“I…I didn't mean that,” Zoya said. “I'm sorry.” Demyan stood and stumbled out of the room, clumsily climbing the steps to the saloon.
“Demyan!” Zoya stood to follow him. Nikolai put up his hand.
“I'll handle it,” he said. “You all just need to rest.”
Zoya sat back in her hammock, tears clouding her vision. Anya hugged her.
“We'll get through this,” Anya said.
As the girls sat in their hammocks, Oleg walked by on his way above deck.
“Oh, good,” he said. “The captain will be happy to know you're awake. He wants to see you in the saloon.” Oleg continued on his way upstairs.
“I wonder what he wants,” Anya muttered sarcastically. Zoya looked at her in confusion, wiping tears out of her eyes. Anya simply mouthed the word gadget then headed out of the cabin. Zoya and Lilia followed.
Many of the crew were in the saloon. When Anya, Zoya, and Lilia entered, everyone cheered and raised a cup of ale. Demyan sat at a table next to Nikolai. He didn't look up.
Anya looked out the windows, searching for the Hell’s Jewel. It was nowhere in sight. She wondered if it was really gone, or simply obscured by the driving rain. She should be chasing us, shouldn’t she?
“There they are!” Captain Sokoll boasted. He held a bottle of rum in his hand. “Our brave heroes! Returned to us through the storm!” The crew cheered again. Tonia handed Anya, Zoya, and Lilia cups of ale and led them to the same table as their friends. For an hour, the crew cheered and laughed and asked the apparent heroes about their escape. Finishing a cup of ale, Anya patted Zoya on the shoulder then stood and walked to where Alexi sat.
“Is your aunt still chasing us? I don’t see her ship.”
Alexi shook his head. “Looks like she's doing the smart thing and getting out of this storm. It's getting really rough out there, and there's no sign of it letting up.”
“Why aren’t we doing the same?” she asked.
Alexi gave her an incredulous look. “Oleg tried to convince the captain that we should find land. He's struggling to steer the ship with all these waves. But the captain just scoffed. He said we're too busy celebrating.” Anya glanced toward Captain Sokoll, who was laughing heartily as he smacked Demyan on the back.
“I think he's drunk,” Anya commented.
A few moments later, Edmund ambled toward Alexi.
“Anya, I need a moment with Alexi,” he said. Anya nodded and moved to another table close by.
“You want to redeem yourself, boy?” the captain asked Alexi. Anya could hear him clearly. In his drunken state, he must have lost the ability to whisper. “You get me that gadget, right now.” Alexi stared out of the window at the rain, then back at his father.
“No,” he said.
Captain Sokoll stared back. “What do you mean, no? Is that a joke?”
“No, sir,” Alexi replied.
“You really do have a death wish, don't you?” Captain Sokoll growled. He stood and reached for Alexi's collar.
“A toast!” Anya yelled, standing. “To Zoya and Lilia and Demyan!” The crew cheered and raised their cups. Captain Sokoll, glaring at his son, raised his bottle of rum. He drank the last bit of it and slammed it onto the table. Then he stepped away. Anya, sighing with relief, returned to her friends.
A loud clap of thunder startled everyone in the room.
“That sounded close,” Zoya noted. “Captain, should we head for land? Would that be safer?”
“We're fine!” the captain insisted. “Don't you worry about a thing. We're celebrating!”
“He's drunk,” Lilia said. “Very drunk.”
“Nikolai,” Anya whispered. “Go talk to Oleg. He already tried to convince to captain to find land. Tell him the captain's too drunk to notice a change in course.”
“That sounds a little like mutiny,” Nikolai said.
“I'm sure the captain will pass out any minute now,” Zoya replied. “Someone has to be in charge while he's asleep, right?” Nikolai grumbled. Zoya could feel Demyan's glare, but ignored it.
“If I get in trouble,” he said, “I'm getting you guys in trouble, too.”
“Fair enough,” Zoya and Anya replied in unison.
A moment later, a loud thud sounded on the main deck. Zoya looked out to see a large piece of one of the main sails ripped and blowing about in the storm.
“No one fastened the sails?” Anya asked.
“Don’t you dare go out there,” Lilia replied. “I know that look in your eye. It’s too dangerous.”
“It’s dangerous to let our sails fly in a storm like this,” Anya replied. She crossed her arms and sighed. “But you’re right. I guess we’ll just hope for the best at this point.”
“Looks like we're relying on the wheels,” Zoya said. “I'm going to the boiler room. I should be able to help, at least a little.”
Nikolai returned to the room and shouted for everyone's attention.
“We need to get to land!” he yelled. “Celebration's over!” The crew put down their ale and looked toward the captain.
“Where are you doing?” Captain Sokoll slurred. “I'm the captain! I didn't say the party is over!”
“Captain, it's too dangerous,” Nikolai said.
“Are you trying to undermine me?” Captain Sokoll asked, grabbing at Nikolai. Nikolai backed away as the captain stumbled forward.
“Fine!” Captain Sokoll shouted, throwing his hands in the air. “Fair enough, get to work, get my ship safely to land. Alexi! Go fix that sail!”
Alexi laughed.
“Do I look like I'm joking?”
“Damn the sail,” Alexi replied. “The sails aren't doing anything for us in this wind and it’s too risky to fasten them now. We need to rely on the paddle wheels.”
Captain Sokoll grabbed Alexi by the shoulder and threw him against the door of the saloon. He moved toward him, pushing him out into the rain.
“You do as you're told, boy!” Captain Sokoll said, knocking Alexi to the ground.
“Sir,” Anya shouted, following them. “I think he's right. It’s too dangerous. We should go back inside.”
Captain Sokoll looked at her and laughed. “You and Alexi have gotten close.” Anya didn't respond. “Perhaps you can enlighten me. Why has he been so disrespectful lately? So insubordinate?”
“I don't know, Captain,” Anya replied hesitantly.
“Well, you'd be wise not to follow his example,” Captain Sokoll said. “So, tell me. Where is my gadget?”
“I'm not sure what you're talking about,” Anya said. Captain Sokoll slapped Anya across the face, knocking her to the ground. Her hands slipped on the slick deck as she tried to get back up.
“Anya!” Alexi cried out, climbing to his feet. He turned and tackled his father. The two men fell to the ground, shouting over the rain. They struggled for a moment but, despite his drunkenness, Captain Sokoll was stronger and threw Alexi off.
“You think you can get the best of me?” Captain Sokoll laughed. “I am your captain! I am your father! I own you!”
“Go to hell!” Alexi yelled. Lightning arced through the sky, followed quickly by a clap of thunder. The crew had gathered on the main deck, unsure how to react to the scene before them. Captain Sokoll pulled out his sword and pointed it at Alexi. Then, he pointed it at Anya.
“Climb up there,” he demanded, “and collapse the sails. Now.”
“Alexi, don't,” Anya pleaded. Captain Sokoll slashed at Anya, ripping through the sleeve of her shirt and drawing blood. Anya stumbled back, covering the small wound.
“Anya,” Alexi said flatly. “Go inside.” Anya looked to Captain Sokoll, who smiled.
“Start climbing,” he said, “and she can go.” Alexi edged toward the side of the ship, grabbing on to the shrouds. Anya backed away reluctantly, glancing between Alexi and Captain Sokoll.
Nikolai and Lilia stepped forward and grabbed Anya's shoulders, pulling her back toward the saloon. Once inside, Anya wrestled out o
f their grip and ran to watch from the doorway. Demyan stepped outside and approached the captain. Anya followed him.
“Damnit, Anya, stop!” Nikolai ran after her, followed by Lilia.
“Captain,” Demyan shouted. “I think we can forget about the sails. We should focus on keeping the crew safe. All of the crew.” Captain Sokoll growled and moved quickly toward Demyan. He pinned him against the metal smokestack, pressing his blade on Demyan's neck.
“Do not tell me what I should or shouldn't do!” Captain Sokoll shouted in his face. “I am the captain! And I grow tired of all this insubordination!”
“I'm sorry, sir,” Demyan said quickly. “I was just…I'm frightened, sir. I didn't mean to speak out of turn.” Captain Sokoll backed away and lowered his sword.
“Aye,” he said. “You haven't been through a little storm before. But you can trust your captain.” Demyan nodded, keeping his back against the smokestack. As he stood there, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. Before Demyan could react, a bolt of lightning struck the metal, and the force sent Demyan flying across the ship.
The boiler room was frantic with activity. Tonia and Olya were fueling the engine, trying to keep the speed up. Zoya darted around, checking gauges. She stumbled as the ship rocked from the violent waves outside.
“Tonia!” she shouted. “How's the water level?” Tonia ran over to a small glass window and peered through it.
“Looking good,” Tonia replied.
A moment later, a loud clap of thunder startled the crew. Olya, who was nearest the boilers, was thrown across the room. She groaned on the floor, her hair standing on end. Sparks crackled on her metal hand, the fingers twitching.
“What the hell was that?” Tonia asked.
“Did lightning just strike the ship?” Zoya asked, baffled. She glanced down at the floor, which was covered in water.
“We're losing water,” she said. Her mind went blank, trying to remember what to do. She backed toward the doorway, digging through her brain, trying to find the answer.
“I got it,” Tonia said, running to the water valve. “Find the hole and plug it up, I'll send more water in.” Zoya hesitated, glancing around the room.
“Wait, Tonia don't!” she shouted. It was too late. As Tonia let cold water rush into the boiler system, it created a huge influx of steam, and the boiler exploded.
Zoya cried out as the heat and force of the explosion knocked her backward. She flew through the doorway and crashed into a pile of crates. The skin on her arms and face stung. She coughed and scrambled to her hands and knees, wincing as she realized she was covered in burns and splinters.
The room was filled with smoke and steam, too thick to see through. Zoya felt around and pulled herself toward the stairs as she heard water rushing into the ship. When she found the stairs, she stood and stumbled up toward the saloon. As she did, she could feel the ship tipping.
When Zoya reached the saloon, she saw her friends crowded in the corner. Demyan lay unconscious between them.
“Zoya!” Lilia shouted. “You're ok!”
“The boilers exploded,” she croaked, coughing. “What happened? What happened to Demyan?”
“He was standing by the smokestack,” Nikolai said, his voice frantic. “When the lightning hit, he flew across the deck.”
“He has a pulse,” Anya added. “And he's breathing.” Zoya crawled over to them, grabbing Demyan's hand.
“Zoya,” Lilia said. “What do we do? If the boilers exploded, and the ship…”
“I don't know,” Zoya replied, tears in her eyes. “I heard water rushing in below deck, and the ship is tipping.” Zoya's friends fell silent, glancing around the saloon. The ship creaked, and the chairs and tables began to inch along the floor as the ship tilted further.
Alexi stumbled into the saloon carrying Oleg. Oleg appeared unconscious and his head was covered in blood. Anya stood clumsily and staggered over to them.
“Are you alright?” she asked.
“I am, he’s not,” Alexi replied. He gently placed Oleg on the floor. “We're capsizing.” He climbed around the room, knocking over tables and chairs and shoving them down the sloping floor. “We can make a barricade to protect ourselves.”
“From what?” Nikolai asked.
“Broken wood, shards of glass. I’m guessing that’s what hit Oleg. I found him like this in the pilot house, bleeding from a gash in his head.”
“Will it matter?” Lilia asked. “If we're capsizing? It sounds like that would be a quicker death than…” Lilia was shaking.
“We're not sinking yet,” Alexi replied. “If you want to jump back into the water, be my guest.” Lilia helped grab the chairs and tables, building a wooden fort. Nikolai and Zoya followed suit, placing the tables and chairs so that the legs faced the wall, which was tilting more and more with each passing minute. Anya tried to help Oleg. She ripped off his shirt and used it to apply pressure to his wound.
“Where is everyone else?” Zoya asked, her gaze still fixed on Demyan.
“Some were flung into the sea when the lightning struck,” Alexi said as he piled chairs. “Others were lost in the explosion. The few that survived stole one of the dinghies when they realized the ship was capsizing. I doubt they’ll make it far. Where are Tonia and Olya?”
“I didn’t see them,” Zoya said. “I don’t think they made it out of the boiler room. I think they might be—“
“Then I think we’re all that’s left of my father’s crew.”
“Where is your father?” Anya asked.
“In his cabin, last I saw,” Alexi replied.
The ship shuddered violently. Everyone grabbed at the walls and tables and chairs, breathing quick shallow breaths. The tables and chairs shifted, settling onto the wall which was now almost completely horizontal.
Demyan stirred suddenly, drawing a deep, raspy breath.
“What happened?” he asked. “What's happening?” He looked around at the mess of wooden legs surrounding him. Zoya put a hand on his shoulder.
“You were almost struck by lightning,” she said. “And, now the ship is capsizing.”
“What?” he exclaimed. He sat up quickly, bumping his head on a chair and falling back down. “Ow.”
“Just relax,” Zoya told him. “We'll be ok, you just need to rest.”
“But the ship—“
“We'll be fine,” Zoya insisted.
The group resigned themselves to silence for what felt like an eternity, each hyper-aware of every sound, every movement. The ocean's waves roared as thunder rumbled, accompanied by the loud creaking of the sideways ship. Zoya took Demyan's hand, and Lilia's. Lilia in turn grabbed Nikolai's. Nikolai offered his hand to Anya. She grasped it, and seized Alexi’s hand as well. The friends held onto each other tight, as if the effort would keep the ship afloat.
Alexi pulled himself up so that he was sitting on the wall of the saloon with his back against the ceiling. “I think we've stopped tipping.”
“Well that's good, right?” Nikolai said, sitting up as well. He leaned over to nearest window. “We're still above water too, it doesn't look like we're sinking.”
“Maybe we'll just float to land,” Lilia suggested. “Or another ship will see us, and rescue us.”
“Yeah, maybe,” Zoya replied, not really believing it. The group was silent for a while longer, listening to the rain pounding on the walls and windows.
“How’s Oleg?” Alexi asked.
Anya reached over and touched Oleg’s neck. She grimaced. “I’m sorry, Alexi. He’s dead.”
A loud thud sounded above them, followed by a series of softer thuds. The friends looked around, trying to see through the maze of wooden legs. Then, in the doorway to the saloon, Alexi saw a silhouette tumble inside. As it fell to the corner, he realized it was Captain Sokoll.
“Alexi,” the captain groaned weakly. “Is that you?” Alexi's face turned red when he saw his father.
“Yes, sir.”
“Oh, good,”
Captain Sokoll said, smiling. “You're alive.”
Alexi scowled. “You're happy about that, Captain?”
Captain Sokoll coughed and eased himself more comfortably onto his side. “Of course. I'm your father.”
“Of all people to survive,” Nikolai grumbled. Lilia shushed him.
“Alexi, come here,” Captain Sokoll said, his voice hardly above a whisper. Alexi hesitated, but then did as he was told. As he neared his father, he noticed a large red stain on his shirt.
“Are you bleeding, Captain?” Alexi asked.
“Son,” Captain Sokoll said. “Don't worry, I'll be fine. It's nothing.”
Alexi furrowed his brow. “We need to get you stitched up. What happened?” Without waiting for an answer, Alexi unbuttoned his father's shirt. A large yet shallow laceration stretched down his abdomen. Alexi looked around for anything he could use to tend to the wound.
“Someone try to get some kraken ink or rum,” he said. He took Captain Sokoll's shirt and began wrapping the injury. Anya climbed her way up to the cupboards, grabbing a bottle of rum that hadn't shattered. A tense silence fell over the room as Alexi tended to his father.
“Just let him die,” Nikolai said.
Lilia glared at him. “What's wrong with you? I mean, he's a jerk, but you're actually wishing him dead?”
“He would have let you die,” Nikolai replied. “When Alexi, Anya, and I were rescued from Snezhana's ship, he thought we had the gadget. And he was going to let you die.” Lilia stared at him, unsure how to respond.
“But you did have the gadget,” Zoya said. “I gave it to Anya.” Her face turned pale as she glanced around. “Where is it?” She stood and walked toward Anya.
“Wait, what?” Nikolai said. “She had it?” He held his head and leaned back.
Zoya grabbed Anya and pulled her away from Captain Sokoll and Alexi.
“Where is it?” she whispered.
Anya's eyes went wide. “It was in our cabin. I hid it in one of the boxes.”
Without hesitation, Zoya climbed over to the stairs and started easing her way below deck.
“Zoya! Be careful!” Demyan called. Zoya couldn’t tell if he said that out of concern or annoyance. She pushed the thought from her head.
Grigory's Gadget Page 13
