12 Strokes of Midnight

Chapter 8

CopyrightⒸ 2019 by B. R. Bailey All Rights Reserved

"Great job Vitale! Very impressive use of fulcrums," a wavering voice calls out from the dock, interrupting whatever Captain Vitale was about to tell me.

"Well now!" Captain Vitale exclaims, his mood immediately doing a 180. "Is that you, you old sea urchin?!"

"As old and weathered as you the barnacles on the rocky shore," the voice admits with glee. "And still better looking than your pruny countenance."

"What brings you down to the water today old friend?"

An old man, with stark, wiry white hair and a tan, wrinkled face walks up the plank onto the ship, smiling jovially at all of us. "Studying the water of course."

"And what new wonders have you discovered today?"

"I have learned...that furniture is most versatile..." he murmurs, his eyebrows raised.

They both laugh, clapping each other's shoulders as they embrace.

Both old men have deeply wrinkled faces and white hair. The main difference between them, aside from their clothing, is that fact that Captain Vitale has a long white beard and a cap over his hair.

This old man who walked onto the ship is in nearly pristine white robes, with a touch of dust and dirt along the hem, caking his open-toed sandals.

Oh man. I've got to walk on dirt roads without shoes!

My heart sinking lower with every second, I look out over the city, wondering what life is like without the basics of indoor plumbing, electricity, and closed toe shoes.

Where am I going to go?

Looking down at the people, I ignore Captain Vitale and his old friend, scrambling to come up with a plan.

"And this young man...What is your name boy? We couldn't get any sense out of you before." Captain Vitale asks, peering down at me.

"Ray," I mutter, "Ray Catania."

"Ray?"

"Short for Socrates..."

"AH!" They both look surprised and impressed. "I have to admit that I have never seen you around before. I think I would know of a family with sensibility." The old man states, looking down into my eyes with keen interest.

"I'm not from here. My family has ancestors here and we came to visit..." I lie, looking back down at the ground. "We didn't make it to our family. I don't know who they actually are."

The adults all look at each other.

"Do you think they tried to sail on their own small boat from one of the other islands instead of a vessel? That's insanity."

"Hmm...."

"And you were the one who suggested the transportation method using the table and ropes, counter-weighting to move the cargo quicker?"

"That he was," The Captain confirms.

"Very well. You may stay with me until I can locate your family."

Stay with a random stranger? Well, it's better than being homeless.

"Thank you."

Looking up into his blue eyes, I can't help the relief that washes through me.

"Do you have my order?"

"Yes. The metal just for you to the specifications you required," The two old men walk off, talking about parts and substances.