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Chelsea Handler Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang (epub
Brit Brinson [Dia of the Dead Dia of the Dead (epub)
Cody Goodfellow [Radiant Dawn Radiant Dawn (epub)
Cate Tiernan [Immortal Belove Immortal Beloved (epub)
C J Busby [Deep Amber 01] Deep Amber (retail) (epub)
Carl Ashmore [Time Hunters 01 The Time Hunters (epub)
Drew Hayes [Super Powereds 02 Super Powereds Year 2 (epub) i
Beth Harbison [Shoe Addict 02 Secrets of a Shoe Addict (epub)
Cara Lynn Shultz [Dark World The Dark World (retail) (epub)
Czarne okrety (7) Joe Alex

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.”“It’s not an ailment that brought him down, Caleb.There was an accident at one of his mills.A loom fell over and crushed his ribs.”Caleb’s old man’s face lost its last faint traces of color.“When can I see him?” he asked.“We must go now,” Strater replied.“His time is short.”Caleb rose from his chair.“I’ll get my coat and hat.”THE ROAD TO THE Dobbs mansion wound around New Bedford Harbor and climbed to County Street.Carriages lined the driveway and street in front of the Greek Revival mansion.Nathan Dobbs greeted Strater and Caleb at the door and thanked them profusely for coming.He was tall and lanky, the younger image of his father.“I’m sorry to hear about your father,” Caleb said.“How is Captain Dobbs?”“Not long for this world, I’m afraid.I’ll take you to him.”The mansion’s spacious parlor and adjoining hallways overflowed with the captain’s ten children and countless grandchildren.There was a murmur as Nathan Dobbs entered the parlor with Strater and the strange hooded figure.Nathan asked Strater to make himself comfortable and escorted Caleb to the captain’s room.Captain Dobbs lay in his bed, tended by his wife and family doctor.They had wanted to keep the sickroom dark, as was the medical practice then, but he insisted that the curtains be opened to let in sunlight.A shaft of honeyed autumn sunlight fell on the captain’s craggy face.Although his leonine mane had gone silver-gray, his features were more youthful than would have been expected for a man in his sixties.But his eyes had a far-off look, as if he could see death creeping closer.The captain’s wife and doctor withdrew, and Nathan lingered by the door.Dobbs saw Caleb and managed to crack a smile.“Thank you for coming, Caleb,” the captain said.The voice that once boomed across a ship’s decks was a hoarse whisper.Caleb pushed the hood back from his face.“You told me never to question the captain’s orders.”“Aye,” Dobbs wheezed.“And I’ll give you more good advice, green hand.Don’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong.Tried to fix a balky loom.Didn’t move fast enough when it keeled over.”“I’m sorry for your misfortune, Captain.”“Don’t be.I have a faithful wife, handsome children, and grandchildren who will carry on my name.”“I wish I could say the same,” Caleb said in a wounded voice.“You’ve done well, Caleb.I know all about your generosity.”“Generosity is easy when there’s no one to share your fortune with.”“You have shared it with your neighbors.And I have heard of your wonderful library of books on the old trade.”“I don’t smoke or drink.Books are my only vice.Whaling gave me the life I have.I collect every volume I can on the old trade.”The captain closed his eyes and seemed to drift away, but after a moment his eyelids fluttered open.“I have something I want to share with you.”The captain’s son stepped forward and presented Caleb with a mahogany box.Caleb opened the lid.Inside the box was a book.Caleb recognized the worn blue binding.“The log of the Princess, Captain?”“Aye, and it’s yours,” the captain said.“For your great library.”Caleb drew back.“I can’t take this from you, sir.”“You’ll do as your captain says,” Dobbs growled.“My family agrees that you should have it.Isn’t that right, Nathan?”The captain’s son nodded.“It’s the family’s wish as well, Mr.Nye.We can think of no person more worthy.”Unexpectedly, the captain raised his hand and placed it on the log.“A strange business,” he said.“Something happened on that island of wild men.To this day, I don’t know if it was God’s work or the Devil’s.”The captain closed his eyes.His breathing became labored, and a rattling sound came from his throat.He called his wife’s name.Nathan gently took Caleb’s arm and escorted him from the room.He thanked him again for coming, and then told his mother that the captain’s time had come.The loyal family streamed into the bedroom and adjacent hallway, leaving Strater and Caleb alone in the parlor.“Gone?” Strater said.“Not yet but soon.” Caleb showed Strater the logbook.“I’d prefer some of the Dobbs fortune,” Strater snorted.“This is a treasure to me,” Caleb said.“Besides, you have more money than you could spend in a lifetime, my friend.”“Then I’ll have to live longer,” Strater said with a glance toward the bedroom.They left the house and climbed into Strater’s carriage [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]