Days Gone By Chapter 9—Signed, Sealed, Delivered
Novel Excerpt by Abram Dress
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Chapter Nine—Signed, Sealed, Delivered
Norfolk, Virginia
March, 1862
“There’s more to that story, lad.” Captain Avery puffed on his pipe, releasing precise rings into the lamplight. “But I take your point, perhaps your key point. You’ve teamed up with a shady crew before–”
“And it bit me in the ass more than you can imagine. But it paid the bills. It was a bad decision, but I didn’t have any better options.”
“Do you think you have better options now?”
“I have no options now.”
“I disagree, Mister Cole. You have an incredible option now.” Avery arched a bushy eyebrow and caterpillar-grinned. “Magician, would you be so kind?”
Captain Avery motioned towards the nearby table where the shadowy woman, the Countess, sat. Saf approached her table, spoke a few quiet words, and accepted the large book she handed to him. He returned with it and set it down in front of Avery.
It was a black leather-bound tome, thicker than any of Devin’s engineering textbooks. The words inscribed in the cover were not made of letters or a language that Devin had ever seen.
Avery thumped the book open to a page midway through, marked with a thin silk ribbon. Devin immediately understood the words at the top of that page.
Devin Robert Cole.
Below that was a whole page of information about him. Very personal information. Family history, personal background, physical attributes. He was looking at a combination of a resume and medical history, all inscribed in glowing text on a thick page. Things most people wouldn’t know about him. And as he watched, the words shifted. Updating as though a live record.
Nancy Wold leaned in. “Now, dude, you’re going to be kind of freaking the fuck out right now.”
“Yeah, I am.”
“We can’t see what all you’re seeing. This book, this magic thing, it leads us to new crew members. But it gives us only enough information to find them, to help them. I’m the ship’s Quartermaster. When I look at it, I see the physical traits I need to make sure that the clothes I procure fit you.” She tapped her finger on the page. “I see that you have a shellfish allergy, so I can make sure we have the right food on board.” Her finger moved. “I can see that you have experience with woodworking tools, as well as basic mechanical aptitude. With McGee’s help, that will allow me to make sure we have the tools you need to support your designated role. When the Navigator looks at it, he sees your physical location, where you are at different times, so he can get us to you.”
Kato leaned over Devin's shoulder. “You don’t see it, but what I see right here is that you have some small arms experience. A summary of your hand-to-hand skills. I see that you recently lost a fight.” He paused, glanced at Devin’s beat up face. “Of course, I don’t really need the book for that. But it offers guidance on the training you might need to account for the deficiencies that led to that loss.”
“We didn’t choose you at random, Mister Cole.” Avery’s rough hands held a quill pen. “Unknowable forces knew you needed us, and we needed you. Those forces brought us to you.”
Devin’s head swam. Words on the page continued to shift and change, describing choices he’d made throughout his life. That decision he’d made to throw that snowball at Richy and how that had led to a friendship that lasted through high school. That decision he’d made to turn around and not ask Tracy to the prom, and how that had led to the vandalism incident that had crippled his dad’s bank account. That decision to leave the hospital while Lisa was still in recovery, and how that had led to…
“Take this pen, Mister Cole.”
Letters and words and paragraphs continued to swirl, but at the bottom of the page a section of text solidified, steadied, begged him to make his next decision.
I, Devin Robert Cole, agree to serve as Ship’s Carpenter on the sailing vessel Redeeming Fancy under the command of Captain Henry Avery.
More words under that. Contract words. Fine print.
But a better offer than he’d gotten from Sammy Nickels, and a better offer than any other that was before him.
Do something, big brother. Make this all right.
He took the pen.
He signed.
The front door of the tavern slammed open. A blast wave of cold, moist winter air washed over Devin from the foggy street. Winter light revealed a tall man clothed in a long duster. A thick belt held a revolver and cavalry saber.
“Captain, we’ve almost connected with the convergence point. We need to get moving.”
His voice was a southern gentleman’s aristocratic drawl. His thick leather boots clomped on the wooden floorboards as he stepped into the tavern, holding the door open.
Through the opening, the paved street on which Devin had walked as he entered was now a dirty, snow-spattered road. Short wooden buildings stood on the other side of the street, looking like something out of some old timey Americana movie.
“Do we have a new crew mate?” the southern gentleman drawled.
Captain Avery grinned as he stood. “Indeed we do! Meet Mister Devin Cole, Ship’s Carpenter of the sailing ship Redeeming Fancy. Mister Cole, I’m pleased to introduce you to Jonathan Roberts, Ship’s Coxswain.”
“Coxswain?” Nancy Wold rolled her eyes and smiled at Roberts. “He’s fine with boats, but mainly he helps in the kitchen.”
“Both are true.” Jonathan stepped past Devin to Captain Avery and the two grasped hands in a hearty shake. “Is the Doctor back with the supplies? We’re on the back end of this convergence and I think we would be wise to evacuate soon.”
“No, Miss Lane has not yet arrived. I expect her soon.”
“How is it…” Devin stood at the front door, looking out at the dirt streets, old wooden buildings, plank sidewalks. “Where the hell am I?”
Nancy glanced at Devin and half-smiled. “I swear, Captain, he’s smarter than he might seem right now. Full ride at MIT, you know.”
The captain grinned and nodded. “I’m unfamiliar with full rides or MITs, but he will do well, I have no doubt.”
A back door to the tavern opened. Hot summer air pushed in, joined by the smell of gas and back-alley refuse. A young woman dressed in scrubs and wearing a blue tactical vest pushed a Food Lion shopping cart into the building. Coolers and plastic shopping bags full of medical supplies jutted up from the cart.
“The Doctor has arrived. Take charge and carry out the plan.”
“Yup.” Nancy smiled and hollered, “Doc! Good timing. Bring that shit over here. You’re coming with me. I need you to check on the new guy.”
Nancy paused, hands on her hips, as she looked over the gathered crew.
“McGee, Kato, I’ll need you two in case things go bad.”
The huge red bearded cyborg stepped forward, flanked by Kato. Nancy nodded, and continued her scan.
“Rivers, you ought to come with us as well. May need the intel.”
A slight person with long, braided black hair and dark, intense eyes slid through the crowd to stand behind Kato. Their black robes hid any evidence of the form or contents beneath.
Nancy slapped off a haphazard salute in Avery’s direction.
“Captain, the rest are yours.”
Captain Avery slammed a bag full of coins on the tavern counter.
“Brother, as ever, my thanks.”
The barkeep nodded and continued wiping a mug.
Captain Avery set out towards the back door of the tavern. “With me, crew. Redeeming Fancy, and the continuation of our quest, awaits.” The rest of the crew took heed and bustled through the back door, grunting or saluting or high-fiving with Avery as they passed him. As the last man passed him Avery said, “Make your way to the ship. I will join you shortly.”
Nancy shoved Devin on the back and pushed him out into the cold streets, into a world he was entirely unprepared for.
TO BE CONTINUED… Midlogue One—Uncomfortable Truths coming soon
Copyright 2024 Abram Dress