The Perils of Archipelago

by B A Simmons

  His opponent let out a pitiful scream and crumpled to the ground next to him. The sword blade was buried deep into his lower abdomen. He screamed again as Rob pulled it free from his body.

  Rob waited a few moments and, once he figured he could see well enough, he found his dagger. He looked like a drunkard, staggering through the streets, off-balance and clumsy. Yet he moved with purpose; hoping the ambush set for him hadn’t coincided with one on his ship.

  At the wharf, he saw the Entdecker and Tom standing on the dock next to her. He, in turn, saw Rob and called out to him.

  Piers and Doctor Morris leaped up and joined Tom in his effort to help Rob. Once he felt his cousin’s arms supporting him, Rob let himself collapse into them. He felt other hands join Tom’s and lift him up. A moment later, he felt the Entdecker’s familiar wood beneath him. Doctor Morris was talking to him, but it was too hard to focus on the words. Everything went dark and silence engulfed him.

  He saw Anna standing in front of the barn, and he knew he was dreaming. She beamed at him and his heart felt at ease. She stood in sunlight . . . no, she glowed like sunlight. Her smile warmed him, and he wanted to remain in the dream forever.

  A splash of water in his face brought Rob to consciousness again. He lifted his head an inch or two off the deck but reasoned that lifting it further would only intensify the painful throbbing. Another splash from the sea made Rob bring his hands up for defense. He noticed his left hand wrapped and lashed to a splint. Another bandage wrapped his head.

  “All I want to know is who attacked you and did you leave any of them for me?”

  Rob couldn’t help but smile at Jacob’s humor. The sunlight blinded his eyes so he couldn’t see him, but he felt certain Jacob was smiling too.

  Doctor Morris’s voice sounded from somewhere nearby. “You’re awake! That’s good. I worried that your concussion would lead to a coma. You took a hefty blow.”

  “Nah! Rob’s tougher than he looks. I remember when he swam with Trina out to signal Tom and Pete so they could rescue us off Alimia. He banged his knee up badly, didn’t you? Still, you got the job done.”

  “Trina saved me. I almost drowned,” Rob whispered. His throat felt dry.

  Morris gave him water to drink and, with Jacob’s help, lifted Rob enough for him to get it down. His eyes having adjusted enough, he could make out Piers standing at the steering oar.

  “Where’s Tom?”

  Jacob tilted his head toward Tom’s bunk. “He’s asleep. We left Port Edward as soon as you were aboard. Tom spent all night at the steering oar making sure we got out without anyone following us. Between that and worrying over you, he’s right tuckered out.”

  “Do you remember what happened last night?” Morris asked.

  Rob forced himself into a sitting position, with Jacob’s help and in spite of Morris’s admonition to remain prostrate.

  “An ambush. I went to see Paul and Pamela, but they weren’t there. If Marcel has done something to them . . .”

  “They knew you would go see them. That’s a problem,” Morris said.

  “We’ll have to be careful at Port Edward. I don’t think I or the Entdecker can ever go back. It’s too dangerous.”

  “What about revenge?” Jacob asked. “You’ll have to go back to make sure that ambassador pays for siccing his hooligans on you.”

  “I hurt all three of them enough last night. I don’t feel the need for revenge.”

  “Three of them! Well done, Rob!”

  Morris interjected. “They did you in fairly well too. We’ve got some time for you to recover, but consider that the best revenge on Marcel. His attempt on your life failed. That taints his reputation, which is worse than harming him physically.”

  “I don’t think they wanted to kill me. They used clubs and aimed for my head. That means they wanted me alive.”

  “There are bounties out for all of us,” Jacob said.

  Morris handed Rob another cup of water. “Tend to yourself now. Don’t worry about anything else for the time being.”

  Rob followed this advice and made a sound recovery. By the time the small mountainous form of Hellhound Isle appeared, he was upright and resuming his duties on board. His left hand remained wrapped and his head still ached at the end of each day, but these pains lessened after he went to bed. Tom kept him off night watch the entire way past the rocks.

  “Come to half-sail,” Tom ordered as the lagoon appeared ahead of them.

  “Already? We’ve still got a mile or so before the reef,” Rob said. Though he questioned the order, he also went to work with Piers to furl the sail.

  “I know, but the last time we came, I saw something in the water—something big—and I’d rather not bring its attention to us.”

  They spent a few tense moments scanning the water around and under them. They saw nothing beyond the silhouettes of a few small fish.

  “A behemoth? They’re always on the move. Not likely that one of those would stick around,” Jacob said.

  “Bigger than a behemoth.”

  “What’s bigger than a behemoth? Their name means big as a mountain.”

  They all stared at Jacob in disbelief.

  “What?” he said. “I know the stories. My mother used to tell me when I was a boy.”

  “A car-dun is bigger than a behemoth,” Morris said. “The Duarve believe they are the largest creatures in the world. They remain in the depths of the sea, only drawn to the surface by the rumble of thunder or the rhythmic vibrations men sometimes make with their ships.”

  “Ferlie tales,” Jacob countered. “Those are make-believe, just like Ferlies and actels. Meant to scare little children. Keep them from going out to sea.”

  Morris shook his head at Jacob. “Then what was it that sank Meecher’s ship of copper and steel, hmm? You want to believe that Ayday will come rescue the faithful but not that creatures twenty times larger than this ship exist in the deep? Explain how that makes any sense.”

  Jacob shrugged. “I never said I believe in Ayday. At least, never to anyone but my mother.”

  “In any case, we’re coming up the lagoon now. Be ready to furl the rest. Jacob and Rob, you both stand ready with the oars.”

  The Entdecker came into the lagoon with ease and slid her bow against the soft sand of the inner shore. Tom could not keep the smile off his face, but neither did he feel the need to hide it as Rob and Doctor Morris wore grins from ear to ear. Piers and Jacob looked around, taking in the sights and sounds of a pristine island.

  Rob led the group on a slow hike, with Jacob limping the whole way, up to the hut where they enjoyed the water of the stream and fresh strawberries from Tom’s favored patch. There was no indication that anyone else had been there in the months since their last visit. The Ka trees had new buds, and the hornbucks had multiplied sixfold. Piers went with Rob to hunt, returning in less than an hour with fresh meat.

  The night was spent feasting on roasted hornbuck and barley soup. They told each other the same jokes they’d been telling for weeks, but somehow the firelight and delicious food made them funny again. They struggled to sleep well, as the island did not rock back and forth with the waves of the sea. In the morning, Rob moved the back wall of the hut to reveal the secret annex.

  “We need to load the rest of the antiques and whatever usable textiles are left. We’ll sell them at Fallen Dome and Aruth,” he said.

  Piers’s eyes were wide and his lips curled in a smile reminiscent of a child in a candy shop.

  “So this is how you’ve been funding this war?”

  “Not just this, but yes. We’ve been fortunate in our discoveries.”

  “I still think it a tragedy that you lost that Duarve flying machine. Imagine what you could do to the Falcons with that.”

  “I admit that I had such thoughts while flying her. Yet, perhaps it’s best she sank into the sea. Imagine what the Falcon Empire would do with it. Or even Fallen Dome.”

  “You think Fallen Dome would misuse
such a device?” Piers said with a scowl.

  “I think any man, when given power over others, tends to misuse that power. I’m not even sure I’d trust myself with it.”

  “For some reason, it makes me feel sad that you believe that, Rob.”

  It was Rob’s turn to scowl. “I mean no offense to you or to your island. However, having dealt with Minister Tremblay, I can say without hesitation that I do not want that man controlling such power.”

  Piers did not respond, but Rob felt the conversation wasn’t over.

  After loading the Entdecker with the remnants of the annex supply, Rob, with Doctor Morris and Piers, turned their attention to the Duarve House. The main door was exactly as Rob had left it. With lanterns in hand, he led them on a short tour of the two rooms and corridors accessible to them. While examining the mummified corpses of the two Duarves, Doctor Morris told Piers of the writings of Aweth.

  “I wonder which is Aweth. I’m not familiar enough with Duarve physiology to tell which is older,” he said.

  “It was the one on the left,” Rob said.

  “How do you know?”

  “It was the one holding the tablet.”

  The sealed door was the last stop on the tour. Like Rob had the year before, Piers tried pushing every one of the glass buttons on the doorframe panel. A fruitless effort, except to satisfy his own curiosity.

  “Here’s where I leave you,” Rob said to his teacher.

  “Here’s where you’ll find me upon your return. Hopefully, at that time, this door will be open.”

  They exited the bunker to rejoin Tom and Jacob. An impromptu council commenced.

  Rob addressed them, “Doctor Morris will be staying here while the Entdecker goes north to visit our allies. Obviously, I’ll be going with Tom and Piers as crew, but Jacob . . . you still aren’t completely recovered from your wound.”

  “What of it?” Jacob said. His tone was guarded.

  “I can’t think of a better place to spend a recovery. It’s certainly better than the infirmary at Port Jim and gives you more opportunities for exercise than the ship.”

  Piers added, “As Doctor Morris is also our medic, it’ll be better for you here.”

  “How long until you come back?” Jacob asked.

  “At least seven weeks, perhaps a bit longer,” Rob said.

  “Two months with—”

  Morris gave a wry smile. “I know I’m not the most entertaining man around, but I promise I won’t lecture you . . . every day.”

  Jacob consented to staying with Morris, and Tom, Rob, and Piers left that afternoon. Again, they saw nothing in the water around the island save a few bollywogs chasing fish.

  The journey north seemed pleasant and uneventful beyond the typical nessie encounter. When passing Forgotten Isle, Rob scanned the peak for signs of human activity. They dare not stop there for water after the report Pete and Edward gave of their action there. As only the three of them were aboard to drink it, they knew their rations would last until Cici.

  It was the passage between Claw Isle and Cici that worried them most. A crew of only three made for easy rationing, but the threat from pirates was even greater. So here, Rob decided on deception to save them when a fast raider’s red sails appeared nearby. They hoisted the quarantine flag, declaring themselves a plague ship.

  It worked . . . the first time.

  The next day, the same ship or one just like it came up behind them and stayed behind them, even after Rob raised the quarantine flag. Tom turned the Entdecker a few points to starboard to catch more of the wind. The pirate ship matched their course and began gaining on them.

  As the morning became afternoon, the pirates had closed in enough for Rob to see how many of them were aboard.

  “I count fourteen,” he said, peering through a far-see. “There’s no way we can take that many.”

  “If we change course again, they’ll catch us for sure!” Tom yelled.

  “Can we lose them over there?” Piers asked, pointing to the northeast.

  “Those are the Disappointment Isles,” Rob said. “There’s nothing there.”

  “Except caves and inlets we could hide in,” Piers said.

  Rob considered the idea for a minute. “Tom, how long ’til they catch us on our current heading? An hour? Two?”

  Tom clenched his jaw in frustration and shifted the oar. “Pull the sheets!” he ordered.

  The northernmost island of the Disappointment Isles had no specific name given to it. It was nothing but forty square miles of rocks, sand, and prickly shrubs. Yet as they approached, the craggy cliffs and inlets displayed no shortage of hiding places.

  However, the pirates were within arrow shot. Two arrows had been launched at them, though the marksmanship left much to be desired. Rob loaded his own bow and used a dish rag soaked in lamp oil to make it a fiery missile.

  “Wait for us to be near that point,” Tom said, indicating a natural jetty protruding from the base of a cliff.

  “Aim for their sails,” Piers said.

  “I know!”

  Rob waited for Tom to shift the steering oar and take them around the jetty, then he fired. The arrow found its mark in the upper reaches of their lateen sail. While three more arrows were launched their way, the tactic worked in slowing down the pirates. They were forced to lower their sail, douse the flaming arrow, and rig the sail again before continuing the pursuit.

  It was just enough for the Entdecker to escape and find a place to hide. A small inlet provided them with cover from the open water. However, it soon became apparent there was no way out except the way they came in. Perhaps half as wide as John’s Bay, there was little room to maneuver and no wind. They would have to row their way out, when the time came.

  “Now we hope they don’t think to check down this way before night comes,” Piers said.

  “They’ll likely just sit somewhere off the northern coast of this island and wait for us to emerge. That’s what I would do,” Rob replied.

  “The dark of night is our only chance,” Tom said. “Even then, we’d best hope for cloud cover. It’s a near full moon tonight.”

  22: Life is Short

  “Edwin’s sphere?” Sarah said. “That’s been here for centuries. It’s a sacred orb. Our ancestors used them to promote fertility and whatnot.”

  “No. Edwin bought that from a street rascal at Port Alma. He said Missus McClain confiscated it when we returned.”

  Sarah looked at Anna with an expression of puzzlement. She moved to the shelf with the sphere. Lifting it, she opened a cupboard below and brought from it another sphere. The two looked identical save for the markings on that which Sarah pulled from the drawer. Anna took the new sphere from Sarah to examine it. Two faded blue lines encircled it with the words Equus Caballus written between them in the same blue color.

  Looking into the cupboard, Anna gasped. A dozen or more spheres filled the space, each with the same lines and strange words: Capra aegagrus hircus, Apis mellifera, Equus africanus asinus, and many others. None of the words made sense to Anna, nor was that her first concern. She shook her head in disbelief and marveled at the discovery.

  “Why are there so many? How are these even used?”

  “Our ancestors brought them here. We don’t know how they used them, except that many women were unable to bear children; others, according to our historical records, were used as surrogates, carrying other women’s children for them. These orbs assisted somehow.”

  “What do these words mean?”

  Sarah hesitated a moment. “They’re the names of animals written in a dead language.”

  “Animals?”

  “Yes, now please stop asking about them. I really don’t know any more.”

  “Who does? Does Missus McClain know?”

  “Anna, why is this so important?” Sarah exclaimed.

  The question caught Anna off her guard. It seemed as if the knowledge Sarah herself presented had somehow lost its meaning to her. Perhaps she�
�d taken it as mythology—something to believe but not apply. Still, Anna could not believe Sarah didn’t realize its importance.

  “You have such technology here, beyond the power source, to be able to benefit mankind. Not just those on this island but everywhere in the world. How many people could be saved with the knowledge you and your sisters keep hidden in this cave?!”

  “If we shared that knowledge with the world, they could turn it against us. Look at the Falcon Empire and how they use their power. We save lives by keeping it hidden.”

  “There are other powerful nations besides the Falcon Empire. Not everyone is like them. You’ve lived your entire life on this island and you dare judge the world. Yes, some might try to use it with selfish intentions, but what about the countless others who only want to live their lives in peace? People like those on Isle de James and Copper Isle, or even Fishhook; think of what we could do for them. What if something in here could cure the plague on Isle de Joc?”

  “Our ancestors deemed this knowledge too dangerous for the world to have. These aren’t just silly traditions, Anna. We are following their wisdom and guidance.”

  Silence followed. Anna had no answer to give her but felt a wordless indignation welling up inside. She wanted to scream, to throw the spheres out the cave door, and to tell everyone on the island what she had just learned.

  Of course, she did none of these. Rather, she looked Sarah dead in the eyes and said, “I don’t want my son in here any longer. I’m taking him home with me today.”

  “Anna, you can’t!” Sarah said. The horror in her expression made bare her panic. “He stands little chance of surviving out there.”

  “Tell that to the women whose children die the day they’re born because they don’t have a place like this. Tell that to the husbands of women who die in childbirth because you and our ancestors decided to keep a secret. If their children can’t survive, why should mine?”

  Anna moved toward the door, intent on finding clean linen to swaddle Little Mark in.