The Blind Ship
By Bish Denham
“I am loathe to have you leave, but your father insists you go to him.”
“I’ll be fine, Mother.” Jacques was impatient to board Le Rôdeur, the ship that would carry him to his father on the island of Guadeloupe in the Caribbean. His father owned a sugar cane plantation there and the boy was eager not only to be with his father, but to learn about the running of the profitable business. He wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps.
His mother turned from him and spoke to Captain Boucher, a burly man well into middle-age. “You will look after my son?”
Before the gentleman could answer, Jacques said, “I am not a child, Mother.” Though only twelve years-old he had, since his father’s going to Guadeloupe, considered himself the head of the household.
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