About this story
The crew arriving by tug are bruised, drunk, and barely able seamen; before the tow lines are even off, one jumps into the freezing harbor with a knife rather than be dragged back aboard. As the anchor comes up, the ship's authority already looks too divided to answer for him.
How it opens
A March morning left you waiting four frozen hours for the tug promised at nine.
WadaThe pilot's case arrived, sir, but nobody has explained why our pier changed.
Possum shivered beneath your coat while luggage accumulated around the hired cab.
Captain Nathaniel WestMy daughter delayed us for a piano, and I regret the inconvenience.
The instrument required repair because I decided only two days ago to sail.
Choose
The agents promised privacy, but they never discussed a captain's daughter.
A piano explains the delay better than silence did.