02 Black Dog

Chapter 2 Black Dog

One January morning , the captain got up early and walked down to the beach. It was a cold winter's day with the sun still low in the sky.

My mother was upstairs with my father, who was now very ill. That year the winter was long and hard, and we knew my father would not see another spring.

I was getting the table ready for the captain's breakfast. Suddenly, the door of the inn opened and a man stepped inside.

I had never seen him before. He wore a sailor's short sword by his side, and I noticed he had only three fingers on his left hand.

I asked him what he wanted and he said, " I'll take a glass of rum." But before I could fetch it, he told me to come near him.

" Is this table for my old friend Bill? " the stranger asked, with a terrible smile. I told him I did not know his friend Bill and the breakfast was for a man who was staying at the inn.

We call him the captain, I said. Does he have a sword cut on his face? he asked.

Yes, I said. That's Bill, said the stranger. Is he here?

I told him the captain was out walking, and the man waited , like a cat waiting for a mouse. I did not like the look on his face and was sure the captain would not be pleased to see him.