Jack met them at the top of the gangway barring their way on to the ship.

“Payment upfront,” he growled leaning with one hand on the railing the other resting on his hip just above his sword.

Thayne was ready to agree, just wanting to get aboard and put down the heavy stretcher but the captain again came to his rescue unbidden.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Jack. The boy already agreed to double. At least let us aboard so the boy can get to his money.”

Jack stepped aside his scowl darkening. The captain sidestepped him and almost dragged Thayne aboard with his sudden rush forward. He paused to let Thayne catch his footing before lowering the stretcher and Thayne followed suit. As soon as the stretcher was down the captain was standing flinging an arm around Jack’s shoulders and firmly turning him away from Thayne.

Jack craned his neck trying to keep Thayne in view as the captain kept him in a hard grip and walked him away, saying in a loud voice, “One-way fare to Kent, meal included would be maybe five silvers, so there should be no problem with the boy paying that now and five more when you arrive in Kent. I doubt the boy would have the gall to cross you Jack, why would you demand full payment up front? He ain’t going nowhere.”

Thayne realised the big man was trying to give him time to get his money without revealing to Jack where he kept it and how much he had. He glanced at the pair. He couldn’t quite hear Jack’s grumbled reply but he could see that despite his efforts the captain was effectively blocking Thayne from view.

Hurriedly he pulled a handkerchief out of his pack and opened the money bag without removing it from the pack and grabbed as big a handful as he dared of the gold coins wrapped them tightly in the cloth and stuffed them in the pocket of his cloak.

He heard Jack grumbling in acquiesce having been verbally beaten into submission. “Ten now, ten at Kent. There’s two of ‘em.”

Thayne scanned the contents of the money bag his heart sinking. Globulus had expected him to use the coin in relative safety at Penn. They were all gold and worth 25 silver each. He had no smaller coin and he doubted it was a good idea to pay Jack such a coin. He and the girl would be killed and thrown overboard on a quiet stretch of the river. There was nothing else for it though. He had no way of changing coins and he couldn’t go to the market and leave her.

He pulled four coins out of his bag and slipped two straight in his pocket, a sudden flash of inspiration coming to him. “My cousin is still quite weak in her recovery, if you have a cabin to spare I will pay you…” he looked down at his hand hesitantly and let a flash of gold show as he slid one coin into his pocket. “One gold coin now and one at Kent. For both of us. It is almost all I have but my uncle is waiting in Kent, so…” he trailed off as a reason had not yet come to him but when he saw the captain’s expression he closed his mouth.

Jack’s mouth opened and shut. He reached his hand out, jerked it back, scowled his darkest scowl yet and snatched the coin from Thayne’s outstretched hand.

“Done.” He spat. “You can have the first mate’s cabin.”

The captain smiled broadly. “I’ll help the boy find his way.”

Before Jack could protest he was lifting the stretcher and Thayne hurriedly picked up the other end.

Jack led the way grumbling to himself. Jack hovered over them as they set the stretcher down on the narrow bed. Thayne would have enough floor space to lie down in the narrow space but he wasn’t going to be comfortable for the month-long voyage. Thayne could see the captain desperately wanted to say something, Thayne felt exactly the same but Jack was not going to give them the opportunity.

“Take care of yourself, boy,” He said finally.

“Thank you,” Thayne tried to convey all his gratitude and urges to him to not worry in those two words.

The captain nodded, disbelief still in his eyes but helpless to do or say more. Thayne held out a hand and Thayne grasped it, transferring the two coins he had taken from his pocket to the captain’s hand. To his credit, his surprised hardly showed though his eyes hardened a little bit.

“Thank you for helping us get home safely. I hope we meet again.”

“Yeah,” the captain agreed gruffly. His hands balled into fists as he turned and left the room. Thayne wondered if he had somehow upset him but he turned at the door and said loudly, “keep the door barred and stay to the cabin as much as possible. I will write ahead to your uncle, he’s in Smith St, yes?”

“Y-yes, thank you.”

With that the captain strode off, after a spare glare at Thayne Jack followed him out and down the narrow corridor. Thayne watched them go and closed the door with a push. There was no lock so he grabbed the trunk between the end on the bed and the wall and strained to move it. He tried the lid but it was locked. He tried pulling it again and as he used short jerking motions he felt the trunk move slightly. He kept at it until it was halfway out, partly blocking the door from the hinge side and still wedged between the bed and the wall. He gave up there and sank to the floor, scooting back to lean on the hull wall. He brought his knees up to his chest and felt tears come unbidden to his eyes. He was so alone. At school he at least knew he most likely wouldn’t die in the night but here… there was no comfort here, no semblance of safety. He buried his head in his arms and tried to stifle his sobs as he did not want to be heard by Jack or his crew.