Page 9 | Chapter 1 | The Ghost Ship | A Free Serialized Novel by Scott Telek

The board creaked loudly as they entered. John was unable to see anything at first, fresh from the brilliant sunlight, until at last shiny highlights on distant glasses and bottles appeared. The rest of the room slowly rose to view as his eyes adjusted to the inner gloom. The interior was dark, even with the bright sunlight outside. There were no more than three customers inside, men in late years, hunched over tables toward the back, most sitting alone. The sweet smell of cooked fish and simmering chowder, mixed with the acrid bite of years of accumulated smoke, filled the air. The couple walked through an enormous pair of whale jaws on either side of the door to enter. John did not know what kind of animal they belonged to. Nautical instruments in every size and condition, regarded by John with equally ignorant eyes, lined the ceiling and walls, mixed here and again with a darkly hued painting of a brave ship fighting the sea. On the far wall, opposite the door, hung a large, dark painting of a shipwrecked boy atop the dark pyramid of an overturned boat. A white ship approached in the distance. John looked toward it, wishing to examine it closely, but restrained his enthusiasm. He turned away, smiling in a friendly fashion toward the backs of the tavern’s patrons. Iris held his hand, pressing close behind him.

Behind the bar a large woman with stringy dark hair tucked behind her ears was busily placing newly-cleaned glasses in racks above the bar. Her eyes turning to them once upon entering, she immediately turned them away, intent to offer them no attention. She turned her back to face the counter behind the bar, affecting to dry glasses.

John’s eyes scanned the entire tavern, looking for the most appropriate person to approach. Every patron faced the opposite direction, none moving. His lips drew into a pained smile, and he placed a weak hand over his chest as he saw the barkeep as the least threatening of options. He turned to Iris, half hoping she would step to the lead and negotiate the situation. She placidly returned his smile, unmoving. John sighed, stepped to the bar, wife following close behind. The barkeep continued her work, pretending unconvincingly not to know the couple was there.