The Emerald Key - By Christopher Dinsdale Page 0,45
the conversation, arms waving in amusement and voice booming like thunder. As Jamie got closer, he could make out some details of the story.
“… and the wave, bigger than I had ever seen in my life, curled its ugly fangs above my bow. We went soaring up its face like we were going to be launched into the heavens itself! I tell you, it was the first time I had ever feared that the ship might actually flip nose over tail! Can you imagine the size of this wave? Then the crest came down on us in a torrent of white foam! Several of my best men were washed clear off the decks by the surge! I hung on to the wheel for dear bloody life and somehow survived as her bow finally slammed forward and we flew down the backside of the swell.”
The conversation came to an abrupt halt as Jamie stepped up to the edge of the table. The men coldly stared at Jamie and the two children.
“Are you Jack Chamberlain, the captain of the Carpathia?” asked Jamie.
“What is it to you?” shot back a huge black-bearded man next to the captain.
“My brother, Ryan Galway, died on the ship during your last crossing,” Jamie said, not taking his eyes off Captain Chamberlain.
The other three burly men pushed their chairs back slightly and clenched their fists above the table where Jamie could see them. Their icy stares left no doubt that they were capable of killing. They had dealt with vengeful relatives before.
Captain Chamberlain coolly raised his pipe to his mouth and took a puff. “Lots of people died on the crossing, lad. Shame about your brother.”
“I’m not looking for trouble, Captain. I know I can’t get him back, but I’m in desperate need of one of his possessions. He had with him an old Celtic book. It was with him in a leather pouch when he boarded your ship in Cork.”
Jamie detected a flicker of recognition before the captain’s face hardened once again.
“I don’t think I can help you, lad. I’m not a land-lubbin’ librarian.”
His comrades relaxed slightly and gave a hearty chuckle at the captain’s joke. Jamie placed his hand on the table and let drop a handful of large coins. He pushed the money towards the captain.
“This is all the money I have, Captain. It should buy you gentlemen at least a few more rounds before closing. Please, can you give me any idea of where that book might be?”
The captain collected the coins then rubbed his thick beard in thought. “Now that I think about it, I seem to recall my first officer mentioning that he found an old leather-bound book among the unclaimed items after the voyage. He said he might take it down to a bookseller on St. James Street to see if it had any value. What happened after that, I have no idea. That’s all I can tell you, lad. Now get those snivelling children away from us. Who knows what diseases they may be carrying.”
“Thank you, Captain,” Jamie replied. “And one last thing. My brother, Ryan Galway. Can you tell me how he died?”
“Galway?” the captain repeated, looking up to the smoky rafters. “I recall him now. He died early on, typhoid I believe, second week of the voyage. Buried him at sea.”
Jamie took a moment to digest the news then nodded to the cold-eyed captain.
“I saw your ship at the dock. Is it in for repairs?”
“Nay, lad. The old girl is being decommissioned, or put to rest you might say. She’s too small to make good money doing the Atlantic run, so she’s being sold for scrap.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Jamie lied. “So does that mean you’re out of a job?”
“Me?” Captain Chamberlain guffawed. “Out of a job? Never! In fact, I’ve been promoted to the captain of the Western Shipping Line’s newest ship! She’s due to hit the waters in the town of Prescott in a few days’ time. In fact, I’ve already insisted we name her the Carpathia II.”
“Prescott? Isn’t that above the rapids?”
The captain growled. “Give him a cigar! The lad knows his geography! It’s a new route the company wants to open to Lake Ontario. I’ll be taking the immigrants who disembark in Montreal onwards to the towns in Canada West. A very lucrative route it is, and they want their best manning the helm.”
“The best at what?” one of the men snorted, and they all burst into raucous laughter.