Elissa's Odyssey by Erica Verrillo

Author:Erica Verrillo
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780375849695
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2008-06-24T04:00:00+00:00

10

A Bad Business

By the time Elissa and Doc returned to the boat, there wasn’t much daylight left. The birds had started their evening calls, and a stick of camphor was smoking on the brazier. Elissa immediately began preparing a soup for supper while Doc and the Captain discussed repairs.

“We can get a coat or two on tonight,” said Doc. “But the bladder won’t be ready until tomorrow.”

The Captain blew out a short, violent gust of air. “Well, there’s no help for it,” he said. “Let’s get to work.”

While Billy and Favian dragged the punctured bladder onto the deck where the brazier was already smoking, Doc placed the buckets of congealed milk directly on the coals. As soon as the metal warmed, the gooey strings turned back into liquid. After fetching a large curved needle and some thick clear thread from the supply cabinet, Doc sat down to work.

Removed from its frame, the bladder looked like a huge fish without insides. Although it had spent the afternoon drying in the sun, its underside, which had rested in the water, was still a slimy green. It smelled rank. Doc didn’t seem to mind. He draped the formless mess over his knees as he inspected the damage.

“One small tear,” he announced optimistically. He set to work sewing, humming tunelessly under his breath. When he had cut the extra thread with his knife, he held up his handiwork.

“Ye’d make someone a good wife,” said the Captain. He was holding a bucket in one hand and a brush in the other.

“Is that a proposal?” asked Doc, batting his eyes.

The Captain guffawed. “Naw, yer right ugly! I’ve seen hyenas with prettier snouts than yers!”

They set about painting the milky substance over the tear. When they were done, they dried it over the smoking camphor, which turned the white patch dark. It gave off an unpleasant sour smell.

“Two more coats ought to do it,” said Doc. “We’ll be shipshape tomorrow.”

“Good,” said the Captain quietly. “The sooner we get those sacks off my Maidie, the better.”

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