Introduction - 0 View from above upon arrival - 1 First Akbar door - 2 Gear - 3 Meeting the Division - 4 First Communion at Akbar - 5 Shepherd - 6 Lights out - 7 Vultures - 8 Get h’on Parade! - 9 Bandy - 10 Wakey–wakey! - 11 Smartening rig - 12 Economy Star - 13 Poetry Club - 14 The Writer - 15 The Skipper - 16 Boating - 17 Seamanship - 18 The Skipper's Kippers - 19 Moot Court - 20 Dirty Mary - 21 Cross–country - 22 Sailorboy - 23 Church Parade - 24 Fellini fragment on Jildy - 25 Deckscrap - 26 Cinderella Days - 27 Long Tom for 'Dead Men' - 28 Waiting for Podmore - 29 Akbar - 30 The Path - 31 Meeting the Division Up the Port gangway to Division Two Laden with franklyn, bell–bottoms and kit. Stand to attention at the open door Stunned by the holy sheen of hardwood decks The stench of Ronuk, Brasso, clean–lean–mean. Out on the gleaming wood a tall youth stands In bells, gun–shirt, franklyn with twin red hooks. The Petty Officer stares at the New Cock. " Me name is Fermage. . . ." in a Scouser drawl. " Oi'm d'Petty Officer 'round 'ere, lar. Any shit from youse, Oi'll kich yer 'ead in." He stepped tight up and loured at the lad. ' "But if youse getcher finger out shipshape Yez'll lairn t'be d'foinest koind o'man D'koind of bloche t'sail d'seven seas. Now getcher gear stowed neat joost over d'ere an' den do fifty press–oops fer a start."

© Bill Meilen & Ravensong International 2007.