Night Creatures Page #2

Get down there.

No secrets here, Captain. Just tar

for the nets, lamp-oil and the like.

What's in that?

White varnish. It's for the boats.

Are you sure it isn't

White Holland's Gin? Yes.

Open it.

He was speaking the truth, Captain.

Here, Captain.

Varnish?

Varnish, Captain. Did

anyone tell you different?

There's a man here called

Ketch. Do you know him?

Yes, that'll be young

Tom. I want to see him.

That would... Take me

to him, no arguments.

After you.

Come this way, Captain.

They learnt anything?

Only the taste of white varnish so

far. At least that's all the Bosun has.

If we don't get rid

of everything quick...

they'll learn the

taste of brandy and gin.

Listen.

Captain, I should have told you,

I was at sea myself for years.

I've sailed around

the world three times.

Pirating? There you

go, always suspicious.

No. I was a ship's carpenter. Very good

one. That's where I learnt my trade.

Of course, it's a bit quiet here,

after the high jinks at sea...

but it has its points.

What's down there?

That's the coffin shop.

But, Captain, you come here

to see Tom Ketch, didn't you?

Tom?

Came in this morning, I haven't

had time to touch him up yet.

He was alive last night.

How did he die?

He was found floating in one

of the ponds on the marshes.

The Squire found him this

morning, when he was out riding.

Squire Cobtree. How did he die, man?

Dr. Pepper signed the certificate:

"Natural causes."

But, I think from the look of the

poor fellow, that he died of fright.

That's more like unnatural causes,

isn't it? Frightened to death? What by?

Well, he didn't tell us,

of course, being dead...

but I think it was the

marsh phantoms. The what?

The marsh phantoms.

People around here don't believe

in them. Say they don't exist.

That's during the daytime, of course.

At night, if you ask them to go

for a walk across the marshes...

you'll find that they'll have

something more important to do...

like bolting the door and

going to bed. Old wives' tales.

I'm sure you know best, Captain.

You say the Squire

discovered the body? Yes.

Where do I find him?

He'll probably be in the church

saying his prayers. Shall I take you?

No, I'll find him. As you wish.

Thanks, matey.

You out of your wits? Bringing

him here, risking all our necks?

I brought him to pay his last respects

to the swab that gave us all away...

the late Tom Ketch.

He's off to see the Squire now,

won't be back for quite some time.

We're getting rid of this stuff.

Wait a minute.

That's the best elm.

I don't mind lending my

coffins in a good cause...

but I'm not having them smashed up.

Lovely bit of grain. Throw

the liquor in the creek.

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