I rolled my eyes.“He’ll come around.Once he’s certain he can trust you.”I turned to the captain.“Can we go up on deck, please?I need some sun and fresh air.”
“Of course, and yes, I think that would be good for you.Here.Take my arm.”
“I’m all right…”
“Take my arm,” Dinesh ordered, then smiled to take the sting out of his manner.
I took his arm, and glanced apologetically at Domingo.
“When he takes that tone with me…”
“Yes, I see,” he said, gazing at Captain Martin with approval.
“Are you joining us, Domingo?A little siesta on deck for Rooster’s health and recovery.”
“Wouldn’t miss the chance.”
Pearl followed as well.I didn’t think she’d let me out of her sight for a long while, which suited me.Dinesh walked at a more sedate pace than usual, and I was glad.Going up the steps to the deck tired me more than I’d expected.I must have used up most of my resources battling the demon and sending him back where he belonged.
The men on deck noticed us coming.
“White!There you are.Hip, hip, hooray!”Martinéz said.
“Hip, hip, hooray!”Lahiri echoed, with a grin.
The others took up the cry.
I pressed close to Dinesh’s side.
“What is happening?”
“You are getting the appreciation you deserve, at last.”
“Oh,” I said.“I’m not sure I like being the centre of attention.”
“I’m afraid that’s beside the point.”
Chapter Eighteen
Afterglow
Afewdayslater,oncewe’d dropped anchor off Port Royal, the captain held a proper celebration for me.
“All hail, Simon Bartholomew White!”Hillier shouted, raising a tankard of ale as he leaned on the gunwale.
“Simon Bartholomew White!”the men echoed, great grins and admiration on their faces as they regarded me.
Me, the lost young man who had begged for a place on theArrowwhen I was last in this vicinity, with nothing to his name but the need for a purpose and a means of living.
I was now married to the most impressive Dinesh Martin, captain of the imposing frigate, theArrow.I’d also discovered my powers and was learning to wield them with purpose.And I’d been welcomed into a crew of varied and talented men who, though rough and not the most well-mannered, had taught me much about living on board a ship and creating a society of outcasts that functioned, in many ways, more justly than traditional ones.
The weather was fine, the sea breezes gentle.We’d anchored off port the previous evening.Most of the crew were preparing to take the skiffs to land after our festivities here and continue the celebration.The captain, myself, and a handful of fellows had elected to remain aboard and head to town the following day.There were repairs needing to be attended to by the carpenter and his mate, and the captain had insisted on another day to coddle and pamper me whilst I recovered from the intense supernatural showdown on deck.
My triumph had been complete.I’d had no more horrible dreams, and my sleep was as deep and peaceful as a newborn babe’s.I saw no more visions, and neither did any of the crew.The hold that the creature had gained over me and over the entirety of the ship had vanished.
“I don’t know why we shouldn’t go ashore with the rest of the men,” I said to Dinesh as I leaned against the quarterdeck, drinking from a bottle of rum and tugging on the rag doll that Pearl held between her teeth.
Anchored off the coast of Jamaica at Port Royal, we were reasonably safe, since there was an agreement of sorts between pirates who came ashore here—that we would not attack each other in order to keep this place as a sort of a refuge.Merchant ships steered clear, as they knew the kind of men who had made this town.
