Chapter Five

You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello

Colin stared at the ceiling of his quarters, watching the sunlight creep slowly across its rough surface. He sighed quietly, releasing the tension that had been pent up in him for the past few hours and noticed for the umpteenth time that there was a strange but pleasant scent in the air. He couldn't quite place it, but every time he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, he saw Verity Carlisle.

But it was better not to think about her, Colin berated himself silently. He slid off the bed, burying his face against the pillow for several long deep breaths as his feet touched the floor. He inhaled deeply, as if doing so would somehow brand his senses with that scent, so he could carry it with him. "This is nonsense," he sighed and stood up. Tugging his tricorn low on his head, he stepped out of the quarters and onto the deck.

"Morning, captain," called Demaro from the quarterdeck.

"It would appear that way, yes," Colin muttered. "Are we ready to sail?"

"Still waiting for our new recruits," Demaro said hopelessly, shrugging his shoulders.

"Right," Colin said grumpily. He wanted to put distance between himself and this island, before he lost the resolve required to do so. Moving over to the gangplank, he said, "I'm going to stop in the tavern and see if I can rustle them up. Try not to leave without me."

"Aye, captain," called Demaro, giving a wave of his hat. Colin disembarked and headed for the gate.

"I can look," one of them muttered to the other as Colin passed. "It's not adultery if you're only looking."

"Is too," said the other guard, rubbing his eyes tiredly. "It's infidelity in your heart."

Colin glanced at them both, shook his head bemusedly, and continued on. It must be something in the water supply here, he mused to himself as he made his way through the town of Redmond. A few minutes later he was opening the door to the tavern. The innkeeper was up already and greeted Colin. "Hello, sir."

"Hello. Is Miss Carlisle's room paid up?" Colin asked, pulling his moneybag from his belt. He looked around. Several men were lying around on the floor of the tavern, dozing. He recognized one as his recruiting officer. He gave a sigh and looked back to the innkeeper.

The innkeeper glanced at his book and answered, "She is for today."

Colin withdrew a few gold coins from his bag and put them on the counter. "Make sure she gets what she needs. If that doesn't cover it, put it on my tab. I'm good for it; you can ask the governor himself."

"That won't be necessary, sir," the attendant said genially, smiling brightly. "I'm sure your word is good."

"Thank you," Colin said. "Do you know if Miss Carlisle is up?"

"She should be. I woke her myself a few hours ago."

Colin frowned thoughtfully. Why would Verity want to be up that early? Perhaps she simply wanted to explore the town. He cleared his throat. "Has she left the tavern?"

"No, sir. I'd have seen her."

Colin thanked the man and climbed the stairs. He knocked on the door marked with a crudely carved '2' and called quietly, "Verity?" There was no answer. He put his ear to the door, and he couldn't hear anything. That didn't mean anything. He hadn't heard her sleeping on the ship, either, had he? He sighed. "Verity, I want to talk to you."

There was still no answer. She may have gone back to sleep. Colin decided to knock a little harder, which brought a chorus of shouts from several of the other guests, none louder than the occupant of room nine who cried, "Stay away from me, harlot from Satan!"

Colin blinked, glancing over to the door to room nine, then back to Verity's door. He considered. She was either sleeping, or didn't want to talk to him. Either way, Colin knew that this sort of problem could only be solved with time. He would have to wait until he returned to the island to see her. "Goodbye, Verity," he said quietly to the door.

"All right," Colin said, shouting so that all the guests, including the ones sacked out on the floor downstairs, could hear him. "Anyone meaning to sail on the Crimson Dawn should be outside, on the street, in five minutes' time!"

Amid the rush of activity, Colin walked down the stairs, leaving Verity's door. On the other side of the door, though, was something he didn't expect: an empty room.

Verity glanced at herself in the reflection of the water in a trough, which was meant to service the animals that the innkeeper kept as food. She sighed quietly, thinking on her appearance. She looked masculine enough, she supposed, with the wool she had received from the butcher's wife affixed to her face with the honey from her breakfast. But would that be enough to disguise her from Colin Black?

She would just have to hope so. Verity had braided her thick black hair and tucked it up under her hat, which she pulled low over her forehead. Hoping that it would pass her off, she took some dirt and rubbed her chin and neck with it. Barely repressing a shudder, she decided that would have to do.

Above her, from her open window (from which a primitive rope, constructed of bed sheets, had been hung for her to escape), Verity heard Colin shout, "All right! Anyone meaning to sail on the Crimson Dawn should be outside, on the street, in five minutes' time!" Now was the time to move. Verity didn't want to be the first in line, but she didn't want to be the last, either. So she walked around the building, waiting for the rest to line up.

Colin stood on the porch in front of the inn and surveyed the group in front of him. There were seven new recruits, each of which was lined up facing him. Most of them looked as if they had spent the evening drinking.

Colin asked each of them their names, and the second to the last one surprised him.

"Jerome Bender," said the figure, which was slightly shorter than the rest, and quite thin. Colin glanced at the bearded chin and wondered how he had had a chance to grow quite a beard while at the same time he sounded like a schoolboy.

"How old are you, Jerome?" Colin asked curiously.

"Nineteen," was the reply.

"Just nineteen, eh? A bit young to be setting out for sea, wouldn't you say?" Colin glanced over to the recruiting officer, who shrugged.

"No," said the young crewman tersely, the tone defiant and spirited. Colin couldn't help but to admire the attitude and spunk, but he wondered if the wiry creature before him could really provide any kind of assistance on the ship.

"His parents died last month. He's joining to provide a living," explained the officer, interrupting Colin's thoughts. Colin nodded sagely.

"Sounds reasonable, that does," Colin said, and he moved on to the next person. As he asked the person's name, he thought he heard the sound of a relieved sigh.

Ten minutes later, Colin and the rest of the sailors were mounting the gangplank to the Crimson Dawn. Demaro greeted him, "Captain! We're ready to make sail when you are."

"Excellent. Let's get out of here," Colin said, taking the helm. "Throw off the mooring lines. Let down the sails. Secure the cargo!" The crewmen complied, and the Crimson Dawn moved out of port. The ship put its rudder to Redmond Island and sailed out into the archipelago.