Page 51 of The Demons in the Deep: Extended Edition
“It’s those bastards in theForsaken Ghost’sracer behind us!” screeched Baz. “Captain Morghas’s crew! They’re firing!”
As Flay found his balance, Rake yielded the wheel to him again.
“Now we have to watch our front and our backside,” the captain said cheerfully. “Delightful. Goldfish, you see the crank that man is working aboard theForsaken Ghost’s racer? When he stops cranking and ducks down, warn me. That means he’s about to fire on us. Ridiculous old-fashioned guns, but Captain Morghas is an old-fashioned sort. Set in his ways, you might say, which is lucky for us. Corklan, release a couple of those nets, and look sharp about it!”
“Aye, Captain.”
“Firing!” Rake shouted, and Flay twisted the wheel. TheKestreltipped and swerved while the missile whistled past, then bobbed upright again.
“What is it they’re shooting at us?” asked Corklan.
“Can’t be sure, but it’s not regular shot, nor cannonballs. Third target approaching—ready—now, Graves!”
They had sailed far out of the bay and were now curving around a rocky point. Above, along rocky cliffs and grassy ledges, more people were watching. Behind the spectators, Rake could see the skytram carriages moving slowly along their cables. He imagined the view of this portion of the race must be excellent from those aerial carriages, or from the windows and towers of the fortress atop the nearest hill.
He’d seen Flay’s father briefly at the ball, and again when the Magnate gave an opening speech before the start of the race. Because of the distance, Rake hadn’t been able to hear all the words the Magnate said, nor did he want to. But he did wonder if the Magnate moved from one spot to another around the island to monitor the Race. What would he think of his sons’ progress?
Feral and his men were still far ahead in theSparrow. The poison-green racer was in second place now.
Behind theKestrel, theForsaken Ghost’sracer had fallen back. Rake could not tell if one of the nets they’d dropped had worked. It looked to him as if that racer and another boat were embroiled in a fight of some kind.
“This stretch is all about speed,” Flay shouted. “Let’s catch up to the green demons up there!”
As theKestrelpulled closer to the green ship, Flay ordered, “Let them have it, Corklan!”
Corklan loaded the slim cannon with shot, touched a match to the fuse, and aimed.
A deafening crack erupted from the cannon. Its barrel blasted apart, throwing Graves backward, right over the side of theKestrel. Sizzling hot shrapnel rained down onto Rake, Flay, and the others.
Rake sprang up and leaped over the side, diving into the liquid blue. The cool gurgling deep closed around his body, refreshing his sun-heated skin.
He pulled his goggles down around his neck so he could see better.
Graves was twitching and spasming in the water, blood trailing in thin spirals from his hands and arms. Much as Rake preferred his mermaid body for swimming, he could manage with human legs, since the principles and the instinct were much the same. He shot toward Graves, circled one arm around the physik, and towed him back up to the surface.
TheKestrelwas already skimming far ahead. There would be no catching up to it in his human form, especially not with a human in tow. But Flay needed him. And he could not leave the wounded physik alone in the water; he’d be run over by oncoming boats or torn apart by sharks.
“Hold onto my neck,” Rake ordered. Graves, half-conscious, managed to obey, while Rake tore off his pants and unlatched the golden belt around his waist.
The particles of him churned, reassembling into his powerful golden tail.
For a half-second, Rake considered putting the belt on the physik to give him a tail and make him easier to tow. But that would take too long. And it would reveal a secret Mai wanted to keep.
“Hold this,” he snapped, thrusting the belt into the physik’s bleeding hand. “Do not lose it. Deep breath, and hold onto me if you want to survive.”
With the physik gripping him around the neck, Rake could not use his gills, so he filled his lungs and then dove. He stayed under as long as he dared, streaking through the sea after theKestrel.
They surfaced again. He and Graves inhaled desperately and then dove once more. Rake hated swimming with a human man locked to his throat, bumping against his back. He hated still more that it was Graves, the one in all Flay’s crew who despised him the most. But he kept going, shooting through the depths until the underside of theKestrelwas near enough to touch. He sped past it, then with a mighty effort launched himself and Graves out of the water as the sailboat passed by.
He was able to hurl Graves aboard, and the other men caught the physik. Rake had to speed ahead again and take another leap. He landed heavily on the Kestrel, his thick tail nearly swamping the ship.
“Here!” Corklan handed him his belt, and Rake quickly put it on.
“You saved our physik, Goldfish. Thank you.” Flay cast a quick glance at Rake before setting his gaze on the next target. “And you’re naked now. That will be hard to explain once we reach the end. No doubt the ladies will love it though. A nice piece you have there, Goldfish. Does it look the same in your fish form?”
“A little different,” Rake said. “My other one is longer, and ridged. And blue.”
“Fascinating. Graves, are you well?”
