Chapter Six
"Here goes nothing," Jack muttered under his breath as he immerged onto the deck behind his wife. Today, Carl Denham would be once again boarding this ship. The writer blinked as the bright sunshine stabbed into his eyes. He looked around the deck and quickly spotted Captain Englehorn and Jimmy standing by the railing. Close by was Clytie, dressed in a flattering white dress. She was watching the captain, as she seemed to do often these days.
Ann and Jack joined the little group with a few brief "good mornings," then followed the eyes of the others. A smaller, sleeker ship than the Venture was pulling up alongside of it. And on board that ship, standing in clear view, was Carl Denham.
From the deck of the Venture, Clytie studied Denham carefully. He was a short, round little man with an arrogant smirk that she didn't much like.
"Here's a piece of advice, Clytie," said a voice from behind her. "Don't listen to anything that man tries to tell you."
Clytie turned around. "Preston. Did you sleep well?"
He smiled wryly. "Did any of us?"
Clytie looked around at the rest of the little company. Jimmy was nervously moving his hands on the rail. Englehorn was smoking his second cigarette. Jack had his arm possessively around Ann's shoulders. Ann looked pale. "I don't think so," Clytie replied. She moved aside a bit so Preston could join her at the rail. Briefly, she glanced around him at the captain, who looked rather worried, which worried Clytie, of course.
"Blocking your view?" Preston asked archly.
Clytie raised her eyebrows. "What do you mean?"
Her friend smiled. "You know what I mean."
Clytie resisted the urge to playfully stick her tongue out at him. Instead, she sighed and shook her head. "Is it obvious that I'm attracted to him?" she whispered.
"To me, it's swiftly becoming that way," Preston replied quietly. "I don't know if anyone else realizes it yet."
"I think Darby does," Clytie said. "You know, Mr. Galyon, the First Mate."
"He seems to be pretty sharp," Preston agreed. "But so is the captain. And I don't think he quite gets it yet."
Clytie was silent. She certainly wasn't going to tell Preston about that time on the bridge when she and the captain had been standing so close, and he had even reached out to touch her…
"I think Jimmy is quite fond of you, as well," Preston said, shading his eyes to look at the young sailor.
"He is," Clytie agreed, thinking of last night.
Soon, a gangplank had been set up between the two ships, and three men from the other ship boarded the Venture. The little group clustered at the rail stepped back to let them board. Clytie instantly recognized the two men accompanying Carl Denham--Jake Atkins, her godfather, and Bruce Baxter, the actor. For a moment, the three men just stood there.
Then Carl raised his arms. "What? No 'welcome aboard?' I should think you'd all be happy to see me. After all we've been through together."
Englehorn momentarily considered flicking his cigarette at Denham, but opted for the ocean instead. "Jimmy will show you to your cabins, gentlemen," he said shortly. Then he turned and walked toward the bridge.
Clytie wanted to follow him, to escape the confrontation with Jake that she knew was forthcoming. She imagined herself running after the captain and screaming, "Take me with you! Don't let that man near me!" Then she turned to her godfather, making her face expressionless. David had always told her that she had the perfect poker face--the Ice Queen, he called it.
"Clytie!" Jake rushed to his goddaughter. "How have you been? You haven't been mistreated, have you?"
Clytie frowned at him. "No. What gave you that idea?"
Jake glanced back at Carl, who was following Jimmy across the deck while Ann, Jack, and Preston glared at his retreating form. Clytie added her glare. "What did that man tell you?" she hissed.
Jake sighed. "It doesn't matter now, Clytie. I'm just glad that you're safe."
"Of course I'm safe," Clytie replied sharply. She was frustrated with everything that was going on. "What are you doing here? Don't you trust me?"
"Mr. Denham was on the last voyage, as was Mr. Baxter. They felt bad at not being invited, so they came to me. And frankly, Clytie, I don't trust the people you were alone out here with." Jake sighed again and wiped at the sweat on his brow.
"Yes, Mr. Denham was on the last voyage," Clytie said slowly, trying to remain calm. "Don't you remember what happened? That man set off a chain of events leading to the deaths of many people. Heck, he was in jail for awhile for all that! He's unreliable and, according to what I've heard, something of a people user." She glanced behind Jake's tall, thin form at where the other ship was drawing in the gangplank. Too late to make Jake go back.
"According to what you heard." Jake shook his head. "Clytie, you've only heard this from the people aboard this ship--that writer and his actress wife and that captain and his crew. How do you know you can trust them? And weren't they cooperating with Denham last time, anyway?"
Clytie pressed her lips together and put her hands on her hips. "Jake, these people have been nothing but good to me. I trust them with my life. If I didn't, why would I be out here with them? I trust them with David's life as well. Have you forgotten that this isn't about Mr. Denham being left out--this is about David!" She struggled to keep her voice under control.
"You may trust these people to save your brother, but I don't," Jake answered, his voice loaded with irritation and impatience.
"You don't trust me either, do you?" Clytie asked quietly, feeling suddenly sad. "Is that why you sent Wilson… to spy on me?"
"Wilson was Denham's idea," Jake protested.
"But you went along with him, didn't you?" Clytie shook her head. "I think by now people should realize that going along with Carl Denham isn't the right thing to do--you of all people, Jake." She quickly turned away from him and started for the ladder, eager to escape to her little cabin and be alone. She was stopped by Darby Galyon's hand on her arm.
"Miss Seaborne." His voice was low and gently. Obviously, he had seen some of her heated conversation with her godfather.
"Yes, Darby?" She tried not to meet his eyes, hoping that he would not see the tears shining in them.
"The captain wants you on the bridge," Darby said.
"What does he need me for?" Clytie asked. She felt a sense of dread at the possibility of the captain seeing her so emotionally shaken.
"Something about planning the rescue operation, I believe." Darby gave her an encouraging smile. "Just let us know if that Atkins fellow is bothering you, and the captain and I will chunk him overboard."
"I'll consider it." Clytie laughed weakly, wiping at her eyes. She looked up at the tall Irish man. "Do you think less of me now that you've seen me cry over something stupid like that?"
"No, lass." Darby winked. "And the captain won't, either."
Clytie smiled at him. "Thank-you for being so nice to me, Darby," she whispered.
"My pleasure, Miss Clytie," he replied brightly. "You remind me a bit of my lady back home."
(LINE)
"So Ann, Jack… how's the world been treatin' ya?" Carl asked them as he swaggered into the galley for lunch. His query was met by glares.
"How's jail been treating you, Mr. Denham?" Jimmy asked, coming up behind him.
Ann giggled.
"Let's put the past behind us," Carl said quickly. He took a plate of porridge from Hofstetter, who glared at him. Obviously, the new cook had ideas about who was responsible for the death of the old one.
"Carl, why don't you just let us eat our lunch in peace?" Jack spoke up.
"Yeah, Carl. There's an empty table in the corner over there." Jimmy motioned to the corner and sat down beside Jack.
"What is the world coming to?" Carl muttered quite audibly, going to the corner. "Cabin boys get to eat with the passengers and their own friends aren't allowed to."
"Who said you were our friend?" Preston asked, coming into the galley. He got his plate and sat beside Ann, across from Jimmy.
It was an awkward, quiet meal for the rest of the hour, interrupted only by Bruce Baxter's entry into the galley. He quickly picked up on the tension in the air and wisely took his food and sat at his own table.
After the meal, Carl and Bruce quickly retreated to their own rooms, leaving the other four together.
"I really can't stand that man," Ann said quietly. "He doesn't care. He's not at all sorry for what he did. Not like the rest of us…" She shuddered. "I can't believe I ever went anywhere with him."
"Ann, if you hadn't… you wouldn't have met me." Jack reached across the table to squeeze her hand.
"That's true. I guess things always work out for the best…" Ann's voice trailed off as she thought, But not for you, Kong. I miss you, dear friend. How are we ever going to survive without you?
(LINE)
For awhile, Clytie and the captain talked about the rescue mission--how to get through the fog ("You be my eyes when we get there, Clytie," the captain said.), what to carry ashore ("Weapons," said Englehorn. "Especially machine guns," said Clytie, which made him smile.), how many parties to make ("We certainly won't split up Ann and Jack," Clytie said.), and other such concerns. The captain was impressed with Clytie's foresight. She was a creative thinker and brought up many points that he would have missed. After discussing the rescue mission, the two of them settled into their usual routine on the bridge.
The silence was stifling, interrupted once by Robbins coming in to check the wireless, then quickly leaving. Clytie finally decided that it was time to break the silence. So she spoke. "I'm sorry about Jake doing that… bringing Carl."
Englehorn glanced back at her. "So am I," he said. He turned back to the wheel.
Clytie sighed in frustration. Some talent she was at starting conversation. "I can't believe he undermined me like that… and you, too. He said that I shouldn't trust you--or anyone else aboard this ship for that matter. He was actually worried that I might be harmed."
"Hmph. That's ridiculous."
And…? Clytie dug her nails into the wood of the table where she was standing. Well, if he didn't want to talk, she wasn't going to bother him. She turned back to the map that she had been studying. It was a roughly drawn sketch of the explored parts of the island, compiled by its survivors. Looking at it now gave Clytie chills. She traced its lines absently, wondering where on the island her brother was. She refused to think that he might be nowhere, might be dead… Please, God, not dead… Not David…
Englehorn turned to study her inconspicuously. She was moving her hands on the maps. Those hands were always moving, he noticed. If you watched her hands, you could tell what she was feeling… Her eyes, those deep green orbs, hid much. So you had to watch her ever-moving hands…For the first time, today, her eyes had told him something. As soon as she had stepped on the bridge, he could tell that she had been crying. But he had said nothing, not wanting to embarrass her. He shook himself and turned back to the horizon. It wouldn't be long now before they would reach that dreadful fog…
"It's not long now, is it?" Clytie spoke up.
He glanced at her. She had turned from the maps and was watching him, clasping and unclasping her hands. "Does it worry you?" he asked.
Clytie considered momentarily lying and saying "no," but she knew that his blue eyes missed little. "Yes," she said quietly, her voice breathy and small. "It does, a bit. This whole mission seems like… I don't know… A shot in the dark…" How original, Clytie, you dummy.
"It does indeed, Miss Seaborne." Englehorn turned back to the wheel.
Clytie frowned at his back. "That was encouraging," she muttered. Then she winced, hoping he hadn't heard her.
"It is a shot in the dark, as you say, but that is why those with the best aim are on this mission," he added.
Clytie smiled. Nice recovery, Captain. "Certainly," she said, turning back to the maps.
"Slow us down a bit, Clytie. It gets a bit rough through here," the captain ordered.
Clytie nodded and hurried to pull the levers at his instruction. After doing so, she started to go back to the maps.
"No. Stay here," he said quickly.
Clytie glanced at him, dark eyebrows raised.
"Your sharp eyes can help me watch the horizon." He paused for a moment, then said quietly, "And I like your company."
Clytie's brows rose even higher. "Th--thank-you," she stammered. She regained her composure and smiled. "I like yours, too."
He laughed quietly. "We're two of a kind, you and I, Miss Seaborne. But different, as well. You can keep me company, and I… I can keep you safe from whoever it is who makes you cry."
A shiver ran up Clytie's spine, disturbing and pleasant at the same time. "All right." She smiled softly. "That sounds fine with me, Captain."
(A/N: The island isn't far away now! There's certainly some action coming up soon. And, naturally, more romance as well. Thanks for all the reviews! You have no clue how much I enjoy a good, encouraging review! And suggestions are always welcome (as long as they don't involve alien abductions or anything far out like that, lol.))
