(Untitled)

[stoicsidekick]

If he was asked, William Bush would say that he didn't believe in ghosts. He was a God-fearing man and wasn't fool enough to dismiss the power of luck, good or bad. But he would leave superstition and the supernatural to common sailors, thank you very much. If he was asked, that's what he would say

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[usethecompany]

Though Archie felt the current of unease among the Treader's crew, it was easily overcome by his innate curiosity. He had dozens of questions about the newer, smaller island that none could answer.

"She's a sad sight," he said idly as he came up alongside William. Then he added, casually, "No one's set foot on her yet."

[stoicsidekick]

Bush nodded minutely, gaze still sweeping over the sorry state of the ship. "Don't think a crew could have survived that," he observed. He took a few steps forward to get a better look. Rot had begun to settle into the hull, but she looked like she had been beaten about even before that.

[usethecompany]

When Bush stepped ahead to get a closer look, Archie took the chance to move forward, walking as close to the wreck as he dared. His curiosity was overwhelming, but there was still a glimmer of some common sense within him.

He looked back over his shoulder at Bush. "What do you think? Can we board her?"

[stoicsidekick]

"I don't think we'd find much of use if we did, Mr. Kennedy," Bush pointed out sensibly. "But I would say she hasn't been sitting here for as long as it seems at first look." He raised his brows slightly, already looking as if he suspected Archie was half-mad for the suggestion he was clearly about to make. "Why?"

[usethecompany]

Archie merely grinned at Bush, the most engaging and convincing one he could manage. Well, mostly for Bush's sake - Archie would do as he pleased either way.

"Perhaps there's gold," he suggested, though the ship looked nothing like it held treasures at all, let alone now, when it was half rotted through. "Aren't you curious?"

[stoicsidekick]

It was a grin that had unmanned William on more than one occassion. When he met Archie's gaze he could only smile in return, though he ducked his head quickly enough. "And what good would gold do us?" he reasoned. "But if you are going to insist on some madcap plan to explore, someone will have to come along."

[usethecompany]

"And that someone shall be you?" Archie prompted, though it was merely a consideration. Bush had, for all intents and purposes, agreed to go along. "There's no one else I'd rather have along," he added truthfully.

[stoicsidekick]

Bush's gaze became suddenly fixated on the upper spires of the ship's splintered masts. His hands unclasped and clasped behind him. "Would you really?" he asked, nearly teasing, the corner of his mouth turning up slightly.

He met Archie's gaze, and the look felt like that moment when they had both simultaneously decided that they would not leave Horatio stranded in that damned Spanish fort, orders or no. He gestured towards the ship. "After you, Mr. Kennedy."

[usethecompany]

It was the training he'd had in His Majesty's Navy since being a boy that kept Archie from outright bouncing on his toes or otherwise vibrating with excitement. He couldn't very well hide it from Bush, but he could be dignified.

He started to close the gap between themselves and the poor wrecked ship, occasionally turning and walking backwards as he addressed Bush. "What do you suppose happened to her?"

Archie had never actually seen a beached ship, but it wasn't hard to picture one. This ship looked nothing of the sort - in fact, she looked like she'd taken quite a beating before even turning up on the shore.

[stoicsidekick]

William hid a smile as he watched Archie approach the ship with enthusiasm he could not have tried to pretend away. For his part, Bush strode more calmly, stopping next to the poor beached carcass of a vessel, searching for the best way to board her. "Haven't the slightest idea. A storm, perhaps?" But that didn't seem quite right. The ship looked not only battered, it seemed as though it had been crushed.

[usethecompany]

"Perhaps, but that doesn't quite seem right," Archie said, his words fading away in distraction as he made his way slowly down her hull. It wasn't long before he found a large enough gap in her side, which he widened by tugging a few more rotting pieces of wood away.

[stoicsidekick]

"Found something, have you?" Unimaginative as he might be, Bush's curiosity was piqued by the opening Archie had discovered. He came up behind the other sailor and peered inside. "Won't be able to see much."

[usethecompany]

There was mixture of smells coming from the ship, which spoke more to her horrid condition than anything else might have. Wood soaked in brine for years upon years, yet the island had not even existed before today. Archie feared he'd never wrap his mind around such events on the island.

He found focusing on the smaller details always helped. William and Horatio could always be counted upon to see the larger picture.

"There's enough light," he said, leaning into the widened hole. Actually, Bush was right, but Archie would not be deterred at this stage.

[stoicsidekick]

"Are you certain?" William asked, still skeptical, but if Archie was going to insist on exploring, William would follow - if only, he told himself, to stop the younger sailor from getting into too much trouble.

"After you." As an afterthought he added wryly, "Madman."

[usethecompany]

"As are you," Archie returned kindly before working his way inside. It was a bit darker than he'd anticipated, and it felt much too wrong, somehow.

He'd been away from the sea for months, but time would never erode his sailor's instincts - and the wet, rotting wood of a shipwreck would never fail to make him shiver. He wondered what happened to the poor souls of her crew.

"It's alright," he said, calling back to Bush before carefully making his way inward a bit to give Bush room.

[stoicsidekick]

It was possible to know too much about the sea. It was possible to understand too clearly the damage she could cause. As Bush stepped into the rotting ship, wood damp and crusted with salt, the chaos of whatever had sent them aground still visible, he, too, felt that echo of dread. The rush to save the ship, the panic of realization that all was lost, the dark acceptance of defeat - he could imagine it all. After all, his career had been long enough that he had come close to such an end himself.

He took off his hat and looked about the cramped bilges. "Where to?"