Page 48 | Chapter 2 | The Ghost Ship | A Free Serialized Online Novel by Scott Telek

The strong man laughed as he strode forward. “I’m sorry to hear you say that,” he said. Then his eyes shifted and, sneering in triumph, he sauntered arrogantly toward John and Iris.

A young woman sitting at Iris’s hand whispered to them.
“Connor survived Wolverton’s last voyage,” she said.

“Aye, and first mate on this voyage, too,” he said loudly. “And see if I won’t be back just fine, too, you see.”

He reached John and Iris, and put his arms around their shoulders. Both of them felt their muscles tighten at his fragrant proximity.

“You two will be just fine with me, let me tell you,” he said, looking at one, then the other, and winking lasciviously at Iris. “Captain Wolverton, too. Not the friendliest of fellows,” he said, “but a fine captain. Cursed…” with this he glowered as he turned his gaze slowly round the tavern, “cursed, he is not.” He squeezed the tender shoulders of the young couple. “You two pretty things, and all your valuables, are sure to get to exactly” he poked John’s chest with his finger, “where you belong. And you all,” he addressed the patrons of the tavern, all of whom stared immovably at tables in front of them, “can talk your ill of us once we’ve gone.” He turned to John and Iris and smiled. John swallowed. “We’ll see you aboard,” he said. He lifted his arms from their shoulders and, with a final glowering look about the place, walked with long, heavy strides to the door. He turned once, glance landing squarely on Iris, and, with a gesture of his tongue and lips that made the young lady blanch, was out. The tavern fell into still silence, each patron’s head bent forward toward the table.