The Scythe Wielder's Secret: The Complete Trilogy by Christopher Mannino

Author:Christopher Mannino [Mannino, Christopher]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-03-20T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Nine—Susan

Dream Come True

Susan walked to the deck, letting the sun warm her skin.

The first week aboard had passed without incident.

She spit up over the gunwale twice on the first day. Gunwale was a word she’d never heard before, until the older Deaths started laughing about “girly gagging over the gunwale.” The Death able to say it the fastest had won some sort of stupid bet.

The second day went smoother. She enjoyed walking the deck, or even climbing up the rigging by the masts to talk with Anil or Ilma. The two ’Mentals seemed content to remain in their respective crow’s nests. By the third day, Susan longed for land or birds. The ocean stretched infinitely in every direction, touching the horizon where blue met blue.

She’d received light chores such as mopping on the fourth day to sea, though the older Deaths seemed reluctant to give her work, or talk to her. She spent most days talking to Will. Occasionally she asked Grym a question, though he was moody at best. She rarely wore him, leaving the bracelet locked in her cabin.

“Susan,” said Elkanah, approaching from behind. She stood by the starboard gunwale, gazing across the ocean. White crests stretched over the silvery surface, vanishing into the hazy distance.

“You and I haven’t spoken much,” continued the older Death. “How are you enjoying the trip?”

“It’s been fine.”

“Your stomach’s settled?”

“Yes,” she responded.

“You know, if you look hard enough you might see the edge of the Hereafter.” He pointed ahead. “It lies to the south, just beyond the horizon.”

“You mean the Door?” She strained her eyes, but saw nothing on the horizon.

“I sailed there once. From the ocean, it’s a strange sight. A wall higher than the heavens, and on the other end, the sea jumps straight into the air. Watch the waves, they’re pulled toward the Hereafter even now.”

She watched the waves, which flowed away from the ship. Could they be flowing away from the world entirely?

Elkanah sighed, gazing with her across the water.

“Do you sail often?” she asked.

“I do. Not all Deaths Reap souls. Sarmarin and I are fishermen. We run a shop in Mors. It’s called Mors Cod. A joke, after Morse code.”

“I got it.”

“I’ll leave you,” he said. “Remember to call if you need anything.”

He left, and Susan resumed gazing at the sea. The unending flow of water soothed her soul. A curved cloud drifted overhead, shaped like a scythe. Time flowed on, like the ocean current, and the sun sailed past, dropping toward the horizon on her right. The open sky reddened into sunset orange, mirrored on the endless sea.

“Dinner,” bellowed a voice behind her. She turned, following other Deaths into the narrow galley at the rear of the ship. They sat at long table, where plates with gorgers waited.

“Hey,” said Will. “Haven’t seen you much today. What have you been up to?”

“Just looking at the waves. You?”

“Sarmarin loaned me a book, a fairy tale about a sea captain who fought a Dragon.”

“That’s something I hope we don’t see this trip,” she said.

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