CHAPTER TWO

The storm goes on. For two days, now, the winds have not stopped shrieking and the waves have not stopped crashing. I spend most of my time with Ravi, telling him stories and snapping at him whenever he mentions "happy puppy". Sometimes, though, in the nights, I find myself thinking "feisty pony" or "slinky kitty" might not be such bad things…stop that, you. Everything is going to be all right.

The typhoon, I found out, is not unlike a hurricane. Still very dangerous, yes, but at least our good old English boys can manage. Jaimy spends most of his time bellowing orders from the quarterdeck. He sometimes stumbles down to my cabin, soaked to the bone and exhausted and shivering, and though it's too shaky to draw him a steaming hot bath, I do brew him some steaming hot tea and dry him off as best as I can. And I cuddle next to him whenever he can indulge in a few hours of sleep, and I hope my presence brings him comfort. I still want nothing more than to face the wrath of the sea by his side, but nay, I believe I'm more helpful to him and the other bedraggled crew members if I stay below and play nurse. Higgins volunteered-perhaps a little too eagerly-to keep me company, and we spend much time talking and planning what to do next.

"You've known Mr. Jared to be a trustworthy man in the past, Miss." We're shut up in my cabin now, Higgins and I. Ravi is asleep on my bed, my blankets all tangled up in his brown limbs.

"I know Jared has been kind and…well, loving, in a number of ways. I know that. But a big part of me don't feel comfortable about sailing with a crew sent by old King George himself," I say lowly.

"Might I remind you that England thinks you died of Unknown Causes en route to Austrailia?" Higgins says. Ah, do not worry, dear Higgins. I did not forget that very, very important detail.

I clear my throat and stare Higgins straight in the eye. I doubt very much that he'll like what I'm about to propose, but hey, he's always saying that he needs some adventure…

"Higgins," I start. He nods ever so slightly. "Cheng Shih has offered me her protection, has she not?" I gesture to the tattoo of the dragon that I know swirls around on the back of my neck.

"She has," Higgins says with a look that I take as I think I know where you're going with this, and I don't like it. Ah, well.

"I also have her dragon pennant, which would furthermore protect the Lorelei Lee in these heathen waters," I press on. "And I know a little polite Chinese, and I'm a quick study with languages."

"What exactly are you suggesting?"

"The thought of sailing for a year with Jared on the Dart and Jaimy on the Cerberus and taking prizes does entice me. It really does. But what about when that year draws to a close, hmm? Jared'll go back to England, and Jaimy'll go back, too, to clear charges. And what about me?"

"I believe we established that you'd sail back to America-"

"And do what? Hide out there and wait for Jaimy to come for me? I've been there before, and look how that turned out." Look how it turned out, indeed, thinks I, remembering my wake on the Bloodhound. "I can't keep running. Sooner or later, if I go back to Boston, the Admiralty will find out that I'm still alive and kicking and they'll take me away again. I'm so sick of lying low, Higgins."

"And…?" I realize that I've been beating around the bush, so I suck it all up and say it.

Or I almost say it, because just as I open my mouth, Jaimy stumbles in. He tries to shut the door of my berth but the wind is too strong and pushes against it, and I get a view of the whirling world before he and Higgins together finally get it closed.

"I'm glad you're here," I tell Jaimy after he slinks out of the oilskins he borrowed from my stores and settles down in a chair. "I wanted you to hear this, but I didn't want to take you away from your duties."

"It seems the storm is beginning to let up," Jaimy says in a coarse voice. I think he's about to say more, but he is shut up by the piping hot mug of tea Higgins places in front of him. A muttered "thank you" and he takes a swig-and I think there might be a nip of rum in there, but oh, well. I start to relay my plans.

"Higgins-and Jaimy-I think it's best for the Lorelei Lee to remain in Chinese waters," I say, very calmly. Higgins' face doesn't reveal anything of interest; Jaimy wears a look of shock.

"Or someplace around here," I press on. "Somewhere in the Mediterranean, even. I just figure the dragon flag and my tattoo would keep us safe while we're still in Cheng Shih's territory…and haven't I dealt with almost every conceivable scrape with my life intact? I just…I just can't…" And I'm startin' to sniffle and whimper and get it together, girl c'mon! "And J-Jaimy, if you have to go back to England to clear your name, I understand th-that, I d-d-do, an' if'n you meet some nice lass there what's better than me you go off wi' her an' I won't be mad, I promise, an' maybe you could just name a kid after me or something'…"

And you wonder why people don't take you seriously. Get it together! I swallow any shaking sobs and press them all back down into my chest. Jaimy comes over to me and wraps me up in his arms and hugs me close to him and strokes my hair. And I know he tries to comfort me, but as soon as he starts whispering in my ear I just start sobbing again, and Jaimy, I'm so sick of runnin' and lyin' low, and I can't go back to Boston an' wait for you because something' always goes wrong, it does, and I'm just sick of things all goin' wrong… I think maybe Higgins leaves, I don't know, I'm too wrapped up in my own sorry self.

I always get it into my system that I'm strong and talented and charming and elegant, even. That I'm the notorious Jacky Faber what has a cunning mind and can get herself out of any situation scot-free. But it seems that every time I get ahead of myself like that, something happens to remind me that I ain't great at all, and that I'm just a very small girl in a very big world, a world I don't know nothin' about.

After what seems like the shortest of times, Jaimy is called back out to help secure a sail. I consider following him, but even though I have calmed down considerably, I am weary and don't feel well, so I cuddle up in my bed. Sin of sloth, I know, but I'll be called out if I'm needed.

And besides, I think, you've got a lot of planning to do.