Hanes took his leave.
“Well, it wasn’t him,” Dinesh admitted.“And now I feel terrible for blaming anyone.”
Domingo spoke at that moment.
“When I came aboard, I didn’t know what to expect from the crew of theArrow.They are a rough group of men, for certain, and not refined in any manner of speaking.But I cannot think of a one who hasn’t treated me with kindness and respect since I’ve been here, even considering what I used to do for a living.”
Dinesh ran a hand through his hair.“But if the murderer is…supernatural…why is this evil thing assailing us?What is happening?”
I sat down on the edge of the bed, my thoughts whirring.I hugged myself and tried to stay calm.But I didn’t know how to protect us from something like this.What if what had happened to Pearl was only the beginning?Would we wake to find a crewman hung from the yardarm tomorrow?Or, God forbid, the captain?
“I can’t answer that.But I can tell you that you are going to need the help of every man aboard this ship going forward.And at the moment, they think you’re out for blood vengeance,” Domingo said.
I nodded.“Yes.Dinesh, you need to apologize.Tell them that you know none of them would do this.”
“Apologize to the men?”Dinesh said as if he couldn’t fathom such a thing.
“Aye.Before they decide to mutiny on account of you don’t hold a formal position of power to begin with,” I muttered.
“Do you think that’s a possibility?”Dinesh asked.
“On a ship like this?”Domingo said.“Always.”
***
Themenhadgatheredonce more.
“Thank you for assembling again.I must apologize for my earlier behaviour.I was…much affected by the discovery of our dear Pearl in such dire straits.I lashed out, because I could only suppose that someone on this ship was responsible.”
Captain Martin stood on the quarterdeck and spoke with grace and a genuine humility.
“That would be the logical thing to assume.However, other strange things have been happening to Mr White and myself over the past months, since we left Talamanca.And before we’d arrived there, to be fair.”
“What sorts of things, Captain?”Martinéz asked.
“Well, you see, Mr White has been having bizarre visitations in his dreams.”
“Wot, nightmares?They’re fairly regular, ain’t they?”
“These ones aren’t,” I said from where I stood next to the Lahiri, near the steps to the lower deck.
Hillier nodded, looking grave.“As you may recall from the gab that’s gone round, I found Mr White on the deck a few nights ago, in the rain, in nothing but his shirt, standing at the rail as if he meant to go over.”
“That true, then?”Darcy asked.“I thought someone might have exaggerated.”
“Domingo, and I, and Mr White, believe that a mysterious force is at work,” Dinesh said evenly.“Unfortunately, we don’t quite know how to handle the situation.”
“Is White still walkin’ in his sleep?”Martinéz inquired.
“No, but possibly that’s due to having a rope tied around his wrist and attached to mine.”
“Clever,” Hanes admitted.
“So, please keep your eyes open, and tell us if you see anything that doesn’t seem right, or seems like it could cause harm, or is quite unusual.”He gazed about him.“TheArrowis a good ship, and she’s been my home for so long that it…pains me greatly to imagine that she’s under the influence of a malevolent force.”
All eyes turned to me, and I felt my heart drop.
“Mr White is not the source of this malevolence.However, he does seem to be the attraction.”Captain Martin stated.“But if I hear of one person treating him badly because they feel he’s responsible, I shall remind them that none of us would be here this day if not for Mr Simon White and his abilities.”
