Huge Ajax's Arc

Chapter 370 of 619

Tucker came into the bar with the captain behind him. Ajax knew the man by his stride before Tucker spoke his name. Marcus Tidewater carried himself like a man who had walked off worse docks than this one. He wore an open vest, a silver chain, and a mustache gone grey at the edges. He looked at the bar, the chains on Tucker's chest, and the empty room, and he read all of it in one pass. "Master Tidewater," Tucker said. "Steady hands. The one I told you about." He set two cups down and poured. "Sit. Drink. The man who owns this place wants to talk." Marcus sat. He drank. He said nothing. Marco stood at the end of the bar with his arms folded. He wore his blue shirt open at the collar and his gold chain, and he watched the captain the way a man watches a coin he is about to bite. Ajax had brought him for one job. Read the captain before the captain touched the ship. Ajax took the stool across from Marcus. "I have a hull at the port," he said. "Finished. I need it sailed here, then north. Eight days up the coast and back." "North to the merchant city," Marcus said. Flat. "Tucker said furs." "He talks too much," Ajax said. "He talks the right amount." Marcus turned his cup. "I owe money at three ports. You want my silence. I want my debt gone." Ajax looked at Marco. Marco gave one small nod. Truth. "You'll swear a silence oath," Ajax said. "A silver chain. You never name this place. In return I clear your three debts and you sail my ship north." Marcus looked at the chain on Tucker's chest. Then at Ajax. Marcus put out his hand. "Then you've got a captain." Ajax took it. Marco lowered his arm and stepped back from the bar. The captain was read, and he held.