“And you say the girls there are quite the thing?” she heard Roland saying as she got nearer.
“The very thing,” one of the men said. “We’ve just to find that cash dispenser and get you some more coin, sir. No transfers from tablets in the best houses, only coin, you know.”
“Quite right,” Roland agreed. “Only the best for me.”
“Good evening, gentlemen,” Alexis said when she was close. “I see you’ve found our wayward shipmate for us.”
The others stopped, the two men on either side of Roland, each grasping an arm. One of them smiled. “Showing your mate a good time, we are,” he said. “Nothing but the best for our new friend Ronald, here.”
“I’m sure,” Philip said, stepping up beside Alexis. “Perhaps we should join you, then? Make a night of it?”
“Oh, I don’t think so,” the other man said. He was not smiling. “Nothing where we’re going that would interest little boys and girls.”
Roland laughed. “No, nothing in a house that would interest Misters Carew and Easely.” He looked at the first man. “And my name’s Roland. Told you that before, I did.”
“Roland, how much money have you given them already?” Alexis asked.
“Not so much. Bought a round or two, but I’ve still quite a bit …” He patted his pockets, looking confused. “Here now!” he said, straightening and jerking his arms free of the two men. “Have you lot pinched my coin?”
“Just calm down, lad.” The two men stepped away from him, holding up their hands and making calming gestures.
“Roland,” Philip said. “You’ve told me enough about these houses for me to know they all take payment by transfer. What do they need you to get more coin for?”
“You mind your business, boy!”
“Our shipmate is our business,” Alexis said, stepping forward. “Now off with you lot before we call the patrol and report this.”
Three more men stepped out of a nearby corridor and the five spread out to surround them.
“Takes time for them, even after they’re called. Time enough for you to hand over your coin, as well as your mate’s. Then no one need be hurt,” one of them said.
Philip stepped up beside Alexis and Roland turned to face one of the men.
Alexis looked the first man in the eye. “There’s really no need for this to go any further.”
The man’s hand snapped out and grasped her arm. “Should’ve kept walking, little girl.”
Philip started to reach forward, but the other man blocked him, then the other three reached them. Two squared off with Roland and the other with Philip.
“Well, this went right down the crapper,” Philip muttered. “Look then, we can still …” He broke off as one of the men swung his fist and struck him square in the nose. As if that was the signal, the others attacked as well.
“Looks like I got the easy one,” the man holding Alexis said.
Alexis brought her hand up to her arm where the man grasped it, but instead of grabbing his hand or arm in a futile attempt to pull free, she remembered what the marine, Culmer, had told her. “Everyone’ll be stronger than you,” he’d said. “In fact, most men’ll have more strength in one finger than you’ve in your whole arm … so cheat and be vicious about it.”
She dug her thumb deep into her own arm, ignoring the discomfort as she slid it under the man’s little finger to grasp it quickly. With a quick twist of her wrist, she bent just that finger back, hearing a quite satisfying sound. Not the crack of breaking bone, but a wet twock, the sort of thing one hears when wrenching off a chicken leg.
The man screamed and released her arm, but Alexis didn’t release him. Instead, she shook her own hand back and forth rapidly, like a terrier with a rat, twisting and turning the man’s injured finger. His screams turned shrill and he lashed out with his other hand. Alexis ducked, but not quickly enough and the back of his hand caught her across the face. She let go and staggered back.
Two of the men had Roland backed against the corridor’s wall and were trying to get to him, but even drunk as he was, he was able to lash out and keep them at a distance. Philip, however, was not so lucky. As she watched, one of the last two men swung his fist into Philip’s face and he fell to the ground where the last man drew back his foot to kick him.
Alexis dashed forward and leapt onto the man’s back, wrapping her arms and legs around him and knocking him off balance so that his kick missed. Keeping her grip with one arm, she reached her other hand around the man’s head and clawed at his face. The man swung around and his partner drove a fist into Alexis’ side that forced the breath from her, but still she hung on and dug her nails into his skin.
A few people were coming out of the corridor’s stores and pubs, some staying to watch the fight, but most hurrying away, and Alexis caught sight of a familiar uniform.
“Merlins!” she yelled, then let out a loud oof as the man’s fist drove into her side again.
That blow caused her to lose her grip and she fell from the man’s back to land awkwardly on the deck. Dazed by the fall, she was watching helplessly as one of the attackers drew back his leg to kick at her face, when the world was suddenly filled with flailing arms and legs clad in Navy blue jumpsuits as cries of “Merlin!” rang through the corridor.
While most of the arriving spacers kicked and pummeled their attackers, driving them down the corridor, others grasped Alexis, Philip and Roland to drag them from the melee. The three of them leaned against a shop window and watched as their five attackers broke off and ran, the spacers from Merlin hurling taunts and insults in their wake.
“I think we’d have had them ourselves in another moment,” Roland muttered. The fight seemed to have sobered him immensely. Alexis saw that he’d not been able to hold them off entirely, as one eye was rapidly swelling and his lip was puffy.
Philip nodded, his head tucked down to press part of his jacket to a nose streaming blood. “Yes. Another moment or two is all we needed.”
Alexis stared at the two and shook her head. “Quite. I’m sure, come morning, their fists will be most sorry they ever met us.”
* * *
Alexis lay in her bunk, her cheek and lip throbbing where she’d been hit in the fight and her side ached. She wondered for a moment if she might need to see the ship’s surgeon about her ribs. Only moments after the five men had run, the Station Patrol had arrived and taken all of the crew, including Alexis, Roland and Philip, into custody. But, with no one from the other side of the fight present, they’d decided to simply turn the lot of them over to Merlin immediately. The group of them had been marched back to the ship — the crew cheerful and thanking the three midshipmen for a fine little tussle to end their liberty.
Lieutenant Caruthers had been called from his cabin when they’d arrived. He’d sent the crew off to quarters without a word, then simply stared at the three of them for a moment, taking in the sight. All three of them had battered faces and one of the sleeves of Alexis’ jacket had ripped during the fracas — she’d have to ask Acker to repair it, if the spacer could find the time.
Caruthers had simply shaken his head and muttered, “Captain’ll see you lot in the morning,” before sending them off to their berths.
Despite the excitement of the fight and her dread about seeing the captain in the morning, her thoughts kept going back to that moment just before they’d spotted Roland, when she’d been looking up into Philip’s eyes and the world had suddenly gone all warm and fuzzy for a moment.
In retrospect, she decided it had simply been the result of a pleasant, relaxing evening in his company after weeks in a stressful new environment.
After all, he was much younger than she was. Though very mature after almost a year aboard ship. More so than most of the older boys on Dalthus — at least of the holders’ sons.
And she’d only known him for a few weeks. Though I do enjoy his company and I’m sure I’d enjoy it even if we weren’t thrust together aboard ship every day.
>
And serving together aboard Merlin, anything of the sort would be out of the question. Though … well, no, I can’t really argue myself out of that one, can I?
No, the regulations were quite clear about officers serving aboard the same ship or even in the same chain-of-command.
Not to mention that they were already sharing a berth and she’d felt a bit awkward as they’d hurriedly prepared for sleep after returning to the ship. Just as he seems to have gotten quite over my' and-suches', now it begins to bother me?
Absolutely not, no, that moment had to have been nothing and she’d think no more about it. For, if it weren’t, it would cause no end of problems and awkwardness between them while they both served aboard Merlin. Perhaps, one day, we’ll be on separate ships and …
She pulled her pillow out from under her head and pressed it to her face despite her sore cheek and lip.
“Oh, bother.”
* * *
“Brawling on station? Brought back to the ship by the Station Patrol like a lot of drunken spacers?”
Alexis stared straight ahead at the bulkhead of the captain’s day cabin, face set and still as he spoke. Philip and Roland stood to either side of her, similarly stoic. And similarly battered, she thought, having seen the extent of their injuries in the gunroom as they’d prepared to face the captain.
Philip’s nose was swollen and both eyes blacked, while Roland sported a livid bruise across one side of his face and his lip was split and swollen so that it was painful for him to speak. For Alexis’ part, she’d woken to find that she had to concentrate not to wince at every breath as her side where their attackers had repeatedly punched her was quite tender. At least I didn’t get hit too badly in the face. I shouldn’t like that, I suspect.
“Would one of you like to explain your actions?” Grantham asked.
The three remained silent. Alexis, for her part, wondering how they’d manage to explain what happened without it being clear that Roland had been about to be well-rolled by a gang of ruffians, something, she was certain, that would not improve the young man’s chance for advancement. Perhaps if they simply explained that they were set upon by those intent on robbing them without getting into the specifics, he might be satisfied.
Captain Grantham’s face darkened as the silence continued.
“It was my fault all entire, sir,” Roland said suddenly. He took a deep breath before continuing. “I fell in with a bad lot and would have come out far worse if Mister Easely and Mister Carew hadn’t stepped in.”
Grantham nodded, apparently satisfied that someone had come forward to take responsibility.
“I expect you’ll take better notice of the company you keep in future, Mister Roland. And where they plan to lead you,” the captain added, apparently better informed about the details than they’d thought. “As for you two, while it’s commendable to come to the aid of a fellow officer, I still I can’t have my officers involved in drunken brawls. The three of you are confined to the ship for the duration of our stay at Zariah — not that the Station would allow you back aboard this trip regardless.” He stared at each of them in turn. “As you’ll have some time, you may assist Mister Dudgeon in keeping Merlin properly maintained. I’m quite sure he would appreciate a report on the state of our rigging, standing and running.” Alexis felt her eyes widen at the thought of examining kilometers of cables and wires that made up the rigging. “Including all of our ready-made spares.” She felt Philip and Roland slump in despair beside her. “A quite thorough report, if you please, and in Mister Dudgeon’s hands before we leave Zariah.”
* * *
Alexis breathed a sigh of relief as they returned to the gunroom with the captain safely behind to two hatchways and the companionway and saw the other two do so as well.
“Could’ve been worse, I suppose,” Philip muttered.
“I’m sure I haven’t heard the last of it,” Roland said.
Alexis saw that Philip was looking at Roland with much the same expression she suspected she was herself.
“What?” Roland asked, darting his gaze between the two of them.
“It’s just that you …”
Roland scowled and cut him off. “Oh, come on,” he said. “I’m not a total prat, you know. You lot did pull me out of a right mess last night.” He looked from Alexis to Philip, then shook his head and stalked off.
Philip turned to Alexis. “You spotting the crew saved us all. The look on that fellow’s face as he was yanked off his feet was worth a bit of pummeling. And when the Station Patrol came along at the end,” he said, laughing, “with only us from Merlin left around? Puzzled them, I think, to find no other side to the brawl.”
Alexis grinned. “It was a spot of fun, wasn’t it?”
“Worth every bit,” Philip agreed, gingerly testing his battered nose.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“Whatever is that racket, Philip?” Alexis asked.
The two were in the aft companionway, passing the gundeck on their way down — Philip to the hold in order to supervise making room for the supplies Alexis’ crew would be bringing up from the planet’s surface. They’d been four weeks in transit from Zariah to Eidera, stopping periodically at uninhabited systems to check for signs of pirates, smugglers, or just simple merchantmen who’d had trouble in darkspace and made for the nearest transition to normal-space.
“Ah.” Philip glanced at the closed hatch. “No liberty for the crew on Eidera, but the captain’s put the ship out of discipline, so the bumboats have come up.”
“Bumboats?”
“Merchants and …” He cleared his throat. “And some others. Allows the wives on board and such.”
Alexis grinned. “The crew’s families? I should very much like to meet them,” she said, reaching for the hatch.
“Alexis, I wouldn’t …”
Alexis opened the hatch and found that the gundeck had been transformed into a colorful bazaar by a herd of merchants come aboard to sell to the men. They carried trays of food, crafts from the planet, and …
“Oh my,” Alexis whispered as she noticed the women, all colorfully dressed, or not, to attract the attention of the spacers.
Philip peered over her shoulder. “That would be the others, yes.”
Alexis’ eyes widened. “But …”
“Can’t give them liberty on most planets, else they’ll run,” Philip explained, tugging her arm. “Let’s go then.”
“But you said … wives …”
Philip looked down at the deck. “Not as though the bosun checks a certificate when they come aboard.”
She looked at him, eyes wide. “You mean they’re not really …”
“Heard it said of a spacer that there’s a wife in every port?” He looked away and tugged at his collar. “Well, it’s enough to get her aboard that a man says she is.”
Alexis looked back through the hatchway, fascinated. “Do you mean to say they’re all paid women? But some of them are … right out in the open …”
“The men have no cabins and most can’t afford but a three-penny upright.” Philip colored, then tugged harder on her arm. “Come on, then, we’ve work to do. And it’s right to leave the men their privacy when the ship’s out of discipline. They’ll, none of them, have a bit of pay left before we make sail.”
Alexis ignored him, trying to take in the chaotic scene before her, then gasped. “Oh, heavens … well, that can’t be at all comfortable.”
Philip made to slide the hatch shut, but she stopped it and peered through again.
“Alexis!”
“Oh, I suppose you’re right,” she said, releasing her grip and letting the hatchway slide closed. “But aren’t you the least bit curious?”
“No … well, yes,” he flushed a deeper red. “But we’ve work to be doing.”
Alexis grinned, he was so easily flustered. “I suppose you’re right.”
They went down the companionway to the hold where Philip exited. Alexis continued down the keel
lock and entered the ship’s boat. It was already filled with the men and three marines and the pilot was waiting for her in the cockpit. She slid into a seat next to him, excited that she’d be in the front of the boat for the flight down. She couldn’t suppress a wide grin as the boat sped toward the planet then down through the atmosphere to finally pass over the port city and land at the broad field on its outskirts. Eidera had been settled about twice as long as Dalthus and had a much larger population. Its main city was three or four times the size of Port Arthur.
“First time up front, sir?” the pilot asked as he made the last setting to shut down the boat’s systems.
“And my first time on a planet other than home, Vaux,” she said, still grinning. “I can’t quite believe it.” She stood and turned to the cockpit’s hatch. “It’s customary for you to stay with the boat, I understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, then I’ll see you when we return with the supplies.” She slid the hatch open. The men had the passenger compartment’s exterior hatch opened already and the steps lowered, but no one had left the boat yet. Tradition called for the senior officer to board last and disembark first.
And that’s me. Alexis cleared her throat quickly to suppress a giggle. She knew it wouldn’t do to laugh outright, but the excitement was almost too much for her. Away from the ship, in command of the men, and about to step onto a strange planet for the first time. She took a deep breath of the fresh air coming through the hatch. Welcome enough after weeks of the dry, stale air aboard ship. Always just slightly flavored with the scent of too many men and not enough water for washing. Unless her memory was playing tricks on her, though, the air on Eidera even smelled a bit different than Dalthus.
She squared her shoulders and strode down the steps, taking a little hop off the last one so that she planted both feet firmly on the hard surface of the landing pad. She pulled her tablet and consulted the map of the town with the chandlerly clearly marked. As the men and three marines exited, she was glad to see Acker among them. Then her stomach clenched as she noticed Alan was in the group as well. She looked away, determined to not let that steal any of her enjoyment.
Into the Dark (Alexis Carew Book 1) Page 18
