CHAPTER III
A few days later Archie opened his eyes and looked around, he heard someone cough. He looked to his left side, there was Simpson! He looked at the boy with a smile, but his eyes weren't smiling. 'Hi, how are you now?' he asked gently. The boy didn't answer. 'You'll get better soon, lad.' Archie was frightened, what game was Simpson playing?
Simpson smiled again and turned around, with a steady step he left the sickbay.
Someone entered the room, it was Oldroyd, one of the crew. 'Mr Kennedy! I see you're awake! How do you feel now?'
'Uh, it hurts' Archie mumbled.
'Well, the doctor said you weren't going to make it, but you're a strong young man! You'll be better!'
Archie forced a smile 'I hope so Oldroyd, I hope so' Though he didn't mean his words.
'Everyone thought Simpson did this to you, but we realised our mistake. He came to visit you every day, to see if you were getting better. Can you remember who did this to you?'
Archie now understood Simpson's tactic, and realised it wouldn't be smart to name him as the guilty one, they wouldn't believe him anyway.
'Er, No, I don't… I'm sorry'
'Alright sir, I just needed to ask from the captain. Sleep a bit, you might remember tomorrow.'
The next day Simpson came to visit again.
'Hi, lad, You're getting a bit more colour.'
'What do you want?' Archie asked confused.
'I just came to see how you are. I feel sorry for you, being so clumsy to burn yourself at a candle. That must have hurt, and it's even worse to realise that you were too ashamed to go to the doctor because of your clumsiness.' Simpson smiled and looked right into the blue eyes of Archie, now filled with tears. 'But now everyone knows, I'm not sure the captain still wants to have you on his ship. He might send you back home, to your loving father, although he might be quite disappointed in you.'
Archie sighted, was this ever going to end?
'I'll take my leave now, get some sleep and you can tell the captain this afternoon about your stupidity.'
At that moment the doctor came in. Simpson walked towards him and they spoke quiet with eachother. Then Simpson left and the doctor came to Archie.
'I heard you remember who did this? I will let the captain come over this afternoon, and you can tell him then. Sleep now boy.'