The Rough Rude Sea by William Stafford

Author:William Stafford
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy, pirate, historical, adventure, gay, romance, Caribbean, Devil's Triangle, Bermuda, ship, Atlantis, sea, humour, sea monster, sailing, swashbuckling, buccaneer, corsair, squid, shipwreck, funny
ISBN: 9781782348856
Publisher: Andrews UK Limited 2013
Published: 2013-05-01T00:00:00+00:00

Steele shouted over it. “He will leave us unharmed and unhindered. None shall touch him. None!”

I wasn’t watching but I guessed this last word was directed at Froggatt.

“We shall furnish a craft for him. With water and supplies enough to give him a fighting chance of getting where he wishes to go. We would not be alive now were it not for his...efforts.”

An uneasy silence fell upon the mob. Then another voice spoke up.

“The captain is right. This is our chance to repay our debt with honour not bloodlust.” It was Frobisher, the doctor. His words were met with a few mutterings.

“What say you, Froggatt?” Steele addressed the ringleader. “Will you stand down?”

I imagined all heads turning to Froggatt. I don’t know what he did, whether he made some kind of gesture or nodded his head, but whatever it was it gave rise to a cheer from the men.

Steele came back in, his relief was almost palpable.

“You’ll have your boat,” he patted my shoulder. “I almost feel like coming with you. Let the swine have the ship and its blasted cargo.”

“That’s up to you,” I patted his hand. “You know my mind.”

“I’m not that much of a fool to chase after a bubble when it’s already burst,” he sounded sad beneath his quip. “More brandy, perhaps? We can dine together at least, before you go?”

“That would be my pleasure, Nathaniel. Thank you.”

***

Doctor Frobisher came in to clean and dress my hand. He worked in silence but when it was done, he gave voice to the words he had been biting back. He spoke slowly for dramatic emphasis.

“What are you?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“What you did to those ships...”

“It just sort of happened. I -”

The doctor poked a couple of fingers under his wig and scratched his scalp.

“Well, I hope you find peace, son; I really do. But I think you’re going to have trouble, lots of trouble, as you look for it. My advice: keep yourself to yourself. Folk don’t take too kindly to...difference.”

He left. I considered his words. Keep myself to myself. That sounded exactly what I should do.

I was looking at my eyes in the looking glass Steele used for all his preening, when the captain came in to tell me it was time to go.

“They look...paler,” he said to my reflection. “Diluted.”

“I need to rest, I guess,” I patted the hand he had placed on my shoulder.

“Come on,” he moved towards the door. A chill ran through me. How many times had Sebastian said that to me? It still hurt. It would always hurt.

The men were lining the deck in a kind of brooding silence. Captain Steele escorted me between them, his head held high. I feared he was about to make another speech but even he recognised the time for that had passed.

He shook my hand and patted my upper arm with his other hand. I cast one last glace at the men, waiting for them - daring them - to launch a bullet into my skull.

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