Wolflock crawled out from under the table, covered in cobwebs and dust, staring at the sobbing Captain.
"Excuse me?" he asked softly.
The Captain jumped up, his eyes red from crying and his head as bald as a pearl.
"AHHH!!!!" he shouted and covered his head with his arm, "Don't look at me!!!"
Wolflock jumped back in shock and gawked.
"There's nothing wrong with you!" he gasped and knocked into the table.
"Nothing wrong!? Nothing WRONG!?" the hysterical Captain grasped at his head and came closer to Wolflock, "Can't you see it!? Aren't you blind!?"
"N-n-no, sir?" Wolflock was slightly confused at the Captain's manic behaviour.
"This is the Silver Ice Hair! The Ice Hair!" He growled and began pacing, his long coat billowing a little stiffly behind him.
"....And you're bald?"
"Nooooo!!!" he sobbed and threw himself on his desk, "Why did you go? Where did you go? Aujin!"
Wolflock's mind whirled for a moment as he processed everything, but eventually he tentatively approached the Captain and spoke ever so softly, "Who is Aujin?"
"M-m-my sn-sn-sn-snuffle!" the Captain sobbed and blew his nose loudly into a handkerchief in his sleeve.
The pieces fell beautifully into place and he understood what was wrong. A snuffle was an animal that lived in the Blickland forest and resembled a long thick ponytail with thin slit-like eyes and a soft mouth that could only crunch bugs. The Captain was bald, yet his ship was called the Silver Ice Hair, which lead Wolflock to the conclusion that the Captain used the snuffle (most likely a rare silver snuffle) as his hair and was his close companion. His ego was probably mightily wounded and he was too embarrassed to show his hairless face to his crew and passengers.
"When I get it back for you will you let me out on the deck whenever I please?"
"W-what?" he looked up in surprise.
"And a washing bowl and clean cloths in the morning."
"S-sure?"
"And I would like a blank note pad."
"Anything you like if you can get Aujin back to me."
Wolflock nodded and to avoid the first mate, he climbed down the grate under the table, leaving the captain bewildered.
He ran to Mothy's room, already figuring out how he'd find who was responsible for the missing snuffle. Only four people had gotten on between Plugh and Corl. Veluse the dramatic artist, Yifi the lovely lady, Tanni the widow and Tinni, her daughter. They were his suspects and he would systematically go through their history and motives for taking the Captain's snuffle. But first he would need some help.
He walked to up to Mothy, still asleep in his room and flicked his ear.
The response was phenomenal.
Mothy jumped, hit the wall, slipped off the bed and fell to the floor, grunted, coughed, farted and pulled all the beding off with him.
"Huh?" he looked up groggily, rubbing his head, "What was that for?"
"I need to know about some of the passengers! Quickly!" Wolflock said hastily and hoisted him to his feet.
"I need food first... and you've got a spider in your hair. What have you been doing?"
Wolflock explained himself as he put the spider on the deck and brushed himself down as they entered the dining hall to the sweet perfume of dates and porridge. The boys gratefully collected their bowls and Wolflock ate it so quickly it looked like he was inhaling it. Mothy went much more slowly and spoke between mouthfuls.
"Goodness! How ironic that the captain is bald," he said quietly, "So who did you want to know about?"
"Let's start with Tanni and her daughter," Wolflock whispered eagerly, leaning forward to Mothy and keeping his voice low.
"Hmmm..." he hummed with a mouthful of porridge, "She's going to Silver Lake to live with her parents. Her husband died on his brother's farm between Chaysaile and Wathers. They were really in love and wealth wasn't an issue, but now that he's dead his brother gets the whole estate. She got enough supplies to get home and the knowledge to set up a store, but she will have to work hard to raise a child and care for her aging parents. She'd been married for eight years, so I think she's nearly thirty. Tinni is four. She's a really happy child and I don't think she understands the whole thing with her father..."
Instantly Wolflock had developed theories for how they could be linked to the missing snuffle. Tanni could be wanting to use the rare silver snuffle to gain more wealth so that she could live comfortably and Tanni may be keeping it as a pet.
Wolflock barely let him have another mouthful before he began asking more questions.
"What about Veluse?"
"Oh him!" Mothy smiled and rolled his eyes, "He's fun. Very eccentric and he's been wanting to paint the deck and the Captain so that he can relax because that's how he's paying. He's travelling to the Silver Lake to paint that and the mountains and see what other things he can gain inspiration from."
Wolflock imagined him using the snuffle as inspiration while he was bored or using it to paint with.
"And Yifi?"
"She is very quiet and smart. Nice looking too. She's going to Mystentine to see one of her childhood friends. She's came from Shellinden but moved to Corl to get away from all her suitors and I think the same thing happened and she is travelling to find a life partner. Veluse has already painted a portrait of her."
Yifi would be likely to use the silver snuffle to disguise herself as a crone to keep away the onslaught of suitors.
Just as she was mentioned, Yifi came into the dining room looking around nervously and quickly made her way to get some of the bubbling porridge. Wolflock and Mothy watched her closely as she continued to glance around. Wolflock looked at Mothy's curious expression and saw that this was not normal behaviour for Yifi. Wolflock noted that her hair was dark, earthy and long, but it was bundled around her head in the Chaysaile fashion. Her apparel was a simple and plain dress that couldn't mask her beautiful curvatious figure. She had a soft rounded form that denoted wealth and fertility in most of Puinteyle.
The door was opened loudly and the first mate stormed through, glaring about. Wolflock had given him a glance and then realised that Yifi had hidden herself behind the table, pretending to have dropped her cutlery. Slavidus huffed and stormed back out before anyone could speak to him.
"What was that about?" Mothy asked as he finished the rest of his food.
"I do not fully know... But I will certainly find out. Now where did Yifi-"
They both looked at the door as it shut again and caught a brief flash of her dress as she fled from the dining room. Wolflock rose quickly and strode from the table, quickly followed by Mothy who wiped his mouth on his sleeve.
"So no breakfast for you then?" Mothy asked with his usual smile.
"Not hungry," Wolflock answered quickly with his mind set in stone.
Chapter 4, Yifi's Curse
They got through the door and saw Yifi dash down stairs to the rooms, but she quickly ran back out and jumped behind several barrels, looking desperately at the boys when she finally saw them and pressed her finger to her lips. They soon saw why as the first mate emerged looking severely displeased.
"Boys!" he snapped and looked flustered, "Have you seen Yifi?"
"No? Why?" Wolflock said with a completely honest face despite the lie it was shielding. Mothy was equally as straight faced as Slavidus answered.
"Uh... No particular reason. Just something that the Captain wanted. She took something... Official kind of business you understand," he stammered a little and his face flushed.
"Where haven't you looked?" Mothy asked helpfully.
"Unless she jumped over board then she would be in the hull, but none of the passengers are allowed down there and the only reason someone would go down there is to hide. Perhaps she snuck out on deck..." he mumbled a little absentmindedly and brushed passed them.
When he was out of earshot, Wolflock looked casually over the barrels.
"Oh thank you!" Yifi exclaimed exasperate
dly and stayed tucked behind the barrels.
"You'd be more welcome if you told us why he is after you? What official captain business is he talking about?" Wolflock pressed and looked around, making sure that it wasn't only the first mate who couldn't hear them.
"I... ah.... umm...." she twisted her hands nervously, "Well..."
"Out with it now," Wolflock said a little sternly, but gently.
Yifi seemed quite affronted by his manner. He knew that she was probably used to men doting on her, giving her every whim she desired, even though she didn't desire them. She was a spectacularly beautiful woman and she knew it. What was more, she clearly knew how to use that beauty to her advantage. Wolflock was completely unmoved by her physical appearance. In fact, Wolflock had never loved a man or woman purely based on their looks. It was such a superficial thing and he would only half consider it if he ever decided to breed. He hoped that his manner may shock Yifi into revealing what he wanted.
"Slavidus said you took something from the Captain," Mothy piped up as he leant back on the barrels, indulging the little bit of sun they were allowed to feel, "Is it true Yifi? You don't strike me as a theif."
"That's because I am not one!" Yifi snapped icily and looked very offended. "I took nothing from the Captain at all! I have not seen the Captain since I first boarded this ship. If he would come out he may finally stop Slavidus from his relentless pursuit of me!"
Wolflock and Mothy both stared at her in surprise, both at her outburst and statement.
"Ah! That's why you have been sneaking around!" Wolflock smiled as his thoughts became clearer.
"For your information I always sneak around. I do it because of this curse on my face. At birth I was cursed by my insane disfigured mother to make me so attractive that men and women cannot resist me! Most men and many women can't keep themselves from me, but I refuse to be passed around and have my heart trampled again. Yes I'm sneaking around, but I have good reason. I refuse to allow someone love me purely on my face. I need a real love of the heart and mind, not the body!" She finished very crossly.
"And you enjoy Veluse's company because he has a-"
"Veluse prefers male company in a romantic manner," Yifi nodded and crossed her arms, still a little coldly.
"How on earth did you know that Veluse preferred men!?" Mothy gawked at Wolflock, "He told me of all the women he's seen naked and-"
"Seen, Mothy. Seen."
"I don't follow..." he chuckled and sighed, putting his hand behind his head in embarrassment.
"He's a painter, an artist," Wolflock explained. "Women especially understand how beautiful their bodies are and so would he. And many women like to have themselves painted nude to preserve their physical beauty, but Veluse only sees them naked. He is quite professional, as I saw by his paintings in his room. They were on fine canvases and not a spot was out of place. He was also the only man of age that Yifi has been seen interracting with. Which would lead one to conclude that he does not fancy her and she would feel comfortable around him because he would not make any advances unto her."
"Brilliant!" Mothy grinned and shook his head in amazement.
"But that doesn't explain the original meaning of meeting Yifi," he said slowly, delicately dancing around talking about the Captain's hair.
Yifi and Mothy stayed silent while Wolflock was deep in thought. It was a type of meditation for Wolflock to think of all the possibilities around him, mapping out everything in his mind as he went through the ship, plank by plank thinking of where the Captain's snuffle was and who had taken it.
Yifi and Mothy walked him into the dining room without him noticing and had another bowl of porridge while he came to his conclusions.
"Tanni and Tinni..." he finally whispered to himself.
Suddenly his thoughts were penetrated by a loud cry and Tanni threw open the door looking frantic.
"Tinni!?"
Chapter 5, Hidden Hair
"Tinni!? Tinni are you in here!? This is NOT funny Tinni!" she cried out and startled the entire room. "Wolflock! Oh thank goodness! You know where Tinni is right?"
Wolflock shook his head and Tanni began to cry.
"Oh my Tinni! I can't bear the thought of losing you too!" she fell to her knees and hid her face in her hands.
"Tanni! It's ok," said Mothy, who knelt down and hugged her, "We'll find her. She can't have gotten off the ship."
"What if she fell overboard?!" Tanni sobbed harder.
"Doubtful..." Wolflock mumbled absentmindedly as he rose to his feet. "I know where she is. Wait here!"
"What?" Tanni looked up as Wolflock dashed from the room.
He ran down the stairs to the storage room with the hammocks and then down again into the hull, looking around with wide eyes in the dark space.
"Shh! They'll find us and I'll have to give you back!" he heard a whisper in the distance.
"Tinni?" He called out and climbed over some crates to find Tinni hiding and covering something behind her back. "What have you got there little miss?" he asked softly and knelt down to be at eye level with her.
"Nothing..." she lied and didn't look him in the eye.
"He isn't yours is he?" Wolflock asked to teach the child an essential lesson.
"No..." she sighed and her eyes whelled up.
"It's ok, Tinni. You won't get in trouble. But we need to give him back now aye?"
"Aye..."
"Can I see him?" he asked eagerly.
Tinni nodded and wiped her eyes, standing to the side and revealing a beautiful foot long snuffle that was shining and silky silver. Its eyes were hidden by the long hair and it made a little sniffling noise as it snaked towards them.
"It's ok, Aujin," Tinni beckon the creature forward to Wolflock, "He's a friend."
Wolflock was startled when he heard a whistling grunt from the snuffle that sounded like it had actually mimicked Tinni and said "friend".
"Want to see a secret?" he offered as compensation for the loss of her pet.
Tinni's eyes widened with excitement and she followed Wolflock to the second level and behind the stairs at the opposite end, where he pulled open the iron gate and they climbed into the small tunnel together. Tinni didn't need to crawl, she just ducked her head and the silver snuffle followed her eagerly. Wolflock pushed open the other iron grate and climbed out to find the Captain looking just as bewildered as when he'd left him. His eyes opened even wider when he helped a little girl out of the secret tunnel and he nearly fainted when he saw his snuffle emerge also.
"Aujin!!!" he cried and threw himself forward, grabbing the snuffle and hugging it close to his chest, spinning around and crying with joy. "Oh my baby! You've come back! You've come back! I thought I'd never see you again! Oh my joy!"
Tinni giggled at the Captain's antics and then he turned his affection unto Wolflock, embracing him in a tight bear-like hug.
"My boy! My boy! You've done it! You astounding wonderful lad!"
"Th-thanks," he coughed, winded by the burly embrace.
"And you little one! Did you look after my Aujin while he was away?" he asked kindly to Tinni, who nodded shyly.
"Yes Captain Blutro."
"Well I'm so glad he's home!" he grinned widely and put the snuffle on his head.
Right away the snuffle hugged his face, producing what looked like a thin beard and a long ponytail stemming from the apex of his head.
"Can I come and see him sometimes?" Tinni asked timidly, hanging onto Wolflock's trousers.
"After dinner you and Mr Wolflock can come and see me any time after tea! But right now I need to run a ship!" and he charged out of his room, flinging open his door and taking control of his vessel again.
Wolflock smiled at the changed man and looked down at Tinni.
"Now your mother is very worried about you, little miss. Let's go and let her know you haven't fallen overboard. But we need to keep this adventure as our little secret, aye?"
"Aye!" she nodded and sealed her lips as they str
ode out into what felt like a brand new ship.
Chapter 6, New Growth
Wolflock walked out with Tinni holding his hand and they both laughed secretly at how astonished the first mate looked and how he nearly looked like he'd burst into tears with joy. With the Captain's happiness spreading through the ship like wild fire, the whole vessel seemed illuminated with a silver glow. It only took them a few minutes to find Mothy and Tanni still in the dining room, but the moment Tanni saw her daughter she jumped forward and held her tightly to her chest.
"Oh my darling! My daughter! Thank you Wolflock! Thank you! Wherever was she?!" Tanni sobbed with joy as Tinni looked a little bewildered.
"Oh she was just playing hide and seek in the hull," he shrugged with a smile and caught Mothy's eye. "I think the Captain is allowing us on the deck now," he said looking at the door, obviously wanting to answer Mothy's questions outside of earshot.
"Really!?" Mothy grinned and walked along Wolflock.
They left the lovely dining room and entered the sunlight of the deck, taking in the smell and spray of the river and making their way to the front of the deck so that they could talk in private.
The Case of the Captain's Hair (The Wolflock Cases Book 1) Page 3
