by C. Litka
05
'So you just let them walk off?'
I shrugged. 'Aye.'
'Do you know what a watchman's job is, mate? It's to keep things from walking off.'
'Aye.' I've stood before angry captains before and knew enough just to roll with the punches. She wasn't all that angry underneath the bluster. I think she was rather happy that the boys showed a little gumption on their own, even if it involved sneaking off while she was asleep. And well, I knew my worth, so I wasn't concerned. She knew it, too, so we were just going through the motions.
'Hopefully Cookie will keep them out of trouble.'
'Even if they come home broke, at least they've struck out on their own. About time, I'd say,' I ventured.
She gave me a hard look. 'So you say, hey? You better hope they come back, rich or poor.'
Ah, there was that. Still, I didn't think it was my place to tell their Mom. 'They don't strike me as fools, Skipper. And any growing up they have to do, they'll do it faster on their own. And as you say, Cookie will look after them.'
She left it at that. 'So you and Raya are staying?'
'Oh, Litang there has more gold than he knows what to do with, back on his home island. He doesn't want no more,' said KaRaya from the other end of the table.
'I should have such problems,' muttered Captain DenMons. 'Well, you've both been promoted to first mate and Chief Engineer effective immediately. The boys can serve as deck hands when they get back. They won't need their wages with all the gold they'll be bringing home.'
'Thanks, Skipper,' said KaRaya brightly. 'And with our promotions, we should hammer out the wage scale as well. Now, before we sail. I'm thinking 10 percent of the gross for each of us. That comes to 120 silvers apiece per voyage.'
DenMons smiled grimly. 'If that's what you're thinking, you've got another thought coming.'
'I suppose you could get used to the smell of rotting fish, if you had to. And well, I've a feeling that pretty soon, a crew willing to man a barge home from here is going to be as rare as a bald dragon, so I don't think I'm asking too much...'
'Five percent each, net, and only until things get back to normal.'
'Eight percent each, gross, for the duration of the rush.'
'Seven point five percent, net.'
'Gross.'
'You're a hard woman, KaRaya.'
'And so are you, Captain. Do we have an understanding?'
'Do I have a choice?'
'Not that I can see.'
'Then I guess we do. Get up steam. You're going to have to work your tails off for that silver because I doubt we'll ever have a returning crew, not until the first unlucky ones come straggling back.'
'That's why we're being paid so handsomely,' allowed KaRaya. 'Hop to it, Chief.'
I gave her an indolent sneer. 'I'm chief engineer on this here barge now. You'll get your steam when it's ready, mate. Your job is to miss them hills, not order me about.'
KaRaya grinned. 'You missed your calling, Litang.'
'I may well have, but I've plenty of time yet to make up for those wasted years.'
'You won't if you don't get a move on it and get me some steam,' snapped Cap'n Mons.
'Aye, aye, steam coming up,' I said with a smile, pushing back my chair and snapped off a fearless sarcastic salute. I may well have been born to be an engineer.
Chapter 20 The Shadows of the Shadow Lands
