Chapter Forty-Three

Home Is Where The Heart Is

Daniel crouched beneath the gunwale of his ship. Foaming spray and cold seawater hit him with regular monotony as the vessel ploughed through the waves, making maximum speed with every sail her busy crew could possibly set without ripping the ship apart upon the sea.

Their Captain endured the wet and the cold with stoic indifference. There was a far greater plan at play here and he waited patiently for the right moment.

The sun was rising from the ocean beyond the starboard side. Rays of bright light sparkled across the dark waters. And on the grey, barnacled hide of the monster beast that was still following them like a bloodhound on a fresh scent.

Daniel's crewmen were stationed watchfully at the rail, above in the rigging and high up in the crow's nest. Mr Jarvis maintained their southerly course while casting doubtful looks above to the straining rigging. The sails creaked and groaned as the rising wind tried to tear them from their anchor points or shred them in the rigging to flap uselessly.

Elroy Applegate held his breath, willing the ship to slow down. He was perched atop some oil-skinned bales of deck cargo next to his old sail master. They held on firmly to the binding ropes as they watched all their hard work and preparation being so hardly used.

"Don't give up…" Elroy pulled a discontented face. He hated going up into the rigging. He had no head for heights.

But he was the old sail master's bonded apprentice and as such he needed to know each and every aspect of a working sail in all weathers. All the stresses and strains that could be applied to the rough canvas and how far it would go before it would tear away and be lost at sea. His master's valued reputation was on the line.

"They're not gonna hold," Elroy whispered worriedly. "They surely can't hold."

"They'll hold well enough…" Old Alfred cleared his phlegmy throat pointedly and spat onto the water-soaked deck. "I'd bet my pension on it." He spat again, trying not to look as worried as he felt. "Captain knows what he's doin'. That's why he's the captain and we's his crew."

"But what's he doing?" Elroy asked quickly, looking to where Daniel was still crouched down beneath the gunwale, seemingly unaware of the giant whale that was still pursuing them. "Don't look like anything to me. That great beast wants to sink us."

"Oh, aye, you'll see. The Captain knows right enough…" Old Alfred knuckled his lined forehead with respect. "We've done this blasted dance before with that there cursed demon." He spat in the direction of the giant whale breaching behind them once more.

"Demon?" Elroy's eyebrows crawled up his forehead in shock. "What demon?"

"Why that blasted great beastie out there…" Old Alfred pointed with his thumb. "And that black storm we sailed afore last night. It's all of a part."

It was bad luck and unheard of for any self-respecting seaman to point with his forefinger. It brought bad luck down on him and his crew. Another lesson he'd managed to drum into the green and unseaworthy Elroy Applegate the one and only time he'd made the awful mistake. He'd been foolish enough to point a quivering forefinger at the great whale and be roundly sworn at for the dreadful oversight.

"A demon, you say…" Elroy whistled, feeling the hair rise on the back of his neck.

He kept his hands down and away from temptation. He glanced up at the gulls that were now flying alongside and above the ship. Their plaintive cries spoke of land not being too far below the southern horizon and he prayed they'd all live to see it.

"Oh, aye, it's him all right. And a bloody great coward to boot." Old Alfred nodded with grim satisfaction. "You watch, my laddie and learn. There's more than one way to skin a cat." He chuckled. "Or in this case, givin' a great damn beastie the pasting he deserves. We'll come right enough. You'll see. Then it's for the Azores we'll sail."

He sighed regretfully. "And some of the prettiest women you're ever likely to see, my boy. I surely had my share of them in days long gone by. Dusky maidens all and glad they were to have me. Now they wouldn't give me the time of day because my pockets don't jingle as much as they used to." He sighed again.

"All right…" Elroy wasn't really listening as he cast another long look up at the straining sails and prayed, he would not be sent aloft any time soon to make repairs. He hated heights.

But demons… He frowned fearfully at the great whale as it rose into the air behind them. It was steadily gaining with every new lunge.

No one had told him he would encounter such a creature when he said he wanted to go to sea. Fire-breathing dragons, terrifying, multi-armed Krakens and beautiful, singing sirens abounded in sea lore, all seeking to carry an honest seaman down to Davy's Jones' locker and a watery doom. But not one old seaman had said a single word that there also be demons…

※※※※※

"Honest, Captain, Sir…" The Rebecca's cook stood before Lucius, twisting his cap between his hands. "I'd rather face the Kraken itself or any number of them sea sirens than serve that woman another meal."

"Duly noted, Benson…" Lucius sighed. "But I took her coin in good faith and agreed to carry her home to Boston. And I will do that."

The cook brightened. "Oh, but Sir. She's gone and taken herself off to a suite in the best hotel ashore, so I'm told. We're all repaired, victualed and the men are rested and eager to set sail again. We could slip out of harbour tonight and be on our way before she even knows we've sailed."

"Then she would be the next unwary captain's worry…" Lucius nodded slowly.

"Aye, Sir!" Benson gasped. "Couldn't be simpler. Just say the word."

"And ruin the reputation of our shipping company in no short order," Lucius replied grimly. "Not on my watch. As tempting as such a suggestion might be, we are obliged to complete what we started out to do."

He stood up from behind his cabin's desk. "The woman would spread the word of her foul treatment aboard my ship, far and wide. And bad news gets around while the truth is still putting on its boots."

He clasped the cook by one bowed shoulder. "I will do my best to placate the woman. But carry her back to Boston we will, and we must."

"Aye, Sir…" Benson knuckled his forehead dismally.

"A bonus?" Lucius raised his brows. "Will a handsome payout for your troubles suffice?"

"Oh, aye, Sir!" The cook brightened a little. "Mrs Benson's always sayin' we never have enough. Not with eight mouths to feed and another wee one on the way." He looked shifty. "A handsome payout, you said. How much, if I may ask?"

Lucius frowned then shook his head. He named a figure that made the cook's eyes open wide. All of a sudden, he was very obsequious. "For that amount, Captain, I'd be happy to serve the very devil himself!" He saluted smartly and turned to leave the cabin.

Lucius looked after him. "I can only hope it doesn't come to that." He ran a hand up and around the back of his neck. "Good luck with Turner, Captain Gregg. I hope by all that's holy you can best the demon once more…"

He frowned through the main cabin's huge window. The sun was rising from the ocean beyond their starboard side. Rays of bright light sparkled across the harbour waters. It was going to be another fine day, warm and sunny.

He knew the ship and her crew were eager to be gone from these foreign islands. They'd been too long at sea and his men pined for hearth and home, despite the temptations of the dusky maidens ashore. All he had to do was give the order and they would do the rest.

Lucius shook his head. They would have one more day of blessed and unalloyed peace before the countess returned aboard and took up where she left off. He well knew a lesser man would have abandoned her to her fate. The temptation was there, raw and appealing.

"Bah and blast the cursed woman!" He turned away from the window and went to seek comfort in a good cigar and welcome a glass of rum. "The sun's got to be over the yardarm somewhere…"

※※※※※

Carolyn stood at the rail of the widow's walk, shading her eyes with one raised hand as she looked far out to sea. The sun was rising from the ocean beyond the horizon. Rays of bright light sparkled across the restless waters of the vast Atlantic. It was going to be another fine day, warm and sunny.

But as before, there was nothing to be seen beyond wheeling gulls and someone walking a dog along the beach below the house. She tried to stifle her sigh of disappointment. The long days of waiting were slowly sapping her strength.

She also kept an eye on the road leading up to the front gate. Soon young Jack would appear to deliver his daily message from Claymore. She prayed that this time the boy would bring good news. Surely one of the ships making landfall knew something or had heard a rumour being whispered on the wind.

Daniel had told her that was how messages were carried between ships at sea. On the wind or in the ripples of the waves. Sometimes they were even written in the stars above. Carolyn had stood on the walk looking up in the night, but she could not see nor read anything into those sparkling points of cold, white light. She'd lifted a denying shoulder and gone back to watching the horizon.

She knew the Schooner Bay harbour master was now at his wit's end. Claymore had commandeered the man's office and refused to leave. The master had been driven to send a strongly worded letter of complaint up to Gull Cottage, begging Carolyn to make her uncle see sense.

Carolyn had smiled at the letter, the one bright point in her endless waiting. She had sat down to pen a careful reply. She did take her time to point out the one incontrovertible fact that, as a mere woman, how could she possibly command her uncle to do anything against his wishes? He was a man, and she, a helpless female. Her hands were tied, and she could only wait and pray for her husband's safe return.

Now, if the harbourmaster could see his way clear to making this joyous event happen sooner rather than later? The man did not reply, and Carolyn heard nothing more from him on the subject of her uncle's unwanted invasion.

Martha poked her head up through the ladder opening. "No sails to be seen yet?"

"Not, not a one." Carolyn shrugged. "But I do have the strangest feeling all is going to be well. That we are going to know something today. I can't explain why or how." She shook her head slowly.

"Well, I say, never deny a good gut instinct," Martha replied stoutly as she climbed up to set a covered tray of food down on the small table. "Now, come away from there, sit down and eat. The children have all had their breakfast. I've set them to clearing the table and washing the dishes. Oh, and Henry's cutting another tooth, so he's not a happy wee man."

She shook her head. "I've put him back to bed with a cold teething ring. You know, that one the captain gave you. The lovely mother of pearl one with the silver bell."

"A gift from the Bey of Tunis," Carolyn replied softly. "Yes, I remember. Oh, poor Henry…" she sympathised as she left the rail and took the chair at the table. "His cheeks have been red these last few days."

Martha seated herself comfortably on the second chair. "Yes, they're all growing up so fast." She nodded toward Carolyn's rounded abdomen. "I'm looking forward to having another wee baby in the house. I do so miss those days of diapers and feeding times." She sighed happily.

Carolyn reached to clasp her hand across the table. "Thank you for looking after me so well. I don't know what I would do without you to mother me."

"Well, we're not ever going to find out…" Martha sniffed. "You're all the family I've got. You're stuck with me."

She waved a hand at the tray of food. "Now you eat up. Or I'll have the captain on my tail, complaining I'm not fattening you up enough. That baby needs to have a good square meal three times a day and then supper."

Both women laughed comfortably together as Carolyn spread her buttered slice of thick toast with some strawberry conserve. Neither of them heard or saw the front gate open and close as young Jack hurried through with his latest message fresh from the docks. He was smiling and very eager to impart the news he'd brought.

※※※※※

"What's he doing now?" Elroy demanded to know, watching his captain making furtive movements beneath the shelter of the gunwale.

"He's getting ready to strike," Old Alfred replied. "It's all about the timing. The captain's a past master at it. He's done this before."

"Timing with what?" Elroy questioned.

"See there…" Old Alfred sighed as he pointed with his thumb to what was lying on the deck close to Daniel's hand. "Many a whale has felt the prick of the Captain's famed harpoon. You got eyes, boy, can't you see? Mine be old but I sees well enough."

"That's a harpoon…" Elroy leaned closer to look. "But that whale is huge."

"That's as may be…" Old Alfred spat again. "But that weapon's a real special one. No one can stand against its power. Not even a demon."

He creaked to his feet, stretching his old bones. "Come on and I'll show you. We'll be needed soon enough."

"Soon enough for what?" Elroy followed him, casting an anxious eye upwards at the straining sails.

The entire vessel creaked and groaned with its own song as it tore through the creaming waves. Everyone aboard was wet through but there were no grumbles or complaints of protest as every man waited and watched for their captain's signal.

They were like leashed bloodhounds straining eagerly towards a fresh scent. One flick of their captain's poised hand and they would spring willing into action and then all hell would break loose onboard.

※※※※※

Vanessa boarded the Rebecca at an acceptable hour of the morning for a lady to be seen abroad. A trail of hotel porters walked up the gangplank behind her, carrying her many trunks and boxes back to her cabin.

"As you can see, Captain, I have done you the courtesy of returning to your ship earlier than I'd planned." She stopped beside Lucius, looking up at him with a look of cool satisfaction in her dark eyes. "I am very pleased to see you did not think to set sail without me. I did hear a few rumours from among your crew. It would not have gone well for you if you had."

"You paid me well to carry you to Boston and carry you there, I will," Lucius replied through set teeth. "A bargain is a bargain."

"I'm very glad to hear it," Vanessa purred. "I do hope your crew is also of the same frame of mind. I would hate to be lost overboard on the way home in some unfortunate mishap."

She fixed him with an icy stare as she picked up the fullness of her skirts in both hands. "Now, the sun is almost overhead, and I'm told we will be sailing on the tide."

She turned away, looking back at Lucius over her elegantly clad shoulder. "I shall require my luncheon to be served in my cabin within the hour. Then I shall take my afternoon nap. I hope such a small task is not beyond your capabilities." She nodded as she walked away toward the forward hatch.

Lucius didn't reply as he stared after her. He could think of nothing to say that wouldn't be an insult to the blasted woman's feminine ears!

※※※※※

Elroy inched closer to the long length of highly polished hardwood lying on the deck next to his captain's bent knee. The haft had been carved with fantastical designs and the outline of gruesome beasts. There were dark stains among the carvings that he had to guess had been made by the blood of its victims. The wooden part ended halfway along the weapon, giving way to a stout shaft of dark grey metal that terminated in a wicked-looking arrowhead with viciously barbed points.

Strong hemp rope had been fixed around the butt of the wooden shaft and then the end ran into a heavy coil of rope on the deck. Elroy had seen enough of such lethal weapons to know that any whaler worth his salt wouldn't wish to lose such a prized weapon to any sounding beast.

"What are we needed for?" he whispered to Old Alfred.

The old sail master grinned gleefully, showing the stumps of teeth worn down from years of chewing hides to soften them for use. "You'll soon see. We's the distraction."

"Distraction from what?" Elroy asked fearfully.

Old Alfred tapped the side of his nose with one forefinger and his grin widened. "Not from what, my lad. It's from a who." He pointed with his thumb toward the great beast that was steadily gaining on them. "We's to distract that great beastie's attention from our Captain. That's who."

Elroy's knees threatened to buckle with fear. "Ah, how does he plan for us to do that? We could be killed." He stared astern at the great grey whale.

"Oh, you're not to worry. It's an old trick, my lad. We've used it before. We's gonna get that great big coward so good and mad he'll not see what's comin' his way until it's too late."

※※※※※

Candy clambered up the ladder and onto the walk. She paused to regain her breath. "Jack's here," she finally managed to say. "He said he's got some good news at last."

Carolyn put aside her food and stood up immediately. "Oh, all our prayers have finally been answered!"

"Come on…" Martha waved her mistress toward the ladder. "Let's get down there and see what the boy has to tell us."

Carolyn didn't need any further urging. She ran for the ladder and hurried down it as quickly as she dared. Martha followed her down into the wheelhouse and then through the house to where Claymore's young messenger was standing in the foyer, anxiously wringing his cap between his hands. Jonathan was hovering impatiently next to him. The lad was out of breath and Jonathan had supplied him with a welcome glass of water.

"You have news?" Caroly asked anxiously, stopping at the bottom of the stairs.

"Not only news…" Jack puffed out his chest. "But some good news at last. Mr Gregg desired me to bring it to you without delay." He looked very pleased with himself.

"Well, that is it?" Martha demanded. "What do you know, boy?"

"Oh, sorry…" The young clerk reached into the pocket of his coat and pulled out a folded note. He held it out and Carolyn could see his hand was trembling.

"What does it say?" Candy asked, watching him anxiously. "Is the Captain coming home? Is he safe?"

Jack looked briefly crestfallen, then he rallied. "Oh, no, this is not about the captain. This note's about the Rebecca. She was seen sailing for the Azores some days out from safe harbour in Horta. The Marion saw her just before she sailed over the horizon and headed home for Schooner Bay."

He twisted his cap further. "Well, she told the Seagull, a faster ship. And then the Seagull told the Snow Goose, a true greyhound. And so it went, all the way back here until the Luciana sailed home into Schooner Bay just this very morning carrying the good news."

"They all passed the message along?" Carolyn stared at him with her fingers pressed to her open lips.

She could hear Daniel whispering inside her mind and she clung to the sound of his beloved voice. 'Messages are often carried between ships at sea. On the wind or in the ripples of the waves. Sometimes they are even written in the stars...'

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