The two women leave deck and walk down to their assigned cabin after much encouragement from Julia.
As they traverse the ship's bowels each crewman they pass offer subtle wink or courtesy tip of the hat, without a hat.
"I was informed that the crew were given strict rules of conduct. If there were any violations that crewman and crewmen who let it happened would be left at the first port of call." Julia whispers once they are out of earshot. "Do want to know something else?"
"What?"
"I overheard someone talking. This is the one and only trip to South America for this ship." Julia looks around to see if there is anyone lurking, "Isn't that odd?"
"We are at war. I suspect we will find many things odd."
"I suppose."
They enter the cabin to find basic room with two long twin beds, small sink, one dresser and one chair.
Ada quickly heads over to the right twin bed and unfolds a hidden bunk, "We can use this to store our things."
Ada grabs her large carpet bag and swigs it with effort to the bunk. She watches, with envy, Julia taking off her rucksack and places it on the bunk effortless.
Ada points, "That is handy." She takes the small box and places it on the dresser. "I am not going to set up the radio just yet. We will do it tomorrow." She looks at the rucksack again, "Where did you get that?"
"Do you want one?"
Julia pulls out a rolled garment and within is another rucksack, "This is Grant's. We got it just in case we go on another business adventure. I didn't expect to be on another without him."
"What do you think we can do with the radio?" Ada holds it up by the one handle.
"We need to put on straps." Julia swings around the medical kit, "Like this. It will be easier to carry. Especially If we have to walk long distance."
Ada looks out the portal, "Do you suppose we will walk much?"
"Who knows." Julia places the medical kit on the bunk and flops into bed. "You can have the chair."
Ada quickly sits down as she moves things from her carpet back to the rucksack.
Julia sits up and points the sweater being pulled out of the carpet bag, "Why did you pack another sweater?"
"It will get cold."
"You are already wearing a sweater."
"What if this one gets dirty?"
"Wash it."
"What do I wear in the meantime?"
"A Blanket?"
Ada processes the information and places the sweater aside. She pulls out stockings, socks, two dresses, two pairs of shoes, three pairs of slacks, a swimming suit and a multitude of blouses."
Julia watches as the carpet back is finally emptied.
Ada examines Julia's face, "You look like Odea when I was packing."
"It is a bit much. Although It will be easier to carry it all with the rucksack. My suggestion is to try to get it all in and see what happens."
Julia is entertained watching Ada try and try again to get everything into the large rucksack.
A knock on the door.
"Who is it?" Ada asks.
Julia walks over to the door and waits for a response.
"This is ... "
Without hesitation Julia opens the door as soon as she recognizes it as Vastra's voice, "Good evening."
Vastra looks past Julia into the cabin and frowns.
Jenny pokes her head into the cabin, "See. I told you that there's wasn't larger. This is a cargo ship and the only cabin that is large is the captain's quarters."
"What can we do for you this evening?" Ada dumps out the rucksack contents on her twin bed to begin again. "I have been given Grant's rucksack and I am attempt to pack all my belongings."
"May we come in?" Vastra asks Julia.
Julia goes to her twin bed and sits, "Please it is cramped but we will manage."
"We shall return shortly." Vastra grabs Jenny as they head down the corridor.
They return with two chairs, note paper, folders and tea service. "The cook was quite generous. I think he is feeding us like one of the crew." Jenny lays down the tray on Julia's bed.
Vastra puts the two chairs in the room, "One more thing." She returns with a folding table.
Only Vastra and Jenny occupy the table while Julia and Ada remain near the beds.
Vastra turns, closes the door, locks it and double checks the door's integrity. "There was more room in kitchen," Vastra looks around. "I am not a fan of sea travel."
"Unless you are the captain."
"I would have a larger cabin," Vastra replies with a tease.
"Please have tea." Jenny pours more warm tea for everyone.
Jenny reaches over and hands Ada tea and then Julia. Jenny simly says, "Please pay attention."
Vastra waits until she is given permission to begin from Jenny.
Jenny sips her tea and nods.
Vastra pulls from her stack a folder, "This past summer the MS St. Louis set sail from Hamburg to Cuba with nine-hundred and thirty-seven passengers, most of them Jewish refugees, some Cuban citizens, while other were US Citizens. The Captain went to great lengths to ensure dignified treatment for his passengers. Therefore, the travel was as enjoyable a journey over the seas ..." Vastra looks to the small room, "Do you suppose they had larger quarters because it was a passenger ship?"
"The third class on passenger ships have the same size as we do here. First and second class much larger." Julia quickly ads, "That is based on our journey to Switzerland." She smiles at the memory, "Our honeymoon." She looks around the room, "Vastra I share in your discomfort. This room is quite small."
Vastra passing around pictures, "This one of them dancing. This one of the swimming pool. Dining Hall. A man roller-skating. How can a man roller-skate at sea?"
Vastra sits a little taller and it makes Ada uncomfortable with her body slightly shifting. "This ship was hopeful and fourteen days later it arrives at Havana, Cuba. Without knowing, the Cuban government retroactively invalidated nine-hundred and eight passenger's Visa. One attempted suicide and was admitted to the local hospital. The Captain went to the United States but they were denied entry. The Captain then contacted Canada with the same denial."
"What did the Captain do?"
"There was no other recourse but to turn around and return to Europe. On their return, there was much negotiating to various countries which included permission to disembark at Antwerp, Belgium."
"That is good." Julia finally relaxes.
"Our country agreed to take two-hundred and eighty-eight, France accepted two-hundred and twenty-four, Netherlands accepted one-hundred and eighty-one and Belgium kept two-hundred and fourteen." Vastra pulls from her folder a picture, "This is the Captain negotiating landing permits for the passengers in the Port of Antwerp."
"We are being paid by a group called 'The Joint'." Vastra opens another folder, "The Joint was founded in 1914 to aid Jews living in Palestine. Since then their mission expanded and adjusted per global events. This year alone, The Joint had helped thirty-thousand Jews emigrate from Germany." Vastra looked up to the group, "There is a problem, where do these escaping Jews find sanctuary. That is our job." She hands over a map, "This ship will dock in Halifax Canada, New York, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil and then Argentina. After we shall return Home, hopefully without any diversions."
Ada and Julia sit there stunned.
Ada asks with a strained voice, "How long are we going to be?"
Vastra shrugs, "I honestly do not know."
"I was assigned to Argentina," Ada sits there feeling as if she has been kidnapped. "Just Argentina ..."
Vastra hands over the itinerary to Ada and Julia.
Ada reads it over, "Why not tell us before."
Ada's eyes go sad thinking of Odea and with a defeated exhale she nods her head yes.
"Why me?" Julia asks with annoyance. "You could have told me."
"When did you get hired?" Ada asks looking at her cool cup of tea.
"The two days before you told us about the ratlines." Jenny defends her wife, "They told us to wait and not to say anything until further notice."
"That is they were acceptable for me to talk freely." Ada rolls her eyes and lets out a gust of air, 'Truth Room, whose truth?' "I feel like a pawn."
"Ada, they are not just your employer." Vastra decides to tread a little harder, "We have been working with them on many joint efforts long before you were born. They treat everyone like a pawn. They make me feel insignificant and only essential when I have something to offer."
Ada places the tea down, sits more upright and touches her chest, "Why not tell me? I can keep many secrets."
Julia shakes her head up and down, "Me too. I don't understand the secrecy." Julia tries to stand but realizes that there is no room.
Vastra holds up the folders, "These were in our cabin when we arrived."
"Why did you come on this trip? If you had no idea of the agenda." Ada comes to her senses and tries to decipher information Vastra is sharing.
Vastra takes a sip of her tea, places it back on the table and says, "The enemy of this family is the Vatican. We want nothing more than to see its power diminished back to the marshes of Tiber. The ratlines could be the beginning of a new power structure. The threat of a global Theocracy with heads of states being self-righteous men is real. The Nazis are dangerous; mixing with the power of the Vatican it is now a global issue. It is no longer isolated to Europe. The Nazis are rounding up those of different faith, which the Vatican deems unacceptable. The Nazis are against anyone who will not produce a strong German Nazi everything else is a threat to state values. You know this. Their agenda includes homosexuals, anyone who is different or has a disorder will be thrown into work camps. What do you think will happen if they invade England? Think of Odea, if nothing else. We need to know what is going on and we are part of a larger intel. There are groups assigned to Asia, the Pacific Islands and Africa."
"It is inhuman." Julia sits back sick.
Ada quickly knocks down her personal wall of protection and grabs Julia's hand for comfort.
"The Crusades were religious wars sanctioned by the Latin Church aimed at recovering the land from Islamic rule. The Medieval Inquisitions demand conversion to expand Vatican's reach. Our own Queen Mary I killed many to re-establish the Vatican's Church in England. Throughout history the Vatican has proved itself to be interested in one thing and one thing only - complete global dominance. Dominance at any cost." Vastra comes to almost whisper, "The Nazi's agenda has been made clear without regard to our family. Going to Argentina is my attempt to stay one step ahead."
"Wait! I have to know," Julia asks quite loudly, "Why me?"
Vastra annoyed and responds with almost a touch of anger, "You are skilled at thinking on your feet, have excellent organizational skills and proven yourself a strong strategic planner. We need you."
Julia is stunned by the list of compliments.
Vastra adds this time with a softer tone, "Your husband is currently on his own adventure. Do you not want one of your very own? You don't seem to be the type to sit home and brood. This for your future too." Vastra holds up her one finger, "That will be answered in time. The dots need to connect and they are not yet connected."
Julia ponders to herself, 'Am I daring enough and allows myself an adventure?'.
"What is the connection of the St. Louis and ratlines."
"'The Joint' is made up of wealthy prominent individual of the Jewish faith. The Vatican's desire to build secretive ratlines isn't such a secret..."
Ada adds, "There must be a mole."
"My assessment exactly." Vastra smiles, "It seems that your employer has their own informant as The Joint contacted your employer which in turn contracted us."
"So we are all pawns." Ada quickly snaps and grabs her tea for comfort. She finds it is disappointingly cold. She doesn't show it, but she is upset at the tea being cold. She puts the teacup on the saucer with a slightly louder clink, something that any regular tea drinker would notice.
Jenny quickly leans over and warms her cup. "I know it is not what you expected nor planned. We are all in the same predicament. We had no Idea this was going to be bigger than ratlines in Argentina."
Julia perks up, "Do you think whatever we do will make a difference?"
Ada looks to Vastra for a strand of hope.
Vastra is trying hard to remember if The Church or Papal Mainframe are constants in time.
She looks to all three human women, that humanity looking for hope and courage. She decides instantly to forget about cause and effect, "I have no idea. Tell me the words you want to hear that will instill bravery. Tell me the phrase that will inspire you. Tell me what your hearts need to hear. I will say these things with an earnest heart and mind. I believe that there is something bigger than ourselves and more important than this moment. More important than this war. If you think a moment one person can't affect the future, you have never tried to sleep with a cricket in your room. I believe that annoying an enemy will display its weakness to the world. Can you imagine trying to sleep with four crickets chirping randomly?"
Julia and Ada are speechless.
Jenny is beaming with pride.
"May we see the folders? I believe Julia and I need to familiarize ourselves with the documentation." Ada looks to her mother-in-law, "You could inspire the moon to rise at moon."
Vastra hands over all her documentations.
Vastra and Jenny clear out the room of all the furniture and food.
"Have a peaceful sleep." Vastra begins to close the door behind her, "Oh and exercise is seven. Be ready."