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@Jacqui
Jan 12 - Dark places and community
10.35pm.
A woman screams.
They must be drunk, I roll over.
Then the scream takes a more desperate tone.
*Help,. Someone help me. Get away! Someone! Helllpp. *
I am struck by how closely the noises she's making are to those I heard when duckie was drowning. Then the realisation:
**This is real. **
My light is on. I'm reaching for my doors.
As I'm wondering what to put on my boat sways and I hear the norwegian's heavy door slam closed.
I wait dazed, in confusion.
People in the canal flats are yelling.
He's in the parking lot!
A man's voice booms across from above.
Peoples lights are on. They're on their balconies.
Police are coming! Another voice, a woman this time..
Is everything ok? A third meeker voice.
I'm at my door but I've missed everything. I just stare out into the blackness and listen.
Its 10.42pm. I call the norwegian.
**I want reassurance. **
I want him to say what I fear, hasn't happened. His phone rings 3 times before he answers.
*Are you on your boat? *
No.gasp. But its ok, go back to bed.
*What happened? *
*A rather violent theft.gasp. *
*Are you ok? *
*Yes, just got to catch my breath. Go to sleep. Its ok. *
I hang up and stand stunned.
I go outside and check the norwegians boat; its unlocked.
I wait.
**I can at least wait. **
It seems a lifetime passes but its only minutes before I see him walking back.
What happened?
I came out and saw only the American had chased the guy.
I thought, what if the American catches him and he's alone?
He could get hurt. Everyone else was just standing there. So I went after the American.
We cornered him.
We got the bag back seems with everything.
It was just a kid, maybe 15.
He was cornered but he had a knife.
He was probably scared to find himself cornered by 2 men.
We let him get away, we're not getting stabbed.
The girl?
She's shook up, but she'll be ok.
There are about 10 boats in the area of the Wick where we are. Most are men. Only the Norwegian and the American went after the attacker.
Tonight it's clear to me who the actual men are.