“So, what you’re telling me is we’ll be robbing these ships as well as rescuing the girls,” I said. I only wanted clarification and nothing more. The manner in which we conducted our recovery of the girls made no difference to me. If we’d have to rob them in order to keep our crew supplied and paid as well, then rob them we shall.
“Yes. It isn’t necessarily what I’d have wanted, but it’s the only way for us to cover our true purpose, as well as keep our crew fed and happy.”
“Razz, you know as well as I do how most of these men conduct themselves in the company of women. How do we know we can trust them? I’ve become acquainted with many of them while we worked on restoring the Jade and believe me, I’ve been privy to more conversations than I cared to.”
“It’s all part of the bargain, lass. As ye saw when you signed the new articles, they’ve made their mark in agreement that they’ll not touch a hair on those girls’ heads, lest they be shot. As long as these fellas will be filling their pockets with gold, as per our bargain, I feel secure in knowing we’ll not have any issues.”
“There’s always at least one, though.” I frowned.
“Aye, and let that one do his worst, for he will be made an example to the rest.”
When the time came for Rasmus to again meet with Robertson and Master Green, I hung back a while before going down to the ship myself. I’d spent the time going back to the Chandler’s to retrieve everything I’d need to take with me aboard the ship for our journey. My stomach was turning over like a wheel on a rickety cart, but it was caused by the excitement of knowing we were ready. For a change, I wasn’t the slightest bit frightened or anxious. Every thumping heartbeat I felt was like a drum marching me into battle.
“Ivory, you must be even the smallest bit afraid, aren’t you?” Miranda asked. The girls were watching me as I rushed about, stuffing things into my duffle.
“Don’t forget your book, Ivory. I’m sure you’ll want something to read,” Cass said.
“Thank you, but I doubt with so much work to do I’ll be able to hold my eyes open at night long enough to read,” I answered. I was doing my utmost not to worry them. Any chatter of fighting or danger I swept aside for more lighthearted discussion, such as reminding them of upcoming church functions that I hoped they’d attend, and how I expected to hear all about them when I returned.
“I’d rather go with you,” Keara grumbled. “I know I wouldn’t pass well as a man at my size, but someday you’re going to have your own ship, Ivory, and when you do, I’ll be at your side every time you set foot on her.”
I tied my duffle closed and turned to her and said, “I know you will, and I couldn’t imagine anyone, including me, could stop you.”
I was packed, dressed, and ready to set sail as Ivan. The girls walked me out to the stable, and as I mounted Peppi for the last time, I smiled down at them and made them promise not to worry about me. “You know I’ll be back, so stop your sniveling. I’m leaving Cassandra in charge, so don’t give her any guff, or you’ll have me to answer to when I return.”
“We’ll miss you,” Cass said, reaching up and taking my hand.
With a nod and a grin, off I flew to the Lady Jade.
Six
A NEEDLE AND THREAD
Throughout those two months working aboard the Jade, Rasmus had also required that I learn doctoring. Although I wasn’t a fully qualified doctor, I was the closest they could hope to come to one. I’d been schooled by an elderly physician by the name of Seamus McGraw, who, although sightless in one eye and confined to a chair for most of his days now, was not only an excellent teacher but storyteller as well.
I met with him on Sundays after church at his home. He no longer practiced medicine, but he’d been the Chandler’s family doctor for nearly twenty years before losing the sight in his left eye and most of the use of his legs due to a hard fall from a horse. His snow white hair and brogue told me before he did that he’d come from somewhere in Ireland. Although he’d lost his wife several years before, he’d managed to secure the services of a lovely young Jamaican woman who he referred to as his daughter. Her skin was the shade of tea with a splash of cream, and her eyes were a honey brown. I wondered if perhaps calling her his daughter was more than simply his appreciation of her doting care.
Doctor McGraw hadn’t lost his sense of humor and often teased me about being such a young fellow to take on a task as weighty as medicine, but he admired my long, nimble fingers, despite my callouses. In those two months, between his lengthy stories of gruesome wounds, infection and disease, he managed to impart to me basic medicine that he believed was sufficient to assist me aboard a ship. I’d, of course, not informed him of the nature of the ship’s business or possible injuries I’d be required to tend, but I could properly clean and stitch a wound, amputate a limb, and address basic stomach ailments and abrasions. Of course, stitching and removing splintered wood I was already familiar with.
On the final day of my brief education, Doctor McGraw had gifted me a medical kit to rival his own. It was far too much to carry, so he told me he’d have it delivered to the ship for me by nightfall. Bandages, a mortar and pestle, and even a saw for amputations were included, as well as some herbal remedies for everything from boils to pink eye. He’d even included a frightening looking instrument used for pulling bad teeth and told me sailors always needed a tooth pulled. Most importantly, he gifted me a copy of his personal medical instruction book which I did carry with me, as well as a sewing kit for my personal use—not that I certainly wasn’t well acquainted with pulling things together with a needle and thread.
I paid him and thanked him, and as I made my way out the door of his home for the last time, he called me back with one final word of advice that had nothing to do with doctoring; stay out of the brothels. “You can catch the worst sort of diseases in those places. Find ye a nice girl, laddie.”
If he only knew.
After leaving Peppi at the stable and paying a boy to take her back home, I slung my duffle over my shoulder and walked the remaining hundred yards or so to the Jade. The ship was still being loaded with supplies, and Master Green was ordering the sailors about. When he caught my eye, he shook his head and waved me aboard.
“Mister Razor, do you yet have your orders?” he asked me as I dropped my duffle at my feet.
“Master Green, good evening. Yes, I’m to report to the surgery and set up my bunk there.”
“You’ll have a small separate sleeping area for obvious reasons. You are also to report to the chef. The Captain has ordered that when you are not tending to the sick or injured, you will be assisting the chef in preparing meals and serving.”
“I’m what? Why? I don’t know the first thing about cooking,” I said, raising my voice.
“Mister Razor, a word with you please,” Master Green said. He tossed me my duffle and escorted me to the surgery. There was no one within a close enough distance to overhear our exchange of words. “You are fortunate that the Captain has even granted you the privilege of being on this ship. The first thing you will learn today is that you never, ever disobey an order from the Captain. I am his eyes and ears when he is not around; you should know that I am also his voice. Therefore, you shall not disobey an order I give you on his behalf. Do you understand?”
Master Green leaned over me and conveyed his message through his glowing eyes as well as his words. I didn’t intend to cause any trouble on this voyage, and I backed down and obeyed my quartermaster. “Yes. I understand,” I said and lowered my eyes. “I’ll do whatever Rasmus orders me to do, whether it comes from you or from him.”
“Good. Now, I’ve taken the liberty of having your medical supplies placed in here for you, and there is also everything that was left here from the previous man who occupied this position.”
“Thank you. Doctor McGraw said he would have the chest he put together for me sent down. I’m pleased to know that it arrived.” I turned and surveyed the area that I’d be calling home w
hile at sea. “I think I can manage this by myself, Master Green, and I don’t want to keep you from your work.”
“Is everything all right in here?” I heard Rasmus say, and I spun around to face the doorway. My heart instantly raced, and the breath blew from my lungs at the sight of him.
“Yes, Captain. Everything is fine. I was just showing Mister Razor the surgery and the adjoining cabin where he’d be bunking,” Master Green said and then excused himself back to his work.
Rasmus’s blue eyes stared me down, his hands on his hips and his thumbs hooked in his belt. He wore a smoky gray surcoat trimmed with black embroidery at the cuffs. The curls and swirls of some tailor’s fine work weaved their way down the front of either side of the fine garment and then wrapped around the bottom hem. Underneath, he wore his black waistcoat, white shirt, and black breeches tucked neatly into his boots. On his head was that fine black cavalier with the white feather. He was so striking I could barely stand still. I cupped my hands together tightly behind me to keep them from touching him.
“I’ll need to organize a bit, Captain, but she’s a tidy and well put together space. I’m certain I’ll make myself at home here.” I glanced away and down at the floor when I heard him take a deep breath, and I looked up from under my hat.
“I’m sure you will, Razor. I suppose Master Green has also informed you of your other duties?” he asked, lowering his right brow as the other rose.
“Yes, sir, he did. I’ll report to the chef as soon as I’m finished here…if that is agreeable to you?” I unclenched my hands and brought them around to my sides as the discussion settled on business, and then I straightened my back and shoulders.
Rasmus turned to look into the passageway and then back to me and said, “I’m proud of ye, little Razor. Just keep to your orders, and hopefully we’ll get through this without ye losing your head.”
I swallowed hard and took a deep breath. Inside, I couldn’t decide if I wanted to throw my arms around him and kiss him, or punch him square in the jaw. Thank goodness, I was finally learning that giving in to every urge or inclination that came to me was not the best course of action. I loved Rasmus even when he made me so mad I could scream, and oh, how I wanted to in that moment. However, I’d promised us both that, once I set foot on this ship, I would fulfill my duties without so much as a sigh. I’d nearly crossed the line the moment I arrived, but thankfully, I was kindly reminded of that promise, and I prayed hard that I could keep it.
“Well then, ye have your orders, so I’ll be getting myself back to my own duties. We leave at first light, Razor.” He nodded to me, and I to him, and away he went. I watched him go, and with every step he took until he was out of sight, I pushed not only my anger at him but my desire for him to return as far down and away as I could, until my stomach ached.
I immediately went to work, organizing my doctoring tools and apothecary bottles into the small drawers of the wooden chest Doctor McGraw had so generously provided me. I rolled bandages into neat bundles and stowed them tightly away to keep them clean. Doctor McGraw had told me that disease was born of filth and to keep my hands as clean as possible at all times when working with a patient. I figured it couldn’t hurt to protect and clean my instruments as well. Before I knew it, the twilight was upon us, and I was heading off to introduce myself to the cook.
“’Bout time ye showed yer mug,” he groaned at me and handed me an apron. “Can ye cook?”
“No sir, Mister Hock,” I said as I tied that blasted thing on.
“Ha! These bloody sea rats have ye callin’ me that, too, aye? I s’pose it’s alright. Me real name is Hawk, Fred Hawk. Half a’ these blokes started callin’ me that cause a’ me ham hock stew and the rest; well they’s just can’t say it right, I think. Well, I seen ye ‘round at meals when ye was workin’ on gettin’ her seaworthy. Can’t ye sail, lad?”
“Oh, I can sail, but I’ll be doctoring mostly, I think. But since ain’t anyone sick or hurt, Captain thought I could give ye a hand.” I was working hard on my voice as well as my slang, but I wasn’t completely convinced of my own acting skills, even if Hawk didn’t so much as raise an eyebrow.
“Well, we all has ta start some place, I reckon. Unfortunately fer ye, you’ll start with peelin’ them potatoes,” he said as he waved a huge carving knife towards a fifty-pound sack overflowing with dirty, oblong spuds. He turned and handed me a small knife, and I stared at it for a moment. I must have been wearing a horrible grimace, because he burst into laughter and snatched one from the sack. “Like this!” he shouted and proceeded to teach me the proper way to remove the skin without removing too much of the potato in the process.
Within the first hour, I’d slugged it out with only one-fourth of the sack, and by the time I saw the silver beams of the full moon streaking their way through the distant portholes, my hands were raw and shriveled. “The whole sack you said?”
“We’ve close to forty men to feed, lad; three times a day. Ye don’t want me tellin’ ‘em they ain’t getting’ their meals on account a’ yer tired of peelin’ now do ye?” he asked, looking down on me where I sat on the floor, covered in potato skins and frustration.
“When this hunt is through, I’ll not care to see another one of these filthy things for as long as I live,” I grumbled as I continued on.
Hawk let out another bellowing laugh and handed me a bottle of rum. “Here ye are, lad. Ye earned it.”
I took a hard swig from that bottle which had been sucked tightly against Hawk’s filthy mouth, and passed it back to him as I swiped the excess from my lips with my sleeve. I had been aboard less than a day and had already crossed most of my personal boundaries. “Ye keep that coming, Hawk, and I’ll peel these blasted things all night.” I smiled up at him and went back to work.
It was midnight before I’d finally finished. I’d dozed off from the rum and exhaustion, and Hawk nudged me with his boot. He sent me on my way back to the surgery with a piece of bread and a cup of warm stew. I didn’t even remove my boots or my binding when I fell into my hammock and drifted off. Unfortunately, I was abruptly awakened by a horrible nightmare, clutching the sides of my bed, and I nearly wound up on the floor.
“Jesus Christ,” I said aloud. The dream was still fresh in my mind, and I was left trembling and covered in sweat in its wake. The cabin was black as pitch, and I was dying of thirst. I climbed carefully from my swaying bed, and I lit the lone lantern. Then, I lifted the water pitcher to my lips without even pouring it into a cup.
As my head cleared, I could still see the vivid images my mind had seen fit to torture me with; houses burning to the ground, people screaming, and blood…so much blood running through the streets like a river. I removed my head scarf and raked my nails repeatedly over my head trying to scratch the images out. I poured a handful of water and splashed it over my burning face and looked down at my hands. They were swollen, and my skin was stretched so tightly I could barely make a fist.
My hands had taken a beating while sewing those damn sails, and I still bore the callouses and scars, but not being able to bend my fingers at all was torture. Now wide awake, I walked to the small desk in the far corner of the cabin to pen a journal entry, but I could barely hold the quill. It flopped about and slid from between my fingers until I tossed it aside in frustration. Tears started to well in my eyes, but I swiped them away fast. Crying was a weakness I’d refused myself from now on, and physical pain was no reason to start now. I took several deep breaths to push them down and then rested my head in my hands.
“Hey, Ivan. Whatcha doin’?” I heard a whisper coming from the doorway. I spun around in my chair and saw Fin standing there.
“Oh, Fin, come in.” I was grateful to have someone to talk to, even at whatever ungodly hour this was.
“I saw the light. Ye missin’ yer sisters, I reckon?” he asked as he stepped inside.
“Yes, that’s it. I…haven’t been away from them for a long time. I’m just worried, I suppose. I was going to
keep a journal of the voyage—ye know? Something I could show them when we return, but my damn fingers won’t bend.” I laughed in an awkward chuckle and shrugged as I held my hands out to him for a look.
“That’s too bad, mate. I’d write it fer ye, but I can’t write, ye see. Never learnt how.” Fin walked to the exam table and rested his right hip on it as he spoke. “Went ta school, did ye?”
“Well, no. My aunt taught us when we were little g…when we were children back in America.”
“America, aye? Whereabouts? Ain’t n’er been there meself, so if ye don’t want ta say, I won’t know no better anyway. So, is she there still? Yer aunt, I mean.”
“Oh, no. She and our uncle died when we were little. It’s been just us since then. So, ye can understand why I worry.” Throughout our entire conversation, I never once concerned myself that I was divulging anything I shouldn’t have. It felt good to talk to someone, no matter who it was. Fin was a decent fellow and as close to what might be considered a friend as I could ever hope to have on this ship. I figured it couldn’t hurt to talk for a bit, as long as I was truthful about everything except my masquerade.
Fin must have either been lonely or unable to sleep as well, because he stayed for at least an hour, until I yawned loudly, and he echoed my involuntary call to sleep. “When ye lay down, hold yer hands up over yer head, mate. That’s water ‘neath yer skin. Once yer hands get used to the work, that won’t happen no more. Used to happen to me when I first started usin’ my hands for more than stealin’ bread from the baker.” He winked. “Hold yer hands up, and the water will go back where it came from by sunrise,” he said as he showed me what he meant and then slapped me hard on the back before heading for the door. “And snuff that lantern. I know we’s ain’t in deep water yet, but don’t ever leave nothin’ ta chance on a ship, where fire’s concerned.”
“Thank you, Fin,” I said as I watched him go and did as I was advised. When I laid back in my hammock, I raised my hands and placed them as he’d told me to before; at last, I fell asleep, wishing I was at the cove in the arms of my love.
Jaded Tides (The Razor's Adventures Pirate Tales) Page 5