TE23 Double Feature

Loranne Vella

Rocket

destination would depend on the person or the company that would have commissioned Petrel to take photos of some event or specific places of a locality. When he didn’t travel on duty, then, Rika and Petrel would often swivel the globe until it stopped on a continent from which they would choose a country or a city they had never visited before. In case he failed to make it to Malta, he could always swivel the globe, and let it choose for him his destination and fate. However, he had sold the globe, and this game made sense only when he played it with Rika. It was meaningless to play it alone. Malta was his next step. He couldn’t go anywhere else now. His next destination was Malta. Definitely. He was feeling so impatient that he couldn’t stop shaking his legs. He was almost going to leave and try to find someone to ask how long he would have to wait, when the door opened and another marine watch guard entered. This one seemed of a higher rank though, maybe a second 44

lieutenant of the ship. Petrel tried to figure out the emblem on the sleeve of his uniform jacket. However, the three horizontal lines on the emblem didn’t help him to identify it. From his authoritative posture and behaviour, Petrel realised that he had better stay on good terms with him. Whatever he told him, he had to subdue and obey his orders. He had barely finished formulating this thought, when the high-ranking official made a gesture for Petrel to pick up his suitcase and follow him. Petrel obeyed and followed him out of the room. The marine watch guard was waiting for them in the corridor, and when Petrel passed in front of him, he started walking behind him. Initially, he thought that things had gone very bad. He felt as if he was under arrest with the high-ranking official in front of him and the marine watch guard behind him. Photographers were often regarded with a certain suspicion by authorities, especially during times of conflict. He got goose bumps when he pictured himself on his way to be 45