The Origins of Phineas Bogg
Chapter 9: Broken vows
AnneMarie and Robbin arrived at the docks only to find the pier in which Phineas was supposed to meet them deserted. AnneMarie looked out across the water and saw the ship leaving in the distance. Stifling a cry, she left Robbin behind and ran to the Port Authority office, demanding to speak to the night watchman. He shuffled out from behind his desk, dragging his damaged leg behind him.
"What be yer business here, woman?" He squinted through the darkness. When he lit his lamp he saw the daughter of his employer and quickly ushered her in. "Forgive me, Miss Schaffer! Come inside and warm up! What seems to be the trouble? You look a mite perturbed."
AnneMarie refused to sit and wrung hands as she paced his office. "I am greatly perturbed, Captain Wyatt! What has happened? Why did the Triton set sail before the hour of eight o'clock?"
"Oh, yes! We were given strict orders from your father to reschedule about twenty minutes before time, have you any business there?"
"Yes! I…a friend of mine was to be on this ship, his name was Phineas Bogg? Has he inquired of you this evening?
"Bogg? Why no, not at all. Though I did have to break up quite a scuffle off the pier nearest the pub. It was just a rowdy bunch of sailors, those drunken blaggards! One of them was so cock-eyed they had to carry him onto the ship just in time!"
AnneMarie controlled her hysterics. "But…but, Captain Wyatt, surely one of them was Phineas! I was supposed to meet him at precisely a quarter to eight. Did you not recognize these men?"
He stroked his beard in thought and shrugged. "I'm sorry my dearie, I couldn't see too well…and my injury doesn't let me move as fast as I used to. I could have sworn I heard a gunshot...but, there was no victim to be found."
AnneMarie gasped. "How do you know the drunk one was really drunk? What if he was hurt? Or dead?"
"It never struck me…listen, these things happen all the time…if I do get word from Phineas, I will summon you."
AnneMarie left the office, her hopes shattered. "Thank you Captain Wyatt, I appreciate your information."
She raced back to Robbin, who stood forlorn by the water's edge, holding an envelope and Phineas' shoulder bag.
"AnneMarie…I…I found this on the dock where you were to meet him. I didn't open it…but…" His worlds trailed off and he passed it to her.
Robbin went to his wagon to feed the horses a bit of vegetables he brought along. He was sorry Phineas Bogg ever came to this city. The wind was picking up across the sea and AnneMarie just watched pitifully as the ship sailed further away, becoming nothing more than a tiny speck in the vast Atlantic. She opened the letter and commenced reading.
'My dearest Anne,
I know my vows of love to you were strong as was my will to spend the rest of my life with you, but I decided that my love for the sea and my occupation is much greater than for any woman. What we had will always be in my heart and I know you will top all the women my desires will relish in the ensuing years. I did not want to make this harder for us by telling ya face to face. I despise long goodbyes and I know your sentimental wiles would have made me miss the boat. Fare thee well my darling, and may your future happiness with Dida Von Onderdonk be plentiful.
Yours, Phineas Bogg
AnneMarie's expression turned to stone as thunder rumbled in the distance. She wanted to tear the letter to shreds, but she couldn't, so she ripped it in half. The wind picked up the pieces of paper, and they swirled in the air to the other end of the dock. She lifted the locket off her neck and was about to fling it into the ocean, but then composed herself. Running her fingers across the chain, she inhaled sharply and slowly put it back over her head. There was a seed of doubt in her mind about all this. Why did Phineas leave so suddenly? What were all those men doing on the dock? If he didn't love her, he would not have given her such a dear possession. She clutched his bag to her chest, she would never be rid of it. The recollections of their time together and suspicions churned through her mind. She remained motionless for a long while, with the most indescribable rage and pain in her heart.
-O-
Robbin slowly approached the docks again. He didn't want to disturb AnneMarie and just watched her wistfully. Two pieces of paper flew by his feet and he picked them up. It was the letter. He placed the pages together, and read it carefully, his anger mounting. The words were so harsh, yet from the little time he knew Phineas, it didn't sound like him. Phineas Bogg was honest and forthright and they had talked often about his intense love for AnneMarie. To read these words struck his heart painfully. Robbin carefully folded the letter and put it into his bag. He was going to save it for her and he wanted to show it to Heine.
-O-
The sudden thrashing of the ship and splash of cold ocean water on his head revived Phineas from his stupor. His arms were chained to the base of the wall in the hull of 'Triton.' He raised his eyes wearily at the intruder and coughed as the saltiness seared his throat. His teeth chattered and goose pimples broke out up and down his arms and legs. A burning fever was starting to creep upon him. The man with him was one of his attackers. He grinned malevolently with two gold teeth shining in the darkness and knelt down to unlock the shackles.
"Get up ya little bastard! The Captain has a job for ya! He needs ya to climb the rigging and release the sails, there's a storm blowing in! Move it now! Sprightly!"
Phineas felt too weakened to budge, his vision was blurred and his body ached from the brutal beating he had taken earlier.
"Wait…. wait…"
"I said get a move on!"
The sailor kicked him hard in his middle and Phineas shouted from pain. He clutched his stomach and lay flat. The sailor lost whatever patience he had left and yanked him by his neck until he was on two feet. He kept shoving him up the stairwell and onto the quarterdeck. The ocean was violently rocking the ship and sailors ran and stumbled all over one another trying to keep it under control. A wave crashed over them and Phineas was swept to the floor dumbfounded, soaked to the skin. His resolve was lost and he cared little what happened now...
-O-
AnneMarie entered her household drenched from the sudden downpour and stood before her father and Dida solemnly. She dropped the hood of her cloak and sank to her knees.
"Please forgive me, my father…Dida. I have acted like a foolish child and made a grave error. If you will give me allowance, I will change promptly for my wedding."
Dida held out his hand and she grabbed it, allowing him to help her rise.
"I forgive you my darling, all is not lost. We will wait patiently…and I with bated breath for you, my beloved."
AnneMarie turned to her father, her eyes permanently saddened and her spirit defeated. He bowed gentlemanly.
"Yes my daughter, we forgive you, now go, but do not tarry."
Upon entering her room, AnneMarie fell into Hilga's arms and wept profusely. The kindly maid led her to her vanity and seated her to begin preparing her for the wedding. AnneMarie could not speak out for her imprudence and glumly allowed Hilga to style her hair and freshen her face.
"There's no need to brighten your eyes…the tears have done as much…I'm dreadfully sorry, Anne."
-O-
The storm built up its furor as Phineas mechanically ascended the ratlines. The lower topsails smacked him in the face and the ship jerked and bowed with each wave. He could barely see ahead of him, but his skills overcame his illness. The water rose higher, but Phineas did not pick up speed. He removed the dagger from between his teeth and grasped the ropes connecting to the main topsail. He could not hear the sailors screaming below through the howling wind, nor did he care.
-O-
AnneMarie stood before the grand doorway of the ballroom sick in her heart and heard the guests, faintly murmuring.
"The poor thing was ill today."
"She and Dida will make the finest couple in all of Rotterdam!"
"Marriage will tame that wild heart of hers."
"I hear around that she nearly ran off with the stable boy…or was it the guardian?"
She caught Heine's eye at the last remark, but her dear friend was oddly still and her mouth turned down wretchedly. Heine grasped Robbin's hand with all her strength and he discreetly maneuvered his arm across her back, hugging her close. A single tear fell from AnneMarie's eye and she quickly lowered her head, keeping her focus on her shoes. The lacy wedding gown shimmered under the chandelier lighting and itched her from its encrusted sequins and pearls. Her father took hold of her arm and she looked his way as they proceeded to step down the flowery aisle.
"You are doing the best thing, my daughter. From this day forward we will forget that Phineas Bogg ever entered this household and his name shall never be mentioned again, is that clear?" He whispered authoritatively.
Captain Schaffer released her to Dida's possession and she lied adamantly to him.
"Yes father, Phineas Bogg will become a requiem for a dream…and then he will fade into nothingness."
-O-
Phineas lashed the knotted ropes and the topsail flew out, affording the ship more stability. He keeled forward, barely hanging onto the ratlines and looked gravely into the blackness of the storm. He realized the darkness was not the sky itself, but a massive squall continually building up height. An unexpected urge to survive enveloped his senses. He was not going to let the woman he loved go. He was going to return to her, swim all the way back to Rotterdam, and reclaim her.
-O-
The sermon had been given and it was time for the vows to be made. AnneMarie repeated her lines involuntarily. Though they echoed beautiful promises of love and happiness, her heart was hardened. She had already sworn to make these vows. Clutching the locket that betrayed her love for Phineas, she uttered a faint 'Yes' to Dida Von Onderdonk and sealed her fate.
-O-
The storm afforded Phineas no chance to escape. The 'Triton' took a dive and Phineas held his breath as the immense wave crashed over them all. He lost his grip on the ropes and the wooden poles that supported them splintered in half. The wind took on a life of it's own, carrying him through the air. He felt weightless and cried out with his last bit of strength.
"I LOVE YOU NOW, FOREVER! ANNEMARIE!"
Lightning flashed and struck the bowsprit, fully capsizing the ship. Phineas was plummeting faster and faster, ready to be swallowed into the depths of the ocean when his body jerked upward and he was swathed in a white light. The two survivors of this storm could only bemoan in their later years how the young man flew into the sky and then completely disappeared.
