Hello and welcome back once again to Wing Falls, a serialized novel written exclusively for Steemit!

Today we return to our hero Nikolas Constanidas as he faces off an adversary from his past - the enigmatic Captain Sigursson. Will Nik succumb to his fury, or will cooler heads prevail? Read on to discover more!

Looking for the last chapter? Click here. Want to start the story from the beginning? Find Chapter One here!

WING FALLS

CHAPTER 4

Source

“You son of a bitch.” I balled my fists. Was this some sort of cosmic joke? Was the only captain willing to take me back on the same one that got me cashiered? “If you think I’m shipping out with a malákas like you-“

“That’s ‘skipper,’ Constanidas.” Sigursson jammed the Sou’wester back down onto his thick, fireplug head. “You better face it now – only way you’re getting back in the skies is on my deck. Trust me, you weren’t my first choice, either.”

“I don’t care if I was your last choice, you rotten bastard.” Robbie grabbed my shoulder. I leaned against his grip. “You better turn your ass around right now and walk back into that storm, there’s no way I’m getting on any ship you’re skippering. I’d rather put out a coal fire with my face.”

Robbie finally pulled me back. I hadn’t realized I had been advancing on Sigursson in my anger; even with the age difference in my favor, the guy still had half a foot and about 50 pounds of muscle on me. Vibrating with rage at that moment, I was ready to break like the storm against the cliffs outside, even if it meant me coming out the wrong end of it all.

Robbie had pushed himself between us and gave me a hard stare. “Nik, buddy, look, this is the only way you’re getting off this cliff. Not only that, but it’s bigger than you.” His brown eyes were pleading. “If we don’t get some more custom coming through here, Wing Falls is gonna wither and die. It’s something Sigursson already knows, considering how he tapped you as his pilot, right?” He turned to look at the cargo captain, who gave him a begrudging nod. “This is too important than whatever history the both of you have. If he’s willing to take you on, Sigursson sees that. Why can’t you?”

I pulled away from Robbie’s grip, still furious. “You don’t understand, dammit! This is- I mean- Gah. Dammit.” I shook my head violently. “Don't you care about what he did to me? Why are you so goddamn concerned, anyway? It's not like you had come rushing to my aid when-”

“Nik, enough, really! At this point, what does it matter what happened? Is taking sides and pointing fingers going to get us out of this goddamn mess?” Robbie swept an arm around the empty warehouse. “You see any other ships docked? Anyone loading or unloading cargo? This place isn’t dead because of the storm today, Nik – it’s dead every damn day. Your thick-headed vengeful bullshit is not helping.” He buried a finger in my chest and poked me for emphasis. “I don’t care what you and Sigurssun have in your past, but if you don’t at least call a truce you really will be the one that’s ultimately responsible for wiping Wing Falls off the map. Are you ready to live with that?”

I slapped his hand away. “Dammit, Robbie!” Throwing my hands up, I turned and walked deeper into the warehouse to catch my breath. I couldn’t believe what was happening. Was this the only way to get back in the skies? Cadlington must have known about the history between me and Sigursson - there’s no way that he couldn’t have – so why tap him to skipper this ship?

Dropping my hands to my hips, I looked over my shoulder. Robbie and Sigursson were talking. The inventory manager’s energetic, agitated gesticulations were contrasted by Sigursson’s laconic nature and the economy of motion I remembered so well.

I turned back in a huff. Worst part about this is that Robbie was probably right, the bastard. The CA took a big risk on this plan, even with Cadlington underwriting the whole thing. If we can’t prove that it’s still cost-effective to make cargo runs through Wing Falls, the CA will reroute permanently – and this place will dry up faster than a drunk in a jail cell. The thought of that happening if I didn't go along with this made my stomach churn. I had to face it - I had no choice.

“Oh, dammit. Fine!” I turned around, striding back towards Sigursson and Robbie. “Fine, I’ll crew up with you, Sigursson. I’ll be professional, keep my opinions to myself while we’re aboard. But I’m not doing it for you. Or for you, Robbie.” The manager’s face, which had swollen with emotion as I’d announced I’d go along with the plan, deflated quickly. “I’m doing this because it’s the best way to help Wing Falls… and the best way to get back into the sky.” Overhead, the storm reached a crescendo, lightning crashes punctuating my words.

“See?” Robbie said, turning to Sigursson. “I knew he would come around. I knew you’d come around,” he added, looking back at me. I rolled my eyes at him.

“Fine,” Sigursson said gruffly. “For what it’s worth, Constanidas, you weren’t my first choice – you were my only choice. You’re the only pilot desperate enough to sign on to Cadlington’s lunatic longshot.” He turned to step out into the storm. “Berth Seven. We shove off at 0530 tomorrow.”

I nodded, biting back a retort. Another lightning flash split the sky, but it the storm was already moving on, down into the deeper valleys. “I’ll report for duty when the storm finishes blowing itself out.” I paused. “Captain.”

Sigursson stopped for a beat and nodded. Then he ducked out into the storm, disappearing into the murk.

Robbie turned to me, beaming. “Shut the fuck up,” I said. He did.