“Writing a letter?” Pyotr asked. “We don't get postal service out here.” He chuckled.
“Mr. Robertov,” Snezhana said as she entered the pilot house. “Thank you very much for cooperating. Gotfrid tells me you're ready to give us a heading.” Yeremiy turned around and nodded silently.
“Good,” Snezhana said. “Igor will stay at the wheel for the next few hours, you're to direct him. As for you three …” Snezhana turned to face Zoya, Lilia, and Demyan. “Follow me.”
“Where are we going?” Lilia asked.
“Back to your cells,” Snezhana replied.
“What?” Demyan asked. “Why?”
“We let you out to play, you did what you were supposed to do, and now it's back to your cages.”
With no option but to obey, the friends sullenly followed Snezhana and Pyotr. Gotfrid waited for them when they returned. This time, the friends were directed to enter separate cells, with Zoya in the center.
“What exactly do you want from us?” Zoya asked as Gotfrid locked the cell doors. Snezhana smiled.
“You know exactly what I want,” she replied. Zoya crossed her arms.
“Maybe I do,” she said. “Maybe I don't. Either way, why keep us alive and locked up? Why not just take it?” Both Lilia and Demyan glared at her.
“You really know nothing about the device, do you?” Snezhana asked, leaning in toward Zoya's cell. “That's a shame. Regardless, I need you alive. Your friends, however, are certainly expendable. Consider their presence here a kindness, and one that can easily be revoked.” With that, Snezhana left with Pyotr and Gotfrid.
Zoya paced her cell, running her fingers across its bars.
“It's because the gadget is protecting you, right?” Lilia said after a few minutes. Her face was streaked with tears. “That's what Pavel told you, protect it and it will protect you?”
“Maybe,” Zoya replied, unconvinced.
“Well, maybe,” Lilia went on, “if she tried to take it forcefully, it would hurt her in some way? Maybe it's magical?”
“Maybe,” Zoya said again. She continued pacing. When she walked to the side of her cell adjoining Demyan's, he reached out and grabbed her arm.
“Stop,” he said, holding her to prevent her from walking away. “What are you thinking?” Zoya took a deep breath and let it out in a huff.
“I'm thinking I don't have it,” she said.
“You don't have it? The gadget?” Lilia asked. “What? Where is it?”
Zoya wrestled her arm away from Demyan and continued pacing.
“I gave it to Anya when she escaped. I thought it would be safer on our ship.” Zoya stopped in her tracks, furrowing her brow. “On Captain Sokoll’s ship.” Lilia slid to the floor, her gaze distant.
“But now it’s hopeless,” she said. “If Snezhana or any of her crew finds out you don't have it, who knows what they'll do to us? Kill us, probably.”
“Maybe,” Zoya replied.
Zoya continued her pacing. Lilia and Demyan watched her silently and eventually were overcome with exhaustion. It wasn't until both of them were snoring that Zoya finally stopped to rest.
The next morning, Igor and Pyotr walked in with stale bread and ale. Zoya was barely awake, her eyelids heavy. Her bones and muscles ached all over from the days spent locked in the cells.
“I want to speak to your captain,” Zoya croaked as Igor and Pyotr slid food into their cells. The pirates didn't acknowledge her, walking out of the room in silence.
Zoya grabbed her food and devoured it. She stood and resumed her pacing. As she did, she rolled her neck and stretched her arms.
“What are you doing?” Lilia asked.
“I can't stand it in here,” Zoya replied. “I can't take this any longer.”
“I don't think we have a choice,” Demyan said.
Zoya grabbed the bars of her cell, using them as leverage to stretch her legs.
“Mirgorod is still hundreds, if not thousands, of miles away,” Zoya groaned. “I can't stay locked up like this for that much longer!”
“Again,” Demyan said. “We don't have a choice.”
“Of course we do,” Zoya said. She began to pace again. Demyan shot a worried glance at Lilia.
For dinner, Adam walked down with more stale bread and ale, along with some salted meat.
“I want to speak to your captain,” Zoya demanded again. Adam, just like Igor and Pyotr, ignored her and left without a word.
Zoya tossed and turned on the floor all night, dozing in and out of a sleep filled with nightmares. She awoke to the sound of Gotfrid bringing them breakfast. As he placed the food in front of her cell, Zoya grabbed his arm tight.
“I need to speak with your captain,” Zoya growled at him. Gotfrid rolled his eyes.
“And why is that?” he asked.
“Because I don't have the gadget anymore,” Zoya replied. “Her brother has it now.” Gotfrid's eyes went wide as he wrestled his arm away.
“How and when did that happen?” he demanded.
“When our friends escaped, I gave it to them,” Zoya said. She smiled in spite of herself. This should get her out of this cell.
Gotfrid covered his mouth and looked away. Then, without a word, he left.
“Hey!” Zoya shouted after him.
“What are you thinking?” Demyan asked. “They'll kill us now! What's wrong with you?”
“Zoya,” Lilia said. “Please tell us you have some sort of plan.”
“She'll have to turn around now,” Zoya said. “She'll have to battle the captain again, to try to get the gadget. And they'll come down and rescue us like they tried to last time.”
“Pavel died last time,” Lilia said. “And we weren't rescued last time!”
“And you're assuming they won't kill us before this supposed battle,” Demyan said.
“No,” Zoya said. “Because we could be a trade, right? Or maybe not a trade, but hostages? As long as we're prisoners on this ship, the captain won't blow it to pieces.”
“We're dead,” Lilia sighed.
Hours passed after Gotfrid left, and Zoya began to worry that he didn't believe she was telling the truth. Then, just as she was beginning to lose hope, Snezhana burst into the room.
“Unlock them all,” she said to her men. Zoya and her friends were pulled from their cells and dragged up above deck.
The sky was dark, and a heavy rain still fell, soaking the deck of the ship. Lightning flashed in the distance.
Snezhana grabbed Zoya by the back of her neck and shoved her toward the stern of the ship. The Ocean's Legend was following them, and appeared to be gaining.
“If my brother has the device,” Snezhana said, “why is he still chasing us?”
“Because we're his crew,” Zoya replied, a smile forming on her lips.
“You don't know my brother very well,” Snezhana told her. “Or you're lying.”
Zoya ripped off her coat, which had become too warm as it was, and threw it onto the wet deck.
“Search it,” Zoya said, spreading her arms. “It's not in my coat, and I don't have any pockets big enough for it.”
“Well, here's an idea,” Snezhana said, grabbing Zoya by the arm. “As a fun game, I'll tie you and your friends to my masts. And for every bit of damage done to my ship or my crew, we'll take something from you. Fingers, toes? Hands, arms? I suppose it depends on the tide of battle.” Zoya twisted out of Snezhana's grip and ran.
“Just where do you think you'll run to?” Snezhana mocked, making no move to stop her.
Zoya ran to the starboard side of the ship, skidding on the wet deck. The Ocean's Legend was closer, much closer, than before. She glanced down at the water, her mind working in a furious blur.
No, she thought, that's a horrible idea.
In an instant, Zoya was surrounded by Snezhana's crew. She could see Lilia and Demyan had been cornered as well, also against the side of the ship.
“Nowhere to run,” Adam said, moving toward her. Zoya j
umped onto the railing of the ship, then leapt to the paddlebox. Her feet slid on the wet surface, but she managed to keep her balance. She turned back to the pirates, who were laughing.
“Somewhere to swim!” she shouted. Before she could stop herself, Zoya propelled off the paddlebox and into the dark ocean below.
“Zoya!” Demyan cried out.
Before Zoya hit the water, she heard Lilia cry, “Demyan, no!”
Zoya hit the cold water hard. She flailed underwater for a moment, weighed down by and twisted in her clothing. Then she bobbed to the surface, sputtering for air. She heard a splash far to her right as the Hell's Jewel moved past her. A moment later, there was another splash.
Demyan and Lilia struggled to the surface of the choppy ocean, gasping for breath. Zoya began swimming toward them, and they swam toward her.
“This was a stupid idea,” Lilia shouted to Zoya once she was within earshot.
“I know,” Zoya replied.
Members of Snezhana's crew were shouting angrily above, and the captain herself gave orders to bring the boat around and intercept the escapees.
“Just swim,” Demyan shouted. The friends turned toward the Ocean's Legend and swam as hard as they could. Zoya thought back to their physical education classes. Swimming had been Zoya's favorite session, if for no other reason but that the pool and room were always kept warm. Swimming in the freezing, turbulent ocean was a much less pleasant experience.
“Zoya,” Lilia said. “What if they don't see us?” For a moment, Zoya didn't reply.
“They will,” she said at last. “They will.”
Anya yawned as she sat by the window of the pilot house.
“You know you can go to bed,” Alexi said as he steered the Ocean's Legend.
“No,” she replied. “I'm ok.” She glanced at Alexi, her eyelids drooping. “Don't you need some sleep?”
“I like being awake at night,” Alexi said. “It's quiet, solitary.”
“Oh.” Anya stood to leave.
“Oh, I didn't mean it like that,” Alexi said, grabbing Anya by the arm. “I just mean it's calmer. No one hurrying about, no captain shouting.” Alexi pulled Anya closer to him, moving a lock of hair behind her ear.
“I do appreciate the company,” he told her.
“You think you're so smooth,” Anya said, teasing. She smiled at him then blushed and looked out the window.
Anya's smile dropped.
“Why is your aunt turning around?” she asked. Alexi followed her gaze.
“I don't know,” he said, grabbing the wheel. “Is she attacking us?” He began to turn the ship to face off against the Hell's Jewel.
“Wait,” Anya said, pointing. “Look. What's that in the water?” Amid the rain-speckled ocean surface, three pale figures moved toward the Ocean’s Legend.
“Just some fish, probably,” Alexi said, focused on the other ship.
“No!” Anya exclaimed. “It's people! It's three people!” She ran out of the pilot house and toward the bow.
“Everyone wake up!” she shouted as she ran. “Wake up! They're in the water!”
A moment later, Captain Edmund stomped grumpily out of his cabin.
“What are you going on about?” he demanded.
“It's Zoya and Lilia and Demyan,” Anya yelled urgently, pointing to the water.
“What?” The captain came to stand beside her, and gave out a hearty laugh when he spotted the three figures.
“Well, I'll be damned!” The captain immediately shouted orders to the crew that were awake, sending Olya to find those who were sleeping.
“What's going on?” Nikolai asked as he appeared above deck. Anya dragged him to the side of the ship and pointed to their friends in the water. Nikolai laughed and hugged Anya.
“Those idiots!” he cried gleefully. “How are we going to get them out?”
“Follow me,” Oleg said, brushing past them toward the starboard dinghy. He got in and gestured for Nikolai and Anya to do the same. Then Olya lowered the dinghy down into the ocean. Oleg picked up the oars and began to row toward Zoya, Lilia, and Demyan.
Anya glanced at Oleg’s prosthetic hand which gripped the top of the oar.
“You and your sister both have those metal hands,” she said. “I don’t mean to be rude, but how do they work? I mean, how do you move them?”
“Didn’t ask for an explanation,” Oleg replied. “I just asked for a hand.” Anya frowned.
“Well I think it’s fantastic,” Nikolai said. “I would feel so formidable if I had a prosthetic like that. A mechanical, indestructible limb!”
Oleg stared at Nikolai coolly.
“There they are,” Anya said, pointing to the water.
She and Nikolai extended their arms and hoisted their friends into the small boat. Zoya, Lilia, and Demyan were all gasping for breath.
“I'm so tired,” Zoya mumbled, her words choppy, as the dinghy returned to the Ocean's Legend. She shivered.
“This bed is really uncomfortable,” Lilia said drowsily. Anya exchanged a concerned look with Nikolai.
“You're not in a bed, you're on a boat,” Anya said.
“Oh, good,” Lilia replied. “Then the eggplants are almost ready.”
When the dinghy was lifted back up alongside the ship, Anya, Nikolai, and Oleg carefully and slowly lifted the others onto the deck. Demyan stumbled and fell, his arms and legs weakened by the swim. Zoya clung to the railing and watched as Olya and Oleg gently placed Lilia on the deck.
Tonia rushed over with heavy blankets, wrapping them around the three friends.
“You need to get out of your wet clothes,” Anya said, offering her hand to help Zoya to her feet.
“You need to help Lilia,” Zoya told her. “She's not looking too good. I don't know what's wrong.” Lilia was lying on the ground, chuckling softly.
Anya and Nikolai gently lifted Lilia to a sitting position, each draping one of her arms over their shoulders. Slowly, they carried her toward the saloon.
“Someone boil water for tea!” Anya called out at the crew. Zoya and Demyan followed their friends toward the saloon, helped by Tonia and Olya. Once they were inside, they collapsed into chairs and huddled in their blankets.
“I'll get dry clothes,” Anya told them and rushed below deck.
“From where?” Zoya asked. “Snezhana took all our suitcases.”
“I'm sure there are spare clothes somewhere,” Anya replied, determined.
Lilia threw off her blanket, nearly falling off her chair in the process. Then she started to remove her shoes, and her socks.
“Lilia, what are you doing?” Demyan asked.
“No shoes in the house,” Lilia replied, waving her socks in the air. Nikolai turned to Zoya and Demyan.
“Did she eat something weird?” he asked.
“No, it was all the same food,” Demyan replied. “Bread and meat and ale.”
“But did she eat it?” Zoya asked, watching Lilia. “Did she actually eat any of her food? I don't remember.”
“I'll get some food for her, then,” Nikolai said, hurrying to the pantry.
As he cut up bread and salted meat, Anya returned with a pile of clothes, gloating.
“Everybody out!” she ordered the crew that had gathered in the saloon. “Just for two minutes, so they can change.” They obliged and filed outside or down below.
Zoya and Demyan, using their blankets for additional privacy, swapped their drenched clothes for the dry ones. Nikolai poured them some tea. They grabbed for it eagerly, relishing the warmth of the cup.
Anya struggled to help Lilia into her dry clothes. She continued to whine and throw her blanket on the ground.
“I don't want it,” she mumbled. Nikolai grabbed the blanket, wrapped it around Lilia, and then hugged her tightly to prevent her from throwing it off again.
“I've got her,” he told Anya.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Anya and Nikolai helped their friends down to the cabin after making sure
they were all fed Zoya, Demyan, and Lilia fell into their hammocks with hardly the strength to shift into a comfortable position. Zoya forced her eyes to stay open, watching Lilia, who was still acting delirious.
“You should get some sleep,” Anya said.
“I'll keep an eye on Lilia,” Zoya replied, trying to sit up on her hammock.
“That's not sleeping,” Anya argued. “Nikolai and I will keep an eye on Lilia, and you two. You just escaped a pirate ship by swimming through stormy, choppy water. Go to sleep.”
“Yes ma'am,” Demyan mumbled. Zoya obliged as well, hugging her blanket.
It wasn't long before both Anya and Nikolai fell asleep too.
The next morning, the rain continued pounding the wooden ship. A crash of thunder jolted Zoya awake. She felt the ship sway from the violent waves outside. Lilia stirred in her hammock then looked at Zoya.
“How long is this storm going to last?” she asked drowsily. Nikolai roused at the question, slowly waking up. He turned to look at Lilia and smiled.
“Feeling better?” he asked. She yawned and nodded. The others slowly began to wake.
Zoya stretched her arms, groaning at the soreness of her entire body. “Do you think the captain would give me a break from shoveling coal today? I'm not sure I could even lift the empty shovel.”
“Whose fault is that?” Demyan grumbled as he sat up. He winced and rubbed his shoulder.
“What?” Zoya asked.
“Maybe if you actually used your brain for once…”
“Excuse me?” Anya said, standing between Demyan and Zoya. “How rude. What's wrong with you?”
“What's wrong with me is I'm tired, and sore, hungry, and trapped on a pirate ship that's feuding with another pirate ship—all because of Zoya!”
“You're blaming this all on me?” Zoya asked.
“Guys, let's just take a moment to breath,” Lilia said. Demyan ignored her.
“You never think before you act!” Demyan said. “You just do the first thing that comes to mind, and it gets us in trouble, Zoya! It's going to get us killed!”
“Well at least I do something!” Zoya replied. “Better than being a useless loser like you!” Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes went wide.
Grigory's Gadget Page 12
