“Silver Adventures”- Captain Joshua Slane – 12AP19 – ‘Romancing on the bowsprit!’

⛵ ⛵ ⛵ ⛵. . . "Tour of the Gulf of Aden". . . (cont.)

[Last time...]
The Captain then looked back at the chart and picked up the pencil, drawing an ‘X’ on the ocean.

“We will intercept th' Dhow fleit haur, a six hunnert miles north o’ Seychelles! Thaur isnae an islain ur a reef ur a speck o’ lain in onie direction. Thes is whaur we will send th' Jinn's fleit tae th' bottom o’ th' brine!!"

[Back in the chartroom…]

Cockpit Mate- Midshipman's Mate Fisky, Standing Officer- Carpenter Ickied and Junior Petty Officer- Gunner's Mate Spinny all sat anxiously across the charting table from Commander Galligan and the Captain.

“Aw ay ye fower men an' myself is whit commands thes ship.” The Captain began as he stoked his pipe red hot and let out a large blue cloud of smoke on th shape of the Silverton, “We're enterin' two dangers at th' moment, one froms an enemy we can fight, an' one froms an enemy we cannae!"

Ickied wrinkled his brow as he listened…

“By tomorrows, Seychelles will hav disappeared aff th' horizon an' we will be in deep 'Oot-land', nae a speck ay lain tae be seen anywheres! (See: "It's got tae be Oot-Lain!..." https://steemit.com/story/@joshuaslane/silver-adventures-of-captain-joshua-slane-143-ahh-ve-got-to-see-land )

Noo Ahh knows 'att ninety percent ay crew ur jist yoong wee jimmies, ne'er bin oot ay sight ay lain. Tae prepaur them fur 'Oot-land' Ahh want ye tae gaither aw men oan deck first thin' in th' morn fur a wee pep gab."

Now Commander Galligan chimed in…

“Aw ay ye men ur experienced sailors, yoo've experienced 'Oot-land' mair than ance. But ye know whit a destructiff psychological blaw thes can be fur a yoong loon, new tae th' brine." He added.
“Noo th' second enemy we hae tae face is th' fear ay battle! In a puckle weeks, mebbe e'en a scuttle tae ten days, we'll be engagin' th' fleit ay th' Jinn! It’s gonnae be open-water warfaur mates! Balls-oot, lead flyin' an' bluid flowin'! Yer men need yer support an' guidance. Dae ye aw understand?"
“Aye Sairrr!” “Aye, aye!” “Aye Sairrr!”
“Alright 'en! Hav aw men oan deck at six bells in th' morn watch!" The Captain ordered as he dismissed the group.

[On the forecastle, seven bells in the first watch…]

The ships bell was struck 2-2-2-1 and Seaman- Quarter Gunner Errislravenhill found herself climbing the galley steps up to the main deck. Once up-top she stopped and looked about her. There was no one around except one lone wheel man on the bridge. The main deck was deserted. Turning towards the forecastle steps she then saw a small light burning far up in the forecastle bowsprit area. She cautiously climbed the short stairwell and stepped up on the forecastle. The night sky was completely clear and above, the stars of the galaxy’s rim rippled across the sky. The breeze was light and the air warm. To the south, the lights of Seychelles were no more than specks upon the horizon.

She walked across the forecastle deck quietly, slowly. Finally, there, sitting a-straddle the bowsprit sat Seaman- Able Seaman Ergino, holding a mug of coffee.

He raised his mug in the air as he watched her. Next to him, spread out on the foremost deck of the forecastle, there was a small cut of sail canvas spread out on the deck with a small candle stub burning. Two plains and a coffee pot with an extra mug sat next upon it. Errislravenhill walked slowly over and stood silent looking at him for a moment.

“Willnae ye hav a seat lass, an' join me?" Ergino said with a smile.
“Min' ye, Ahh’m nae jist a lass, Ahh’m also two ranks abune ye." She replied.

“Ahh was hopin' renk woods nae be a factur tonight?"
“'Att depends oan ye mukker.” She said quietly as she took a seat.

Ergino poured her a hot cup of coffee and handed her one of the two plains.

“Yoo'll be peelin' tatties in th' galley if Peg finds ye stealin' plains froms th' pantry..." She warned as she took a bite.
“Weel worth th' risk!" He replied as he held his mug up and toasted her, “Here's tae th' 'toor ay th' Gulf ay Aden!'"

Hesitating a moment, Errislravenhill finally raised her mug and clanked it against his. His eyes shown bright in the starry night. ‘What was going on here?’ she wondered to herself. Why did she feel so stirred inside?

“Ahh hears yer riginally froms th' west coast ay Canadar territory?" He said casually.
“Aye…an’ yoo?”
“Nobody knows whaur Ahh’m from, includin' me!" He said with a grin.
“Whit kin' ay a skully swin answer is 'att?!" She contested.
“Weel, Ahh’m an orphan...been followin' ships as lang as Ahh can remembers."

Suddenly her heart opened up and she felt a flood of compassion for the man sitting in front of her…”'Att must hae bin awfully stoaner!"
“Mebbe, mebbe noot. I've knoon naethin' else lass."

His eyes locked with hers and she felt a magnetism drawing her to him. He leaned forward slightly and could feel her breath quicken! In a daring move, he closed the gap and their lips touched in an electric surge of emotion…

Down on the main deck, Boy- Tipper scampered up the main galley steps, pulling the dog, "Doug" by his leash...

"Wa didnae ye gang when we left th' main' deck earlier dug! Ahh'm wabbit, an' Ahh've got early watch in th' moorns..." Tipper complained to himself sleepily as Doug did his business through the starboard rail. Suddenly, Tipper looked up towards the forecastle and spied a light! There in the starlight he saw Errislravenhill and Ergino embraced in a passionate kiss!

"Caterwaulin Chattys! They's romancin' on th' bowsprit!!"

⛵ ⛵ ⛵ ⛵

"Blast an' penguin piss! Th' rubber-handed thieves ur manipulatin' th' markit again! Th' spot price ay silvers has cut th' wakes ay th' 10 Day RA an' th' 200 Day! Och hoo Ahh hates an shan gam! Ahh might jist load up Groober wi' as mony coppers as he can carry an' sends heem aff tae parts unknoon tae dae a spite buy tonight! Arrrrgh!"- Keptin

"Confused? Ascared? Seasick? Need a private chat with the Captain?" - [email protected]

References: Pictures froms: www.freeimages.com, www.pexels.com, pixabay.com, steemit.com an’ www.google.com/maps. Data loosely interpretted froms: www.wikipedia.org an' sometimes reit from th' author's extensiff personal experience an' such.