Patron subjected him to a long, cold stare. “Against one pirate ship, sure, but there are an unknown number of them out there!”
“True…” Orion began, “and correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t it usual for attacking ships to be contracted to one captain?” He regarded Patron intently.
“Usual, yes, but not always,” Patron said tersely. “We have no way of knowing the set-up from back here!”
“Well, I understand that, Patron, but assuming that is the case – that the others are bound to the one – could they attack independently if the captain agreed to a one-on-one battle with you?”
“Probably not,” Patron said reluctantly. “Under the rules, any agreement made by the captain will nullify their agreement, but these are pirates,” she warned. “One never knows how they will react.”
“You think they would face the consequences of attacking the Flying Fish in clear contravention of the laws of piracy?” Orion sounded incredulous.
Patron cleared her throat. “Unlikely, I agree,” she said sententiously. “But we don’t even know if they formed their arrangement for its favorability to us. Besides,” she added defiantly, “I will not agree to the plan unless my dog will also be given immortality. I will not be imprinted without my Hazel. And Sofia too, of course,” she added. “If you agree, Bruce.”
“We don’t even know if they’ll agree,” Bruce said, stalling for time. She’s only two years old, he thought, thinking of the distressed Doberman he had left in his cabin. And she trusts me.
“You can decide if it turns out to be a possibility,” Patron said.
“But darling, how do we even talk to the captain?” Cat asked. “He can’t see us, and we can’t see him. Will we have to use the sense?” She made a sour face.
“Not necessary,” Patron replied. “Besides, it wouldn’t work because we don’t know who the captain is, and the sense doesn’t work across the Veil.”
“If that’s true, how did you receive the warning?” Cat looked from Patron to Orion suspiciously. “Or is this some big joke? If so, I am not amused!”
“No,” Orion said gravely, turning to her. “Only Shadow can communicate across the boundary. Shadow told us,” he nodded towards Patron. “We both have a link with Shadow.”
“A mind link, I presume?” Cat sighed.
“Not exactly,” Patron said hesitantly. “But that is as good a description as any,” she explained, looking into the middle distance. “We can discuss all that later, after we’re through this–” she added and waved towards the open water. “As for how we will communicate with whoever is on the other side… well, we will send out the lifeboat flying parlay colors, and hope for the best!”
“Let’s assume we manage to get the pirates on the other side to agree to this plan, how do you intend to best one ship, Patron?” Father Griffith asked. “Won’t they still have the advantage? We’re still sailing into a trap, aren’t we?”
Patron sniffed. “We have surprises of our own.”
“You wanted me, Orion?” Peter had arrived noiselessly.
“My goodness, Peter darling! You do sneak up on one, don’t you?” Cat cried.
“Prepare the LifeBank, Peter,” Orion ordered. “We may need it soon.”
Peter assented with a single barely perceptible nod, and left.
“So what do we do now?” Bruce asked.
“You don’t need to do anything,” Patron replied, “except to keep out of the way. I would ask that you remain in your quarters as much as possible. There are certain preparations that need to be made. Don’t be concerned if you hear strange noises,” she added enigmatically.
“What kind of noises?” Cat asked warily.
“Oh, just all sorts of noises,” Patron said, waving a bejeweled hand vaguely. “It might sound a bit like construction, but don’t worry: it’s nothing to be concerned about.”
“Are you sure we cannot be of any assistance?” Father Griffith asked. “We are all in this together. After all an attack on the ship affects every one of us. I would be grateful to be able to help in any way.”
“Thank you, Father,” Patron replied, looking him up and down. “But, honestly, you don’t know what you’re doing and don’t seem to be in any condition to help. I’d take some medicine and lie low if I were you! No offense meant,” she guffawed.
“None taken.” Father Griffith inclined his head. “Please keep us informed, though. It is hard not knowing what’s going on.” That said he took the arm Cat offered and the two of them made their way unsteadily to their cabins below, to the accompaniment of Patron’s hearty laughter.
* * *
It was a clear night, and the moon was almost at its height. As Twilight’s Hand watched, a ship sailed into view from the direction of the mainland. It was followed in close proximity by five others. From his place on the Dark Rock, helped by the moon’s illumination, he knew exactly who they were. Twilight’s Hand noted that five of the ships flew their flags at three quarters mast, while the one at front, the leader, held her flag at full mast. He recognized the insignia of the Green Dragon, and he knew that the golden flag emblazoned with the figure of an emerald green serpentine creature was in charge. In charge for the duration of the battle to follow…
Twilight’s Hand knew the pirates. They had had years of experience with them on the island. Their world was different to his. They reminded Twilight’s Hand of the seabirds that shared this island with his people. He watched the birds as they flew in the unending sky, and it seemed to him that they must be completely free. Free in a way that the people could not be, he mused, for we are without wings. We are vulnerably attached to a piece of rock, he thought. Not so, the birds, he decided, a touch wistfully. But he also watched the birds as they fished and he watched them with their kin. At times, there was little fish to be had, and sometimes there were quarrels among the clan. And he watched them again as they flew in the sky… For they could fly anywhere, it seemed to him. They were not stuck on a piece of rock. But the birds did not fly away, he realized. They came back to their kin – quarrels and all – and to the sea where the fish was not always plentiful. Their world, he realized, was also upon this piece of rock…
The pirates, too, lived in a strange world, he reasoned: they reminded him of the seabirds that flew. The pirates traveled across endless oceans and they could go anywhere… anywhere, it seemed to him.
But they did not. They too, had their clans and their quarrels, and they too returned home when they could. In this world, Twilight’s Hand thought, even the birds and the pirates are not free … of their hearts.
They are waiting for their quarry, thought Twilight’s Hand, gazing at the six ships on the horizon. The Green Dragon had lowered her sails, followed by her five sisters. Her captain was Teodor. He is a hotheaded fool, thought Twilight’s Hand.
The ships were in open sea, without any cover, at the mouth of the Marble Sea. They had not bothered to hide. Why? Twilight’s Hand wondered, watching the trap that had been laid, for trap it must be, he reasoned: six pirate ships in battle pose do not simply tread water. Perhaps they are waiting for a ship to enter Peran waters? Possibly, thought Twilight’s Hand dubiously. He had never seen or even heard of a pirate attack in inland waters. Surely there was some sort of rule about that in their charter…Or… another possibility presented itself… perhaps, this close to the Veil, they are waiting for a ship to come through… not a ship, he thought, it could only be the Flying Fish.
But above all, he thought of the other: the one on the other side of the island… I waited for something like this, for a ship or a boat to come close for six days, thought Twilight’s Hand. But now that they are here, what can I do? I cannot signal to six pirate ships preparing for battle.
What can I do? But whatever it is, I must do it before Evening Song today… He turned and walked down the rock towards the hill where his house stood. It was the same journey he made every morning at around this time. Perhaps it will help me think…
“Come in,” Father Griffith groaned in response to the knock on the door.
“It’s just little old me,” Cat said, opening the door a little and peering in.
Father Griffith tried to raise himself into a seated position. “Sorry. Just don’t seem to be able to handle the weather.”
“Things are much too exciting! Don’t you think?” she beamed, apparently feeling much improved. “Oh I’m sorry, darling,” she commiserated, patting his arm lightly. She took a seat at the edge of his bed.
“Well–” he hesitated, moving his legs to make room for her. “I would not have used the word ‘exciting’ to describe my emotions right now, but I am glad you appear to be able to enjoy yourself.” He studied her carefully. “You were just like this during the tournament. It rather upset me at the time,” he admitted.
“You thought I was callous, didn’t you?” she asked gleefully.
“A bit, yes.” He chuckled. “And you are, you know. You are callous,” he said, “but I don’t think of it as a negative characteristic anymore.” He shook his head and groaned again.
“Have you seen what they’re doing to the ship?” she asked.
“Not really. I have heard the noises, though. Horrible, particularly in my current state. I imagine they are making sure the ship’s armor – or whatever it is – is working correctly. What else could it be?”
“Who knows?” She smiled, and there was a mischievous glint in her eye. “All I know is that my window – porthole, I think they call it in nautical terms – is now boarded up. When I say boarded, I mean metalled. We’re being completely shuttered in.”
“That’s probably safer, don’t you think?” Father Griffith suggested. “In the event of a sea – battle?” he hazarded uncertainly.
“Hmph!” Cat snorted. “I also took a peek upstairs. Everybody’s busy and I wanted to see what they were doing–”
“Well, what did you see?”
“I’m not sure… But they were lowering the masts.”
“The sails, you mean,” Father Griffith said.
“No, darling, I mean the masts!” Cat looked at him with irritation. “I do know the difference between a mast and the sails, you know. The big solid things that the big bits of cloth get attached to!” she added, “the ones that go all the way up to the sky. You must have seen them–”
“I didn’t mean to offend,” Father Griffith said, trying to placate her. “I simply have no idea what they could be doing up there. I assume there’s a good reason for lowering the masts. You mean all of them?” he asked after a brief pause.
“Yes,” she nodded for emphasis. “I saw all three being taken down. When I say ‘taken down,’ I don’t want you to get the impression that they are now lying somewhere along the deck, and people will be jumping and climbing all over these huge boulder-like things.”
“No?”
“No.”
“Oh.” Father Griffith was nonplussed. “Where are they putting them?” he asked.
“How should I know?” Cat gave him a searching look.
“They looked pretty solid, they have to go somewhere.”
Cat nodded knowingly. “Maybe as solid as the contents of that empty storage room, then. I think there’s a lot about this ship we don’t know,” she said.
Father Griffith sighed. “Are you telling me that the masts are disappearing?” He looked at her in disbelief.
“Well, no–” she admitted. “They seem to be telescoping back into their holes, if you see what I mean.”
“Yes, yes, I think I do. I suppose that’s good. Do you know how many more hours before we reach the so called Light Veil?”
“I asked Peter a half hour ago. He said we should be there before 6 am. That’s about two, two and a half hours from now.”
“I think we should get some sleep,” Father Griffith said firmly.
“I don’t,” Cat said defiantly. “I’m going to stay up. I want to see what’s going on. Maybe Bruce will want to stay up with me. It’s only two hours, for God’s sake!”
“I would encourage both of you to get some sleep,” Father Griffith said, lying back down. “I hope I can…” he muttered.
Cat laughed. A rolling, rollicking laugh. “Darling, go get your precious sleep. I’m off to see what more I can find out!”
Father Griffith shook his head and sighed. “You really ought to get some rest,” he pleaded. “We don’t know what’s going to happen later today.”
“Are you worried?”
“No. Yes. No and yes,” he said. “It doesn’t feel real, you see. None of this feels real. We’re supposedly going to a place that doesn’t actually exist in our world. There’s this thing called the Light Veil, but when I look out, all I see is the empty sky and endless water. And there are pirates waiting for us beyond this Veil? It’s impossible to imagine. Where are they? Who are they? As for the way we apparently know about this invisible enemy: via a white crocodile who spoke to a rather unbalanced young man on board.
“And of course, when I say spoke, I don’t mean in the traditional way, with audible words and such, but through some form of telepathy. Who knows? It might be true. We might wake up tomorrow and find ourselves under attack by a fleet of heavily armed pirates. Then again, we might wake up to another day of plain sailing in the Mediterranean. I really cannot say with any certainty.”
“At any rate we won’t be doing any sailing with the masts gone,” Cat pointed out.
“No. I suppose not, although that’s not a particularly comforting thought either!”
“Well toodle-oo, darling!” Cat tripped to the door happily.
“You’re not worried, then?” Father Griffith asked as she opened the door.
Cat smiled. “Not really. Remember, we’ve already fought for our lives at least once,” she said as she closed the door behind her softly.
She’s right, he thought, as he looked at the porthole from which he had been accustomed to watch the stars as he lay in bed. The view had been replaced with a dark metallic cover. The truth is, whatever my own feelings may be, Patron is taking this threat seriously.
He was startled by another knock on the door.
“Yes, come in.”
“Morning, Father.” Orion walked in with a quick step. “I’ve come to tell you to get a little rest if you can. It won’t be for long, though,” he warned, explaining that he would be woken up again in two hours. “If all goes well, you, me, Cat, Bruce and Peter will be taken off the ship before the engagement. No harm should come to you, regardless of the outcome.”
“You are coming with us?” Father Griffith sounded surprised.
“Yes, Patron insisted.”
He was gone before Father Griffith could respond. I suppose all I can do is rest, he thought philosophically.
Lord, give them strength and wisdom. And also, a little luck.
23
“It looks so peaceful,” Father Griffith said, looking out into a vista that included nothing more threatening than a placid body of water. The wind had died down, and there were hints of grey in the sky to the east.
“Deceptive,” Patron warned.
“It’s a very good deception,” Cat interjected. Around her the ship had been transformed into something that looked like an armored barge with sides that curved upwards.
“Peter, are you ready?” Patron asked.
“Yes, Patron.” Peter stood to attention by the LifeBank, wearing an oilskin jacket, trousers and heavy, waterproof boots. It was the same way they were all dressed.
“Good. It’s time,” she nodded. “Lower the boat.”
They watched a small boat being lowered into the water. It was more than a simple lifeboat. It had a cabin and an engine, and looked large enough to hold ten people comfortably.
“Off you go, Peter,” Orion said.
Without a word, Peter climbed down into the boat. He unfurled a white flag, which contained the indistinct grey shape of a bird upon it, and attached it t
o a pole next to the prow. He started the engine and veered away from the ship.
Father Griffith watched the boat as it sped away, getting smaller and smaller… Suddenly it disappeared. The noise of the engine was muted, like a radio being switched off.
“He’s gone through the Veil,” Patron announced.
The horizon remained silently unruffled.
“So… if a ship that did not have the special coating – whatever it is – had tried to go through the Veil, would it notice anything? Like hitting a brick wall, for instance?” Cat asked with more than a note of sarcasm.
“No,” Orion said. “Such a ship would simply continue sailing on its way. It would notice nothing at all. The Veil only exists because we can go through it.”
“Right. That makes absolutely no sense, of course, but here we are…” Cat sighed.
They waited in silence, gazing at the place where placid water met unmoving blue-grey sky.
* * *
A small boat that shone as bright as the stars above suddenly appeared in the distance. The crossing, thought Twilight’s Hand, who knew that his island was the nearest point of land to the Light Veil. The small boat sped towards the ships.
The Flying Fish is the Guardian, he knew. So the small boat must belong to her. And Patron was her captain. He was familiar with her. She had come to his island many times during the blind policeman days. This must mean that the Flying Fish will come through soon, he thought, with renewed hope. It must be so.
Patron had saved Cypress all those years ago. Cypress who was now Blanca Chevalier. Patron had come to the islands to make sure that the Cypress Ritual was not repeated. It had been all right when the pirates were here, he thought with regret. I complained when they were here, though, he recalled. I worried about their alien customs, their potential influence on my people. I complained about Patron, too, he thought. I said she might lead our girls astray…
And now? He stared earnestly at the small, brightly lit boat. Patron, take my daughter! She is just a small thing, but she’s brave like you. She’s trying to survive, but she won’t last long and I don’t know how much longer I can help her. Patron, you must take her before Evening Song today!
the Dark shall do what Light cannot (LiGa Book 2) Page 22