Secrets of the Realm (7 page)

Captain Hawke's command, "Cast off!" reverberated in Annie's ears. The Realm swung away slowly from the wharf.

She didn't put down her spyglass until she saw the last two sailors. "I see Baggott and Carter!" she yelled, her voice hoarse. "Carter's hurt!"

With the ship heading out to sea, Annie knew neither Baggott nor Carter would be joining their shipmates. That fact was not lost on the crew either. Their work chanteys sounded more like dirges sung at funerals.

Annie stashed the spyglass back under her waistband. While she descended the ratlines, she kept her eye on Baggott and Carter, best friends when they came aboard and now best friends about to share the same fate. Undoubtedly, Annie thought, they would soon be joined by a very angry press gang.

Given no further orders, Annie continued to watch the two sailors stranded on the wharf. Baggott unwound his arm from around Carter's waist and patted his friend's back. Carter stared straight ahead as if he were facing a firing squad. Annie gasped when Baggott suddenly rushed behind him and shoved Carter over the edge. The sailor tumbled forward, arms and legs flailing in the air before disappearing beneath the murky water. Baggott dove in after him.

Annie held her breath until she saw Baggott break the surface clutching Carter. He had wrapped his arm under Carter's chin and with his free arm, attempted to swim to the ship. But Baggott made little progress with his panicky friend.

Annie's heart sank until she heard Captain Hawke command, "Heave to!"

The Realm began to slow.

She watched Mr. Montgomery remove his shirt, boots, sword and pistol before plunging off the side of the ship. Annie couldn't imagine anyone surviving a dive from that height, but he made it look easy.

Only when Mr. Montgomery swam to the two sailors, did Baggott relinquish his hold of Carter. Baggot took several gulps of air before swimming toward the rope ladder dropped over the side of the ship.

Mr. Montgomery struggled to avoid Carter's thrashing arms. Annie was amazed at how much strength the sailor still had as he blindly fought Mr. Montgomery's efforts to save him. 

She held her breath when both slipped under the water. Just when Annie believed it was a losing battle, they reappeared. Apparently, Mr. Montgomery wasn't taking any chances as he slugged Carter in the jaw. No longer having to fight the sailor, Mr. Montgomery headed back to the Realm with Carter's limp body in tow.

As soon as Baggott and Smitty hauled Carter onto the deck, Captain Hawke remarked, "Can't have too many rescues in one day, now can we?"

Annie noted a hint of a smile on the captain's face. "You had no intention of leaving them behind, did you, Captain?" Annie said.

He answered simply, "There will be plenty of tall tales spun in the fo'c'sle this evening."

"Doc says I shouldn't go to the men's quarters at night. He says it is too rowdy for one as young as me."

"Poppycock. Tonight, you will join your shipmates in the fo'c'sle. You answer to me, not to Doc."

"Aye, Captain," Annie said, even though she knew differently.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

With the wind in her sails, the Realm surged through the choppy sea. Veteran tars moved across decks and through passageways as if they were on dry land. While Annie struggled to synchronize her steps with the up, down motion of the ship, she felt like a child learning to walk for the first time.

Not trusting her stomach, Annie ate little all day. An hour into the evening's second dogwatch, she joined the crew gathered in the fo'c'sle to hear the account of Barrette's rescue.

In his booming voice, bare-chested Ainsworth announced, "Make room for Barrette, Mr. Allan, Smitty, Symington, Christopher, Baggott, and Carter!"

Their shipmates bowed in exaggerated respect as each member of the royal court of seven entered. Cheers of "Huzzah!" rang out when freckle-faced Carter limped in with the help of Baggott.

Led by the striking Ambrose Barrette, the sailors took their places on sea chests laid out for them. Barrette swept his black hair away from his swollen left eye. He listened to the questions fired at them: Did they put up much of a fight? How many did you kill?

Except for the creaking of the ship, the fo'c'sle fell silent. Mr. Allan nodded to Symington. The sailor gazed about his audience with yellow-tinged eyes.

The hair-raising tale began. "There were twenty, maybe fifty of them press men. All fearless, and armed to the teeth they was. What we lacked in numbers, we made up in—what's the word?"

"Determination?" Smitty suggested.

"Aye! Determination. Anyways, Mr. Montgomery…" Symington paused and looked off toward the passageway where the first mate stood leaning against the bulkhead.

"Don't let me stop you, Symington," Mr. Montgomery said. "I will be discussing the day's events with Captain Hawke. Carry on."

Symington craned his neck, making certain Mr. Montgomery was gone before he resumed his tale. "Mr. Montgomery gave the order to attack," he said. "There 'e was, ready to do 'is business, pistol in one 'and, sword in the other. But the lads all stayed back shivering in their boots. Shivering they was, 'til
I
comes forward to lead the way. With one swoop of me trusty blade, three 'eads went rolling—all three wide-eyed and looking mighty surprised." As Symington batted his eyelashes for added effect, the crew broke into uproarious laughter. "That's 'ow Carter got 'urt. Tripped over one of them 'eads, 'e did!"

Violent pitching and rolling of the ship abruptly ended Symington's tale of Barrette's rescue. The bow to stern, larboard to starboard movement sent sailors toppling into each other. Others dove into the safety of their hammocks.While the ship's bell clanged, Captain Hawke and Mr. Montgomery barked orders. With his experienced bosun mates, Mr. Allan scrambled up the ladder to the hatch.

Annie searched madly for a bucket. Sliding and swaying, she saw Barrette in the same predicament. A forceful roll of the ship slammed Annie into the bulkhead. Thankful her head hadn't split open, Annie continued her search for a bucket. She succeeded—only to have Barrette rip it away from her.

Barrette dropped to his knees burying his face in the rusty pail. When there were no more retching sounds, he handed it back to her. Careful not to breathe in the foul odor, she positioned it under her chin.

She saw Barrette's cheeks puff out like a squirrel's full of nuts. He tried to snatch back the bucket, but she held on tight. The ship once more rolled to starboard, sending her toppling onto Barrette. With the contents of the bucket spilling out, Annie emptied her stomach onto Barrette's shoulder.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Doc watched Annie inch her way into his cabin, "What on earth happened," he said as he rolled out of his hammock. He steadied himself. "Didn't I tell you it wasn't a good idea going to the fo'c'sle at night."

"The storm is the problem, not the fo'c'sle, Doc."

Taking a whiff of the odor filling his quarters, he realized what had happened. Helping Annie take off her clothes was no easy task as the ship continued to pitch and roll. He bundled her in a blanket before throwing the foul smelling clothes out into the passageway.

"Am I going to die?" She groaned. "Just tell me. I can take it."

"No one dies from being seasick. You will ride out this storm like the rest of us. Lucky it's not a bad one."

Not a bad one? Annie wondered how much worse it could possibly be.

After Doc cleaned Annie up, they waited for the storm to pass. He spent the night on the floor with blankets swathed across his shoulders while Annie was tucked safely in his hammock.

The next morning when she poured herself out of the canvas, the steady rocking of the Realm sent her back with the dry heaves.

*     *     *

Keeping his voice low, Christopher stood in the doorway. "The captain wants to know—any improvement with the boy?"

"A little. Andrés drank some of the broth you brought earlier."

"Shouldn't he be well by now? It has been two days."

Doc sighed. "It is one of the worst cases of seasickness I have seen."

One eye peered over the edge of Doc's hammock. "I'm not deaf, nor am I dead. I can hear you."

Christopher walked through the doorway. "You need to get better, Andrés. I am doing your work as well as my own"

"I am trying to get better," Annie said. "Is that another book from the captain?"

Christopher placed Daniel Defoe's
Captain Singleton
on top of the growing pile of books on Doc's desk. He then handed Doc Annie's clean clothes. They still had a lingering odor to them.

"Christopher, can you get me some water?"

"Who do you think I am, Andrés,
your
cabin boy?" Christopher feigned indignation as he took a mug off Doc's desk. He helped Annie take a sip.

"How is the rest of the crew, Christopher?" Doc asked.

"A few are still sick. Nothing like Andrés, though." He looked over at Annie. "But you're a strong one. I don't care what Symington says."

"What is that old blow-hard saying this time?" Annie said.

"You don't want to know."

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The next morning, being careful not to wake Doc, Annie opened the door. Weak, but grateful her headache was gone, she leaned against the bulkhead every few steps. She slowly made her way to the mess deck.

Finishing their morning meal, sailors sat at one of two long tables. Except for a few glances in her direction, they barely acknowledged Annie's presence.

She settled for the empty table. Like the benches, it too was secured to the deck. Annie ran her hand along the table's raised edge that kept the tin dishes from sliding off. Doubtful she would be able to eat, Annie was about to leave when Barrette got up from the other table, bringing with him a plate of food.

He looked at her gaunt face and sunken eyes. "You are as gray as Mr. Waverly's socks. Sit." He handed her a bruised pear. "You need this more than I do."

She stared at the pear for a moment before taking it. Annie took a bite of the partially eaten fruit. She chewed until the pulverized piece slid easily down her throat.

"Are you mad at me, mate?" he asked.

"Why would I be mad at you?"

"Taking the bucket from you."

"Oh, that. All is forgiven."

"Forgiven, am I? Saved your miserable life, I did."

"And how, pray tell, did you save my life?" Annie asked.

"You landed on top of me instead of on the hard deck."

Annie rolled her eyes at him.

"You won't tell the captain I took the bucket from you. Will you?" Barrette asked.

"Why would I?"

"To get me in trouble."

"I wouldn't do that. Besides, I think we are even. I threw up all over you."

Barrette laughed. "You're right. Shake on it?"

Annie reluctantly took his hand. He quickly turned hers palm-side up.

"Mighty smooth hand for a fisherman."

She pulled her hand away. "How did you know I was a fisherman?"

"Christopher told me," Barrette said before he grabbed her hand back, giving it a crushing shake. "How long were you a fisherman…a day?"

"None of your business."

Barrette turned his attention back to the food on the table. "Try the hardtack," he said. "It will be easy on your stomach. Careful, you don't break a tooth on it."

Annie cautiously bit down on the unsalted biscuit. "When did you get your sea legs, Barrette?" she asked.

"The next morning after the storm."

"Have you gotten to climb the mast yet?"

"Aye, but first, Mr. Allan put me to work mending sails. Then I had to listen to his boring speech on the importance of properly tying knots."

"Knots?"

"Mr. Allan takes his knot tying very seriously." Barrette flashed Annie a grin. "I, on the other hand, take nothing seriously."

Annie continued talking to the charming sailor when Smitty wandered into the mess deck. Taking one look at her, he broke into a jig and danced his way across the room.

"I won!" he yelled to the group of sailors sitting at the table. The lean sailor proceeded to collect a prized star knot from one of the men and an irritated look from another tar who grudgingly handed over a ring to him.

"What's going on?" Annie asked.

Barrette laughed. "He must have won the bet."

She took another bite of the hardtack. "What bet?" she mumbled.

"Some of the sailors made bets on when you would get your sea legs…or die." Barrette replied.

"Die? Were there many bets made on that one?"

"Only one."

"Let me guess," Annie said as she looked across the room. "Symington must be very disappointed that I am still alive."

"Watch out for him."

"I have been told that before. I can take care of myself," Annie said. "Did you bet?"

"I don't make sport of someone else's suffering, unless he has a bucket in his hands and I need it." Barrette again smiled, then strode out of the mess deck.

Annie sighed. She hated seeing Barrette leave.

Samuel Baggott came up behind her. He stared at the half-eaten fruit sitting by her hand. "Are you going to eat that?"

"You can have it." It was the first time she had seen Baggott up close without his cap. She stared at his tight red curls.

"No one else in my family has red hair," Baggott said before popping the rest of the pear into his mouth. "That is what you are staring at, isn't it?" 

"I was just thinking about my sister, Sarah. She had red hair just like yours." Annie could not remember the last time she had spoken Sarah's name out loud. Just saying it stabbed at her heart. 

Baggott smiled. "Welcome aboard sailor," he said as he walked off.

She could not believe the pleasure the word sailor brought her.

Annie downed the rest of the hardtack and was about to leave when Symington confronted her. He gripped her arm so tightly; the blood stopped flowing to her fingertips.

"Ye owe me, boy. I lost me 'ard earned wages because of ye."