“What do you want from me?” Ali asked Marg.
A chill ran down Lia’s spine; it was as though the Starcutter’s captain had read her thoughts. She took another drink to tamp down the worry.
“I mean, I’m flattered that you’ve invited me here, Captain Twoswords,” Ali continued, “but if you have this map—as you say you do—then why do you need me? Surely a mariner of your renown can handle a simple treasure hunt.”
“You’re right,” Marg said. She leaned over the table, her aging bosom practically spilling out of her bejeweled armor. “Normally I wouldn’t ask for help outside the Sisterhood, but we’re talking about a Khef-Tui island here.”
Marg’s cleavage didn’t seem to distract Ali in the least. He folded his arms across his chest and stared directly into her brown eyes. Lia listened, while being careful not to seem like she was. She knew that though Rina appeared to be flirting with the half-ogre, her sister, too, was paying careful attention.
“Even with a map, the lands of the Khef-Tui are hard to find,” Marg explained. “Their race has been dead a long time; you know that as well as I, Captain. The ancients guarded even their most insignificant outposts with magical wards and diabolical tricks. They didn’t like intruders.”
“No one’s found a new Khef-Tui ruin in ages,” Ali replied, “and most so-called Khef-Tui maps aren’t worth the papyrus they’re painted on. What makes you think this one is real?”
“The Sisterhood has resources most people aren’t privy to,” Marg replied. “My map is genuine, I assure you. What’s more, I know for certain that no one has plundered this island. Can you even imagine the riches of an unspoiled Khef-Tui isle? There’ll be enough loot for both of us to retire—and set up our crews for life as well.”
Now Ali leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “It would be a prize worth winning,” he agreed. “Though I ask again: Why my ship? Why me?”
Marg shrugged. “You have a knack for finding things, Captain al Shahar—treasure especially. Everyone knows that. Plus, you’re the best navigator in the western Azure Sea.”
Ali frowned; clearly, neither flattery nor matronly sex appeal would win this battle for Marg.
“Why should I trust you?” he asked. “For all I know, this is some Sisterhood plot to lure me and my crew into a trap and take our ship. You’re pirates, after all—no offense.”
“None taken.” Marg’s brown eyes flickered dangerously. “But wouldn’t this be a long line to play just for one ship—even a fast one like the Starcutter?”
“Maybe. But how can you prove your good intentions?”
“I only brought two of my crew with me to parlay,” she said, indicating the sisters.
“And I only brought one.”
“But yours is twice the size of mine.”
A smile flashed across Ali’s bearded face. “And yours are twice as good looking.”
The table lurched slightly, and Lia realized that Ali had kicked the half-ogre in the shin. The brute grunted in shock and stopped staring at the sisters. He glared at Ali for a moment, then, seeming to remember himself, bobbed his head deferentially. “Sorry, Cap’n,” he muttered. His ogreish eyes went deep green as his rough-hewn face grew deadly serious.
Marg laughed, a sharp, boisterous outburst. “I was beginning to think you hadn’t noticed, Captain. I did, indeed, bring two of my comeliest buccaneers with me. You can’t blame a girl for trying to even things out just a bit.”
“With the Sisterhood, the odds are never even,” Ali replied.
Again, a momentary flash of anger in Marg’s eyes. “I’ll give you the map, then,” she offered. “You’ll be navigating anyway, so your ship should take the lead.”
“That might be ... acceptable,” he said.
Marg slowly brushed a stray lock of wavy auburn hair out of her eyes. “Then we have a deal.”
“Great!” Lia chimed. This was the signal she and Rina had been waiting for. Lia threw back her head and guzzled the rest of her drink in one long gulp, giving the half-ogre a generous view of her bosom.
Rina downed her ale in the same lusty manner. Once finished, both girls wiped their lips clean with the back of their tanned forearms.
“We should drink to our future success!” Lia declared.
“Barman,” Rina called, “another round!”
The barkeep wiping tables nearby bobbed his scraggly head.
“And one for the captain as well!” Marg added.
Ali al Shahar shook his head. “No,” he said. “I don’t drink spirits.”
“I insist,” Marg replied as the barman pushed through a throng of patrons to fetch the drinks. “We must toast our partnership. You wouldn’t want to bring bad luck upon our venture, would you?”
“The gods frown upon those reluctant to seal their oaths,” Rina put in cleverly.
“There is but one God,” Ali replied, never taking his eyes from Marg. “I’ll join you in your toast, but without breaking my oath to Him, either. A birch beer will suffice for me. Kor, fetch it, would you?”
The half-ogre seemed startled by the request. He tore away his gaze, which had wandered back to the sisters, and grumbled, “Eh?”
Marg rose. “Never mind, Captain, the barman can get it. You there!” she called across the sea of unwashed heads. “Make Captain al Shahar’s drink a birch beer!” The serving man nodded.
“Now, about that map ...” Ali said.
Marg patted a bone scroll case fastened to the jeweled belt circling her full hips. “I have it right here.” She unhooked the container and offered it to the captain as the drinks arrived.
Lia, Rina, and Kor took their beers, and Marg handed over the case. As Ali began to open the container, the Silver Pearl’s captain lunged across the table at him. Simultaneously, both sisters flung their drinks into the half-ogre’s face.
Read more in “Sisters in Arms” found in Blue Kingdoms: Buxom Buccaneers and in single-story form at better e-book sellers everywhere!
* * *
AUTHOR’S NOTES
ABOUT THE STORY
I’m not entirely sure when I got the idea for Zombie Shark—during Shark Week, probably. The Discovery Channel’s yearly sojourn into the world of Jaws always gets my mental gears turning. Sometime after writing “Monster Shark,” the notion of a sequel occurred to me—along with ideas for several more shark-related tales.
In this year, 2013—my “year of horror” stories—I knew I would only have room for one shark yarn, and because the tale of Nissa, Arzu, and company was the clearest in my mind, this is the one that made it onto the schedule.
I decided to make sure I had it done by Shark Week, 2013. (Though I’m not a brilliant marketer, I know an opportunity when I see one.) What I didn’t count on was that Discovery would schedule Shark Week earlier this year. And, of course, I didn’t realize that until they started advertising it, about ten days before.
That gave me a week less to polish the story than I’d wanted. But, I broke away from my other zombie project (out before summer’s end, with any luck) and focused on finishing up this fish tale.
Fortunately, the manuscript proved to be in very good shape. (As a writer, one always hopes that one’s first drafts are readable, but one doesn’t expect it. As The Sage once said: “All first drafts are crap.”) The original had taken me five days to write—not too bad for a novella—and I then set it aside for a month before rushing into rewrites to meet my TV-imposed deadline. (A feeding frenzy heightened by the Sharknado craze.)
I’ve enjoyed coming back to the characters of Nissa and Arzu. They were merely supporting players in my original Umira story, but I’d grown fond of them in the writing. They were going to be killed off in “Monster Shark”—or at least one of them was. But as many good characters have done in the past, they informed me that they had more stories to tell, so I’d be better off not grinding them into chum.
I hope you’ve enjoyed their solo tale, and the addition of Rat to their family.
It’s nice when things turn out better than you, as the author, had planned.
If you like this story, you should check out “Monster Shark,” if you haven’t already. It’s available at a bargain price on both Amazon and Smashwords.com.
You may also enjoy the other Blue Kingdoms stories, which number too many to list but can be found on those same outlets. Prominent among those tales are my Tournament of Death novels, both of which feature appearances by Umira, and one of which is filled entirely with water-based perils.
As it stands now, I’m planning to write the third Tournament of Death live, online during the 2014 Winter Olympics. You may want to keep an eye peeled for that, too.
But for now, sit back, relax, and enjoy the rest of the Summer of 2013. Catch Shark Week, if you can, put the Beach Boys on the stereo, or play Jaws on your preferred media player. It’s one of my favorite films, and I never get tired of watching it.
Drop me a line if you like at [email protected]. You can find me on Twitter (sdsullivan) and Facebook (sdsbooks), too.
So until next time, enjoy the sun, sand, and surf.
See ya!
Aloha – Steve Sullivan
August 1, 2013
www.stephendsullivan.com
[email protected]
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Since 1980, as a writer, artist, and editor, Stephen D. Sullivan has worked on some of the best known and most influential properties in the world, including: Dungeons & Dragons, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Star Wars, The Simpsons, Middle Earth, Fantastic 4, Speed Racer, Thunderbirds, Dragonlance, Legend of the Five Rings, Iron Man, Darkwing Duck, Mage Knight, and many others.
He has written (and published) more than 50 books and numerous short stories. He’s won the Origins Award, gaming’s highest honor, for his fantasy fiction twice: first for The Lion (the final book in the original L5R series), and then for his Mage Knight short story, “Podo & The Magic Shield.” He created, wrote, colored, and did much of the art for The Twilight Empire graphic novel, which ran as a serial in Dragon magazine for more than 4 years. He has worked on more comics and game projects than can easily be counted.
Steve insists, though, that what really matters to him is that readers enjoy his stories and art. He hopes you have enjoyed this book and will recommend it—and the rest of his work—to your friends.
If you have questions or suggestions, you can contact Steve by writing to [email protected].
* * *
Thanks for reading my book!
www.stephendsullivan.com
Adventure guaranteed. (Monsters optional.)
www.walkaboutpublishing.com
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* * *
If you enjoyed this story, you may enjoy my other books and stories. Find more at my site and in e-book and print form at many fine booksellers.
Write me at: [email protected]
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Find an error? Let me know at: [email protected]
Updated 8/4/13
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