Cast in Dark Waters by Edward Gorman & Tom Piccirilli

Author:Edward Gorman & Tom Piccirilli [Gorman, Edward & Piccirilli, Tom]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, General, Mystery & Detective, Horror
ISBN: 9781587670138
Google: uc4JAAAACAAJ
Publisher: Cemetery Dance Publications
Published: 2002-08-15T17:25:43+00:00

4

Some pirates were so wealthy they were able to custom-build their galleons and run a crew of two hundred men. However, most favored the smaller Chinese style of vessel, which resembled a large junk—three masts with four-sided sails of bamboo matting and spacious quarters for the Captain and his family—with room for ten or twelve cannons.

The San Muy Malo was a variation on this basic model, with regular sails and a huge hold for extra cargo. Crimson liked the ship—it only took a crew of twenty and was easy to handle. It had recently been dry-docked and the keel scraped of barnacles and tarred against sea worms. She knew several of the men already and was in good standing with them. Captain Hedrick proved to be a course little snippet of a man but his reputation was of fairness and that's all she asked for. The price of rental was as steep as she expected but she didn't bother to haggle. It wasn't her coin. Let Maycomb argue if he wanted.

He didn't. He and his wife arrived on time at the docks and unlike most of the rich wayfarers, they carried little excess baggage. Crimson and Welsh watched them board and each became tangled in private thoughts for a time.

"You're in a dark mood this morning, lass," he said.

"Just hoping they find what they expect.”

“But you think not?"

"I think there's regret and heartache in store."

"He may be a bit toplofty but he's no fop," Welsh said. "His back isn't bowed. Carries 'imself well and so does she, for that matter. Neither makes a complaint. That's rare where their breed is concerned."

"You sound as if you respect them."

"In a fashion, I suppose I do." Welsh shrugged and scratched at his beard, found something alive and squirming within and flicked it out. "At least they've brass and money for this crusade, however foolhardy it may turn out in the end. Kin often get to meddlin' about where they ought not to. A long way to come for a daughter of age, I'm thinkin'."

"If only we all had parents so obligated and devoted."

He surprised her by letting out a guffaw that shook him down to his boots. After all these years he was still trying to cover his embarrassment about not caring for her mother at the end. It ate at him, she realized, and she hadn't helped matters. She should let it rest, if she was able. Welsh gave a stupid grin and said, "There's a storm lookin' for us."

"There always is."

"Let's do what we can so it'll not be findin' us."

"Too late, I fear," she said.

It took him back. "Now why ye be sayin' that?"

"I dreamed of Tyree again last night."

He became genuinely irritated at that and brought his fists up as if to strike her. His one eye burned with frustration. "Not that nonsense again, girl! It's time to be done with it. You've gone months without any proper sleep. He was a good man but he's forty fathoms dead now.

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