Raised By Wolves Volume four- Wolves (68 page)

gesture.We abandoned speaking. I chafed his clammy limbs and

he finally moved such that my back was to the tree trunk and he was pressed in front ofme with his limbs inside mine for warmth. I thought that perhaps we should seek Pete and Chris, but I knew being touched by faceless hands would possibly bring a return of my madness. At last the winds lessened. We pulled our blanket fromour bags and wrapped it around us. We slept.

I woke to birdsong and dappled sunlight. We were covered in leaves and smallbranches. My jaw hurt and my body ached. I was thirsty and starving. Gaston appeared worse than I felt, and I held himclose withworry.

He smiled weakly before opening his eyes. “How are we?”he asked hoarsely.
“Better, muchbetter; but miserable,”I said.
There was snoring all around. A large tree limb had almost fallen atop us. I checked to see that it had not pinned or injured our friends: both pairs seemed well enough, though still asleep.
“What happened?”mymanasked.
I told him what I could remember of the sensation and that it had reminded me ofThorp. “I amsurprised,”I finished.
He nodded thoughtfully. “Do not be, I was lost to it as well. It was myHorse that struck you.”
I smiled. “Well, I forgive Him.”
He chuckled and kissed me lightly. “I do not feel we have trulystumbled giventhe circumstances.”
Neither did I: it made me wonder what other dramas might have occurred amongthe menofthe
Fortune
, or were we truly the only ones who could be driven mad by darkness and a tempest?
“Is it over?” Chris asked from the basket of his stillsleeping matelot’s limbs. “It stopped before, but Pete said it was a trick, and thenit started again.”
“There is a hole in the middle of the great storms,” Gaston said hoarsely, and I searched for our lashed-down water bottle. “The winds go around the center. So first you get hit from one direction, and thenfromthe other once the middle passes.”
“Whendid the center pass?”I asked.
“Youwere unconscious,”he leaned close to whisper.
I chuckled. “The things I choose to miss…”
He laughed and squeezed me tight.
When we emerged fromthe trees and found the sun, we discovered it was late afternoon. The stormcould be seen to the west, running fromhorizon to horizon. We counted our blessings and thanked the Divine in whatever form we chose. No one appeared to be injured beyond a few bruises; though one pair of men had been trapped under a fallen tree and it took the rest of us to lift it and free them.
We made our way through the storm-torn forest to the
Fortune
, and cheered when we found her still upon the sand— though barely. Several of the trees we had anchored her with had been torn free. Donovan, Rodent, and Harry hurried around her, inspecting the damage. Her hull and masts seemed intact, but her fore-mast spar was badly damaged and would have to be replaced. She could sail, though—enough to get us back to

the bay.We sent two men to run up the coast to the cave. The

rest of us spent the remaining hours of daylight freeing the ship fromthe trees and lines. The men returned with happy news that though the cargo was sodden—as the cave had been thoroughly flooded—it was still there and intact. They had brought a few bottles of rum, and so we set about gathering drier pieces of firewood. Thankfully we were successful in getting some wood to burn, and bythe time the peacefuldarkness ofnight had fallen, we were able to sit about a warmfire and toast our survival and Donovan’s gut. Gaston and I curled together near the heat and slept like babes.

It took all the next day to get the
Fortune
afloat, return to the cave, and reload most of the cargo. Donovan chose to leave some of it secreted away, but he knew if we had to sail here every time he wished to trade with another captain, someone would become suspicious and follow us.

We spent the night of the Eighth aboard the ship, anchored in the cove beside the cave. I was happy to sleep on drywood.

On the Ninth we returned to the bay and found every ship in the fleet aground except two—the
Lilly
and another sloop—and apparently they had only been returned to water yesterday. A few had been grounded purposefully to save them as we had done to the
Fortune
, but most had been thrown there by Poseidon. It could have been much worse, they could have beenwashed inthe other directionand dashed onthe reefor lost at sea.

As we learned these details and Donovan began to send men ashore to assist in floating other craft, my companions and I were at a loss for what we should do. The need for strongbacks and extra hands was great, and apparently many men had been injured; but we did not wish to show ourselves on shore. Any of us would be recognized—save Chris, who could do little work.

The matter was taken from our hands when a boat

 

rowed alongside. “Ahoy! Who is captain here?” Morgan

rowed alongside. “Ahoy! Who is captain here?” Morgan demanded from the boat. We could not see him, as he was below the gunwale of the
Fortune
, but I recognized his voice quite well.

Donovan frowned and stood from where he had been helpingassess what rope we could spare to use onshore.
I grabbed his arm and motioned for quiet. “Morgan,” I whispered.
He frowned and looked to Harry who was standing lookingdownat the boat.
“Our captainis Donovan, Admiral,”Harrycalled out.
“Permission to come aboard. I would speak to him,” Morgansaid withpomp and bluster.
“Ofcourse, sir,”Harrysaid.
Donovan looked worry and pointed at me and the hatch to the hold.
I thought frantically, as I had been doing since hearing Morgan. We could hide, but if we were found out—or rather, when Morgan later knew we had been here all along—he would know Donovan lied and dislike him for it. Donovan had been good to us: the least I could do for him was not to bring Morgan’s wrathdownuponhis endeavors.
I looked to Gaston and he shrugged. I turned back to Donovan and shrugged. Donovan shrugged in return and we smiled at one another. Then he was straightening his hat as Morgan—dressed in heavy leather boots and a fine linen shirt, with a hat shoved tight over his abundant, dark hair—clambered over the gunwale.

“Well, look who it is,” I said cheerily before Morgan

“Well, look who it is,” I said cheerily before Morgan could straighten.
He stood and looked to me with surprise. Then recognition lit his mustachioed face and I found myself charged and embraced.
“When? How?” Morgan sputtered as he pounded my back heartily.
“A few weeks ago withthis vessel,”I said witha grin.
“Then why have I not heard ofit?”he said with mounting

ire. “Because I heard you were offering a reward for my

 

delivery,” I teased. “I have learned not to trust men who willpay coinfor myhide.”

He swore vehemently, and his eyes narrowed with speculation as he glanced at Donovan and the others around us. He put a hand on my shoulder and pulled me toward the quarterdeck and spoke quietly. “It is not like that.”

I awarded hima guileless, but unapologetic shrug. “Truly,” he cajoled. “I have heard nothing. No one else is seeking you save me. And I was merely concerned for you. I wished youat myside this year.”
“For myexcellent—yet rusty—Castilian?”
He grinned. “Aye, and your wit.” He looked about. “Who allis here? Your man, Lord Montren? Striker?”
“Gaston, Pete—no Striker—Gaston’s cousin, and Cudro and his man, Ash.”
“So few? MyLord, Will, the last I saw ofyou, you were being carried off by that bastard Thorp. I was very relieved when I heard your men had rescued you and you were on when I heard your men had rescued you and you were on

Tortuga.”I was torn. I knew him for a conniving bastard, but he

seemed quite sincere. And he had not beenpartyto Thorp’s raid upon the house. He was actually the only reason Thorp had not been able to take everyone. Yet, he had been in collusion all alongwithModyford concerningmyfather and their ambitions.

“It is a long story,” I said. “It will take a good bottle of rum.”And I was sure I would not trulytellhimmuchofit.
“Good,” he said with reliefat my change in mien. “Let us drink, then. But first, how did you come to be here on this vessel, and...”
I waved himoff and turned himback to Donovan. “This is Captain Donovan. He has become a good friend. And as you have offered a reward, and he has had the good fortune of being the one to deliver me here—and aye, there is quite the story there—I would see himrewarded. And not fromthe booty.”
Morgan sighed and doffed his hat to bow to Donovan, who did likewise. “IfWillsays you deserve it, then I’llgladly pay you and your men a bounty—from my funds and not the treasure. But first, tell me how it is that you sailed before the storm?”
Donovan looked quite pleased. “Thank you kindly, Admiral. As to the sailin’, it be me gut. I have a sense ’bout such things. I can smell a storm or a Spaniard. We sailed ’round to the north, an’ beached me ship near high ground, where she might gainsome protectionfromthe cliffs.”
“Why the bloody Hell did you not warn the rest of us?” Morgandemanded good-naturedly.
Morgandemanded good-naturedly.
“Oh, come now,” I scoffed. “Would you have believed him?”
Morgansighed and shrugged. “Nay.”
Donovanlaughed. “I take no offense inthat.”
“I would believe you now,” Morgan added. He looked about. “So did youtake muchdamage?”
“Just the for’ard spar,”Donovansaid.
“Excellent. I ampleased we have another ship afloat.”
“We’ll be doin’ all we can with helpin’ the others,” Donovansaid.
“I’msure you will, as brothers we all are,” Morgan said. He began to look about and spied Gaston. He bowed deeply. “Lord Montren, it is good to see you.”
“Thank you, Admiral,” my matelot said with an appropriate bow.
Cudro and Ash had joined us, with Pete and Chris followingthem.
Morgan spied Cudro and grinned; though I was sure they hardly knew one another. “It is good to see you,” he told Curdo, gave a cursory glance to Ash, and looked past them to Pete. “Well, Pete, where is your matelot? We could use himand his fine ship—and the Bard, for God’s sake.”
Pete snorted. “StrikerBeWith’IsWifeAn’
Ar
Ship. SomeplaceSafe. ThisBeMeNewMatelot, Chris.”
Morgan glanced at Chris and froze. I saw curiosity and then recognition light his eye. My heart leapt and my stomach roiled. Chris dipped his head inpolite greeting, but I could see he had seen what I had, and when he looked away worry was had seen what I had, and when he looked away worry was alreadytighteninghis fine features.
Morganlooked to me withcuriosityand speculation.
“There is much I have to tell you,” I said lightly. “We made a hasty retreat from Cayonne; and Gaston’s
cousin
, Christien, was dragged along with us unexpectedly. We did not come here to raid.”
His brow furrowed, and I could see him biting back

words.“Let us go and share a bottle,”he said at last.

I supposed there was no escapingit; yet, Gastonand our friends and I needed to discuss much. “Of course, but let us do that tonight. While there is still light, perhaps we common sailors with strong backs should assist with the ships. And, as a physician, I am sure there is much Gaston can do ashore as

well.” “Of course,” Morgan said as if he had not forgotten his

fleet lay upon the sand and marsh grass all over the end of the island. “Come to the
Lilly
at sunset and we willtalk.” “Gastonand I willbe pleased to accept your invitation.”
Morgan smiled, doffed his hat in parting to everyone and left the vessel.
We stood about in awkward silence and quiet cursing untilhe had rowed beyond the range ofa keenman’s ear.
“Thank you,”Donovansaid at last.
“You are most welcome,” I said. “I would not have him angry with you, and you might as well profit fromhis largesse— whatever its reason.”
“Do ya trust him?”Harryasked.
“Nay, not completely. He is an ambitious man. He has done well by us before, though; so Gaston and I will meet with him. Now, if you will excuse us, I need to discuss a few things withmycompanions, and thenwe willjoinyouonshore.”
Donovan clapped my shoulder. “Take yur time, there be no hurry. Those ships nat be goin’ anyplace.” Then he leaned closer. “Me gut don’t like ’imat all.”
I smiled. “Mine neither.”
The sixofus retreated to the bow.
“He recognized me,”Chris hissed inEnglish.
“I saw that,”I said.
Cudro and Ashcursed. Gastonnodded withresignation.
“Aye,” Pete sighed. “NowWhat? ’ELookedAsIfYaBeAGiftFromThe Gods.”
“Aye,” I sighed. “And it cannot be due to my excellent translation skills. I suppose we willnot know untiltonight, ifthen. I doubt this is a gift to us fromthe Gods.”

One Hundred and Eight Wherein We Are Swallowed by The Beast of Many Heads

Our cabaldiscussed our options to little avail. Cudro was hopeful of another course. “This ship can’t cross the Great Sea and get us to England, but I’m sure Donovancould be hired to take us up to the Englishcolonies.”
Ash was apparently missing the point of the entire endeavor. “Perhaps we should rove. Chris is passing as a man wellenough.”
Chris was adamant. “I will not be sent to Jamaica. I would rather die.”
Pete was contemplating treachery. “NoMatterWhat, TheyNa’GetAllO’UsOnOneShip.”
My matelot was thoughtful yet resigned. “We still have time before we have to decide anything. We should probably lie to Morgan and agree to whatever he wants until the French

arrive.”I decided we could truly decide nothing until we heard

 

what Morganhad to say.

Thus we went ashore with most of Donovan’s crew and joined in assisting with the floating ofthe vessels. While five ofus exhausted ourselves haulingonropes and throwingour shoulders exhausted ourselves haulingonropes and throwingour shoulders against wood, Gastonoffered what aid he could and was happily welcomed by the two other men serving as surgeons. A great many of the buccaneers had broken bones and wrenched limbs during the tempest, and some had nearly drowned. We learned several men had been washed to sea, and a couple more had been crushed. By sunset, five more vessels were cleared of debris and back on the water, and Gaston had performed four amputations.

At last, Gaston and I strapped on our weapons and found a canoe to take us to the
Lilly
—who was now ominously anchored inthe mouthofthe bay, where she would be difficult to

sailpast.“What will you tell him?” Gaston asked as we paddled