Jack Beale 00 - Killer Run

back in her cabin.

CHAPTER 18
    ALFRED GLANCED OVER AT THE CLOCK . It was after midnight, but he couldn’t put the book down.
    * * *
By sunset the ship had been returned to full working order. Because the wind had steadied and the sea had continued to flatten, more sail was added and once again they seemed to be flying across the sea. Christine had returned to the deck to watch as the sun dipped below the horizon amid a wash of pinks and reds.
“That’s a good sign.” Once again the Captain had silently come up behind her.
“Oh,” she said turning. “What’s a good sign?”
“The red sky. We’ll have good sailing tomorrow.”
“How much further? Until we reach Newport.”
“Within the week, God willing and providing the wind holds fair.”
“Thank you.” She wanted to have more of a conversation, but it was obvious that he didn’t, so again she returned to her cabin.
Dawn brought clear, blue skies. The wind held steady and when Christine came on deck, something felt different to her. At first she thought it was just the air, or perhaps the motion of the ship, but as she stood by the rail watching, she realized that it wasn’t anything physical. The crewmembers on deck had a different air about them. They seemed cheerier, almost excited. “Could we be that much closer to our destination?” she thought to herself.
As she thought about this a cry was heard from the lookout. “Sail Ho!”
Instantly the entire crew was on deck. They were all looking off the port bow in the direction that he was pointing. A murmur went through the crowd as speculations were voiced as to what ship it might be. Christine looked to the horizon with everyone else, but she saw nothing. The cook was standing next to her, so she turned to him and said, “I fear that I do not see anything. How do they see whatever ship is out there?”
“It’s a seaman’s eye. We are so used to seeing only the sea and the sky that anything, even the tiniest speck on the horizon, becomes visible to us.” Before he could say anything else, he suddenly became quiet.
Christine looked at him, wondering why the sudden silence. She was about to say something when the Captain’s voice rang out close behind, startling her.
“Lookout. Report.”
“Aye Captain. There …Off the port bow―a sail.”
She turned and watched as the Captain drew the telescope that was in his hand to his eye and scanned the ocean. The crew was silent as they awaited his pronouncement. He lowered the glass, snapped it shut, and said only, “Carry on,” before turning and going below.
As soon as he was out of sight, the buzz began as everyone on deck had something to say about the mysterious sails that were seen and the Captain’s seemingly odd behavior. Christine continued to stare at the horizon, seeing nothing but the blue sea. Frustrated at not being able to see anything and puzzled by the Captain’s sudden departure, she returned below.
At the bottom of the stairs, she paused, glancing toward the Captain’s door. It was ajar and she could see that he was pacing, holding a piece of paper. Curious, she began to step toward his door. Suddenly the door flew open and he rushed past. He took the steps two at a time and disappeared on deck. Christine wasn’t sure that he had even seen her. Before continuing back to her cabin, she took one more look toward his cabin. Then, compelled by his strange behavior, she returned to the deck.
The Captain stood at the rail, his glass trained on the horizon. Christine focused her eyes in the same direction as the tip of his telescope. For the briefest of moments she thought she saw a flash of white on the horizon. Thus encouraged, she continued to stare until she saw that flash again.
She was not alone in staring at the white speck on the horizon. Over and over the Captain lifted his glass, stared, lowered it, and then started the process again. All the while, that small white speck grew in size. It was still too far off to know for sure whether it was a friend or foe, merchant or warship, pirate or privateer, and she felt the same tension that every member of the crew seemed to be feeling.
All the while the Captain continued to study that ever-growing speck. Suddenly, he lowered his telescope from his eye, and with a loud snap, closed it with such force that for just a moment, all eyes were on him. Then, turning to the first mate, he spoke several commands that produced a flurry of activity. Christine watched as a set of colorful