The ladâs canny ways would certainly help him get around in life, but on the Flying Dutchman his twisting ways have no point. An eternity upon the cursed vessel ahead, heâd better abandon this childish hope.
Admittedly, the first mate is not find of children in general. They lack discipline, though Dodger seems to make up for it with his wits. He reminds Maccus of monkey, always ready to come and snatch an unattended item. At times heâs tempted to throw Dodger over the railings and watch sharks do their job with him. But the little imp does have some uses, and the first mate never gets rid of other crewmen without a silent nod from the Captain.
He shakes Dodger a little, pushes him several steps backwards. The ladâs face is hardly looking him in the stomach.
âThe rum is for the working men. Whatâs yer job? Strolling across the deck delivering messages, ohhh, thatâs a lot of hard labor! Go ask the Captain.â
The Captain has never been prone to fatherly affections, amd Dodger gets the same treatment, more or less. But there is a fat chance the boy will come with his permission. It wonât matter, for the Captain is the ultimate authority. The first mate dares not go against Jonesâ will, not because he canât, but because he doesnât want to.
Limbs jangle âround a bit as the First Mate gives him a final shake âfore sending him stumbling backwards. Scowling up at the bloke, Dodger knows betterân to try to return swing for swing, seeing as he has a good eye on the blokeâs middle and not near much moreân that. Might be quick and nimble, is Dodger, but when a bodyâs as bulky and mean as the First Mate, thereâs only so much he can do. And oh yes, canât go forgetting the teeth.
After the stumbling, his backside connects with the side of the ship. Ah, nowhere to go. Well, not that thereâs much in the way of hideyholes on the ship and âspecially not near the rum, but it ainât much in Dodgerâs nature to stand his ground neither.
âI am working! How you figure Iâm getting so thirsty, huh?â Dodger protests. Ainât near his fault he canât be doing much in the way of hauling the riggings, seeing as the rigging marks near double the size of him. He supposes he could be placed in charge of cleaning the Flying Dutchman, but thatâd near mark a job in the half, âspecially from all the grime near covering her haul.
But he buttons his lips closed for a moment at the suggestion to go see the Captain. Ifân heâs lucky, the Captain has a mission for him and that marks well enough as far as things go, âthough it means more work. Ifân heâs unlucky--well, Dodgerâs seen his fair number of folks being keelhauled over the side of the infamous ship. Heâs mostly dead, Dodger knows, but such a trip wouldnât near be pleasurable. A telling beat then --Â âIâll talk to the Captain.â At the least soâs he can get away from the First Mate.