Dark Island Book 1 (Complete)

Chapter 5

“What’s going on here?”
Hesitantly, I glance beside me, seeing Harold standing next to me resting his arms on the railing.
“Oh, hey Harold, I didn’t know you’re awake”
“Well, yeah I heard all the commotion out here, or some of it. What is wrong with Ronny? I heard him mumbling a few snarky words when he entered his compartment.”
“Ronny challenged me to a little friendly competition of fishing. Everything was going great until his line snapped. I won and he couldn’t face the fact that I did.”
“That’s a bit childish of him; it seems to me he must start reading more books on fishing then.” Harold chuckles, shaking his head. He reaches into his pocket, took out his cigar, lit it, and started smoking.
“At least his reading now, he will eventually cool off after a while. Just give him some time.”
“I’m going to get something ready to eat; it’s almost time for dinner”
“Can you even cook Jack?” Harold asked surprisingly.
“Yes, I can, don’t look so surprised. My wife taught me well you know.”
“Alright, alright as long as you don’t burn anything then its fine by me.”
“You just sit here and enjoy the view and let me handle everything. I will call you when I am done.
“Damn, you already make me feel like the owner and captain of this vessel. Since you’re being so generous all of the sudden can you perhaps get me something to drink?” teased Harold.
“Don’t push your luck.” I strike back with a grin on my face. “By the way the last beer is mine and I will be enjoying him while I think about you who aren’t getting any.”
“What, now that’s just bad news to my ears. Just call me when the food is ready, I am starving, feels like I can eat a whale. And Jack, don’t let that little incident with Ronny bother you.”
Will do Harold, will do…

I stare at the door of Ronny’s compartment. Maybe I have been a bit of a jerk lashing out at him earlier. I cannot blame him for being angry if that’s the case. In fact, he is the one always taking care of us, trying to help everyone.
I gently turned the knob, opening the door. He was sitting in the corner chair reading aloud to himself.
“Ronny dinner is ready.” I said politely.
“I’m not hungry!” Ronny lashes back.  Continues to read further
“Okay, you definitely didn’t cool of yet. Harold and I will be in the kitchen, eating. I will place your food in a container next to the sink for you for if you get hungry through the night. In addition, just a heads-up, if you’re going outside take a jacket. It’s cold as hell. Oh, and remember Ronny we must keep heading South.”
“For what reason, Jack?” asked Ronny
“This so-called ghost ship is seen in the Southern Ocean deporting back in the Europe. So that’s where we will be heading then, that’s where the gold must be!”
“How do you know all this about the ghost ship?”
“I do my research before going on an adventure.”
“You can’t go to war without a gun…” My thoughts took a trip down memory lane again. Back on the battlefield. War.

“Jack! Get on your feet soldier…”
“My head Sir… my head… I feel dizzy as hell. What the hell happened?”
“It was a bloody m1977 artillery, almost lost your head, don’t worry about the wound, it’s just a piece of scrap metal you’ll be fine. Bloody hell soldier I don’t know if you’ve made a deal with the devil or caught a bloody leprechaun, but you are one lucky bastard. Somebody get me a damn medic over here…”

“Jack snap out of it man, are you with me?”
“Yes, um yes sorry Ronny my head was at another place, um if you would excuse me, I’m going to eat my dinner before it gets cold.”
“Okay man sure whatever, talk to you later.”
Jack you have to get a hold of yourself. You are going to start freaking everyone out if you keep this up. I scolded myself while heading towards the kitchen. I reached down my front pocket took out the dog tags. Joe if only you were here man, you’ll know what to do. Before entering, I quickly place the dog tags back into my pocket. Harold was already half way through is piled plate of food.
“You must be very hungry.” I said to Harold taking a seat next to him with my food.
“Sorry Jack, I was waiting for you, but you took too long, but I have to admit your food tastes great. Looks like I’ll be keeping you on deck after all.” Harold started goofing around.
“Be careful that I don’t throw you of deck first Harold, then you’ll have to swim with the sharks let alone the fishes.” I said back to Harold.
“You know I will beat all of them up and swim back. You will not get rid of me that easily. Said Harold, raising a brow.
I pushed my plate aside stood up and went to turn on the urn, switched it on and crabbed two cups from the cupboard.
“How many sugars do you want?” I asked
“Just two thanks.”
“So, Harold, about last night, Ronny said something about you seeing a blue-ish light, what’s up with that.” I poured the hot water into the cups and took one to Harold. Standing opposite from him now. His face frowning, he looked more serious almost unrest less. Nevertheless, the bluish light was bothering me now and I wanted to know what’s going on.
“What was it Harold?” I asked again.
“It… I do not know for sure… but. Let me start from the beginning. You two were already asleep it was just after 2.00 Am. and I wanted to take a break and catch a smoke outside so a put the auto pilot on and went outside. I was standing outside for about ten minutes when I noticed something weird in the far distance, at first it looked like a small dot, almost like a star but with a different color but then the dot started to appear more and more as if someone was flashing a light straight towards me but it was very bright almost eye blind bright and it came out of nowhere” Harold grabbed his cup with both hands twirling it around before taking a sip.
“And then what did you see? What, where did…?” I asked astonishing, sipping my coffee after words.
“And then it was gone, gone like it didn’t ever happen. When my eyes stopped blurring the light was gone and the dot. It was like it vanished or something I do not know. It freaked me out because I never saw something like that in my life.”
“That is strange man, wow.” At first, I thought he was playing a game with me but by the look on his face, I realized now that something did actually happen last night, but we will never know for sure.
“Anyway, thanks for dinner it was really good. I’m going to check on Ronny see what he’s up to.”
“No problem Harold, I’m going to finish my dinner and then clean up a bit I will join you guys later.”
Harold stood up, pushing his chair in and placing his dishes in the sink before heading out.
I sat there for a moment thinking about what I have just heard, trying to wrap my head around it. It sounds very weird to say the least but also so fascinating. Maybe there was something out there.
“But what was it?” I said to myself.