Chapter 11. Back to the Pirate's Life

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Jim relaxed on his couch, stretched out on his back with his eyes closed. He could feel the soft golden cloth through the back of his shirt and the swaying movement of the train as he dozed. A firm thud against his chest announced the arrival of the kitten. "Ooof, Sophie", he whispered, patting the soft fur, "why do you have to jump on me? You're getting too big for that."

In answer, the kitten meowed and walked up his chest to his face. She leaned close, rubbing her forehead against his chin. Her rough tongue linked his stubbly cheek and nibbled the end of his nose.

Without opening his eyes, he muttered, "I am trying to sleep. Why are you biting my nose?" He ran his hand down her back and pulled gently on the tiny tail. "You can stay here if you sleep so lay down." He pressed her down to his chest and Sophie snuggled against his throat. Her soft purring relaxed him even more as he drifted back to sleep.

"Jim!" Artie's voice shouted from the back of the varnish car, jolting Jim to his feet.

"What?" Jim shouted back as he staggered, his brain still hazy with sleep. His left hand held Sophie to his chest as he hurried across the living room to the swinging door. "Artie? Where are you?" He pushed through the door and started to hurry down the narrow hallway but his bare feet were suddenly in water. "What the hell?" He stopped and looked down at the floor. The carpet was covered with inches of cold water. "How did…" the train tilted to one side, throwing him against the door frame. His head smacked the wood and he felt the needle sharp claws sink into his chest as Sophie gripped him. "It's alright, girl," he gasped, trying to straighten. "I don't know how water got inside…"

Wind blew through the open hallway windows followed by waves of water pouring inside. The water was suddenly to his knees. "What in the Hell is going on?" He pushed Sophie tighter against his shirt, as she clung to him, and tried to use both hands to shut the window. It was stuck wide open and more water poured in onto his chest, soaking the terrified kitten. "Where is this all coming from?" He looked out the windows to see waves of water to the side of the train. He twisted, looking down toward the engine to see the train moving through an ocean of waves.

"I don't understand," Jim gasped, standing and backing away from the windows. Another wave pushed water through all the windows and the hallway filled with water to his waist. Sophie crawled to his shoulder and sunk her claws into his shirt collar. Her tiny body was soaked and she shook with cold and terror. Jim turned to pat her head, "its ok, girl, we'll figure this out." The dark eyes blinked at him and a weak "meow" answered. "Let's find Artie."

He surged forward, holding the walls for support. "Artie! Where are you?!" Only the sound of waves and the creaking of the train could be heard. The varnish car tipped again and he fell hard against the wall. "Artie!" He grabbed at door frames, looking into each empty room as he struggled past. The galley and lab were empty. His bedroom and the bathroom were also empty. "Artie! Where are you?!" He pushed forward again, through chest deep water, trying to reach his partner's bedroom. He has to be there, he thought desperately, gasping for air as a waved covered his face.

With a high pitched meow, Sophie lost her grip and floated away. Her tiny paws slapped at the water but she soon disappeared in the dark water.

"No!" Jim turned, his feet no longer touching the floor, reaching for the kitten. "Sophie!" A waved covered his face and his hands went under. He was sinking in the cold water, his arms and feet unable to find any kind of a purchase. He opened his eyes under the water to see the lifeless body of the kitten sinking far below him.

Jim reached out for Sophie but suddenly hands grabbed him, pulling him by the arms and shoulders. "Jim!" A voice shouted, "Jim, are you ok?" He was shaken again and pulled into a sitting position. "Wake up, man, it's a bad dream!"

Jim's eyes opened slowly and he saw Rowdy's face close to his. Blaine sat next to him, pushing him upright. Jim looked around the room to see a mix of worried and amused faces staring at him.

"That must have been some dream," Rowdy said, squeezing Jim's shoulder, "You've been yelling like a crazy person; yelling for Artie and that girl again." The men behind him all burst into raucous laughter, with many teasing, "Sophie!"

Jim snorted and shook his head, "it was so real. I was home again, on my train, but then it was tipping over and there was water everywhere." He rubbed a hand over his tired face, shuddering with the memory of the dream. "I couldn't find Artie and I lost Sophie in the waves." He let out a long sigh "and then I was sinking…and you guys pulled me up."

Blaine slapped Jim's back, "you may sink yet, Jim," the young man grinned, "and this here ship is tipping like a wash tub with a broken leg. We got water everywhere."

"What?" Jim said, looking around more as he woke up. Just then the ship tipped sharply to one side, with the bow dipping down and then rising sharply again. The maneuvers caused the men to sway one way and then the other, leaning on each other as they sat on the bunks.

Rowdy nodded, "I was on deck at the end of my watch and a wave came right over the bow. Right up and over and washed down the deck. Old Tuffy has the helm now with the Captain."

Tuffy?" Jim asked, "that old man that fixes the netting? What for?" The ship tipped again and water gushed down the ladder, pooling on the lower desks around the bunk supports.

"Ole Tuffy knows the sea when it gets rough," Rowdy said, "He enjoys the nets but his main job is the helm when we are in a storm. And we seem to be in a storm. The ship is really tossing and water is everywhere." He grinned, "that's why you were dreaming about it. Did you ever find Artie in your dream?" He laughed at first but stopped at the worried look on Jim's face. "Hey, it was just a dream. I am sure he's busy in the galley cooking us something to eat."

Jim took a deep breath and stood, his left hand reaching for Sophie on his chest. Shaking the feeling, he let his left hand drop. "I'm going to check on him. He can get into trouble faster than you can say "what's for breakfast?"

Jim climbed the slippery wooden ladder to the main deck. A wave met him in the doorway, slamming him backwards into Rowdy and Blaine who were following at his heels. "Ya, that was in my dream.." He moved out to the deck to see it in a state of disarray. Equipment and ropes scattered the deck, entangling anyone who dared cross. Waves broke over the railing and added more water each time. Jim turned to look up at the helm through the mists and could just see the top of the old, grey head over the wooden wheel. Wrinkled but strong fingers grasped the wheel as waves pummeled him;

"He's a tough old bird," Rowdy said, nodding toward him. "He keeps the bow pointed straight into the oncoming waves. If we go sideways, we could tip over."

"How can he see anything," Jim asked, wiping water off his face.

"He doesn't," Rowdy said, grinning, "he can feel the ship and feel the waves. He can steer better blind than most men who can see."

Jim snorted, "because he can't see how bad it is. Come on!" He rushed forward, walking over the tilting deck covered with sliding ropes and hooks. His bare feet had grown accustomed now to gripping the wood, his soles covered with calluses. The three men soon reached the doorway that lead down to the galley. They climbed down the ladder as water sloshed over their feet.

"Artie!" Jim yelled out again as he pushed forward, down the narrow hall toward the mess hall and the galley beyond. Water was seeping through the walls and ceiling as they moved. "Rowdy, where is all this water coming from?" He pushed the door open to the mess hall, hitting wooden chairs floating in deeper water.

"The waves coming over the bow cause it," Rowdy yelled back, trying to keep up with Jim. "The water seeps down through all the decks and ends up below. That's why we seal the jugs of oil with the wax and hook them down. Otherwise they could float and crash into each other. We can't have them break." He pushed through the doorway, on Jim's heels. "When the storm is over, we will run the bilge pumps and clean the water out."

Jim pushed at the scatter of chairs and tables to cross the large, open room. Water was approaching knee deep as he moved. He pushed the visions of his dreams to the back of his brain but his voice caught in his throat as he tried to yell again to his partner. He reached the closed door that lead to the small galley room. He pushed on it but it seemed stuck. He slammed his palm against it, crazed now with worry. "Artie! Are you in there?"! His throat was tight and his voice was strained and hoarse.

"Jim!" Artemus hollered back from inside. "Just a minute. Don't move that door yet."

Jim fell against the door, leaning heavily as the ship tossed, suddenly weak with relief at the sound of his partner's voice. Soon, the door was yanked open, just as the ship tilted again, and he fell awkwardly against Artie's chest. He grabbed at the door frame and his partner steadied him.

"What do you need," Artie snapped. "I don't have time for any other emergencies. I have plenty of mine own."

Jim stepped back, irritated, "I…" he stuttered, his dream rushing back to him, "I just thought I would check up on you, that's all." He glared, looking into the galley . "The ship is tossing around and flooding, I thought you might need a hand."

Artie chuckled, realizing his partner was worried about him. He stepped back into the room, with a wave of his hand, "well in that case, please join the party. Help is always needed. As you can see, we are in danger of ruining all this food we finally have." Charley was behind him, holding a small wooden crate. "Here, let me grab that one." He took the crate and handed it to Jim, "put that as high as you can on the pile. I want everything off the floor. Then we'll cover it with oil cloths."

Jim stepped onto a larger box and grasped the small crate. He reached up to wedge it between the pile of boxes and the roof beams. "At least your ceiling isn't leaking, like in the hall." Rowdy handed him another box and soon everyone had formed a chain of hands. Boxes were quickly stacked, out of reach of the flooding.

"How deep does the water get down here," Artie asked Rowdy, as he handed him the corner of a tarp. "Am I wasting my time? We finally have food to cook. It needs to be kept dry."

Rowdy shrugged, "don't really know. I never came down here during a flood like this. I usually work the sails. But we have a full crew this voyage so I am off shift. Supposed to be sleeping but Jim kept up such a racket, no one else could sleep."

"What?" Artie said, looking from Rowdy to Jim, as he stepped onto a low shelf and dragged the tarp over the huge pile of boxes. "Snoring again, James? We really need to fix that somehow." Jim glared down at Rowdy and rolled his eyes, sighing tiredly.

"No," Rowdy laughed, "dreaming of that girl again. That Sophie. He must really miss her!"

Artie smirked, his eyes twinkling, but didn't add any details for the ship gossip. "well", Rowdy continued, "he must have felt the ship moving and dreamed he was drowning. We all do it, especially at first. After you live through a few storms, it doesn't bother you as much."

"And I supposed if you don't live through a storm," Artie said, "it would stop bothering you completely." He secured the tarp with a length of rope and tossed another section to his partner. Jim tied down the opposite corner and jumped down to the floor. Artie dropped next to him. "I'm not sure what brought you all here but Charley and I appreciate the help, don't we?" He slapped Charley's shoulder and the young boy grinned up at him, nodding.

"Should we go on deck?" Jim asked Rowdy. "I don't want to get washed overboard but it doesn't seem right to hide down here either."

"It's almost our shift now anyway," Rowdy said, "we'll go up. It didn't look so bad as all that. I don't think we'll wash over…" he paused as the ship lilted toward one side before righting. "Unless it tips over! Dang, ole Tuffy must be having a tough time of it. Maybe the Captain will have some of the sails lowered to slow the ship down!"

Taking a deep breath, Rowdy turned and ran back across the mess hall toward the ladder. Blaine followed close behind, both men moving easily with the rolling ship. Jim turned to poke a finger into Artie's chest, "stay out of trouble and stay down here!" He turned before his partner could protest and raced after the two younger men.

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Artie tied the rope tighter to the boxes and stepped back to look at their handiwork. The crates had been stacked on top of the low wooden workbench and the metal, water tight box that the Captain's food was stored in. So far, the water had not gotten deeper and was still well below the food supplies.

"I hope that does it, Charley," he sighed, shaking his head. "We finally have food to cook and it was almost ruined by salt water. Boxes of dried meat, fruit, crackers…everything. If the water doesn't get any higher, we will be alright. If it does, we will have to get everyone down here to carry these crates out to a drier location." He turned and patted the boy's shoulder, "if there is a drier location."

"Water always drains through the ship," Charley said, "old Cook used to try to move food up high but he wasn't as strong as you. And he wouldn't ask for help."

"We all need help, Charley," Artie grinned. "I know I wouldn't know what to do without you. I would have been lost as a fish out of water on this ship." The young boy's face flushed bright red and he rubbed the end of his nose, looking at his feet. "Why don't we go up topside and see if there is something we can help with up there?"

Charley's face snapped up, his eyes wide with worry, "but Jim said not to. He said we should stay down here." He looked over his shoulder as if Jim was behind him, listening.

Artie laughed, slapping the boy's back gently, "he was just worried we would get swept overboard. If you promise not to, and to stick by my side, we should be ok. Deal?" The boy grinned and nodded his head. "Ok, let's go." He lead the boy out of the mess hall and down the flooded hallway. They climbed the ladder as water washed down over their bare feet and soon were standing in the open doorway to the deck. "Oh, Aunt Maud, what new Hell is this," Artie breathed under his breath.

The ship dipped down, the bow sliding down a sloping water into a trough between huge waves. The next wave towered over the ship, black water swirling upwards toward the crest. Artie had to tip his head back to see the top. The ship slid down and then started to climb up the slope. The scatter of ropes and equipment slide past them across the deck as the ship became level and then tipped backward as the bow rose.

"It's just a storm," Charley said, shrugging, "ain't you been on a ship during a storm? The Captain likes them because he says we make good speed. See the sails? Most are lowered so we don't go so fast we are out of control. Just the center ones stay up and the steering sails. The top sails are folded so the masts don't snap off." He pointed up into the storming sky at the men climbing on the ropes.

"Oh, Christ," Artie gasped, seeing Jim's small frame hanging from the ropes on the highest point of the main mast. "Of all the…and he didn't want me doing anything dangerous. I swear, if he falls overboard…."

"Oh, he'd be lost," Charley said, "I hope no one falls over. We would never get them back." They watched together as the men climbed around a sail, lowering the great sheet of cloth into its lowest point and tying it with ropes. Many climbed down to the deck while others swung on ropes to the next mast. Artie tried to see his partner, but Jim was lost in the mists.

"Do you see Jim," Artie asked Charley, as he squinted into the rain.

"There," the young boy pointed, "he's on the last mast, tying down another sail. They are almost done now." He turned to point to the upper deck where the helm was located. "See ole Tuffy? He is the best helmsmen in the world during a storm. He can feel the ship more than see it."

"Well I wish I couldn't see all this," Artie said, gulping, as his stomach flip flopped. The ship had slid down the giant wave only to meet another one. The bow rose again, sliding equipment back and forth over the wet wooden decking. "How does he know where we are going?"

"He won't worry about direction in the storm," Charley said, "he just keeps the bow pointed into the next wave. When we are through, we will have to wait until we can see stars so we can figure out where we are."

Artie nodded, and stepped out further onto the deck. The wind almost knocked him over and he grabbed at the railing. "Stay in the doorway," he said, waving Charley back, "I am going to go to the helm and see what our course is. I'm curious."

"Jim probably wants you to stay here with me," Charley yelled out into the wind.

Artie nodded, "he probably does." He walked slowly forward, sliding his grip along the railing. He slid his feet too, not daring to take a very large step. The ship tilted sharply while rolling side to side. After a few minutes, Artie reached the short ladder that lead to the upper deck. He grabbed at the ladder's edge and climbed the steps, grabbing again at the out ship's railing, making his way toward Tuffy. The old man cackled when he saw him.

"Having trouble walking," he laughed, his grin infectious. "I told you this was an exciting job. Flying through the waves with a fast wind in your sails," he gushed, "nothing like it! Even hunting the giant sperm whales doesn't compare to this. It's like riding the largest and fastest horse in the world."

"I'm glad to see we are in good hands," Artie said, grinning at the old man. "Do you know what direction we are going in?"

"We go where the winds and the waves take us," Tuffy said, putting his face to the rain. "And at a fast pace too." He nodded toward a large, brass circular piece of equipment that stood near the wheel. "Look at the compass, if you want," he said, "just mind the wheel. It can snap around and give you a heck of a thump."

Artie let go of the railing and moved to the brass compass. It was waist high and round, as wide as his stomach. The top was glass and he had to wipe the water off to see through it. Inside, below the glass, was the largest compass he had ever seen. The large brass arrow pointed toward North-west.

"We are going North-west," he said, looking back at Tuffy.

"Aye, we are at that," Tuffy said, "the biggest storms blow us North. I try to steer West so we don't hit the rocks on the islands along the land of the Eastern shore. We started below the territories of the America's but we may stop well north of them. And that's what the Captain wants."

"Why?" Artie said, yelling into the wind and rain. He didn't see the quiet, tall man walk up behind him. A double line of buttons on the dark blue pea jacket barely showed in the dark rain.

"Mr. Gordon," the Captain said, his deep voice easily heard through the storm, though it sounded like a roll of thunder, "Why don't I answer your questions while we leave the crew to man the Helm. Join me in my cabin, won't you?"

Artie had jumped at the unexpected voice but turned and nodded, following the Captain. He stole a quick glance at the doorway where he had left Charley. He saw the boy duck back inside and knew he would be hurrying down an interior hallway to meet them further in.

The Captain walked through the doorway to his quarters, pausing at his own door to knock softly. "My dear, the cook is with me." A soft voice murmured something from behind the door and the Captain pulled the handle. The heavy wooden door swung out slowly and he entered, followed by Artemus. The Captain picked up a towel from a rack and wiped his face, replacing the linen back on the rack without offering it to his cook. Artemus wiped his face with his tattered sleeve and pushed his hair from his face. He felt the unruly curl touch his forehead and knew he needed a haircut. Charley appeared behind his knees and peeked into the room.

The Captain turned, gesturing Artemus to enter and saw the boy, "Ah, young Charley. Please enter too. It's quiet a storm out there. Pray, tell me, how is the food? I know in the past it has been spoiled by such storms by the seas leaking though the decks."

Artie cleared his throat, "we stacked it out of reach of the water and covered all of it with heavy tarps. It seemed secure and dry if the water doesn't fill up any higher." He reached over to wrap an arm around the boy's shoulders. "Charley has been instrumental in knowing what is to be done. He knew the water would start leaking before it happened. It was his quick thinking that save the food."

Charley looked at his feet again, wiping his face in embarrassment. "Ah, I couldn't lift the crates though. You did that. And then Jim came with Rowdy and Blaine." He looked up at the Captain, his eyes wide with excitement. "You should have seen Jim come running in, just knowing we needed help, like he could hear us thinking to him."

The Captain chuckled; pouring dark liquid into a small glass. The cut glass pattern on the surface caught the light as he moved. He handed the glass to Artemus, "some brandy, young man? It will warm you."

"Thank you, sir," Artemus said, "it will. You don't…?" He held the glass up.

"No," the Captain said, "no, never have, though I know others imbibe without losing their faculties. My dearest wife enjoys her wine and her port, don't you, my dear." He bowed to Rose, as the red head relaxed on the long couch. She smiled and raised a glass of wine to Artemus, in a silent toast.

The Captain turned back to Charley. "And you are becoming a cook, I hear. Learning a lot and becoming a value to the ship. I am very proud of you, young Charley." The boy blushed again as he turned back to Artemus. "But you were asking about our direction? And how the ship was steered in a storm?"

"Yes," Artemus said, nodding, "I have been on ships at sea but never in a storm like this." As if hearing him, the ship's bow dipped down, tipping the people and the room's contents. Most of the objects were unmoving in the officer's quarters, though the men standing leaned slightly. "I guess I have always been lucky."

"It's us that are lucky," The Captain said, "we traveled south for supplies, trading with the islands in a fair exchange of goods. Now we are moving north to the areas where the great sperm whales live this time of year. This storm will get us there very quickly. It is not so bad that we are in danger. Ole Tuffy know his trade. He has lived on a ship all of his life. You get a feel for a ship, like a living thing. Much like riding a horse." He nodded, pouring a cup of steaming hot water from a teapot into a fine, porcelain cup. "And once the storm has past, we will wait for the stars. We will use the location of the stars and the maps to determine where we are." He turned and picked up a large, metal contraption from a desk behind him. "Have you ever used a Sextant?" He handed it to Artemus. "I will show you when the sky is clear but for now, I will just say that you find the North star and measure the angle to the Earth's horizon. The measurements, when compared to a map with coordinates marked, will show you the ship's approximate location."

Artemus held the scope part to his eye and looked across the room. He lowered it to see the arcs with degrees marked into the metal. "Yes, I would enjoy using this very much." He turned it over, studying it. "Do all the men on the ship know its use?"

"Unfortunately, no," The Captain said, "many have no interest or mental capacity," he said, with obvious disdain. "But a few of the older men do. Tuffy, of course, who I suspect was a sailor before that instrument was invented, can do very well by measuring with his fingers." The older man chuckled, "he has so much knowledge. A life lived outside on the deck of a ship. He has seen so much and the industry has changed tremendously; we must change with it or wither away." He let out a long sigh, "so we carry on, teaching the younger men." He turned to Charley, "and I do think this young man can begin to learn a few tasks beyond the galley, though he is turning into a good cook."

"He is a fast learner and has a very good memory," Artemus said. He wrapped his arm around Charley's shoulder. "We have been discussing the use of preserving meat and vegetables so the ship can have food stored for longer periods of time."

"Excellent," The Captain said, his head suddenly tipping to one side. "Did you notice? The ship is tilting less now. Wind is still gusting but not steady like it was earlier. I think the worst is done. It will dissipate soon."

As if on cue, yelling was heard coming from outside and then a heavy crash came from above their heads. Rose sat upright on her davenport, her eyes wide with alarm, as Artemus and the Captain exchanged a look over Charley's head. Then the two men, and the boy, turned and ran for the hall. Artemus, closer to the door and in a panic for Jim, quickly out-paced them. He burst onto the deck to see one of the smaller masts had broken, spilling splinters of wood into a mass of ropes. Jim was pulling Blaine out from the pile when the ship leaned sideways on a wave. A broken section of wooden mast toppled over the railing, pulling the ropes over with it. Jim was standing over Blaine one second and then was gone the next, yanked backwards over the edge of the ship.

Artemus, and the other crew that had seen Jim disappear, all stood frozen for a heat beat. Then Artie shrieked, "JIM!" He lept forward over the ropes to the railing. A single rope, tangled with a piece of splintered wood, hung over the railing, tight with the weight. Far below, Jim hung upside down with his legs wrapped in the ropes. His head dangled a few feet above the rolling waves. "JIM!" Artie shrieked again but his voice was lost in the wind.

tbc