Dwellers of the New World Chapter Ten ( Pt 2 ) Unexpected Callers

The two shadowy figures slid down the wall to a sitting position just below the window. Brothers Jason and Varg had been drinking liquor all evening and were incapable of doing much else but sleeping.

“Looks like ma's got visitors...what you think brother? Shall we go in and nab em?” uttered Jason.

The two brothers shivered, even though they were inebriated, just wanting the warmth of a fire, they were also annoyed that their beds were taken by strangers.

“Keep yer voice down,” whispered Varg, “we ain't in no condition to go nabbing anyone.”

“So what's the plan? We can't stay here we'll freeze.” Jason scratched his head, his greasy hair hung in strands.

Varg pulled himself back up the wall. “We'd best go see ma, looks like it's the floor for us tonight, least we'll be out this dam cold.”

Jason staggered as he tried to stand. “Help us up...I can hardly get to me feet.”

Varg holding onto the wall with one hand, pulled his brother up. Once Jason was upright, they put their arms around each others shoulders and began to lurch up the path, swaying from side to side.

When they reached the cottage, still clinging to each other for support, Varg knocked at the door, but there was no reply. Jason looked into his brothers eyes, his breath fowl as he spoke. “Knock harder...they're asleep.”

The two brothers grinned, their black teeth visible, then they pounded hard on the door.

Finally Aesileif answered the door annoyed at being woken from her sleep. Seeing them swaying from side to side, she was used to her drunken sons, but it didn't stop her being exasperated with them. “Get inside...enough of yer rapping on my door.”

Varg and Jason sauntered into the house and sat themselves down at the table. “Who's the strangers in our beds ma?” asked Jason.

Aesileif boiled some water up over the fire, to make some herbal tea for her sons. “They came down from the upper forest and are looking for a couple by the names of Evelyne and Nathen, that's all I really know.”

The two brothers turned and gazed at each other. They knew the couple their ma was on about, but weren't going to let on that they knew.

“Some tea would be good ma...then if yer don't mind we'll sleep on yer floor,” said Varg winking at Jason.

Aesileif was glad that her sons were at least not going to cause any more noise and brought them their tea. She made some beds up for them on the floor, it was not long before they were snoring loudly.

****

The wind from the night before had ceased, leaving a mist of rain in the air. No sounds could be heard outside, apart from the oceans swell.

Ben and Jay were awoken early the next morning by a knocking at the door.

“I'll go,” said Ben yawning and rising. “It's probably the old woman, wanting to know if we slept al right.”

Opening the door, he was surprised to see two men standing there, they were roughly dressed and had a menacing look about them.

“And a good morning to you,” said the tallest of the two men. “Me name's Varg, this be me brother Jason.” They wore bandanna's around their heads hiding greasy hair, just the ends that reached down to their shoulders were showing. Ben guessed they'd been drinking, from the smell of liquor on their breath.

“We hear you be looking to travel across to Wild Whistling Isle,” enquired Varg. Jason leant on his brothers shoulder.

Ben was curious to know how these two brothers knew of their plans. “So...how did you come by this information? We hadn't even decided ourselves yet...we only discussed going there.”

Varg smiled. “Ah! Well, you see our Ma and Pa own that cottage up there.” Varg pointed to the cottage where the old couple lived. “We sometimes kip down here when we're on dry land. We saw the fire last night and wondered who was sleeping in our beds, our Ma told us about you and how you was wanting to find some people.”

By this time Jay was up and on his feet too, wanting to know who Ben was talking to.

“What's going on Ben?” enquired Jay rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

Before Ben had time to answer, Varg spoke. “Morning to you...we was just telling yer friend here, there be a ship travelling in a couple of days, over to Wild Whistling Isle, if you're both interested.”

Jay looked at Ben, with an apprehensive stare, Varg also gazed at Jason, a sneaky grin on his face, as he winked at his brother.

“We don't really know what we're doing yet,” uttered Jay, he didn't like the look of these two men with their rotting teeth and he certainly didn't trust them.

“Well!” said Varg speaking to Jay. “Our boss Bracus is waiting on his ship being finished in a couple of days, then we'll be away, you're welcome to come aboard and sail with us, though you'll have to earn yer keep. What do yer think of that then?”

Ben again looked at Jay then back at Varg. “We'll have to talk about it and get back to you.”

“You speak to our Ma and Pa, they'll tell you about the Island, it ain't called Wild Whistling Isle for nothing yer know. There be gales, the like you ain't never seen before, fair knock you off yer feet...don't it Jason?”

Varg's brother grinned once more, looking slightly the worse for wear. “Yeah! Sure thing...I got songs about that Island.”

Jason started to sing one of his songs, ignoring his brother's look of disdain.

“If you would dare to sail today,
to Wild Whistling Isle so far away,
where cold winds knock you off yer feet,
and there be only fish to eat,

where freezing winds do chill yer bones,
the isolation leaves you alone,
sea shanties you can sing all day,
on sandy beaches in the bay,

so sing with me of trouble and strife,
I'll sing to you of a sea going life,
where dangers lurking all around,
the wind whistles a ghostly sound,

then when yer finally back on main land,
ship building you'll work with your hand,
the prize that will be yours that day,
a ship to sail so far away.”

Varg laughed out loud at his brother's singing, as Ben and Jay looked at one another, unsure of what to say next.

“You'd better heed the words to that song if you plan on making the journey over to the island, it certainly ain't a hospitable place to be...let me tell yer,” declared Varg patting his brother on the back.

“Yes...well thanks for the warning,” replied Jay, wishing they would go away. “We'll certainly heed your words, but for now we're not sure what we're doing, so if you don't mind we have a long day ahead of us.” Both Ben and Jay were getting agitated with Varg and Jason and wished they'd go away.

The two brothers had other plans for their day and had things to tell their boss Bracus. This they felt was going to please their boss in more ways than one. They said their farewells. “We'll be on our way, don't wanna hold you up any longer.” Varg turned walking towards the beach.

“Good day to you both,” voiced Jason turning and following his brother, leaving Ben and Jay with a feeling of apprehension.

Dwellers of the New World Chapter Ten ( Pt 3 ) Lives of the Ocean People | ABCtales