BARGEMASTER
a novel containing historical data

    They had, in fact, resorted to slipping him a few extra ounces of liquor in order to “untie his tongue” concerning Riena. There was apparently a very slim chance that he would spill any details about his lady friend. The proof was that Sien was rather amused by the effort of her conniving aunts. Had any success been likely, she would have stepped in to abort the endeavor.
    On one of those occasions, occurring on a hot summer night in Sien’s house, the Angevaare residence, Peter was sitting in the kitchen. Uncle Kobus, with a big grin on his face, passed in front of the lad to go out of the back door for a bit of fresh air. Normally, Peter would follow his uncle; but, because Sien had been feeding him her gin-soaked sugar, he felt pleasantly drowsy and remained on his seat.
    “Kok is getting double his share again,” said Sien, as she handed Peter her little gin glass, with a good measure of succulent sugar to be spooned out slowly for maximum enjoyment. Then, when she noticed that Peter was nearly asleep, she added: “And I think that you have had more than your share tonight.” After his treat, the last thing he remembered was uncle going back to the smoky living room to be interrogated by his aunts.
    The next day at the Dunes, Peter asked uncle whether he had revealed any details about Riena, explaining that Sien had told him about the aunts’ effort to get him tipsier than usual. Uncle had a lengthy bout of his contagious laughter. Then, while Peter was still wiping the tears from his eyes, uncle clarified:
    “As you know, I go outside frequently for fresh air. The others sit in the smoke all night. Also, I take the genever pure, no sugar. So, although I may end up with a few more than the others, I don’t get to the point were I lose control of my good judgment. What I tell your aunts will not enhance the volume of their gossiping. Anyway, their efforts are not malicious; they don’t do it in Leiden, when I have a bicycle ride home ahead of me. Here, in Voorhout, it is fewer than a hundred steps to mother’s place.”