Voyage of the Lanternfish

by C S Boyack

  Voyage of the Lanternfish

  C.S. Boyack

  Copyright © 2019 C.S Boyack

  The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is punishable by up to 5 (five) years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Names, characters, and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or publisher.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

  All rights reserved. Published in the United States

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  From the Author

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  Dan Philson offloaded the last crate of oysters from the small bay trawler. Teamsters would take them from the docks to destinations all up the coast.

  The old wooden ship creaked where she rubbed against the dock, and wouldn't go out again this week. She needed some maintenance, and Dan had a few days to himself.

  The captain yelled down from the deck. "Hey, Philson. Don't know what you want with this damned thing, but you need to get it orf me ship." He tossed a burlap sack onto the dock with a splat.

  Dan picked up the sack. "Just something odd to show my friend. I never churned one of these up before." He turned and headed toward town, weaving around the horses and wagons that arrived to pick up the crates.

  He turned to watch the other ships returning from their daily expeditions. Sails filled the harbor, bringing the daily catch home. Sea birds followed in their wake, hopeful for some bit of debris they could swallow.

  He climbed the cobblestone streets into the main part of town with the sun at his back. He passed the old church, then paused at the row of taverns. James Cuttler might hit those later, but right now he would be with Dan's sister somewhere.

  Dan found them in one of the shops in the high part of town. Bonnie was making James try on tricorn hats.

  "My old bicorn will serve for now. Don't want my next captain to be upstaged."

  "That old thing's about worn out. Besides, it looks too much like a navy hat. One of these would block the sun better."

  "Hey, you two," Dan said.

  "Dan, save me from another shopping spree."

  "No problem. Thought maybe we'd scrounge some grub at a tavern and make a night of it."

  "That sounds lovely," Bonnie said. "What's in the sack?"

  "Some kind of devil fish we trawled up today. Wondered if James might know what it is."

  James put an arm on his friend's shoulder. "Let's not keep science waiting. I've a mind for food and rum, and leaving all these pretty things behind."

  "Then you're going to be impressed with this fish. Face like the devil hisself."

  They left the shop then headed for the row of taverns, turning behind them where the piss trench ran.

  "Tell me if you've ever seen one of these before," Dan said, dumping the fish on the ground.

  Bonnie jumped behind James then peeked around his shoulder.

  "Good, God," James said.

  "That's about what my mates said when we churned it up."

  The fish was black as coal and over a foot long. A tiny body curled up behind an enormous head. Teeth as long as a man's finger lined the top and bottom jaws. The lower jaw protruded like a bulldog's. Its eyes were marbled and white.

  "Look at this part," Dan said. He used his fingers to pull forward a long thread from the center of the fish's head. The end lit up like a tiny lantern.

  When Dan's fingers reached the lantern, the fish snapped and flopped forward.

  "Damn!" Dan put his finger in his mouth.

  "Did it get you?" Bonnie asked.

  "Yeah. Them teeth are like razors."

  "What are you going to do with it?"

  "Leave it for the cats, and hope I never see another one. Can't even get a decent fillet offn it. The whole thing's head and teeth."

  "Come on. We'll nurse your finger over some rum and a nice chowder at the Littleneck House," James said.

  The group found a table and the barmaid delivered their drinks. The only choice was chowder or not. They all ordered a bowl of the hearty stew.

  "Looked kind of like a monkfish," James said. "Only uglier. They have those lanterns too. Some folks call them frogfish or anglerfish."

  "Why?" Bonnie asked.

  "That light is like his fishing pole. Others think he looks like a frog. Never seen one quite like that in all the places I've been."

  The tavern was full. A group of five over in the far corner wore the uniforms of Hollish. They weren't sailors though, and looked more like army regulars.

  Other faces were more familiar, and they recognized people from some of the farms, or other towns along the coast.

  "So have you decided yet?" Dan asked.

  Bonnie perked up and leaned forward. Dan's sister wasn't just the pretty girl in town, she was truly beautiful, and others watched as she moved.

  "Not yet," James said. "After we buried Dad, the old place belongs to me. I just don't have enough saved up to keep it." He pointed to the soldiers, "Those lads still expect me to pay the taxes every year."

  "You can take up trawling with me. Maybe we can get our own ship. Only need a small sloop that can pull the trawl."

  "I don't have the money for a ship either. I may have to take another position on a merchant ship. A few more voyages, and maybe I can settle down. No more than four or five years."

  Bonnie slumped back in a pout. "Maybe you could sell the house, buy the boat, and live with us until we could afford our own place."

  James touched her on the nose. "I wouldn't do that to your old father. A man is supposed to take the daughter to his house, not move into hers."

  Dan pushed his chair back. "Alright, if you two are going to get cute, I need to visit the trench. Get me another drink, but better make this one a grog. I've had enough rum for one night."

  "I don't want to wait four or five years," Bonnie protested.

  "I don't either, but I can't make a home for us any other way. My pay is higher on a merchant ship than it would be as a trawler, or even on one of the fish boats. Besides, I get to be in charge there, not some deckhand picking through
lanternfish to salvage the oysters."

  "Dan works hard for what he has."

  "No doubt. There's nobody I respect more, but you see what he earns. How long would it take for him to buy a house and support a beautiful lady?"

  "But you already have the house."

  James took her hand and kissed it. "But I don't have a way to keep it. As a sailor, I can pay the taxes and stow the rest for us. Then we'll have the house, and an ability to set up our little nest. Besides, there might even be a chance of hiring out as a captain myself. I think old Captain Barrow would vouch for me if the cartel ever needed a new captain."

  "I think you'd be a splendid captain, but you're going to need a better hat."

  "Alright, if you say so. When I become a captain, I'll buy a new hat."

  "I'll hold you to it."

  James finished his grog and looked at Dan's full mug. "What's become of your brother? He's been gone a long time."

  "Probably taking people to see that awful fish."

  "I'm going to check, just the same. Be right back." James kissed her hand once more then headed out back.

  Candle lanterns almost lit the area of the piss trench. Their pale yellow glow didn't quite reach the ground. "Dan! Where have you gotten to?"

  Dan never answered, so he turned down the alley toward where they left the fish.

  From behind and to the left a rough voice sounded. "That's the one we're here for."

  The club hit just over James' left ear. Piss splashed across his face as he fell into the trench and the strong ammonia scent assaulted his nose before he blacked out.

  Chapter Two

  A throbbing pain coursed through James' entire body. The cold from a hard surface underneath chilled him, so he tried to curl into a ball. Heavy iron shackles prevented him from moving his legs.

  "Dan, Dan, I think he's coming around," Bonnie said.

  "Bu, Bonnie?"

  "Thank God you're alright." She smothered him with a hug. "I thought they'd killed you."

  "I wish they had. Where are we?"

  "Don't know," Dan said. "We're in some kind of wagon."

  "Where are we going?"

  "Don't know. There's no windows."

  "Think. We aren't headed west or we'd be in the sea. That leaves up the coast, down the coast, or inland. What do you know?"

  "We crossed a shallow stream," Bonnie said.

  "How far from town?"

  "They didn't hit me. It was maybe as long as it takes to make a pot of tea."

  "That eliminates down the coast."

  "What else do you know?"

  "They sound like soldiers. I can't hear everything they say, but there seems to be someone giving orders."

  "Is that good?" Bonnie asked.

  "No. They're probably crimpers."

  "What?" She asked.

  "Press gangs. We're probably going up the coast to Maldron, to be sold to the merchant cartel."

  "Not me, I hope," Bonnie said.

  "No. Not you. Your fate will be worse than ours."

  "But you know the merchant captains. Maybe you can explain what happened," Dan said.

  "I can try, but it might not help. Something still isn't right. Crimpers would fill this wagon to suffocation before they went back."

  "Maybe we're just the first ones," Dan said. "Maybe they're going to visit some of the farms to catch some slaves."

  "Not likely. The magistrate would make them pay for slaves as property of the farmers. Keep listening. I can barely raise my head, and I think I'm about to collapse again."

  James faded in and out several times.

  Dan banged on the wall of the wagon. "Oi! You out there. Lady has to pee."

  "Tell her to go ahead," a rough voice answered. Laughter followed.

  The wagon came to a halt. Someone fiddled with a lock on the door, then the sound of a chain dragging preceded the opening of the door.

  One of the Hollish soldiers stood beside the open door. "Out. All of you." Two more soldiers pointed their muskets at them.

  Dan and Bonnie stepped out of the wagon and rubbed their eyes in the predawn light. James crawled to the door then swooned. The man who opened the door grabbed him by the collar then dragged him out, dropping him in the road with a thud.

  The riflemen aimed at Dan. "You. On the ground, face down."

  Dan complied, and the riflemen stuck bayonets against his back. A man on a bay horse rode around the far side of the wagon. Obviously in charge, he said, "Miss Philson, feel free to go into the woods and relieve yourself. Remember, if you fail to return, he gets the bayonet. Terrible way to die if you ask me."

  James struggled to even crawl and his irons tangled in the weeds alongside the road.

  "You there. Same thing. Take a piss then get back in the wagon. No shenanigans or your friend pays for it."

  James stretched forward and vomited.

  When James raised his head again, his left eye was blood red.

  "You didn't have to hit him so hard," Dan said.

  "What makes you the expert on how hard to hit a man?" A bayonet dug through Dan's coat, piercing the skin underneath.

  Dan remained silent, but took in what he could. They were in the forest, but it could be anywhere. Light reflected off the ocean far in the distance. The wagon seemed to be well made and not some crimper's holding pen. The leader wore a sword and pistol, but carried no rifle. The rest of the men appeared to have fighting knives, but no swords or pistols of any kind. Hooves were visible from under the wagon, and it appeared to be another bay horse pulling the wagon. "How 'bout me? I want to go too, and my friend needs a drink."

  "You can wait until your sister returns to take your place." The officer rode to a barrel on the back of the wagon, used a dipper then silently offered it to James.

  James struggled to his knees and accepted the water. He balanced himself on one hand and his knees as he raised the dipper to return it.

  Chains jangled from the edge of the woods as Bonnie returned. The officer told her to help James into the wagon.

  "No need for you to go into the forest," one of the riflemen told Dan. "Shake it out then get back inside double quick now."

  Once underway, Dan whispered, "We're moving inland. These ain't no crimpers. Army uniforms, and nice horses to boot."

  "Good work," James said. "I checked the brand when I returned the dipper. It's the brand of Davis LeForge, Earl of Grandelor. Weapons are all new, and they appear to have fresh flints. I'd say they were recently issued."

  "What do you know about this Earl?" Bonnie asked.

  James rolled into a sitting position. "He's the king's advisor. King Reynard is just a boy. This guy is the ruling power in the land until Reynard is ready."

  "What would he want with us?" Dan asked. "I never even seen the king before."

  "No idea. He wants us for some reason, and he didn't just send an invitation. Maybe someone accused us of something."

  Hours passed and the temperature grew to a stifling level. When the temperature started to drop, the wagon turned hard. The ride became rough, but only for a short distance.

  "Hobble the horses and throw down the bedding."

  Scrambling came from the roof, followed by a soft thud outside.

  "Get some oats boiling for our guests. We have to feed them before locking them back up."

  Various shuffling, the sound of sticks breaking, and horses nickering were their only clues. It seemed like another hour passed before the door opened once more.

  The forest was dark now, and the fire was cheerful, but not for them. They were allowed one bowl of boiled oats. The same ones the horses got, no doubt.

  "Where are you taking us?" James asked.

  The officer sat across the fire from them, drawing his pistol and placing it across his lap. "Not for us to say. You'll find out tomorrow. Finish your supper then we're locking you up for the night."

  James ate in silence, but checked the stars as he did.

  Once back in the wagon, they
compared notes.

  "We're definitely moving inland. LeForge has a castle at Grandelor. It's a day's ride from the palace, and my guess is we're going to Grandelor, if not the palace itself," James said.

  "Great," Bonnie said. "We're not exactly dressed to meet the king, and you smell like vomit and the piss trench."

  "Sorry." James slid away from her.

  "No you don't. There's still nobody I'd want to curl up with more, and it's going to get cold tonight." She slid back alongside and leaned on his shoulder.

  The evening ended with the smell of rough tobacco, and silence from their captors.

  Chapter Three

  From inside the box, the sound of other traffic along the road kept them updated. Eventually the sound of the wheels changed to indicate a transition from dirt to cobblestone. Horse hooves clopped instead of thudding.

  When they reached their destination, sound increased to the point where nothing was clear. There were more people, more wagons and horses, and the sound of a braying donkey in the distance.

  The door unlocked then they were escorted to a jail cell. With no windows, they could not be certain where they even were.

  "Remove the shackles and clean them up," the officer told a jailer. "I'll be back after dinner to collect them."

  The jailer brought them a bucket, a rag, and half a loaf of rough bread.

  Dan went straight for the bread, Bonnie washed up first, while James waited for the others.

  After they finished the bread, Bonnie dabbed at James' greatcoat with the wet rag. "Do you think we're in Grandelor?"