“Everyone to work.” Captain Zale turned away, but then said, “I want the new boy sent to my cabin.”
Someone pushed me from behind, and I moved cautiously among the other men. TheOcean Cursehad a three-story stern with a set of stairs on either side up to the quarterdeck and the captain’s cabin.
Captain Zale and Marcus walked up the steps ahead of me, disappearing through a door.
I rubbed my sweating palms on my trousers and tried to still my pounding heart. I just needed to be obedient and not let on that I was a woman. I could make an escape at the first possible opportunity and find another job as a cabin boy on a ship heading to Nassau. I might not get there as soon as I had hoped, but I would get there.
One of the largest of the pirates stood next to the captain’s cabin. He was the one who had whistled for the captain and his son to board theAdventureronce it was secure. His black eyes followed me as I climbed the steps, and when I was about to open the door, he put his large palm out in front of my face. His black skin glistened with sweat. I looked up at him, trying to hide my fear, but knew I was failing.
“Don’t get any brave ideas while you’re serving the captain and quartermaster. Do you understand?”
I nodded, though I didn’t understand. Did he think I would try to hurt them? What could I do?
“If you don’t give me any trouble, I won’t give you any trouble,” he continued. “Do I make myself clear?”
“Aye, sir.”
His seriousness disappeared, and he grinned. “I’m Hawk.”
Once again, I nodded, but my nerves were so tight, I couldn’t have given a verbal response if I had tried.
Hawk pushed open the captain’s door and motioned me through.
I entered a long, narrow room with more cannons. At the end was another door, so I walked to it and tapped lightly.
“Come,” said a loud male voice.
With trembling hands, I turned the doorknob.
The captain’s cabin was impressive, with whitewashed walls, a large table for meals, and a desk. There were two cushioned chairs and an alcove bed with a red curtain.
Captain Zale sat at the desk while Marcus stood at the diamond-paned window, watching theAdventureras we sailed away from her.
“What’s your name, boy?” Captain Zale asked me.
Marcus turned from the window, his penetrating gaze upon me. This close, he looked younger than I had first suspected. Perhaps in his midtwenties. And besides the dark hair and the similar build, the father and son didn’t look anything alike. Captain Zale’s small eyes were grayish blue, but Marcus had dark brown eyes, filled with both sadness and fire.
“Speak up!” the captain said impatiently.
I jumped, pulled from the quartermaster’s intense gaze. “Carl Baldwin.”
“Carl Baldwin, you’ll be sharing responsibilities with the other cabin boy, Ned. He’s been with me for the past two years and knows my preferences. I’m assigning you to assist Marcus.”
“I don’t need—” Marcus began to protest, but the captain held up his hand and he quieted.
Did Marcus speak with a Scottish brogue?
I frowned, surprised because the captain was clearly British by origin.
“There’s enough help in the galley, so you will be at our beck and call.” Captain Zale stood, his full height dwarfing the room. “It’s high time we acted like the gentlemen we are.”
Gentlemen? Were the captain and Marcus truly gentlemen? What had brought them to their pirating ways? Hopefully Timothy knew more. He’d been a well of knowledge I hadn’t expected. Perhaps befriending him was a good idea.
“We’ll follow the tip around Florida to the Gulf and lay low in Louisiana for a time,” Captain Zale explained to me. “In a week or two, we’ll head back to the eastern coast to continue our search for the Queen’s Dowry. I chose you to serve Marcus, but I also chose you for your size to help with the treasure’s recovery. Until then, you’ll need to learn our habits, our preferences, and our schedules to best serve us. Do you understand?”
I nodded, trying to remember everything he was saying. All I wanted was to escape with Timothy in Louisiana.
“You will sleep in Marcus’s cabin,” he continued, “so you can be available at all hours of the night, should you be needed.”
