The Phantom Read online

  The Phantom

  By Wayne Mansfield

  Published by JMS Books LLC

  Visit jms-books.com for more information.

  Copyright 2012 Wayne Mansfield

  ISBN 9781611523638

  Cover Photo Credit: Rcpphoto, Mircea_dfa | Dreamstime.com

  Used under a Standard Royalty-Free License.

  Cover Design: Written Ink Designs | written-ink.com

  All Rights Reserved

  WARNING: This book is not transferable. It is for your own personal use. If it is sold, shared, or given away, it is an infringement of the copyright of this work and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

  No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts used for the purposes of review.

  This book is for ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY. It contains substantial sexually explicit scenes and graphic language which may be considered offensive by some readers. Please store your files where they cannot be accessed by minors.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Published in the United States of America.

  * * * *

  The Phantom

  By Wayne Mansfield

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  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 idiot 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.

  * * * *

  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 cock,” 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.

  Chapter 2

  He was woken up the following morning by someone shouting and cursing.

  “Who the fuck put that bloody thing there?”

  Toby observed the angry man through eyes that were reluctant to open.

  “You!” said the bleary-eyed man. “You can’t leave your shit lying around. I tripped over your bloody bag.” He kicked it.

  It took a few seconds to register what the angry man was talking about and then Toby remembered where he’d put his duffle bag.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, propping himself up on an elbow. “I didn’t know where else to put it. I tried to put it…”