Tintin: The Sinner of Satchsweet III

Chapter Three: Let Me Tell You


That night, in the most comfortable place on earth, a huge mansion named Marlinspike Hall, Haddock sat in an armchair, staring at the two detectives. The three of them were drinking their drinks. Or in Haddock's case, he was enjoying his alcohol, while the two men were drinking their teas politely.

"I wonder what hits Tintin's head. He seems too quiet today."

"To be precise, I hit Tintin's quiet wonder." Thompson said.

"You two have any idea?" Haddock, as usual, ignored the weird detective. "Do you have any idea, Thomson?"

Thomson shrugged, very out of character of his. "Maybe you have to speak to him personally. He didn't want to speak to us. However, Snowy found cocaine in a paper, a childlike drawing it seemed, but Tintin refused to give it as one of the evidence."

"Cocaine?!" Haddock rose from his seat, alcohol he had consumed made him a bit lightheaded. "I should talk to him right now."

"Then we'll leave, Captain. Thanks for the teas." Thomson stood up, followed by the other man.

"Good luck with Tintin," Thompson said before both of them left the living room. Haddock didn't wait for them to left the mansion. He hurriedly walked upstairs, toward Tintin's room. The hallway was silent, and so did the room. He knocked softly.

"Come in."

Haddock made himself welcome and walked into the room. Tintin was sitting on his bed, head hung and face thoughtful. He was wearing his pyjamas and the lights were off, but Haddock could see his face below the moonlight. Being friends with Tintin in such a long time made him know that the lad well enough.

"Ahoy, landlubber!"

Tintin lifted his head and smiled slightly. "Hello, Captain. Come, take a seat."

Haddock obliged and sat on the edge of Tintin's bed. He told the young man about his conversation with the detectives. "Tintin, are you hiding something from me?"

Tintin stared at him. He knew that he couldn't hide anything from his best friend, so he showed him the paper. He had smoothed the drawing so he could see it better. "I think... Captain, I found my childhood house."

Snowy recognized the child in the picture, and gently nudged his master with sympathy. Haddock stared at the picture, his mouth slowly hanging open in surprise. A while later, Haddock shoved the paper back to its owner, confusion deep in his eyes. He seemed… stunned.

"Captain? Are you there?" Tintin asked, beginning to worry over the sea captain.

"Why did you leave the house then? Was there something happened?" Haddock asked back, his voice small with confusion and wonder.

"I don't know. I have no idea. My oldest memory was when I was seven or so, in an orphanage with other boys." Tintin hung his head. He didn't like his memories in the orphanage; he didn't like it at all.

"You never come back to your house then?"

Tintin shook his head. "No, not as far as I can remember. Nobody ever told me about that house. I just found out today, when…"

"Those detectives told you." Haddock continued.

"Yes. And that's what makes me sad."

"What is?"

"Rasta..." he suddenly exploded. "Rastapopulous used it as a drug house, Captain!"

Haddock gaped for a second, before he jumped out of the bed. "Billions of blue blistering barnacles! Now we have to stop it!" Tintin snapped his head back in surprise of Haddock's antics, plus he had to hold Snowy before the dog fell off the bed.

"Er, Captain? It's almost midnight."

Haddock stared out the window and snorted. "Tomorrow then, lad. I do want to see what that huge-nosed criminal had done to your house." He patted Tintin's back. "Sleep tight, Tintin. Good night."

"Good night for you too, Captain." Tintin replied. He watched as the captain rushed out his bedroom. He laughed softly and stroked Snowy's soft fur. "I wonder what other novelty I'd find today. First my house and now a sober-but-excited Captain for an adventure." He sighed and stared out the window.

What Haddock didn't know was the fact that Tintin could see his childhood house from his bedroom and living room of Marlinspike. Tintin chuckled lightly as he muttered, "Let's go, Captain."