Chapter 4 – No Turning Back


Partington had already settled into his cabin. He sat on his bunk with a smile on his face, almost tearful with happiness to be away on such an adventure. He always kept a case journal, never missing a day’s entry, and since they had a long journey ahead, he decided to start it early to help pass the time. He began -

October 27-
We are comfortably aboard the Sea Witch. A most impressive Clipper, many folks have assembled in the harbour just to see her splendour, I feel greatly honoured to be her cargo. She is due to sail in 30 minutes. Professor Foyste has already retired to his cabin, the great man wishes some time alone to contemplate the case, and seems to be a little shaken by an upset stomach; down to his evening meal I believe. I can’t wait to reach our destination and go on the hunt with him. I hope I won’t be too much of a hindrance.

I have of course allowed the Professor to take the larger of the cabins, my own is big enough and I will hopefully spend some time on deck once we are away. My first time abroad, and on such a case, I can hardly believe it. No doubt this is just another day to Professor Foyste, and I feel greatly reassured to have such a seasoned travelling companion.

I do not know what to make of this ancient Count, so far. It seems strange, maybe insane, to me that the locals refuse to go after their own children. I am sure I would give my life to save my own. This case smells of something more sinister than kidnapping, there is something more foul than I have met before… witchcraft perhaps? Voodoo? black magic? We shall see. I can feel the floor falling away from my feet now. I think we must be away.

The Inspector shut his diary in the drawer of the dressing table, and made his way to the professor’s cabin. He knocked lightly on the door.

“I’m going up on deck Professor; if you’d like to join me?”

No answer.

“Professor Foyste…”

Partington put his head to the door to listen for an answer. With the sounds of the schooner in motion it was hard to make out, but he thought he could hear a retching sound.

“Is everything alright professor?”

The door opened a little. A pallid professor appeared in the gap.

“Yes…hahum… yes fine Inspector. Just making some notes.”

“Oh yes of course, sorry Professor. I thought I heard some noises.”

“Oh, err… yes these old boats do tend to creak and groan on the waves…better get back to my … hrrmmph.”

The door shut.

“Damn shame. What a time to be getting a spot of food poisoning,” Partington said to himself.

He made his way on to the deck alone. Standing there in the moonlight, with the sound of the wind beating on the canvas, he felt completely awake, and sure that he would remain on deck for the full night ahead. The harbour rose into view and fell out of sight, becoming more faint and distant each time it appeared, until it was gone, lost in a black fog.

The whole environment felt very alien to Partington but he was surprised, and extremely pleased, to find that he had natural sea legs, although he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was floating on an unending blackness. The water in these parts was famous for its deep black colour, and the Sea Witch herself was painted black. To be onboard this ship, in this place, and sailing through a thick black fog at night, was a dreamlike experience, but it didn’t put any fear into the inspector. He stood on the deck, riding the waves and breathing the salty air deep into his barrel chest. Maybe some would have been afraid, or felt smothered by the darkness, but there was no darkness inside John Partington, not a drop.

After what seemed like hours the inspector returned to his cabin and made one more entry into his journal, before climbing into his bunk.

October 28 (the early hours of)-
If I had not dedicated my life to justice, I might have taken to the seas. This feels truly exhilarating to me. The Sea Witch is magnificent, and the air on deck may be thick, but tastes of true adventure. I must say that I admire her captain and crew for getting us safely out of harbour. I swear that I could not myself see a single thing from the deck in this blackness. Indeed, now that I think of it, I could not even see the crew, not a soul, though I think I could hear their calls to one and other. Never the less, we appear to be at sea with no bother, and after the sea air I shall sleep like a log.

Inspector Partigton fell soundly asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.

No such luck for Professor Hugo Foyste, he lay awake for hours, this had all happened so fast. He felt very alone in his cabin, his mind raced; how did he get himself in so deep? How could he be the man he claimed to be? Why couldn’t the letter have arrived sooner? Allowed him time to prepare… He felt as though he had been thrown over board from his comfortable life at home, set afloat into the unknown, lost on a mass of driftwood; and with the thought of driftwood, he too drifted into sleep.




Chapter 5 - The Runaway Witch


The Professor awoke with a jolt.

"Professor Foyste, Professor Foyste!" followed by an urgent hammering on the cabin door.

Partington was outside the door. He had been there for thirty minutes, banging and banging.

Now, John Partington was not normally the kind of man who would even think of waking his superior so abruptly, but John Partington had just discovered something that caused him more than a little concern.

"What is it Partington?" Hugo asked, tying his robe and shuffling over to the cabin door.

He opened the door to a very pale Inspector.

"There's no one else here," whispered John.

The Professor looked from side to side.

"No Partington, only you and I… What did you want to tell me?"

"You don't understand Professor...there really is NO ONE else here! Above or below deck. No one!"

At first Hugo looked vacant. Then a little confused. Then his bottom lip began to quiver. He lifted his handkerchief from his pocket to his mouth, and feigned a cough.

"Hahum…I think you must be mistaken John. You're not a sailing man are you?"

The Inspector looked embarrassed.

"Sorry Professor Foyste. Maybe I panicked. I went to breakfast and found no one there, so I went up on deck and again… no one. I've wandered around the ship, looking everywhere but I can't find a single man," Partington now looked slightly baffled rather than afraid, "Shall we have another look, together? I gather you will know where to look Professor?"

Hugo tied and straightened a cravat around his neck, and gave an extra tightening tug on the cord around his robe.

"No doubt, John. No doubt."

"Oh there is ... one ... other thing Professor," John seemed unusually uncertain about his words, "My watch tells me that it is now 10.00 in the morning...but it is still pitch-black outside."

The professor bit his lip, put one hand in his robe pocket, and gave his leg a hard pinch. He hoped he would wake up in bed at home, he really did. A sharp pain shot up his leg and he screwed his eyelids tight shut; when he opened them Partington was still there, and so was the ship.

"Follow me," he said stepping behind the Inspector, "Ah, maybe we had better go the other way up the corridor. Alright John...lead the way man."

The two men walked stealthily down the narrow corridor. Faint lanterns hung from the walls. They flickered and swayed, one between every other door, first this side, then the other, and so on to the end. Partington tried each door they passed; four now, and all locked from the inside. He called clearly, but politely, at each...no answer. By the fifth he was determined to get in.

"Something is very wrong here. I'm going to force this one open. Stay behind me please, Professor."

One firm but careful push from John's shoulder opened the door; the broken bolt fell with a clang on the other side. The inspector didn't burst into the cabin, but held the door ajar. No light escaped from the opening. He pushed the door a little further, slowly, just enough to fit his head through the gap.

"Nothing in there eh John?" said Hugo with a tight throat. He turned away from the door, "let's move on then."

"One moment Professor, I can't see a…"

Hugo turned around.

"Nothing to see Partington… Partington?"

The inspector had disappeared, and the cabin door had shut again. Hugo pushed the door but something was blocking it shut; not something solid, there was a little give, but he couldn't shift it.

"Inspector! Are you alright?"

No answer.

Hugo leaned with his back to the corridor wall, "No need to panic," he told himself, "Let’s try again"

As he turned back to the door for another effort, the light in the corridor began to sway more quickly, his shadow danced in front of him. He looked up at the lanterns. They were all rocking, and jerking frantically now. Suddenly it seemed as though the floor fell away from him. He felt weightless for a moment. The ship groaned as though ready to lie down, but then lifted again, so violently that Hugo was thrown to the opposite wall. He slumped to the floor like a discarded toy. The corridor was black now; the lanterns all extinguished.

The ship continued to roll, and rise, and dive. Hugo had no choice but to stay on the floor and hold on for the ride. The corridor felt so much more narrow in the dark, squeezing his chest so that it was hard to breathe. He put one hand on the wall and fumbled for something to grip, to pull himself onto his feet. His shaking fingers found a hold, cold and lumpy, he grabbed it tightly. He began to pull his weight up but something felt wrong, he groped around the hold with his thumb... it felt so icy; firm but a little bit fleshy. It grabbed him back! Hugo pulled his hand free and threw him self forward, and as he did, the ship rolled again. He flew across the corridor and felt his body crash through something hard; he tumbled and landed on something a little more soft. He tried to scramble to his feet but again something gripped him.

"Professor?" asked a stifled voice, "Is that you?"

This was no monster. It sounded a little like the Inspector...only quieter than usual.

"Partington? Where are you?"

"Underneath... you…you're on my… head"

Hugo rolled himself to one side, and gripped a gap in the floor planks. The ship continued its dance.

"Why did you grab me out there man? I thought...well I don't know what I thought."

"Out where?"

"In the corridor…"

"I haven't moved. I think I was unconscious, until you landed on me."

"Ah..."

Partington got up on one elbow and fumbled in his pocket. A quick scraping sound. A spark. And then there was light. Partington turned to Hugo, his face lit by the match.

"I think we may be in trouble, Professor."