The Dagger Quick by Brian Eames

Author:Brian Eames
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books

Whitney, who had raised the fiddle to his shoulder, flinched in surprise when the pistol appeared. His instrument squeaked. Isaac, who had just begun to lower himself, stood again on the outer ledge of the rail. His head rocked back and he began to laugh. It was a deep, rich laugh, his mouth full of neat white teeth. Whitney and Simmons, too, began to giggle, as did Ferris, who snickered and nodded his head very rapidly.

“Where’d you get that bloody thing?” Peterson demanded, greatly annoyed.

“I borrowed it from the captain’s quarters. Now step aside, sirs, all of you. I’m going down into that boat.” Isaac’s laughter settled into a broad smile. Without hesitation he swung his leg back over the rail and in an instant was standing next to Peterson.

“You’ll do no such thing,” Peterson growled. “Now stop this ridiculous . . .” Peterson stepped forward quickly toward Kitto, intending to snatch the weapon away. Kitto pulled back the hammer with his thumb and it gave off a very audible click. Peterson froze, and the remaining laughter went silent.

“But I’ve got my orders, lad!” Peterson croaked. “You’re to stay. Captain would be in a rage if I took you!” Peterson felt a cold bead of sweat run down between his shoulder blades.

Kitto surprised himself by managing to keep his hands still.

“Peterson, I am warning you, either step back or the rest of us get to see what you would look like with a third eye,” he said, the pistol steady in his hands. “It’s not the first time I shot a man.”

“So I’ve heard,” Peterson grumbled.

Whitney could not resist the temptation. He raised his bow again and began to play a dramatic melody.

“Pipe down with that thing!” Peterson bellowed at him. “Come on, lad, I have my orders,” he pleaded. “Don’t get me in a fix.” Peterson’s timid eyes were large and afraid. He did so hate to be in trouble with the captain.

“It’s not your fault, Peterson. I held a pistol on you. You had no choice. And you’ve got plenty of witnesses to back you up,” Kitto told him. “Doesn’t he?” Kitto turned the pistol on the three seamen standing nearby.

“Aye!” “Certainly!” “Does that!” Ferris and Whitney and Simmons chimed in nervously.

“You see? You have no choice and nothing to worry about.”

Peterson’s look hardened. He shook his head in disgust. “Your apple did not fall far from William Quick’s tree, I’ll say that.” He wiped his brow with the back of his hand. “Go on down, Isaac, and make room for the Killer Cooper.”

“Good show, lad!” Simmons cheered. Whitney struck up a lively jig, and Isaac slapped the rail smiling before going down.

In a few moments the boat was full: six of them, not including the monkey. Kitto had tried to shoo Julius back up the rope when he climbed down, but Julius bared his teeth and would not yield. Kitto sat alone in the bow, the pistol across his lap, Julius clutching his clubfoot.

The men in the boat had curious, meaningful smiles on their faces.

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