Voyage of the Dolphin (3 page)

J
ust as the sun rose like a huge red wafer out of the sea, the
Dolphin
put out from land. The Sleepers were busy on deck, all excited and talking about the journey. Soon the land faded into the distance, and at Daybright's command the ship swerved sharply to port.

“How long will it take us to get where we're going to get the bride?” Josh asked him.

“It's not too far. We'll be pulling in this afternoon.”

They had time for a few more drills, and Daybright was pleased with his crew. As they ate a quick lunch on deck at noon, he commended them. “I've never seen landlubbers take to the sea like you folks.”

“All except Reb,” Dave said, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

“Reb's doing fine,” Daybright spoke up quickly “He's not a natural sailor like Wash here, but not many people are.”

Wash smiled broadly. “How 'bout if I steer the
Dolphin?"

“Sure, you're a good helmsman.” Daybright smiled. “We'll put up all the canvas we've got.” He glanced around the horizon, saying, “Look at that sky! Not a cloud in it. That's the sort of thing a sailor likes to see.”

“If we had an engine, we could rev it up and go three times this fast,” Dave said.

“What's an ‘engine'?” Daybright inquired.

Nuworld was a nontechnical place. There were no
semiautomatic weapons or airplanes or engines. The captain listened as Jake explained the ships of the old world.

“Sounds messy to me—oily and noisy,” Daybright commented, looking up fondly at the white sails that billowed overhead. “The wind's good enough for me.”

“What if it doesn't blow?” Abbey asked.

“Then you wait until it does. It's got to blow sooner or later.”

At three o'clock that afternoon, Sarah called down to Wash, who was now at the wheel, “Land off the port bow.”

They all rushed to the port side of the vessel and stared. What looked like little smudges drawn with a heavy pencil was there on the sharp horizon.

Daybright kept his position beside Wash until they got close enough to identify the land. “Put her over to port five points, Seaman.”

“Aye, Captain!” Wash said. He moved the wheel, and the ship turned in the breeze with a sprightly motion.

“That's Hurricane Point. The town we're headed for is only five miles below it.” Daybright looked at the small black boy and said, “I'm going to let you take us in. They'll be watching us, so do it smartly, Seaman Wash.”

“Aye, aye, sir.”

It took a good deal of seamanship to bring a ship into harbor. There was no motor, and the sails had to be trimmed at just the right moment. Daybright had all hands standing by, and when the moment came he cried out the command for them to strike the sails.

“You see, if I waited too long, we'd go crashing into the dock,” Daybright informed Wash, whose hands were frozen to the wheel “And if I gave it too soon, we wouldn't get in at all. We'd start drifting around out here.”

“I hope we done it right, sir,” Wash said anxiously.

Daybright gauged the distance to the dock. “We're all right,” he said. “We'll put in right there behind that schooner.”

Wash held the wheel tightly. He had had considerable practice on the open sea, but if he made a mistake now, the ship would grind into the dock and maybe do considerable damage. “I hope I don't mess up,” he whispered.

But he held the ship at right angles, and Daybright had judged the speed exactly right. The
Dolphin
came to a stop not two feet away from the dock.

“Tie up!” Daybright yelled.

The Sleepers went overboard at once and tied the ropes to the wharf.

“Good job, men—and ladies.” Daybright grinned. He stepped off the ship and looked around at the small harbor town. “Now we'll go find the bride,” he said.

“You want me to stay here and watch the ship?”

“Some of you should, Dave. Abbey, you can stay with him if you like.” He looked around, then hailed a prosperous-looking citizen, a portly man with a full beard. “Pardon me, sir, could you tell me the way to the house of Mennic Catalina?”

“That I can.” The landsman turned and pointed toward the town. “Stay on that road. Mr. Catalina lives in a large house on this very street. It's across from the Boar Inn.”

“I'm thanking you,” Daybright said and turned to his crew. “Well, let's go get the blushing bride.”

The small party made its way up from the harbor and down the main street. It was a small village with a few fine-looking houses, and the main street was lined with shops, a tavern or two, and other structures one found in a fishing village.

“There's the Boar Inn,” Daybright said. He turned his head and saw a large, whitewashed building made of
stone. “I suppose that's Mr. Catalina's house.” He marched up to the door and knocked with the brass clapper loudly.

After a few moments, the door opened, and a tall, thin individual stepped into the doorway. “What would it be for you?” he asked in a rather stilted voice.

“I am Captain Ryland Daybright, here to see Mr. Catalina.”

“I'll find out if Mr. Catalina will see you.”

The door closed firmly and Daybright looked around. “Well, they didn't exactly break out a party to welcome us.”

“I hope the owner's not as snooty as the butler—or whatever he is,” Josh muttered.

The door finally opened again after what seemed a considerable delay. The butler wrinkled up his nose and said nasally, “You may come in.” Then he looked at the young people and said, “Are these all with you, Captain Daybright?”

“Yes, the welcoming committee for the bride.”

Daybright stepped past the skinny butler, and the Sleepers followed. They found themselves in a spacious foyer, and the butler said stiffly, “You may come this way, Captain—and the rest of you.”

“I don't think he's impressed with us, Captain,” Jake murmured, grinning. “Maybe we should have worn our tuxedos.”

Wash shook his head. “He sure is snooty, ain't he now? I'd like to have him up in the crow's nest on a rough day. I bet he'd turn green as a watermelon.”

The butler ushered the captain and the Sleepers into a large room with a vaulted ceiling. A glass chandelier hung down, reflecting its light on a massive, expensive-looking table surrounded by padded chairs.

At the end of the table a heavyset man with graying
hair stood at once. “My name is Mennic Catalina, and I take it this is Captain Daybright?”

“Yes, sir.” Daybright studied his host. He'd never met the man. The offer to escort his daughter had come by post. “This is part of my crew, Mr. Catalina.”

Catalina's full lips curled up in a smile. “Do you take your crew everywhere you go, Captain?”

“Not everywhere. But they've done a good job, and I wanted them to see the sights of the town—and to welcome the bride, of course.”

“They're very young.”

“Yes, they are. I like my crew to be young,” Daybright said breezily. “That way they don't have any bad habits to root out.” He shifted his weight and put his hands behind his back. “You'd be surprised, Mr. Catalina, what bad fellows some sailors are. Not these, though. Your daughter will be in good hands.”

“Sit down, and we'll talk a little.”

For the next thirty minutes Captain Daybright answered the questions that flew at him. Mr. Catalina was a sharp man and determined to get good service. Finally, after seemingly assuring himself that Daybright was capable enough from a nautical standpoint, he leaned back and said, “I'm still reluctant to trust my daughter to such a small ship.”

Daybright smiled. “But I expect you had difficulty getting a larger one. Most ships don't like to go near the Lost Sea.”

Catalina scowled but erased the frown immediately by passing a hand over his face. “You're a clever young fellow,” he said. “That's exactly the way it was. Have you ever been in those waters?”

“Twice. Not far in, you understand, but I've touched on the islands that lie on the fringes. I can point out our course to you, if you have sea charts.”

“I'll leave that to you, Captain.”

Catalina fell into silence then, and Daybright understood at once that he was making a final appraisal of captain and crew. Daybright was a little nervous, for he needed this voyage badly. However, he tried to let none of this show on his face.

Finally Catalina nodded. “Very well. I know little about ships and sailing, but you have an honest face and your record is good. You're a bit young—and your crew very young—but I agree to the voyage.”

Relief washed through the captain, and he said, “I'll take good care of your daughter, sir. We all will. When would you like for us to sail?”

“How's the weather? Is it good sailing weather?”

“Yes, not a cloud in the sky. No problem there. You may choose your time.”

“I expect you may provision your ship tomorrow and be ready for the following day?”

“That would be fine, sir.”

Catalina arose. “I'll get my daughter. Then, if it's acceptable to you, we'll walk down to the harbor with you and look over your vessel.”

“At your service, Mr. Catalina.”

As soon as Catalina was out of the room, Daybright wiped his brow. “That was close,” he said. He grinned at the Sleepers. “I should have put false whiskers on some of you. You do look mighty young for such a voyage.”

“I thought he was going to say no,” Josh agreed, “but I don't think he has any choice.”

“I'm anxious to see this daughter. How old is she?” Sarah asked.

“Never thought to ask. The only thing I know is, she'll probably be a spoiled brat and a lot of trouble on a voyage.” He looked around at each one and warned, “If she is, I want all of you to put up with it. If you want to
insult somebody, come to me.” He grinned then, his teeth white against his sunburned skin. “I'll throw you overboard if you do, though.”

Three minutes later the door opened, and Catalina stepped inside. He waved his hand at the young woman who followed, saying, “This is my daughter, Dawn.” To the girl, he said, “Dawn, this is Captain Daybright and some members of his crew.”

Daybright was shocked by the beauty of the girl. For some reason he had expected a plain young woman. But now, as he looked at the beautiful creamy skin, the dark red hair, and the bright green eyes of the girl who stood there, he had to reevaluate his charge.

Blast my eyes, she's the prettiest thing I've ever seen!
he thought. Aloud he said only, “Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mistress Catalina.” He bowed slightly from the waist, named the members of the crew, then said, “We're honored to have your presence on the
Dolphin.
”

Dawn Catalina was not smiling. Her full red lips were almost in a pout as she turned to her father. “This is the crew you expect me to sail to my wedding with?”

“Well, they're very young, my dear—”

“They certainly are.” She stared straight at Wash and said, “How old are
you?”

Wash swallowed and managed to mumble, “Almost fifteen.”

“Almost fifteen? How many ships have you sailed on?”

“Well. . . actually . . . well. . . this is my first voyage.”

Daybright saw trouble brewing. “They're a young crew, Mistress Dawn,” he said quickly, “but as able as I've ever known a crew to be. You'll be in good hands.”

The girl's eyes were an odd shade of green, he saw. They were a little like the sea itself on an early morning
when the sun was shining on it. There was just a touch of blue in them. But they were sparkling with anger now, and she said huffily, “Father, have you seen the ship these . . . these . . . people came on?”

“No, my dear.” Mr. Mennic Catalina seemed almost afraid of his own daughter. “That's what we were intending—to go see the vessel now.”

“I'm sure you'll like the
Dolphin,”
Daybright said. “If you'll allow me, we'll escort you for a tour.”

For a moment he thought Dawn Catalina intended to whirl around and disappear back into her room. However, she finally sniffed and said, “Very well. I'm sure I'll find it unsuitable.”

As they left the house, Josh and Sarah stayed to the rear.

“What a snob!” Josh whispered.

“She's beautiful though, isn't she?”

“Yes, she's good-looking,” he agreed. He concealed a smile and said, “But I like the earthier types—like you.”

Sarah turned quickly, her eyes snapping, and saw that he was grinning at her. “Oh, you—stop that!”

“I'm not kidding,” Josh said. “If she goes, she's gonna be a pain in the neck. I've seen her type before.”

“Where did you ever see beautiful red-haired, green-eyed princesses?”

“Ah, she's not a princess.”

“Well, she's going to marry a king. That'll make her a queen. Then she can have your head chopped off.”

The procession made its way down to the harbor.

The captain must be glad we policed the ship before we left,
Sarah thought. Its white paint gleamed, and all the fittings were polished so that they caught the glittering sunlight.

“There she is, finest ship that's on the waters. I designed her myself,” Daybright said.

“It's a very small boat. I want a bigger one!” Dawn Catalina insisted.

Her father cleared his throat. “Well, I'm sorry, my dear, but it seems this is the only boat available. It's not your usual voyage, you understand.”

Sarah stepped forward, saying, “Miss Catalina, let me show you your quarters. I'm sure you'll like them. We've fixed them up very nicely.”

Dawn stared at her and finally nodded shortly. “Very well,” she sniffed.

They boarded and found Dave and Abbey waiting. Abbey stared at the bride, her eyes large, and Dave clearly appreciated the beauty of the young woman even more.

Daybright introduced these two members of the crew, then Sarah said, “Abbey, come with me. We'll show our guest her quarters.”