Ch. 22
We made it to the telegraph, which Tej was working. We filled in the doorway eagerly to hear the message. "Morse code, what's it say?" Tej looked up at us and said, "Hello my freaky darlings." I grinned widely, it was-
"-Skinner?" Tom said.
"Uh, hiding on board little fist with Gray and M. On way to base, east by north east. Follow my lead."
I smiled up at Captain, 'Skinner's always been a good guy,' I told him, and of that I was entirely convinced. Captain smiled down at me with a raised brow and said, "Yes, I do believe so…"
"P.S. Tell Marina I'm having a jolly time learning her script, and that she better find a good hiding place for that diary of hers."
My face fell, and I frowned deeply at the machine. Henry smiled, looking down at me and said, "You keep a diary?" I felt my face heat, and without a nod turned and started to walk away. "Finding a new hiding place, eh girl?" Mr. Q. asked, and I could hear him laughing at me. Without thinking, my fist balled and slammed into wall beside me. I felt it dent, but I also felt my knuckles burn. I bit my tongue to stop the tears of pain, and hurried out of the room. Thank Kali I could not scream! I flexed my hand and sighed, it hurt horribly, but I did not think it was broken. That is a good thing, I guess…
The damage done to the ship was incredible, and I found myself incredibly angry that not even the Nautilus had escaped the damage Dorian had caused. Not that I had helped by denting the wall (which I was scowled for after I re-hid my diary under my floorboard). I sighed as I sat by Captain's side as he charted our course. He was doing it alone. He looked so out of place without Ishmael beside him.
Without meaning it, tears welled in my eyes, and I quickly looked down to hide my face. My hair fell in front of my face, and I gave a bitter grin. How ironic, short hair actually comes in handy. I swallowed hard and breathed deeply through my nose, my eyes closed. I could not cry. Not in front of the men. Probably not even in front of Captain.
Captain needed to know I was strong enough to handle anything. If I did not prove it to him, how could he ever trust me with the Nautilus? I finally blinked my tears away and looked up. Captain was still charting our course, and I sighed softly.
Standing, I went to see our path so far charted. Captain smiled down at me softly, and I returned it. "Why don't you go help Mr. Sawyer in the engine room? I'm sure they could use you," Captain suggested, and I nodded gratefully. Helping to fix the engine room would give me something to do, something to take my mind off…Everything.
I did not realize where I was until I heard Tom say, "Marina?" I looked up in surprise, to find I had made it to the engine room. I smiled and pulled out my note, quickly scribbling, "Captain sent me to help." He read the note quickly and smiled, "Well alright then! C'mon and help me get the tools the men need," he said, and I smiled back and followed him…For a while. He ended up trying to lead us astray, and I took over, leading him to collect the tools.
He grinned sheepishly while thanking me, and I had to laugh at him as we loaded his bag with tools. I took an armful and we headed back, and he chatted of simple things I could answer by nodding my head. The few questions that could not be answered with a nod he guessed at until he got it right. Like my age, for example. He started at twenty and worked his way down to seventeen, and I laughed again as he went on to tell me I did not look it, and that he had expected maybe fifteen.
We made it back to the engine room and for the next few hours, we worked without stopping. Finally, the ship stopped, and I smiled, knowing we had docked for the repairs that would take more than we could offer on the sea. It was late into the night, and the men retired for now, for they were weary, and had been up many more hours than they expected to be. I smiled and bid them goodnight, staying behind until they had all disappeared.
Tom showed up and grinned, "Plannin to stay up and do it yourself?" He jested, and I grinned. I scrawled, "I need to go check on the men that were hurt." He looked at the note and said, "Mina and Jekyll are takin care of'em. I don't think ya need to worry." I smiled at him and shook my head, "Not that I don't trust Henry and Mina and the men, but I just want to make sure they're okay."
He nodded and smiled, "Yeah, I get it. Not satisfied unless ya see it yourself, huh?" he asked, and I nodded. We had made it to the hall, and needed to go separate ways. I waved to him and headed right, I did not hear him walking away, and a moment later, he called my name. I stopped and turned to look at him, and he seemed uneasy. He squirmed where he stood, before looking up at me. His eyes held sadness, and it almost scared me.
"Marina, I'm uh, real sorry about Ishmael. He was a real nice guy. It, it wasn't fair you had'a lose 'im, y'know?" he finally said, and I bit my lip, which I had already cleaned of blood. It smarted from its second biting today, and I winced, releasing it. I grabbed my note and slowly wrote, "Thank you Tom, I'm sorry about your friend as well…" I stopped, not sure if I should add it, and then wrote, "Everyone will be avenged when we beat the Fantom, together."
He read the note, and smiled. "Yeah," he said, and then he brightened, "Goodnight Marina!" he said and turned to leave. He seemed okay, but I felt bad for making him sad, and grabbed his shoulder, bidding him wait a moment longer. I scribbled my next note on a fresh sheet of paper, and tore it out. Folding it, I handed it to him and quickly stalked off before he could say anything.
I had written, "I believe Mina has fallen for you," and I could hear him chuckling as I turned the corner. I smiled and headed towards the 'sick bay,' which was just the hallway where everyone was being treated. I gasped as I saw Maitreya sitting there with his head against the wall. I rushed up to him and dropped to my knees in front of him. He opened his eyes and smiled at me with lidded eyes.
'What did you do to yourself, idiot?' I asked him, glaring. How had he managed to hurt himself when he should not have been anywhere near the bomb. He gave a crooked smile and chuckled shakily, "A bookshelf fell on me, don't remember it though. Mild concussion."
My eyes widened in shock, and I looked quickly for Henry or Mina. Speak of the devil, Mina walked in and I hurried to stand and tugged her arm. She looked down at me in shock and asked what was wrong. I pointed to Maitreya quickly, and it took her a moment to understand. "Oh, don't worry, he'll be fine. He has no memory of the accident, but that's typical of mild concussions. He has a bit of bleeding on his arm from the accident, but we'll patch him up once Dr. Jekyll comes back with the gauze." She smiled slightly at me as I let her go. "You've been working in the engine room with Sawyer, have you not? We're almost done here, its best you go to bed now. It's…been a long day for you, right?"
She smiled, but I know what she was thinking of. I looked away and nodded, leaving without checking on the other men. I knew they would be fine until I could check on them tomorrow. I could leave for now. As I turned the corner I bumped into Henry, and I managed a small smile as he asked how I was. I asked him by pointing, and he said all was well. I nodded and dropped my smile as I passed, waving goodbye.
I walked into my room and sighed. I had not stopped to think as I entered earlier, and it had not been silent and still then. With dismal spirits, I changed into my nightgown, and sat upon my bed. Just yesterday…Just yesterday Ishmael had been here. Been right in front of me, comforting me, and just today…
Just today, he told he would always be here, to back me up, so I did not ever have to worry about anything…
I am not sure when he came in, and I could not see him well through my tears. Without a word, he took me in his arms and I wept as the child I was into his shoulder. He stroked my hair softly as I shook, and I think he might have cried to, because I felt him shaking slightly after awhile. I might have just been feeling my own shakes though…
Eventually I could cry no more, and Captain laid me back into the pillow. Without words, he pulled the covers over me and kissed my forehead softly, his beard tickling my face. He drew my vanity tables chair beside me and sat beside my bed, stroking my hair once more. I fell asleep soon after, and I dreamed dreams I know longer remember, but I like to think it was happy, and I imagine I saw Ishmael smiling within it…