After a few more minutes when it seemed like no punches were going to be thrown, Alano returned to his hammock
After a few more minutes when it seemed like no punches were going to be thrown, Alano returned to his hammock. Miguel was also growing weary of the ruckus and was starting to wish they'd shut up or move outside. Tulio had begun to argue back, but the bad acoustics in the forecastle combined with the loud snores of one of Chel's companions (who had wandered in after her and managed to pass right out despite the noise) made it impossible to hear what was being said.
Miguel grew more annoyed as they continued bickering and was about to tell them to shut it when Chel whirled around abruptly and stalked out of the forecastle. Tulio made a jerky movement as though he were about to go after her, but stopped. He looked across the dim cabin at Miguel. Their eyes met. Miguel opened his mouth to say something but Tulio gave a quick shake of his head, laid back in his hammock and rolled over to face the wall.
"What was that all about?" came Alano's amused voice from inside his hammock.
His only answer was a loud snuffle from one of the other sailors.
Miguel was awakened the next morning by a loud clanging bell and a deep voice calling,
"All hands! All hands!"
For a moment he lay there, trying to remember where he was. The forecastle was still very dim but the sparse light now had a gray pre-dawn-ish quality to it, filtering in through the small doorway that currently stood open to the deck. Recalling his circumstances, Miguel climbed ungracefully from his hammock, sore and stiff from sleeping in such an unfamiliar position. He stumbled out onto the dewy, foggy deck to find everyone else already assembled. Alano was looking impossibly chipper for the given hour. Tulio looked much like Miguel himself felt. Chel was standing off to the side, arms crossed, looking anywhere but at Tulio. Standing at the watch bell was a large middle-aged man and there were four other anonymous sailors gathered as well. Apparently Hector had found a few others to join the crew before the last minute.
"OK, men!" the man at the bell said in his baritone voice.
Chel rolled her eyes and gave her hair a little toss. She was clearly feeling haughty today.
"OK, men," he repeated, "I'm Juan Gerard, and for what it's worth, I'm in charge of this vessel."
Most of the assembled crew nodded.
"Senor Hector has given me our instructions, such as they are, and we set sail immediately. So, heave to!"
Gerard gave a curt nod as though he expected them to spring into action. No one moved.
"What's our heading?" Alano piped up.
Gerard frowned. "Oh. As to that…we'll be needing a lookout on the foredeck at all times. We're to follow the Santiago. You." He pointed to one of the men Miguel hadn't seen before. "Take the first watch."
The man looked bemused but nodded and walked fore to take the indicated place. Gerard watched him go then looked back at the rest of the crew.
"Go to it!"
It now occurred to Miguel that he had absolutely no idea what he was supposed to do, now that they were actually on the ship. Luckily, Alano seemed to know exactly what to do.
"Come on," Alano said quietly as he passed Miguel and Tulio.
Relieved, they followed him. Miguel glanced quickly back over his shoulder and saw that Chel was following another sailor in the opposite direction, looking equally as lost. At least if something went horribly wrong it couldn't be blamed entirely on them, he thought.
They worked for the better part of an hour, not talking but following Alano's whispered instructions. Around them, the other sailors, the real sailors, were chatting as they worked.
When they were clear of the harbor at last, Gerard clanged the bell again to call them back together. That was going to get old real fast, Miguel thought.
"OK. Now…I know we have a small crew but…we have a small ship, so…OK."
It was clear this man didn't have a lot of leadership experience.
"So…we'll split into two watches. You four," he pointed at the four left-most crew members, "are watch one. You four, watch two."
Miguel glanced around and was happy to find himself, Tulio and Alano all on watch two. Mercifully, Chel was on the other watch. The fourth member of their watch turned toward them. Miguel thought he looked to be about his and Tulio's age, though his skin was rather weather-worn, so it was difficult to be sure. He introduced himself as Don, and seemed pleasant enough.
Gerard ordered watch one to "do some work," leaving watch two free to do what they pleased. Normally, off-watches would be spent catching up on sleep or relaxing but as they had just recently woken up, they milled around the deck rather aimlessly, looking for something to do. Shortly Tulio and Alano set off to find the galley and Don found himself a comfortable sunning spot on the quarterdeck, leaving Miguel alone.
He wandered toward the bow where he leaned on a railing and looked out at the sea, at the back of the Santiago, then around at the vast expanse of blue. Finally, they were doing something. They may not really know what they were doing, but it felt good to have a purpose. He breathed deep, enjoying the moist salty air, and smiled. They were on their way.
Someone was dragging a coil of rope across the deck behind him and, not paying attention, bumped into him. He automatically turned his head to look at his disturber.
"Oh, hello Miguel," Chel said in a flat voice.
"Hi," he replied in the same tone.
Oh yeah. Her.
Happy summer, everyone!! This chapter goes out with special thanks to DDSRG, Hoddmimirswoods, kalina ar' mori, The Unbreakable Snape Fan, pookturtles and everyone else who has been so fantastic as to review my story and encourage me to write more! Thanks a bunch!! :)