Chapter 14: The Mhinm
"You'll forgive me for saying so, Amelia, but this isn't smart," Jack said. They were following Silver and Fidda down narrow alleys in a district that looked bad even for Mahsa. There were actually corpses in the gutters.
"Mr. Sparrow," Amelia began coolly not deigning to even look at him. "I know this isn't smart. But it is what I set out to do. We are armed. Keep your head."
Jack frowned at that then skipped forward to walk next to Silver. He eyed him a bit until Silver glanced at him.
"So what's this Mhinm representative like then?" Jack asked as casually as he could.
Silver smiled as if to a child. "He's much like meself, but absent me merciful nature and sense o' fair play. I trust you won't be troublin' yerself too much, Mr. Sparrow. Yer cap'in will be doin' the talkin' anyways."
Since he didn't really know Silver this information was of little comfort. Jack smiled at Silver and Fidda then slowed to let Amelia and the others catch up.
"Do you trust 'im?" Jack tossed his chin toward Silver's back.
"When I can keep an eye on him. Aside from that I trust him to be who he is." Amelia ended her statement with a sniff. "What have you been drinking, Jack? You smell awful."
"It was green," Jack answered absently. He was reflecting on how closely her words mirrored his of earlier that evening. Somehow it reassured him of Amelia's ability to deal with these scalywags. They turned a final corner and came to a large round door set solidly into a great stone wall with a guard to either side. The guards were shorter than anyone in the party except Fidda. On looking closer Jack noted that they were giant rats. Involuntarily he quailed back his hand going toward his sword but it was stopped by an iron grip on his wrist. He looked up into Amelia's eyes.
"The Mhinm," she breathed. Jack relaxed his arm and let it slide from her hand to rest casually on the grip of his pistol. Now that he looked a bit closer Jack saw that the Mhinm guards did not look exactly like rats. Under their little pillbox caps their faces were not as long and narrow as rats but they did have small pointy ears and button noses with whiskers jutting out. Their eyes were beady and all black with a shifty sort of light that glowed dully in the dim alleyway. They wore short jackets of smooth green cloth studded with silver buttons and black soutache lacing. Their breaches and boots were both black. Jack saw no evidence of a tail and for some reason that made him feel better. Their short business-like swords and the muskets they held made that feeling go away. Jack smiled at them impulsively but they ignored him.
"I 'ave someone to see Xue," Intoned Silver to the guards. He looked at neither of them. They did not move. Jack looked on puzzled but in a moment there came a clack from within and the door swung back soundlessly. Steam rolled out of the door and hung in the thin air. "Stay close now, Cap'in."
Silver lead the way inside. The room they entered was lit with a soft indirect light emanating from panels near the walls. There was a heavy screen a few paces into the chamber with a gate set in its center and a guard like the two outside. More steam hung close to the floor.
"Who wishes to see Xue?" asked the guard.
"Captain Silver and comp'ny."
"What is the nature of your business?"
"I 'ave another cap'in that may wish to sign on with the... scientific research Xue is conductin'."
Jack didn't like this. He didn't like this at all. He was accustomed to going places on his own terms. He almost always knew more about any situation he was in than anyone else in the room. Often even the people who had put him there. Now he eyed Silver and this guard and tried to piece out what wasn't being said but he couldn't read the body language. He looked at Fidda and noticed that she was unnaturally relaxed. Her right hand had slipped around to her back and was resting lightly on something under her shirt tail. As casually as he could Jack looked back to Annamaria and winked gravely at her. She gave the slightest of nods and softly elbowed Closton who nodded without taking his eyes from the guard. Jack turned to look at Amelia but could read nothing in her expression. When he looked to her hands though she had something small, round and dark resting loosely in her fingers so that the guard could not see it.
"You may enter. Leave your weapons here," stated the guard.
Fidda and Silver both began to remove their weapons but Amelia stepped forward.
"Not bloody damn likely, mate." Her growl would have stopped a charging bore and would certainly have given a bull elephant a second thought or two. Silver and Fidda both turned worried eyes on her. The Mhinm flashed a wicked glare on Amelia but could not meet her eyes for more than a moment. Jack was proud of her and he smiled.
"Cap'in Kosta," Silver said using Amelia's alias. "We 'ave to."
"You will not meet Xue while so armed," the guard grated out.
"Fine," Amelia said and turned as if to go. There was a shout from beyond the screen and the guard turned surprised eyes over his shoulder. The shout came again more insistent.
"Xue will see you." Bowing the guard opened the gate and waved the pirates in.
Once passed the screen the room opened into a wide space occupied by an extravagantly dressed Mhinm, several less extravagantly dressed Mhinm and two dozen guards. The one that was clearly in charge stood next to a fireplace with a kerchief in one hand and a goblet in the other. Jack raised an eyebrow at the strangeness of the Mhinm's powdered wig.
"Captain Silver," Xue said. "What a pleasant surprise. And Miss Fidda. Who are these others?"
"Mr. Xue, I present Captain. Kosta." With a slight bow Silver extended his arm graciously toward Amelia. She nodded her head politely to the Mhinm representative.
"Captain Kosta, what is it that brings you here?" Xue inquired.
"I understand from Captain Silver that you are hiring captains with good ships and crews," Amelia said without inflection.
"Indeed?" The Mhinm seemed to smile. "And have you a good ship and crew?"
"The Smollette. Eighteen gun brig. Recently refitted and crewed by experienced spacers all." Amelia's tone was now crisp and authoritative. Her baring spoke worlds about her competence.
"I see." The Mhinm paced a few steps from the fireplace. "You say the Smollette?"
"Yes."
"It is interesting to me." Xue scratched his chin with dainty fingers. "A galleon of mine carrying a load of machine parts and its two escorts were waylaid on their way here by a ship that matches the description you have just given me."
"Indeed." Jack saw Amelia's subtle change in posture. Her shoulders relaxed ever so slightly and her right foot slid a few inches forward.
"Now wouldn't it be a coincidence for two such ships to be in this area?" Xue was toying with them.
"Now, Mr. Xue, there are plenty o' brigs in these parts," Silver said in a placatory manner.
"Are there?" Xue sipped from his goblet. "I can't remember ever seeing one. Have you, Cpt. Kosta?"
"It was the Smollette."
"You raid one of my vessels and then come to me for employment?" Xue's voice was sharp.
"With the performance I observed of your escorts you could use a ship like mine." Jack realized then that Amelia was clearly not cut out to be either a diplomat nor a fencer. She didn't play or banter. Amelia just went for the heart or the throat. Whichever was closer.
"Inexperienced captains no doubt." Xue dabbed the corner of his mouth with the kerchief.
"They were simply out classed." Amelia dismissed the sloops and their clumsy attempt to attack the Smollette.
"I hope you got a good price for my machine parts." The Mhinm smiled benignly.
"Shall we discuss business or do you intend to continue speaking all night?" Amelia demanded.
"Cap'in Kosta," Silver began harshly.
"No, Captain Silver." Xue waved a hand. "She is of course quite right. Can you vouch for her?"
"I can, sir," Silver replied. "I sailed under her command a few years back and she's as good as they come."
"Such a strong endorsement from you." Xue looked speculatively on the cyborg. "What have you to say for yourself, Captain Kosta?"
"You already know I can fight." Amelia's voice was hard. It was that tone she used when giving orders. "If you want to know my record I suggest you look into lost and missing ships near the Cirrus Nebula. That's where I've been operating. The Smollette is a new ship though. Recently acquired."
The Mhinm's eyes roved over the pirates one by one assessing them. Finally they settled on Amelia. Jack felt sure the little rodent was about to order his guards to jump them. Instead the Mhinm spoke mildly.
"I don't know if I like you, Captain Kosta. I do like one thing though." He paused to sip from his goblet. "You're tough. What I see of your crew looks tough. What I know of your ship sounds as though it is tough. I'll send a runner tomorrow afternoon with your contract and orders. Good night."