Authors: S.M Welles
Something made sparks against the ceiling, giving Jessie a glimpse of what she was trapped with. She clamped her hands over her mouth and swallowed a scream. Dyne wasn’t kidding when he said he had little room to move. His head was bigger than her, his arms thicker than her body, and his shoulders were almost as wide as the container. There was only several feet between her and his face, which she hadn’t gotten a good look at.
“Damn it, I need maybe another foot and I could roll over.” He slid, Jessie guessed, his webbed hand back in front of the door and settled down. She scooted towards the empty corner. “Oh, don’t waste your energy being afraid. I’m not going to harm you. I’m pissed at her; not you, so don’t take my mood personally.”
“You can see in the dark?”
“Obviously. I have heightened senses when I’m like this. It’s a bit overwhelming. I’m not used to it. And speaking of heightened senses, we have visitors coming. I probably made a big enough ruckus to wake at least one person up, but--” There was the sound of one of the door latches being lifted. “Don’t come in here you moron!” Dyne thumped the floor with the hand near the door. Water and a body hit the outside of the container. “Are you developing a case of stupid or what? Who’s out there?”
“It’s Cancer, Captain.” He spat some water a couple of times. “I heard banging and noticed that your door’s unlocked. Is everything alright?”
“No. Is it dawn yet?”
“No. Did you really have to drench me like that?”
“You know better than to open my container before time’s up, so yes.”
“I’m sorry, Captain.”
“Good. Now go away.”
Cancer sighed.
Jessie and Dyne then heard Rammus said, “Cancer, you’re drenched. What happened?”
“The captain’s very grumpy,” he said flatly. “Talk to him at your own risk.”
“I can still hear you!”
Rammus said, “Captain, have you seen Jessie? I can’t find her or my keys.”
“I’m looking at her right now. Amphitrite tricked her into sneaking in here with a light source. We’re all going to have a nice long chat tomorrow. I don’t want any more surprises like this--or at least as few as possible, now that I know she knows I have Jessie with me.”
“Oh, boy,” Rammus said unhappily. “How well do you fit in the container?”
Dyne thumped a fist on the floor. Another wave of water hit the outside of the container.
Rammus spat out water. His shuffling footfalls headed off.
“Cancer, just walk away if you know what’s good for you.”
Jessie didn’t hear anything, but she had a feeling the doctor did just that. She looked at the darkness. “Were you the one who made the koi fish out of water?”
Dyne gently said, “Yes. Now save the rest of your questions until after dawn.”
Chapter 13
It’ll Be Dangerous
After being stuck in the same position for a couple of hours, the full grip of the curse receding back inside me was the greatest feeling in the world. Even better than--well maybe not better than a night of good sex, but definitely close. All my fishy features popped back inside and I felt the pruning finger sensation from getting dehydrated all over my body as I shrank. My heightened senses returned to human strength, making me feel less self-conscious about being stark naked with Jessie in the container. I flopped onto my shrinking back and lay spread-eagle as circulation returned to my arms. Even with all the perks the water demon form gave me, being comfortable while lying face-down on metal for two hours wasn’t one of them.
Someone knocked on the container door.
“Don’t open it yet!” I scrambled to my feet and said to Jessie, “Let me get my pants on before you let any light in here.” I blindly groped my way to where the cot had been, then began crawling around on my hands and knees. I found one boot where I left it, then found the rest of my clothes bundled up and squished against the wall. The cot was with everything else. The horizontal bars were permanently bowed. Just great. I’d have to buy a new one in case this cot would make my neck and back hurt. I slipped my pants on, draped my trench coat over an arm, and carried my boots. Going commando it was for now. Not a bad feeling, but not great either since I was sweating all over from transforming back to human.
The foggy light of early dawn poured into the container as I pushed the door open. Jessie un-balled herself and stared at me like the monster I was. The look hurt but I didn’t hate her for it. I felt bad for inadvertently scaring her like that. I stepped outside and held the door wide. I didn’t blame her for her reaction. Fresh air on my torso cooled me down a bit. Hopefully no one was standing downwind. I hadn’t showered in five days. I wasn’t counting the towel baths.
“Morning, Captain,” Rammus said, eyes downcast but looking inside the container. Mido was with him. He looked at me searchingly but said nothing. Rammus said, “Scully’s on the wheel until you’re ready to take over. Do you want me to start roundin’ everyone up?”
“No. I need a few hours to myself. Go on as normal but have someone keep on eye on Jessie. She got a good look at my demon form before I put the lantern out.” I needed some time to feel more human than monster. I didn’t like being around anyone when I felt like this.
“Oh that’s where that went.”
“You need a new one.”
Mido said, “Where is she?”
I pointed inside. She hadn’t moved.
Mido ran in. She gave him a wary look but calmed right down when he pulled her into a hug. I looked to Rammus, raised an eyebrow and pointed inside the container.
Rammus shrugged. “I’m not questioning it.”
“Any idea how that happened?”
“You’ll have to ask them.”
Mido helped Jessie to her feet, who clung to my cook for dear life. She looked ready to throw punches if any of us moved the wrong way. I swung the door wider and gestured to Rammus to back up as Mido led Jessie out onto the deck. She stopped in front of me.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“For what?”
“I knew I shouldn’t have snuck in but I couldn’t seem to stop myself.”
“Kid, you never stood a chance against her. Don’t beat yourself up over it. Now everyone go. I need a shower and some time to calm down.” I walked away before they could bother me with more questions and such. And with their eyes following me, I felt like they were seeing my demon form instead. The word “freak” followed me down the stairs.
* * *
After a long shower, I took the wheel from Scully and locked the door behind him. By then the entire crew knew I was out and about, and to leave me alone. My seasoned crew also knew about Jessie’s walk-in orchestrated by Amphitrite. Now said crew knew what was coming soon. This put everyone on edge, including Ed and Ted, even though those two, along with Sauna and Jacobi, were clueless about the full truth surrounding my curse.
My ship was still on course so I took out my charts that covered the northern Australian coast, more specifically the place I’d sank another boat long ago. God, I’d been so stupid then.
I called ocean water to me with a thought. I sensed two bands rise up on both sides of my boat and snake their way to the wheelhouse. I wrapped the windows on all four sides in shimmering water like drawing a curtain across a window. The room darkened and it looked like I was sitting inside a submerged craft. The subdued lighting matched my mood. I waved a hand and images appeared in the windows like a movie that surrounded me. A silent one. However, my memories added the sound of crashing waves, roaring wind, crew yelling at me to hurry up and jump--all of it. I put my elbows on the counter, rested my chin on folded hands, and watched my fateful night replay itself.
Australia’s Timor Sea churned with thirty-plus swells topped with whitecaps getting blown away by hurricane winds. I’d knowingly sailed right into the storm. I hadn’t fully grown out of my “I’m invincible” mentality back then. In addition to wind and waves, there was ample lightning to top off the scene. Cliché or not, those were the conditions necessary to sink the first cargo ship I ever piloted. Too many waves swiping the surface in too many directions for me to handle.
The sea took all five of my crew members right before my eyes that night. The memory scene zoomed right into the moment where a wave flipped the emergency inflatable craft before I could join them. I’d made sure I was the last one to board, like any good captain would. Instead, during one wave, five hands were beckoning me to jump on. The next wave, I was looking at an empty churning ocean while the hundred-footer rapidly sank. I stopped trying to catch my balance and just stared at the roiling emptiness. Five good men gone just like that. To this day I’d rather have gone with them, curse or not. They’d been good friends.
My memory self jumped into the sea before the ship’s nose could disappear under the surface. I had no floatation device or survival suit; just the clothes on my back and one bad temper sparked by the sudden sucker-punch loss. I was determined to die with my crew and friends.
“Come on, you damn ocean! You took my boat and my whole crew! You missed one!” Lightning struck the bow. I flinched but felt nothing. “You missed again! What’s the matter? Can’t bring yourself to kill me out of pity?” Waves thrashed me but I kept finding my way to the surface and spitting out sea water. “I’m still here, you bastard!”
The ocean in front of me rounded like a bubble was rising, but instead of bursting, the water kept rising, taking my angry ass with it. The water dome grew into a column, which then morphed into more humanistic features. I found myself lying on a giant hand, which held me up to a woman’s face that was bigger than my whole body. She had dark eyes like voids, eyes as big as me if I curled into fetal position. I rolled off the hand, but a huge rope of water caught me midair. It brought me face-to-face with who I now knew as Amphitrite.
Figuring I had nothing to lose but my life, which had just lost all value, I hid my fear of whatever had found me. I put on a mask of rage and defiance. Dumbest thing I ever did. “Go away! I’m busy dying here.”
“I know,” Amphitrite said in a huge, sensuous voice. “I heard. I’m not at all pleased with your lack of gratitude.” The rope of water twisted me about, holding me at varying angles so the lady could get a good look. I flailed and yelled at her to let me go, but my efforts were as effective as swimming against a riptide. “I saved your life, then you dive right in and taunt me to kill you? Not pleased at all.”
“I didn’t ask you to save my life! Now put me down and let me die.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Is that how you really feel?”
“No, I feel like playing poker with kangaroos!”
The giant lady frowned. “I go out of my way to preserve your life, yet you’re so adamant about throwing it away. I’m deeply hurt.”
“I don’t care.” Why had she bothered saving me and not them? To this day I didn’t know the answer to that. Why me? Why only me and not them too?
“You should care. You cut me deeper with every word. Dyne Lavere, I curse you so that you may one day learn from your folly.” She raised a giant hand and blew me a kiss. And when she blew, so did the storm. I went flying. No clue how far, but far enough to black out when I hit the water.
Someone knocked on the wheelhouse door.
I let go of the curtain of water. Sunlight shined back in and I could see out again. My stomach churned at being caught brooding. Sam was standing outside the door, protectively holding a plate away as water splashed onto the steps. He looked at me with one eye, his face serious. I got up and let him in.
“Why you brooding, Captain?” Haven’t seen you do that in years.”
Even though I was older than him--far older--Sam was a father-figure to me. He just had that fatherliness to him, the kind you could trust to admit your mistakes and flaws to. He’d never judge; just help you become a better man. Outliving him was going to really hurt. “I’m tired of dealing with my curse, Sam.” I returned to my chair and dropped in it. “We humans aren’t mentally equipped to live as long as I have. I’m reaching the end of my endurance.” Yes, I was showing weakness, but Sam was the only one I’d voluntarily show it to. And right now I really needed a shoulder to lean on.
“I hear ya.” He set a plate of toast with a six-inch pie of broccoli and mushroom quiche on top of my charts. “I hear ya. We all wish there was more we could do to help.”
“I know.”
“Mido made your favorite breakfast in hopes of lightening your mood.”
“Looks great.” I picked up a piece of toast. I’d eat the good stuff in solitude.
“Best to think and talk on a full stomach. And you’ll handle your curse for as long as you have to. I know you can and you will.”
“What if she never lifts it?”
Sam paused. “She will one day,” he said with conviction. “I know it in my old bones she will. Maybe not this year or the next, but one day for sure. Trust an old sea dog’s wisdom.”
I wanted to believe him but after all these decades, I couldn’t find it in myself to believe anymore. “Tell everyone to gather in the galley in half an hour. Jacobi and Jessie, too. Hopefully we won’t have to replace too many people in Morocco.”
“I doubt you’ll lose anyone. Ed and Ted are proving to be a loyal, dedicated pair. We’ll see what Jessie does. She’s grown attached to Mido. Dunno if it’s enough. And she also likes beating up the punching bag. Might wanna get her a pair of gloves that fit,” he added with a smile.
Great news, and the gloves would be no problem. Anything to increase my chances of keeping her around. “What about Jacobi?”
“You should ask Cancer or Jacobi himself. I’ve been busy in the cargo hold and such, so I haven’t seen much of him. What I do know is that he’s getting restless. He doesn’t like sitting still this long.”
“I don’t blame him.”
* * *
All twelve of us gathered in the galley shortly after I finished my favorite breakfast. The food improved my mood at little, even though I had a feeling the impending conversation would subdue everyone. My techies sat on the right with Cancer. My four cargo pushers sat on the left, Jacobi on the end so he could have his splinted leg elevated on a fold-up chair. Rammus sat on a stool next to Jacobi’s foot, and reclined against the table edge. O’Toole observed everyone from his post near the fridge, and Mido had an arm around Jessie’s waist. They stood on my right. I stood in the middle of the galley, hands in my trench coat pockets.
I looked at all their faces as they waited in expectant silence. I didn’t want to say anything. I just wanted to keep the full extent of my curse to myself, but that wasn’t fair to any of them anymore. I looked at my two newest techies. “Ed. Ted. You two are the farthest out of the loop. What have you heard so far?”
Ed, the leaner one, said, “Not much. We’re both really confused as to why everyone’s so tense today.”
Ted said, “We heard something about Jessie finding you last night, but we don’t get why that’s a big deal. It’s good to see you’re feeling better, though.”
I nodded my thanks, then steeled myself. I was about to lose people or I wasn’t. Either way, revealing the truth about me and my curse took away a shred of my humanity every time. “You remember the water display during the funeral?” They said they did. “I... did that.” They crinkled their brows in confusion. I tried a slightly better explanation. “I’m not entirely human anymore.”
Ed let out a nervous laugh. “I don’t get what you mean.” He turned to the rest of the crew. “Is he serious?” They all nodded. “What do you mean, Captain?”
“I wasn’t sick for the past five days.” God, this never got any easier over the years, even though very few quit their job after learning the basic truth about me. Most never experienced anything beyond my lockdowns, so it had no bearing on their opinion of me as a skipper. “I was in lockdown.” I gave the two a moment to let the news sink in. “Just out of curiosity, how old do you think I am?”
“Forty... ish?” Ted offered.
“Not even close.”
“Fifty?” Ed said.
“Much higher.” I pointed to the ceiling with a thumb.
“Really well aged for sixty?” Ted said doubtfully.