The Phantom

Chapter 1-2

The twin masts of the sailing ship were easy to find, even in the electric light of Fremantle harbour. Getting to it was an altogether different story.

“Pass,” asked the guard at the Port Authority.

“I don’t have one,” Toby replied.

“Can’t let you in,” said the officer, who didn’t look that much older than Toby.

“But I have to get in. Captain Bartlett’s expecting me.”

The guard shook his head. The expression on his face was cold.

Toby felt his heart plunge into the pit of his stomach. His shoulders slumped and the handles of the duffle bag slid off. He let the heavy bag fall to the ground.

“Please, mister. I was talking to him tonight. He asked me to meet him at the ship any time before dawn. I’ve just joined his crew. He didn’t give me a pass. Please. You have to let me through.”

The guard leaned closer to the window of the small illuminated booth where he was installed.

“Listen buddy, I’m just doing my job. We can’t let just anyone go wandering around the docks. It’s a security risk. Surely even you can understand that.”

Toby looked at the masts of Captain Bartlett’s sailing ship jutting into the sky a hundred or so metres away. He sighed and sat down on his bag. What am I going to do now? He rested his chin in his hands and sighed again.

He heard a small bang and watched as the guard appeared from around the corner of the booth.

“You can’t stay there,” he said hitching up his pants.

Toby looked at him. “Why not?” he asked defiantly.

“Because you’re trespassing.”

“I just want to stay here until someone from the crew comes along so they can vouch for me. Do I look like a terrorist, for God’s sake?”

The guard frowned.

“Sorry,” said Toby. “I’m frustrated. I don’t know what to do.”

The guard’s expression softened. He looked around as though he were checking to see if the coast was clear. Without a word, he walked over to the large wire gate and pulled it shut. He snapped on the padlock and walked back to Toby.

“Think yourself lucky,” said the guard, walking in the direction of Captain Bartlett’s ship. “Well, are you coming? I’m not doing this for the fun of it.”

Toby didn’t know what had changed the guard’s mind, but he wasn’t going to waste any time thinking about it. He leapt to his feet and slung his duffle bag over his shoulder. He ran a few steps until he’d caught up to the guard, who was walking at quite a pace.

“Thank you,” he said.

The guard didn’t reply.

They arrived at the gangplank where two men were talking in mumbles.

“Evening, fellas. Sorry to interrupt, but this guy says he’s with your crew.”

There were a few seconds of silence, then one of the men said, “Never seen him before in my life.”

“No, please,” said Toby looking pleadingly at the guard and then at the two men, “Captain Bartlett just hired me tonight. He said to come aboard any time. If you could let him know I’m here. Or even Pete, or Tiger.”

There was another pause.

“Captain’s asleep,” said the second, shorter, man.

“Where’d ye meet him?” asked the other.

“At the Rose and Anchor a couple of hours ago.”

The men mumbled together.

The guard frowned and looked over his shoulder towards the booth at the front gate.

“Come on lad. You’ve wasted enough of my time.”

The guard took Toby by the arm.

“Wait a minute,” said one of the men. “We’ll vouch for him. Captain said there was a new recruit.”

The guard released Toby’s arm and Toby breathed a sigh of relief.

“If you say so,” he said with a shrug. “He’s your responsibility now.”

The guard walked off, leaving Toby behind.

“What’s yer name?” asked the taller of the two men.

“Toby,” he replied extending a hand to shake. Neither of the men took it.

“I’m Zeke and this here’s Bird. We’re new, too.”

“New to this ship,” said Bird.

“Yeah, we’ve been on more ships than I can remember.”

“This is my first time,” said Toby.

“I don’t wonder,” said Zeke reaching out to touch Toby’s face. “How old are ye, boy? Ye don’t look like yer even old enough to have hair around ye cock.”

“I’ve got hair around my c**k,” Toby replied indignantly. “I’m eighteen. Turned eighteen last month.”

The two men burst into laughter.

“Oh man, I needed that,” said Zeke. “Good to have ye aboard. Come on up and I’ll find ye somewhere to put ye kit.” He ushered Toby onto the gangplank. “Ye stay here,” he said to Bird. “I’ll come back when I’ve got the boy settled.”

Toby stepped onto the deck. His whole being was filled with an unexplained energy. It grew inside him until he thought he might explode. He took another step and a deep breath. Ah, the salty sea air. He closed his eyes and drew it deep into his lungs. He became aware of the gentle lap lapping of the water against the side of the ship and even of the water washing up against the pylons of the bridge that spanned the river close to where it met the sea.

“Come on, boy. No time for that now.”

Zeke was frowning at him, but now that he was aboard nobody could say or do anything to dampen his feelings of elation. He followed Zeke, beaming.

“Now watch yer head,” said Zeke disappearing down a hatch near the back of the ship.

Toby struggled to get himself and his duffle bag down the steps without falling head over arse.

Zeke turned around, put a finger over his lips, and pushed a wooden door open.

“Find yerself a bunk and get some kip,” Zeke whispered.

Toby looked at Zeke and smiled. He was far too excited to sleep, although it would be good to lie down for a while. He walked to the only spare bed, whose bottom bunk was occupied by a man sleeping in his underpants and snoring like a rhino. He tucked his duffle bag against the base of the bunk bed and as quietly as he could he climbed onto the top bunk.

The mattress was thin and the pillow lumpy, but his spirits refused to be dampened. He closed his eyes. It was hard to believe that only a few inches of wood separated him from the river that would soon deliver them to the mighty Indian Ocean. He could hear its waters, slapping against the side of the ship. He concentrated on it and soon the sound of snoring disappeared. Sleep came, despite his high spirits. It came slowly, sneaking up on him to carry him away to places not even a ship could take him.