With the crew back on the ship there wasn’t as much going on, which suited me fine after such an eventful day.I felt renewed and full of optimism for my future.No doubt the nightmares were the result of my inner turmoil over the deaths my powers had brought about, even in the name of keeping us all safe.That was something I’d probably struggle with to the end of my days, but I felt like the great Sibu might understand and absolve me.I hoped the frightening dreams were a thing of the past.
I took the captain’s hint and helped Jimena with the children, then, when she’d taken them under the canopy for a snack, I took a walk alone on the quiet beach.The feel of the wet sand between my bare toes gave me a sense of connection to the place—this idyllic utopia where there was a society where women were at least equal, if not considered superior, to men and where children were valued as the crucial continuation of a threatened people.And where two fellows, or two lasses even, could marry each other if they wanted to.I wondered why England, and in alliance, the settlements of Jamaica, had got everything so wrong.Why couldn’t people live with more fairness and an equal distribution of whatever wealth was available?
As I turned and began to walk back to the outpost along the sand, I saw a person in the distance walking toward me.
I soon recognized Dinesh, and noticed that he had something tucked under his arm.I wondered what he’d managed to get me as a wedding gift in this strange but stunning place.If the offering turned out to be a bloody coconut with our initials carved into the rind, I’d have to stifle my disappointment.
As we got closer, he stopped and brought his other hand to whatever he had tucked away and lowered the item to the sand.The thing wriggled and yapped and took a few steps toward the waves, then dodged back to avoid the water.
I stopped dead, staring at what appeared to be a tiny brown dog.
“What the fuck?”I said, staring as the creature ran at the edges of the water, yapping at the shrinking and advancing surf as if prepared to defend itself from an approaching threat.“That’s a dog!”
Captain Martin crossed his arms and smiled, watching the wee thing with smug amusement.“A pup, actually.She’s only ten weeks old.She’s for you.”
“For me?Truly?”
“As a thank you for agreeing to be my husband.”
I cocked my head, wanting to pick her up but wary, because I couldn’t quite believe the animal was real.
“You know you may come to regret this.”
“The puppy or being your husband?”
I laughed, full of wonder and disbelief.
“Perhaps both.”I nodded at the puppy who now was growling at the water and charging back and forth.“She seems to be as much of an arse as I am.”
“Oh, I do hope so,” Dinesh said, the timbre of his voice filled with affection.
I crouched down and made kissing noises, rubbing my fingers together.
The puppy lifted her wee head and barked, then galloped toward me, her tail wagging with excitement.
“Oh, hello there,” I said, gathering her up in my arms and trying to contain her wiggling body against my chest.I looked at the captain.“Wherever did you get her?”
He came close and put out his hand for the pup to sniff and lick.
“Jimena was saying that a dog in the village had had a litter several weeks ago.Eight pups in all, and I asked Francis if there was any way I could buy one and have the creature brought to the outpost to give to you.He spoke to Jimena, who said that her brother would fetch the pup, but that she wouldn’t take any payment.The dog would be her gift to both of us.”
The puppy nosed my chin and licked me, her pink tongue soft and warm against my skin.
“Do you like her?”Dinesh asked.“Is she a good present?”
I snuggled the pup in my arms, feeling joy and gladness at the captain’s thoughtfulness.I’d had a dog growing up on Jamaica, but the poor thing had met an untimely end before I’d turned seven and I’d never had another.
“She’s a wonderful present.Thank you.But how will she manage on the ship?”
“Quite well, I expect.Francis said that the dogs in the village are excellent at hunting small rodents.Perhaps she can help with the rats.”
“Rats!There aren’t any rats on theArrow,” I said, with a grin.“How dare you say such a thing.”
“I assure you, therearerats, but we haven’t been quite overrun as of yet.I’m hoping this little creature will be an asset.But I expect she’ll be a friend most of all.”
“Aye.She will.I’m sure of that.”
“You’ll need to come up with a name for her.”
