Author's Note:
Thanks again to Whisperwings, for her betaing services, and on with the show!
Day Fifteen, Voyage One
Dearest friends and family,
I know that I've neglected to write about my adventures for the past two weeks, but I've become so flustered by events during that time, that my mind is hardly clear enough to write down anything.
I am now certain that Master Mantra is hiding something, but of what, I know not. I shouldn't be prying at other people's affairs, but my curiosity is beginning to annoy me.
The crew, as well, I am suspicious of their intentions. One night, after only being on the voyage for a few days, when I was going to retire to bed after dinner I heard something startling… As soon as I had left the mess hall –in which we eat our meals- I heard the crew going on about me in less than appropriate ways. I was shocked, say the least, and this information had made chronicling my adventures a little unnerving. But I promised to you that I would do so…
Lastly, is about John Silver, he wasn't among the crew when they were talking about me as far as I can recall… but I'm unsure of what he thinks about me. Over the past few days we've developed a friendly acquaintanceship of sorts. Now don't jump to conclusions or be shocked, for it is nothing like that, I can assure you… it's just, he's different.
Rebecca paused, once her writing hand began to ache. It was true, these past events had shocked her into a stupor, which had halted her initiative to write. She sighed and set the fountain pen beside her pocketbook and held her head in her hands.
She hadn't envisioned voyaging being overly glamorous, with an entire crew of men waiting to cater to her every need like she were a monarch; but she was certain that Captain Mantra had hired a decent crew.
'Lust does queer things to the male kind…'
She had heard this saying a few times before, mostly amongst peers and companions, but never would she have imagined that she'd have to experience the meaning of the phrase herself.
Rebecca lifted her head from her hands and sighed. She was the only female on this entire ship, and this ship was the only ship in this part of the galaxy at this time.
Quite honestly, she was surprised that none of the crewmembers had tried to take advantage of her. She had no weapons and would be defenceless against the majority of the crewmembers. And most, if not all, of them were considerably stronger than her.
Rebecca gently traced the shape of her lips with her thumb as she pondered. There was the startling need to gain information, her unsatisfied curiosity. The annoyance wouldn't dispel as she cleaned the fountain pen and put away her writing materials.
The young woman knew that dinnertime was drawing near, and it was then that she would satisfy her desire… as long as she wasn't caught.
Rebecca was more than grateful that John Silver was serving the portions of food for dinner as opposed to the Siren Sonnet's head cook. Mister Gibson was a rude, fat man with a beard of tentacles, much like those of an octopus, and was adept to swearing whenever the moment provided.
After the startling description of the places unmentionable he would dip his beard of tentacles if he had his way with her, Rebecca couldn't quite look at the Siren Sonnet's cook the same way, much less stomach any food served by him.
The captain and first mate would usually dine in the mess hall, but tonight they were dining in their quarters as they had much work to get done over the past few nights and couldn't leave it unattended.
Rebecca had her own little table in one of the corners of the mess hall, further away from the crew but not out of earshot. The men dined rowdily, demanding food loudly from John and the tiny cabin boy that was assisting him.
The young cabin boy went by the name of Simon Campbell, though the tiny worker barely uttered a word to anyone. He obediently did as he was told, and whenever he did talk in his quiet voice, it was with the fewest words possible.
After feasting on her portion of dinner, Rebecca looked around the mess hall. She always felt horribly lonely, even though there were people surrounding her, which is usually why she was the first to leave the mess hall after dinner.
The young woman had a strange feeling of detachment, and isolation within the crowded mess hall. Perhaps, it was the longing for someone to converse with, as she hadn't had a proper conversation with anyone during the voyage since with John on her first day.
She was alienated when it came to any discussion of sailing, far off planets or exciting adventures. It was one thing to read about such things in books, but an entirely different thing to experience it oneself.
"You done with that, Ma'am?" Simon's quiet voice interrupted the young woman's thoughts.
Rebecca blinked and looked at the young cabin boy. "Oh yes… thank you." She pushed aside her plate, and observed the boy.
He looked to be thirteen –at most- with a skinny build and soft features. His eyes were a gentle chocolate brown and he had messy chin-length hair that was a sandy blonde.
"Simon, is it?" Rebecca asked.
"Yes Ma'am, Simon Campbell…" The cabin boy nodded.
"Would you like to sit down for a moment?" Rebecca offered. "I know you'll be busy later on…"
Simon glanced around the mess hall. "Um… sure." He hesitantly sat in the chair across from Rebecca's. "Thank you, Ma'am."
Rebecca smiled warmly and began talking with the cabin boy. The young boy was quite polite, despite his timid demeanour, and spoke freely of his home planet and his family.
By the time Simon had to begin his duties as cabin boy, he had recounted the reason of why he was working on the Siren's Sonnet, and a few things about himself.
Rebecca smiled as the young boy left the mess hall, with an armful of tableware. The young woman looked around, noticing that the crew had finished their dinner, but had made no move to retire for bed or resume their night watch.
The few glances from the crewmembers to Rebecca gave the young woman an uneasy feeling, as if she wasn't wanted in the mess hall, so she stood from her seat and walked from the mess hall.
No sooner than the wooden door had closed behind her did Rebecca notice a change in volume of the crewmembers' voices. They were louder and more rowdy than ever.
It began something like this:
"It's about time she left… don't think I could've controlled my urges to jump her bones for any longer."
"Sweet Jesus, that woman is a goddess dropped from the heavens, and quite the looker if I do say so myself."
"You know what I'd do if I could get her alone…"
Laughing soon followed this. Rebecca could guess from the loud grunting noises that one of the crewmembers what doing some crude gestures to emphasize his sexual perversion.
"You'd 'ave to die 'ave and gone to heaven to get something like that under your sheets."
Suddenly, Rebecca could hear a door slam loudly within the mess hall; it was likely the door entering the galley.
"What in t'underin' hell?" A loud voice exclaimed. "Are yeh gents mad?"
Rebecca could identify the voice as John Silver's, madder than she had ever heard him, and she listened closely from her position by the mess hall's doorway.
"That woman is a lady!" John yelled. "An' I'll not stay idle if all yeh bilge rats are gonna do is talk filth of her!"
There was an eerie silence. None of the crewmembers had expected one of their own to oppose their objectification of Rebecca Clarke.
Rebecca heard a set of clomping footfalls near the doorway at which she stood, and she quickly stepped out of the way.
John Silver pushed the door opened, stepped out into the hallway and closed it behind him; he squinted through the darkness and then spotted the young woman.
"Rebecca?" He asked softly.
"I…" Rebecca was lost for words. The silence between them was filled with the restarted conversation in the mess hall.
John sighed. "Shouldn't yeh be off teh bed?" He enquired with a raised brow.
"Look, I'm not a child." Rebecca stated firmly. "I don't need a bedtime."
"I'm aware of that, Rebecca." John stuffed his hands into the outer pockets of his lengthy jacket. "But it's not say for yeh teh be roaming the ship when it gets dark…" He glanced at the closed door to the mess hall. "Especially with this crew."
Rebecca bit her bottom lip. She hadn't considered this. Of course, over the course of the day, the ship's environment would fade periodically between light and dark, as the ship would pass through galaxies; but now she could see what John meant.
John turned away from the young lady, walking down the corridor of the lower decks towards the entrance to the main deck. Rebecca couldn't help but timidly follow.
The young man led her out onto the main deck, and stopped at the railing before the ship's bow. Rebecca stood beside him and glanced at him. John had a far-off look on his face as he was staring out into the everlasting Etherium.
The trillions of stars seem to give his coal-black eyes a dazzling shine; one that Rebecca couldn't help but keep her eyes glued to.
John blinked and looked at Rebecca, noticing her stare. When he looked upon her, it was like looking upon the face of a goddess. Her ivory skin glowed like polished marble in the starlight and her pale green eyes sparkled like emeralds.
Rebecca looked into John's kind eyes -unashamed that he had caught her staring- and she did something completely involuntary. She reached up on the tips of her toes and locked lips with the sailor.
The young man was shocked at this action, but was enjoying the embrace too much to push away the young woman or do anything else. Rebecca's lips were amazingly soft, and she clung to the front of his jacket as if it were the only thing keeping her grounded.
Rebecca gently separated from the kiss and looked up once more into John's eyes. "I just wanted to thank you…" She stated. "For what you said back there." The young woman released her hold on John's jacket. She cleared her throat. "You are a true… friend."
John nervously rubbed the back of his neck as Rebecca turned away and walked towards her quarters. He set his fingertips down onto his lips, his face scrunched up into an expression of confusion.
'I'm a true friend? Is this what Rebecca thinks of me, honestly?
The young man sighed, looking out into the Etherium. He had hardly been expecting any sign of friendship from a lady of the high society, much more a sign of affection.
He placed his hands on the wooden railing and stared at the twinkling stars, hoping that if he stared at the celestial bodies long enough, perhaps he'd get the answers he wanted.
The vivid blush on Rebecca's cheeks -that had formed the moment she had turned away from John- refused to go away. She hurried through the lower decks, no stopping until she reached her chamber.
Once she entered her room, the young woman locked the door behind her and picked up her writing materials. She sat down at her writing desk and opened her pocketbook to a fresh page. She didn't stop writing until the blush had finally faded from her cheeks.
Rebecca had written two additional letters to the fifteenth day of her first voyage.
The first was a long letter addressed to her self.
What have I done? Of all of the things I've ever done in my life this… kiss… it's completely random.
The last man I ever kissed, outside of my family, was a young boy in public school. We were the same age, and had similar academic standings and interests. I had devoted two months of researching his lineage and other such materials before I'd ever consider him, and even then, I had waited a year before we began our brief romantic relationship... of which ended because I was emitted into a private school and we sensed a falling out.
But this kiss… no… it was completely sporadic. I hardly know John, know nothing of his past or background, and he's a sailor for crying out loud.
No… I shouldn't be so hard on him. He is a dear friend, I'll admit, but I sense that our relations would bode ill in my hierarchy of possible suitors. I'm supposed to be involved with those of similar or greater stature, and keep involvement with those of lower stature to a minimal.
But I can't believe it…
The second was a considerably shorter letter.
Dear Giles,
You were right all along about John Silver and I… you knew before we'd ever meet.
Rebecca
Author's Note:
In the quotes of Donkey from Shrek: "Now we're getting somewhere!"
MG#6
