Abbey couldn't take her eyes off the king. He had protruding eyes and looked like a skinny bird as he hopped around, standing sometimes on one leg, hooking the other foot behind his knee. He had a shrill cry, birdlike also, and he began to harangue his attendants, telling them to begin the feast.
“We have many monkey cooked for you. Bridal feast! You become wife tonight.”
“How awful,” Abbey whispered to Sarah. “I never dreamed of such a thing.”
“Neither did Dawn—look at her face,” Sarah whispered back.
All the other Sleepers looked astounded as well. Theyhad seen some kings in their travels, but nothing like King Fazor!
“He looks like a monkey his own self,” Reb said. “She can't marry a thing like that!”
Fazor continued hopping about, giving instructions, and soon the smell of burning meat began to fill the air.
Dawn was shoved into a sitting position along with a group of other women, some of them no more than twelve or thirteen, some of them old hags without a tooth in their heads.
“Who—who are these women?” Dawn asked the king.
Fazor pulled himself up to his full height, which was not much more than five feet. “Wives—King Fazor's wives,” he said. “They be seventeen. He strutted about, clucking like a chicken, naming off their names. “This,” he finally said, touching the oldest woman, “number one wife.”
Number one wife was very old indeed, with white hair and small piggish eyes. She was also very fat. And there was a mean look about her as she stared at the newest addition to King Fazor's harem.
“You wait on number one wife.” Fazor nodded, grinning with his broken teeth. “You cook her food, make things nice for her and for King Fazor.”
“There's a life for you,” Jake murmured to Wash.
Wash looked at Dawn's pale face and said, “That girl's done got herself in one big mess. I bet she wishes she was back home with her daddy again.”
Then the celebrating began, which seemed to mean that all the natives would get as drunk as possible on some kind of palm wine that was served. Daybright took one sip and spit it out. “I wouldn't try this if I were you. It'll take the top of your head off.”
Finally the time came for the high point of the festivities. The natives had eaten all the monkey that had been served, had drunk all the wine, and now could barely stand. They were singing drunkenly when King Fazor rose up and said, “Now, I marry new wife.”
He walked toward Dawn, blinking his protruding eyes, and reached out to seize her arm.
Dawn jumped to her feet and away from him, her face white. Her green eyes were bright, and her red hair caught the light of the late afternoon sun. “Nothing was said to me about seventeen wives. I wouldn't marry you if you were the last man on the face of the earth!”
She turned from the astonished chieftain and walked up to Captain Daybright. She put her hand in his. “Ryland, take me home.”
Abbey was close enough to hear her soft voice, and she waited breathlessly—as did the chief, who stared drunkenly at the pair.
Ryland Daybright looked at the lovely girl in front of him. Then he touched her cheek and smiled. “All right, Dawn. Ill take you home.” He turned, taking her arm, and headed for the shore.
Abbey—and all the Sleepers—waited openmouthed. What would Fazor do?
But King Fazor and his men were too overcome with wine to do anything.
Reb let out a Rebel yell. “Ooowee! We're gonna leave this place!”
When they got to the ocean, Daybright said, “You'll be safe here for the night—those natives won't be in shape to do any damage until sometime tomorrow. I've got a little trading to do, thinking of the long voyage ahead—but I'll be back first thing in the morning.”
Dawn touched his arm. “Where are you going, Ryland?”
“I have a surprise for all of you.” That was all he would say about his plans, but he added, “Don't forget—I promised. I'll take you home, Dawn.”
Then he turned and left in their makeshift boat. The sail caught the breeze, and he headed in the direction of the island where they had first landed.
“What's he going to do?” Reb asked, a puzzled look in his eyes.
“I don't know,” Wash said, “but he said he'd be back with a surprise. I guess we just stay here and wait until he comes.”
Time seemed to crawl, and by dawn the Sleepers were all nervous, wondering when King Fazor's men would come out of the bushes.
Staring out to sea, Sarah said, “I wish the captain would come back.”
And then ten minutes later—as if in response to her words—she saw something white on the horizon. “It's a ship!” she cried out. Running down to the water, she shaded her eyes, and soon the tiny white spot became a sail.
“Wow! Look at that ship!” Wash breathed behind her. “It's a honey, ain't it now!”
Then as the beautiful schooner drew close, Dawn cried out, “It's Ryland!”
Josh yelled, “It's the captain, all right! Now where did he get a ship like that?”
They all watched as the ship's crew smartly brought the vessel into the harbor, and when the captain jumped down, grinning broadly, he was swamped by Sleepers, pouring questions on him.
“You must have stolen that ship, Captain,” Jake said. “You didn't have money to buy her!”
“That's what you think!” Ryland waved a hand at the vessel, saying proudly, “All paid for—every sail and spar. And crew.”
“But Ryland,” Dawn asked, her eyes wide, “where did you get the money?”
Captain Daybright reached into his pocket and brought out a small brown leather bag. Opening the drawstring, he dropped three huge diamonds into his palm. “Payment for delivering the bride—we carried out our part of the bargain even though Dawn decided not to stay. I heard this ship was up for sale when we docked at the other island. It took one diamond to buy her. The rest will pay off my creditors—and you Sleepers for your fine service.”
“She's so beautiful!” Dawn sighed. “What will you name her?”
Captain Daybright looked down at her. He said quietiy, “I've already named her.” He looked toward the ship and then back at her. “This is my ship Dawn,” he said, and she flushed with pleasure. “A beautiful ship—named after a beautiful lady!”
17
Red Sails in the Sunset
Reb and Wash sat on the fantail of the Dawn. The ship cut through the water as fast as a sailfish. Overhead her white sails puffed, and there was a feeling of safety and security, which the young men both enjoyed.
“Been a nice voyage, hasn't it, Wash?” Reb said. “Nice to have a crew to do all the work. All we do is fish and eat. I could get used to that.”
“Me too,” Wash said. “I expect it'll be over tomorrow, though. At least that's what the captain said.”
They sat listening to the hissing of the waves as the ship cleaved the waters, the sail like a white wing. Reb began to talk of Camelot. He had thought of that place a lot lately and finally said, “I'd like to go back there sometime.”
Dave came up to join them. He listened as Reb talked of his dream of returning to Camelot and then said quietly, “I'd like to go back to Oldworld, but I don't guess I'll ever do that.”
“No,” Wash said slowly, “and you might not like it if you did.”
“What do you mean by that?” Dave asked in surprise.
“I mean I heard of a book one time called You Can't Go Home Again. I never read it, but a fellow told me it was about a young man who grew up. He tried to go back to his hometown, and he found things just weren't the same.”
“Well, I'd like to go back to mine,” Dave said. “My old life, that is.”
“I don't know about that,” Reb said. “You're older now, Dave. I can remember lots of stuff I thought was real important when I was just a kid. It don't seem too important now.” He thought of Camelot again. “Most of the time when we go back, things seem smaller and not as much fun as they were in our minds.
That's why memories are pretty good, I reckon.”
The two other boys stared at him, and Wash said, “I guess you're getting to be a philosopher, Reb.”
At that moment, Daybright stepped up. “We're having a formal dinner tonight. I'll expect every one of you to come looking your best. Better cut each other's hair, it looks to me.”
“What about yours?”
“Me too. This'll be our last meal on board all together I want it to be a good one.”
The boys had a fine time washing up and cutting each other's hair, and finally they put on such clothes as they could find. There had been some on board the ship, and they pieced together what they could.
The girls appeared at the main cabin all wearing dresses they had just about worn out. They had been pieced together and sewn and patched. Their hair, however, had been carefully done. They had clearly spent much time on that, and Josh thought they looked very pretty.
He said so at once, bowing. “My, you ladies look like you're ready for a ball. You sure look nice.”
“Thank you, Josh,” Sarah said. Her eyes gleamed, and her black hair was carefully done in a coronet around her head. Her eyes looked very large, and with her hair arranged this way, she looked more grown-up.
“Everyone sit down!” Captain Daybright announced. “It's time for the banquet.”
This time the meal was served by some of the crew that Daybright had engaged for the voyage. It was a delicious dinner of fish, beef, stew, even fruit that had been carefully stored.
After dinner, Josh said, “I guess it's time for the speeches now, Captain. Let's have it.”
Captain Daybright rose. “I've sailed with many crews,” he began, “but none as fine as this one …” He spoke in glowing terms of the Sleepers, how courageous they were, how true to one another, and finally he reached down and picked up his glass. “I propose a toast—to Goél, who took care of us even though we never saw his face.”
The toast was drunk, and then Daybright looked down the table at Dawn, who, thus far, had said scarcely a word. She had kept to herself on the voyage, and the Sleepers thought she was humiliated by her nearly disastrous marriage to the king.
Now Daybright lifted his glass again and said, “And now I propose a toast to the bride!”
“What does he mean by that?” Josh whispered. “She's not a bride. She dumped the king.”
Sarah kicked him under the table. “Will you hush and listen! Maybe you'll learn something.”
“To the bride,” Daybright said, and they all stood.
Then Dawn Catalina rose to her feet. She had lost weight and was slender, but there was true regal beauty in her as she held her glass high. A smile came to her lips, and she said, “Now, I offer a toast to my husband-to-be, Captain Ryland Daybright.”
Silence ran around the table, and then a cheer broke out.
Captain Daybright blushed scarlet even beneath his sunburn, and Dawn said loudly, “I'm getting a much better husband than I thought I would.” She left her place, came around the table, and held up her arms.
Daybright put his around her and looked down, saying fondly, “And I've got a fine bride, gentle and sweet.”
There was a celebration then, never to be forgotten.
Late that night after the party had broken up, once again Josh and Sarah were on deck.
They had been quiet for a long time, and then Josh said, “I guess I see what you meant, Sarah.”
“About what?”
He turned to look at her. Her face was outlined in silver by the light of the moon. The breeze blew her hair, and she looked very pretty.
“You knew all about it, didn't you? About Dawn and Captain Daybright?”
“I knew she was in love with him. All you had to do was look at her. There's just something about a woman in love.”
Josh stared at her for a long time. The breeze blew softly, and the moon beamed down. She seemed very young and vulnerable. Awkwardly he swallowed and, feeling a little ridiculous, said, “Well …”
He could say no more. He reached out and drew her to him. He kissed her and then stepped back, feeling guilty.
Sarah stared at him. “You did a sorry job of that,” she said. “If you're going to kiss a girl, then do it right!”
Josh blinked. “Well, shoot! I haven't had much practice.” A smile came to his lips. “Let me try that again. I believe I can get the hang of it.”
The ship dipped slightly and glided on toward the mainland. A cloud covered the moon. The two stood at the rail, and Josh's arm was around her waist.
His voice came out slightly husky. “Well, Sarah,” he said, “I guess we're growing up. And it looks like the Seven Sleepers are safe for a time.”
Voyage of the Dolphin Page 13