Thanks so much for all the encouraging reviews! And for all those who wonder, Clytie is pronounced CLY-TEE, with the emphasis on the first syllable. Rhymes with mighty.
Chapter Three
Jack Driscoll sat on the deck of the Venture, watching Ann and Clytie, who were leaning over the railing, looking at the dolphins that swam alongside the ship. The two young women had become fast friends, after only a few days at sea. He had to agree with Ann, though. Despite her gentle, sweet nature, Clytie Seaborne was not the easiest person to get to know. She was, in fact, quite reserved, even with Ann, although she was warming up to her new friend. The writer shook his head. Strange, then, that she and Captain Englehorn got along so well. Neither of them were very friendly. He wondered if they even spoke to each other. Smiling to himself, he imagined the way he would write a scene between Clytie and the captain. It would be comical in its silence…
"Jack! Look! They're jumping!" Ann exclaimed, pointing.
Jack unfolded himself from his seated position and walked to join his wife and Clytie at the rail. "Enjoying yourself, sweetheart?" he asked Ann, putting an arm around her shoulders.
Ann nodded. "I am. Clytie and I seem to be quite talented at… keeping each other's minds from… other things."
Clytie absently nodded her agreement, then turned back to the dolphins. She was glad that Ann had come along. Already, she found herself trusting the actress. And trusting was not something she did so easily. She was naturally suspicious by nature. She turned to say something to Ann, then realized quickly that Ann and Jack were "having a moment." Quietly, blushing lightly, she started walking towards the bow of the ship, leaving the lovers to their kiss.
That's what I want, she thought, sighing. That kind of companionship. Someone who will just come up behind me, wrap his arms around me, and--
"Miss Seaborne."
Clytie gasped and turned around, startled, to face the blue eyes of Captain Englehorn. "Captain! Uhm… what is it?" Didn't I tell him to call me by my first name?
"I was just going to ask you if you have seen Mr. Wilson recently," the captain said, standing akimbo. He appeared to be worried.
Wilson… The big, bald guy… "No. Actually, I haven't seen him since yesterday evening, when we had that meeting." She self-consciously brushed a strand of her wind-whipped golden hair behind her ear.
The captain frowned. "He said he was going to speak with you. That was nearly an hour ago."
Suddenly, movement near the bridge caught Clytie's eye. "There he is. He's going to the bridge," she said, pointing.
Englehorn turned around. "What is he doing?" he muttered. He shook his head. "I'd better get up there." He turned back to Clytie. "I'll send Jimmy for you when I need your help."
"All right." Clytie nodded. "I'll be ready."
The captain gave her a half smile and headed for the bridge.
(LINE)
Darby Galyon, standing at the wheel, looked over his shoulder when he heard someone walk behind him onto the bridge. "Captain? Is that you?"
There was no answer.
"Miss Seaborne?"
Again, nothing.
Darby felt a shiver run up his spine. Had he just imagined the footsteps? "Well who's there?" he called. Once again, there was no answer. "You're just imagining things, Darby, my lad," the First Mate muttered to himself. "It's that wild imagination of yours. You just can't trust it."
"Mr. Galyon."
This time, it was the captain. "Yes, Captain? Was that you a moment ago?"
Captain Englehorn came to stand beside the wheel. "No," he said, frowning. "I think it was Mr. Wilson."
"Wilson? Then why didn't he answer me?"
The captain turned and walked into the section of the bridge where the radio and Morse equipment was. And there was Wilson, bending over some of the controls. "Mr. Wilson. What are you doing?"
The big, bald man spun around. "I was just checking to see if we got any messages, Captain," he said, smiling wryly.
"That's not what we receive messages with, Wilson," Englehorn replied, pointing to the equipment Wilson was touching. "That's what we send messages with." He frowned at his crewman, suddenly suspicious. What was Wilson up to, and why was he wearing that secretive smile? "And it looks as if we haven't received any messages. That's Mr. Robbins' job, anyway."
"Sorry, sir. I was just… trying to help." Wilson looked anything but sorry.
Englehorn jerked his head toward the door. "Go help with the engines."
Wilson nodded and hurried past the captain.
"Mr. Galyon," the captain called.
"Yes, sir?"
"Let's keep a close eye on Mr. Wilson and see what he's up to."
"Yes, sir. Good idea, sir," Darby agreed. He muttered to himself, "I never liked him anyway."
(LINE)
Clytie ate lunch in the cramped galley with Jack, Ann, and Preston. The cook, a dark little man named Hofstetter, served them the same thing that everyone seemed to get--porridge. Clytie took her bowl and sat beside Ann and across from Preston at the table. She said a silent prayer over her meal, then started eating quietly.
"So… has everyone been having a good trip?" Jack spoke up, hoping to dispel the awkward silence.
"I have," Ann replied.
"Me, too," Clytie added.
"If it wasn't for the fact that we are headed for imminent doom, I'd say I'd be enjoying it much more," Preston said cheerfully.
Clytie raised an eyebrow at him. There was something about him that she liked, and she found him amusing. "Imminent doom, eh? Well… I guess we might be headed that way, but… Hopefully, we'll manage to avoid the doom and find my brother instead."
"Hear, hear." Preston raised his spoon to her.
"So… tell us about your brother," Ann said. "What is he like?"
"He's a few years younger than me and as adventurous as I am. That's about all we have in common. He looks nothing like me and acts nothing like me. He's very outgoing, friendly… Everyone loves him."
"Ann thinks you have the same eyebrows," Jack spoke up.
Clytie laughed lightly. "I guess we do."
"And we do all love you, by the way," Preston added, smiling.
"Why thank-you." Clytie once again experienced that feeling of belonging. "I guess David and I have more in common than I thought…"
(LINE)
"I'm glad you and Miss Seaborne get along so well, Captain," Darby said from his place at the wheel.
Englehorn looked up from his maps for a moment, but said nothing.
"Why is it, if you don't mind me asking, sir? Why do you like her so much?" Darby persisted.
"She doesn't talk too much for one thing," the captain said sharply.
Darby cleared his throat and was silent, not expecting the captain to elaborate.
"And her presence is… soothing," Englehorn added quietly.
Darby glanced back at the captain in surprise. "Soothing? Yes, I can see that. She's a gentle sort of girl, shy and quiet and all. But… I'd be thinking there's something strong about her, too, sir. To undertake a voyage like this, you've gotta have guts."
"Yes. I agree. She's a strong woman." Englehorn lit a cigarette and started smoking it. "And a quiet one, Mr. Galyon," he added pointedly.
"Yes, sir," Darby agreed.
For a while, they worked in silence, then, abruptly, the captain spoke. "Miss Seaborne is a very perceptive young woman, wouldn't you say, Mr. Galyon?"
Darby was enjoying this. "I'd say so, Captain. Very intelligent. She is a marine biologist, after all."
"Two degrees to port, Galyon," the captain ordered.
"Aye, sir," Darby replied, swiftly obeying.
"Yes, she's a smart girl. It's strange that she even considered going on a voyage like this." Englehorn straightened, a distant look in his blue eyes. "She must care for her brother very deeply."
"I'd say so," said Darby. "I never cared much for my brothers like that. If one of mine was trapped on some godforsaken island, I'd say 'leave him.'"
The captain walked to the window and looked down at the deck. Clytie was strolling around with Ann, dressed in a mint green dress, her hair caught back in a loose bun. "She's a girl who would care very deeply," he said quietly. "And that is why I fear for her."
Suddenly, Jimmy burst onto the bridge. "Captain! There are lights behind us."
Englehorn quickly ground out his cigarette in his ashtray and hurried to follow Jimmy outside, calling to Darby, "Keep it steady, Galyon."
"Look there!" Jimmy exclaimed, pointing.
The captain peered into the growing darkness. And indeed, there were lights, tiny pinpricks of white against the blackness of the night sky. Englehorn cursed. "Someone's following us."
"What does it mean, sir?" Jimmy asked quietly, sounding nervous.
"I don't know," the captain sighed. "Go get Miss Seaborne. Tell her I need to see her."
