And why the hell? Tanker life suits me. The company pays well …’ He shook his head. ‘But … I don’t know …’ He left the sentence unfinished, looking into his brandy as if it was in some way involved in his perplexities.
‘She doesn’t like being left on her own?’ Kostadis decided privately that this was probably the misstatement of the year.
‘I don’t know. I think it’s more than that. Her ambitions are way ahead of wife of the second mate of a tanker. She’s very status conscious. You know – wants a big house, two cars – Jag for me, Lotus for herself – sort of thing. Holidays at Cannes.’ Foley drained the goblet. ‘And clothes, my goodness, how she goes for clothes. Expensive ones. No wonder we struggle.’
Kostadis examined the end of his cigar with studied care, sighed audibly. ‘You know, George, behind most successful menthere’s a woman like Sandy. Ambitious, pushing, determined to make her man exploit his potential. It’s not a bad thing. It happened to me. I didn’t get to where I am without that sort of prodding. Kate wasn’t going to end her days as the wife of a tanker engineer and she let me know it.’
‘We quarrel a lot,’ said Foley gloomily. ‘She gets steamed up at the drop of a hat.’
‘Sounds like married life,’ Kostadis observed dryly. ‘Look, George, as marine-superintendent I’m the last person to suggest that you should leave the sea. But you’ve got a problem. Hell … I can see that. At twenty-six you’ve a lot of life ahead of you. You’ve already got an Extra Master’s Certificate. That’s pretty good. Unusual. Shows drive. If you’re convinced the only way to hold her is to make good ashore, get on with it. I’ve no doubt you’ve got the necessary qualities.’ Kostadis leant forward, his voice all the more deliberate. ‘Let’s be honest. Prospects at sea are worse than they’ve been for a long time. Bottom’s dropped out of the tanker market. Ships are being laid up. Ocean Mammoth will probably be one of them soon. We’re waiting for a decision. Don’t repeat that. It’s highly confidential but it’s a fact.’
‘Christ.’ Foley sounded startled. ‘That’s great, isn’t it. Especially with things the way they are ashore. Economy in a mess. Record unemployment. Not much chance of my landing anything.’ He grimaced, shrugged his shoulders in a hopeless sort of way. ‘Join the dole queue, I suppose.’
Kostadis drank more brandy, drew on this cigar. ‘Let me tell you something, George. Pessimism is a coward’s philosophy. You never know what’s round the corner. Every man is confronted at least once in a lifetime with an exceptional opportunity. It usually comes when least expected and it’s not always recognized. The reason why some men succeed where others fail is just that. They see the opportunity – and, equally important – ’ he paused, looking out to sea, describing an explanatory circle with his cigar, ‘they have the courage, the guts if you like, to seize it. To take the risks almost always involved if something big is to be achieved.’
Foley was silent, thoughtful, chin in hand, looking down to the pool where splashing and laughter came from late night bathers. Two men daring a bikini-clad woman to join them. Foley was wondering whether he should tell Kostadis what was on his mind. Make it clear that he hadn’t just sat idle, let opportunity slide by.He decided he would. ‘Opportunity’s not so easily come by,’ he said. ‘I don’t mind telling you now. Because of Sandy, I’ve applied for three shore jobs in the last twelve months. One was in the Australian harbour service – another as marine-super to a North Sea oil outfit – and the third for a post with a navigation school in Southampton. In each case an Extra Master’s ticket was an essential qualification. In each case my application was turned down.’
Kostadis turned to him, smiled sympathetically. ‘There’s fierce competition for
‘She doesn’t like being left on her own?’ Kostadis decided privately that this was probably the misstatement of the year.
‘I don’t know. I think it’s more than that. Her ambitions are way ahead of wife of the second mate of a tanker. She’s very status conscious. You know – wants a big house, two cars – Jag for me, Lotus for herself – sort of thing. Holidays at Cannes.’ Foley drained the goblet. ‘And clothes, my goodness, how she goes for clothes. Expensive ones. No wonder we struggle.’
Kostadis examined the end of his cigar with studied care, sighed audibly. ‘You know, George, behind most successful menthere’s a woman like Sandy. Ambitious, pushing, determined to make her man exploit his potential. It’s not a bad thing. It happened to me. I didn’t get to where I am without that sort of prodding. Kate wasn’t going to end her days as the wife of a tanker engineer and she let me know it.’
‘We quarrel a lot,’ said Foley gloomily. ‘She gets steamed up at the drop of a hat.’
‘Sounds like married life,’ Kostadis observed dryly. ‘Look, George, as marine-superintendent I’m the last person to suggest that you should leave the sea. But you’ve got a problem. Hell … I can see that. At twenty-six you’ve a lot of life ahead of you. You’ve already got an Extra Master’s Certificate. That’s pretty good. Unusual. Shows drive. If you’re convinced the only way to hold her is to make good ashore, get on with it. I’ve no doubt you’ve got the necessary qualities.’ Kostadis leant forward, his voice all the more deliberate. ‘Let’s be honest. Prospects at sea are worse than they’ve been for a long time. Bottom’s dropped out of the tanker market. Ships are being laid up. Ocean Mammoth will probably be one of them soon. We’re waiting for a decision. Don’t repeat that. It’s highly confidential but it’s a fact.’
‘Christ.’ Foley sounded startled. ‘That’s great, isn’t it. Especially with things the way they are ashore. Economy in a mess. Record unemployment. Not much chance of my landing anything.’ He grimaced, shrugged his shoulders in a hopeless sort of way. ‘Join the dole queue, I suppose.’
Kostadis drank more brandy, drew on this cigar. ‘Let me tell you something, George. Pessimism is a coward’s philosophy. You never know what’s round the corner. Every man is confronted at least once in a lifetime with an exceptional opportunity. It usually comes when least expected and it’s not always recognized. The reason why some men succeed where others fail is just that. They see the opportunity – and, equally important – ’ he paused, looking out to sea, describing an explanatory circle with his cigar, ‘they have the courage, the guts if you like, to seize it. To take the risks almost always involved if something big is to be achieved.’
Foley was silent, thoughtful, chin in hand, looking down to the pool where splashing and laughter came from late night bathers. Two men daring a bikini-clad woman to join them. Foley was wondering whether he should tell Kostadis what was on his mind. Make it clear that he hadn’t just sat idle, let opportunity slide by.He decided he would. ‘Opportunity’s not so easily come by,’ he said. ‘I don’t mind telling you now. Because of Sandy, I’ve applied for three shore jobs in the last twelve months. One was in the Australian harbour service – another as marine-super to a North Sea oil outfit – and the third for a post with a navigation school in Southampton. In each case an Extra Master’s ticket was an essential qualification. In each case my application was turned down.’
Kostadis turned to him, smiled sympathetically. ‘There’s fierce competition for
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