The Perils of Archipelago

by B A Simmons

  He turned and began walking away.

  Then she called to him. “Rob!”

  He spun around. For a moment, he expected her to look kindly at him in forgiveness. Perhaps, she might even bid him stay. However, he found her doubled over, gripping the doorframe in desperation. Her anguished face gave Rob such a shock that he froze, wondering what to do. She clutched at her distended belly and the realization of what was happening struck Rob.

  He rushed to her, scooping her up in his arms. She screamed in pain, but Rob did not put her down. The adrenaline rushing through his body propelled him down the path to the Engleman house. He shouted as he approached it, or perhaps he’d been shouting the entire way. Anna groaned and gritted her teeth. Reaching the house, they were met by Sarah Engleman and Rob’s younger sister, Greta.

  “Put her in the cart! Greta, help Rob push,” Sarah shouted.

  Rob obeyed, placing Anna in the family’s handcart and placing himself between the handles. Sarah knelt on the cart next to Anna and began instructing her in a breathing exercise. In truth, Anna had never been so grateful for Sarah’s presence than at that moment.

  Greta had a harder time keeping up with the cart than she did pushing it. Rob drew the cart at a steady canter all the way to Harrisville. The attention they garnered on the way caused two men to run ahead of them. At the gates of the town, they were met by three more members of the Matriarch’s Circle and four men who took over pulling the cart.

  Rob followed them as they pulled and pushed the cart through the streets of Harrisville. They caught the attention of Edward and several Punishers in their encampment as they moved beyond the town to the east. Nearly a mile past Harrisville, at the base of a low hill, sat the entrance to the Birthing Cave. Stone stacked on top of each other in a meticulous but sturdy fashion outlined the darkness of the cave.

  Several more members of the Matriarch’s Circle awaited them there, including Abigail McClain, the Reverend Mother. Having rushed ahead of the cart, they prepared the cave for Anna and her coming baby. Here at the entrance, they took control of the cart and dismissed the men. Rob hesitated.

  “Anna and her child will receive the best care, Rob,” his mother said before she disappeared inside.

  All the men save Rob returned to their previous activities. He stood outside the dark entrance with one thought on his mind: It’s too early.

  ***

  Anna screamed as the pain intensified. Despite this, she was concerned far less for herself than for the child demanding an entrance into the world.

  “He’s too early!” she screamed at Sarah, who stood at her side repeating over again the breathing exercise.

  “Don’t you worry about that! We’ve had children come earlier than this before,” she told Anna.

  It was true. While her grandchild was coming two months earlier than expected, others had been earlier. Those children had not lived long, however, and this was something she was not going to tell Anna.

  They hadn’t gone far into the cave before abandoning the cart and placing Anna on a stretcher. Four women carried her deeper into the cave, where lights illuminated the walls, floor, and ceiling. The lights were brighter than any lamp Anna had seen before, and yet the illumination softer than the sun.

  Anna couldn’t focus on anything. Sarah kept trying to get her to breathe while other women moved about the cave as blurs of color. At last, the pain became more than Anna could bear. Anna closed her eyes just as Sarah left off her breathing mantra and commanded her to push. The pain lessened but then increased again, more intense than before. This repeated several more times. Anna screamed over the voice telling her to push.

  A new sound broke into the fray. The feeble, pitiful cries of a newborn child seemed to pierce through all other sounds. Anna’s ears homed in on it, and she opened her eyes to find it. She saw Sarah’s face beaming at her, the faces of Missus McClain and Missus Massoud, but her child could not be seen.

  “Congratulations Anna, you have a son,” Sarah said.

  “Where . . .” Anna was exhausted. Her voice faltered, and she felt faint.

  “He’s safe. We have to clean him and check his health. You just rest now,” Missus McClain said.

  The other women left, but Sarah stayed by Anna, holding her hand until she fell asleep. When she awoke, the lights were dim but still brighter than lamplight. After a few moments, it occurred to Anna that these lights did not pulse or flicker as lights normally did. It was as steady as daylight, though how they channeled daylight into the cave, Anna’s brain couldn’t figure.

  Her dress had been removed, and her lower abdomen was wrapped in cloth bandages. She still felt weak and the pain, though much less, made moving difficult. She laid on a narrow bed with smooth metal rails to prevent her from falling out. A small tray, also made of metal, attached to the right-hand rail, held a steaming bowl of broth. Anna gulped it down.

  “Oh good, you’re awake.”

  Sarah Engleman appeared from behind the bed. She held a ceramic pitcher and refilled the bowl for Anna.

  “Where’s my baby?” Anna asked.

  Sarah drew in a deep breath before answering. “Because he came so early, his body is fragile. We have him in a special chamber where his body is protected. It’s just until he’s stronger.”

  “I want to see him. Please, you must bring him to me.”

  Sarah smiled. “We will, soon. He will need you to feed him.”

  This put Anna at ease. She relaxed back into the bed, not having realized she was trying to pull herself up. Sarah handed her the broth and she drank again, slower this time.

  “I remember when I had Mark,” Sarah said, sitting on a stool next to the bed. “In this very room. I was so scared.”

  “I admit this room is strange. At the same time, the light is comforting.”

  “Actually, I meant I was scared for Mark. He came a few weeks early as well. It’s hard not to feel anxious in a pregnancy when you’ve already miscarried twice. Yet, when he came, the Reverend Mother said he was the strongest boy she’d ever delivered. His screams shook the walls.”

  A small smile flashed across Anna’s lips as tears tumbled down her cheeks. She looked at Sarah and felt regret for the animosity she’d been harboring.

  “I’m sorry,” Anna said.

  “Anna, there’s no need for that. None of this was your fault.”

  “No, it is. I pressured Edwin to leave. If I hadn’t, we’d never have gone on the Entdecker. Mark and I would never have . . .”

  “No one blames you. Especially not for falling in love.”

  “What about for starting the war that killed your son?”

  “The way I understand it, the Falcon Empire plans to take control of all the islands of the world. Alimia was just the next one up. If you hadn’t started fighting them, we’d likely be flying their banners over Harrisville right now.”

  Anna turned her tear-streaked face away from Sarah. They remained silent for several minutes before Sarah stood.

  “I’ll go see if he’s awake yet. He’ll be hungry when he is. Do you remember what I taught you about feedings?”

  Anna nodded and sniffed. “Yes.”

  After Sarah left, Anna leaned forward, taking a closer look at the room. A sudden realization shocked her. The walls were not stone, nor were there wood beams to support the ceiling. Instead, the white walls, illuminated by the lights, had the appearance of smooth plaster. Narrow shelves lined each side of the corridor-like chamber. At one end, a door made of the same material sported a small window. It was dark on the other side. Anna twisted herself to see behind the bed. There, an identical door stood, but with light shining through the window.

  A variety of objects sat on the shelves. Some of these Anna recognized—bundles of linen bandages, a pair of scissors, several steel knives—though a few of them had such small blades, Anna thought they must have been made by the Duarve. Dried woundwort and other medicinal herbs lay in bundles at one end.

  Several
other objects were unrecognizable, at least in regard to their content. Glass bottles filled with a variety of liquids were clearly labeled. However, the labels made no sense to Anna. She had never seen the words progesterone or oxytocin before and had no idea what they could be.

  Sarah returned with a crying baby wrapped in a silver cloth that crinkled as she handed him to Anna. The pathetic screams of the hungry child made her wince, yet Anna gazed down at his red face and smiled. He was much smaller than she had imagined, with short black fuzz covering his head. He quieted some as she caressed his head.

  “He’s a fighter, like his da,” Sarah said.

  “Of course, he’d have to be,” Anna replied. Then, following the instructions Sarah gave her, she tucked him close to her and began nursing.

  “Have . . . have you thought of a name for him?”

  Anna looked up at Sarah with a smile, the first she’d given in months.

  “Mark. We’ll call him Mark.”

  17: Choices and Decisions

  Rob waited outside the Birthing Cave for what seemed an eternity. He could not see into the cave from outside the entrance, and Anna’s screams and groans had ceased shortly after they wheeled her in. He paced, as Mark should have been there to do, walking back and forth on the dirt road. Twice he almost entered the cave, knowing full well that the penalty for doing so was banishment. He did not care if he could never return to the island, that was already planned. Yet, he did not go in. He knew that his mother’s standing in the Matriarch’s Circle would also be questioned if he did. With his father no longer on the Council of Elders, Rob did not wish any more embarrassment or dishonor on his family.

  Presently, two women came out of the cave pulling the cart behind them. He recognized one of them as Missus Galbraith of the Circle’s leadership.

  “Ma’am, how is Anna?” he pleaded to know.

  “Rob, you should have gone home. Tradition is that only the fathers remain behind.” Missus Galbraith said, then she raised her eyebrows in remembrance. “I’m sorry, Rob. That was rude of me.”

  “No matter, ma’am. I’ve never been one to hold to tradition anyway.”

  “Well, since you’re here, you can take the cart back to your farm for us. In exchange for that, I’ll tell you that Anna is fine. She’s delivered a little boy. He’s darling, but fragile as he’s come too early. Pray to Ayday he survives.”

  “Thank you, ma’am,” Rob said, and he took the cart handles from the women. “Please give my regards to my mother. I’ll be sailing soon and, therefore, won’t see her.”

  “I’ll tell her. May Ayday bless your voyage.”

  He nodded and began trekking back to his farm. Knowing that Anna was alright and the baby alive made Rob’s heart feel incredibly light. The weight of the cart seemed nothing to him; in fact, he barely recognized it at all. He imagined the feeling was his brother reaching out to him from the grave, forgiving him.

  It made him want to stay, almost.

  The afternoon now crept toward evening. The sun, half hidden behind the north pinnacle, wavered in its intensity as a bank of clouds rolled in. Rob knew they held no rain in them. It was Rob’s last night with his family, and he intended to make the most of it.

  After a supper made by Lisette and Greta, Rob approached his father. “Da, if the Falcons invade before I get back, make sure you hide this so that no one can find it.”

  He handed the elder Mark a box. It was Max’s box, containing the map of the Sea of Grass. Rob had added seventy gold florins as repayment of the loan, with interest, his father had given for the purchase of the Entdecker.

  They embraced before the elder Mark left for the evening milking. Rob then spoke to his younger siblings, giving them words of advice and instructions for what to do if the Falcon Empire invaded. Mostly, they rolled their eyes and nodded, yet none of them argued. At last, he found himself standing at the front garden gate with John and Lisette.

  “I trust you will help look after my family,” he said to John.

  “They’re my family now, too.”

  Rob smiled. “Do you ever think about going back to Fallen Dome?”

  “All the time. Perhaps one day, after all this is over, I’ll talk Tom into taking us there. Just so Liz can see what it’s like. I’d like to see my parents again, but I’ve already sent word through Isaac Rutherford so they know I’m still alive.”

  “Thank you, John, for everything.”

  “We’ll see you again, Rob. You’re still the leader of the consortium. Stop acting like you’re not coming back.”

  “You know I may not. There’s always that chance.”

  “Don’t do anything stupid,” John said, then chuckled. “Look who I’m saying that too. As much as you’ve been filling your brother’s boots, you’re not him. Mark had the reputation for recklessness, you . . . you’re anything but.”

  Rob felt the desperate urge to confess his decision to John at that moment. That he would not be returning to Engle Isle, but to Isle de James where he could direct the consortium without the distraction of Anna. He wanted to tell him that when they saw each other again, it would be on another island—hopefully Alimia. He knew he couldn’t say this without them trying to talk him out of it.

  He bid his farewells and walked through the night air to Port John. He found Tom aboard the Entdecker, as he expected. Pete was there too, bidding his farewells. The three of them talked and shared memories for over an hour before Pete returned to the Alphina. Tom and Rob bedded down and fell asleep.

  Before the rays of the sun illuminated the pinnacles of Engle Isle, Rob was awakened at the sound of boots on the dock. He watched Piers toss his personal belongings into the hold and check the moorings. A few minutes later, Doctor Morris arrived with a sea chest.

  “What’s in that?” Rob said.

  “My personal effects. I want to be sure I have enough parchment and ink to record every detail of our voyage.”

  “You’re quite the journalist, doctor,” Piers said. “Be sure to write nice things about me.”

  “But of course, young man. I only write the nice things about anybody.”

  A few fishermen, including Tom’s father, arrived for their morning outings. Aside from them, they had a quiet send-off. The Entdecker made the familiar jaunt through John’s Bay and around the east side of the island. She seemed to leave with cheer, expecting to see her home island again soon as she danced across the waves northward.

  ***

  Two days later, Pete ordered his crew to board the Alphina and with dozens of people waving to them from the docks, weighed anchor and set sail. Unlike the previous voyages, Pete took them east by northeast. The question of their course came to the minds of many of the crew, but it wasn’t until the perilous shores of Isle de Canine came into view that anyone asked about it.

  “Where are we going, Cap’n?” Harland asked.

  “To the Falcon Empire, of course.”

  “Ay, but shouldn’t we be a bit more north for that course?”

  “This is a . . . what’s the word again, Joshua?”

  “Clandestine.”

  Pete continued, “That’s it! A clandesmined mission. Meaning it’s a secret. Do you propose we let the Falcons know what we’re planning?”

  “Of course not, Cap’n,” Harland said. “I just didn’t realize we were taking the detoured route.”

  Joshua chimed in. “Actually, this is a more direct route to where we’re headed. It’s just not been charted.”

  Perhaps in a different crew, this would have caused some amount of anxiety. However, as the word spread among them that they weren’t following the charted routes, the men laughed.

  “That’s Cap’n Pete for you.”

  This had become a common expression among them as only a few on board had known Pete before the war. Gone were any ideas about him being meecher. Even the Punishers gave him the respect of a venerable sea captain, despite his young age.

  However, notwithstanding the trust his crew
had in his leadership and seamanship, Pete decided it was best to give them a warning.

  He said, “Keep your eyes sharp and be looking over the waves. We’re in Quillian waters and disguised as a Falcon ship. Also, there will be plenty of sea serpents and other beasts to fend off. I don’t want to lose a single man on this voyage.”

  “What about a married man?” Harland said.

  The joke was met with hisses and boos from the rest of the crew. Pete, however, couldn’t help but grin at Harland’s cleverness. He’d come far since quitting his associations with Max Claythorne.

  “My point is,” Pete continued, “this journey is perilous and we need to be on our guard. When we meet up with the Falcons, no one may speak in Engle. If you haven’t learned the Iyty commands and responses yet, you’d best be meeting with Joshua and Bernardo when you’re off duty. You don’t want to be the man who ruins our mission because you mutter a stupid joke in the wrong language.”

  “Sì signore, Capitano!” Harland said.

  “And the first man to sight the volcano gets a bonus!”

  “Volcano?” someone said, but Pete dismissed them, allowing them to speculate.

  That same night, they were visited by nessies, which when shot with poison-tipped arrows thrashed about in the water, attracting sharks. They were larger sharks than any aboard had ever seen. It was enough to unsettle Pete when the whole ship shivered as they nudged the keel with their gargantuan snouts.

  Two weeks passed with more creature encounters than they had planned. They’d even had to use the ballista on a forty-foot sea serpent as it came straight for them in broad daylight. No sooner had it dived back into the waves, pierced by the bolt, than it was beset by a shark at least thirty feet in length.

  Ten more days into the voyage, Trevor earned the promised reward. In the hours just before dawn, he’d been on watch in the crow’s nest, when what he thought was the sunrise appeared on the horizon. Yet after an hour, the glow neither increased in illumination nor height above the waves. Still, Trevor wasn’t sure what it was he saw. It wasn’t until several minutes later, when the true sun appeared over the waves that he realized his discovery and called out to Yusef, the officer of the watch.