31 Shots of Shock: #29 – ‘The Upper Berth’ by F. Marion Crawford

*Title: The Upper Berth by F. Marion Crawford
Date Read: 29 October 2009
Available Online?: YES (Note – this page contains two stories. It’s only the first one that’s The Upper Berth)
Briefly: With a ‘meeting’ having reached its stale and uneventful twilight, Brisbane decides to liven up proceedings by recounting the tale of his passage across the Atlantic in room 105, aboard the Kamtschatka.
Afterthoughts: I’m rather pleased with myself for choosing this tale as one of my Shots of Shock, because it certainly had me looking over my shoulder and shivering a couple of times. It really shouldn’t have done that because this is after all a tale set aboard a boat. But Crawford’s spectral description is pretty intense and not a little unsettling. Another tale I dare you to read on your own, in the dark, last thing at night.
Notable Quote: “If you please, sir,” faltered Robert, “there’s nobody on board as can keep this ‘ere port shut at night. You can try it yourself, sir. I ain’t a-going to stop hany longer on board o’ this vessel, sir; I ain’t, indeed. But if I was you, sir, I’d just clear out and go and sleep with the surgeon, or something, I would. Look ‘ere, sir, is that fastened what you may call securely, or not, sir? Try it, sir, see if it will move a hinch.”

Rating:

*Story read as part of my 31 Shots of Shock reading challenge.

Similar posts

• 31 Shots of Shock: #28 – ‘An account of some strange disturbances in Aungier Street’ by J. S. Le Fanu
• 31 Shots of Shock: #27 – ‘Midnight Express’ by Alfred Noyes
• 31 Shots of Shock: #26 – ‘The Old Nurse’s Story’ by Elizabeth Gaskell
• 31 Shots of Shock: #25 – ‘Closing Time’ by Neil Gaiman
• 31 Shots of Shock: #24 – ‘A Terribly Strange Bed’ by Wilkie Collins