Page 74 of Blow Me Down
“What the… that’s not my ship,” I said, squinting at it through the glass. “My ship is damaged. That can’t be her. Oh. It must be the sister ship to mine. I’d forgotten about it.”
Bart gave me another pitying look.
“I am not suffering from sunstroke, nor am I insane,” I said, turning to my crew. “Tar, tell the captain—our ship was shot up, wasn’t she?”
“Aye,” he answered, limping his way down the dock toward us. “ ‘Twas Mr.
Pangloss who done it, too.”
“See?” I crossed my arms over my chest.
Bart rubbed his chin, gazing out at the harbor where the ships were still locked in battle, although judging by the fact that the guns had slowed down, this round of battle was probably coming to an end. “I’m at loss, lass. ‘Tis no rightful reason for Panny to fire on ye, but I’m thinkin‘ there may have been some confusion with the ship I took for yers. She’s wearin’ yer colors, and is where ye should be, so it’s possible that Panny mistook ye for her.”
I opened my mouth to protest such a ridiculous notion but decided against continuing to argue. Bart’s explanation was possible, although I thought it highly unlikely. More likely, the thought occurred to me, was the theory that Pangloss wasn’t who he appeared to be. Could he be the mysterious ex-partner Paul? It would explain why he tried to sink me, given the opportunity.
I rubbed my forehead, confused by the path my droughts were taking. I had liked Pangloss. Could I be so mistaken about people?
Bart gave me his blessing to use his sloop until mine could be repaired, saying he had to get back to one of the makeshift forts.
“The devil Corbin’s been careful to stay out of range of the big guns,” he said before he left. “But Panny’ll be harryin‘ theJava Guruinto range of ’em, then we’ll have him.”
Evidently he didn’t realize Corbin wasn’t on theGuru. I certainly wasn’t about to enlighten him, not while he was all but rubbing his hands at the thought of capturing Corbin.
After a few more words of gloating over his anticipated win, he took his leave.
From the corner of my eye I saw Tar sidle toward one of Bart’s men.
“Well, thank you for the use of the ship. Buh-bye. Catch you later,” I yelled after him, then turned to my crewmate with a saccharine smile. “Tar, did you check the remaining supplies on the ship? No? Be a lamb and do it now, would you?”
Tar clearly wanted to disobey me but didn’t want to bring down Bart’s wrath by ignoring a direct order. He shot me a look that didn’t at all disguise his loathing, and hobbled off to do as he was bid.
“Juuust what I need,” I muttered to myself and went off to do my own chores.
By the time I had the ship stocked to go back into battle, the warships’ guns had fallen silent. Pangloss had told me that the ships only fought for a few hours before taking a break so that the men could have a rest and the equipment could be repaired and readied for more battle. It seemed an odd way to fight, but who was I to complain? Rather than head back out to battle, I gathered up my crew and hustled them toward Renata’s, unwilling to leave them—especially Tar—alone where they might talk.
By the time we got there, Corbin was gone, all signs of his occupancy in the room removed as if by fairies, but on the chest a small folded-up scrap of parchment had been left.
I will never be able to thank you enough for saving my best friend, the note read.
I’m glad you found each other. He needs you.
I sighed heavily, tucking Holder’s note away in my clothes, and forced my thoughts away from where they wanted to sulk over losing Corbin. I had things to do, I told myself sternly. There were Renata and Pangloss to question closely.
There were the leading townspeople to approach in order to find out just what supplies I should be trying to get from the blockade ships. I had promised myself to have a really long session organizing and inventorying Tara’s weaving shop. As far as I could tell, her looms had been empty for days, which mean that somewhere, a bunch of weavers were lounging around on my daughter’s payroll. There was no way I was going to tolerate that abuse. And there was my small crew to take care of, to pay off and swear to secrecy about the day’s activities.
I sighed as I counted out reales and left my room, heading for where I had left Tar and the twins in the company of Renata’s girls.
I wanted this conflict to end without anyone else being hurt.
I wanted to find Paul, so we could leave the game.
I wanted my brain to stop being confused with unfamiliar emotions.
I wanted Corbin.
Chapter 19
Come, friends, who plough the sea…
