wolfling: trying to force away the sudden collapse in writing ability comes miraculously up with…another chapter :)
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"You found a knife in the kitchen? Oh, excellent work Chef."
Englehorn leaned sceptically over the table in the room. Chef half scowled "It was in the wall Captain. It had blood on it."
"So? Maybe Jimmy was messing around in there again."
"Jimmy's not been messing around. Sir, I honestly think that there's something going on here. I've been in the Galley practically all day; I went out of the room. Talked to Jimmy, and then when I went back in, it was there. It still is, I haven't moved it."
"Why not?"
"Er," she seemed rather sheepish about it. Englehorn sensed this, and took immense pleasure in it.
"Well, Chef? I hope you know that as Captain of this ship, dishonesty to me could get you thrown forcibly from it."
"I was ah…" she went a little red and diverted her gaze "I was scared, Sir."
"Scared of what?"
"Well, people have been saying this ship's gone through some pretty mucky stuff! I'm just worried s'all…"
Englehorn grinned subtly.
"I doubt that a fifty-foot gorilla is going to try and attack you if you remove a knife from the wall."
He dismissed her before she could start talking again, and she walked out of the room, feeling doubtfully anxious. The morning sky was tinted a pink-orange, and birds swooped and dived in the glowing sky.
Men were already at work on the ship, securing knots and scrubbing decks. She stepped below deck, and steeling all her confidence, took a deep breath, in and out, trying to expel the demons of fear in order that she might at last step forward.
She entered the galley; the ship rocked gently, a motion she had only just become aware of. It was as if she had never been in the room before, although she spent most her present life in it, cleaning it, working in it, spending the never-ending maritime days in it.
She looked out of the small porthole. Watched the open sea glimmer in the sun, and stepped forward into the kitchen area itself.
The knife was still stuck fast in the wall. It leered at her, teased her childish actions.
It was amazing what fear and suspicion could do to an otherwise perfectly balanced person.
She went forward to take it out of the wall, hand outstretched, but stopped and breathed for a moment.
Her fingers wrapped around the wooden handle, and she felt the painted, chipping and worn wood beneath her fingers.
She took another breath and then sighed.
She really was making a big deal out of nothing wasn't she?
She then proceeded to yank the knife from the wall, but as soon as she did something didn't really feel quite…right…
A strange fear came creeping slowly over her, and for a few brief moments, she stood with her eyes scrunched shut, waiting for something to happen, something bad, something horrible…and possibly fatal.
Nothing did, but she fell sharply backwards with a yelp when she opened her eyes to find Jimmy in front of her.
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wolfling: Thanks to the reviewers of the last chapter, I'd list you all, but I'm afraid of spelling the names incorrectly, so just a big thanks :)
