Beside the Rock and Cloud

by Pete Draper

  Her juddering heartbeat made it a useless exercise.

  Cassi looked back on deck, seeing the glum faces and dropped heads. The crew stood around like spare parts, all too scared to do anything. The Katalians stood with their hands in their pockets, shaking like leaves.

  “What are you all standing around for?” Cassi snapped.

  “What do yous want us to do Cap’in?” Murta asked. “Most of the crew haven’t been in a fight at sea before.”

  She thought for a moment but had no idea, “Just do something!”

  Cassi bit her fingernails, spitting out the nail polish with a disgusted wince, then licked her palm to clear her mouth of the waxy taste. She looked at the clear sky. What she’d give for a storm right now. But the day was clear as ever, a couple of tiny clouds decorated the sky.

  The terrifying Levacian ship had scarda bulwarks which left a gap in the middle. More black scarda cladding protected the hull, white rigging was swathed over it, Cassi couldn’t think why.

  As the Howling Dragon whistled around the first rock, Cassi got her first look at RES Wrath.

  Its tall triangular red sail was sleek. She hoped it would be like those of the Golden Empire, quick in a straight line, but slow to turn. Unfortunately, this ship didn’t look as huge as one of those.

  The rudder looked like a giant sword half-submerged in the water, there was no wheel, just a long handle which was being rotated from time to time. The sun shined down on the ship, something blue and gold gleamed on deck. The blue light Cassi saw last night. Her bloodshot eyes winced at the damage that thing might be able to do.

  The RES Wrath gained on them. The gold weapon glowed brighter than ever. They were close enough; she could make out the crew from here. The Lieutenant rotated the handle. The sharp rudder moved, with it the ship made a slight turn.

  Gears cranked; the spiked sides of the raised platform chomped like teeth. The weapon clacked over the cogs beneath it. An orange glow lit the head of the cylinder, black lines swirled and rippled from within. A low buzzing sound soon replaced the hungover ringing in Cassi’s ears.

  The Levacians watched their weapon with glee. Someone manhandled the huge handle on the back of it; it slid back with difficulty.

  The ensuing boom was louder than thunder. A wave slapped the Levacian ship as it fired and the side was tipped up. The orange ball sailed overhead, narrowly missing the mast and sails of the Howling Dragon. The crew watched it in terror.

  The ball slapped into the sea ahead, bouncing a couple of times before it sank.

  “That’s something you don’t see every day,” Leon said, pointing at the fiery trail on the surface. A burning smell filled the air, followed by a sulfuric after-smell.

  Cassi was less concerned with the flames, more so the large wave which approached. Quickly, she steered into it. The more the wave moved, the higher it rose. She gripped the handles, ripples smacked into the bow. The dragon figurehead wobbled. Water passed beneath like a giant sea monster, lifting the ship with it.

  The wave surged under the keel and rudder. Despite her white knuckle grip, she had no control. Everyone on deck was thrust violently into the air as she looked at the sea about to swallow them whole. A couple of men tumbled and smashed through the makeshift bulwark, then clung to the hull.

  Cassi was distraught watching them fight to keep hold of the hull. “Hang on!” She screamed. Another heavy jolt and they were overboard. There was no way she could go back for them.

  “They’re strong swimmers, they’ll make it to shore,” she told herself.

  The wave helped a little, several ripples bashed into the Levacian ship’s bow.

  Cassi watched the two sailors. They tried to get their bearings, then began to swim, heading back the way they came.

  The Levacian Commander climbed over the side; his free hand gripped the rope nets. He taunted the swimmers; the tip of his gold weapon aimed at one of them. With a beaming smile, he licked his lips. Blue light emanated from the hole in the cylinder.

  A ball of liquid spat out of it, hurtling towards one of the defenceless swimmers. The shot collided with its target; he was hit right in the forehead. The projectile exploded on impact, sending blood, skull and brains flying everywhere. Cassi covered her eyes. When she looked back, the pool of blood and floating brain tissue stuck to the surface like barnacles on a whale’s back.

  The other swimmer must have dived to escape.

  For a moment, the Levacians forgot all about the Howling Dragon, more gunners had climbed onto the ropes over the sides. It seemed Lowell was much more interested in hunting down the lone swimmer.

  RES Wrath swung around, scouring the sea for the man. Someone pointed over at the opposite side, Lowell trotted over the metal grid of a deck from port to starboard. Cassi didn’t see anything but the shot leaving Lowell’s weapon. Judging from his satisfied grin, he must have got his man.

  The Howling Dragon had gained some ground, they were approaching the next rock. Lowell’s ship was well behind, but as Cassi had already seen, it wouldn’t take long for them to catch up.

  With plenty of yelling and shuffling about onboard, the Levacian ship screamed towards them again. When it neared them, the gears cranked.

  Each click made Cassi’s heart jump.

  The monstrous weapon turned its ugly head, lifting a little higher with every clunk. Someone in a black coat poured an orange liquid meticulously into a funnel near the back. Again, the Levacian crew watched eagerly as the swirling ball formed within.

  The great handle on the side took two hands to slide back, causing another massive boom and a smoky discharge.

  White streaks crisscrossed along the outer edge of the ball, it whistled out of control. It spiralled around but didn’t get far.

  This time the projectile fell short of its target. It crashed into the sea, the ball dived deep. Water erupted in a double splash above where it landed, and another flame-tipped wave formed.

  This one helped. The unstable wave forced the Howling Dragon on, putting some space between Cassi and Lowell as it forced the Levacians back. RES Wrath bared its angry teeth.

  “When that ting finds its range, we’re in trouble.” Murta’s eyes were like a scared little boy.

  “Will you shut up!” Cassi screamed. “You’re not helping.” She closed her eyes, thinking about her curiosity last night. This was all her fault. After they destroyed the ship and encircled it, finishing off any survivors with their handheld weapons, then Carilyo would hang. It’s all my fault.

  “We might as well take a seat,” Lorix said. “Cragg, Perry. Let him go, he’s not going anywhere.” The henchmen unhanded Carilyo, then strolled off somewhere. The air was less fusty with those two gone.

  Lorix sat at the bench, looking more relaxed than ever. His unnerving white eyes looked Carilyo over before he patted a space next to him with his skinny palm.

  After a moment, Carilyo walked over, sitting down. Lorix smelled of oil and machinery, a burning stench emanated from his hair and trench coat.

  Carilyo had never felt more uncomfortable, he couldn’t move his hands or lean back. The rope was so tight it cut into his wrists. Both men watched the horizon, not that there was anything to see. Carilyo’s eyes streamed with nervous teary spots. Anxiety ate away at his chest, for once in his life, he could explain why he was feeling it.

  “Why did you not let me say goodbye?” Carilyo asked through the heavy breaths.

  Lorix glanced over, then back to sea. “What would be the point in that?”

  “Cassi would have died knowing that I’m not angry with her, that it wasn’t her fault. There is nothing worse than not getting to say goodbye to those you love.”

  “Saying goodbye.” Lorix shrugged. “Who cares, why does it matter if you’re not going to see each other again, it doesn’t change what’s going to happen. Does it really matter if you die with a warm, fuzzy feeling in your heart? Or a feeling of emptiness? You’ll be dead either way.”

  Carilyo did
n’t meet his unnerving eyes. “Apart from my mama, who I barely ever see, Cassi is my only family. She is all I have.”

  Lorix thought for a moment, then burst into a laugh so violent, it looked like he might rupture his spleen. “Family,” he said it as though he was a small child repeating a rude word he wasn’t supposed to say, then giggled. His grin twisted to one side. “Family is overrated. Pushing your way out of the same vagina isn’t anything special you know. Just because you shared a household as a child, doesn’t make family anything special. There are millions of people out there who have done the same; many of them can’t stand their brothers, sisters and parents.”

  “Maybe that is how you feel about your family, but mine is special. My papa was a great man. Me and Cassi share a bond like no other, we love each other very much.” Carilyo’s bitter eyes shot Lorix a venomous stare.

  “Love,” Lorix snorted like a pig, slapping his thigh. Leaning his head back, he cackled like Carilyo had told him a hilarious joke. “Love is worse, what does that word even fucking mean?” Lorix leaned against the backrest. He raised his eyebrows when he saw the serious look on Carilyo’s face. “Love is just a way to describe the butterfly feeling you have when you lust for someone. People only love their partner because they want to stick their hard cock in them. They only love their family… because religion says they have to.” Lorix took out his pipe again, filling it with more tobacco, the little gold cylinder lit with a flame when he pressed the button. “Love.” He chuckled some more, spurting out smoke.

  Carilyo was getting sick of the smell of it now.

  Lorix spoke again, “If it makes you feel better, maybe you should think about your goodbyes, family and love when Cragg and Perry tie that noose around your neck.”

  Staring at Lorix out of the corner of his eye, Carilyo watched the skinny man take a drag from his pipe. His eyes flicked over to the noose softly swaying at the edge of the shipyard. The wooden platform beneath it bounced around indifferently.

  “It’s sad that you do not love your family, and that you do not feel love,” Carilyo said. “But I do.” He looked out to sea. “I love you Cassi; you can do it.”

  “Whatever you’re doing,” Roxy said. “It’s working fine. I’d rather have you behind the wheel than anyone else.”

  Leon came barging up to the quarterdeck.

  “What is it?” Cassi looked him up and down, his untucked shirt irritated her. Worst of all, she could see his flabby belly beneath the greasy, stained shirt.

  “I had an idea,” Leon said; he was panting hard, as though climbing the steps had taken his breath from him.

  “What is it?” Cassi’s eyebrow raised.

  “We could abandon ship,” Leon suggested, smiling proudly as though he had discovered a way to find all prime numbers.

  “That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard,” Cassi said. Though from the looks of the other faces, it didn’t seem so absurd to everyone else.

  “Sure, they’d hunt some of us,” Drax added. “But if we spread out, some would get away. We’re sitting ducks here, when the big weapon finally finds its range, we all die.”

  “Out of the question,” Cassi replied. “We shall all survive this, together, don’t worry.”

  They rounded the rock, the westerly wind helped with turning. The Levacians had bridged the gap their wave had created; they began to turn.

  “Fucking wind is right behind us,” Cassi said.

  “Isn’t that good?” Leon asked.

  Cassi shook her head, remembering what Carilyo had taught her. “Running with the wind is not as quick. It will take us slightly off course, but we need to head south-west.” She turned. “A broad reach will be quicker.”

  She watched the Levacian ship turn as it followed, it turned even more, heading away from them to the south.

  “What are they doing?” Drax asked.

  “They’re using the wind to their advantage,” Cassi answered. “Once they’ve turned, they’ll be coming right back at us.”

  “What’re you going to do?” Drax pestered.

  “I don’t fucking know yet!” Cassi snapped. “If you shut up, maybe I’ll be able to think.”

  Drax trembled, backing away a step. Steaming fury pulsed from Cassi’s body.

  “What do I do?” She breathed rapidly, everything Carilyo had taught her about rippling waves, glitter paths and the colour of water floated through her brain in a dark cloud of indecision. She looked up, as though the answer was written in the clouds.

  “This is the right course,” Roxy said. “They’ll only catch up if you try to sail on a beam reach, this gives us the best chance.” She placed a comforting hand on Cassi’s back. At least someone on this ship knows what they’re doing.

  Nobody else was a natural sailor, except for Luco maybe. The others were drunkards and fighters, no good at sailing a ship. Luco was useless lately anyway.

  Lowell’s ship had gotten a head start before it turned, then began to sweep in from the side. RES Wrath looked even more intimidating from the front with its scarda figurehead of Levac Cloudhaven, he held out the great sword Bane in one hand, his eyes wore a look of murderous pleasure.

  The giant ball-firing weapon smiled like the jaws of a wolf. The orange glow lit inside it yet again.

  “What shall I do?” Cassi thought out loud through the shallow breaths. It sounded like she was standing next to a beehive, she couldn’t think through the loud buzzing sound. Without hesitation, she steered a little towards the Levacians.

  The blast echoed through her ears. As the ball sailed through the air, the Howling Dragon changed course, leaning towards its enemy. A wave helped it along, and the furious orange ball clattered into the top of the mast. Cassi placed an arm over her head as the wood and splinters rained down. The liquid dribbled onto a sail, melting through it. The flames puffed, leaving nothing but a charred rag.

  Another blob of liquid dribbled onto the main deck, burning a hole through the boards. The crew watched the burnt wood sizzle in a mesmerised, terrified state.

  Cassi gasped, the ship wasn’t quick enough as it was, it would be even slower now.

  “Cut that mast off!” Cassi roared. “We might as well lose the weight if there’s no sail attached.”

  The crew began unattaching it, tossing the mast and all its rigging overboard. The ship sure looked bare with one sail and a jib, but it moved a little quicker.

  Those Levacians were bearing down on them; the weapon was primed and ready for another shot.

  The orange ball grew again.

  She stared at it a while, it sounded like a long drone of thunder. The Levacian crew surrounded it like a pack of hungry hyenas. Riveting dark lines fizzled and sparkled throughout. The ball opened out, light bounced from one end of the cylinder to another as the sphere grew, soon it was larger than a man. She saw someone reach for the handle, using all of their bodyweight to force it back.

  Cassi took a deep breath.

  They were too close to use the same trick again. All she could do now was pray to her ancestors and hope they would hear.

  When she opened her eyes, the ball was gone. Yet there was no noise, no ear-shattering boom. Her eyes scanned above to see if it was sailing over them, but there was nothing. When she looked back at the weapon, the same man took a second furious pull of the trigger.

  “What happened?” Cassi asked, feeling the cool shade on her fade

  “Those weapons,” Murta pointed at the cloud that shielded them. “They only work in the sun. Maybe we have a chance after all.”

  Cassi stared at the spiky cloud, which was thin around its edges; it wasn’t the largest. It’d only take a few minutes for it to pass over. “We’re close to the next rock. From what Carilyo said, there’s some reefs after it; maybe we can lose them there.”

  “You sure you can sail through a reef?” Drax asked.

  “I hope so,” Cassi said.

  “I’ll get over to the bow,” Roxy said. “I can point out any coral
from there.”

  Roxy placed a hand at the top of Cassi’s arm, looking her deep in the eye. “You can do this Cassi.”

  Roxy grabbed Drax and Settico, they ran over to the front of the ship, peering out over the sides.

  When they passed the rock, Cassi watched the sea ahead, it looked like it was cut into squares of different heights, some blue, some white. “Look for the dark water,” she reminded herself.

  The cloud was dying, but the Levacians weren’t huddled around the big weapon anymore, several of them now had the handheld weapons equipped, and were eagerly awaiting the sun’s rays.

  “I hope Cassi is alright out there,” Carilyo said.

  Lorix whistled a tune to himself, chirping away happier than a bird in the morning sunshine. He even turned his head and raised his shoulders in time with the melody. They both stood on the edge of the dock. “They should have passed the second rock by now…” he looked at his watch, “Provided Lowell hasn’t sunk your ship yet.”

  “I have faith in my sister,” Carilyo said with a nervous croak. “She will make it back in one piece.”

  “But will that one piece still have everything attached to it?” Lorix stared into Carilyo’s watery eyes, he looked away and cackled to himself again. “Will that one piece be mangled? Or full of holes?”

  Carilyo closed his eyes, picturing Cassi’s face.

  “As long as she makes it to the reefs, she’ll be fine.”

  “And why’s that? Because you’re family.” Lorix leaned in, blowing smoke in Carilyo’s face.

  “No.” Carilyo’s lip lifted confidently, he felt the smoke pass him by, but didn’t feel any seep into his nose. “Because I taught her.”

  “How sweet,” Lorix chuckled a little. “Well then.” He pointed at the noose with his pipe. “If you end up there, you only have yourself to blame.”

  Carilyo looked up at the noose a while, its shadow grew longer in the midday sun.

  Cragg and Perry returned to the shipyard with a bottle of ale in each hand, Lorix took one from each of them. He offered one to Carilyo, whilst sipping from the other.