The Atlantic Via Bathtub CH 8

Crash.1

John's eyes flew open, what was that? He wondered. Looking around the cabin he couldn't see anything. Mainly because it was rather dark and his eyes hadn't adjusted to the darkness yet. So he waited a few minutes for them to adjust. As the things became clearer, he saw that crash had been caused by the pan sliding off the stove. Forgot to put it away before he went to sleep.2

John lay there thinking. Mainly about why it was so dark, it wasn't usually so dark at night. Curiosity got the better of him so and he clambered out of bed.3

A snore from the other bunk made him freeze, who was that? Wasn't Pete up on deck? He shook his head as he remembered that they'd picked up another passenger.4

He tiptoed toward to the door, opening it slowly, he stepped outside.5

I was dark out side as well, thick clouds covered the entire sky.6

The dark figure of Pete could be seen by the wheel. Pete turned as John stepped outside.7

'Hullo matey, got tired of sleepin' eh?' said Pete quietly.8

'Mmm,' John nodded and came to stand beside him. 'Pan fell of the stove and woke me.'9

'Ahh, bet it didn't wake Pigeon. That man can sleep through anything, 'cept the sound of a gun being cocked, or a knife being drawn, then he'll be awake and moving before you could say Bob's yer uncle.'10

'Heh, guess he is a pirate then.'11

'A pirate? What made you say that?'12

'Well, he stole your ship, and if anyone pulls a knife on him, he's awake in an instant.'13

Pete nodded, somewhat surprised that John had been able to come to such conclusions. 'Very good lad, yer right too. He is a pirate.'14

'And if he's a pirate, and sailed with you, that'd make you...?'15

Sighing, Pete shook his head sadly. 'No fooling you is there lad? Yes, I was a pirate, but I ain't one anymore. Just an honest sailor now.'16

John nodded. 'So why's it so dark?' he said, changing the subject.17

'Looks like we might be in for another storm.'18

'Oh,' was all John said.19

'Mmm.'20

They stood silently, listening to the sound of the engine, the waves lapping against the side, and the snores erupting from in the cabin.21

'I've... I've been wondering. I, err... Had a look at Bootle's engine days ago, and I'm curious, how does it work?' asked John, somewhat nervously, unsure how Pete would take his snooping about.22

Pete remained in thought a moment, before slowly replying, 'Had a look at the engine, eh? Managed to get past the lock did you?'23

John was glad it was dark so Pete couldn't see his face turn red. 'Yes...'24

Pete guffawed. 'Well it was hardly there to stop people, just discourage them a bit. Ye did well to work it out.'25

John waited for Pete to explain how it worked, but Pete remained silent, apart from the occasional snicker.26

'Umm, you going to tell me how it works?' prodded John.27

'H-wa? Oh yes, sorry, forgot you asked a moment there,' said Pete, he paused a moment, to gather his thoughts before proceeding, 'It's quite simple really. Instead of forcing steam into the cylinders to get them to move up and down, you put gas in, then burn it, it expands, sending the cylinder down. And I could go on for hours about all the fine little detail about how it worked, but that would get boring.'28

'Wow, I've never heard of doing it that way before.' John's eyes were wide at the thought.29

'No,' said Pete slowly, 'You wouldn't have. It's a very new way of doing it, I've not told many people about it. They prefer their steam contraptions.'30

'I see. So why do you do it this way?'31

'It is much more powerful for a start, and I prefer power to clean steam and all that. If I told everyone, I'd have all those "Save our air!" people on me for pollution, the stupid buggers.'32

'Okay. So how did you get Bootle to go so fast like that?'33

'Ah-hah! Now now, can't go sharing all my little tricks with everyone now can I?' said Pete cheerfully.34

John frowned. 'But I'm no everyone, I'm only me.'35

'Aye, true that, but sorry, something are best left unsaid laddy.'36

'Aww, why won't you tell me? I won't tell anyone else, I promise.' John pouted.37

Pete laughed. 'Sorry matey, but no.'38

'Hmph. Well, I think I'm going to go back to bed now,' said John yawning.39

'Rightyho laddy.' 40

John turned and strolled to the cabin.41

'Oh, would you wake Pigeon for me, laddy?' called Pete.42

'Ok,' said John as he entered the cabin.43

He stopped by Charles bed. It suddenly struck him just what Pete had said before, what would happen if he drew a knife or something. He chewed his lip thoughtfully, finally the temptation to much he tiptoed to the chest, and opened it. somewhere in it there was a knife, in a sheath. 44

John rummaged around silently a moment, till his hand closed over the sheath. He lifted it out of the chest. Then very slowly, he pulled the knife out of the sheath.45

He gasped, and stood up slowly. Charles was in front of him with the knife under his throat.46

'Ah crap. Pete is going to kill me if he finds out about this,' sighed Charles.47

John felt the knife being remove.48

'What were you playing at kid? Knives in the middle of the night?' There was a shick as Charles returned the knife to it's sheath.49

'Ah, Pete told me about how you could sleep through anything, but wake up the slightest sound of a knife being removed from a sheath, or a gun being cocked. I wanted to see if it was true,' explained John, rubbing his throat tenderly were the knife had been, it was dry, so he figured he probably hadn't been cut.50

'Well, you know now. And don't try it again, I might have killed you.'51

John gulped. 'Not to worry. Oh, and Pete wants you.'52

'Does he now? Actually wanting me eh? That'd be the day,' muttered Charles dryly.53

'Well, he told me to wake you.' clarified John.54

'I see, yes that'd make more sense. Doesn't want me to have a good nights sleep,' moaned Charles in a woe-is-me manner.55

John snickered. 'You two really hate each others guts don't you?'56

'Hmm? No, I don't hate his guts, he hates mine, 'cause I, ah, comandeered his boat once.'57

'Why'd you do it?'58

Charles turned the gas lamp on, and sat down on his bunk. He indicated to the John's bunk. 'Sit down lad, and I'll tell you about it.'59

John sat down as he was told, and waited for Charles to continue.60

'Twas a dark and stormy night, the rain came down in lumps, and the cap'n, that's Pete, says, "Arrr me hearties, tonight we be on a raid, the Kings royal galleon its self is the target. What say ye to a bit 'o treasure?" The crew, that's the simple folk like me, all cheered, treasure always goes down well with a pirate.61

'So we fired up the boilers, and steamed our way south. Less then an hour later, the murky outline of the HMS Sambrine could be seen dead ahead. We doused all remaining lights, and crept up on her, like a wraith. In the rain, they didn't see or hear us till we was beside them, and boarding, by that stage, it was over for them. We swept through the ship, killing them all.62

'Now, it was Pete's decision to keep the Sambrine in one piece, and double our little fleet. This didn't work, as one of the crew from the Sambrine snuck down into the hold, and set a fuse to the gunpowder cache. We got a smidgeon of the treasure out, one of which was this bathtub, it was a beautiful thing–'63

'A bathtub? Was it thi–'64

'Shush lad, let me finish the story,' chided Charles. 65

'Sorry.'66

'Aye. Now, where was I, oh yes, quarter of the crew was still onboard when she blew. This didn't go down at all well with the rest of the crew, more work for all of them now, and hardly any treasure to show for their effort. So, they decided to revolt. A few nights after they stormed the Sambrine, they burst into Pete's cabin one night, over powered him, which took seven men, three of which he killed before they managed to get him restrained. So then they dragged him up on deck, where they lowered him, in the bathtub, which they'd striped all the gold off, with no provisions, into the water. Saying that he got his treasure, he can go float in it, they didn't want him anymore. And here he is now, strange tub, not sure just what he did to it.'67

'Wow, that was fascinating. But where were you?' asked John.68

'Well...' Charles rubbed his neck slowly. 'I, er, was the one who, umm... Lead the revolt, told everyone that he was the one who had blown the ship, and was keeping all the treasure we had collected for himself. And hit Pete on the back of the head with candlestick...'69

John's mouth formed an O. 'I see why he doesn't really like you much.'70

'Yeah...'71

'Pigeon! I know yer awake down there, get off your lazy bum and up here now!' thundered Pete from the deck.72

'Whoop, got to go,' Charles grinned cheerfully at John. 'Better catch some shuteye lad, you'll need it.' So saying he strode out of the cabin.73

John reached up and turned the lamp off, then lay back down. He lay awake, unable to sleep. So he tried to listen to Pete and Charles' discussion on deck.74

'So why'd you pick up the boy?' He heard Charles ask.75

Pete spoke quietly, so he missed the first part. '...Couldn't leave him.'76

'So his parents left him eh? Can't be a very–' 77

'Shut up, he'll hear you,' snarled Pete.78

'Both their voices dropped, so John had to strain his hearing, but they were talking to quietly, he gave up. He wondered what Charles had been about to say, but that thought didn't get very far, as he drifted off to sleep.