Wicked Runaway: A Mark Cannidor Adventure

Chapter Two (Part Two)

Mark could determine from his father’s tone of voice that these people could not be trusted. As Mark carried a large sack of potatoes while struggling to keep up with Edward, it was clear that there could be trouble lying ahead.

The Lady Sinatra itself was enormous up close. It was a tall, grand, black ship, with golden letters spelling the words The Lady Sinatra. There were black sails, and the flag on the main mast was purple with a black skull. Any ordinary person may have mistaken this for a pirate ship.

They may even be correct.

As Mark and Edward approached the ship, a man appeared at the top of the boardwalk leading up to the ship. He was tall and slim. He wore a blood red fur coat with black leather boots. He had a spiralled moustache and a long main of brown hair tied back. Mark was reminded of a lion dressed in red. Wrapped around the man’s waist was the wickedest belt Mark had ever seen. There was a sword tucked inside a pouch. However, the belt had various other pouches which Mark struggled to distinguish what they could be used for.

‘So!’ the man barked. Mark jumped out of his skull as the man disembarked from the ship.

‘You are the Cannidor fellow who came to deliver our supplies?’ the man boomed, judging Edward as he spoke. He could be heard for miles off. Some passers-by stopped and stared as they watched the man approach Edward and Mark. The man was slow, yet he seemed deadly. Mark tried to hide his nerves. Was the man going to kill them?

The man stopped and faced Edward.

‘Y-yes, sir?’ Edward responded. The man had quite an effect on Edward, and normally Mark’s father was good with confrontation. However, this was enough to scare the living daylights out of anyone.

There was quiet around them. A large g**g of people stood and observed the fateful interaction. The man looked Edward in the eyes, almost expecting Edward to quiver and cry.

Mark was desperate to hide away somewhere. It was such an uncomfortable experience. Would any move be the right one? Was this the right time to return to the cart? Mark dreaded to think. But anywhere else was better than where he was at that moment.

After several uncomfortable moments, without any warning, the man smiled, laughed loudly and patted Edward on the shoulder. The people watching were obviously relieved. They went back to their day as if nothing had happened.

‘Malcheffi’s the name,’ the man named Malcheffi continued, roughly shaking Edward by the hand. ‘Captain Sigourney Malcheffi. This is my ship. The Lady Sinatra. I am forever in your debt. There was a fire where are usual merchants are based. Creek Hill Farm a little further north from here. Such a shame to have lost so many livestock lost. And in a short space of time! Dreadful business. I just hope the same thing doesn’t happen to you! In any case, as luck may have had it, we found your address and made the order with yourselves. You’ll be glad to hear we will be back for more. When we return to the area, that is’.

‘Oh, thanks,’ Edward replied. He placed his crate on the floor and patted Mark on the head.

‘This is my son, Mark,’ Edward continued.

Captain Malcheffi was happy until he saw Mark. As soon as his eyes met Mark’s, his smile and laughter turned into a look of pure hatred. Mark began to feel uncomfortable about this. Had he done something wrong? Was there something in his hair? Was there a stain on his clothes?

No, Mark thought. It couldn’t be…

The captain scowled at him unnaturally.

‘No children on board the ship, I’m afraid’.

Even Edward was astounded. How was Mark supposed to help his father now? He was there to help load the supplies onto the ship.

‘Captain, I am sorry,’ Edward said pleadingly. ‘There must be some sort of mistake. You see, I brought my son with me simply because…’

‘No. Children. On. Board. This. Ship. Please’.

‘Sir, I would prefer it if he could…’

‘I will not task you again!’ Malcheffi snapped. ‘I do not want that miserable little boy on my ship!’

‘Wait! Dad!’ Mark shouted.

But Edward did not have a chance to say goodbye to his son. He was escorted by Malcheffi and his crew onto the Lady Sinatra. He didn’t even have a chance to look back. But he could hear his father complaining to the captain around the way he talked about his son.

How rude! Captain Malcheffi would certainly not be convinced otherwise to let Mark on board. One of his crew members snatched the sack of potatoes right out of Marks hands, ignoring him as he shouted after his father. As he watched this Captain Malcheffi lead his father on board the Lady Sinatra, Mark realised he had no other choice. He found a bench amongst the hustle and bustle of the docks and sat down, watching the ships nearby, gloating about his loss of opportunity to set foot on an actual ship.

It was useless, Mark thought to himself miserably. What was the point of him being there if he was only going to be separated from his father?

He was quite excited to board a real-life pirate ship for the first time in his life. Like the ones he read in the books. No other child in his village had been as close as he was to such an amazing experience. It was such a wasted journey. Even if he wouldn’t be sailing anywhere, to have that opportunity might have meant that all his birthday wishes would come true. Instead, he was forced to sit there on the pier, on his own, trying to concentrate as hard as possible to write some of his novel. Maybe create a few sketches. Observe the fine scenery around him, take in the beautiful fresh air.

It was such a waste of time.

Mark just wanted to go home. He wanted to locate a driver and be taken back to Battalion Manor. No matter how much it was cost to him. Who cared if it was his birthday? He could help his mum with some of the baking. Sweep the yard. Feed the animals. Anything not to feel miserable and unwanted in this place where he was unwanted.

After what felt like hours staring glumly at the Lady Sinatra, Mark figured, since he was out on the Docklands, it might worth seeking some inspiration from elsewhere. The pages in his notepad would remain blank anyhow. It was useless trying to think of anything to write, knowing how awful he felt. In any case, his satchel was still in the cart. Trying to rid his mind of the Lady Sinatra (and Captain Malcheffi, for that matter), Mark made his way to the cart. The horses triggered his anxiety again. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling, yet Mark figured they would be safe where they were.

Then again, his anxiety may have been triggered more from anger he had experienced. A feeling that he just wanted to be alone. That was it. That, and the fact that he had been abandoned by the captain didn’t help matters either. One way or another, he was going to wait for Edward to return.

Mark found his satchel in the cart and observed his surroundings.

There was a pier past the Lady Sinatra. It stretched out to the north-sea and was the perfect spot for viewing some of the most glorious ships he could ever imagine. Mark felt that he could sit at the end of the pier and watch some of the ships as they passed by.

That would be a real treat. It was all too much temptation to sneak onto any one of these ships and sail with the crew to a destination faraway. He might have read about that somewhere. In a newspaper, perhaps. Stowaways were always sent to jail. Mark couldn’t do that to his parents. He just couldn’t. It was better for him to stay where he was. However, it would provide the perfect distraction.

Mark began a slow walk back down towards the pier. He had to be careful not to get in the way of any workers carrying heavy loads. The last thing he wanted was to cause a scene. Especially near a ship his father was on. If anything embarrassing happened, the captain may not work with his father again.

Mark bought an apple from a market stall with a little change he had saved up and ate it on the way down to the pier. It was refreshing, delicious, nutritious. It was the distraction Mark needed.

He had almost forgotten about the whole fiasco with Malcheffi and his father.

However, his eye caught the Lady Sinatra once again as he walked past. There was something peculiar about the ship that he couldn’t quite figure out. He paused for a moment, studying the ship, and taking in every single miraculous detail.

He decided to sit down on the exact same bench he was at before. Mark observed the ship. Carefully. Taking in every detail. It seemed so beautifully furnished, almost brand new.

How? Just how does a ship that has been out to sea look so flawless?

Words couldn’t quite describe it. The ship was too pristine. It almost looked brand new. Something didn’t add up.

It was either well maintained or…maybe it repaired itself?

That couldn’t be possible.

Then Mark stood up.

He heard a sound. The sound of laughter.

Mark looked up at the ship. Suddenly, his heart started beating. In an instant, Mark became so angry, so frustrated, he wanted to find Captain Malcheffi and ask what the hell he was playing at.

Then one of them leaned overboard and shouted towards Mark.

‘Hey! You! What are you doing down there?’

Mark was lost for words.

There were children on board the Lady Sinatra. Mark was adamant that they were not supposed to be there.