Page 10 | Chapter 1 | The Ghost Ship | A Free Serialized Novel by Scott Telek

John cleared his throat. “Excuse me,” he said brightly. She ignored him. “Excuse me, Ma’am,” he repeated. No response. He looked back at Iris, who returned his gaze and shrugged. John turned back toward the bar, brow wrinkled. He stepped onto the brass rail lining the lower bar, stretched over the counter, and tapped the woman on the back. An afterimage of white lingered on the freckled flesh where his finger pressed.

At his touch, the woman stopped moving, hand held in stiff suspension. She raised her head without looking back, heaving a heavy, lion-like sigh. John timidly stepped back onto the floor behind him. The barkeep slowly and deliberately placed the glass she was holding on the bar in front of her with a bang, and turned. She peered at John and Iris from mottled leaden gray eyes. Her forehead and cheeks hung down in fleshy jowls, giving her likeness to a bulldog. The young couple stepped back.

“What can I do for you?” she said. Her tone made clear there was nothing she could do for them.