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This writing was accepted for publication in the 84 page perfect-bound issue... Down in the Dirt magazine (v114) (the January 2013 Issue) You can also order this 5.5" x 8.5" issue as an ISSN# paperback book:

Order this writing in the book Entanglement (a Down in the Dirt collection book)		get the 340 page Jan. - June 2013 Down in the Dirt magazine issue collection 6" x 9" ISBN# paperback book:

The “Jump Ship” Girl

Trevor Hackley

    A snowstorm howled outside, the moon shone dimly in the dark, clouded sky. A whinny sounded from a dark, empty barn. The cloaked rider looked out into the night, his eyes seeming to pierce through the wall of story haze. They looked slowly from one direction, to another. The horse bayed again, shifting its furry hooves, billowing snow off the high drift. The metal catches in its harness clinked as it shuddered in the cold, restless and ready to take off in the dark. The rider tensed, and squeezed his knees against the horses sides. This was how he controlled his own zest for what he hoped was his prey.
    He took a second confirming look and made a sharp snap of the reins. The horse took off almost as it felt the reins lift off its mane. Its front hooves hopped out of the snow and the horse catapulted off down the hill and galloped into the chilly, exhilarating, danger of the night. It ran on and on, over one hill after the other. The rider merely remained hunched, keeping a firm seating upon its back, kept his eye upon his target. They were getting closer hill by hill. The flickering light he had seen grew brighter, stronger, more steady. It was probably a lamp. That was his guess. A good one too. It seemed to hover a few feet above the snow. And moving faster as they went. They were probably also upon a horses back as he was.

    But he had to move if was going to complete his task. He started going to the side, more at an angle. He wanted their paths to cross. The rider caught up with the something carrying the lamp.
    A stage coach rode along at a good clip. Silhouettes could be seen against the drapes. They were not easy to count. They moved about but it was merely too vague to see. The rider kept up on the side of the wagon and drew tho the rear. He then aimed and slowly got closer .With a leap there was a bang and a clatter. His hands immediately grabbed the tip. His feet he pushed flat against the running board He held himself there and waited a while.
    Finally he moved around the she side to next to the drape. He slowly opened it bit by bit. Soon had had it open enough so he was able to take a glance underneath and a girl in her barely teens he saw. Beautiful, fair complexion a mite of a pug nose, freckly face, long wavy red blond hair. soft, pink flannel blouse. Hair braided in the back. Her mother was a beauty spectacle in herself, slender, trendy long dark hat. Dainty face, small nose, soft petite hands. Brown hair, long and straight. Across from her, next to the little girl, was a tall handsome man. Top hat, tweed jacket, vanilla shirt, trim, nice mustache. That must be the father.
    Little hesitancy went through the horseman’s head in the next moment. He made his move with little thought. He couldn’t. HE could not allow a single doubt or counter calculation go through his mind or his entire mission might get thrown off. He shoved a hand into a left pocket and he pulled out two rolled up pieces soft gauze.
    From anther pocket he removed a small bottle. With contents quickly shaken into each, the cloths were now damp. He held his other elbow over his nose and put a hand over the father. A brief struggle as the ether took effect. He instantly flung his hand at the mother’s face. He had it stuffed into her nose before she could do anything. She had been too shocked to react. She went out too. Now he stepped carefully in with one foot, and picked the girl up so that he jarred her as little as possible. She was napping, much to his advantage. He slowly carried her to his horse and he rode away from the road and back off into the dark.
    It was when she was transferred to a merchant ship when a young man saw her being carried down into a hold and he raised a brow but quickly looked away when an ensign took a hard look at him.
    ‘That girl is a thief and a jump ship case. A dangerous little thing indeed”, cut in the gruff voice of the black mustached, second mate who towered over the boy and while he was not particularly hairy, he was the sort to have single stark black hair so he was given a much more stark, rough look.
    The boy turned back to his tasks and pretended to ignore the whole affair as she was taken below decks.
    Again the slim but strong young man, innocently turned and dashes to the wet rough rope ladders. The spray was happy eating at the hands of any man who had the audacity to try an ascent, the salt wore at their hands and soles of their boots and shoes.
    The dark, evening sky hung over then, just to remind them of the challenger they chose by even the simple fact of plowing into and splashing over the large waves of the Sea.
    The ship was headed to an African coast. Its wares were good, fine, and plentiful. But that girl had raised a question for a lad whose eyes and ears were sharp enough to know that among the other “doting” crewmen of their tasks, for what else was one to do , a girl should be treated fair if innocent. She looked grossly not of the perpetrating lot. She was far too beautiful.
    Though some were very deceitful with that trait to hand. So he had to do what would spread a grin on any young vulnerable sailor would harbor an interest in: find out what was this girl really all about.
    Perhaps however they had dressed her so she looked so shameful she might very well suggest the sordid lot. That did flutter rock butterflies in his stomach. He was not accustomed to the feel. It was part of the way of the old salt and perhaps by learning to grow with it, he too would earn his wizened look one that commanded an great deal of respect amongst ruffians such as these, who were still in these sorts of places, the best sort of feller to have if only one commanded respect from them. On then became king of the sea. The horizons were to be of no limit at that time.

    The whole crew watched as the boy argued with the captain. “Yes, you don’t need to know in depth about dealings”.
    No, the fact they just took it for granted she was a thief.
    “There is no way! She can’t be! She tried to steal a pie the other night when the rest of us were having supper!” Then the boy fell silent.
    “Exactly! She tried to steal a pie!”
    “Well she is not well fed worth a damn!”
    “Watch your mouth boy!”
    Shaking a little, the boy stood there, fighting his terror impulse, realizing his next move needed to be very carefully made.
    “Sorry sir. I shall return to my duties.”
    “Twenty lickings for insubordination! And I’m being easy on you!” As the captain walked away he pushed his face right up against the boys so he could feel and smell the warm, lurid breath on the officer’s face. The boy’s eyes squinted against the menacing look. The captain slowly walked away, thumping on his metal foot.
    The boy took a quick embarrassed look around and trying to keep his cool, went back to his duties.
    It was late at night and he was staring up at the next man’s cot. He could not get it out of his head. He HAD to figure out a way to get her to safety! Ah! Why hadn’t it occurred to him! Wait till they were ashore. It rose the stakes a tad, but he would give it a try because the mere crowds might give him a chance.
    He thought up a plan. He found some old clothes, and an extra key to the cage she was in. It could go missing unnoticed till they reached shore. He crawled back into bed, his head buzzing with enthusiasm for the chance of it working. It was tricky. He would have to play his cards just right, but it might work.
    The ship moved inland. The boson hollered out. Crew started throwing over the ropes, and soon they had the ship secure. The plank was dropped. The boy watched all he could, very attentively, as he tended to ropes and pulleys ship side. He waited. Soon they would, there it was. “Jeremy!”
    He hurried over. “Be right there!” He ducked below decks and worked his way on a slightly different path to the box. It was open. The clothes were gone. Good sign. He would wait, and follow behind her within twenty paces or so. He headed back up, and saw as she crossed the plank, and mad her way into the crowd. He crossed, and hollered out to another crew member. He had made sure to have the same sort of hat and throw over shirt on, himself. Rather, the “strange boy started going through someones’ wares.
    Thief! I’ll cut your hand off! The “boy” turned and dashed.
    Jeremy dashed after him.
    “Jeremy wait!”
    Too late. He was already gone. He darted into crowd. There she was. He ran and waved his arms out as if to grab her. She turned and ran. They darted down the street, and into an alley. They ran and ran, till she had gone up stairs, and she hopped off the ledge and fell into a pile of sheets. He jumped after her, but fell to far and the coins from his pockets hopped out of his pocket as he went to balance himself. He tumbled and rolled down a brick wall of the flat behind this house. He took one last look at her, a grateful twinkle in her eye and hollered out “Oh no! He’s gone! I can’t find him,” and started jogging back towards his ship at an erratic path.
    She watched after him, and tossed away the hat and over shirt, and just wished she could have seen him again. But she knew it was for the best. She slowly climbed down and started to walk around, looking around for a shop so she might get a bite to eat. Who knew? Perhaps she might find decent lodging or even better, before supper.

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