The Fourth Man

Writings From The Main

Writings From The Main

The mainland; Farland, was ten times bigger than either Further Farland or Fontaine Island. The island was split into four quarters; named by their compass positions; North, East, South, and West. The Northern quarter contained all of the factories which shipped supplies out to the other two islands, it also had the largest harbour in Farland, and was where most ships left from or docked at.

Two years previous Jonathan Cinks had been forced into work at the docks by his father. Jonathan's mother had died when he was thirteen, and money had always been tight then, with her gone his father's low income job could barley provide for either of them, or their small two roomed bedsit. So at the age of fourteen Jonathan got a position in the same harbour as his father.

It was hard work, cleaning and maintaining all of the government supply ships, and it was badly paid, but it entertained both Jonathan and his father every day. There were no free schools in Farland, so Jonathan had never been educated, apart from what his mother used to teach him. He knew basic Mathematics and Physics from what he had picked up working at the docks too. Now he was sixteen, and working alongside his father at the harbour seemed like the only thing he would do until the day he died.

On a particularly cold, early morning work was more arduous than usual. After the barley visible sun began to rise it also began to rain torrentially. In the freezing cold, wind and rain they struggled on with a motor repair on a large supply vessel.

"I'll go and get a hot drink," Jonathan shouted over the roar of the rain

"Sounds good," his father shouted back

"I'll have one too," shouted Nerpato, a small orphan boy who had been working at the harbour since he was twelve, now he was seventeen.

Jonathan made it to the small wood warehouse by the harbour front, and picked up the metal kettle of boiling water. The instant coffee was cheap and tasteless, but it was heaven to the freezing cold workers. Jonathan quickly made up three coffees in lidded polystyrene cups and carried them back out to the ship's deck where the engine was. But neither his father nor Nerpato were.

"John!" came a fierce whisper from the cabin, it was his father, "get here, quick."

Jonathan ran over and ducked beneath the doorway

"What?" he asked "what is it?" his father held a solitary finger to his lips in reply

"Hide," was all he said "and keep quiet."

"Nerpato?" Jonathan asked, an edge of fear now added to his adolescent voice

"Gone, I sent him home as soon as I knew," his father whispered back quietly

"Knew what?"

"Not now, please keep quiet!"

Several shuffles and noises came from the deck, and it sounded like someone was moving the engine. The rain was still torrential, and soaked through Jonathan and his father's clothes as they sat in anxious silence. Finally the strange noises and movements stopped, and the rain began to ease back into a gentle patter.

"You have to get home," said his father urgently, "go now."

"What about you?" Jonathan asked "where are you going?"

"To see the mayor," his father replied

"The mayor? Why?"

"There isn't enough time to explain, but if what I heard was what I think it was," he stopped to shudder "then we need help, we all do. Just get back home and sit tight, I won't be too long."