IV.
Meg's cheek was pressed against the rough wood of the flat-bottomed boat. The smell of tepid salt water rose to her nostrils, causing bile to rise in her throat. The only thing that kept her from panicking completely was the reassuring beat of Billy's heart against her back...that, and his smooth, calm voice.
"Listen to me, sweetheart. You are safe with me. I just need for you to do exactly as I say-without hesitation. Can you do that for me?" His hand reached for hers, enveloping it in a warm, reassuring grasp.
"Yes. Just tell me what to do." She tried to keep her voice steady, but it sounded small and unsure to her ears.
"Right. Can you swim?"
She gulped, and shook her head. Another shot was fired, hitting the small boat next to them.
"Fu-" Billy caught himself. "First chance we get, I'm teaching you. It's bloody insane to live on an island and not know how to swim. But what I'm going to have to do right now is tow us out into the harbor. No matter what you hear, stay down-just as you are now. Do you understand?"
"But Billy, you're injured..you can't-"
"Meg, we have no choice." His voice was tense, and she realized he was well aware of the danger they were in.
"Be careful." Her voice caught for an instant, and she forced it into a more teasing tone. "Only because you've just promised me swimming lessons, and I intend to hold you to that."
He chuckled, and flashed her a grin. "What you really mean is that you've only just realized how much you've missed having me around."
With that, he vaulted out of the skiff. An instant later, more shots, closer now, were fired. A bullet skipped off the gunwale, missing Meg by inches. As the skiff slid into the water, she was thrown against the low bench.
A shout came from the left. "You're a fuckin' dead man, Billy Bones! You're not gettin' away this time!"
Meg curled into a ball, her heart pounding as she felt Billy give a savage tug on the rope that was attached to the skiff. The vessel shot across the low water, then slowed as it hit the first ripple of waves. She heard a splash, and surmised that Billy had started swimming, pulling the boat along behind him. A bullet pierced the wood below her foot, creating a hole below the water line. Water began to stream into the bottom of the boat. Meg tried to remain calm, but minutes later, she was two inches deep in seawater.
"Billy! There's a hole in the boat-it's filling up with water!"
"Find it and plug it up with something-anything!" he called. "You can do it, Meg!"
The moon had passed behind some clouds, and the skiff was shrouded in darkness. She pivoted on her belly to face the back end of the boat, and ran her hands over the sides, searching for any indication of where the bullet had struck home. Finally, her fingers found a gaping hole near the stern. The vessel had clearly seen better days, and the impact of the shell had shattered a section of weathered wood.
Meg reached under her skirt and tore off a piece of her cotton chemise. Molding it into a small ball, she forced it into the hole, only to find out that it was too small. She bit back a cry of frustration, and tore off another piece of her undergarment. That piece fit nicely, but the cotton but was much too thin to be an effective seal.
"I can't do it!" she cried out, just barely holding back the tears. "It's going to sink...there's just no way I can stop it!"
Billy was at the side of the skiff in an instant. "Don't panic. First and foremost, you cannot lose your head. I want you to take my hand, then jump. I won't let go."
"I can't!" Meg had always been afraid of the ocean, and this particular scenario was her worst nightmare come true.
"You can." He kept his voice soothing, but captured her hand in an iron grip.
Any semblance of reason fled from her brain. "Don't pull me in!" she sobbed. "I can't swim-I'll drown, and they'll never find my body!"
"Margaret, if you want to live, you have to make a choice-right here, right now!" As the moon emerged from behind the bank of clouds, he made his move. Before Meg even realized what was happening, she was in the water, hanging on to Billy for dear life as she coughed and spluttered. Billy looped an arm around her, forcing her onto her back. "Lie back, look up at the stars, and let me do the work," he murmured. "We're halfway to the Walrus already." He tilted her head to the side, his blue eyes infusing hope into her heart. "Trust me, Meg. I won't let go."
"I trust you," she gasped, trying to relax her body as he began to swim, towing her along with him.
"Good," he replied, his voice hoarse, but determined. "I promised I wouldn't let anything happen to you, and I mean to keep that promise-no matter what."
Just as the words were out of his mouth, a shot from their pursuers whizzed past their heads, slicing into the water a foot away.
He muttered a string of curses under his breath, and redoubled his efforts. Despite this, Meg could sense that his strength was waning. There was no doubt he had lost quite a bit of blood before he had made it to her doorstep, and she suspected that he was bleeding once again as he pushed himself to the limit.
Two more pistols fired, and Meg winced, feeling a burning pain in her left arm.
"They're getting closer," she said, astounded by how calm her voice sounded.
The only answer she received was the sound of Billy's harsh breathing. His pace had slowed, and Meg could feel his chest heaving against her back as he struggled to keep a steady pace.
"You hold on tight to the girl, Billy!" A mocking shout floated across the water to them. "We'll enjoy fuckin' her once we dispatch you to the bottom of the ocean!"
The sound of oars skimming through the water came to their ears, and Meg's heart began to hammer in her chest. Billy held her closer, his voice low with fury. "Don't listen to a word they say! The bastards want us to give up-and I'll be damned if I do that."
The voice goading them was quite close now, the tone almost conversational as the boat pulled within a few yards of them. "One chance to surrender, Billy! If you do, we'll grant you a merciful death!"
The boatswain ignored their pursuers, keeping his eyes focused on the Walrus, which was now a mere ten yards away.
To be so close...so damnably close.
As the sound of a pistol cocking reverberated across the water, he wanted to scream in frustration-but he kept pushing through the water, his lungs burning as his leg throbbed with pain.
The boom of a cannon crashed into the still night air an instant later, and the boat closing in on them was blown to bits. Billy threw a protective hand across Meg's eyes as shards of wood rained down around them. Screams of agony were cut short by a second cannonball.
In what seemed like seconds, they were climbing a steep rope ladder. Billy followed Meg, encouraging her when she faltered. She clung to the swaying ladder, afraid to look down at the dark water slapping against the massive ship. As she neared the top, Billy called out, "I've a female guest comin' aboard! Mind your manners-and your hands!"
A pair of large, grimy hands reached out for Meg, pulling her onto the deck with ease. Billy swung down next to her instant later, and took up a protective stance in front of her. Although it was not yet dawn, a sizable proportion of the crew had gathered round, many eyeing the dark-haired young woman with open interest.
"Where's the Captain?"
"With DeGroot," one of the men answered. "They've been waitin' for you for hours, Billy Boy. Couldn't figure out what was takin' you so long-though I guess we know why now." He leered at Meg, and Billy knocked him to the ground with a vicious punch to the jaw. He drew up to his full height, glaring at the circle around him.
"Anyone else?" he snarled.
The rest of the men melted into the night, silently taking up their positions.
"Sorry about that," said Billy briefly, taking Meg by the hand. "Some of the crew lack-breeding, shall we say?" He led her on a winding path through the ship, at last halting at a heavy wooden door.
"Captain Flint?" whispered Meg, an uneasy feeling growing in the pit of her stomach.
Billy nodded, and suddenly paled as the ship rocked, swaying against her as he gripped his thigh.
Meg looked down at his leg, and saw that his hand was covered in blood. She gasped, and put a steadying arm around him, banging on the door with her free hand.
A terse voice bid them enter. Billy steadied himself, and reached for the handle. As the door swung open, he took one step inside, then slumped to the floor.
Next time-Meg comes face to face with Flint.