Beyond the starline, p.8
Beyond the Starline, page 8
Pulling the door closed behind her, she listened for a moment to the soft breathing and snores of her companions. Tugging her shawl about her shoulders, she stepped barefoot across the deck to a water barrel. She took the tin cup that was attached to the barrel’s edge by a small chain, dipped it in the icy water and drank.
The cold fluid shocked her and she was about to turn back to the warm comforts of her bunk, when a movement caught her eye. She froze stock still. There was no reason to fear, she thought, but some instinct caused the hairs on the back of her neck to bristle like a cat’s.
She squinted through the darkness. The deck was cleaned and scrubbed. Barrels and crates were all carefully organized and arranged securely. Captain Hardcastle kept an orderly ship. In front of her was the towering cylinder of the main steam stack rising up from the engine rooms deep below. Steam rose steadily now into the night and she felt the low rumble of the engines through the wooden boards on which she stood.
The movement came again and with it this time a quick flash of light. There was someone at the aft of the ship, leaning over the balustrade that surrounded the outer deck. They’d chosen the spot well if they’d wanted to be concealed, as it was shadowed by the great lozenge of the gas balloon above.
Harriet crept towards the aft, skipping quietly from barrel to crate to winch, and tucking herself into the shadows if she thought the figure might turn about and see her. The ship’s engines would be set to a steady, slow chug and the course following fixed coordinates at this time of day, while the captain and crew both got some rest. There should be nobody about on deck. On the other hand, Harriet, she thought, you’re out on deck, ain’t you?
Nestling in behind a large coil of rope, she peered forward at the mysterious figure. Whoever it was had not, as she had, just slipped out from his bed. He was fully dressed, coated and booted. On his head he wore a broad-rimmed tricorn hat, a tattered peacock feather curling up from the band.
He had his back to her and seemed to be looking out at some distant object behind the ship. His left hand gripped the balustrade and his right hand held a small electrostatic lantern. As she watched he lifted the lantern up above his head and swung it left and then right, up and then down, before lowering it once more to his side.
Harriet was busy wondering what his game was when she saw, from the deep blackness of the Dark Sea, an answering light blinking on and off in the distance. It was small and she’d never have noticed it if she hadn’t been drawn to it by the mysterious signaler.
Looks like he’s signaling, she thought. Maybe to another ship behind us. Now what’s that all about?
The man flicked the switch on the lantern and the light popped and winked out. He hooked the lantern onto his belt and turned about. Harriet ducked her head down just in time not to be seen. Her heart thumped. Cold shivered in her middle. The cove crept forward towards the foredeck. As he emerged from the balloon’s shadow the Moon’s pale light illuminated him.
His scarred cheek, his clothing, his flintlock pistol and skull shaped belt buckle all marked him out for what he was: a pirate. I recognize him, too, thought Harriet. He’s the same scurvy rascal as caught up with us in the hold. I thought Mr. Hardcastle had locked him up. He must’ve realized we’d be after him and cleared out of his bunk just as soon as he got word that the captain had taken kindly to us. He must be hiding out somewhere.
The pirate vanished out of sight behind the chimney. Harriet quickly skipped up to her feet and followed him.
When she reached the chimney, she pressed her back up against it, the flats of her palms feeling along its warm, curved surface. She was just in time to see the pirate lift up a hatch and slip down below decks. The hatch clunked quietly closed behind him.
Harriet scuttled across the boards and crouched down over the hatch. She listened intently for a few moments and when she heard no further sounds of movement, she closed her fingers on the steel frame of the hatch and tugged it. But it wouldn’t budge. She pulled again and heard the rattle of a steel bolt that had been driven across into its housing on the other side. He’s blooming well locked it behind him. Did he know I was following? I’ll not catch up with him now. I’d better let the captain know first thing. But I do wonder what it was he was signaling at.
Harriet stood up and ran to the aft, to the same spot where the pirate had raised the lantern into the darkness. She peered out into the vastness of the aether but try as she might she could see nothing there. She knew she had seen what seemed to be an answering light. I reckon there must be another ship out there, she reasoned. If it’s trying to follow us in secret, then it might be far back and have all its own lights out so as we won’t notice it. And if it’s a pirate as is signaling to it, chances are it’s a pirate ship that’s pursuing us.
An idea struck her. She snuck quickly to the stores and grabbed an electrostatic lantern. She returned to the spot she’d just been, wound it up, and flicked it on. The light crackled and fizzed as the generator warmed up. A moment later and the lantern settled to a steady glow. She raised it up above her head and swung it left, right, up and then down, just as she had seen the pirate do.
Sure enough, after she lowered the light, she saw an answering signal from back in the deeps. Not enough light to see any ship by, but undoubtedly an answering signal.
A cold wind was picking up and she shivered in her nightgown and shawl. She flicked the lantern off and replaced it. I don’t think I should wait until tomorrow after all, she thought. Whatever’s going on here it can’t be no good.
She turned back, slipped below decks, and marched straight towards the captain’s cabin.
She was just about to knock on the door when a gnarled fist closed tightly around her wrist. The cool kiss of steel touched her throat.
“Not so fast, lad,” snarled an angry voice. “Not so fast.”
Harriet swallowed hard. Cold with fear, she stood as still as she could. The pirate hissed in her ear, his foul breath making her wince. “Now listen, lad. I know you saw me an’ I’ve a mind to make sure you don’t tell nobody. But I might just feel merciful if I get a bit o’ information out o’ ye. There was a girl stowed away on this ship with a monkey. I know the monkey is about the place, but the girl’s vanished.”
Harriet realized that because of her new clothes and cropped hair, the pirate had mistaken her for a boy. He didn’t realize the quarry he hunted was already in his hands. Her heart pounded. She felt the prickle of sweat all over her body. The pirate continued, snarling into her ear.
“Now if you told me where they’re hidin’ the girl I might just let you go wiv all yer blood still on the inside.”
“The bad luck girl, you mean, mister?” said Harriet, doing her best to conceal the fear from her voice. “I think it’s madness keepin’ a bad luck girl on board.”
“Couldn’t agree more. Where is she?”
“I don’t know,” said Harriet. “I seen the monkey about, but I ain’t seen the girl. Not since the captain took a shine to her in any case. Wouldn’t surprise me if she didn’t sleep in his cabin.”
“Is that the story? Captain’s little favorite, is she?”
Harriet felt the blade fall away from the flesh of her neck. The pirate squeezed his arm tightly about her in its place. He swung her around so that his back faced the captain’s door and Harriet was looking down the corridor. “Now you’re coming with me. Start moving.”
Before Harriet could take a step door hinges squealed and the corridor flooded with light. A different voice spoke behind her: a voice like the low growl of a lion.
“Drop the knife,” it said. “And raise your hands in the air.”
Harriet was free. She dashed two steps forward and spun about. The pirate glowered, sneering. But his hands were held high in the air. Behind him stood Captain Hardcastle, one arm stretched out, a primed flintlock pressed against the pirate’s neck.
“Harry,” said the captain. “Run and fetch the night watch. Have them slam this villain in irons until I decide what to do with him.” Harriet didn’t wait to thank him. She turned on her heels and ran off to do as he’d asked her.
Once the pirate had been hauled away, his hands and feet clamped in chains, Harriet turned to Captain Hardcastle. “Thank you, Cap’n,” she said. “It was me he was looking for and I reckon you just saved me life again.”
“I had thought we’d lost him at the Starline station. I was sure, when his cabin was deserted, that he’d jumped ship. I’m sorry I was not more cautious.”
“We all thought the same, Cap’n. It’s easy to know better when you’re looking back on things what have already happened. Harder to see ‘em coming.”
“That is true, young lady. Now I suggest you return to your bunk and get some sleep. We are close to the Moon now and tomorrow will be a busy day.”
“I oughta tell you, Cap’n,” said Harriet, ”What I saw that pirate doing…”
But before she could finish there was a sudden commotion on deck and a loud, clanging alarm bell rang out.
“What’s happening?” said Harriet.
“To the main deck and find out!”
Chapter Fourteen
When they reached the main deck the rest of the crew were already gathered, many of them groggy and rubbing their faces, having been woken from their bunks.
The captain acknowledged them with a curt nod. Davy came up to him. In his hand he gripped a long, brass telescope. “Sir,” he said. “I think you should see this.”
The captain took the telescope and looked in the direction that Davy indicated. A hissing breath emitted from his pursed lips. He dropped the telescope to his side and turned to the crew.
“There is a saying among the Groundlings on Earth that it never rains but when it pours. This signifies that multiple problems can and do frequently arrive together. We are about to face a very difficult situation, and we will have to be especially well prepared in order to overcome it.
“We are now within a rocket-shot of the Moon’s gravitational tide. So in the case of emergency we will at least be able to use the rescue rockets. However, we face one certain threat and another about which I am less sure but more concerned.
“I have just observed, moving very fast on a powerful cosmic tide, a herd of some twenty or so sky squid...”
Here a troubled murmur rippled through the assembled crew. The captain nodded, raised his hands for calm, and continued.
“They are unusually spread about and more or less unavoidable, even if we try to adjust our course. There is a high probability that we could take a direct hit. Further, they seem – although still too distant to tell for sure – to be in the post-dormant phase and so very likely hungry. I need hardly tell you what that implies in terms of the safety of everyone aboard this vessel should we get a clinger.”
“How far away?” asked one of the crew.
“At current speeds, my estimate is about an hour. In addition, I have observed daily another vessel that set out from Lundoon Launches almost on our tail. I have checked via the Audible Impulse Transmission Device and there is no other ship registered on this course. Also, she is not carrying colors and there is no way to identify her. She is a large and heavily armed warship. I am now convinced she is chasing us. Her engines are more powerful than those of The Redoubtable. She is fast catching up with us.”
“Pirates...” said several of the men.
“So it would seem,” said the captain. “And if they catch up with us before we reach the Moon, they will most likely come alongside about the same time as the squid storm hits us. If we take damage from the storm, we will be greatly disadvantaged.” He looked on them all gravely. “You all know what to do. Now, to work!”
The crew was busy at once. Captain Hardcastle roared out orders. “Everything moveable to be battened down! I want spring-nets and electrostatic harpoons at the ready to starboard! And I want a permanent watch, on rotation, both towards the pirates and the squid storm. We’ve survived worse. Jump to! Make lively lads!”
The ship buzzed with concentrated activity. Before Harriet and Sibelius could move, Captain Hardcastle was by their side. “You two,” he said. “I want to see you in my cabin immediately.” And he turned and marched away.
They followed him, Harriet casting nervous glances at her friend. Once they were inside, the captain closed the door and bade them sit down.
“I am much more worried about the pirates than I am about the squid, my friends. Our cargo is nothing but light grain and woven cloth – nothing at all that could interest a pirate ship. We rarely carry precious stuff. That is one of the reasons why we are practically unarmed. There is nothing to defend. This raises the question – what is it that these pirates want?”
“I s’pose the answer to that,” said Harriet nervously, “is probably me, Cap’n.”
“That is what I had thought. And this puts me in a very difficult position.” Harriet didn’t reply. The captain continued. “The presence of one of their comrades – now locked away in the hold – suggests they know perfectly well that you are aboard.”
“That’s what I wanted to tell you before,” said Harriet. “I saw that pirate cove signaling to the ship behind us.”
“I see. There is no question that I could, of course, hand you over and thus protect the ship and her crew...” Harriet blanched and opened her mouth to speak but the captain waved her down. “Of course I will never on my honor do such a thing. We may have to be prepared to fight, but in the first instance let us try cunning.”
“What do you mean?”
“They will not be expecting to find you among the crew – they will be expecting to find you stowed away, will they not?”
“I s’pose.”
“Add to that the fact that you look somewhat different now to when you first boarded us – with your cropped hair and boyish clothes. And the lads are accustomed to calling you Harry. You see my point?”
“Yeah, I get it. That pirate himself took me for a boy. You think the best way for me to hide would be right here under their noses with the rest o’ the crew! They can go off an’ search all the nooks an’ crannies but they’ll not find a girl anywhere. Then what?”
“I am not entirely sure. My best hope is they will think they have made an error and depart.”
“There is another thing we can do,” chimed in Sibelius. “We can tell them that what nearly happened did happen. We can tell them we were discovered and thrown overboard.”
“That is a good idea,” answered the captain. “Unfortunately, what are we to do with you? Your appearance makes you impossible to conceal.”
“Then, let us say that you threw mademoiselle overboard and kept the monkey as your ... pet.”
“I think it is the best plan we have. Of course, there could still be some other explanation for the presence of this unmarked vessel but it is as well to be prepared. Right, I shall let the crew know of the scheme.”
“There is just one other problem, Captain.”
“And what is that?”
“The pirate in the hold. If they find him they’ll release him and he’ll be able to tell them the truth.”
“Perhaps. But remember that he did not recognize you. So, there is a good chance he will not know who you are.”
“I’m sorry, Captain,” said Harriet. “I brought you a lot o’ trouble.”
“Nonsense,” said the captain, standing up. “You have brought me great pleasure and to my dull-headed crew, a quality of education that I could never have provided. Now, get back to your duties, both. We will need every hand on deck if the squid storm hits us.”
There was a loud howling, like the sound of ghostly wolves, Harriet thought, and the ship rocked violently, knocking the captain heavily back down into his chair.
“Squid?” asked Harriet, alarmed.
“No, that is only the beginning; a cosmic gust, nothing more. But it does not bode well.”
The alarm bell clanged again. They heard Sam shouting.
“Squid storm ahoy! Brace yerselves! Brace yerselves!”
And it seemed to Harriet that the whole world exploded into chaos.
Chapter Fifteen
Harriet and Sibelius rushed above decks with the captain. He was already bellowing orders in his great foghorn of a voice. His voice could have seemed threatening. Harriet found it reassuring. Someone trustworthy was in control. But the sense of anyone being in control of anything was short-lived.
“Harry!” shouted a crewman. A barrel hurtled towards her. She dodged it just in time as the body-crushing barrel rumbled past and crashed into the rear balustrade. It shattered, spilling its contents in a slippery mess.
The ship rocked, buffeted by the cosmic winds: a rage of invisible energies which sent anything that hadn’t been roped or nailed down flying across the decks.
The helmsman was roped to his position, his sinews stretched to their limit. He strained to hold a course through the wild, invisible wind. Everywhere crewmen were braced and roped. There was little they could do now but wait. Their faces showed they knew the worst was yet to come.
Harriet roped herself in to her position. She tugged the knots tight. She glanced at Sibelius, who seemed as composed as ever. She looked out into the Dark Sea. The blood drained from her face. Her limbs trembled. The storm of sky-squid, now horribly visible, flew towards the ship with terrifying velocity; huge, whipping tentacles; squamous bodies writhing; hungry eyes; working their purulent maws.
If one o’ them hits us, Harriet thought, we’re blooming done for, ship and all.
She swallowed hard and steeled herself for what was to come. She glanced again at Sibelius. This time he smiled and winked at her. “Courage, mon amie!”
