Page 49 | Chapter 2 | The Ghost Ship | A Free Serialized Online Novel by Scott Telek

John turned to Iris with a wan smile. She returned an optimistic one. His eyes then wandered across the lowered heads of the patrons. The air was quiet; his first shuffle on the floor sounded loudly. He grasped his wife by the hand and turned toward the door.

“Well I hope you’re all wrong about this voyage!” he said jovially, patting the shoulder of the old man who had been the first to speak up. The echo of his voice seemed to hang in the air.

The man ignored him. He slowly lifted his stein to his mouth, sipped, and licked his lips as he replaced it on the table. His eyes stared straight ahead toward the tabletop in front of him, as though nothing had been said.

John raised his eyes to look around. The tavern was silent, all staring down, or ahead, past he and Iris. John let out an uncomfortable laugh, smile frozen on his lips. “Thank you for your concern,” he said loudly, but his remark was not responded to. He hung silent for a moment, then opened his mouth, about to say something, but thought better. “Shall we be going?” he said quietly to Iris. He pulled her by the hand and the two of them walked through the tightly packed tables to the door. Not one person acknowledged their departure. In a few steps they were at the door. He opened it, ushered his wife out, and watched the strange, silent patrons as he slowly closed the door behind him. They were still, skin white, a room of statues. The tall masts of ships, bold lines hung in black web, appeared reflected in the glass as he shut the door on that dark room.