The Silent Hunter

Chapter 11: Everybody wants to be a pirate

In the house in the East End, Lena stood at the window and looked out onto the garden where several fruit trees were growing.

She didn't know why, but she felt very comfortable here. It was so peaceful here and the house owner was so kind and caring to her.

"I just want a caring person who treats me well." It rushed through her mind.

She shook her head.

"What am I thinking? Even though he looked really good in that suit yesterday.......I need food!"

She went into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. She fumbled around for a moment and took out some eggs to make herself an omelette. She laid the eggs beside her and wanted to close the door to the fridge. There was Jonas standing right behind them.

"Ahhhh." she cried. "My God, Luv. You scared me half to death. I didn't even hear you."

"Of course you didn't. I'm the "Silent Hunter"." he said with a grin.

Lena rolled her eyes. Then Jonas took a couple of strips of bacon and both made themselves omelettes.

In the living room Lena always looked around while eating. The room had a fireplace, a television and a large bookshelf.

"Wow, Luv. You have a lot of books."

"Yes. I had lots of time to read when I was at sea."

"I still have so many questions for you.

"Then ask me.

"First, hypnosis. Have you done it with me yet?" she asked.

"No, and now look deep into my eyes...."

"NO," she shouted, waving her arms.

"Ha ha ha. Just kidding." he laughed. "But it's true I like to read. I've thought about writing some myself."

"For real? And what about?" she asked with interest.

"Well, they're just ideas, but: A boy inherits a ghost train where the monsters and ghosts are real and it's his job to look after them."

"Oh. That sounds really funny," Lena said. "But what is this 'Eye of Medusa'?"

"I'll tell you and Overwatch when we meet them."

"That's mean." she sulked.

"I call it tension building," he said defensively.

Lena asked him a lot more questions. Jaguar didn't even want to tell me, his chronicler, most of them.

After a few hours, they got into a car and drove to Southampton. There Jaguar had a special surprise.

In the local harbour, a shabby-looking man with a dirty moustache was already waiting for them. The man knew his way around Jaguar and began to speak in a croaky voice.

"Everything is ready, Captain. I've taken good care of the good bit."

"Thank you, Nelson." said Jaguar and shoved a wad of money in his hand.

"Thank you very much. I wish you good luck." the man grinned and left in a hurry.

"What was that? What's ready?" Tracer asked.

"Patience," Jaguar said.

"He's driving me insane." Tracer yelled inside.

After a few minutes on foot, Tracer lifted his head and stopped. A slight "WOW" escaped her. At the end of a jetty, there was a big ship. It looked almost like an old-fashioned sailing ship, only it was metal and the hull was built very high. The solar sails were blue and, unlike wind sails, could be extended towards the sun to generate energy for the ship. Tracer stood there amazed.

"Do you want to put down roots or come aboard?" Jaguar asked.

"Huh...wot? Oh, right. Yes of course."

"But first there's something important to do," Jaguar said.

"What?"

"It needs a name! A ship without a name brings bad luck. Got any ideas?"

Tracer flashed on the deck and looked around excitedly. After a moment, she stopped and thought.

"How about: "The Foam Flyer." she said.

Jaguar thought about it for a moment and then replied.

" Foam Flyer... that sounds very good."

Tracer jumped up in the air and put his arms in the sky.

Jaguar got behind the steering wheel. A holographic keyboard appeared. He pressed a few keys and the sails went up. The ship's engines started up and it sailed out of the harbor into the Atlantic Ocean.

When they were already far out into the ocean, Jaguar switched to autopilot and went into his cabin. After ten minutes he came out again. He had a leather strap around his chest from which two laser pistols were attached. And at his waist was a saber with a strange groove across the middle. In his hand he was holding a hat which he sat on his head and then he took the steering wheel back into his hand.

"That feels so good. At last out at sea again," he said.

"What's my job?" Tracer asked in a good mood.

"Well. The deck needs some scrubbing."

"Whaaat?" she said, drooping her shoulders.

"Just kidding. First Mate Tracer, hoist the flag!" he yelled.

Tracer tapped herself on the forehead. "Aye, aye, captain."

She pulled the cord and a black flag was raised.

"She still doesn't have a skull and crossbones."

"No, we don't really do that sort of thing anymore. It's out of fashion."

The ship continued its journey across the Atlantic, towards Tokyo.