Sea urchins

A lively turn‑of‑the‑century tableau unfolds as dockside hustlers, cheeky boys, and weather‑worn sailors clash over cheap fares and stolen chests. In the opening tale, a fourteen‑year‑old drifts through the clamor of Wapping’s stairs, bargaining with a hulking porter and a sardonic waterman while a dubious skipper promises a taste of pirate life. The dialogue crackles with period slang, and the cramped alleys pulse with the restless energy of those eking out a living on the Thames.

Beyond the first encounter, the collection weaves together similarly vivid sketches—ranging from a rash experiment gone awry to a mysterious cabin passenger with hidden motives. Each story offers a snapshot of gritty urban life, laced with humor, suspicion, and the occasional hint of danger. Listeners will be drawn into a world where ordinary tradesmen become unlikely heroes and the line between lawful work and roguish adventure is constantly shifting.