Chapter 13 THE LOCKER NOVEMBER 1686
As Flying Dutchman rested, Britannia turned her attention to the whale she had caught earlier.
The first order of business was cutting into the meat and separating the guts from the rest of it.
Britannia never did like to eat her whales' whole like other ships did. She'd gotten more used to the "civilized" way of doing things.
Using a knife, she cut gingerly into the whales flesh. She'd already set up a refinery to take any oil she found and turn it into a useable product.
Dawn was fast approaching by the time Britannia had finished collecting the oil.
In her berth nearby, Flying Dutchman began to stir.
Britannia quickly cleaned up, leaving the cleaned and gutted whale carcass on the dock and joined her apprentice in her berth.
"Sleep well?" She asked as she saw Flying Dutchman's eyes flicker open.
"Like a baby." Flying Dutchman replied with a grin.
Britannia felt her and sighed. "Still a high fever." She said.
"My head's not as clouded though." Flying Dutchman said.
"That's good to hear." Britannia sighed in relief.
She straightened up. "Think you can keep breakfast down?" She asked.
Flying Dutchman nodded. "I am a bit hungry." She said.
Britannia brightened at that and sailed over to the whale carcass. Gripping it in her teeth, she lifted it off the dock and started back towards Flying Dutchman.
As she did so, a wave of nausea passed over her and she stumbled.
"You alright, Britannia?" Flying Dutchman asked, concerned.
Unable to speak due to the whale, Britannia merely nodded and continued on.
Setting the whale down in front of Flying Dutchman, she watched her apprentice sniff it experimentally.
"Not a bad catch." She said. "Is this the same whale you caught yesterday?" She asked.
Britannia nodded. "Yes." She replied.
"You mean to say, you haven't eaten in almost 3 days now?" Flying Dutchman growled.
"I've gone far longer without food." Britannia retorted.
"Doesn't mean it's good for you." Flying Dutchman growled.
Britannia sighed, knowing she couldn't win. "I know, I know…" She groaned, leaning against the dock.
Flying Dutchman nudged the whale towards her.
"I'm not having a single bite until you have your fill." She growled.
Britannia narrowed her eyes. "Dutchman…" She began.
"No, Britannia. This time, you're going to do what I say." Flying Dutchman growled.
Britannia rolled her eyes and came forward, nipping into the whale's flesh experimentally.
Taking a few large bites out of the tale section, she backed off hoping that just eating would appease her apprentice. Flying Dutchman needed the meat more than she did.
Her apprentice wasn't fooled.
"Really Britannia, you're going to stoop that low and try that trick on me?!" Flying Dutchman asked.
"It was worth a try." Britannia replied. "You got what you wanted. I ate, now it's your turn."
"You do realize the second I touch this it's no good to you right?" Flying Dutchman said.
"I'm willing to take my chances." Britannia shrugged. "Britannia!" "Alright, alright!" The older ship huffed.
She went back to eating the succulent meat on the tail, surprised at how hungry she was.
Knowing that Flying Dutchman liked the ribs the best, she left that area alone.
Finishing off her portion, Britannia backed off again.
This time, Flying Dutchman was satisfied with what she saw and dug into the rib portion of the whale.
She had a few large bites before she backed off. "That's enough for me for now." She sighed.
Britannia nodded. "Don't push yourself." She said.
"I won't." Flying Dutchman promised, turning her head to bite at some of the boils on her side.
Britannia smacked her.
"Ouch! What was that for?!" Flying Dutchman cried indignantly.
"Don't scratch them! I know they itch but that'll only make them worse." Britannia growled.
Flying Dutchman huffed, resting her head down on the dock.
Britannia pressed her muzzle to her side.
"Come on now, don't be mad." She begged.
Flying Dutchman ignored her.
"Dutchman, come on." Britannia begged her, nibbling playfully at the base of her mainmast.
"You're really pushing it Britannia." Flying Dutchman said.
"Am I?" Britannia smirked, moving aft to place a light bite on her taftrail.
This time Flying Dutchman reacted, giving Britannia a swift bite to her mainmast.
Her action caught the older ships attention.
"You asked for it." She growled and lunged, bowling Britannia over and pinning her underneath her.
"You know how to start trouble." She said.
"It's a gift." Britannia grinned, nuzzling her.
Flying Dutchman returned the gesture, purring eagerly.
Britannia gazed up at her with wide blue eyes.
She brushed her snout along Flying Dutchman's side, feeling the soft boils wilt under the pressure.
"Most of these are ready to be drained." She said. "Would you allow me?"
Flying Dutchman nodded and remained still atop her mentor as Britannia gently nicked the fragile skin open, allowing the black fluid to drain out, running down her hull.
Flying Dutchman shuddered under her touch.
"It's okay." Britannia assured her, not pausing in her work.
She shifted her attention to Flying Dutchman's other side quickly breaking open all the boils there.
"Now go and take a dive, rinse those out." Britannia ordered.
Flying Dutchman nodded and staggered off her, racing away a short distance before vanishing below the surface.
As Britannia waited for her to come up again, she leaned against the edge of the berth, sighing tiredly.
Times like these really made her feel her age to a degree and she supposed going from no food to a lot of food wasn't helping either.
Feeling a second wave of nausea coming over her, Britannia shook her head in an effort to clear it.
With Flying Dutchman already down with illness, she could not afford to fall ill as well.
She hadn't rested well if at all these past few days either.
For the time being, Flying Dutchman seemed to be on the mend which allowed Britannia to relax just enough, to let her weariness seep in.
When Flying Dutchman surfaced a few minutes later, she looked around for her mentor.
She found her lying against the dock at their shared berth, fast asleep.
"Finally let yourself relax, you poor old thing." Flying Dutchman thought fondly.
She curled up beside her mentor.
"Sleep well, Britannia." She whispered in her ear.
Britannia would later say that was the best sleep she'd had in years.