Page 39 of The Cruise

‘Is the lady here?’ Dicky asked.

Kath gripped her bag and waited for someone to stand up and head to the stage. After a few moments, she couldn’t understand why Harold, Nancy, and Selwyn were staring at her.

‘It’s you.’ Selwyn smiled and took hold of Kath’s arm. ‘It’syourname that’s been called out.’

‘Don’t be so daft,’ Kath said, suddenly flustered as a spotlight panned around the room and shone in her direction.

‘I’ll watch your bag,’ Nancy said, and Harold stood up to assist Kath.

‘Go on,’ Selwyn urged.

The audience began to clap, and Dicky came forward. He took Kath’s hand and guided her to a seat as one of the band members placed a large clock on the stage.

‘Oh, my goodness,’ Kath said, straightening her glasses as she sat down. ‘I’m quaking.’

‘Well, let’s hope your nerves help you. The rules are straightforward, answer three questions correctly within the time limit and win the wonderful prize.’

Dicky stared at the woman and told himself she looked clueless. He should be able to get plenty of gags in to use up the time while he waited for her to try and answer at least one question correctly.

Kath’s fingers fidgeted as she watched Dicky walk over to the clock.

‘The quiz starts now,’ he said. ‘Here we go!’

She heard the clock begin to tick and felt vulnerable without her bag on her knee, sitting alone on the stage.

‘Which Caribbean island has the oldest rum distillery?’ Dicky asked, but before he could give Kath options, she called out her answer.

‘Barbados. Next question, please.’ The question was simple, she’d learnt about the distillery from Errol during their tour of Barbados.

‘My goodness – Kath is correct,’ Dicky said, and the audience applauded. The clock was only fifty seconds in. He began to pace the stage, but Kath refused to be stalled.

‘Next question!’ she demanded.

‘Let’s see if she is as quick with this one.’ Dicky winked at the audience. ‘What is the largest island in the Caribbean? You have a choice of A, Antigua, B...’

‘Cuba,’ Kath said without waiting for Dicky to finish.

Dicky had begun to sweat. Peter had given explicit instructions to make the quiz last ten minutes with each contestant. He was to engage the audience by getting them involved too. ‘Are you sure?’ he asked, already knowing that Kath was correct. ‘Wouldn’t you like to ask the audience?’

‘No.’ Kath was adamant. ‘Next question.’

‘Well…’ Dicky hesitated. ‘That is, in fact, the right answer.’ He flicked through the cards in his hand, searching for the most challenging question. Turning to the audience again, he said, ‘I trust there are no army majors out there, and if so, no coughing, please, as we wait for Kath to answer this question.’ One or two guests sniggered, and Dicky laughed.

As the clock ticked down, the audience shouted encouragement to Kath, knowing she was one question away from a prize and with plenty of time left.

‘Stop talking and ask the next question,’ Kath demanded.

Dicky gritted his teeth and held up a card. This will stop the old bag in her tracks! He grinned. ‘Kath, the French never ruled which of the following islands? A, Dominica…’

‘St Croix,’ Kath called out before Dicky could finish.

The audience was silent as they waited for Dicky to respond, and Selwyn, Harold, and Nancy sat forward in their chairs.

‘Wouldn’t you like to phone a friend or ask the audience?’ Dicky stalled, glancing at the clock, and realising they had many minutes left to fill.

‘No, I don’t need to, St Croix is right.’

Dicky stared at Kath and wondered if she could somehow read his card but knew it was impossible. He began to pad out the answer. ‘Well, one island was colonised by the Danish in the 17th century,’ he read, ‘but purchased by the United States in 1917. French place names still linger on Saint Lucia...’

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