Today's Page About This Book Chapter 1
Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 MailChapter 4: Within
John raised himself a few more steps upward, then twisted his body to look upward through the hatch. Above, he saw the pale form of the lowest sail and mast, illuminated by the few lanterns adeck. He saw their forms fade to invisibility as they rose into the sheer blackness of the night sky. John felt the ship roll heavily, and knew, with the uncanny terror of feeling observed by a powerful presence, that far above him, rising to the sky, the masts and yards, the canvas and shrouds, all heaved invisibly in the black air against the vast ceiling of cloudy night sky. It put the chill of fear into his heart, the awareness of that space looming above, present but unseen. The blow above roared with the uncanny wail of a bellowing beast.
John’s eyes were wide. He felt the pulse pound in his neck, the dry itching of eyes open too wide, too long, though he knew not why he should be so terrified. Determined to evade his fear, he shook his head roughly, and raised his foot to the next rung, but it did not touch, for he could not take the step forward. His leg held stiff. The vast blackness of the night was too frightening, too unknown, and timidly he pulled his leg back and stepped on the stair just below. It was then that he heard a voice.
“Petey saw him aloft amid the dirty weather a few days ago.”
John stopped in place.
“Sittin’ up there in the cross trees,” the voice continued. “Glaring down at him with a look the devil would have envied.”
The Ghost Ship All content © 2008 Scott Telek.
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