The city docks were quiet tonight. A few dockhands’ silhouettes lugged cargo to and from ships moored on calm inky black waters. Horton walked along a creaking boardwalk towards one ship in particular. Sat next to a barrel in front of it was Isaac, a weathered freight captain.
‘Who’s that?’ he called out as Horton approached.
‘Horton,’ said Horton.
‘Hah! Come to write about my great adventures finally ‘ave you?’
‘Not tonight I’m afraid Isaac.’
‘Well what do you want?’ he said mildly disappointed. ‘You know I fucked a mermaid once.’
‘I bet you did. When are you next going out?’
‘Tomorrow, god willing. As soon as those useless quarry boys get their act together and deliver my god damn stock!’ he spat. ‘We were meant to leave at noon today.’
‘Mind if I join?’
‘What? For free?!’ Isaac laughed manically.
Horton looked at Isaac and smiled. Isaac looked back at Horton annoyed. ‘Why should you board for free?’
‘I’ll write an article about you.’
‘No. I want a book, Horton, like I said before. I want to be famous! A tossing article isn’t going to cut it.’
‘But you’re so well known around these parts already. You’re part of the furniture here aren’t you?’
‘Don’t push it scribe, you want passage or not?’
‘Yes I want passage. So if I promise to write a book about you–’
‘About my great, exciting and dirty adventures! The tales of Captain Isaac the ferocious sea lover!’
Horton winced. ‘How graphic are we talking?’
‘Everything exposed bare, all on the table…and underneath it for that matter,’ he grinned widely and perversely.
‘Oh god.’
‘So have we reached an accord?’
‘I’m going to regret this aren’t I?’
‘Have we reached an accord?’
‘Yes, I guess so. God damn. When do you leave?’
‘Noon. Don’t be late.’
‘I won’t,’ said Horton hopping away. He headed back to leave a message for Delorian and pack essentials.
ns 15.158.61.46da2
