Stowaway, Curse of the Red Pearl
By
Tracy Fobes
When John Cabot, the Captain of the West Indies Trading Ship Apollyon arrived in Boston after a trading voyage, Kit Cabot, John’s young nephew can’t wait to see him. Quickly, though, Kit’s enthusiasm turns to concern as it becomes clear that John is suffering from some unknown illness or influence that is quickly devouring him. So serious is John’s illness that a couple of the ship’s senior crew members talk Kit into stowing away on the Apolly on because they feel Kit is the only person John will listen too. The result is an opportunity for Kit to go sea thereby foiling his father’s plan to have him operate the family shipping business, but John’s rage and the rage of the entity possessing John is also kindled against Kit. What follows is a desperate tale of frustration and struggle for survival against unnatural forces of great strength. Actually, the ship’s name, Apollyon, is the perfect name for this particular ship. The author displayed great imagination in choosing it. I had not read anything by Tracy Fobes before. What I found was a story told simply, to the point and with unambiguous language. There is no doubting the action, the dangers, the mental processes and the building terror throughout the story. Ms Fobes is a master storyteller. In approximately one
hundred pages, Ms Fobes managed to lead me through a young man’s first experience as a sailor on
sailing ship, the horror of being isolated on that ship with a strange and unknown force and a debilitated Captain, through the realization that the unknown force is more powerful and more dangerous than believed possible and that fighting should be made a life work. I actually found myself spellbound; mesmerized by the story unfolding in front of me.
For those addicted to supernatural thrillers, or those want a little stronger kick in the pants, I
recommend “Stowaway, Curse of the Red Pearl”.
(5 stars) Clabe Polk
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