The Scarlet King (12 page)

It was midafternoon before he let out his
fishing line; darkness was approaching before dinner tugged back on
the line. After Larby had pulled in the small mackerel-like fish he
thanked it, saying, "A blessing from the God of the Sea that you
were willing to continue your existence in the nourishment of this
poor sailor." With that a sharp rap to the head ended the fish's
struggle.

Larby cleaned the fish, taking care to first
eat the area of the thyroid as was the custom of his people. He
then cut thin strips, which he laid out to dry, and only when this
was finished did he eat his fill. The stars were now out and he
studied them hard until he was comfortable with their positions and
changed his course not. He slept propped up against the side of the
hull with his hand near the rudder. He would occasionally awaken
and check the stars but for the most part slept soundly.

In the morning he again fully raised the
sails and ate some of the partially dried fish with small amounts
of his precious water. It was midday when he spotted a small
floating matt of seaweed and dropped the sails. He carefully sorted
through the matt, finding several handfuls of edible seeds and a
few shrimp-like critters which he immediately ate. The sun was hot
and he kept himself covered with his loose fitting clothing and
large straw hat. He limited his activity during the heat of the day
so as to limit his water needs. His stomach was not yet accustomed
to a diet of raw fish and he used his bucket many times.

The sea was beginning to talk to him again.
He could feel the waves and their subtle changes much better, which
allowed him to steer with limited reference to the sun or stars.
The loneliness of being so alone in the vastness of the sea had not
yet begun to wear upon him, but he knew from experience that his
biggest danger was succumbing to this loneliness.

As the days wore on he followed the rituals
of his people, taking time each day for personal hygiene and
thanking the God of the Sea whenever a shower provided him fresh
water or the sea food. Every morning before eating he carved a
small notch in the gunnel of his boat. Maintaining the sense of
time was ever so important to one so isolated in the immensity of
the sea.

On the fifth day Larby glimpsed something in
the distance as his small boat rode the crest of a wave. He knew
not what he saw, but knew something was sharing the ocean with him.
He dropped his sails and released a small sea anchor to keep the
boat stable. He stared off in the distance and would occasionally
get a glimpse of something when he was at the peak of a wave. He
decided to climb his mast for a better look, but first attached a
safety loop of rope around himself and the mast; for if he fell
overboard there would be no rescue.

As Larby shimmied up the mast the pendulum
movement of the boat increased but it bothered him not. When he
reached the top he looked intently off in the distance. As his boat
crested another way he spotted several ships far in the distance.
Even in the distance it was obvious that they were all black, even
the sails. They were headed in a northeasterly direction. As he
slid down his mast Larby asked out loud, "Should I seek help if I
could even reach them?"

No one answered and Larby sat at his helm
trying to decide what to do. An image of Betty entered his mind and
brought a smile to his face. She spoke not, but her look of concern
was enough to convince him to continue his course and avoid the
black ships. He raised enough sails to resume his course, but
hopefully not enough to be seen by those of the black ships.

On the tenth day, after a relatively intense
storm had passed by, which had kept him awake most of the night, he
noticed the first change in the waves. The harmonics of the ocean
swells had changed. He was feeling an echo of the waves as they
bounced off land somewhere ahead and to the left of his present
course. Larby would've been unable to put into words the change he
felt, but it was as if a musical instrument had suddenly slightly
changed its pitch and rhythm. He automatically reacted to the
change: by rebalancing the sails, he changed his course
slightly.

The monotony of life alone at sea continued,
with the harvesting of food and the maintaining of his people’s
rituals occupying only part of his time. The rest of the time he
spent carving intricate figures along the gunnels of the boat or
just existing in almost a state of blankness.

The seas were becoming much more disorganized
as the competing harmonies intensified. Larby knew instinctively
that he was nearing the Great Cape and veered slightly further to
the west. The fishing had also improved and he required only
minimal effort to obtain food for the day. The unsettled seas
complicated his life because the boat would no longer sail itself,
and he was forever needing to make small changes with the rudder.
This meant that his nights were now composed of short naps. When
the clouds obscured the stars in the sky all he could do was drop
sails and wait. When Larby finally spotted the Cape, it felt as if
he were already home despite the fact that it would be two more
days’ sail before his village was reached. Now he reacted
instinctively to the waves, following the sea's course to his
village.

Daniel and Heather sat together as Heather
took her turn at the helm. Daniel spent his time writing in his
journal of the many things he had seen in the village of Larby's
people. They had made good time since leaving the harbor with
favorable winds. Heather kept glancing back over their stern,
checking the position of their fellow travelers from those of the
Red. The afternoon sun was getting low when Betty suddenly came
from below, crying. Heather tried to calm her while maintaining the
helm, and with Daniel's help finally soothed her enough to
understand what she was trying to say.

Betty repeated, for the third time, "You must
stop, you are scaring him away."

Daniel asked, "Who are we scaring away?"

"Larby."

Heather asked, "You hear Larby?"

Betty finally stopped crying and said, "He
close but scared of our ships."

Heather scanned the horizon and could see
nothing but the sea and asked, "Where is he?"

Betty just waved towards the southeast
saying, "He somewhere over there."

Heather chewed on her lip for just a moment
before turning the helm sharply to the port and calling out for the
sails to be dropped. As the boat came about it headed into the
wind. Heather adjusted the helm to keep the boat locked in irons
where it could sail not but just held this position. The ship
following began signaling with her flags. Heather knew not what the
flags meant but Captain Cook had sensed the change and awakened. He
now assumed command and had his boson respond with the appropriate
flags. Their fellow travelers brought their ship about, staying a
good distance apart.

Now they just waited, but the strain had gone
from Betty's face. Heather had one of the hunters climb the mast to
look out for Larby; it was not long before his small boat was
spotted. Larby approached not at first, but when the ships came
about he stopped fleeing towards the coast. He had an image of
Betty in his mind which brought him comfort, but he knew not
whether he should approach the ships. He could sense that Betty was
trying to tell him something but he was unsure and somewhat afraid.
Only as the sun began its final descent towards the sea did he make
his decision and again raise the sails heading towards the ships.
He needed to approach fairly closely before he recognized the
cannons of the ship that sailed for Heather.

Darkness was closing in quickly as he
approached the ship and saw Betty leaning over the rail. A line was
lowered, which he used to secure his boat, then he made his way
quickly up the rope ladder which was lowered. His joy at seeing
Betty was obvious to all, and everyone left them somewhat alone for
a few moments. The approach of the Captain's skiff from the other
ship disrupted the reunion. The Captain was brought aboard and
immediately recognized Larby from their previous journey. He was
rightly confused as to what was going on but waited patiently for
Heather to explain. He was not sure he really believed in the
Spirits of the Forest, but there was no doubting the presence of
Larby.

The seas and winds were both mild and the
captains agreed they could just hold their positions until morning
light. The watches were posted and the Captain of the Red joined
them for the evening meal and the telling of stories. It was not
until the serving of the food that Larby became aware of the other
of his people aboard the ship. The young man acknowledged Larby by
simply saying, "You live."

Larby's face betrayed a distinct pleasure at
seeing this young man, but he responded only, "We will talk at
morning light."

Larby told their story in a quiet manner
without the drama of one of Jeremy’s stories, but it was a story
well told. The young priest translated for the Captain of the Red.
When Larby described the five ships of black, the Captain's concern
could not be concealed. He kept wanting more information but Larby
had given all he knew.

When Larby had finished his story, Heather
and Daniel departed with the Captain of the Red to meet with
Captain Cook topside. The Captain of the Red was obviously very
concerned, saying, "The black ships have never been reported so far
west before. I would know why."

Heather responded, "I would expect they are
exploring, looking for more ways to approach your city for their
attack." She then added, "I fear this exploration may bode for hard
times for all of our peoples."

The evening grew late, but yet the talk
continued until finally the Captain of the Red said, "I must sleep
on this knowledge, for I am torn between continuing our voyage
together and reporting back to Don the Great."

When Heather had completed her morning ritual
and taken care of her baby, she went topside and arrived in time to
see the Listener from Larby's village sailing off towards his
homeland in Larby's boat. She asked Larby, "Why has he left?"

Larby shrugged his shoulders, saying, "He has
seen my journey and returns to our village to share the
knowledge."

Heather asked, "How could he see your
journey?"

Larby explained, "He is the one of the
village who is gifted by the God of the Sea to see things. He knows
now of my voyage and will be able to share the knowledge of how the
sea felt so others can follow."

Heather asked, "You navigate by feeling the
sea?"

Larby nodded his head, saying, "The stars and
the sun are important also, but the feeling of the sea and how the
waves change is the most important thing."

Their conversation was interrupted by the
arrival of the Captain of the Red. They broke fast together and
resumed their planning. He reported, "If the one you call Larby can
guide you back to the island of the shipwreck, the emissaries will
be rescued. I sense that returning to my homeland and bringing news
of the westerly movement of the black ships may be critical to our
defense."

Heather was quiet for a bit as she chewed on
her lip, thinking. She finally responded, "I agree with your
assessment. I would we establish some method of communication."

The Captain spoke up almost immediately,
saying, "I could have my junior navigator travel with you and he
could be a messenger."

Heather asked, "This is one we can
trust?"

A smile crossed the Captain's face as he
replied, "I would expect so, for he is my son."

Heather's eyebrows went up slightly as she
heard this and she replied, "I would it be possible to meet with
the one you call Don the Great after we have rescued our friends."
She added, "I would think outside your Great City in order to
ensure our safety."

It was now the Captain's turn for thought. He
finally spoke. "There are traders, actually smugglers, who use
protected anchorages to the west of the city. It would be possible
for you to put ashore there and meet with Don the Great somewhere
outside of the city walls if it is his wish."

By midmorning the planning was complete and
the Captain returned to his ship. Shortly thereafter the Captain’s
launch returned carrying a young officer holding a roll of charts.
He had a sailor's bag over his shoulder. He grabbed hold of the
rope ladder, and while maintaining a firm grip on his roll of
charts, climbed the ladder. When he reached the rail he accepted
the offered hand to help boost him over but relinquished not his
grip on the charts. Once aboard he set his bag down and stood at
attention until Captain Cook presented, at which time he saluted
crisply and said in the language of those of the Red, "I present
myself for service to you and your ship in the name of our Scarlet
King."

The young priest translated and Captain Cook
responded, "I sail under the authority of the one you call Heather
with the Golden Hair. Do you pledge your service to her also?"

The young man looked up at Heather. There was
a look of anxiety on his face as he replied, "And to the warrior we
call Heather with the Golden Hair."

Captain Cook said, "I welcome you aboard. We
have much to learn from each other but first we need to learn to
communicate directly." He turned towards the young priest saying,
"This one speaks many languages and he will be your teacher to
learn our language. Your responsibilities in addition to the
language studies will be to assist in navigation and hopefully we
can learn from each other."

The young man nodded in agreement and picked
up his bag to follow the young priest to his berth.

Captain Cook began giving orders and soon the
sails were again raised and the ship continued to the south. The
ships sailed long together until they came to the Great Cape. The
Captain of the Red turned at this time to the north to return to
his homeland and report the presence of the black ships. Heather
and those of the Forest continued to the south guided by Larby's
sense of direction. Larby had taken to laying at the very prow of
the boat to better feel the waves. The young navigator spent his
time documenting their position on his charts. The weather held,
and other than occasional showers the journey was pleasant.