It was four days into the seven day trip. And once again Jackson Shaughnesy was having dinner at the Captain's Table. He offered alternative topics to the political diatribe that had taken control of recent conversations. So the adventurer told his tales and those at the table sat riveted, distracted from the world and it's problems.
The diners at the surrounding tables would turn their eyes each time the Captain's Table gasped. Envy filled their eyes as the scanned the empty seat. A seat Jack would occasionally turn to with a barely hidden frown. His son was supposed to be seated there, but when Jack let himself into the younger Shaughnesy's stateroom, Alex wasn't there. Jack wondered where his son had gotten to, but had no time to search; So his thoughts occasionally wandered.
"Sorry, what was your question?" Jack asked as he realized the Captain was looking at him. "I was running through ideas about this expedition."
"I was asking if you had any experiences with strange fogs." The captain politely asked. All the faces turned attentively to Jack.
"Not personally." The hero stated. "I believe it has a place in many mythologies though. Why do you ask?"
The captain smiled, as he seized everyone's attention. "Well it just so happens, that normally the area we are passing through tonight is most often unusually rough. Being home to a massive storm. However, when the storm calms the area becomes thick with fog."
Jackson listened, and when the captain finished asked, "What is in the fog?"
"No one knows." The Captain replied. Jackson's thoughts began to wander though not about his son.
"Read it and weep." The young man smiled as he laid his cards on the table. The majority of the table groaned at the aces and queens laying there. The only one who didn't groan, shook his head slowly with a smirk.
One by one the smirking gambler laid his own cards on the table. Ace, ace, jack, jack; By this time all eyes had been drawn to his end of the table. His smirk widened as his eyes scanned the others as he lay the final jack upon the table.
"Would you look at that." The gambler said. He reached out and pulled the pot towards him. He started to restack his winnings, deep in his head he said. "Thanks dad."
Bookmarks