The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1946-03-17
By Hal BOYLE

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CAIRO,-tReTraveling abroad you meet 50
many people they begin to look as much alike
as ducks in shooting gallery-all moved by
the same mechanism and going the same way
with the same set expression.
They forget you. You forget them. The only
guy who remembers the occasion is the one
who picked up the dinner check
| But there are a few odd ones that get filed
in stray corners of your brain and pop out in
memory sometimes like clothes from an over
crowded truck Such was the young Russian
in Hong Kong who used to lie abed OF morn
ings and shoot cockroaches off the ceiling with
rifle. Or the Army nurse at Tebessa who
called the hospital ward for head injuries ''the
cabbage patch" Or the barber in Naples who
gave free shampoos only to men with blue
boards.
Such certainly was ''the captain who was
afraid OF the sea- We Travelled as passengers
together through the north Atlantic during war
time and the captain lived in mortal dread of
submarines Before the war he had command
ed small steamers plying the American East
Coast and many of his friends from those
peaceful times had gone under when German
torpedoes began reaching across the Atlantic
Their watery deaths were in his mind when
he was summoned to Britain on shipping
mission. From the start of our voyage he
was certain our convoy was doomed never
knew man who mentally explored more
tnoroughly his prospects Of dying. His morbid
cercslnty Of disaster was increased when he
noted we were the tail end Of the convoy.
we will never reach England" he said,
we Will be one of the first ships the subnna-
rines pick off,
He was dark, morose man of middle age
who picked at his food as though he were
afraid it was poisoned. At night he threw
himself fully clothed on his bunk and Law
mere VIDE awake, staring at the bunk above
him with weary eyes until after daybreak
They usually hit just before dawn" he
said.
Then one mild and cloudess afternoon we
heard muffled explosion and saw tower Of
smoke rise from the stern Of DESTROYER es-
cort to starboard Our convoy moved on and
another escort went back to stav with the
crippled vessel. Later, our radio operator said
he had overheard messages indicating seven
men had been killed in the explosion.
After that my captain acquaintance STAYED
on deck each day until after dusk staring into
the darkening waters.
You can't see them coming at you." he
sald land can't swim. We are helpless as
worms on the pavement
One night we were alone in the wardroon.
Outside heavy rains and wind beat at the
rocking vessel and straining deck cargo cables
groaned with an almost human voice.
DO you believe in stars? The captain asked
suddenly, and before could answer, he said
hurriedly:
You won't laugh at me II I tell YOU
believe in astro1ogy, will you? I know you
won't. I can tell by your hands. You have
long fingers. That means you must be sensi-
tive. You won't laugh at me.
i got interested In astrology years 20 when
was young and could find no meaning in the
world. Religion and philosophy studied them
and they told me nothing Then I began read.
ing astrology and behind the pattern Of the
stars I found meaning.
Il used to buy astrology books at every
port. When I got home talked to nv wife
and children Of the stars but they Just laughed
at me. So don't talk about them anv more
at nome. But I tell you the stars have the
answer to everything. It's all written there n
you can read it-everything that is to happen
AND nothing can change it. The stars and
what they have to tell are only the sure things
IN the universe
II you are sure your fate Is written IN tha
stars why do you worry about subma rines?"
asked.
1T isn't that simple" he answered W.,
aon understand. But thank you for not laugh.
ing at me- INV laugh
l ieft, and he sat alone until dawn IN the
wardroom. Al Vie
~nen we landed safely In Britain he boueh+
TWO mans from the steward for barterino. ana
headed happily for London, self assured bis
gloom gone LIS
aren't you worried about bonbs?" asked
AS long as they don't come at me frorn
unoer the sea I'm not afraid" he said chear-
laly. u just cant stand the thought of diving