Other Oceans: Book Two of the Hook & Jill Saga (62 page)

She must be his partner. After all, however elegant the lady appeared, only a lady pirate would sport such a dagger, or such a pistol. Or that blood-stained hand.

“Lovely one. At last you have the pleasure to board a prize.”

“Sir, you grant my every wish.” As Cecco released her waist, she turned to study the boy. “But who is this?”

“Our guide, Madam.”

“And just a boy.” She smiled at him. “About the age I was when I ventured to the Island. And now,” she offered Cecco her scarlet hand, “a new adventure, Captain, into the future. Shall we?”

“You have heard the queen, young man. Lead the way.”

The cabin boy sought his power of speech and found it, and as he stared at this goddess, he prayed his voice wouldn’t crack this time. “Aye, aye, Sir!” He backed into a cannon, and then he took his eyes from her face and marched his brass-buckled shoes to the master’s quarters.

Two minutes later, the
Unity
’s crew sat corralled on the forecastle; most of the pirates were descending into the holds. The master’s door cracked open and the cabin boy scrambled up from the steps to stand at attention. His uncle’s voice, weakened from his ailment, issued from the doorway. “David, you’re to come in, lad, and—” he broke off, coughing. When the fit abated, he continued, his words muffled in a handkerchief. “You’re to come in, David, and uncork a bottle for us.”

The lady’s laugh glittered over the gloom again, and David hopped to his duty.

§ § §

Liza pulled the leather strap from her father’s teeth. It had helped him conceal his agony. Now he opened his mouth to test his jaw before he spoke. His teeth ached, but his back bristled with sharp, shooting pains. His voice gathered strength as he used it. “You have done surprisingly well, Liza. Now get to our cabin and take care of the other business. The men will be returning soon, and I thought I could hear— it.”

She rose, observing the first word her father had taught her to read, splayed across his back: ‘JILL.’ It was bloody, embroidered with Liza’s own stitching— and inscribed by Captain Cecco’s knife on the most deserving of parchments.

Liza shoved her sleeves up over her elbows again and collected Mr. Smee’s belongings, replacing them in their box. A heap of red-stained scraps lay piled by the door. Liza had hoped her father would lapse into oblivion so she could slip a hand in his pocket for the keys, but he had not succumbed. On the contrary, he had refused his own medication and maintained a stoic awareness, even guiding her through the stitching process.

Yet Liza was unsure what she would do with the keys if she recovered them. Hook had rejected her, three times. He wasn’t likely to open his arms to her again. Far from it. Liza doubted that Hook was able even to lift his arms; his breaths barely raised his chest. He was dying, and by Liza’s own hand. To reveal Hook’s whereabouts to ship’s company at this point must condemn not only Liza’s father, but Liza herself. And Captain Cecco held the power now. With Hook so very weakened, Cecco couldn’t be expected to relinquish the captaincy to him. Nor was anything to be gained on that front by appealing to Yulunga. At least, not from a direct appeal. He was Cecco’s man. And Liza knew Mr. Smee would be no help. These days the bo’sun strode about with Hook’s rapier at his waist. If she trusted Smee with the secret, he’d probably take one look at his master and run Liza through. No. It was better if everyone believed her to be the surgeon’s tool. The keys were best left in her father’s charge.

Hanover sighed as he prepared his tormented body for rest, but he wasn’t ready to surrender yet. He kept his voice low.

“You are to administer only enough liquid to maintain unconsciousness. I prefer you to use the ether. Every half hour.”

Disconcerted, she turned an ear toward him to verify what she’d heard.

“This is my order. No food. No liquid.”

Liza’s gray eyes rebelled, but even from his prostrate posture, the surgeon’s hand flared out to seize her arm.

“Do not dare to cross me, Liza. Sooner than you think, I will be walking. Even if I have to use my
cane
.”

She shrank from his threat, and when he released her arm, his finger marks were clearly visible, first white, then red. Tomorrow they would be purple.

Liza shook her sleeve down over her forearm. And then she left, to conceal another of her father’s secrets.

§ § §

The wind rose during the afternoon. The
Roger
groaned under it. As the day progressed, her swaying had caused the men to brace their legs and reach to secure the swinging goods from the pulley hooks. Now the hooks were stowed, the hatches battened, and hungry sailors held fast to the banisters, descending to the galley. Having gotten the ship under sail, the men in the rigging cheered their captain as, disregarding the pitch of his ship, he carried his lady along the companionway. He conveyed her over the threshold and into his quarters, an exultant smile shining across his face.

“Now, my Jill, we have captured our first prize, and the hold is filled to bursting with swag.”

“Aye, Captain. I feel I’ve captured a prize, too.” She laughed as she held up a shiny silver charm in the shape of a shamrock. “And to add to it, young David was most generous to present me with his lucky piece. All in all, a good day’s work! The men will be pleased with their choice— as I assure you, I am pleased with mine.”

He kissed her before he set her down, and then he moved to the aft windows to spy out
L’Ormonde
. “I see the ‘rescuers’ approaching already. LeCorbeau, too, will be pleased. He will glean much, I think, from his encounter with the
Unity
.”

Kneeling beside him on the window seat, Jill said, “More than he bargained for! No doubt we’ll enjoy an interesting party tonight after he learns of our ‘adventure’ aboard the
Unity
. But may we host the celebration here, Sir? I’ve had quite enough of visiting other—” She stopped, and she looked alarmed.

“Jill? What is it, my—” But Cecco heard it, too, in the interval between the
Roger
’s moanings. He reached to support her as the ship pitched again.

Her blue eyes widened, questioning. “
You
can hear it?”

He shrugged. “It is just the wind, rising as the sun sets.”

“No.” Jill gazed at Cecco, and her eyes seemed suddenly not to see him. She listened. In a moment, she heard it again.

Cecco brushed the stray strand of hair from her face. “Hush, my lovely one. All is well.”

But although her gaze didn’t leave him, her face turned, ever so slowly, away. Toward the bunk. Unwilling to abandon the comforting sight of Cecco, she indicated the port wall.

Her lover turned to look himself. His eyes searched the cabin for a moment and then stopped, riveted on a sunlit patch where the light streamed in. By the bed. His brow contracted, his brown eyes filled with disbelief. He breathed the words.

“Madre de Dio
…
!”

Jill watched as he blanched in horror, and then with his fingers he worked his gypsy banishing gesture, down from his forehead and across his breast. Quickly, he reached for Jill’s chin, to turn her face away. But it was too late. She had heard it; now she saw it. Like a slow poison, the cold of it crept its way through her veins. The
Roger
wailed.

Hanging loose against the wall, swinging with the ship’s movement, it tapped. The phantom that haunted her each night, that she believed she heard as she slept, and which she always woke to find an illusion, had returned. This time, it shone in the sinking sunlight, reflecting a bloody orange flame in its curving surface. Swinging and tapping.

The hook.

§ § §

Nibs and Tom were not allowed to attend the party. They didn’t mind. Assigned to the watch manning the ship, they welcomed the chance to come together. They hung over the rail, shoulders hunched against the wind, but sure their words would be whipped away from those who shouldn’t hear. Before them, the
Roger
bounded up and down at anchor, in tandem with
L’Ormonde
. Her lights were a reassuring sight.

“No luck in the holds, Nibs. All quiet except for the pumps.”

“I had a good look round this morning. I found two of those wedges we used to cripple the Dutch merchantman, but nothing suspicious anywhere.”

“Did you find that locked cabin, in the aft section, near the powder magazine?”

“Near the magazine? No. Might be officers’ privy.”

“No, I’ve seen that. And they don’t keep it locked.”

“I’ve noticed keys on both mates. Maybe we can slip in and pinch a set while they’re asleep tonight.”

“They won’t sleep tonight. At least, not so’s we’d want to get at them.”

Reminded of his predicament, Nibs scowled. “We’ve got to get in that cabin, Tom. And if Hook isn’t there, we’ve got to keep right on searching.”

“I’m thinking this ship isn’t all that big.”

“She’s big enough to hold a secret.”

“Maybe.” Tom rubbed the scar at his temple. “I’ve been watching the men, too, to see who goes where. One advantage of being aloft all morning.”

“I’m longing for the rigging, Tom. Lucky we met that prize today. LeCorbeau was teaching me words I never wanted to know— in French or any other language.” Nibs pulled his kerchief tighter against the wind.

“I’m with you, mate. That Guillaume’s taken a fancy to me. He shadowed me today. Thought he caught me once, down in the bilges. I was glad to hear the bell calling us to board the
Unity
, too. But I’ll think of a reason to make him open that last cabin.”

“You be careful, Tom.” Nibs frowned, and the crease between his eyebrows deepened. “I might not be able to protect you if LeCorbeau turns nasty.”

“I’ve got my knife, and I’m double Guillaume’s breadth. But let me tell you, Nibs. It makes me think. One day aboard, and you and I have been all over this vessel. Not only is there no place to hide anyone— there’s no place for anyone to hide.”

The young sailors looked at one another in the flickering light of their home ship’s lanterns. A light that, at this distance, cast more doubt than it dispelled.

§ § §

Smee had troubles, but with repairs to the
Roger
and wounds to wrap, a chance to relieve his mind took a long time coming. He felt bound to appear at the celebrations, if only for the lady’s sake, but at last he forced his way aft through the crowded galley. The lads were loud tonight, exhilarated by a full hold from the new captain’s prize, and the merriment had redoubled when
L’Ormonde
’s company boarded, toting the
Roger
’s share of their takings. The ensuing hubbub was just what Smee needed to cover his venture to the Hanover cabin. Smee knew it was vacant; the surgeon still stretched on the bunk in the spare quarters…and Miss was at the party.

Smee wasn’t the only one seizing his chances. He’d heard Yulunga’s oily voice promise the girl a present if she sat with him. She’d changed out of her blood-stained mauve into her blue dress, and not long after, her pearl ring found its way from Yulunga’s pocket to her finger. Yulunga had stood with his head bent against the beams, pressing his big hands on the ceiling, and amid the raised eyebrows of their shipmates, ordered her to fetch it out herself. Smee surmised she hadn’t minded, for although she slipped away a few minutes ago, she returned. And as she did, her gray eyes surveyed the company from the doorway. Yulunga jerked his head at her, and she picked her way through the noise to rejoin him, passing right in front of the Frenchman. Perhaps, Smee thought, with her father out of commission, she felt drawn to the next man who offered to command her. She didn’t smile, but tonight, somehow, Yulunga had gotten permission to touch her. And— to all appearances— not only from his captain.

Before leaving the galley, Smee turned to check on the lady again. She sat caught between the captains. Smee was especially concerned for her tonight. She had to keep up the play-acting for LeCorbeau, pretending to struggle against Cecco’s domination. But she looked genuinely tired tonight, almost wan. It was lucky she hadn’t come to harm this afternoon aboard the
Unity
. Smee’s angry gaze settled on the captain, who, under LeCorbeau’s beady eye, sat enthroned on Hook’s own chair and pulled Jill’s hand through the crook of his elbow. Obediently, she leaned against Cecco, but she engaged the French captain with her furtive glances.

Smee couldn’t imagine what possessed the gypsy to allow her to board a prize today, and so soon after surrender. Hook had expressly forbidden it. But Jill could handle herself, and although she seemed distracted now, Smee had seen that this afternoon’s change of scene made her happy, if only for a little while. It put a bit of color in her cheeks after the carving she’d witnessed this morning. Smee’s only regret concerning that incident was that he hadn’t cut the bloody bastard personally. The surgeon had gotten his comeuppance, at the hands of the only man aboard more contemptible than himself. Hanover, at any rate, had yet to commit mutiny. The bo’sun felt the weight of Hook’s sword at his side, and with another glare for Cecco, he patted it. Smee’s opportunity would come.

He closed the galley door and made his way aft, grudgingly conceding that the gypsy was probably right to allow the lady’s boarding. Any kind of adventure was good for Jill. She’d spent too many hours shut up in her quarters, writing. True to his promise to Hook, Smee watched her as attentively as ever, but from a distance. Nibs and Tom were banished, and Smee had a suspicion that, aside from Cecco’s demands, her stories were the only thing that took her mind off Hook’s demise. If only Smee could talk with her, he’d ask her to let him read one. Then he’d know the bent of her thoughts. The way he used to know, in the first days, when he’d cherished the pleasure of waiting on her. Alone together, behind the master’s door.

Lost in his thinking, Smee startled to hear the sound again. It floated over the revelry of the galley. A haunting chink of metal, and a growl of a groan. Recalled to life, Smee’s attention focused again on the surgeon’s door, shadowy in the flicker of the lantern. He listened for movement in the middle cabin and heard nothing from there. Hanover must be resting. Peering around the gun deck, Smee found himself alone. He adjusted his spectacles, laid a hand on the knob of the starboard quarters, and opened it.