou sake in die volgende klompie
dae?" |
"How are you fixed for the next few days?" |
Daisy is besig om 'n kokend warm beker Ovaltine te
drink, want dis nog kil in die kantoor. |
Daisy had been drinking a boiling hot mug of Ovaltine as
it was still a bit chilly in the office. |
Die eerste blomme aarsel voor hulle verskyn, maar die
son skyn helder in die lug. |
The first flowers were hesitating at coming out but
there was a bright sun in the sky. |
"Wel, mnr. Floodbridge kom vanaand om die kantoor
af te wit, dus is ek vry wanneer jy ook al wil. Wat's aan die gang,
Ted?" |
"Well, Mr. Floodbridge is coming in tonight to
start whitewashing the office, so I’m free whenever you like. What’s
on, Ted?" |
"Ek neem jou sommer vanaand na Frankryk – na
Boulogne vir 'n besigtigingstoer. In die haak as jy volgende Dinsdag
terugkom?" |
"I’m taking you to France this very evening - to
Boulogne, to see the sights. All right to come back next Tuesday?" |
"Dis in die haak." Daisy gaan reeds in haar
gedagtes deur haar klerekas. |
"That’s fine by me." Daisy was already going
through her wardrobe mentally. |
"Ek reken dis in Boulogne 'n bietjie warmer as hier
in Oos-Angele." |
"I believe it’s a bit warmer in Boulogne than
here in East Anglia." |
"Ja, ek dink so," antwoord Ted. "Wat as
ek jou om half agt oplaai? Ons haal die nagveerboot – die Dovercraft
– en ons kan aan boord lekker eet." |
"Yes, I believe it is" replied Ted "What
if I pick you up at half past seven? We’re catching the night ferry -
the Dovercraft - and we can have a nice meal on the boat." |
Ted aarsel 'n oomblik, soos altyd wanneer hy skuldig
voel. |
Ted paused a moment as he always did when he felt
guilty. |
"O terloop, ek het nie meer my snor nie. |
"Oh, by the way, I haven’t got my moustache any
more. |
"Ek was vanoggend so haastig dat ek te veel aan die
een kant afgeknip het, en toe besluit ek om eerder van voor af te
begin." |
"This morning I was in such a hurry that I cut too
much off on one side and decided I’d better start again from
scratch." |
"Ag nee, Ted! Ek kan jou nie daarsonder voorstel
nie! Ewenwel, ek moet nou groet, want ek moet hier nog goed weggooi." |
"Oh no, Ted! I can’t imagine you without it!
Anyway, I must go now, because I’ve got some throwing-away to do
here." |
Daisy kyk na die plakkate wat sy teen die mure geplak
het – van Egipte en Israel – en sug. |
Daisy looked at the posters she had put up on the walls
- of Egypt and Israel - and sighed. |
"Ek sal nou sonder hulle moet klaarkom. Hulle lyk
so geskeur en vuil. |
"I’ll have to make do without them now. They’re
so torn and dirty. |
"Maar dalk kan ek nuwes by die reisagentskap kry.
Ewenwel, ek sal na 'n mooi skoon kantoor terugkeer." |
"But maybe I can get some more from the travel
agency. Anyway I’ll have a nice clean office to come back to." |
Sy bel 'n klompie kliënte en ook mnr. Floodbridge, die
afwitter, om seker te maak hy het die kantoorsleutels. |
She made a few phone calls to clients and one to Mr.
Floodbridge, the whitewasher, to make sure he had the office keys. |
Toe gaan sy huis toe en pak haar flessie Opium-parfuum,
klere vir die mid-seisoen en 'n warm reënjas met 'n wolvoering. |
Then she made her way home to pack her bottle of Opium
perfume, some mid-season clothes and a warm wool-lined raincoat. |
Daisy was al 'n klompie kere na die Vasteland, maar nog
nooit met Ted nie. |
Daisy had been over to the Continent several times, but
never with Ted. |
Omdat sy baie honger is, maak sy vir haar 'n enorme
tamatie- en soutvleis-toebroodjie. |
As she felt very peckish, she fixed herself a bumper
tomato and corned beef sandwich. |
Speurinspekteur Morris Singleton kom presies betyds vir
hul afspraak om 07h30 aan. |
Detective-Inspector Morris Singleton arrived perfectly
on time for their appointment at 7.30. |
Daisy staar Ted aan. "Weet jy, jy lyk heel goed
sonder jou snor, maar ek dink ek verkies jou met een." |
Daisy stared at Ted: "You know, you look quite nice
without your moustache, but I think I prefer you with it." |
"Goed," belowe Ted, "ek sal dit nie weer
afskeer nie." |
"All right," promised Ted, "I won’t
shave it off again." |
Terwyl hulle per motor na Dover ry, begin dit nogal hard
te reën. |
As they made their way to Dover by car it started to
rain quite heavily. |
"Hoop dit gaan nie boonop winderig wees nie,"
merk Ted op. |
"Hope it’s not going to be windy as well,"
remarked Ted. |
Aan boord kyk hulle eers hoe lyk die Dovercraft. |
Once on board they had a look round the Dovercraft. |
Die belastingvrye winkel is vol toeriste wat op die
nippertjie geskenke koop. |
The duty-free shop was full of tourists buying
last-minute presents. |
In 'n kleurryke vertrek word wawyd wakker kinders
vermaak deur 'n kulkunstenaar wat soos 'n nar aangetrek is, en hul
dankbare ouers geniet 'n vinnige doppie in die sitkamer daar naby. |
In a colourful room, small childen were wide awake being
entertained by a magician dressed as a clown, and their grateful parents
were having a ‘quick one’ in the nearby lounge. |
Daar is ook 'n restaurant wat baie duur lyk, en 'n veel
goedkoper een vol honger reisgers. |
There was also a restaurant which had the air of being
very expensive and a much cheaper one full of starving travellers. |
Die sitkamer lyk aangenaam, met groot gemaklike
leunstoele, en aan die een kant is daar 'n lewendige kroeg waar glase
gedurig klink. |
The lounge looked pleasant with big comfortable
armchairs, and at the end of it there was a lively bar clinking glasses
continuously. |
"Ted, ek's baie honger. Kan ons daardie wonderlike
maaltyd wat jy belowe het, gaan eet?" smeek Daisy. |
"Ted, I’m starving, can we go for that wonderful
meal you promised me?" Daisy pleaded. |
Net toe ruk die boot sywaarts en Daisy val byna om. |
Just then the boat rocked sideways and nearly made Daisy
fall over. |
"O Ted, dis nogal rof, nè?" |
"Oh Ted, it’s a bit rough, isn’it." |
Maar Ted kan nie antwoord nie. Hy is dodelik bleek en
snak na vars lug. |
But Ted couldn’t reply. He was deathly pale and
gasping for fresh air. |
"Ted, wat's fout? Jy's nie seesiek nie, of
hoe?" |
"Ted, whatever’s wrong? You’re not seasick, are
you?" |
Daisy was nog nooit seesiek of selfs lugsiek nie, en dit
het nog nooit by haar opgekom dat iemand anders kan wees nie, of hoe dit
moet voel nie. |
Daisy had never been seasick, or even airsick and it had
never entered her mind anybody else could be, or even what it was like. |
"Ted, kom ons gaan 'n rukkie buitentoe." |
"Ted, let’s go outside for a bit." |
Daisy help hom by die sitkamer uit en tot in die vars
lug. |
Daisy helped him outside the lounge into the fresh air. |
Ongelukkig waai 'n baie sterk wind, en hulle moet weer
binnetoe gaan. |
Unfortunately a very strong wind was blowing and they
had to go back in again. |
"Moet jou nie oor my kwel nie, Daisy." Ted
haal swaar asem. |
"Don’t worry about me Daisy," Ted was
breathing heavily. |
"Gaan jy voort en eet iets. Ek sal maar op my eie
hier in die sitkamer sit." |
"You go ahead and have something. I’ll just sit
here by myself in the lounge." |
"Nee, Ted, ek bly by jou," dring Daisy aan. |
"No, Ted, I’ll stay with you," insisted
Daisy. |
"Nee, Daisy, regtig, ek verkies dit om net hier
stil te sit en met niemand te praat nie." |
"No Daisy, really, I’d prefer just to sit here
quietly and not talk to anybody." |
"Goed, as dit is wat jy wil hê … ek sal nie lank
draai nie." |
"All right, if that’s what you want...I won’t
be long." |
Daisy baan haar weg na die selfdien-restaurant en hoop
sy kan so gou as moontlik na Ted terugkeer, maar daar is 'n ongelooflike
tou. |
Daisy made her way to the self-service restaurant hoping
to get back to Ted as soon as possible, but there was an incredible queue. |
Die personeel is egter doeltreffend en tien minute later
eet Daisy haar kabeljou, skyfies en ertjies, gevolg deur doekpoeding en
vla en 'n koppie swart koffie. |
However, the staff were efficient and in ten minutes
Daisy was having her cod, chips and peas, followed by Spotted Dick and
custard and a cup of black coffee. |
Daisy keer terug na Ted wat nou na die venster kyk en
die kraag van sy waterdigte baadjie regop laat staan. |
Daisy returned to Ted who was now facing the window and
had the collar of his waterproof jacket turned up. |
"Voel jy beter, Ted?" Ted draai nie om nie. |
"Feeling better, Ted?" Ted didn’t turn
round. |
"Dis nou taamlik warm hierbinne, nè?" gaan
Daisy voort en trek haar warm reënjas uit. |
"It’s rather hot in here now, isn’t it?"
continued Daisy taking off her warm mac. |
"Ted, wat's fout?" |
"Ted, what’s the matter?" |
Daisy raak aan sy skouer, want sy merk hy het nie
geantwoord nie. |
Daisy touched his shoulder, noticing he hadn’t
answered. |
"Daisy," sis Ted met sy gesig nog na die
venster gekeer. "Kom sit langs my! Ek kan nie omdraai nie." Toe
Daisy sit, verduidelik Ted: "William Rowles sit aan die ander kant
van die sitkamer 'n bier en drink!" |
"Daisy," hissed Ted still facing the window,
"come and sit next to me! I can’t turn round." Once Daisy was
seated, Ted explained: "William Rowles is sitting at the end of the
lounge having a beer!" |
Daisy trek haar asem vinnig in. |
Daisy breathed in rapidly. |
Sy fluister: "Jy bedoel William Rowles, die
gewelddadige rampokker van Soho! Maar ek dag hy's in die tronk." |
She whispered, "You mean William Rowles, the
violent Soho gangster! But I thought he was in prison." |
"Ja, hy was. Ek het hom self veertien jaar lank
tronk toe gestuur." Ted praat met moeite en bly elke paar sekondes
stil. |
"Yes he was, I put him in prison myself for
fourteen years." Ted was speaking with difficulty and paused every
few seconds. |
"Hulle het hom na 'n Skotse gevangenis oorgeplaas,
en hy het verlede week ontsnap! Hy's vetter as toe, maar dit is beslis
hy." |
"They transferred him to a Scottish prison and he
managed to escape last week! He’s fatter than he was, but that’s him
all right." |
Daisy kyk nie na die ander kant van die sitkamer nie. |
Daisy avoided looking towards the end of the lounge. |
Ted gaan voort: "Ek dink nie hy herken my nie, want
ek het nie meer my snor nie, maar as hy my sou herken, kan hy baie
probleme veroorsaak. |
Ted continued: "I don’t think he has recognised
me because I haven’t got my moustache any more but if he
recognises me he could cause a lot of trouble. |
"Daisy, hy is baie gewelddadig en kan maklik op 'n
manier gewapen wees." |
"Daisy, he’s very violent and could easily be
armed in some way." |
"Wat moet ons doen, Ted?" Daisy voel nou al 'n
bietjie bang. |
"What shall we do, Ted?" Daisy felt a little
scared by now. |
"Jy moet my help. Ek kan dit nie alleen hanteer
nie, ek is te swak. |
"You must help me. I can’t manage the situation
alone, I’m too weak. |
"Jy moet na die kaptein toe gaan, hom hiervan
vertel en sorg dat Rowles in hegtenis geneem word. Ek sal hier sit tot die
offisiere opdaag." |
"You must go to the captain, tell him about all
this and get Rowles arrested. I’ll sit here until the officers
arrive." |
Daisy probeer onopgemerk wegbeweeg en stap deur die
sitkamer na die uitgang. |
Daisy tried to move away inconspicuously and walked
along the lounge to the exit. |
Net toe kom drie jong mans met blikkies bier in hul
hande by die deur in. |
Just then three young men came through the door with
cans of beer in their hands. |
Skielik ruk die skip weer en een van die jong mans val
teen Daisy en stort per ongeluk bier op haar nuwe sy-bloes. |
Suddenly the ship lurched again and one of the young men
fell against Daisy accidentally pouring beer down her new green silk
blouse. |
"Ag nee, my nuwe bloes," dink Daisy, "dis
seker tot niet en nou ruik ek na bier." |
"Oh no, my new blouse," Daisy thought "it
must be ruined and I smell of beer now." |
Daisy besef dat sy dalk aandag op haar vestig, en skeld
die jong man gou van sy verantwoordelik kwyt en haas in die gang af na die
offisiere se kajuit waar sy aan die deur klop. |
Realising that she might be drawing attention to
herself, Daisy quickly absolved the young man from his responsibility,
hurried away along the corridor towards the officers’ room and knocked
on the door. |
'n Offisier maak die deur oop en staar na Daisy en haar
bloes met die biervlekke. |
An officer opened the door at last and stared at Daisy
and her beer-stained blouse. |
"Kan ek u help, juffrou?" Daisy het hom
klaarblyklik tydens sy aandete gesteur, want hy het nog 'n servet in sy
hand. |
"Can I help you miss?" Daisy had clearly
interrupted his evening meal as he still had a napkin in his hand. |
"Ons het u hulp nodig, altans Speurinspekteur
Singleton het. |
"We need your help, that is Detective-Inspector
Singleton does. |
"Daar's 'n gevaarlike misdadiger, 'n ontsnapte
gevangene, in die sitkamer besig om 'n drankie te drink – William Rowles
is sy naam – en …" |
"There’s a dangerous criminal, an escaped
convict, in the lounge having a drink - William Rowles is his name -
and....." |
Die offisier ruik Daisy se bierklere en lê dit verkeerd
uit. |
The officer could smell Daisy’s beery clothes and
interpreted it badly. |
"Kyk, juffrou, waarom gaan jy nie terug en gaan sit
'n rukkie nie? |
"Look, Miss, why don’t you go back and sit down a
bit. |
"Daar is geen gevaarlike misdadigers op die boot
nie. Jy het klaarblyklik aan die slaap geraak en het sleg gedroom." |
"There are no dangerous criminals on this boat. You
clearly fell asleep and had a bad dream." |
"Moet my nie so behandel nie." Daisy reageer
kwaai op sy verkleinerende toon. |
"Don’t you dare treat me like that." Daisy
angrily reacted at his patronising tone. |
"Ek maak dit nie op nie. Ek is ook nie dronk nie,
iemand het sy bier op my gestort toe ek hierheen gehaas het." |
"I’m not dreaming it all up. I’m not drunk
either, someone spilt their beer all over me while I was hurrying to get
here." |
Daisy se stem word al hoe meer vasberade. |
Daisy’s voice became even more determined. |
"Daar is 'n polisiebeampte in die sitkamer wat baie
seesiek voel en hy het my gestuur om hulp te kry. |
"There is a police officer in the lounge who is
very seasick and he sent me to get help. |
"As jy hom nie help nie, gaan jy self diep in die
moeilikheid wees." |
"If you don’t help him, you’ll be in a lot of
trouble yourself." |
Daisy druk verby die man tot in die kajuit waar vier
ander offisiere hul ete geniet en waarskynlik gehoor het wat sy sê. |
Daisy pushed her way past the man into the room where
four other officers were having their meal and had probably heard what she
had said. |
Voor hulle werklik besef wat aan die gang is, deel Daisy
reeds bevele uit: |
Before they could realise what was really happening,
Daisy was giving orders: |
"Kom saam, julle almal, julle moet onmiddellik 'n
ontsnapte gevangene in hegtenis neem." |
"Come along, all of you, you have to arrest an
escaped convict immediately." |
Daisy is baie oortuigend as sy wil. |
Daisy was very persuasive when she liked. |
'n Lang gryshaarman staan op. "Ek is kaptein
Granger, juffrou, wat het u gesê?" |
A tall grey-haired man got up: "I’m Captain
Granger, Madam, what were you saying?" |
"Kaptein as u met my saamgaan en Speurderinspekteur
Singleton in die sitkamer ontmoet, kan hy u self vertel. |
"Captain, if you come with me to meet
Detective-Inspector Singleton in the lounge he can tell you himself. |
"U moet diskreet wees, want as dié Rowles my
vriend se gesig sien, herken hy hom dalk, want hy was die een wat
hom jare gelede in hegtenis geneem het." |
"You must be discreet because if this Rowles sees
my friend’s face he might recognise him as he was the one who
arrested him years ago." |
Weer in die sitkamer gaan Daisy na Ted toe en gaan sit
langs hom. |
Back in the lounge Daisy went over to Ted and sat down
next to him. |
Ná 'n paar sekondes kom die kaptein verby asof hy
normaalweg kom kyk of alles op die Dovercraft in die haak is. |
After a few seconds the Captain came by as though he
were casually seeing if everything was all right on the Dovercraft. |
Hy buig oor Ted wat hom diskreet sy identifikasie toon,
en verlaat die sitkamer. |
He bent over Ted who discreetly showed him his
identification and left the lounge. |
Binne 'n minuut het 'n offisier verklee en die kroegman
vervang terwyl nog drie die sitkamer deur die drie uitgange binnekom. |
After one minute an officer had changed his clothes and
replaced the barman while three others were entering the lounge from the
three exits. |
Daisy gee Ted die teken dat die mans aangekom het, en hy
staan wankelrig op. |
Daisy signalled to Ted that the men had arrived and he
got up shakily. |
Hy gaan saam met die mans na Rowles, wat nou al heel
vrolik van die bier is. |
He went over with the men towards Rowles, who was by now
quite merry on beer. |
Rowles herken Singleton glad nie sonder sy snor nie maar
staar na hom asof hy sy gesig nie heeltemal kan plaas nie. |
Rowles didn’t recognise Singleton at all without his
moustache but stared at him as though he couldn’t quite place his face. |
"Ek is Speurderinspekteur Singleton en ek arresteer
jou, William Rowles, Kaptein, neem hom weg en sluit hom op." |
"I’m Detective-Inspector Singleton and I’m
arresting you, William Rowles. Captain, take him away and lock him
up." |
Rowles staan skielik op en gooi die inhoud van sy glas
in Singleton se gesig, breek die bierglas in sy hand deur dit teen 'n
tafel te kap om dit as 'n wapen te gebruik, en beweeg na die uitgang naby
waar Daisy sit. |
Rowles suddenly got up and threw the contents of his
glass into Singleton’s face, broke the beer glass still in his hand,
dashing it against a table, to use as a weapon and made towards the exit
near to where Daisy was still sitting. |
Daisy het alles van 'n afstand dopgehou. |
Daisy had been watching everything from afar. |
Sonder aarseling tel sy haar reënjas op en sper die
uitgang af. |
Without hesitating, she picked up her mac and blocked
the exit. |
Toe Rowles besef dat Daisy in die pad is, val hy haar
aan en probeer die stukkende glas in haar gesig druk maar Daisy koes
sykant toe en gooi haar reënjas oor sy kop. |
As soon as Rowles realised Daisy was in his way he
turned on her and tried to push the broken class into her face but Daisy
ducked sideways and threw her mac over his head. |
Rowles sukkel om die reënjas af te gooi en hom te
bevry, maar in die proses sny hy sy arm met die stukkende glas en gil van
pyn. |
Rowles fought to get the mac off him and free himself
but in doing so cut his arm with the broken glass and screamed with pain. |
Singleton en die skeepsbemanning kom gou daar aan, stamp
die stukkende glas uit sy hand and druk die misdadiger se arms agter sy
rug vas. |
Singleton and the ship’s crew quickly arrived, managed
to knock the broken glass from his hand and pinned the criminal’s arms
behind him. |
In Calais word Rowles aan die Franse beamptes oorhandig
en Daisy en Ted kan oplaas om sesuur die oggend met hul vakansie wegry. |
Once in Calais, Rowles was handed over to the French
authorities and Daisy and Ted were able to drive off on holiday at last at
six o’clock in the morning. |
"Jy lyk stukke beter, Ted. |
"You’re looking much better, Ted. |
"Maar kry jy altyd swaar wanneer jy die Engelse
Kanaal oorsteek?" |
"But have you always had trouble crossing the
Channel?" |
"Ja, maar ek het dit nog nooit in sulke slegte weer
oorgesteek nie. Ag, Daisy, wat 'n avontuur. |
"Yes, I have, but I’ve never crossed it in such
bad weather. Oh Daisy, what an adventure. |
"Ek is jammer ons werk en plesier loop altyd so
deurmekaar. |
"I’m sorry we always get business and pleasure
mixed up together. |
"Die Polisiemag gaan jou só dankbaar wees!" |
"The Police Force is going to be so grateful to
you!" |
"Wel, in die eerste plek kan hulle my 'n nuwe
reënjas gee, want myne is totaal verniel! |
"Well, to start with, they can give me a new mac,
as mine is completely ruined! |
"En 'n nuwe sy-bloes ook, wat met die
uitvoering van my plig gevlek is." |
"And a new silk blouse too which was stained
all in the line of duty." |
Ted is só bly dat hy nie meer seesiek is nie en kom
byna nie agter dat hy nie geslaap het nie. |
Ted was so happy not to be seasick any more and hardly
noticed that he hadn’t slept. |
Daisy is minder gewoond daaraan om 'n nag se slaap te
verbeur en dryf na droomland waar gevaarlike diere uit 'n ark ontsnap. |
Daisy was less used to losing a night’s sleep and
drifted off into a dream where dangerous animals were escaping from an
ark. |