Free White Fangs by Tim Lebbon, Christopher Golden Page B

this . . ." He waved a hand behind him, indicating the ship and the river. "Then let yourselves go, you dogs. Close your eyes and smell the blood." He did as he said, making a great show of breathing in, his big chest expanding and a grin splitting his face. "It's good. But it's wrong. Something so wrong, and we're not here for this. Any of us. Am I right, Sabine?"
    Sabine looked away from him and did not answer.
    "Jack?" Ghost said. "Am I right?"
    "You're not wrong," Jack said. "But we're still our own crew, Ghost."
    "Aye," Ghost said. "But lucky for you, I'm always less than a step away, eh?" He pulled the Reverend to his feet, clapped him on the shoulder, turned him and pushed him toward the stairs. The Reverend climbed, looking both sheepish and furious.
    "Eh?" Ghost asked again. "Always less than a step away, Jack. Sabine. And soon you'll appreciate that. Now I'd say we need off this wreck. I've been — "
    "We don't need your advice," Louis said.
    "Well, Louis, I'm standing here talking to myself, then. Just musing upon my own options. If you don't want to hear, you'll need to close your ears or go elsewhere."
    I do want to hear , Jack thought. Because he's as strong as any two of these men, and more intelligent than all of them together . He glanced and Sabine and she looked almost peaceful, the fear and sadness gone and replaced with something calmer. She was looking to the north. Perhaps she was already off this boat mentally, Jack thought, and travelling toward the revelations Jack had promised her.
    "I've been down to the engine room, and it's flooded, the coal fires doused, paddle wheel shattered. And all around those lower decks . . . remains. A few dead people, but mostly just parts."
    "And you didn't partake?" Jack asked pointedly.
    "You're interested?" Ghost asked.
    Jack shook his head.
    "Whatever did this smashed holes in the hull big enough for five men to crawl through together," Ghost continued, his voice lower, face more serious. "Claw marks down there, and teeth. The strength to do that . . . . And the boat's grounded, sinking slowly into the river bed. Not going anywhere, probably ever again."
    "You saw what did this?" Louis asked.
    "Maybe I did, maybe I didn't," Ghost said.
    Another game that the old Ghost would never have played. "We're leaving," Jack whispered, hoping Ghost would not hear from the base of the steps. "We knew that before this, and I've heard nothing to change my mind."
    "Oh, I'm leaving too," Ghost said, as easily as if Jack had addressed him. "Just as soon as I've found something to eat." He turned and walked away, chuckling to himself, and it was only as he had his back turned that Sabine watched him go.
    "You know we can't trust him," she said quietly. "You all still agree?"
    "Oui," Louis said, as if it was a foolish question. The others nodded. The Reverend touched his chest and bowed his head, a silent apology that was accepted by all.
    "Good," Sabine. "Because he's a monster looking for acceptance. And I think that makes him more dangerous than he ever was before."
     
     
    The steamer had been driven aground with its stern closest to shore. There was no sign of Ghost as Jack and the others made their way there, but it was at the stern that they discovered some of the other survivors, arguing about what to do, milling aimlessly, and trying to overcome their fear with aggression and defiance.
    The boat's captain was drunk, sitting on a pallet of belongings that had been dragged up on deck and grinning inanely at the proceedings. A mostly-empty whiskey bottle hung from his right hand.
    "We should throw him overboard," Jack said, disgusted.
    "One way of finding out whether anything's still waiting for us, mon ami," Louis said, and Jack knew he was only half-joking.
    "You!" someone said. A short woman came forward, and by her manner Jack could see that she was used to being in charge. She wore her hair in a bun, trail clothes that had seen adventures for sure — loose trousers