Rade de Dakar, Ferryboat from Gorée to Daka
Scene 9
On the return trip to Dakar the brass band was again on board. The musicians had been in the alleys of Goree the whole day long, had played in the countless squares and courtyards of the settlement, had allowed themselves to be pampered in local restaurants, drunk, celebrated and had laughed. Maille was more and more impressed with the band. Their music had lost little energy since the morning; on the contrary, after sunset the trumpeter was playing his tunes better than he had done just after sunrise. The wild sounds of the little orchestra could undoubtedly be heard out at the «Seagull» that was still moored outside the Goree harbour. Whether Koslow was being held captive on the yacht was quite another matter. Was he lying trussed up in one of the cabins or was he sitting in the galley? Was he gagged? The thoughts twirling around in his head had made Maille's throat run dry. Would the sticking tape tear the man's skin when it was ripped off his lips?