Incident off Land's End

“Mr. Amberley,” the Captain continued, raising his gaze from the floor and staring into nothingness, “I have to inform you that this ship is presently in the control of pirates.”

The Chief Purser took an instinctive step forward, felt immediately the pressure of a gun in his back, and was aware that a third man, the one who had locked the door, was still behind him.