Page 40 | Chapter 2 | The Ghost Ship | A Free Serialized Online Novel by Scott Telek

John was taken aback by his roughness, but still more, the uncanny resemblance the man held to his own father. Indeed, while the two varied in feature, the captain carried the same air of fierce indignance as John’s father, and his eyes, though blue, approximated the incandescent rage that lit his father’s eyes when excoriating John for prurient thoughts.

John seemed unable to find his voice. “Ah, excuse me, Mister Wolverton--” he stammered weakly.

“Captain,” the large man growled.

“I’m sorry, Captain Wolverton, captain,” John said. He shuffled nervously in place, expecting the captain to turn to face him. It did not happen. “Well, you see,” he began, “my wife and I are trying to secure a passage to Cornwall, and we had heard--”

“No,” the captain said without glancing back.

John stood back, stunned by the man’s hostility. “I’m sorry?” he said.

“No!” Wolverton repeated, turning to glare at the couple. “No passengers. No room! Loaded to the scuppers.” He turned away again, continuing to grumble. “No married couple,” he said. “No women.”