Chapter 1

Alexander’s carriage drew up on a cobblestone street lined with double-story apartments where many of England’s elite and powerful resided.  As the carriage came to a full stop, Alexander stepped out and turned to speak to the driver.

My land adventures are making you a wealthy man, and richer you will be from a handsome tip if you wait for me.”  The driver nodded his head in agreement.

Alexander looked around, then climbed up the front steps, rang the doorbell and ran his eyes over the flowers and foliage that decorated the front landscape.  Partially lost in thought, he became startled when the butler opened the door.  Alexander wasted no time in introducing himself; then without delay, he was admitted and shown to a room where he waited for the master of the house, Sir Donald Dover. As Alexander sat down in a leather chair, his eyes scanned the room, looking at the pictures on the walls and various trophies that decorated the mantelpiece.  Just at that moment, his parliamentarian friend entered the parlor.  As Sir Donald’s eyes caught sight of him, he blurted out…

“You ol’ sea dog!  What brings you to my humble home?”

Alexander rose and stood there with a cock to his stance giving his long-time acquaintance a smirk. “You certainly did nicely for yourself.”

Well it’s like this,” Sir Donald said.  “After you rescued me and my associates from the sea, I came here to give a little back to life, for the life in me that was spared.  I ran for a seat in Parliament, and as wonders would have it, I won it.” He glimpsed at Alexander with meaning then remarked “…and the rest has been pure hell.”

“If hell looks and feels like this,” Alexander commented regarding the opulence, “everyone might want to come here.”

“Believe me,” Sir Donald stated, “what you see, and what is, are two different things. This luxury is more for the sake of others than for me.  My  quarters, where I spend most of my time, are sparse… perhaps even bleak – no – I’m  afraid this is for the impression of it all – it’s not really me.” He then looked at Alexander strangely.  “I have the sense you didn’t come here just to see me.”

“You read my looks well – although it is good to see you…”

“Well,”  Sir Donald asked as he took a seat, “what’s your problem?”

Alexander retook his seat.  His eyes roamed the room a bit, then staring off, he accounted, “God  has put me on the waves of the sea to follow the currents of the ocean.”  He paused as his thoughts traveled off some.  “Well Mate,” he remarked as he regained his presence of mind, “the years make us all older and nothing makes us feel this more than children.”

“Children?”  Sir Donald remarked with a slight sense of wonder as to what Alexander was referring.

“Grandchildren actually, my grandson attends the boy’s school uptown.”

“Oh, yes I know the place… quite a prestigious school.”