The Phantom

Chapter 1 Toby peered through the window of the Rose and Anchor public bar and gently bit down on his bottom lip. There were so many people inside—laughing, drinking, and speaking over each other; more people than he’d anticipated—but then again, he’d never been inside a pub. His heart was already doing a gallop, which didn’t bode well, for he hadn’t yet stepped foot inside. In his hand he clutched an advertisement neatly torn from the local paper. It was a small advertisement: Deckhands wanted. Sail the seven seas! Join Captain Bartlett’s crew. Meeting at the Rose and Anchor on the evening of the twenty-fourth. It had caught his eye, and his imagination. Surely there could be no better way to see the world and earn his keep at the same time. At least, that’s what he’d thought initially. Now he wasn’t so sure. But which one was Captain Bartlett? Toby scanned the room for suitable candidates, knowing that unless he actually went in and asked around, he’d never know for sure which of the drunken, rowdy men the captain was. Unfortunately that presented him with a problem almost too large to be overcome. Despite approaching the swinging doors of the pub three times, he could not bring himself to go inside. He sighed, exasperated, and was about to turn his back on both the pub and his dreams when a trio of men burst through the doors, singing about Rosie and her band of lovers. Toby stepped out of their way, pressing against the wall of the building. “Look out, boy,” said the burliest of them. “Almost cleaned ya up.” The other two, a tall willowy man with hairy sideburns and a muscular man with sun-bleached hair, burst into raucous laughter. “What are you doing hanging around here?” Toby turned his attention to the man whose skin looked sun-weathered and leathery. He was instantly attracted to his sparkling blue eyes and his perfect teeth, which contrasted against a neatly clipped beard and moustache. Like the others he had tattoos all up and down his muscular arms. A small tuft of dark brown hair curled over the neckline of his faded, black T-shirt. His sun-bleached curls were like a crown atop his head. “I’m looking for someone called Captain Bartlett,” he replied. “And why’s that?” asked the burly man. “He put an advertisement in the paper.” He held it up as if to prove the statement. “I’ve come to see him about the job.” The burly man looked at each of his companions in turn. Keep walking. Keep walking. Toby began to chant in his head. Walk away. Walk away! But they didn’t. “And what are ya gonna to say to him when ya see him?” asked the burly man. Suddenly the penny dropped. The interview had begun. One of these men was Captain Bartlett. He cleared his throat and launched into the mini-speech he’d been rehearsing all the way to the Rose and Anchor. “I think I’d make a good deckhand because I’m hard working and reliable.” He looked the burly man in the eye. “I’m also available to set sail immediately.” Sailor terminology. The captain should be impressed by that. “I get on well with people but I don’t mind my own company. I definitely don’t mind the isolation of the open ocean. But most of all I’m a quick learner, a hard worker and I can…” His mind had gone blank. “I can…cook. That’s right. I make a great omelette.” The burly man laughed. “So Captain, what do ya think of all that?” The tall, willowy man with hairy sideburns nodded. Toby’s eyes widened. He’d been addressing the wrong man. His mouth began to gape like a fish on a hook. “Have you ever been on a ship before?” asked the Captain. Toby shook his head. “On a boat?” asked the burly man. Toby shook his head again. “Ever been to the beach?” asked the muscular man with the sun-bleached hair. Toby knew the man was taking the mickey, but he nodded anyway. “That’s good enough for me,” said Captain Bartlett. “You’re a fast learner and that’s what we’re looking for.” “And if it turns out ya aren’t, we can always turf ya over the side,” said the muscle man. “Use ya for shark food.” The captain smirked. “Take no notice of them, lad. What’s your name?” “Toby, Sir.” “Call me Captain. Never liked being called ‘sir’. Makes me feel like a bleedin’ headmaster.” Captain Bartlett winked at Toby and then nodded towards the burly man. “This is Pete and the other one is Tiger, on account of the fact he wrestled a tiger shark and lived to talk about it.” Toby extended his hand, but only Pete took it. “Welcome aboard,” said Pete. Toby allowed himself a small smile, despite the fact that there were fireworks going off inside his chest. “Thank you,” he said, taking a deep breath and hoping sparks from the fireworks wouldn’t erupt from his mouth and embarrass him. “What time do you want me on the ship?” Tiger pointed to something in the shadows behind Toby and he and Pete walked off, leaving Toby alone with the Captain. “We set sail at dawn,” said the Captain. “So wander down any time before then.” Toby nodded enthusiastically. “How am I going to know which ship is yours?” The Captain started walking. “You’ll know it when you see it. Bit hard to miss the only sailing ship amongst all those bleedin’ container ships.” “No problem,” he said. “I’ll be there. I promise. I’ll be there within the hour. I promise. Thanks. Bye.” Toby clenched his teeth to stop himself from babbling like an i***t then walked as fast as he could to the corner of the street. When he was out of sight he began to run. He ran till the cool sea air was bursting against his face, filling his lungs and soul. I’m going to sea! The laughter that had been building in his stomach, gathering momentum, exploded from his mouth. “I’m going to sea!” he shouted. He ran until he arrived at the front door of his house, shaking so much with excitement that it was a job trying to fit the key into the lock. When he succeeded, he threw the door open with a force that sent it slamming into the wall, startling his elderly mother, who had been dozing in front of the television in the adjoining living room. “Steady on,” she exclaimed, pulling her crocheted blanket over her chest. “You’ll give me a heart attack.” “Sorry, Mum,” said Toby. “But I got the job. I’m going to sea.” His mother offered a shaky, uncertain smile. “Oh,” she said. “Mum, you knew I was going,” he said, kissing the top of her head. There was no response and Toby thought it wise to leave her with some time to digest the news while he went and got his things together. When he returned, with a large duffle bag stuffed full of clothes and cherished possessions, he dropped the bag and wrapped his arms around his mother, who had got out of her chair for the inevitable goodbyes. He enjoyed feeling the warmth of her body against his and the scent of her Youth Dew in his nostrils. These were things he needed to remember. Her gentle sobs at his ear had his eyes misting over. “Mum, you’ll be alright,” he said rubbing her back. “You’ve got Paul and Sarah to look after you. They don’t live very far away if you need them. And I’ll write whenever I can.” “I just worry about you, Toby,” she said with a sniff. “You’re so young.” “Young and strong and smart enough not to do anything stupid,” he said, kissing her on the forehead. “Have a little faith in the way you raised me.” His mother broke away from the hug and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “You’re right,” she said, sniffing some more. “Now let me take one last look at you.” She stepped back and looked him up and down through teary eyes. “Mum, I’m coming back. It’s just one voyage. And I promise I’ll bring you back something nice.” He kissed her on the cheek and picked up his duffle bag. He walked to the front door and heard his mother following a couple of steps behind. “I love you, Toby,” his mother called out as he walked down the footpath and through the gate. “I love you, too,” he called back. “And don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.” He waved to her once and didn’t look back. Despite having all his dreams come true and despite the fact he knew he was only going to be away for a few months, he still felt the tickle of a tear tracing a silvery line down his cheek. He blinked back those waiting to fall and sniffed. It was difficult not to think of his mother all alone on the doorstep of the house he and his brother and sister had grown up in, but he had to try. This was the beginning of something new, an adventure. There was no place for tears.