Voyage of the Lanternfish

by C S Boyack

  She punched him in the shoulder. "Ass. You're a pirate too."

  Dan drained his bottle then sat it aside. "Reckon I am at that."

  "Here's the option. You can sleep out here with the snail, or you can join me in the caravan."

  Dan looked up at a billion stars overhead. The sweet smell of the flowers an undertone to the river of glowing bats overhead. "Tough choice, that, but I choose the caravan."

  "Nope."

  Dan's face dropped as she stormed inside.

  Fala returned with her arms full of blankets. "I'll join you out here instead. It really is a beautiful night." She pulled her homemade shirt over her head, the starlight bathing her breasts in a subtle glow.

  Dan paused to enjoy the view.

  "What're you waiting for. We haven't got all night."

  He stood and placed his hand behind her shoulders, drawing her in close. He cradled her head in his hand. "Actually, we do." He kissed her gently at first, the passion growing as she kissed him back.

  They awoke to the chomping noise of the water buffalo. A string of drool hitting Fala on the forehead. She gasped as she looked up into its face.

  "Must have pulled loose during the night." Dan jumped up in the nude, then led the buffalo to a tree before tying him off.

  "Have you no shame? Best put some pants on," Fala said.

  Dan covered himself and apologized.

  Fala laughed until her sides ached. "Ain't nobody around but me, and I already seen it all."

  "Um, yeah. Reckon you did." He pulled his pants on, before grabbing the corner of the blanket. He yanked it off and exposed Fala's own nude body to the morning sun.

  She propped herself up on her elbows. "Do you like what you see?"

  "Absolutely."

  "Then be a good boy and do the dishes. Maybe you can see it again tonight." She gathered up her clothes, then headed inside the caravan.

  Breakfast consisted of tea and reheated goat. Dan put the plates to soaking once more, then went to inspect the wild fruit in the area.

  "Do we stay here, or move on?" Fala shouted out the caravan window.

  "Don't matter, James said we have a month."

  "Might be a better place further along."

  "I can't imagine a better place in the whole world."

  "Me either. Let's stay one more day. I want to get to the beach though."

  "A beach would be good. Maybe we can find some clams or something."

  They wound up staying two more nights. Life came at an easy pace as they moved over the high part of the island, with its fields of ancient dried lava. Snakes came out to sun themselves on the withered rocks, and Fala insisted they move through.

  The beach on the south side consisted of white coral sand, littered with palm fronds from past storms. The wild fruit was gone here, but coconuts were in abundance.

  After making camp, Dan waded out into a tidal pool to see what might be edible.

  Fala walked past him, naked from head to toe, into the deeper water.

  "Have you no shame?"

  "Not any more, no. I don't want it back either." She dove completely under the water and swam a bit before bobbing back up.

  Dan held two sea creatures aloft. "Look, abalone. We're eating like kings tonight."

  "Sounds good to me. Pack em in seaweed until it's time to cook them."

  Dan turned back toward the caravan. Fala's clothing was washed and hung on a chord to dry in the sun.

  That evening, Fala found a piece of paper. She wrote something on it, then handed it to Dan. We're stranded on a tropical beach. Please don't rescue us. We never want to leave.

  Dan grinned and handed it back to her. She found one of the clay beer bottles then stuck the note inside. After swiveling the top shut she handed it to him. "Mr. Philson, will you do the honors?"

  "Aye aye, ma'am." He stood then threw the bottle into the ocean. They both cuddled beside their fire on the beach.

  An animal the size of a large dog waddled out of the trees underneath the setting sun. It had a long nose, a hairy tail shaped like a paddle, and a sticky tongue that shot out to gobble up snails and sand shrimp.

  "What name do you put to that?" Fala asked.

  "Don't know. Snaileater, I suppose."

  "Sounds as good as anything I can come up with."

  The snaileater walked into the ocean, then paddled itself to an offshore rock pile. It shook itself like a dog, then started licking up things that were too small for them to see.

  "How we fixed for beer tonight?" Dan asked.

  "Gone, but there's a jug of rum. Knock open a couple of coconuts and pour the nectar into some mugs. I'll get the rum and we can have our drink."

  "Sounds pretty good." Dan found the axe then went about his task.

  Chapter Sixteen

  They spent weeks on the beach, dining on the best the sea could offer, making forays into the jungle for fruit and swimming.

  One morning, Dan finally said, "Looks like we have a choice to make. I either move the buffalo to fresh grass one more time, or I bring him in so we can head back."

  "I hate to go back, but it's time. This is the best I've ever had it in my whole life. I hope we can do something similar again."

  "We will. We'll make it happen somehow. Maybe we can rescue Bonnie, then she and James can come with us."

  "That'd be nice, but I ain't walking around in the buff in front of them."

  "Me neither. I'll go bring him in. Can you tuck things up so's we can move on?"

  "Yup."

  It took another week to cross the island, and the couple was in no hurry. One night they dined on a fresh land crab that was the size of a powder keg. There were enough legs left over to make for a decadent breakfast the next day.

  As they approached the harbor, the ship stood out against the others. It wasn't only the largest ship, it looked the newest. The whole thing had been painted black, with a gold trim stripe all the way around the upper gun deck. New top masts were installed, and a new bowsprit protruded from her forecastle.

  "We're a few days early," Fala said. "I want to do some shopping before we board."

  "I'll find a place to park, then we have a decision to make."

  "What decision?" Fala asked.

  "Do I move into the caravan with you, or do you move into my cabin? Or do you want to pretend this was a fairy tale and go back to the way things were?"

  "Hadn't thought of that. Guess I was too caught up in the moment. Do you think it will upset the men? I mean they tolerate me on ship, but knowing we're together at night might piss a few of em off."

  "Don't care what they think." Dan said. "This isn't up to them, or James either. If it's that big a problem, we can stay behind. I'll find passage to rescue my father, and figure out something for my sister."

  "No need. The caravan is too small for long term. Your quarters give us more room. Maybe I'll have McCormack move into the caravan and it can stay our office. Let him listen to the monsters all night."

  Dan pulled up before the open air market, then set the brake. "Then it's settled. Let's go shopping."

  Fala bought her own pirate hat. It was dark brown, round and the front had a large upward roll. She paid extra for a few colorful plumes.

  They headed back to the caravan.

  "Pretty bird for the pretty lady?" an woman asked. Her face was covered with age spots, and her shoulders bent with age.

  Fala turned to look inside a tent. It was filled with cages of animals. Snakes, monkeys, and even one of the large weasel creatures. Birds of every size and color were represented. "I'm about to ship out, but they're lovely."

  "Then you'll want one that is more loyal than a simple finch or parakeet. Might I suggest an anvil bird?"

  "What's that?"

  "Please," The old woman gestured inside. Fala and Dan followed.

  Anvil birds were multi-colored and about the size of a raven. They had long bills that were nearly as long as the bird itself. Their most prominent feature was a
large horn-like growth atop their bills. The shopkeeper stroked one's feathers and touched the part atop his bill. "This is his anvil."

  The bird said, "Momma." It was black and yellow, with pastel colors of the rainbow along its bill.

  "It talks?" Dan asked.

  "They can learn simple words. It's charming."

  "I'll say," Fala said. She looked through the cages. Some were shades of red and brown, a couple were basic black and white. One that resembled the shop keeper's with black and yellow, also had bright red skin around its eyes, and red wattles below its chin. "Does this one talk too?"

  "He can. It remains to be seen if he will. He's still young. You should keep him with you until his wing feathers grow back. After that long he will trust you, and while he may fly away, he will always return. You'll also need a perch."

  "How much?" Fala asked.

  "For you, three silver crowns."

  Fala untied the bag from her neck and dropped it in the woman's hands.

  As the caravan wound its way down toward the docks, Dan said, "If there was any doubt, you look like a pirate now. What with that hat and bird."

  "Damned straight I do, and I look good doing it too."

  Dan smiled and looked at her. "I agree. Much more attractive than the coins of shame. I like how you just came about and took a new direction."

  Fala nudged him with her shoulder, then fed the anvil bird a red berry.

  As they rounded the corner onto the docks, the ship came back into view. Gold letters nearly two feet tall arched across her stern. They read, Lanternfish.

  Dock workers lugged items aboard the ship, rolls of canvas, kegs of gunpowder, live pigs, and more. A glazer worked on the large lanterns attached around the poopdeck. Stuttering Lewis hung over the stern on a bosun's chair, and carved a log that replaced the supporting statue they'd destroyed when they took her. Rather than a lady with a vase, he was making a skeletal pirate, complete with a branch that became an arm holding a cutlass.

  McCormack sat at a desk underneath an umbrella alongside the ramp up to the ship. He turned his journal around quickly. "Do you want to check it, ma'am?"

  "No need, Mr. McCormack. Maybe later. Things look much improved around here."

  "Aye, ma'am. You look much improved too. Island life agrees with you."

  "That it does. We're going to have a look around. We'll report in this afternoon. Where's the captain?"

  "Could be in the tavern. That's where most business gets done around here."

  They walked the length of the ship. Underneath the bowsprit was a new figurehead made of riveted pieces of metal, like a suit of armor. It was a huge lanternfish. Circular white portholes served as eyes, and a long twisted steel rod protruded from his forehead. The rod arched until it was tangent with the bowsprit, then bent back down. At the end, a huge hexagonal lantern hung, it matched the others on the back of the ship. Long sharp teeth protruded from the creature's bulldog-like jaw, and the fish appeared to be hollow inside.

  The ship resembled an anthill. Men scurried everywhere, painting, tying new rigging, glazing, and more. When they turned back, a young woman approached McCormack's desk.

  The woman was tall, thin, and muscular. She wore a bamboo coulee hat that was wider than her shoulders. It was covered with a gauze beige cloth. Her features were Eastern, giving her an exotic beauty. She wore only short leather boots, and a leather pair of shorts. Her legs were covered with wrapped strips of beige silk up to her knees, as were her breasts, forearms, and fists. She thumped the bronze foot of her pole weapon on the dock then waited for McCormack to speak. The shaft of her weapon was ebony black. The curved blade of the glaive started above her head, and had but a single edge.

  As they walked closer, they made out a jade disk pendant around her neck, and the weapon had bronze fittings of a fierce dragon holding the blade in its mouth. The fittings served to add strength opposite the cutting edge.

  "Name?" McCormack asked.

  "Serang."

  "What are you good at?"

  "Fighting."

  "Any experience with guns?"

  "No."

  "Can you rig a sail?"

  "Like a master."

  "Sign here. Then find Don Velasco topside. He'll get you situated."

  Dan and Fala walked past. Serang's braided black hair hung to the small of her back, nearly touching her shorts.

  "Wonder what she does with that frog sticker?" Dan said.

  Serang spun around, took two running steps toward the side of the pier and threw her weapon like a spear. It sailed across the water to the next dock and impaled a huge bay frog that was sunning itself. "Stick frogs," she said.

  "Bring it aboard too. Biscuit Bill has a nice recipe for bay frog," McCormack said.

  "I'm Dan, first officer. This is Fala, Quartermaster." He offered his hand.

  Serang placed her hands against her hips and made a shallow bow. "Serang. Sailing mate."

  "Isn't that up to Don Velasco?" Fala asked.

  "Yes, but he will make me a sailing mate only because he is already the master."

  "About your duties now, Miss Serang," Dan said. "Wouldn't want your frog to spoil."

  They found James in the tavern negotiating the price for kegs of butter and lard. He wore a new lace fronted shirt with ruffled cuffs, along with new black pants and a red sash.

  James embraced them both, signaled the bar maid for drinks, then ushered them to a private booth. "You two look like you fared well."

  "Wonderful," Fala said.

  "Ship looks beautiful," Dan said. "Lanternfish, huh?"

  "In honor of an old friend. It'll help us remember that night and keep focus."

  "Did you find any guns?" Dan asked.

  "I bought ten more twelve pounders. That's all there are without buying an entire ship. We can put eight out each side."

  "That's not enough."

  "More than when we took her. We'll pick our targets carefully and try to capture more. Stuttering Lewis and Johnny Jump Up made some wooden fakes that might help too."

  The barmaid delivered their drinks.

  "Drink up, then I'll show you to your quarters," James said.

  "About that, we need to talk." Fala handed her bird a peanut.

  "You are coming with me, aren't you?"

  "Aye," Dan said. "Can't get rid of me that easily."

  "Thing is, we're together now. We thought we might stay together onboard. In the first officer's quarters."

  James leaned back and stroked his thick black beard, his red eye somewhat unnerving after this much time away. "I couldn't be happier for you. Of course that is the best arrangement, but I'm still taking the caravan."

  "We thought it might make good quarters for McCormack, and can serve as the quartermaster's office."

  "You make the assignments, quartermaster. Now, about those gold bars, do you still have them?"

  "Of course, why?"

  "Refitting the ship wasn't cheap. I owe them all to the repair dock. All of them."

  "What shape are we in then?" Fala asked.

  "McCormack will fill you in. Our vegetable friends have been busy, and some of the gold was recycled if you catch my meaning. He cashiered the men after our cargo sold, and most of them agreed to come with us. Some wanted to go home."

  "Be them merchant sailors, I'll bet," Dan said.

  "Not really, it was a mix. Stuttering Lewis is aboard somewhere."

  "Saw him," Dan said, draining his mug.

  James stood then pulled on a black greatcoat. It had bronze filigree down both sides of the front, and bronze buttons. He dropped a huge black pirate hat atop his head. It had bronze trim as well, along with two bronze epaulets, and a shock of black plumes that started on the port side and wound their way to the aft. The brim was curled all around, but split and folded aside in front to let any water run out.

  "New hat?" Dan asked.

  James placed an arm around his friend's shoulder. "I promised someone very special that I'd g
et a new hat if I ever became a captain." He placed his other arm around Fala. "Nice bird by the way."

  "Thanks. My hat's new too."

  "I see that, and should have said something. I was too preoccupied with the bird. We're taking on stores and signing up crew. We'll get under sail in a few more days. Let's get you moved in, and up to date on everything."

  Mal met them on the quarterdeck outside the surgery. "Storm comes." He stood on one leg, propping his other foot against his knee in a figure four.

  The palms behind them swayed, and the high clouds made streaks across the sky. "Maybe it won't be too bad," Dan said.

  "No. My people hide in caves. This kind of storm."

  "We'll take it under advisement," James said. "My quarters take up the rear of this deck. The surgery is on the left, and what I earmarked for Dan is on the right. As quartermaster, you can choose other quarters if they're more suitable."

  "I'm sure it's fine," Fala said. She turned sideways and slid past them.

  The room was much larger than the caravan. Dan had his own desk and tools. The bed was ample for Dan's rank, and far superior to a hammock below decks. It even had a window that opened.

  "We need to hang the perch and tray in the corner by the window," Fala said.

  "Aren't you afraid he'll fall out the window?" Dan asked.

  "At first, until his feathers grow back. Then it won't matter. If a storm's coming, we probably won't have it open." She walked around the room. "This closet will hold everything we both own with room to spare."

  "It didn't look this good after the battle. It was pretty chewed up with blood everywhere. Those mortars really did a number on the upper decks."

  "Let's go about our duties. I need to see what McCormack's been up to." They went back out then found James on the main deck.

  "Where are the root monsters?" James asked.

  "Beach," Mal said.

  "People might see them. If we have to leave, we need to find them. Come on."

  "Don't be late, Dan yelled. Heard Biscuit Bill's roasting a bay frog tonight."

  James ducked underneath the caravan as it was being loaded. "One of my favorites. Wouldn't miss it for the world."