PART FIVE

*

There's an ol' man called the Mississippi;

That's the ol' man that I want to be!

What does he care if the world's got troubles?

What does he care if the land ain't free..

Ol' Man River,

That Ol' Man River

He mus' know sumpin'

But don't say nuthin',

He jes' keeps rollin',

He keeps on rollin' along.

He don't plant taters,

He don't plant cotton,

An' dem dat plants 'em

Is soon forgotten,

But Ol' Man River,

He jes' keeps rollin' along

You an' me, we sweat an' strain,

Body all achin' an' racked wid pain -

Tote that barge, lift that bale

Get a little drunk and

You lands in jail...

I gets weary and sick of tryin'

I'm tired of livin'

And scared of dyin'

And Ol' Man River,

He just keeps rollin' along

*

Old Man River – Paul Robeson

[When I saw all the diesel powered cruise ships congregating to dock in one place to take their turn through the lock on the Nile – and a good number of them decorated to look like paddle-steamers – this song kept going round and round in my head, for fairly obvious reasons. That's why this boat is called the 'Cotton Blossom'. Go see 'Showboat', kiddies.]

*

Jayne was with Vera, Clarry and Simon. The doctor was using a portable ultrasound device.

“Your baby will still be tiny; about eight weeks' old.”

Vera smiled, “Please try.”

Simon slid the head lower, “Well, there's your womb. Ah! See that blob!”

Vera, Clarry and Jayne peered, “Yes!”

“That's your baby. Hang on a minute...” he twiddled a few knobs, “Trying for a close-up. There you go.”

“Well, I can see a head!” Vera squeezed Jayne's hand.

“Gorram,” He was trying not to sound awed and failing, then found a safe line of conversation, “Don't look much like a baby at the moment.”

“Few more weeks and everything will be there, in perfect miniature.”

Clarry looked at Vera, “Can you feel the baby?”

She shook her head, “Not yet. He's too small for me to feel him.”

Jayne pointed, “He moved!”

A klaxon sounded above. They packed up hastily and went up on deck.

*

Jayne plunged right in, as usu