“Well, I thought you might like to see me in only my trousers.And the sun is quite strong,” I said with a coy smile, slipping a thumb into my waistband and pulling it out, as if to release some heat from under it.
Dinesh gave me a slow smile.“I’ll allow it.For now.I see you’ve bathed.”
“Aye.Squeaky clean from head to foot.”That was probably an overstatement.“Although I s’pose I should borrow one of those broad-brimmed hats and get into some shade, as my pale complexion is so vulnerable."
“Perhaps I should ask Jimena if there is some kind of soap here, and then we can get a proper wash whilst the men are otherwise engaged…”
My eyes went wide and I folded my arms over my chest, gazing at him with dreamy considerations.“Well, now.”
He laughed and pushed off the tree, heading toward where Jimena was sitting, mashing something in a wood bowl, and singing softly to herself.Her children slept in a heap under a palm tree near her, the little one curled up under the older one’s arm.
Dinesh said something to her and she stood and fetched an item from her pack, handing the small package to Dinesh and glancing at me with a knowing look.I stood straighter and gave her a smile, as if all Dinesh and I were planning was an actual cleansing ritual and not a rampant tupping somewhere in a private pool, assuming we could locate one.
Dinesh returned to me and lifted the object that was wrapped in a bit of leather and tied with string.
“Jimena has a few bars with her—I think she told me we can keep this.Might be wise to save some for another time so we don’t have to ask for more.”
“Aye.I don’t think I’ve ever sweated so much in my life, and I grew up on Jamaica.”
“Yes, the climate tends to be humid here.”
“I feel like I’m walking through hot soup.And the water’s not much cooler, although refreshing still.”
“Perfect for a bath, then.”
“Aye.”The thought of going back in the water after my earlier fright made me nervous, only I was with Dinesh now and unlikely to fall into an unexpected slumber.
Dinesh took my hand and laced our fingers together.
“Francis told me of a private pool behind those palms,” he said, pointing in the other direction from the one Domingo and Squid and I had taken earlier.
“Oh,” I said, as if that wasn’t a fabulous bit of information.A small tidal pool would be better for my current state of mind than the mysterious reaches of the sea.
I walked beside my captain in the afternoon light.Clouds scattered over the sky, some appearing grey and rain heavy.
“Will the skies open up?”I wondered aloud.“They did in the night.Did you hear the rain?”
“Yes.Francis says there is a heavy shower or two each day, but they don’t last long.”He nodded toward the expanse of jungle to our left.“Why everything is so lush, I suppose.”
“Aye, that makes sense.”
“I told Francis about your nightmares.”
I blinked.That was a surprise.My stomach fell.Had he told him anything more?
“You did?”
He looked at me with concern.“Yes.I thought he might have an idea of what to do.”
I swallowed and stopped walking, clutching his fingers.“You didn’t tell him about…”
Captain Martin stood still and took my other hand in his, stroking the back.
“About the extent of your powers?No, of course not.And I told the rest of the crew to keep our secret.We don’t need word of them getting about, and the advantage is more when your talents are unexpected, as well.I don’t want to make life harder for you, Rooster.”
“That’s good.”
“I simply said they were nightmares but that you woke disturbed.”He continued.“And Francis has asked Jimena to prepare a special ceremony for us.”
