Voyage of the Lanternfish

by C S Boyack

  Fourteen men clambered up to her location. She stood and spun the glaive lazily as she assessed their positions. An officer stepped forward and cocked his pistol. "Stand down."

  Serang smiled and kicked the officer's forearm upward. The pistol fired harmlessly. She spun and beheaded the man before he could look back down.

  The sailors rushed her, but she kept spinning. Arms, feet, and heads flew across the decks.

  James crossed the planks with a small group while his own musketeers covered him. Once he was safely on the galley, the musketeers followed en mass.

  A large contingent of Hollish soldiers boiled from below decks. They out numbered the pirates three to one. They formed a line of spear men ahead of a line of musketeers.

  James shot the first two with his pistol, then dropped it. He picked up a cutlass to use one in each hand.

  Serang ran to the rail. She pulled the jade pendant from her neck and dropped it on the deck, touching the pendant with the butt of her glaive. A blinding flash of light stopped the action briefly. The light was divided into two distinct parts, one half golden the other silver.

  When the light cleared, Serang was flanked by two huge animals. The larger one was brass with a green verdigris giving depth to his deeper folds, the smaller of the two was silvery-grey, but covered with hair like a normal creature. They had short broad faces like bulldogs, but the manes and claws of lions. Their backs were short like the dogs, but their tails were long and tufted.

  The brass dog roared like a lion, but with a brassy trumpet-like undertone. Serang and both creatures leaped onto the main deck.

  Muskets fired, and it sounded like a brass bell when the bullets impacted the brass dog. He smashed his way through the spears, and the female followed him in.

  Men flew through the air, claw marks the length of their torsos. Serang cut down the spear bearers, and the rest of the pirates joined the battle.

  The female dog pushed her way through then went below decks. The sound of screaming, roaring, and pistol fire was deafening.

  Dan led a contingent across from Lanternfish's forecastle to the galleon's poop deck. Root monsters swarmed the officer defending the bridge, bringing him to his knees then death from a thousand stab wounds.

  Pistols fired, and cutlasses crossed. Dan used his advantage of length to stab a sailor who was about to kill old Chappy.

  Ultimately, the Hollish captain raised his sword with both hands high above his head in a sign of surrender. The rest of his crew stood down.

  Roaring continued from below decks. James nodded to Serang, who headed down to stop the action.

  "Gather all of them on the forecastle. Search them, and cover them with muskets for now," James said. He worked his way onto the forecastle, then shoved bodies overboard to make room.

  Dan sat with his back against the mounting for the shattered wheel.

  "Tough battle today," James said.

  "Yup. Maybe tougher than you know," Dan said.

  "How's that?"

  "Been shot."

  James rushed to his friend's side. Root monsters moved away to give them room. "What? Where? How?"

  "My lower leg. Don't know how bad it is."

  James turned to the Boss. "Find Mal and get him up here, now."

  "I I I I," Boss went personally.

  Serang led the other Hollishmen from below decks. The female dog trailed behind, carrying a dead gunner's mate in her jaws. "Should I behead them for you, my Captain?"

  "No. Just. I need to think." He pointed to the dogs, who were eating the gunner's mate on the main deck. "Do they have to do that?"

  "They must eat, my Captain. There is no other option."

  "See to them somehow. If the crew sees you with them, it might help."

  "Aye aye, my Captain." She went down to the dogs.

  The dogs nuzzled her, and the female rubbed against her like a giant house cat. She stroked the brassy male's ear. "Their muskets have dented your ear. Poor baby." She kissed him, and he made a percolating sound similar to purring but deeper and more resonant.

  Mal came over across the plank onto the galleon's poopdeck. He squatted down and stroked his chin.

  Fala sat beside Dan and hugged him. "The bullet went through. That's good right."

  "No," Mal said. "Is bad."

  "Can you help him?" James asked.

  "Yes, but will take a long time."

  James addressed the Hollish captives. "Which one of you is the ship's surgeon?"

  "You kicked him overboard with a bullet through his head," One of the Hollishmen said.

  "Then a surgeon's mate, a medic, someone?"

  "That red piping on their coats and pants," Dan said. "Half of them ain't sailors, they're artillery. They'll have a medic."

  "I'll help my own first," one of the captives said.

  "I'll put your head on the tooth of my fish, and feed your carcass to those beasts."

  "Just help him," another captive said. "Don't make me tell Mom a woman beheaded you and fed you to those animals."

  "I ain't no surgeon. I can hold, press, and tincture stuff. That's all."

  "It will be enough. Help Mal get him to my surgery. Take your brother with you, you might need a runner."

  "Orders, Captain?" Johnny asked.

  "Search the ship. Take everything." James wandered among his crew as they tossed bodies overboard. Don Velasco had a huge scar across his breastplate. Stuttering Lewis had a bad cut, and a black eye.

  He wandered into the captain's quarters then gathered up the charts and ship's log. He found a leather attaché full of papers, then took them back to his own quarters aboard Lanternfish. He slammed them all on his desk, took a swig of rum, then went to check on Dan.

  "Leg's gotta come off," the Hollish medic said.

  "Do you agree with him," James asked Mal.

  "Yes. Bullet removed bone." He held his fingers apart. "This much."

  "Get her out of here," Dan said. "She don't need to see this."

  James gently touched Fala to escort her outside. She sat on a crate outside the surgery. "Ain't leavin until I know whether he lives or, or –"

  "Stay as long as you like. Let me know if you need anything at all."

  Mal stuck his head out the door. "Need Stuttering." He made a stitching motion with his hands.

  James nodded, touched Fala's shoulder, then went to find Stuttering Lewis. He watched his men pry boards from one of their shattered longboats before tossing the remains over the side.

  "Got lll, lll. Leven new ggg-guns," Stuttering Lewis said. "We blew, ccc-couple more to he-he–"

  "I understand," James said. "Seems a shallow victory today. They need you in the surgery for some sewing."

  "Aye aye, Ccc." He saluted and left.

  Serang nuzzled the gigantic dogs across the deck. Her clothes were caked in drying brown blood. She kissed them both before touching them once more with the butt of her glaive. The light flashed again, and the jade pendant took their place.

  Johnny walked over. "Seems a good haul today. Cases upon cases of muskets. More than we need, and worth a lot of money to someone. They got chickens and goats, and a dozen sheep."

  "Steep price to pay for eleven cannon."

  "You were right about them. They must be planning on invading Prelonia by land. They're good guns, but they're eight pounders."

  "Shit! Not even twelves?"

  "No. Probably why they didn't chew us up too bad."

  "Bad enough, mate. More than bad enough." He moved to the far side of the galleon to get away from the muffled sounds of Dan's screaming. "Days worth of work to move everything. See if they have a salvageable longboat too. Oh, and take the anchor and windlass. We need to replace ours."

  "Aye aye. You alright?" Johnny asked.

  "No, sir. I'm far from alright. I should be with my best friend right now, but I have duties that cannot be neglected. Empty one of the large cabins and nail all the prisoners inside. I'll talk to them tomorrow."

 
"Nail them in?"

  "It's good enough for Mr. Philson's sister."

  Chapter Twenty-One

  James poked through the Hollish charts and papers. He refused supper, and ordered his officers fed outside. He smoked his pipe on the outside porch and watched small chunks of ice drift past on the sea.

  He went to check on Dan after the sun set.

  "He lives," Mal said. "He sleeps. Fala stays with him."

  "How'd the medic do?"

  "Boy helps. Holds Dan down. Ties strap tight. Throws foot away."

  "Where is he now."

  "He helps his people now."

  "Fair enough. Can I go inside?"

  "Yes."

  The surgery was lit by dozens of candles. Smoldering incense filled the air from a tin plate.

  "What's all this?" James asked.

  "Mal says it's to keep evil spirits away and attract benevolent ones," Fala answered.

  "How's he doing?"

  "He's strong. Bout as good as he can be for a man who just lost a leg."

  "And how are you? Do you need anything?"

  "I'm holding up. My bird could use a drink."

  "I'll see to it personally."

  Dan stirred. "How'd we do? Get anything good?"

  "Nothing worth your foot."

  "Not a bad outcome. I figured we'd get killed instead."

  "Could still happen."

  "Got lots of folks looking after me. You need to tend to business."

  "Need anything?"

  "Just, well, don't let Mal eat my foot."

  "The young medic threw it overboard."

  "That's good. I mean, Mal's a nice guy and all, but he's a cannibal."

  James leaned forward and stared at the floor. Even the bird was quiet. "Do you remember, back in Airstony, when I told you I'm nothing like my father?"

  "Yeah," Dan said.

  "I was wrong. I'm just like him. I've done terrible things too." He stood, slapped his hat against his leg, then left.

  The next morning James ordered an officer's breakfast, and invited a couple of extra people.

  Biscuit Bill placed out the food. "We got seven nice dry hams, and a wheel of good cheese from the galleon. Figured that made a good breakfast for everyone. Looks like them last two pigs are safe for a while."

  "Splendid, Bill. Thank you." James speared a slice of ham and grabbed a biscuit. The rest of the crew did the same.

  They were a quiet bunch. Fala came in then poured a cup of tea. James nodded his chin at her. "He's sleeping right now. Figured to hear what you have to say, then take him some tea."

  "Might as well get on with it then." James dabbed his lips with a napkin. "Mr. Philson is out of commission for a while. In losing his left foot, I lost my right arm. I don't mind telling you, it hurts. We have to make some temporary changes around here.

  "Miss Fala isn't going to be available much either, so McCormack will assume her duties for now. He is entitled to an officer's cup of the booty and will oversee the cashiering process.

  "Johnny will assume Mr. Philson's duties. You're already getting an officer's portion, so there isn't much more I can do for you. We likely won't need a gunnery master for a few more days."

  "Perfectly fine, sir," Johnny said.

  James turned to Don Velasco. "You're in charge of repairing our sails and masts. Add Stuttering Lewis to your crew and take any canvas you need from the galleon. Take any wood you need too."

  "Aye aye, mon Capitan."

  "Miss Serang is wasted in the rigging. She will assume the new post of weapons master, with an officer's portion. Her duties will be to train all of us in swords, bayonets, and whatever hand weapons she chooses."

  "Doh je, my Captain."

  "Finally, Boss. I want that galleon searched from bilge to crows nest. I want every coin, pistol ball, and pouch of tobacco. Dig out fired musket balls from the masts and railing. We can melt them down and re-mold them."

  "I I I I."

  "I want their clothes too. Every uniform from hat pins to boots. The navy and the artillery both."

  "What the hell for?" Fala asked. "Do you want their underwear too?"

  "We're changing plans again. We aren't going to Tusconi. We're going to Di Guo Qishi; specifically Cheng Shi Hua."

  "That's half-way around the world from Hollish," Fala said. "Don't you think Dan ought to be with his father?"

  "I do, and we'll return to Hollish one day, but we're doing it under our own terms." James smeared butter across his biscuit. "Pieces are in motion. The Earl got tired of waiting for us to start his war. He may not have invaded yet, but he's preparing for it. If we go back now, all we're going to do is get hung or pressed into service." He took a bite of his biscuit then walked to the desk. He lifted the attaché then dropped it on the desktop for emphasis.

  "This folder revealed the Hollish mission. They were on their way to Cheng Shi Hua to take delivery of two hundred cannon. All of them, eighteen pounders."

  Johnny Jump Up whistled lowly.

  "Yeah, exactly. That rigs our entire ship and gives us some to sell. They're all paid for. All we have to do is sail in under the Hollish flag, oversee the loading, then sail away. That and deliver the emperor's crates of muskets."

  "You're daft," Fala said. "We ain't gonna pass for the Hollish Navy."

  "We will with their uniforms and flag. When we return, we'll be one of the biggest ships at sea, with better guns than she had when the Saphish built her."

  "What are you planning to do for shot?" she asked.

  "Figure that out when we get there. Might try to buy it with the ship's portion." He topped off his tea then speared a piece of cheese. "Now, what do all of you have for me?"

  They were working on repairing the Hollish longboat to replace their destroyed one, moving cannon, and figuring out how to adapt the new capstan to replace their damaged one. Serang assured them she could tie the huge knots for the anchor rope.

  James went on a recruiting mission after breakfast. He had Biscuit Bill place out a sparse meal for the Hollish then ordered Chappy to pull the nails from their door. "Gentlemen, time to eat."

  The captives attacked the food with gusto.

  "While you're eating, I have a little proposition for you..." James made his offer of weapons and shares of the loot.

  "Mister McCormack, cashier our men. Officers last this time. I want these fellows to see how we treat our crew."

  McCormack pulled a tarp back from a pile of gold and silver. He handed the crew sized mug to Chappy who filled it to the brim before pouring it in his hat.

  The men filed through, and before they finished, James spoke again. "None of you, then?"

  "We ain't going with you, the young medic said. We enlisted in the artillery."

  "Long ways from the battlefield though, isn't it."

  "I didn't enlist," one of the sailors said. "I was crimped, and that mug holds more coin than I've seen in five years."

  "Rum ration every day."

  "Can I have me coat back?"

  "Of course."

  The sailor stood. "I'm with you Captain..."

  "Bloodwater. James Bloodwater."

  "Come along lads. You'll freeze solid out here in your drawers. I'm gettin me coat, a slug o rum, and a big mug of gold. Who's with me?"

  Most of the sailors stood up. None of the artillerymen did.

  "You'll all hang for this," the Hollish captain said. "I won't shed a tear over your gibbets as I sail past the port of Maldron."

  James plucked the huge ruffled bicorn hat from the Hollish captain's head. "Likely true, mate. But we're going to be bloody rich before we do. And warm, and well fed."

  "You can't just leave us here to freeze. We lost our wheel and you took our canvas."

  "Of course I can. And you won't freeze, you can burn planks from your own deck. I'll even leave you the sheep. Lamb is wonderful, but mutton reminds me of greasy belt leather. I'm sure another ship will come along in a month or two." He turned to McCormack. "Donate my
mugs to the ship's portion, and have Biscuit Bill look over the plates and flatware. Seems to be some nice stuff among the gear." He opened a wooden jar and smelled the heady aroma of good pipe tobacco. "I claim this from the items."

  It took two more days to make ready to sail. They worked the new recruits in as dish washers, wood workers, and strong backs when it came time for heavy lifting.

  Stuttering Lewis asked Johnny Jump Up for permission to take something from the galleon. "Th, th, th, thet." He pointed at the figurehead of the sea god thrusting forward with a silver trident.

  "You want the figurehead? We don't have room for that, mate."

  "N, n, no sir. Just th, th." He stomped his foot for focus. "St, st, stick."

  "Fine, see to it, but I'll not spare you any mates."

  Lewis hoisted the bosun's chair away from his carving, then tied it off to the galleon's bowsprit. He sawed off the trident then stowed it among his gear.

  Within the hour, they pulled in the planks, made sail and wished the Hollishmen well. After they were out of sight, James handed the wheel off to Don Velasco and made some rounds.

  The root monsters turned the chamberpots into some kind of amusement. Three of them crawled inside while three others spun them violently. "Aaaaagggghhhh!" They screamed. Then they bailed out and stumbled across the decks until crashing into the forward mast or the trap door into the figurehead. This was followed by riotous laughter.

  James rolled his eyes until Serang grabbed one of the newest monsters and walked off.

  "Where are you taking him?"

  She kept walking and thrust him in front of Johnny Jump Up. "They need weapons."

  "Got weapons, don't they?"

  The monster growled and tried to bite her.

  "They fight with nails and bits of broken glass. They need proper weapons."

  "I'm no weapon smith. Maybe you should wait until we get to Chingy Ha."

  "Cheng Shi Hua," she corrected him.

  "Are you sure? I always heard it Chingy Ha."

  "Pretty sure. I was born there. Now about the weapons?"

  "I can flatten some small blades or something, but they won't be fancy like your thing."

  "That will be fine. Make them glaives, then we can bend the ends around the sticks later."