Colin laughs. “He’s going to lower us down and jump in after.”
Okay well, that doesn’t sound so bad. I crawl over the side and squish myself in between a black garbage bag filled with wood and a cooler box. I smile. They are learning. Colin hops in and grabs hold of the sides of the small boat, his knuckles turning white he's gripping so hard.
I hear Jamie yelp as the boat is let go.
I scream.
Pirates are a bunch of liars....
The boat splashes like an overweight kid cannonballing into a pool. I'm drenched and everything smells of fish and seawater.
Colin shrugs apologetically and grabs an oar as Dante dives into the ocean beside us. The little boat wobbles from side to side. I'm not worried. So what if I'm flung overboard? I'm already soaking.
Dante joins us, grabbing the second oar and starts rowing. I offer to help. I feel bad since I'd never considered upgrading the emergency boats when I'd redecorated the entire ship, but the brothers both insist they'll row. I suppose it's better. I think it would have taken two hours for me to row the short distance to the shore rather than the fifteen minutes it takes us to ground in the shallow waters.
Pulling off my boots, I launch myself over the edge of the boat. My toes digging into the fine beach sand, the surf lapping against my legs.
Jerome saunters over from a makeshift camp where a few of the other crew members are relaxing. Dante climbs overboard and stands beside me as Colin instructs Jerome on what other supplies that need to be brought back from the ship. We unload the small boat and Jerome rows back.
My head is spinning and my knees wobble as I stabilize myself on land. Flopping down I grab my head in my hands and close my eyes. This isn’t quite what I’d expected my reunion with land to be. I feel dizzy and my body is confused, it feels like it is still swaying and yet, I'm as motionless as a barnacle suctioned to a rock.
I open my eyes and blink. It's like a dream. I turn to take in the full length of the bay. The sand is white and fine. Picking up a handful it falls through my fingers, tepid from the midday heat and barely sticking to my skin.
I can’t see a shell for miles, the sand is too perfect and it gives me an odd feeling at the pit of my stomach. I stand and walk along the surf, noting how the sea is calm and void of sea foam. Eyeing the plants to my left which have bright unusual colours that hurt my eyes.
Attached to their branches and roots are strange shaped flowers and fruits. I pause a moment, leaning towards the darkness that sleeps behind the foliage. Even the air is still. The back of my neck prickles as the heat intensifies. A black mist lazily oozes from the darkness to coil around a plant that resembles a cactus.
I get the distinct impression that it is waiting to ensnare unsuspecting wanderers, kind of like a famished Venus Fly Trap. I recoil, tugging my boots back on and jogging to where Dante and Colin have joined the camp.
“Arr, ahoy lass,” Colin says in greeting.
“Have you seen this island?” I ask scratching at my elbow. “It creeps me out.”
They nod in unison with Dante replying, “aye bucko, the Cap’n is talking a load of the bilge. He says we got to go explore the isle and I tell ye, I got me-self a bad feeling...”
Colin places a black pipe in his mouth, his chin bouncing in solemn agreement. “Arr, aye Dante, aye,” he says, flicking a match and chasing his pipe with the flame.
The V between my brows crinkles. “Why don’t you guys want to explore the island? I thought you loved exploring?”
“Sink me!” Colin exclaims and Dante joins him with a similar, “shiver me timbers!”
Colin leans his head close to mine and whispers, “nah lass, this here isle has a bad air about her and I’m not liking it one bit.”
Dante picks up a stick and pokes at the fire that is between him and his brother.
“Aye brother, aye. Arr lass, we ain’t no landlubbers, we enjoy exploring the seas, not isles such as these. I foresee death on these omens ridden shores. Have you seen any animals? Bad magic is at work here and I will not go no further.”
I look back at Colin who continues to nod. “Okay...” I trail off twisting my neck to look back at the misty foliage. “Who's going to search then?”
“Arr no lass, it’s not that simple,” Colin says with such dejection that I turn to look at him with concern.
He drops his pipe down on the sand beside him and places his head in his hands.
“We must obey the Cap’n’s orders,” Dante replies for him.
“For fear of a flogging,” Colin adds into his palms.
Dante finishes. “Or a walk of the plank to feed em fishes.”
I shake my head. “No way! Don’t be absurd guys. Why would he do that?”
“Nah lass, the Cap’n’s orders must be obeyed...”
Colin places his pipe back in his mouth and exhales a plume of smoke. “A flogging by the Cap'n is the worst possible punishment for a man.”
I cough and wave the smoke from my face. “Oh, you mean to your ego? What’s with you two? I thought you were pirates?”
Dante pushes his dreadlocks from his eyes, responding, “Oh no, lass, to our reputations’. Ye should never allow another man to beat ye.”
I laugh. Well, that's just common sense.
“Okay, I’ll come with you guys then.” I stand, wiping the sand from the back of my legs and sniffing. There is no breeze on the island and yet the acrid scent of smoke is spreading rapidly.
“Ye ain’t going ta do no such thing.” The deep voice of the Captain states, behind me.
The muscles in my back contract in fright. When I turn to face him, he is as picturesque as a Rembrandt - The ocean foregrounding his tense stance, jaw locked for battle.
I hear scuffling behind me as Colin and Dante jump up. The overpowering smell of extinguished tobacco wafting around us.
“Me hearties. Elvin has had a wee word with me,” the Captain says, directing his words at the two brothers.
I nod even though he isn’t talking to me. Elvin isn’t an idiot, whatever he has to say is important and the whole crew knows that. Maybe it is because he speaks so little so that when he does everyone takes notice, or maybe he is just wise. Who knows? I have only heard him muttering to himself late at night and thought he was a bit barmy, but hey? Maybe he is a tortured genius or something?
“Elvin.”
The Captain steps aside to reveal the dark-haired man who has morphed into his bulky shadow. His hair is grown to hang past his ears, straight and slightly greasy. His eyes shine yellow reminding me of cats lurking behind dustbins at midnight.
“I’ve heard of an island similar to this and I fear if we go into these forests it will be our end.”
The rest of the crew has gradually crept from their waiting stations to hear what Elvin has to say. They make noises of disbelief which has me raising my eyebrows. They are such drama queens of course they believe him! I notice Jamie near the back of the audience. It appears he's given up on the keg and settled for bottles of rum. One of which he is swigging while another is squished under his armpit.
“You mutter amongst yourselves now, but I warn you! I fear this island holds a woman more beautiful than anyone woman you have seen in your lives before...”
A cheer goes up at that and I distinctly hear James yell, “So what are we waiting for, men!”
“No lads. This woman is your adversary, a devil in camouflage. She is only here to take away your souls.” His yellow eyes flash at James. “You of all people know of these reservations so hark my words!”
James drops his head in shame. I strain my neck, holding back my own unabashed nod. Oh yes, he knows very well those fears, and he has tortured me from day one with his demon woman theories, him and his cronies, Kevin and Jerome.
“She is a demon who will seduce you into believing she is yours to keep and then when you look into her eyes... you are turned to stone!”
Elvin’s face is distressed at his words clearly expecti
ng a shocked intake of breath or some kind of equally appalling silence. A few of the crew chortle, others like Jamie snort and roll their eyes, a few even begin to move off and would have continued if the Captain had not cleared his throat and stopped them with a glower.
I, on the other hand, suck in my breath.
“You mean like Medusa?” My voice quivers and all eyes turn to me.
“What do you know of Medusa, lass?” The Captain asks, his tone calm, as the whites of Elvin’s eyes grow with dread.
I suspect he knows my answer already.
“I don’t know much.” I shrug, quickly continuing as two of the men shake their heads and move away. “I mean, I know she was once a beautiful woman who got on the bad side of the goddess Athena. As punishment, she turned her into a monster with snakes for hair and the power to turn men to stone.” I search the crowd for someone who isn’t looking at me like I'm something ugly stuck to their shoe. I find Jamie, who has lost one of his bottles and is watching me intently. I lick my lips. “It’s a myth but if you and dragons and all that stuff from our myths are true then she could be as well and then no man is safe. If she looks into your eyes you are doomed to be turned into stone forever...”
I hear splashing behind us and trail off. The crowd turns as Gus skids to a halt along the surf. His breathing heavy. His shirt and pants soaking wet and his soft curls slicked back as if he has been swimming.
“Captain! I can’t fir tha life of me find Riley. I canneh think it, but he's gone inta tha forest!”
My heart stops.
The pirates begin to chatter around me, but I'm not there anymore. If Medusa is on the island, if she is real, just like all the other legends in the world right now, then he is in grave danger.
My body is floating above the island as I finally admit that I care for him, more than I have ever let myself believe, more than I had wanted to.
So much for keeping away from him... I will risk my life to save him.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The Captain tugs on his treacle beard. His thick owl-like brows knitting together as he gives his orders. “Seek him out. We canneh leave men behind.”
I surprise myself with my tempestuous exhalation in response to his words. The Captain’s eyes dart to survey me, his jaw is taut. The crew mutters their ayes in response, reminding me of reluctant children at camp who’d been listening to ghost stories as they sat around a bonfire in the dead of night. Clearly, they are freaked out and I don’t blame them. Nobody wants to be turned into stone. The Captain turns his attention to Kevin as I watch them disperse. He strides towards him, his large caramel leather boots leaving sinkholes in the beach. He mutters commands in Kevin’s hairy ear, his hands behind his back.
His façade is collected. Too collected. Does the Captain have a problem with Riley? I start to pace, my hands in fists at my sides since I'm not sure what else to do with them. The sun is gaining on the waves where the sea meets the sky tie-dyeing them orange at the edges. My stomach makes a grumbling noise, but I'm not feeling hungry. Digging my toes into the sand I twist my hips so that the balls of my feet crunch down. My best friend, Jezebel used to call this her beachside pedicure and has since become a reflex of mine whenever I find myself shoeless on a beach.
The Captain leaves the shore with Kevin, the rowboats returning with more resources and weapons. The men who remain sit around a large bonfire feasting and drinking as they quarrel about who will go into the jungle and at what points.
Jamie beckons me to join him, but I am too agitated. What is taking the Captain so long? One of the crew removes himself from beside the fire and makes to venture into the thicket of vegetation a little way up from the bonfire.
Pulling my feet free from their cool midday cave I sprint towards him, grabbing and shaking his bony arm. “You can’t go in there!” I shriek, my voice rising higher than I intended. “I have to go; she can’t hurt me!” I plead, tears of frustration beading at the corners of my eyes.
The owner of the appendage pulls away from me, his aghast face tumbling into my memory as he does. James. The pirate who has hated me for being female. My cheeks flame as I glance around, noting that quite a few of the crew have stopped their own preparations for the journey and are looking around to see if anyone is going to agree with me and stop them. Others, like Jamie, to my annoyance, whistle and continue what they are doing.
I release James marching towards Jamie. I'm ready to grab his pack from his hands and scold him for being an idiot when the Captain returns. I change direction, my hands shaking.
“Captain!” I call.
He's pouring sea water from one of his boots and slipping it over a holey grey sock.
“Captain,” I say again, closer this time.
He looks up flicking his foot out as if he's doing the tango.
“Please! I owe you my life. You have to let me go in place of your crew. She can’t harm me.” My throat closes up and my eyes sting. I'm about to start choking on my words.
The Captain bends down so that his blue eyes are level with my own. Placing his hands on my shoulders he says soothingly, “Lass, this is our fight. If anything were ta happen ta ye Solange would 'ave my head.”
I sniff as my tears are unleashed. I don’t give a crap about Solange. I don’t even know who this sea witch, hag, whatever is!
“If you go in you might not return and I can’t...I just can’t allow you to walk into a death trap knowing that I’m the only one who can help you! Medusa is bad news. She killed all of Peruses’ men before he cut off her head!”
My entire body is shaking now, my skin hot. I can feel the many eyes of the crew prickling on my neck. I am creating a scene like a spoilt kid being left behind while their parents go off without them, and I can’t stop myself. I'm pathetic and out of control.
He lowers his hands and stands grinning. “Then we shall cut off her head!”
Why can't he just listen to me? “You can’t fight blind, and then there are her immortal sisters!”
The Captain sighs. “Immortal beings can die. I’ve fought an’ survived more of ‘em than ye can know, and yer lack of faith in me is upsettin’.”
I wring my hands together as I look down at my bare feet covered in clumps of drying white sand. “I’m sorry. Of course, I don’t doubt you... I could never.” I clasp my fingers together and place them over my heart. “But if anything happens to any of you, it will be my fault.”
The Captain turns his attention away from me as Gus jogs down the beach. He has an enormous gun type of thing in his right hand. It looks ridiculous.
“What the...” I trail off.
“Don’t ye worry lass,” he murmurs clearly done with the conversation.
Gus halts in front of us. His breathing heavy and loud. “Kevin’s gone,” he reports.
“Argh darn scunners!” The Captain bellows storming past Gus towards the thick plume of grey-black smoke that is the bonfire.
It's clear he's not happy and the scattered crew pick up on it immediately. I hear him shouting in the distance. “Lads it’s time, grab what ye need. Kevin has joined tha’ scunner, Riley. We won’t be leaving any of our men behind.”
I watch as they vanish into the foliage with a weight in my chest.
“Dammit.” I groan flopping back into the sand. I stare up at the cloudless sky.
Soft crunching beside my head has me lifting my torso so that I'm balanced on my elbows. Gus is staring over me. Gravity has pushed his eyes and lips back which makes him look as if he’s undergone too much plastic surgery.
“I thought you were going with!” I exclaim, glad that one of my friends is safe.
He continues to peer down at me with wide brown eyes that remind me of a pug. “Nah lass, I am ta protect ye as if your life was me own.”
“And?” I ask, sensing there is more to that command.
His thin lips pucker and he pulls his gun closer to his body. The thing is the entire length of him.
“An’? Aint no an�
�� lass, that’s all me orders.”
“Ah ha.” I roll over and sit up, pulling my hair to the side of my neck and patting out the sand that clings to it. “And to make sure I don’t go after them.” I continue for him.
His mouth forms an O as he shakes his head vigorously. “Oh no lass. I’m here to keep ye company.” He sits down beside me and places the gun straight up between his knees.
A question has been nagging at me since I saw the monstrosity. “What on earth is that?”
Gus sucks his bottom lip in and smiles. “This is a Musket, beauty ain’t she?”
Well, it isn’t the word I would use to describe it. “I thought muskets were long range rifles?”
“Aye.”
“Uh... So if Medusa comes towards us how are you going to shoot at her?”
“From afar lass, while we get ye back ta the ship.”
“Oh, yeah of course...” I say sulkily. What is the use of all my training if I never get to fight?
There is a noise that reminds me of when Mia had first discovered pot lids and had clanged them together over and over until my ears went numb with the ringing. The sound is like that, only about ten times louder.
Gus drops his Musket as I jump up, panic engulfing me. There is another intense clanging. I freeze. And another that seems to echo out into the ocean. What do I do? Do I run? Do I scream? I ring my hands together and bite down on my lower lip. How do I fight? I can’t remember!
Jerome races out of the thicket with his hands over his ears and his head down. His cutlass is tucked haphazardly into the halter around his waist, his curly brown hair knotted with leaves and twigs. I call out to him with a strangled cry that he ignores as he sprints, his belly flopping up and down like a sack, straight into the ocean where he begins to swim. I'm about to go after him when Jamie, Colin and Dante rush out of the forest, their weapons still clasped in their hands and their faces drained of blood.
“Jamie!” I cry, running towards him.
He and the two brothers have their hands over their ears too, and I notice they have their eyes squeezed shut as I get closer. I tug at Jamie’s elbow with no response. I try to pry my fingers under his fist but soon give up and turn to the brothers. Colin peaks out one of his eyes and lets out a shriek of relief.
Time Torn Page 12
