Erwin Carlton Turner
Rachini heng Syam, Chao Phraya | | Alive | | With: Roi tho Decha @Doctor Jax
At the mention of Englishman, Erwin felt his throat tighten and he took a step forward. Hiding behind the crew members was not very manly, and he clutched his notes in one hand while his other one wiped his forehead and temple with an already damp handkerchief. In truth the navigator knew nothing about the Siam politics and how strict they were with Europeans, or that there were some things to plunder deep in the jungle.
"Yes, good sir, that would be me." He stuffed the handkerchief in his pocket and held out his hand to the man who'd introduced himself as Decha. "I'm Erwin Turner."
Decha looked down at the hand offered to him, and for a moment, he seemed to contemplate passing up on the gesture, but after a bit of thought, he took the hand before him. Decha's surprisingly cool, soft hand met Erwin's.
"Decha. I am with the Royal Military. You have soft hands - obviously not a common dock hand. What are you to the expedition?" he asked.
A flash of surprise crossed Erwin's eyes; he had not expected a military man to have hands as soft as his. He knew it was a dead giveaway about the way he lived his life, and for a moment he wondered if Decha had a rare fortunate life here in Siam.
After shaking it with unflinching confidence, the navigator took his hand back and stood straight, eyes staring right into the other man's. "I am but a scholarly head, not much of a common dock hand. I'm the navigator of this expedition, I calculate and estimate our course of direction with the stars. Perhaps a bit overwhelming for those who are unfamiliar with mathematics and astronomy, so I suppose this is why Mr. Greene was in need of someone like me." The statement was true - Erwin was positive that was the only reason he was here, and not for anything nefarious their financier had failed to mention.
Decha, however, did not deign to let his thoughts be known on the matter. His eyes revealed nothing more than their inky color, his mouth set in a slight frown.
"As navigator, you know your destination, then," Decha said.
Erwin gave half a nod, half a shrug. "Not really, to be perfectly honest. I read the star charts, not the landmarks. I simply tell those who know the land which direction we are headed. North, south, all that sort of stuff. I've been studying this hemisphere's star charts, you understand, as they are not quite the same as in England."
Decha's eyes seemed to glimmer slightly under the hot, afternoon sun at this mention. There was a strange sort of interest in his gaze.
"Is that so. So are you aware of what it is you are looking for exactly? Or is that a mystery to you as well? Do you know where exactly you are headed, in which direction?" Decha asked quietly, his voice lowered deliberately. "Because from my previous talks with those aboard this vessel, no one is quite sure what it is you are all after... only that it will cost much ngun -- money."
Decha rubbed his fingers together in the universal sign for currency, head slightly dipped in confidentiality.
The Englishman screwed his mouth and shrugged, his expression betraying the fact that he indeed did not know anything about this expedition. He kept his eyes fixed into Decha's and lowered his voice so it wouldn't carry over. "If I may, sir, I do not think anyone here is quite interested in where we are going. Even the women, they are here for the money. Pretty coins blind even the most scrupulous of men."
The navigator cleared his throat and forced a polite but tight smile on his face. "I do not have my directions just yet, I believe Mr. Greene will be giving those out in the next few days."
Decha was quiet, eyes still resting upon the foreigner's face, though he did briefly look the man up and down as if appraising how much honesty he contained.
"Shrewd observation," Decha admitted. "And it seems that no one is quite sure what this entire expedition is about necessarily. Cannot to get a single word of what you all hope to find."
The moment of almost broken English betrayed Decha's frustration.
"But as to be expected when you are looking for something....exceedingly valuable. And perhaps dangerous."
"I believe you are correct, sir. It is quite as expected, and I highly doubt anyone knows more about this expedition. We have all been hired for specific jobs, from personal protection to someone who hopefully not poison us with food." The Englishman shrugged and pulled his handkerchief out to wipe some sweat off his forehead. Standing out in the sun like this with barely any wind to cool off wasn't his idea of enjoyment, and the note of impatience in his last few words betrayed that as well.
Decha paused as he looked off the boat for a moment, his mind lost in thought as he considered something.
"You... are right, Khun Turner. I fear that you will learn quickly what it is you are searching for, though considering what kind of man you are - I am not so sure you are ready to face such things," Decha stated cryptically.
The handkerchief fell to the ground as Erwin stared in confusion at Decha. "Pardon?" He quickly bent over to pick up the piece of fabric from the floor.
Within a few seconds, the gentleman had reigned in the storm of emotions on his face and he chuckled as he placed his handkerchief back in his pocket. "I trust we will be here for quite an adventure then."
"An adventure..." Decha muttered in echo, watching Erwin pick up the handkerchief he had dropped in his fit of perplexity. The man seemed pensive, though his face remained blank as ever. "...perhaps. I merely warn you that..."
And here, Decha paused, as he thought of what it was that he should say. He seemed to be fighting with the words he wanted to speak.
Eventually one side won out, and he said, "...should you be caught with your compatriots at any sites of historical significance with other things in hand, it is likely you shall also be reprimanded."
"Of course. Thank you for your... Word of caution." The navigator's smile was still tight and his eyes revealed nothing (perhaps because he indeed knew nothing of such an ominous nature). "Was my assistance still required? There are some star charts that are begging for my attention and I wish to make use of the sunlight as much as possible..."
Decha shook his head shortly, waving blithely that the man could take his leave now. The short Asian investigator stood at parade rest, looking as if he had quite a bit on his mind as he digested the information he'd been given by all aboard.
With a polite nod and very light bow, Erwin took his leave and quickly headed back down to his room. If he'd meet any of the company on his way, he would let them know about the Decha's questions. He wasn't entirely sure why, but he had a bad feeling about this. Flickers of the dream that had obsessed him for the past three days flashed in his mind and he held onto them for dear life, using them as anchors as proof that the Mighty Lord had greater plans for him than to die in the middle of the jungle.
