The making of a sailor 1/10

Fern Marigold Knott, apprentice boat builder at the goblin boatyard, reached the end of the deck seam she was caulking and straightened her back with relief. She found all the work at the Yard fascinating and was ever so proud that Norman had allowed her to re-caulk the deck of one of the Davy Jones' coastal sailing ships that had come in for a refit.

He'd watched her for a moment to make sure she wasn't driving the oakum in too tightly, which would force the deck planks apart and then left, with a nod and a smile, to go and supervise another job.

Although Fern enjoyed the work, it was very tiring as she knelt on the deck tapping away busily, so she was always pleased to straighten up and have a breather at the end of each seam. The weather was fine and sunny with a light southerly breeze and as she stretched her aching muscles she looked with pleasure round the boatyard at all the busy goblins working on a variety of boats. Then she turned her head and looked out to sea.

Sailing into the estuary, and obviously heading for the creek leading to the boatyard, was a beautiful topsail schooner flying the Davy Jones house flag. She was painted black with a golden stripe along the waterline and was showing a hint of red anti-fouling as she heeled slightly under full sail.

Fern called to Norman who was with some fitters in the galley of the boat she was working on. He put his head out of the galley with a smile on his face. He was used to Fern’s enthusiasm for sailing craft and encouraged her by showing an interest whenever he could. This time however he took one look at the incoming schooner, came right up on deck, ran to the ship’s bell and rang it loudly and continuously until everyone had stopped work to look at him.

“Black Cat coming in, action stations everyone,” he called and while Fern stared in bewilderment, the goblins started to rush round the yard obviously working to a pre-arranged plan.