First Mate Mainspring stood alone by the ship’s wheel, staring out into the fog.
“Click, soon the sky will lighten,” he muttered. “Tick, then the ship will be under my command. Tock, Captain Mainspring.”
He could hear the crew down in the dining cabin, telling funny stories, eating damp wood, drinking crude oil and singing rude songs.
First Mate Mainspring opened the hatch and climbed down the wooden stairs to join them. “Click, quieten down,” he shouted. “Tick, you rusting ruffians had better buck up your ideas. This ship has a wobbly mast, a wonky rudder and the dirtiest deck this side of Barbary Bay. Tock, so get to work.”
“Aye aye, First Mate Mainspring.” Washer Williams saluted.
Mainspring picked up a tankard of fish oil and threw it at him. “Click, you’ll call me Captain while Clockheart’s not on board, Mr Williams.”
“Captain First Mate Mainspring?” said Tin-pot Paddy with a confused look. “It’s a bit long-winded is it not, so it is?”
“That’s very true…” said Mr Pumps.
“Aye, it is…” agreed Washer Williams.
“A bit too long…” said Rust Knuckles, nodding vigorously.
“Click, just Captain… Tick, Captain Mainspring. Tock, when the sun rises I’ll be captain of this vessel for good.”
“Is that good?” asked Rust Knuckles.
“Sounds bad to me,” said Loose-screw.
Mainspring brought his cutlass down on the table. “Click, when I’m captain, you’ll have to shape up for sure. Tick, there’ll be no more sitting around singing silly sea shanties.”
“Shame. I do like a nice sea shanty, Captain First Mate Mainspring.” Old Tinder burst into song:
“Click, yes, well, there’ll be no more of that kind of nonsense when I’m in charge,” said Mainspring. “Tick, and you’d better get used to it. Tock, so get swabbing, fixing and hammering and let’s get this ship ready for a new horizon.”