Back Story

The morning bells came way to early. On deck, the crew dragged out to see mangroves on the starboard. The waved albatross were flocking to the sails, the ship leaning to greet them, ropes and wings moving in the same wind.

You spent the hours of your work daydreaming of how you might find out the story of the night mistress, how you might trick the story out until you stopped and realized what you were doing. There would be no need to trick Dukalu. He might just be the most honest man you have ever met, or did his pretty face fool you? You went around in circles trying to logic it out but choose instead to let chance guide your way. You realized you have been humming a nursery tune this whole time, something about wicked little children being given to witches when they were bad. Just another story by grown ups to freighter children into behaving, you think. At least it’s a merry tune.

You stop when you see brave strong Dukalu pass by the other side of the hoist house. You mean to sneak around the shed to jump and scare him, when you see the Captain come up to him.

She laughs softly with the secret she has learned. She leans over to whisper something but kisses his cheek instead. She winks and saunters away carrying her smile with her.

Dukalu shakes like a ruffian dog trying to get the dirt off of himself. But he stands there like a dog waiting for his master to return. He shakes his head again and goes on.

Elena makes her way down and back the length of the ship. It is hard to hide on it as hard as you try so you make busy with ropes and cleaning. There is plenty of activity as hunting parties come and go on the shore boats into the mangroves. Fresh meat is being cleaned on deck. The wood along the sides of the hull are being repaired while the ship waits for the shore parties. The captain spends most of her time with the biggest and dumbest goons of the ship, doing sword training exercises. Paco is there since all the swords are sharp metal. He liberally applies salves and potions due to the fierceness of the swordplay.

At one point though, the captain passes by you and swings you around from the busy work that you were doing, confronts you and says, Why are you spying on me, missy?