Four Bells: A Tale of the Caribbean

In the wake of the Great War, America's once‑glorious merchant fleet lies rusting at its moorings, its crews restless and the seas filled with uncertainty. Richard Cary, a twenty‑five‑year‑old chief officer, embodies the old‑school naval virtues of order and steadiness, a product of New England’s rugged lineage. He commands a massive ten‑thousand‑ton steamer with a calm authority that keeps mutinous crews in line, even as the industry sputters under post‑war deflation. Yet his disciplined world feels increasingly out of step with the noisy, restless sailors who chant Bolshevik slogans and demand better treatment.

When his vessel is left idle, Cary is forced to confront a lack of cargo and a crew yearning for change. He begins to look beyond the familiar Atlantic routes, drawn by rumors of opportunity in the Caribbean’s bustling ports. The prospect of new voyages tests his steadfast principles against a sea of shifting loyalties and hidden dangers. Listeners will be swept into a tale of duty, ambition, and the restless spirit of a world adjusting to peace.