The mist rolled in about an hour ago. So thick you can hardly see the other end of the ship. Only a handful remained on deck. The captain ordered them below deck. The ship moved slow as the sails hung very loose. The crew on deck were quiet and tense. Captain Drake stood at the helm silent and still. His eyes peered across the deck when the newcomer approached him. “Captain, we need to turn around, what kind of mad fool are you. The reefs in these waters come up fast and hard and with this fog we’ll never make our way.”
Drake didn’t even look at him but pondered his request for only a moment then responded. “Delgato, you have reached your limit for questioning my authority fer the journey. Of the two of us one has earned the nickname shipwreck. The crew advised me against hiring you just as you advised against me hiring a blind man as one of our lookouts.” Drake raised his hand and in it quickly formed a small crystal ball. With a word it illuminated with an internal blue flame. Drake lowered his hand as it floated there slowly breaking up the mist within the Captains area. “had I a large enough crystal ball I would be rid of this unnatural fog meself. Now, Shipwreck, tell me of where you received your nickname?”
The man paused for a moment and looked around the ship unsure of how he should answer. He never heard a poor word said against Drake, and yet wondered if there was a reason for it. Had he enchanted all of the crew but himself? Best bet, is cover yourself. “Tis just a nickname sir.”
“Lies, you have been the sole survivor of at least 9 ships that have gone down, you my friend are considered bad luck and have not found yourself out of port in nearly nine months because no man would hire you. How you survived I know not and care not. However you are now on my ship and must realized that I hired you because I know you to not be unlucky, but instead very lucky. I need me all the good luck I can muster. However, hiring a blind man since birth as lookout aboard a ship, is something that few understand and I forgive ye for that. I take it ye have never seen a blind lookout before sir?”
Delgato, also known as shipwreck swallowed hard the lump in his throat. “nay sir.” The remaining crew chuckled as someone from below deck escorted a white bearded fellow to main deck. A pristine rag tied around his face covering mostly his eyes. The escort brought him to the helm next to the Captain and Delgato.
Drake took the old man’s hand and put it on the helm. “Old Tim, the helm is yours, sail us free.” Shipwrecks eyes grew wide and fearful. Certain death awaited a ship who allowed a blind man to run the helm. He went to speak but with a move of a hand from the Captain no words came from his mouth.
“All men are ordered to total silence while Tim works, I will be at the bow of the ship.” Drake then turned to Shipwreck, “there’ll be no death today Delgato, watch, and learn.”
For nearly three hours Delgato silently watched and listened, every so often he would tell the men to tighten a certain rope, or loosen a certain sail. The men silently worked and never questioned Tim and did exactly as told. Delgato was certain they were in the worst part of the reefs in this area, an already known cursed part of the sea with all sorts of myths and rumors. However they never once even seemed to touch any reef. Now he felt perhaps drake was trying to prove a point, trying to allow him to know that he is good luck not bad luck. As time passed he became confidant that his good luck would get them through and his moral improved he started to feel bad that he questioned the Captain. Once the fog lifted and Drake wandered back to take the helm he realized how bad he felt for questioning the Captain.
The Captain called on Old Tim. “Thank ye for yer services Timmy. Go rest my old friend.” Drake nodded as a crewmember took him and helped the old man back down to his quarters. Drake then looked at Shipwreck. “Delgato, what did ye learn and notice?”
Delgato brimming with confidence spoke “I apologize for not trusting your judgment captain, you are obviously correct, I am indeed good luck.”
Drake laughed as did the rest of the crew. Delgato was confused and looked around the ship. Drake spoke, “You aren’t bad luck. Timmy is a blind man. With being blind all his other senses are improved. Timmy can hear and even sometimes feel the reefs by the sound of the waves and the motion of the whistling wind. In the fog we are all blind, but he lives with it everywhere he goes. He is accustom to it, and is our best bet for reaching the Island of Naught. I may act it and lead others to believe it to help give me advantage, but I am no fool Delgato. Learn that and you will fit the crew fine.”
The End
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