By the time Olu started predicting a new storm was coming we had covered a bit more than half the distance to the island we were heading for. But there were several islands marked in red just when the storm might be at it's height and a friendly island was just two days away. Captain Jar decided to put into port and wait out the storm, hoping it would be short, though Olu said it was stronger than the previous one. He didn't want to be in any trouble when sailing past the bad islands.

We sailed into port in late afternoon just as the clouds were beginning to thicken. Captain Jar had been to this port many times and we were all welcomed, though the people wondered that we were sailing so late in the year. We had a story ready of course that included a legitimate cargo for a merchant on the island, that would have been delivered in the spring under normal circumstances. The story was accepted without question.

When the captain returned from dealing with the harbormaster, everyone thought that a general leave ashore would be granted, except for a watch. However, he gathered the whole crew and us together and told us that, though all seemed well, he caught the whiff of something strange - something he couldn't quite put his finger on. He felt it would be better if everyone except the two wizards would stay on board tonight and take leave in the morning. The two wizards, he suggested, should go into town, in disguise, invisible, or any way they thought best, and see if his feeling meant danger or if all was safe.

The crew was understandably disappointed but they were trusting in their captain and there was no angry grumbling. The captain also felt it was prudent to double the watches.

Since it was strange enough for a ship newly into port to not grant leave, Malcolm and Tintinel decided it would be even stranger if two passengers left the ship, therefore they would go invisible and try to find out if anything was amiss.

They were back after about three hours and we all gathered for their report.

"You are right, captian Jar, about the feel." Malcolm began, "There is a slight furtiveness apparent, as though people have developed a bit of distrust of each other after lifetimes of trust."

Tintinel added, "We saw men in black robes and hoods here and there who had an vague aura of evil about them, though not the same as an evil sorcerer would have - I've not encountered the like before. Have you seen men like that in this port in the past, captain?"

"No, I haven't - nor anywhere else."

"The people seem nervous when these men are nearby. We think there is a new religion being spread and the people don't like it but don't know what to do about it - they seem to fear what may happen if they oppose it. One man told us that these men never speak or have contact with the townspeople; they just hang around."

"However," Malcolm continued, "I think we can allow shore leave in the morning as an experiment. I don't think these men have much power yet, just a feeling of menace. No one should go anywhere alone and no one should be off the ship after dark except Tintinel and me. Perhaps tomorrow someone among us or the crew can run across more information."

"We'll do that." Said captain Jar, "I'll let it be known that we don't want our sailors to be carousing at night and I'll tell them to keep their eyes and ears open about these men and things in general. My crew is of much higher class than the average crew and I think we'll have no trouble if they stay in groups of two or more. We'll certainly continue the double watch while we're here."

"And Tintinel and I will take watches through the night as well." Malcolm added.

Tintinel told the captain, "Warn all those who are going ashore not to ask any questions about these men - that is unless there are any in the crew who are well acquainted with someone here and trust them highly - then they can carefully wonder aloud to their friends. Malcolm and I will do the serious probing. After supper, we'll put on our best invisibility and follow one of them to see what they're up to. Assuming, of course, that we can find one then."

The captain told the crew that leave would be granted all hands, except a watch chosen by lot, beginning at 10:00 AM and ending 5:00 PM, depending on the report Malcolm and Tintinel would provide at 9:00 AM.

Very early next morning we gathered in the captain's salon at the urgent call of Malcolm and Tintinel. Malcolm told us, "This isn't a new religion. But the people of this island have good reason to be troubled - if they knew what these black-robed figures intend they'd have good reason to be terrified. I'm afraid we're going to have to deal with this situation immediately. First, we can't just leave these people to their fate. Second, we can't allow this situation to spread to other islands or the mainlands - we must hope we can find the source and hope that it hasn't spread or taken root too deeply anywhere else. We have no time to loose, this is far more urgent than the threat from Bolgar."

Read Part Twenty-Three 

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