20
A sailor stood watch in the bird's nest of the largest of the two masts, and at our coming he raised a cry. More sailors rushed out of the hatch in the middle of the deck with swords tucked into their belts. They unsheathed their weapons and crowded the part of the deck closest to us. Even from a great distance I could see some of their eyes widen at our mode of transportation.
At the rear of the ship was a cabin. The door opened and out stepped a handsome but pale young man of twenty. He had jet-black hair that was slicked back like a streak. His attire consisted of matching black pants and a blouse shirt. A black overcoat covered most of him and reached to the top of his black boots.
A smile slipped onto his pale lips as we approached. He motioned to his men who slipped the
