Author's Note:
Now it's time to fire up the voyage. Hurray!
John Silver tossed his duffel bag under the hammock he had set up in the crew's quarters, and walked out onto the main deck.
There he spotted a young woman, looking to be only a few years younger than him, standing on the main deck with a single bag clasped between her gloved hands. Her face was turned away from him so that he could only see the raven-black hair pile in a loose bun at the nape of her neck. Her deep green skirt just barely touched the flawless main deck, and the woman wore an ivory blouse beneath a velvety dress coat in the same deep green with brass buttons down its front.
She seemed out of place, and far too formally dressed for just any voyage. John then realized that this voyage was of more importance than he had expected. After giving himself an once-over, ensuring that he was presentable, John made his way towards the young woman.
"An' what's a bonny lass like yourself doin' on a ship?" He asked.
The young woman turned to face him and smiled weakly. "I'm afraid that's what I've been asking myself a fair few times."
John paused, drinking in the fairness of the young woman's facial features. She had wide, enchanting eyes of the palest green, a pair of naturally rosy cheeks that contrasted nicely with her ivory complexion. Her lips were full and needed no makeup to obtain their light pink hue, her eyebrows arched gently to give her face a soft appearance, and she had both a delicate chin and jaw.
Rebecca surveyed the young man closely, as she sensed that he was doing the same. He had a sturdy build, but wasn't entirely a mass of muscle. Her head only came up to his broad shoulders. He looked to be only a few years her senior, wearing a long black coat over a loose tawny shirt and a pair of black trousers, held up by a thick leather belt with a brass buckle. He wore a similar tri-pointed hat as the captain, though his was made of a deep brown hue of leather, and it covered his short dark brown hair. His face, though it was wide, was kind looking. He had a broad facial features, but his eyes seemed to soften them, as they were the gentlest coal-black with their own inner spark.
Rebecca cleared her throat, drawing her attention away from the young sailor, as she bashfully turned away to hide her minute blush. "You wouldn't happen to be able to tell me what it is I'm to do during a ship launch, would you?"
The young man chuckled friendlily. "First voyage, lass?" He inquired. Rebecca mutely nodded. The young man nodded in understanding. "Well, there's nothing teh it." He cleared his throat. "I'll help yeh through the launch as it goes along."
"That would be most helpful, um…" Rebecca paused, pushing a loose tendril of raven black hair behind her ear. "I apologize, I forgot to ask your name."
"Oh, it's me own fault for not introducin' myself." The sailor stated. "Name's Silver, John Silver." He tipped his hat to Rebecca. "At yer service."
Before Rebecca could introduce herself, Captain Mantra's booming voice called out to his hired crew. "Prepare for launch!"
Another voice of equal commanding air shouted orders to the sailors as the tall ship began to vibrate with power.
Rebecca was silenced with a mixed feeling of fear and curiosity, but knowing that the new acquaintance she had made would be helping her through the launch put her at ease.
As the Siren's Sonnet began to rise up in the port, putting space between the port town of New Hastings and the hull of the ship, Rebecca felt herself choke back tears as she was leaving behind the world she once knew.
Suddenly, Rebecca felt light as air and -when she looked down- she alarmingly found herself floating a few inches above the main deck. She looked beside her up at John Silver, who was at perfect ease with the phenomenon.
He cleared his throat. "Just brace yourself teh land on yer feet, lass, we have teh initiate the artificial gravity first."
Though confused by his words, Rebecca tried to prepare to land on her feet and looked down at the deck.
A violet glow passed over the deck, and the ship groaned. Gravity took effect and everyone landed back into his or her places.
Rebecca stumbled a bit as she tried to gain her footing, but she looked up at John Silver and nodded that she was all right.
"Good job." He congratulated her. "First-time sailors tend teh land on their faces."
Rebecca giggled at the thought and smiled genuinely up at the young man. He couldn't help but smile back.
The ship rumbled once more as the elegant solar sails were fanned out upon the three masts, each sail absorbing the bright sunlight.
"Now pay attention, lass." John Silver instructed. "We're going the launch outta the port, an' we'll do so quickly."
Rebecca looked up at the sailor frightfully.
John simply calmed her with a raised hand. "But don't yeh fret, I'll teach yeh how teh avoid flying off the ship." He leaned forwards, with his weight on his bent leg, and his other leg stretched behind him. "This is how yeh brace yourself."
Rebecca copied him. "Like this?" She inquired.
"Yeh got it." John nodded approvingly.
"Fire Away!" Captain Mantra yelled.
The tall ship blasted forwards at full throttle, launching out of the port. Rebecca -caught unawares from the might of the launch- lost her footing and stumbled backwards into John. The young man caught her in his arms, still bracing himself to the main deck to keep them both from flying backwards.
Once the Siren's Sonnet had cleared the port town, leaving its limits at the stern of the ship, the ship's engines powered down to a steady pace.
The pounding in Rebecca's ears of her own heartbeat began to wane as she calmed down from the ship's launching. She let loose the breath she hadn't known that she had been holding and she looked up at the young man holding her steady.
John Silver released his hold on her and stood up properly. Could it be her imagination, or were his cheeks a hue darker than she had first noticed?
Rebecca stood up and rubbed the back of her head nervously. "Um… thank you, Mister Silver. For helping me." She felt her cheeks flush with heat.
Before John could think up a reply, a voice answered from behind them. "Lady Clarke?"
Rebecca turned to face a tall, wiry man wearing a red overcoat with tawny trousers and polished knee-high boots. He wore a militaristic sword and pistol at his hip, both in sheaths. The man's hair was completely concealed under his black tri-pointed hat, which accented his rust coloured eyes and sharp facial features.
"Yes?" Rebecca looked up at the man.
"I'll show you to your accommodations." He nodded towards the entrance to the cabins just below the helm of the ship.
"All right." Rebecca agreed and began following the man towards the aft.
John stood dumbfounded from this information. A lady? Such a title was so noble-blooded that it nearly reached that of royalty. So this was an important voyage… and he had so stupidly treated this woman as if she were a commoner. The young sailor pulled off his hat and raked a hand through his hair. He had called her 'lass' for crying out loud!
"This will be your cabin for the voyage, Ma'am." The man pushed open the door next to the captain's quarters and motioned for Rebecca to enter the room.
Rebecca stepped into her new quarters and looked around. A four-poster bed, a desk and chair, and a small dresser; all of the furniture was securely bolted to the floor of the cabin. A few lanterns hung in fixed brackets along the walls, and the wall facing the door had two portholes.
"If you require anything, Miss Clarke, please don't hesitate to ask." The man in red politely stated as he prepared to let her be.
"Thank you, Mister…"
"Mantra, Tristan Mantra. I'm the Captain's son, and the first mate."
Rebecca nodded. "Well then thank you very much, Master Mantra, your hospitality is phenomenal."
The first mate smiled weakly and left Rebecca to her accommodations. Rebecca wondered to herself, 'Is it just a trick of the lighting, or does he have green eyebrows?'
Author's Note:
Man, I love this motivational epiphany that's triggered all of these chapters. I brought together all of the gaps in the plot while on a summer road trip, and now I've started writing them up. Thanks, as always, to you readers for the amazing reviews, and to Whisperwings for loyally betaing these chapters.
MG#6