LogFAQs > #884218521

10. Quietly in the Bay

Fifth day at sea. Back at sea.
Reginald Bartlesby hadn't even gotten the chance to rest on land for more than a few days.
It was nice to help prepare the defenses at Lighthouse,
But he had actually enjoyed himself far more helping with administrative tasks.
The truth was that when he was young war and glory had seemed like the ultimate goal of life.
This is just what young men of his ilk believed. And so it must have been true.
As he grew older he found he didn't like fighting so much, nor was he that great at it.
Well, he had managed to kill that hulk back on the Ganthian Ocean.
In a manner of fairness, though, it had mostly been the work of Jessie Lawlier.
She was born to fight. She was born to charge into things.
Reggie felt more like, especially as he gained experience, he was born to manage.
Managing the estate at Marietta was something he was good at.
It was a comfortable life.
And now, alas, he was out on the ocean again and sailing east.
They had gotten word that forces from Undercity were heading here by ship.
Bartlesby wasn't just sailing halfway across the world to meet them again, no.
This was so that he could help in case of another attack by Blue Wing or the Catharsis navy.
Ergo... Reggie was going off to war again.

It was the fifth day back at sea, when he received a knock at his cabin door.
He'd mostly been shutting himself below deck.
He was depressed.
"..." Reginald lay there, not answering.
Maybe they were bringing him food again.
Reggie didn't like eating while at sea. It made him feel sick.
He'd need to eat eventually but for now-
The knocking came again. Insistent, this time.

"C-Captain! My Lord!" It was his first mate, Dunleavy.
"You must come at once! There's... someone... on the ship..."

Dunleavy sounded as if he was having trouble saying it.
Or maybe it was difficult to explain?
Reggie sat up in his bunk.
Someone on the ship?
Just how could such a thing even happen?
Well, his curiosity had been sparked at least.
He decided to go and see what this visitor was all about.

When Bartlesby arrived above deck he found the Visitor sitting on the railing of the ship.
He leaned back and forth playfully and did not seem all that concerned about the possibility of falling off.
The lad was young, even younger than Reggie's youngest son.
He had freckles on his cheeks, large and dark freckles, but his skin was very pale.
His hair was black. And when he glanced around he had a tendency to open his mouth.
When he did that his very sharp teeth were visible.
It was like looking into a bear trap.
Reginald, oddly, took note of the fact that the boy was wearing dark eyeliner around his eyes.

"Who are you?" Reggie asked, stalking over there. "What are you doing here?"

"My name is Jack," the boy said. "I thought you might want my help."
"So I came to meet with you, Lord Bartlesby."

Reggie felt a chill run down his spine.
How did this bastard know his name? No, more importantly-
"How did you get onto this ship? We're miles away from the coast."

"I go places. I see things," Jack explained, "I do things."
"This is why I am useful. This is why you'll want my help."

Reginald thought about it for a moment.
Whatever the hell this thing was, he didn't want anything to do with it.
"Throw it overboard."
He went back below deck.

Jack was waiting in his cabin. He put Jack out in the hall and locked the door.

Seventh day at sea.
Getting rid of Jack seemed to be impossible.
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