Page 38 | Chapter 2 | The Ghost Ship | A Free Serialized Online Novel by Scott Telek

The barkeep was in place behind the bar, leaning on elbows, shoulders slumped far forward, loose hair obscuring her face. She spoke lowly to an aged man sitting across from her. His wrinkled hand rested on her arm. He removed it as John approached. The barkeep looked up, red-rimmed eyes showing through stringy hair, then, with a perceptible setting of her jaw, she turned her gaze steadily toward the man across from her. She did not look at John again. She began speaking to her companion.

John interrupted the conversation. “I’m sorry,” he began, “I’m sorry to bother you, and,” he placed his hand over his heart, “I’m very, very sorry about your son, but my wife and I still must arrange our passage, and I was wondering if you might just point us to—”

She pointed. John followed her finger’s direction to the rear of the tavern, where an enormously wide man sat alone. His table was the only one at which every seat was not filled. His vast bulging back was to them, wrapped in blue coat below yellow stained white collar. The expanse of his shoulders was topped with a wide dome of bald head, rimmed round with short gray hair. His hardness and rough manliness were perceptible even from that distance, and John internally blanched at the prospect of approaching him at all. As he watched, the man moved to raise his glass, massive arm moving slowly and deliberately.

“That’s him,” the barkeep said. “Wolverton. You are warned.” She directed her pointing finger to John, turning her gaze a moment to Iris.