Ocean of Dust

by Graeme Ing

  "I swam."

  He kicked her in the belly and she sprawled backwards, clutching her body and groaning.

  "Liar! Don't try my dwindling patience," he barked, and pulled the rope tighter. Branda stood on tiptoes, her head high in the air.

  "I'm not lying," she said, rolling to a sitting position with a grimace. "The Klynaks helped me."

  She glanced at the navigator, who rolled his eyes.

  "I can't prove it, but I have no boat. It's how I got here. You have to believe me."

  "I don't," Farq replied. "I'll ask again, where is the captain? If he's on the island, where?"

  "A cave two bays from here. In the rocks halfway down the beach."

  She sighed heavily. So much for trying to impress the captain and save everyone, all she'd done is get caught and betrayed him.

  "Who's with him?"

  "Jancid and Coy."

  "And the others?"

  "Sawall and Grad died."

  "How?"

  "A plant killed them." She formed a mental picture of Farq tangled up in the killer vines.

  His eyes narrowed. "A plant, you say? Does the captain have weapons?"

  "Two knives we found in the ruin."

  "What're his plans?"

  "To avoid being killed by the blue fire," she snapped, tired of the interrogation. She gasped and glanced at Branda. "I mean-"

  Farq chuckled. "Good. Then what?"

  "We planned to build a boat."

  He snorted. "That's a stupid idea." He turned to the navigator. "He can navigate, but he isn't flux-sensitive, right?"

  Oban shook his head.

  She prayed neither of them would think to ask how they'd gotten to the island. She didn't want Farq to know about that. Let him think they'd simply gotten lucky.

  "What else, girl?" Farq asked.

  "That's all I know."

  He dropped the rope and she sucked in her breath sharply. Branda met her gaze.

  "It better be. If I come back empty handed, if you've been lying to me, your friend hangs and I'll make you watch. Then you'll hang beside her." He addressed his men. "Tie them both up."

  Nib slammed Branda backward and secured her to an equipment locker, leaving the now-slack noose around her neck. Branda didn't resist, but she didn't cower either. Two men yanked Lissa to her feet and pushed her against the mast. They looped a rope around her waist several times, pulling it tight enough to bite into her skin. A handful of men clambered over the side of the ship. Polearms and swords were passed down to them.

  "Nib, you're in charge," Farq said. "Sam, with me."

  He gestured to the blue fire device on the platform above the deck. "No one touches that."

  Then he turned to Lissa and made a gesture of an imaginary hangman's noose above his head, before descending over the side.

  The end of a rope tap-tapped against her palm, tied behind her back. It persisted until she grasped it.

  "Don't pull it 'till the moment's right," Yat whispered in her ear.

  The rest of the crew remained on deck, speculating wildly about the outcome of the night. Coins came out and bets were taken about whether the captain was alive or dead, would be captured or not, and whether Farq would kill him. She stopped listening when they began collections about whether she and Branda would hang. Her heart pounded. What did Yat mean by the right moment?

  She studied the navigator standing by the rail. Had he betrayed her? He certainly hadn't stuck up for her, but she reasoned that he might not want to tip his hand yet. She shook her head and tried to stop thinking.

  "All right," Nib yelled. "Get below most of ye. Don't crowd the main deck."

  Tarba made a hand signal to Yat. They rushed Nib and knocked him to the floor, his sword sliding away with a clatter.

  "Attack," Nib cried. "Aid me."

  He reached for his sword.

  Yat stamped down on his hand, and bones crunched. Nib howled with pain, stopping abruptly when Yat pressed the blade of his halberd against Nib's neck. Yat addressed the crew that edged forward, their swords raised.

  "Stand down or he dies, and you are next."

  They continued to advance until Tarba swung at them with his long, curved blade. Steel clashed upon steel. Cries rang out above and belowdecks, and more men poured up out of the hatches to join the fight. They ducked and weaved across the gently rolling deck, advancing, falling back, lunging, kicking and punching.

  "Get the girl," Nib shouted above the clamor. "She's the hostage."

  Bardas, the brutish sailor with the snake tattoo, ducked out of the fight and circled around the melee toward her. His bulging eyes locked with hers and sparkled, and he tossed his fighting knife from one hand to the other.

  "Lissa," Branda screamed from across the deck, straining at her bonds.

  Lissa twisted her arm behind her back trying to tug the rope in her hand.

  Bardas leaped forward.

  The ropes burned her wrists as she writhed. Why wouldn't it come free?

  He grabbed her shoulder and brought his blade to her neck.

  She gave an almighty tug on the rope, and it became slack. She leaped aside and kicked him in the leg as hard as she could. He didn't fall over, yet it was enough for her to break out of his grip. Her hands were still tied behind her back, but she was free.

  Locking her focus on Branda, she plunged into the fight that filled the deck. Swords and polearms swung in all directions, so close she felt the rushes of air against her face. She threw herself between one man's legs, and then rolled aside as a sword smashed into the deck. Her ear burned and she clapped her hand to her head. Her ear was still there, but soaked in blood. She tensed, wanting to curl into a ball, but she had to free Branda. She sucked in a breath, ducked a blade swishing above her head and continued blundering through the crowd, crouching low. A halberd stabbed in front of her at knee height, obviously intended to trip her. It caught her mid stride, so she tucked her head down and somersaulted over it. She landed badly and tumbled to the floor at Branda's feet.

  "Quick, turn your-" A hand spun Lissa hard against the rail.

  The navigator hunched over her clenching a wicked-looking knife.

  "Let me go," she squealed. She tried to pull away but his grip was firm.

  "Stop struggling," he snapped and turned her around.

  Her skin crawled. Was he going to stab her in the back? She dropped to a crouch, twisting to break free. He sidestepped, kicked her feet from under her and put his knee in her back.

  "Hold still, you stupid girl."

  The icy blade ran over her wrists. She cringed and her chest seemed about to explode. Above the roar of the battle, Branda screamed. Then Lissa’s bonds fell away and he let go. She crawled to safety and then wheeled to face him.

  "Why didn't you say you were trying to help me?" she cried, rubbing her wrists.

  "What else-?" He sighed. "I'm not one of Farq's murderers."

  "I don't know who is who anymore. Please help me free Branda."

  While he slit her bonds, Lissa surveyed the destruction around them. The fight had centered on Tarba and Yat, who still guarded the prone Nib. Bodies lay strewn about the deck in pools of blood, but the melee continued around them, men slipping and sliding on the slick boards. The physiker moved around the outside, dragging the wounded aside.

  "Who winning?" Branda said.

  The navigator shrugged. "We've got to stop this madness and get to the captain before Farq."

  "I've an idea," Lissa said, and pulled Branda toward the ladder leading up to the winch platform that held the weapon.

  It was unguarded, and they climbed up without anyone noticing. The navigator remained below. Lissa searched for a half empty urn of explosive powder, one light enough for her to lift. She tipped it up to the end of the open pipe and purple powder poured out, but her hands shook so much that most of it spilled onto the deck. She growled and shifted her grip on the awkward-shaped urn.

  "Let me help," Pete said, appearing at her side. />
  She spun around, tipping powder all over his and Branda's feet.

  "Watch it." He took the urn and continued pouring its contents into the pipe.

  "You haven't spoken to me in a moon-cycle," she snapped, "and now you choose to show up. Where were you when Farq imprisoned me?"

  "Which one of the many times?" He grinned.

  "Any of them. All of them. How about after the mutiny?" She put her hands on her hips. "I suppose you were too busy making friends with these thugs? Who'd want to be friends with a girl, is that it? Why did you get mixed up with them?"

  She knew she was overreacting but couldn't stop herself.

  He stared at her, his mouth wide, and then he glanced at Branda who scowled at him. "Where did all that anger come from? You think I'm on Farq's side? I'm hurt."

  "Aren't you?"

  "How can you say that?" His shoulders slumped. "I just do what I'm told."

  "What Farq tells you, you mean? What about the captain?" She took hold of the pipe. "Help me turn this thing."

  He set down the urn. "You think I could stop them on my own?"

  "You could have tried."

  "I didn't know what they were doing. How was I to know Farq was gonna kill so many?"

  "Stop argue," Branda cried.

  They swiveled the weapon and angled the pipe toward the men below. Only a few remained on their feet, panting and swinging wildly at each other.

  "I'm sorry," Lissa said. "I'm really glad you're here now." She patted his arm.

  He shied away. "You're done being angry? Just like that?"

  "I'm sorry. I had to let all that out."

  "What're we doing anyway?" His grin returned. He pointed at the purple powder dribbling out of the end of the down-turned pipe. "Is it supposed to do that?"

  "I've probably wrecked it with the salt anyway. I've another idea. Grab an urn."

  Between the three of them, they hurled two of the ceramic urns off the winch platform. They shattered on impact, enveloping the main deck with a purple cloud. The men faltered, coughing and cursing, and tried to brush the stuff from their clothes and hair. Seemingly forgetting their own differences, they advanced in unison towards the ladder.

  Branda hid behind her. Pete tensed but remained at her side.

  Lissa’s mind raced. She knew she had one chance to make them listen to her, so she picked up an open sack of sweet-crystals and dangled it over the railing in front of her.

  "Throw down your weapons and surrender to Yat, right now," she yelled.

  "Stop," Lyndon screamed, and dashed out from behind a water barrel, waving his hands above his head. "Get that away from here. If you spill that on the deck, we'll all die."

  He dropped to his knees and cowered.

  The men paused. They glanced at Lyndon and then at Lissa. Her arms were already sagging with the weight of the sack. Weapons clattered to the deck and they clawed at their purple clothes as if they were covered in poisonous crawlies.

  "Don't listen to those stupid kids," Nib cried. "Seize them."

  "Boy's right," one man said. "You saw what this stuff did to the island."

  "She's gonna burn the ship down."

  "No she won't," Nib said. "It's a bluff."

  "I'll do it," she said. ”Farq’s going to come back and kill me anyway, so I’ve got nothing to lose.”

  She stood tall and looked each man in the eye. This was her moment. She would save the ship, they would go back for the captain, and Farq would know what it was like to be locked up. A thrill tingled through her body. Her racing heart slowed and she sucked in a deep breath.

  Yat and Tarba seized the opportunity to round up the dithering crew at sword point. The men leaped at the chance to pull off their stained shirts and recover their breath. Lissa was surprised how easily the fight had gone out of them. Tarba tied Nib's hands behind him and marched him forward to the rope locker.

  "Looks like they believed your bluff," Pete whispered.

  She stared back at him.

  "Wait, you were bluffing, right?"

  "Was I?" She winked, and carefully placed the sweet-crystal sack in a corner. Then she slipped one arm around him and the other around Branda. "You all right?"

  Branda nodded.

  "Good job, Liss," Pete said. He squirmed from her grasp and slid down the ladder.

  Lissa looked around the deck. A couple of the boys scrubbed the deck, washing away the ghastly paste of grey dust, powder and fresh blood. The men chattered excitedly about the fight and glanced often in her direction. She wished she could have seen herself, hands on hips, standing above them all as they worked. When she and Branda climbed back down, the men nodded at her and let her pass. She yawned. The day had been long and tiring. Her muscles ached and it hurt to swallow. Branda looked as though she might fall asleep where she stood. Lissa blinked repeatedly and shook her head, trying to wake herself up. She wanted to see it through to the end.

  The physiker beckoned them over, and he checked them for cuts and bruises.

  "Nothing is ever boring with you, girl," he said, chuckling.

  "How long will it take to reach the captain?" she asked.

  "Long enough for you to get a good night's sleep. You're exhausted, both of you."

  “What if Farq gets to the captain first?”

  “We’d better pray that he doesn’t,” he replied. “Now both of you go and sleep.”

  "You go," she said, giving Branda a gentle push toward the hatch. "I'm not sleeping until the captain is safe."

  He chuckled again.

  "Admirable, but unlikely." He gestured to the infirmary. "Then take a nap. I promise to wake you."

  Chapter 29 - The Final Battle

  Gentle hands shook Lissa awake. It only seemed like a moment ago that she had lay down. She blinked into the light of the globe that Branda held.

  "The navigator's asking for you," Pete said, coming into view. "We've reached the cove where your cave is. You'd better not keep him waiting."

  She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and rolled off the infirmary bed, landing with her bare feet on the cold deck. The sky outside the stern windows was a pre-dawn grey. Anjan, please let Coy, Jancid and the captain still be alive.

  "I always thought you wanted to be one of the boys," Pete said, and gave a mischievous grin.

  Her clothes were crumpled and covered in dust and purple stains. She hated to imagine what her face looked like. Coy's cap lay on the floor, so she picked it up and set it on her head. She caught Branda staring at her clothes as if seeing them for the first time.

  "Why would she want to be snotty boy?" Branda said.

  Lissa poked her tongue out at Pete. "I need to wash my face. I feel disgusting. Tell Oban I'll be right there."

  His eyes widened. "You call the navigator by his first name? Do you have Jalak-brew with the captain in the afternoons too?" He grinned. "I bet you're a spy pretending to be a galley girl."

  She headed for the washbasin in the corner of the room. "Maybe I am, so you'd better be nice to me and Branda."

  "Yes ma'am."

  The sky had lightened considerably when she joined the navigator at the rail. The chill air gave her goose bumps. Labago shone brightly enough for her to see the waves of dust break silently over the rocks.

  "Where's this cave of yours?" the navigator asked.

  She pointed to a dark outline that marked the boulder-strewn headland. "It's very small so I don't think you'll see it from here."

  "In the trees," someone shouted from the command deck. "There's a light in the trees."

  "Where?" The navigator bustled along the rail for a better view.

  "I see it," she cried, peering at a point of yellow light that bobbed along inside the forest.

  "Is that the captain, or Farq and his men?" he muttered.

  Lissa squirmed, trying to get a better look. "I hope we aren't too late."

  The navigator addressed Tarba, "Get that boat ready with a shore party. We've got to find the captain. Fast."
>
  "Let me go," she said. "I know exactly where the cave is, and I've been in that forest. I'm the only one here who knows the lay of the land. The captain might even be looking for me."

  A bulbous vein pulsed on his forehead while he studied her, mouth askew.

  "Take her," he told Tarba.

  Yat moved forward. "Smart one, she is. Got it all figured out, I reckon."

  He collected three volunteers and handed them weapons. They hurried down the rope ladder to the last of the ship's boats waiting below. She followed Tarba and Yat down. The boat was full. How did they plan to bring back the captain and others?

  The men rowed hard toward the shore. She sat in the prow, scanning for the bobbing light, but it had vanished, and nothing moved on the beach or along the edge of the forest. As they approached the shore she spotted the tiny crack that led to the cave, but there was no firelight within. Had the captain left, or had Farq found him? The boat pitched up onto the red sand and stuck fast.

  "I'll stay here," Yat said, as the men leaped out. "We can't afford to lose another boat. Girl, Tarba's in charge, do what he says, and stay out of trouble."

  Tarba headed directly for the shelter of the rocks. His three men followed and Lissa trudged along at the rear. Multiple prints in the sand headed to and from the cave. Most led toward the forest, but two others headed straight down the beach to the ocean, and she recognized one as her own small feet. Tarba silently jerked his head toward the cave entrance. She nodded and slipped inside to find it empty, except for a pile of ashes, Jherodan nut husks and the empty shells of the beach crawlies. She unearthed a rusty blade and showed it to him.

  "We only had a couple of knives," she whispered. "The captain wouldn't have left one behind."

  He nodded and fingered the short, blonde ponytail that marked him as one of the ship's officers.

  "Well, someone's in the forest," he said. "Let's hope it's the captain hiding, but if we find some of Farq's men-"

  His men hissed at him and they both hurried outside to hear shouts emanating from the forest. Metal scraped on metal as Tarba and his men drew their swords, and then hurried across the deep sand. Her eyes flicked around the lonely, dark beach and she ran after them. She wasn't going to be left on the island a second time.