Thursday 3 April 1986
David and Catherine arrived at the old mill at zero eight forty-eight and pulled next to Jean-Luc's Citroën. "Two minutes early," David said, looking at his watch.
"Twelve minutes by my watch," she countered.
"No, two minutes; I always plan to arrive ten minutes before an appointment. This gives me a little wiggle room in case there's a delay. I think it rude to keep people waiting. It shows I don't value their time."
"You surely don't do that with everything?" She looked up and smiled as he opened her door and offered his hand.
"No, on longer trips I begin with more spare time and adjust as I get closer. If I'm ahead of time, I'll pause a short distance away to relax and prepare myself."
"And if you're behind schedule? Maybe you never are," she jousted, as they walked toward Jean-Luc and an elderly couple on the grass verge of the canal. "But if you..."
"Bonjour, Jean-Luc. You have chosen nice weather for this," David greeted, spreading his arms toward the sky.
They were introduced to Henc and Maddie and were casually chatting when Jean-Luc motioned to a car slowly bouncing along the two mud tracks through the grass past the mill. "That's the surveyor."
After another round of introductions, David turned to the surveyor. "Jean-Luc tells me the crane is coming at ten thirty. Where would you like to start?"
"I'll start on deck, forward and work aft, then we can go below and look at the structure and systems. We'll let the crane interrupt us."
The lift went smoothly, Henc and the crane operator devising a set of safe slings with the advice of the surveyor. Maddie and Catherine had stowed everything below for the tilt forward, and Jean-Luc pulled a small painting raft into the space astern the barge. The surveyor was happy lying on it to turn and inspect the propeller and to lever its shaft against the hull to check the bearing clearance. He couldn't see the lower pintle of the rudder, but with a few forceful movements of the rudder and some prying with a lever, he was satisfied with its soundness. He had David turn the helm from lock to lock and back a few times and then shouted, "Good, that's enough."
The remainder of the survey had gone smoothly, and during the short cruise up through Écluse 73 and along the pound to the first winding hole, the surveyor gave a very positive verbal report. They wound around and headed back down through the lock. Vrouwe Catharina's old DAF ran smoothly and quietly, not missing a beat.
"I'll deliver my written report tomorrow to Monsieur Delong's office, probably before noon. I'll recommend you proceed with the sale. The only requirements are fresh fire extinguishers and a new bulb in the starboard running light." Then turning from David to Henc, he said, "I am very impressed with your maintenance."
Friday 4 April 1986
Catherine followed in her car as David drove the rental out of Morey-Saint-Denis, across to the N-74, then northward into Dijon and to the train station, to the Europecar office there. Catherine had asked, "Why do we need two cars?" He returned the rental car, cancelled the remainder of its contract, and they continued to Saint-Jean-de-Losne in hers.
"We could close early, you know," Jean-Luc said, as they sat in his office with the written report on the table in front of them. "I see no reason we can't complete now. Henc has put new fire extinguishers aboard and replaced the running light's bulb from his spares."
"There is one reason." David raised his forefinger. "I have a term deposit in Canada which will mature on 7 April, on Monday. I've given my bank instructions to have the proceeds exchanged to Francs and wired to my account over here as soon as it's available. It will arrive on Wednesday, Thursday at the latest, in time for our closing on Friday, our agreed date."
YOU ARE READING
Spilt Wine
Mystery / ThrillerThe disappearance of a friend and millions of Francs worth of wine interrupts David's buying trip in France when he pauses to assist and comfort his friend's wife, Catherine. Their lives are threatened, the intensifying circumstances draw them close...