Chapter Two

The first thing Jake learnt about his new job was that he was expected to be available throughout the 12-hour shifts which Sam shared with Captain Johnny both at sea and in port. He had a softer bed and better food, but he worked longer hours to get them.

"Wherever he may come from, somebody taught him to read!" was Sam's first observation when he joined Johnny Du'pleau for their customary glass one evening later that week. Sam had taken the time to watch (without making it too obvious) as Jake settled quickly to his new routine of duties, and this skill in his new assistant was unusual enough to merit special mention to the Captain.

"He's has some schooling, then: and he's young for that, too! He must be from a family of some standing, I'd hazard: so how did he come to be with us, I wonder?"

"I think he's telling the truth when he says he doesn't remember, though" offered Sam as the glasses were refilled. "I can always sense it when one of the 'prentices is spinning a yarn to keep out of trouble!"

" I agree" murmured Captain Johnny, focusing his gaze on the amber liquid in his glass.

 He frowned, and seemed to come to a decision.

"Send him to work with Quiggins in the engine-room: he's always complaining that the lads can't read, write, add, and have to be shown how to use even the simplest tools he puts in their hands ......... "

Jake's first impression of Quiggins was of a person almost as broad (across the stomach) as he was tall. He was almost totally bald, except for a half-tonsure of grey hair which ran around the back of his head from ear to ear and appeared to have the sole function of providing an anchor post for his spectacles.

He wore a coverall or smock which at some time in its history had probably been white. Amazingly, the top button remained attached, and was in use. The waistcoat beneath the coverall was covered in a myriad of stains of varying degrees of severity and antiquity: all the (numerous) pockets Jake could see were stuffed either with pencils or with instruments of different sorts, the only one of which Jake could positively identify was an old-fashioned wind-up pocket watch.

Jake got off to an unfortunate start.

"Sam said you needed a hand, Quiggins ...."

"It's Mister Quiggins to you, lad!"

"Sorry, Mr. Quiggins: I haven't been on the crew long .... "

"Yes, yes, I know! There's not much I miss, you know! Now, I'm told you know your letters?"
"Yes, sir."

"Why?"

Of all possible questions, this was one Jake wasn't expecting.

"I'm sorry, sir, I don't .... "

"Why do you know your letters, when most of the other 'prentices only remember their names because somebody bawls it at them twenty times a day!"

"Seems I've always known, sir .... "

"Yes, well, somebody had to teach you .... did they also teach you numbers? Can you sketch, draw a plan?"

"I've never tried ...."

"Well, it's about time! Here, catch this pencil: add the following numbers .......... "

For the next half-hour Jake was subjected to rapid-fire calculations of increasing difficulty, and was denied any opportunity to recalculate or check his figures. His first instinct was to protest about this.

"If you don't get your figures right first time in the middle of a storm, you won't get a second chance!" retorted Quiggins, reeling straight into the next calculation without pausing to take a breath. Stung by this callous response, Jake gritted his teeth and determined to prove to his taskmaster that he was up to the challenge.

Quiggins took the completed pages from Jake and studied them without comment before folding them and putting them in a convenient pocket.

"Come with me, now."

He led Jake through a door at the far end of the room which led directly into a workshop. On every side were small models: sets of pulleys and winches, pistons and other devices which seemed designed to move, push, pull or lift.

Quiggins looked at Jake over the top of his spectacles.

"Each of these small machines has a wheel or a lever attached. I want you to tell me from looking at them, not by trying them out, which way each will move. Some of the early ones are easy, but it will get more difficult as you go round ......."

" ......... So when he came to the last one in the room, I told him that if he turned the wheel the wrong way he'd get a soaking..... "

"I gather he got that right, as well! What about his calculations?"

Quiggins passed over the results.

"I threw fifty questions at him in half an hour: no mistakes, and very few corrections."
"He had time for corrections? At the speed you throw the questions out ... !"

"He's well-schooled: I'd say he comes from money, and had a tutor. But he's genuine enough: he's not shamming when he claims to have no memory of his recent past."

"I want you to take him on - officially, as your assistant. In fact, I want you to keep a close eye on him without making it too obvious. There's a mystery about him, and I don't like the idea!"

"For example," he added, casting an elegantly tailored leg across the arm of his chair, "Just suppose that we board a vessel to ‘go shopping' and someone recognises him for a young blood, some nobleman's missing son."

He paused and refilled both glasses.

"Before you know it, we're being hunted ourselves all over the high seas on charges of kidnapping, child abduction, you name it!"

"But we're pirates, Cap'n! We're expected to do certain things which - how shall I put it? - aren't strictly legal ..... !"

Cap'n Johnny glared at his Chief Engineer.

"Must I remind you, Wilberforce: I don't approve of violence, and I won't hear of anyone mistreating children ......... !"

" ........ Which is why the last three ships we've stopped have all been crewed entirely by orphans and their kid brothers, I suppose!" snapped Quiggins cynically.

Johnny gestured with his drinking hand, and conceded that he had a point.

"All the same, I believe that our ploy, to hold hostages and forward hotel bill invoices to their families, makes far better business sense than sending crude, threatening ransom demands! And my brother tells me that he's getting much more repair work in his dry dock since we introduced the "mention my name" Discount Voucher with the rest of the documents: I've also noticed that the bills are being settled more quickly!"

Quiggins heaved an inner sigh and decided to drop the subject for the moment.

Particularly with regard to the last point, Johnny was right. When the original crude ransom demands had been reworded and formally presented as Hotel Bills, there had been a significant improvement in the percentage of bills being paid promptly and in full. When they had then introduced the idea of offering Discount Vouchers for ship repairs (redeemable at the Cammell Shipyards, owned by Johnny's brother) the business suddenly began to generate impressive returns on a relatively modest investment.

He drained his glass and stood.

"I've an early start tomorrow, Cap'n: by y'r leave I'll turn in now. It's not too late to have a wee chat with young Jake before bedtime, without him smelling a rat.... "