To Ocean's End (22 page)

Sam drew us within a hun
dred yards of the fish, and as I took careful aim, O’Toole came up to the railing and climbed onto it right in my line of sight. “O’Toole! No!” I dive-tackled him like a lizard jumping onto a tree trunk. He lost his balance and folded, half his body hanging over each side of the railing. I pulled him onto the deck. His whimpering reached a fever pitch as he thrashed around until he broke free, then he lunged for the railing again. I grabbed him before he could jump. He gripped the railing in both hands and used that as leverage. “Sam!” I locked my arms around O’Toole’s waist and snuck a glance out at the water. We were eighty yards from the thing and slowly approaching. At the same time, my window of opportunity was rapidly shrinking. Whale flounder didn’t like the sound of props and engines.

O’Toole planted his feet on the lower railing and dead-lifted us both. “
Sam
!” I lost my balance and couldn’t secure a foothold on the railing.

“Captain!” Mido’s voice carried through the air.

“Hurry!” O’Toole and I teetered over the railing and everything seemed to fall into slow motion as the ocean appeared below me. I had a choice between letting the Irishman go and taking my one shot, or going down with him and lengthening my failure streak. If I let him go, he ran the risk of getting sucked up into the props. On top of that, he couldn’t swim very well. Sure, someone could jump in after him, like Jacobi had last time, but what kind of selfish fool would that make me?

My hips and therefor my center of gravity were pulled past the top railing. I glanced at the floating flounder and the gulls circling and even resting on it. That was so much money and food right there, and really good eating to boot. I didn’t have to be the one who--

A hand pawed at my pant leg but O’Toole and I went for an unscheduled swim head first. Just great. My gun was in my coat, as usual. I’d have to carefully clean it later so it wouldn’t rust. Just plain great.

We plunged under the surface in a haze of bubbles. With a chunk of his pants in my fist, I kicked for the surface but my steel toe boots were less than useless when it came to swimming with a trench coat on. We started to sink. O’Toole began to flail. I called the water to me and brought us back to the surface, but the Irishman was intent on drowning us both. His flailing blocked me from concentrating on controlling the very water I was trying not to inhale. I gave up and focused on keeping our heads above the surface.

“Heads up, Captain!”

Scully threw a life ring attached to a rope. I closed my eyes right before it splashed within arm’s reach, then jammed it over O’Toole’s head. He threaded his arms through the ring then began doggy paddling towards the whale flounder. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?” I grabbed the ring and he just paddled in place. When we rose to the crest of a swell, I caught a glimpse of the fish. Holy hell. It was still there!

Everyone but Jacobi and Sam lined the railing. I waved for them to move aside. “Move if you don’t want to get wet!” Without waiting to see if they listened, I closed my eyes and concentrated, then directed a large column of water to send me and the Irishman back aboard. We slingshotted over the railing, onto the deck, and I landed on my feet and let O’Toole drop to his paddling hands and knees as a thin wave of water spread over the deck. I took in my relieved crew. “Hold him.” Mido and Scully rushed to O’Toole as I hopped into the Harpy. I swung and dipped her a little and took aim at... nothing but water. “No.” I broadened my search but there was no sign of the coveted, lopsided pancake. “No!” I took random aim but thought better of shooting. I rammed the safety latch back into place and swore as I kicked a part of the Harpy I knew wouldn’t break, then I bowed my forehead in one hand and sulked.

“Lo siento, Captain,” Sauna said.

“Where did you all go?” I said angrily.

“Lunch,” Rammus said.

I heaved a sigh and gave the Harpy a feeble kick, then shook my head.

Jessie exclaimed, “Whoa!”

I lowered my hand. Jessie was staring down the side of the boat, her mouth agape. O’Toole was gibbering away, and trying to wrestle free. My crew lined up along the railing, even Mido and Scully with the Irishman, and all of them exclaimed similar awe. I hopped onto the deck and pulled up next to Cancer. I joined them in their concerted gaping.

The whale flounder was brushing up against my boat.

I glanced at the Harpy, then at the fish. I could get it from this awkward angle but... for some reason it felt wrong to kill it while it was investigating my ship and crew. Wait. I looked at Jessie, who was completely mystified. Could she?

I wandered up to her side and glanced over her shoulder. The whale flounder had leathery skin like a shark, a specking of darker grey spots patterned like a giraffe’s markings, and one black eye the size of a tire, complete with thick eyelids. The eye sat right in front of Jessie. That was a interesting coincidence. “Jessie.”

“What?” she said in a subdued voice.

“Do me a favor and walk along the railing and see if it follows you.”

One hand on the railing, she slowly walked along the deck while keeping her gaze on the fish. It’s massive eye rotated to follow her, and then it paddled its sting ray-like fins and began keeping pace with her, its flapping gently rippling along its sides. I watched the spectacle for a moment, then let out a thoughtful “huh.” She stopped walking.

I stuck my hands in my coat, then removed them. Forgot I was sopping wet for a moment there. “This is an interesting development.” My crew was staring open-mouthed. Between me and the quasis, that was hard to accomplish. “So Jessie, how long have you shared this affinity with sea creatures?”

“My whole life. I’ve never really known what to make of it, until you told me about my avatar status. Fish have always acted like this to everyone if I was around. My friends used to drag me to the beach so we could play with the fish. They wouldn’t show up unless I was there.”

“So why did you tell me you didn’t have any magical powers?”

Jessie looked at the deck. “Probably for similar reasons you don’t readily tell people about your curse. I tried telling Tethys about it in hopes he’d stop... stop raping me. Instead, he used me to make more money at fish markets as well.”

“Ah.”

“Are they clues as to how to lift your curse?”

“I wish. It’s just her mark on you.” I glanced at the whale flounder. So much money swimming right there, but... “So, uh, not to be insensitive, but would you have any reservations about us making a paycheck and a lot of meals out of this one?” I pointed to the fish with a thumb.

Her face screwed up in horror. “Don’t! She’s pregnant.”

I blinked. “Well then. Never mind.”

“So,” Ted said casually to Jessie, “fish converge every time you go in or near water?”

“Yeah.”

The two techies grinned. Ed said, “Let’s throw you in the water and hope you attract a non-pregnant one.”

She gave him a flat glare. “Not a chance.”

Chapter 20

Le Havre

Jessie practiced as much as she could over the next two days, pushing herself to become faster and deadlier. She easily developed the habit of pressing with multiple attacks. Not broadcasting them? Not so much; it was harder. Sam tried teaching her to just keep her eyes on her opponent’s eyes the whole time. It worked great for defensive moves, but offensively all her attacks started drifting to the face. She inadvertently split Sam’s lip when he took a turn being her sparring partner. No one got angry; not even him, but he suggested not keeping her eyes locked in place when going on the offensive. He told her to try pulling her vision back enough so she could take in her opponent’s entire body. It started working but she needed a
lot
of practice.

Sam said, “Come this afternoon, don’t think about where to look. Just act and react. The more you try to think, the slower you’ll be. Got it?”

“Yeah,” she said while staring down a sweaty Mido in the cargo hold. Everyone but O’Toole, Jacobi and Rammus had been practicing since breakfast, working in twos and rotating partners every so often.

Dyne said, “Now everyone go wash up and rest up. We should reach port tonight, but be ready at all times. We’ve been hit all over the Channel.” He grabbed his shirt from a nearby crate and slung it over a sweaty shoulder.

Jessie and Mido tapped sparring gloves and she resisted the urge to kiss and hug him. Sparring was a huge turn-on. Even the other crew members began to look good to her when their arms and chests glistened with sweat, and she got to see how strong all of them were. She’d sparred with everyone but Jacobi, Rammus, and O’Toole. All of the men went shirtless at some point. Every crew member, including Dyne, had big arms, but only the younger ones had defined abs. It was a lot of testosterone to be surrounded by but Mido’s presence and her sparring gloves kept her fear far at bay. She was beginning to feel like her old self, the one who loved attention from men, and eating up eye candy.

*     *     *

Jessie and Mido waited outside the showers with Sam and Scully. They all sat on the hard floor with fresh clothes on their laps. The hum of the engine and hiss of the showers filled the air, and the hall lights were set low. It almost would’ve passed for romantic if they didn’t have extra company.

Scully said, “You’re really taking to fighting, Jessie. I’m impressed.”

She shrugged. “I like it. It feels good to beat up people.”

“I bet,” Sam said with a smile.

“I’m slowly learning to not assume my size means I’m at a disadvantage.”

“You’re a smaller target and we’re bigger ones,” Scully said.

Mido said, “And you’re often faster.” He kissed her hand.

“Boy that was funny when you landed that uppercut on Ted,” Sam said. “Didn’t think your fist could reach that high.”

“Oh, yeah,” Mido said, “but I’m most impressed with you fighting Cancer.”

“He didn’t go easy on me at all,” Jessie said with a frown.

“You still did great.”

“Until I ran out of retreating room.”

“Well don’t forget how much more experienced he is. He’s been fighting people smaller than him most of his life, so he knows how to keep his size advantage.”

“He could’ve at least gone easier on me.”

Scully said, “He’s toughening you up that much faster. He’s the most intimidating of all of us, besides Jacobi. You have to practice with him once he’s recovered enough. He’s a deadly wrecking ball with fists.”

Jessie wanted to say “oh, he’s deadly alright” but she kept the thought to herself. So far she hadn’t told anyone about his rape threat. Right now, she wouldn’t put it past him that he’d try to kill her, too, and what better way to mask it than in the heat of battle?

Mido said, “I don’t think they should spar until they make peace.”

Sam said, “That’s right. You two clash. Heard about your kick to his leg. Now that was funny, too!”

Jessie looked at her sandals. “He was being unnecessarily rude.”

“He’s got anger issues,” Scully said with a dismissive wave. “Don’t take it personal. He’s a good guy. Just give him time to warm up to you.”

Fat chance. “I’ll try. I really don’t enjoy being on edge around him.”

“Don’t worry,” Sam said, “We’ll keep him in check. We’ve got yer back. He’s really loyal once he likes you. He’s saved all our lives at one point or another.”

“Even mine,” Mido admitted. “Sometimes he’s just slow to warm up to people, but I don’t get why he’s being such an ass to you.”

“Maybe it’s because of who I am and the danger I bring.”

“All the more reason to be kinder,” Sam said.

Jessie studied him. His aged, gentle features looked nothing but genuine and kind. “None of you are being nice just because I’m her avatar, are you?” Sam scrunched his brows. “Because of what Captain said?”

“That we need you to come to Australia with us?”

Odd, he wasn’t on the same page as her. “Because of how Amphitrite might treat you because of how you all treat me.”

“I forgot about that,” Sam said. “I would like to think not. Besides, I liked you before I knew.”

“As did I,” Scully said.

“Even though I hurt you?”

“Your apology was genuine. That’s one of the few things I remember during my concussion.” Jessie grimaced.

Sam said, “Hard to hate someone who hates Tethys as much as us, if not more.”

Mido said, “And I’m sure you can guess how I felt about you at first sight.” He brought his face tantalizingly close to hers and squeezed her hand.

Jessie kissed her fingertips and pressed them to his lips. He took her hand and kissed her fingers back. She yearned to lean forward and kiss him properly but didn’t want to make their company feel uncomfortable.

Sam said, “You have our permission to kiss Mido in front of us if we get one, too.” The two gave her dorky grins.

“Uh oh, looks like I gotta start sharing.”

Jessie took in Sam and Scully, weighing whether or not she had the courage to give them chaste kisses. She wanted to kiss Mido badly enough to consider kissing others. These two were harmless, she had to admit. She didn’t feel threatened by them, and they didn’t look like they’d expect more from her if she acted upon their request. She let go of Mido’s hand and kneeled before Sam, then planted a kiss on top of his head. She shuffled over to Scully and pecked the top of his blonde head, too. Both men beaming at her, she settled back down next to Mido and gave him a closed-mouth kiss on the lips, but not without sneaking in a tiny lick with the tip of her tongue, just to tease him. She relished the look he gave her when they pulled back. He was going to get even with her in the shower.

Sam said, “That made my day. Hope the misses back home don’t mind.”

Scully said, “Amy’s really good like that. She doesn’t get jealous easily.”

“You’re married?” Jessie asked.

“Yes, ma’am,” Sam said, fiddling with his wedding band. “Most of the crew is.”

“Was Dyne ever married?”

“Yes, but don’t ask him about it. It’s bittersweet. He loves women but he won’t ever marry again because of his curse. Not sure what I’d do in his place.”

“I’m sorry to hear,” Jessie said, her heart reaching out to the captain. “Maybe if I can help lift his curse, he can settle down one last time. Lonely is the worst feeling in the world.” She leaned against Mido and he wrapped a strong arm around her shoulders.

“Yes it is,” Scully said.

*     *     *

I stayed with Jacobi in the wheelhouse all day, just in case he stopped feeling confident in his piloting skills. I doubted I’d need to take over since he was in the best mood I’d seen since before our last run-in with Tethys. He was back to being useful, even though he’d rather use his brawn, instead of brain. But whatever. Anything to keep him out of trouble and his focus away from Jessie. He was proving to be obstinate in regards to her.

My crew patrolled the deck like a unit military patrolling its base. We tensed at the sight of every large boat, and exhaled once they carried on without paying us any mind. Mostly small shipping vessels and private charters sailed to and fro, along with fishermen, whales, and dolphins. The marine mammals all paid a visit when Jessie patrolled the deck. She enjoyed their attention until I politely told her she needed to stay focused on keeping an eye out for danger. A small boat could be scouting for targets like my ship.

So far no one spotted any scouters, but we stayed on guard, even when we reached port. We’d missed incognito threats in the past. We weren’t in a hurry to get complacent this evening. The lack of attacks made us all the warier.

Beams from two lighthouses skimmed the darkening horizon as my cargo pushers unloaded our delivery with another decrepit-looking steam crane. Le Havre was rundown and patched up like Newport but with French architecture. This place fit the now long unused term “third world” description with its dirt streets, patch job homes and shops, and toughened, lean natives. The French were very amicable and friendly, though. The dock workers loves seeing sailors like us; we made their day. We were their link to the rest of the screwed up world. They tried inviting us to the nearest bar for drinks but I politely declined from the deck of the
Pertinacious
as I kept an eye out. Sauna was in the engine room, keeping her hot in case we needed to make a hasty exit. Ed, Ted, Mido, and Jessie were guarding my cargo pushers and the dock workers while Cancer and I patrolled both sides of the deck, ready to run up to the wheelhouse and sound the alarm if we spotted trouble.

A mix of French and English filled the darkening air as the last of the shipment got offloaded. I sent Ed and Ted to collect twelve dinners from the nearest bar while Sauna grabbed us a shipment to Dakar in Senegal, another port that often proved to be eventful like Le Havre mysteriously wasn’t. However, I wouldn’t assume we were safe until we were back out of the Channel. There was still plenty of time and open water to ambush us. On top that, I wasn’t the only one who’d put in a cheeseburger order.

*     *     *

Jessie and Mido patrolled a modestly-lit part of the dock by the
Pertinacious’
s
stern. Flood lights shined on the main deck and groped at the dock, and the brightest light came from the two lighthouses in intermittent flashes. Le Havre’s windows were aglow with subdued candle and naphtha light. The sight fondly reminded Jessie of home, which she was looking more and more forward to seeing again.

Ed and Ted came bustling down the dirt road with big paper bags in each hand, and a small keg bouncing along each of their backs. Dinner to go for the whole crew.

Ed said, “Help us out quick! The sooner we get aboard, the sooner we can leave and eat.”

Ted said, “We passed through some seedy places. Not gonna miss this town.”

Jessie hopped onto the stern ladder first, followed closely by Mido, who grabbed a generous portion of her rear. She gasped and placed a hand on her fondled cheek.

“We saw that!” Ed said cheerfully.

Mido popped Jessie a guilty grin lacking remorse. She shook her head and climbed the ladder without saying a word. She probably would’ve done the same thing if he’d climbed first. The four of them worked together to get everyone’s dinner up the ladder, one delicious-smelling bag at a time, and once everything and everyone was aboard, Jessie came up behind Mido and squeezed both his cheeks, making him jump and getting laughs out of the techies. He relaxed and leaned into her, putting his hands over hers. She leaned against him and left her hands on his glutes.

“Athens can’t come fast enough,” he said. “I still owe you breakfast in bed.”

“With all the other things I’ve gotten in bed, I’d forgotten about that.”

Ted took in his partner and said, “Now there’s something I haven’t thought of in a long time.”

Ed shushed them, then whispered, “I think I see something on the water.”

Jessie and Mido let go of each other and followed Ed’s outstretched finger. The floodlights behind them made it difficult to see much beyond the lip of the stern. The object on the water was a hazy black blot on a midnight blue backdrop. It was like trying to see out a house window at night with the lights on inside. The moon lay hidden behind clouds.

Mido whispered, “What’s a skiff doing at a big boy dock?”

“I see three,” Jessie whispered.

“Me, too,” both techies said.

Mido said, “Ed, go run up to the wheelhouse. Looks like trouble’s finally arrived.” The techie ran off with a bag of food.

Ted said, “Why would they attack us on skiffs?”

“Sneak attack,” Mido said, “which almost worked.” Something whizzed between him and Ted, who both gasped and ducked. “Get down!” The three of them dropped to the deck and crawled up to the raised edge of the stern, giving them three feet of steel to hide behind. Mido slid the bags and kegs away from the ladder, then hefted one of the two-gallon kegs in both hands and cautiously raised it above his head.

Something clanged against it.

Mido flinched and ducked, then set the keg next to him. “Ouch, that felt and sounded hard enough for a crossbow. Fun.”