There was an eire calm about the ship at twilight as Stephen emerged from his cabin, and headed up to the aft castle to watch the last remnants of the day slip down past the horizon. Twilight at sea was a magical time as the departing sun exploded in vibrant hues across the sky, the myriad of colors dancing of the caps of the ice flow as the ship glided by. Most of the men had given way to go below deck to the evening mess. A soft voice given to song was easily picked up, and Stephen's eyes sought out the source. Shaun Ryan one of the newer younger crew members had crawled out upon the bowsprit as he sang a wistful song of a sweetheart back home. Stephen couldn't help but smile as the youth reminded him of himself so many years ago, perhaps that is why he didn't have the heart to condemn the poor lad for not being on a line as he crawled the bowsprit. For a moment as he stared to the thick clouds hanging low in the horizon the plight of Shaun Ryan was forgotten, those clouds along with the sparseness of the ice flows meant there would be a bad storm coming up. A deep scowl was etched upon Stephen's face as his first mate ambled up the stairs towards him a hot cup of coffee in his hands.
"Here ye be Cap'n, figured ye'd be risin' an' lookin' aboot the lady." The mates voice was as rough and haggard as his face as he presented the steaming cup to his captain. Stephen accepted the cup with a thankful nod and enjoyed the warmth as it transferred to his fingers before he took a sip, though his eyes remained fixed on the horizon and the looming storm clouds.
"Figures tae be a big blow she does Cap'n" His mate offered knowing without looking what Stephen was looking at the clouds as he had been watching them all day. Finally Stephen turned his eyes to the first mate, a man old enough to be his father and in most way was.
"Well, a worries Fischer me friend." Stephen winked as he addressed the man. "We shall ride out tha' storm like a cheap sportin' girl aye!"
Fischer nodded and gave a grunt of a laugh in response. Stephen pointed towards the bow with the cup of coffee and questioned his mate.
"Fischer remind youn' Ryan tha' even though he be fair o'voice he still must wear a line when upon the mast or bowsprit aye."
Fischer nodded and grunted his reply. "Ye wish me tae get him down from there cap'n?"
Stephen shook his head "Nae let the lad be fer a bit tis a nice evenin' an' I do be enjoyin' his song." He leaned against the rail listening quietly, and enjoying the coffee. Then as if the sea being the wicked mistress she was had overheard the conversation and came a calling to exact her revenge for being taken lightly. The wind exploded in the rigging with a sound that was nearest akin to a bomb going off. Stephens eyes went wide with horror as he felt the wind and knew in an instant that it was a white squall. One only had to live through one of the phantoms of the sea to know their calling in an instant. Shaun sat up with a start as he heard the terrible explosion behind him in the rigging before he felt the wind slap at his face. Stephen roared at the young lad "GET DOWN!" Yet saddly for all the poor boy could hear Stephen might as well not made a sound. Stephen dropped his coffee and quickly grabbed at the wheel as did Fischer. The whole thing happened so slowly Stephen thought he would become ill watching it. The wind slammed the ship hard to starboard, and he watched as the bow and starboard sides pitched down under the brine with the fury of the blow. Then like a great dog she shook herself and righted herself as the winds made off again before you could know for certain they had been there. It was then just as he relaxed that Fischer and Stephen looked at each other hearing that terrible sound of Shaun calling for help overboard. There was no point in turning about the ship that would take to long as in these cold waters Shaun was already dead he simply didn't know it yet.
"Here ye be Cap'n, figured ye'd be risin' an' lookin' aboot the lady." The mates voice was as rough and haggard as his face as he presented the steaming cup to his captain. Stephen accepted the cup with a thankful nod and enjoyed the warmth as it transferred to his fingers before he took a sip, though his eyes remained fixed on the horizon and the looming storm clouds.
"Figures tae be a big blow she does Cap'n" His mate offered knowing without looking what Stephen was looking at the clouds as he had been watching them all day. Finally Stephen turned his eyes to the first mate, a man old enough to be his father and in most way was.
"Well, a worries Fischer me friend." Stephen winked as he addressed the man. "We shall ride out tha' storm like a cheap sportin' girl aye!"
Fischer nodded and gave a grunt of a laugh in response. Stephen pointed towards the bow with the cup of coffee and questioned his mate.
"Fischer remind youn' Ryan tha' even though he be fair o'voice he still must wear a line when upon the mast or bowsprit aye."
Fischer nodded and grunted his reply. "Ye wish me tae get him down from there cap'n?"
Stephen shook his head "Nae let the lad be fer a bit tis a nice evenin' an' I do be enjoyin' his song." He leaned against the rail listening quietly, and enjoying the coffee. Then as if the sea being the wicked mistress she was had overheard the conversation and came a calling to exact her revenge for being taken lightly. The wind exploded in the rigging with a sound that was nearest akin to a bomb going off. Stephens eyes went wide with horror as he felt the wind and knew in an instant that it was a white squall. One only had to live through one of the phantoms of the sea to know their calling in an instant. Shaun sat up with a start as he heard the terrible explosion behind him in the rigging before he felt the wind slap at his face. Stephen roared at the young lad "GET DOWN!" Yet saddly for all the poor boy could hear Stephen might as well not made a sound. Stephen dropped his coffee and quickly grabbed at the wheel as did Fischer. The whole thing happened so slowly Stephen thought he would become ill watching it. The wind slammed the ship hard to starboard, and he watched as the bow and starboard sides pitched down under the brine with the fury of the blow. Then like a great dog she shook herself and righted herself as the winds made off again before you could know for certain they had been there. It was then just as he relaxed that Fischer and Stephen looked at each other hearing that terrible sound of Shaun calling for help overboard. There was no point in turning about the ship that would take to long as in these cold waters Shaun was already dead he simply didn't know it yet.