Finding Home

Chapter Four

Dan led Olivia and Ted into a dimly lit hallway and closed the door behind them, latching it firmly. At the end of the hall was a massive room lit by several candles. On the left side of the room were a couple rows of two-story beds, and on the right side was a large wooden table surrounded by benches. On the table sat a basket overflowing with bright green apples. On the floor, were two woven bags full of different types of bread.

            Sprawled out in the middle of the room were four oversized, cushioned chairs and on the far side was a set of open wooden doors that led to a courtyard surrounded by high walls made of stone. There were towering cracks in the faded green walls. The intricately designed rugs reached from one corner of the room to the next and seemed to be worn thin in many places. The ceiling, with its plain design and grand height, seemed to be the only detail in the building that passed the test of time.

Dan seemed very proud when he explained that a group of them had found the old building last winter, with its furnishings and everything. Afterwards, Ted noticed Olivia was observing a young boy no more than eight, sleeping in one of the beds.

            “That's Johnny. We found him wondering the streets last year. None of us have any family so we take care of each other,” he said while handing her an apple, “Like this food, if we earn or even steal it, we always bring it back and share it.”

            She accepted the apple and took a bite. Out in the courtyard she could hear the laughter of boys playing. Moving over to the double doors, she leaned against the frame. In the courtyard, six boys of different ages were kicking around a rusty old metal beer mug, as if it were a grand soccer game.

            Ted sat in one of the cushioned chairs eating a bread roll, talking with another boy. Dan moved past Olivia and pulled himself up onto a low brick decorative wall that ran halfway down the building. He called her over to join him. She jumped up onto the wall and sat down still eating her apple and watching the game.

            Dan looked over at her. “So, what's your story?”

            “There isn't much to tell. My parents died in a fire when I was four. I was sent to an orphanage. I didn't like it, so I left.”

            “Then you went traveling, right?”

            “Right!” exclaimed Olivia, almost forgetting the little lie she had told.

            “Where did you say you were from?” Dan questioned her suspiciously.

Olivia sat up straight and mustered all her courage to look at him. “I didn't. Besides, it’s a small town far from here. You don't know it.”

She looked back towards the game trying to avoid his gawking eyes. He studied her for what seemed like an hour then jumped off the wall.

            He turned towards her. “Well, whatever your story is, you're welcome here.”

He winked at her and then headed over to another group of boys sitting on a far wall. She looked up at the clouds slowly passing overhead and sighed with relief that she had finally convinced him of who she was pretending to be.

For the first time since she left, she thought about Ms. Rebecca and the children at the orphanage, but most of all, she thought about Nathaniel. She already missed him so much, and she wondered what he was doing at that very moment, if he was thinking about her too.

Feeling tired, Olivia decided she should get some sleep before leaving for the harbor. Once back inside, she made her way over to a cushioned chair and plopped down. She closed her eyes and fell asleep almost instantaneously.

            By the time Olivia woke up, it was quiet and dark in the room. The double doors leading to the courtyard were closed and covered with two large blankets. There was a single candle lit on the table. She could tell by the looks of the half-melted candle that it must be somewhere around midnight. Olivia glanced around the room. Ted was asleep in the chair next to hers, and Dan was nowhere in sight.

            She carefully stood up and walked over to the table. She placed two rolls and an apple in her pockets. Turning, she walked cautiously down the hall towards the little door leading to the alley. Olivia lifted the latch and stepped out, latching the door behind her. She looked up and down the alley to see if anyone was around, and satisfied that no one was, she took off her cap and shook her head.

While she brushed her fingers through her hair, she hoped she hadn't missed her chance to sneak aboard the Golden Phoenix. She pulled her hair back up under the cap, making certain that no stray pieces were visible.

            Suddenly, a hand reached out of the darkness and grabbed her arm. Olivia screamed. Another hand pulled her backwards. Her heart was racing, then the figure stepped back his face visible in a stream of moonlight.

It was Dan!

He must have stepped out just before Olivia for some fresh air before turning in for the night.

            “I knew there was something strange about you, but I would have never guessed you were a girl!”

            “Please Dan, let me explain.” Olivia pleaded, “Everything I told you was the truth. My parents did die in a fire, and I did run away from an orphanage. It's just that the orphanage is right here in Portsmouth. There is a ship in the harbor I plan to stow away on. It is bound for the colonies, which is why I am leaving right now.”

            Dan's serious expression softened. “You should have just told the truth. Girl or boy, a street rat’s a street rat and I still mean what I said to you earlier. You are always welcome here.”

Olivia could see Dan's figure move towards the door and open it. He turned towards her again. “Good luck…Oliver.”

Even though she could no longer see his face, she knew he was smiling.

Once the door closed, she turned and went on her way. The street was vaguely lit by the glow of a nearby oil lamp. She placed her hands in her pockets and lowered her head not wanting to draw attention to herself as she strolled down the road.

            When the harbor came into view, Olivia slowed her pace. She found her way back to the barrels and peered over them to the ship still anchored just beyond the docks. She could see the night was like so many she saw from the parlor window in the orphanage. The full moon was so bright, and there was not a cloud in the sky. This made it easy to see everything in the harbor. It also made it simple for Olivia to spot the five sailors sitting on an adjacent wagon, drinking brandy and laughing hardily.

            Along with them were three more soldiers sitting on wooden crates playing cards just past the first pier. When it seemed the guards were completely distracted, Olivia slipped out from behind the barrels and silently made her way down to the farthest dock away from everyone. Passing one boat after another, with no hope of getting out to the ship, she was beginning to give up. Suddenly she could see a small object hidden at the end of the pier between two larger fishing boats, silhouetted against the sky.

As she moved towards it, she tripped over something lying on the dock. After finding her bearings, she squinted to let her eyes adjust to the details of whatever it was.

There, sitting, with his back against a pole, was a man. His legs were sprawled out in front of him and his head was hung over his shoulders.

Olivia stepped back startled by the man's appearance. She gradually started to notice a quiet gargling noise coming from his direction. She took a step towards him and nudged his leg with her foot. The noise was now growing to a low snore. She nudged his leg again. His body jerked causing an empty bottle of gin to fall from his hand and roll across the deck. A sigh of relief passed over her as she peered down at the passed-out sailor. He wouldn’t be waking up anytime soon.

            Turning, she maneuvered her way down the pier and carefully climbed into the rowboat, making sure no one saw her. She unwrapped the rope from the pole and pushed the boat way from its resting place on the water. Once clear, she carefully and quietly rowed her way out to the awaiting ship. As she came closer, she placed the oars back in the boat and reached out for the side of the large ship.

            Olivia sluggishly guided the small boat around the side until she located the massive chain that held the anchor. The metal was cold in Olivia's hands as she held on tight and pushed the little boat away from the ship. She ascended the slick chain to the railing of the massive vessel. She peeked over the side and saw no one on the upper deck. Firmly gripping the edge of the railing, Olivia kicked her legs up and over the side, sliding her body down to the deck.

            Then she glanced over the railing at the town of Portsmouth, her heart sank as she laid eyes on the only home she had ever known for the final time.

With a tear in her eye, Olivia pulled her attention back to locating a hiding place below deck. She inched her way to the inner railing and peered through to the middle deck.

            In the center was one of the tall, thick wooden masts. Leaning against the mast, sitting on a barrel, was a sailor. He appeared to be sleeping. His feet were propped up on a short box and a hat covered his face. Just to the left of her was a small staircase leading to the middle deck. Olivia tip-toed down the steps and ducked behind a stack of crates nearby. She noticed there were several barrels and crates of different sizes scattered in piles throughout the deck.

            On the other side of the main mast was a hatch. All she had to do was make her way past the dozing man. Taking a deep breath, Olivia snuck across the deck, moving in and out of the piles of barrels and crates, trying not to take her eyes off the slumbering sailor. However, in doing so, Olivia didn't see the coiled pile of thick rope directly in her path. She hit it with such force that it sent Olivia flying into the middle of the pile with a thud.

            Startled, the sailor fell off the barrel and stumbled to his feet. He swiftly looked around for the cause of the commotion. Olivia curled up into herself hoping the rope hid her enough. The sailor roamed the deck and as he came closer, she squeezed her eyes shut, praying he wouldn't find her.

            “Who is there? I can see movement. Come out you rat!” yelled the sailor.

She was so frightened she dared not move.

            “Oh, Jessi! It's just you. You old thing,” the sailor said happily.

            Olivia was glad that she had not been discovered, but now she feared there were two sailors on the deck. Then she heard a faint “meow” echo through the night air.

It was a cat!

“A stupid cat,” Olivia mumbled to herself, shaking her head. The sailor picked it up and walked back over to the barrel. She leaned upright and glanced over the coiled rope at the pair. The sailor was back sitting on the barrel, feet propped up, petting the cat that was perched on his lap. Within minutes, the sailor was fast asleep again.

            With her eyes watching the sailor, and her surroundings this time, Olivia moved over to the hatch. She carefully pulled the latch to reveal a narrow staircase leading down into the darkness below. She stepped onto the first few steps then turned and closed the hatch. She made her way to the bottom of the stairs.

            Reaching around in the pitch black, she was able to locate an old brass oil lantern and some matches nearby. Feeling for the wick, she struck a match and lit it. Placing the remainder of the matches in her pocket, her eyes adjusted, and she could see she was standing in a large space. The walls were curved and covered with vertical beams taking the shape of what appeared to be a rib cage. Olivia felt as if she was in the stomach of a giant wooden whale.

            Holding the lantern out in front of her, Olivia could make out the frame of another hatch a few feet away. She steadied herself and made her way over to it. She passed a room and just inside she could see a table and pots. She thought this must be the kitchen, or galley, as sailors called it.

            She continued over to the hatch and opened it. There was another set of narrow stairs. Careful not to spill the oil in the lantern, Olivia again made her way down, closing the hatch behind her. Looking around, she was satisfied; she had found herself in the ship's hold.

Her dream was on its way to becoming a reality.