Ahab's Daughter

by Ron Vitale

  I shook my head and leaned close to him. “I’m not injured. I’m fine.” I turned to address Nathan. “Where’s your ship anchored?”

  Zeke put his hand on Nathan’s arm. “How do you know her?”

  Nathan laughed. “She’s my sister.”

  Ishmael stayed close to me and ignored everyone else. “We need to get out of here in case any islanders come back. We can have your family reunion later. It’s not safe here.”

  I ignored him but introduced him instead. “Nathan, meet my friend Ishmael.”

  Nathan pointed to the other men beside him, introducing them. “This is Zeke, Josep, and Pahukumaa. They’re part of the Truelove’s crew.” And when he realized who I had introduced him to, he put out his hand as a look of awe crossed his face. “The Ishmael? The man who fought off Moby Dick and survived to tell the tale?”

  Ishmael waved off the compliment. “How far away is your ship?” The heavy rain made it difficult for anyone to hear what was being said.

  Nathan shouted over the rain, “Not far.”

  Zeke addressed Josep and Pahukumaa. “Neither of you found James, have you?”

  Josep shook his head. “No, we haven’t.”

  “He might be still out in all this.” Zeke scratched his chin and hesitated on what to do.

  “Or he might be dead already,” quipped Josep.

  Nathan grabbed my hand. “Will you come back with us to our ship?”

  He looked to Zeke to back him up, and the older man said, “Let’s get to safety first, and then we can talk.”

  “Yes, I’ll come with you.” The heavy rain nearly drowned me out.

  I turned back to Ishmael, and he agreed to come too. I scanned the clearing for Clarence but saw no sign of him. He had continued to run off, and I had no idea where he had gone.

  “Okay, let’s get going.” Zeke headed off at a slow jog, and we all followed him. Josep and Pahukumaa stayed close behind him, and Nathan ran next to me. I reached out to him and rested my hand on his shoulder. “Thank you for coming to help us. How did you find us?”

  Nathan ducked to avoid a face full of vines and slowed to let me run in front of him. He then caught up and said, “We heard the screams, and then I heard you. I recognized your voice.” He slowed and asked, “But what are you doing here on the island?”

  “I came to find you.” I wanted to say more, but thunder drowned out anything else I might have wanted to say.

  Ishmael caught up to us and said, “We should keep going. It’s still not safe. There will be plenty of time to talk once we’re back on the ship.” He looked around, expecting arrows or spears to come at us any minute, and then gently pushed me forward. “Please, let’s go.”

  I ran off and increased my speed with Nathan at my side, and I was careful not to fall. The mud beneath our feet had thickened, and some rivulets had formed from the rain. Nathan jumped over a small stream of running water, and I followed him but missed and fell in up to my shin. Ishmael caught me from behind, and he helped pull me out of the mud.

  I thanked him and the wind pulled away my words, but he nodded to me all the same. Zeke stopped at a fork in the path before us. I could see the cut-down vines and cleared area from which Nathan and the others had come and to the left a narrower path.

  “Our first mate went that way.” He weighed the decision a bit and continued, “Come, let’s get back to the ship. If he still lives, we’ll find James after the storm and come back with more of the crew.”

  Ishmael and I said nothing, but Josep peered out through the rain down the other path, hoping he’d see their missing crewman. Eventually, he turned away and followed after us.

  When we arrived on the beach, I saw their rowboat at the end of the jungle. The waves crashed wild and rough. Ishmael turned away from the ocean. “Where’s your ship?”

  Nathan pointed out to sea. “It’s right over…” He exited the jungle and pointed at a spot in the ocean where the boat had been. Lightning flashed overhead as if cast by a vengeful god, and the rolling thunder drowned out the rest of his words.

  Ishmael came beside Zeke. “Do you think the captain moved the ship?

  “I don’t know.”

  Nathan interrupted. “You don’t think the ship sank, do you?”

  Pahukumaa and Josep kept watch at the jungle, having reloaded their pistols. They waited, ready to shoot first if any of the islanders came running out to attack them. The driving rain and thunder hindered their sight, but they stood watch nevertheless.

  Zeke put his hand on Nathan’s shoulder. “No, I don’t think it sank. We’d see wreckage, survivors, and pieces from the ship would litter the beach.”

  I pushed past Nathan and addressed Zeke. “We shouldn’t stay out here then. Let’s turn back and head to our ship.”

  Ishmael glanced back over his shoulder. “We should take the long way round. Going back through the jungle would put us right in the path of the islanders. I don’t think we should chance that.”

  Zeke futilely wiped his forehead to clear the rain from his eyes. “Nathan, come with me so that we can talk.”

  My brother went to follow, but I held Nathan back. “Why can’t you talk with us here?”

  “This is man’s business, and I don’t want to bother you.” Zeke turned toward Nathan. “Let’s go.”

  My brother disengaged himself from me. “It’s okay. I’ll be right back.”

  He and Zeke headed off several yards closer to the ocean, and Ishmael held me in place. “Morgan, don’t do it.”

  “Did you hear what he said?” I rolled up my sleeves and then spit on the sand. With the rain still coming down hard, my display of anger didn’t look like much.

  “Yes, I did.” Ishmael looked past me, watching my brother and Zeke talk. “It’s best if you stay calm.”

  “Stay calm?” I spun around and pounded my fist in my thigh in frustration. “Did you see how my brother follows him like a lap dog?”

  “Yes.” Ishmael remained calm and turned his attention to Zeke. “I have noticed that and more. Trust me, keep quiet no matter what happens.”

  My anger faded in an instant at his words. “Do you know something?”

  “I think—”

  “We’re back!” Nathan came up behind me. “Mo, can I talk with you for a moment?”

  His use of my childhood nickname spelled trouble. “Yeah.”

  He took me by the arm, and I waved to Ishmael. “I’ll be right back.”

  Ishmael nodded and kept his attention focused on Zeke who had turned away facing the surf.

  “Look, if we head back now, we can make it back to—”

  “We can’t do that.” He pulled me farther away from Ishmael. “With our ship gone, we’re going to head out on our own.”

  “But that doesn’t make any sense. The islanders might come back and try to kill you. I didn’t come all this way—”

  “I didn’t ask you to come here.” He was brusque but then took a more conciliatory tone. “Listen, I don’t want to fight with you, but I’m not going to come home with you. I’m here because I want to be. And I don’t want to see you get hurt, so why don’t you and Ishmael head back to your ship?”

  “We’ll do that, but you’re coming with me!” I grabbed his arm, and he ripped it right from me. “Nathan, Mother is beside herself with worry, and I came to find you and talk some sense into you. We almost died today! Please, let’s go back.”

  “I enjoy being a sailor. I’ve worked hard at it, and I’m also a good spotter. Going back home isn’t in the cards for me. I’m meant to be out here.”

  “Like Father?” I threw the blow at him and regretted it instantly.

  “Yes, like Father. I’m not afraid to come out on the wild ocean. I enjoy it out here. I’m going to live my life as I want to and not what you think I should do.”

  “But how are Mother and I going to live?” I hated to admit weakness, but I had run out of options.

  “I’ll send money back to you and Mother at the
next port.” He put his arms on my shoulder and looked down at me. I hated the day he grew taller than me. “And you’re of age now, you can—”

  “Enough!” I shook my head in frustration and crossed my arms over my chest. “Sometimes I wonder if you still know me. Do you really think that I’m going to marry someone just to have them take care of me?”

  “You’re a pretty woman. A man would be lucky to have you.” The rain had started to subside, and he touched my short hair with his hand. “You’ll just need to let your hair grow back out. Just think of it. You’ll have a home and be able to take care of Mom, and I’ll send you back all the extra money I earn. I won’t need a lot, so you’ll have plenty!”

  “Listen to yourself. Can you not hear what you’re saying?” I grabbed his hands in mine. “I’m not going to marry someone just to have them rescue me. I don’t care how poor I’d be. And what about you? You’ll sacrifice your wages to help us out. How noble of you!”

  “Well, wouldn’t that help?” He pulled his hands from mine. “What more do you want?”

  “What more?” I glanced up to the heavens. “I also want a chance to sail the seas. Do you think that you’re the only one in the family who dreams of adventure?” My voice trembled, but I worked hard on holding myself together. I did not want him to see me cry. “These weeks on the ocean have been the best of my life. I’ve loved it. But I also know that it’s not safe out here. We’re lucky we made it this far. Come with us and we’ll go back home and come up with a plan. You and I could get a boat and fish off the coast. Wouldn’t that be fun?”

  “I told you I’m not going back with you. I made up my mind.” He gave me a brief hug. “Tell Mom that I love her, and when I get back, I’ll come visit. Goodbye, I love you.”

  He broke off our embrace and left me standing there alone. He jogged back to Zeke who had met up with Pahukumaa and Josep. The four of them headed off following the beach toward the northern part of the island.

  I stood there as Ishmael came to talk to me, happy that it still rained hard enough to wash the tears from my face.

  Chapter 10

  Nathan rowed and did not glance back at the beach. The rain still came down, steady and warm, with clouds thick and heavy above. The wind whipped at him, but he leaned his strength into the repetitive movement and followed Pahukumaa’s rhythm.

  They had crossed the threshold of the island’s tidal pull, the waves faded, and they were now in open ocean. Zeke steered them westward, keeping them close enough to the island so that they could easily come ashore when needed but far enough away to avoid any arrows or spears from the island’s occupants.

  “She’s going to be fine.” Pahukumaa spoke low to Nathan so that Josep and Zeke could not hear.

  “I don’t wish to talk about it.” Nathan pulled the oars toward him, and the strain he felt in his arms distracted him.

  “What you did in coming with us is not easy. You’re a sailor now and have proven yourself time and again as a member of our crew. You did the right thing.” Pahukumaa nodded to himself. “Trust me, you did her a favor in leaving her. She thinks you selfish, but your sacrifice…”

  “I know. It’ll be safer for her if she heads back home. The sea is no place for a woman—even if she’s my sister.” Nathan mumbled the words in an attempt to convince himself. “She’ll thank me one day.”

  A crack of thunder ripped through the heavens, and they continued to row, fighting the wind and rain, sailing around the island. Eventually, the rain stopped, and bits of sunlight streaked through breaks in the clouds, shining down on them. The wind died down and the worst of the storm blew back out to sea, leaving them tired and spent.

  Zeke stopped rowing and held up his hand, signaling a stop. In unison, they all rested and let their boat drift forward a bit, until the boat’s momentum slowed and only the sea’s pull dragged them back, ever so slowly, toward the island.

  “I don’t see the ship. But I doubt that Captain Eldon took her back out to sea. Storm or no storm, she was anchored far enough out that she wouldn’t have been grounded.” He scratched his several days’ old beard, thought a moment, and then said, “No, they left for a particular reason. We just don’t know why, and with night falling, we have two clear options. Either we stay out here or head back toward land.”

  Josep pointed back at the island. “The landscape is changed somewhat. Look, there’s a slight hill there.”

  Nathan followed the invisible line from the tip of Josep’s finger to the island, and he could make out the changed terrain as well. “But how do we stay clear of the islanders? We don’t have much ammunition left.”

  Pahukumaa checked his gun to make certain it was not waterlogged. “I have a few bullets left, but if we are quiet and more careful, then I think we could land and find a quiet place to hole up and rest.”

  “I wouldn’t mind getting back on land. There’s fruit there and fresh water. We could eat, rest up, and in the morning scout around the island more.” Nathan took his shirt off and wrung out the water from it into his mouth.

  Zeke turned away from the island and tried to spot the exact location of the sun behind the clouds. “We have a few hours of light left and I’d also rather be on land tonight. If we keep quiet and stay close to the beach, I think that’s our best course of action. Anyone disagree?”

  He waited only a brief moment and then said, “Good. Let’s make landfall, have some dinner, and get some rest. It’s been a long day.”

  Josep picked up his two oars and paused. “What about the other ship?”

  “That’s why I want to make for land. If Morgan and Ishmael make it back to their ship, she might convince them to come after us with reinforcements. The farther we stay away from their ship, the better.” Zeke started rowing, and the others followed suit. “Their captain came here for a reason—treasure. Pure and simple.”

  Pahukumaa nodded and kept rowing. “I’ll give you a few of my bullets for your gun when we reach land. All will be well. Zeke knows what he’s doing. He always does. That’s why he’s lived so long.”

  Zeke snorted and then smiled. “Let’s hope I’m right.”

  They rowed onward in silence until they hit the first breaker that pushed them toward the beach. Nathan stayed alert, watching for any sign of trouble. After the second wave, he used one of his oars as a rudder and steered them in toward the beach. They came ashore with no incident and dragged the boat up on the beach to the beginning of the jungle. Pahukumaa secured the boat, and together they covered it as best they could with vines and large banana leaves. From afar, finding the boat would be difficult.

  Josep tossed a banana at Nathan. “Here, eat one. They’re good.”

  Barely catching the fruit in time, Nathan held the banana in his hands, unsure of what to do with it.

  Zeke came over to him, took the fruit, and pinched the tip. The skin popped open on the end and then he easily peeled the rest of the banana. “See?”

  Nathan broke off a piece and ate it, unsure at first of its consistency. “It’s sweeter than I expected.” He took another bite, and with his mouth full, he said, “It’s delicious.”

  “We’ll need more to eat than bananas though.” Zeke huddled them close together and kept his voice low. “Pahukumaa and Josep, I’ll need you both to go find some fruit, and if you can trap it without shooting it, a small animal or maybe some fish.” Pahukumaa started to complain, but Zeke put him off. “Stay close to us. Nathan and I will work on setting up camp. We’ll clear the area and get some fresh water.”

  Josep pulled Pahukumaa away. “Let’s go. We’ll be back before you know it.” He waved back at them and had worked with Zeke long enough to know when the man wanted to be left alone.

  Nathan set to work clearing the area of brush, vines, and fallen debris from the storm. Together they worked quickly and cleared a circle large enough for them all to sleep. He placed the largest fallen banana tree leaves as makeshift ground covers to keep the mud and dirt off of them.

/>   After the area was cleared, Zeke came over and put his hand on Nathan’s shoulder. The young man flinched and turned away. Zeke stayed still. “There is no shame in what you did today. It was hard, yes, but you did the right thing in coming with us. I told you it would be hard to leave your sister, but you did it.”

  “I don’t feel good about it. I know Morgan though. I don’t think she’ll simply turn around and head back.” Nathan held on to a pair of leaves and stood facing Zeke. “And what if they run into the islanders again? Maybe I should have stayed with her.”

  “Don’t start second-guessing yourself. And remember, Ishmael isn’t stupid. He’ll know that the best course of action is to find a high spot on the island, hole up, and scout around to learn where both ships are. He doesn’t seem the type to be bitten by the treasure bug, and if he’s half the man he’s rumored to be, then he’s extremely resourceful, and they’ll be fine.”

  “You know of him then?” Nathan asked.

  Zeke laughed. “I forget sometimes how green you are. Every whaler worth his salt knows of Ishmael and how he survived the great white beast.” He turned toward the ocean and got a far-off look in his eyes. “A few years back, his captain faced Moby Dick, and somehow he lived to tell the tale. Your father never spoke of him?”

  “My father didn’t talk much. But when he did, it was about this island and the wondrous things here.” Nathan lowered his head. “Morgan and I used to dream of coming here together when we were kids. And now I’ve failed her. No matter how I dress it up, I abandoned my sister when she needed me most. You and the others trying to fool me to think otherwise won’t help.”

  Zeke faced Nathan. “You’ll have to make peace with what you’ve done. The guilt will take some time to pass. I won’t lie to you about that, but I think it’s time that you know the truth.”

  “The truth about what?” Nathan placed more banana tree leaves on the ground for him to sleep on.

  “The way you look at life and how you see it. The way you’re the best spotter on the ship or heard the whale call when no one else on the ship can…” Zeke walked out of the clearing and onto the beach. “I’ve been watching you for some time now. It’s time we talked, and you’re going to need to make a choice. Whatever you decide to do, it’ll be all up to you.”