Author's note: Back again, guys! And we are at one critical point of the story! Let's move, lads!
10. Seagull in the Storm
"My treasure is my gallant bark,
My only God is liberty;
My law is might, the wind my mark,
My country is the sea."
Morning came and the first thing that happened was that Eluten gave Sarah a full info of what had happened last night. Once the wall was clean again, she devoted herself to the Ursid while Jim and the rest took care of the customers. And the boy had to admit that if Silver was really onboard the Goodsight, it was worth knowing more about their captain since many of his crew were not human and had been clearly rescued or taken in.
'Hold still' Sarah, meanwhile, was busy with sewing Silver's wound. The buccaneer gritted his teeth. '... Is it true that you have gave up everything?'
'...' he didn't answer at first.
'You surely look weaker and not just from the blood loss. Don't we mean anything to you? Isn't Jim reason enough? If you die, he will...'
'He's almost a gro'n up, Mss Sarah. He'll make it'
'Don't move, ok? There' she finished. 'Jim loves you with all his heart. Every since Leland left, he needed a father figure and you were there, like dropped from heaven, no matter the pirates. He regained hope and is now looking for a future. If he loses you, Jim might never want to stand up again'
'Am old, lassie. Am tired and sick. Puttin'ye in trouble is ta least I want and specially now, with that gunsling'r on ta loose. Ye two are me only family I've left' the Ursid sighed.
'John, isn't it?' she saw him nod. 'If you love us so much, please hang on. Jim needs you, I need you. You are my only rope to keep this family knotted good and safe, John. Please'
'...' he stared sadly into her eyes and a little spark jumped inside his old heart. A small hope, nothing too big or powerful enough but a little in the dark. 'Ye might be surpr'se, lass. When ta bucko said yer name, I felt jealous'
'You're a good man, John. I know you are. Only a good man could have chosen Jim over a treasure'
'...' he loved the way she said his name. 'I'll be soon in tri'l n'am scared like a wee baby, Sarah'
'I'm sure that captain will understand'
'Am just sorry 've thrown all ov'rboard l'ke that'
'It's all right. When Leland left, I felt the same way too but then, I remembered that I had Jim and the inn. I had to move on even if life wasn't that pretty'
'... Am sorry I ain't ta pretty either for ye' Silver whispered and Sarah stared at him. Ugly? She hadn't actually thought about that since he crossed the doorway. Scary and menacing, yes, but ugly? Sarah could tell that there was a big heart in that massive body because it shone in those black eyes. Although he was half-machine and an Ursid, Silver was caring and protective like a big Papa Bear. Pirate and owner of his own rage, as Jim had put it, but also a wise man who didn't believe in free acts of violence.
'John...' she decided to leave the subject for now. 'You are all patched' Sarah smiled and took a broth dish from the nearby chair. 'I've spoken with doctor Spoon and he says you can start eating. It will do you good'
'Ta's great, lass' the woman fed him with the care of a mother. 'I must say I missed th's little things' he smiled. 'Ev'ry since I was a wee lad'
'...' she smiled. Their faces were now pretty close.
'Why ye don't just kiss her and that's it?' they heard Eluten who has standing at the door.
'Ye old snoop! I sho'ld have known' Silver growled.
'Ye make a lovely couple'
'Go stuck a shark for'll care' the Ursid replied.
'Suure' the lame smiled, winked at Sarah and turned to leave. 'Ye'lucky, Jolly boy. Ye just found yer seagull in the storm' Eluten limped away.
'Seagull?'
'A kind of bird, Sarah. Liv's near the sea and catches fish. TH'y re great birds. Can fly even with gales on th'm' he remembered the white figures soaring across the sky.
'I'd love to see one'
'And I h'pe yo show ye one' they both smiled and Eluten reached down the stairs while whistling Molly Malone.
One cute episode to restart engines, lads!
Hope you like it.
Next stop: Gold and Silver