The mate nodded. He twiddled a dial and punched at a switch. The screen glowed. After some seconds, the face of a red-haired person appeared, looking rather disgusted.
"New Texas, New Texas," came a voice. "I hear you, Beautiful Joe. What the hell do you want?"
"Dude aboard wants some info," said Possett. "Wants to know what Burgee did for a living—Alexander Burgee. Also, are the coppers still trying to find him?"
The face frowned. "Possett, you know damn well Burgee was a pirate. You know he's been listed as lost. Now quit wasting my time. New Texas out."
The face vanished. The mate snickered nastily. And Charles just stood there gaping.
"A real pirate!" squeaked Cousin Aurelia. "Wh-what would he do? Would he kill us?"
"Might do anything. But—" eying her, Possett leered—"he's like me. Likes 'em well fattened up. Lady, you needn't worry."
Cousin Aurelia paled. She started to sway. Then, perhaps recalling the uncarpeted deck, she recovered and looked haughty instead.
"I am going right back to my cabin," she proclaimed, and stalked off the bridge.
"Cousin Aurelia is very genteel," Betty snapped at the captain. "You had no right to insult her. Besides, she's only twenty pounds overweight."