Grigory's Gadget

by E. A. Hennessy

  “Please surrender,” Lilia whispered.

  “We'll never surrender!” a young man shouted from the merchant ship. The captain shushed the boy and pushed him away.

  “So be it!” Captain Sokoll laughed. “Prepare to feel the wrath of Captain Edmund Sokoll the Savage and the pirates of the Ocean’s Legend!”

  Lev, Samuil, Oleg, and Olya hoisted planks of wood toward the merchant ship. The planks clattered onto its deck, connecting it to the Ocean’s Legend.

  Captain Sokoll raised his arm and signaled his crew. With a roar, they boarded the other ship. Some crossed over via the planks while others swung to the ship on loosed ropes.

  “Ready for your big debut?” Tonia asked as she approached. “Don't worry, I don't think this fight will last very long.” She clapped Zoya on the shoulder then with a shout followed the rest of the crew onto the other ship.

  “Ok, I guess,” Zoya sighed. “Here we go.” Drawing their swords, the three women headed toward a plank.

  It quickly became apparent that the pirates vastly outnumbered the crew of the small trading ship. By the time Zoya, Lilia, and Anya had crossed over, every member of the merchant ship’s crew was engaged in a fight with a pirate.

  “I guess we're just backup,” Lilia said.

  “Well that's no fun,” Anya said with a grin.

  “What are you talking about?” Lilia asked. “I’m not looking for fun here, I want to stay alive.”

  Anya didn’t respond and instead rushed into the center of fighting.

  “Anya!” Zoya called. “Stop!”

  Before Anya could swing her sword, Captain Sokoll's booming laughter echoed across the deck and the fighting came to a halt.

  “Do you surrender?” he asked with a big grin.

  “Yes,” the other captain replied sadly. “We surrender.” The young man who had protested defiantly moments earlier lay dead at the man's feet in a pool blood. The captain had tears in his eyes as he looked at Captain Sokoll, defeated.

  “Good,” Captain Sokoll told him. “And now you know it's better to surrender to Captain Edmund Sokoll the Savage, isn't it?” The man nodded silently.

  Lilia turned away from the scene, her hands over her face. Zoya wrapped an arm around her shoulder, unsure what to say.

  “You'd think we'd get used to things like that,” she said at last.

  A few members of Captain Sokoll's crew stood guard over the merchants as everyone else gathered the loot. The girls followed Pavel as he crossed the deck.

  “What will happen to the other crew?” Zoya asked Pavel as they returned to the Ocean's Legend.

  “We'll let them be,” Pavel replied to the girls.

  “More people to spread the legend of the great pirate Edmund Sokoll,” Alexi muttered, coming to stand next to Pavel. “More people to inflate his ego.”

  “Watch your mouth,” Pavel warned. Alexi mumbled something unintelligible, then headed toward the other ship. He whispered something to Samuil, who guffawed and patted Alexi on the back.

  “Does he just go around trying to cause conflict?” Lilia asked Pavel.

  “He's just troubled,” Pavel replied.

  “Yes,” Nikolai said. “You've said that before.” He and Demyan were above deck again, covered in black from the gunpowder. Anya tilted her head as she examined their blackened clothes.

  “I didn't hear the cannons go off,” she said. Nikolai and Demyan looked at each other.

  “We don't want to talk about it.”

  The friends helped bring crates full of fine porcelain dishes and gilded bric-a-brac below deck as Captain Sokoll shouted orders at the merchant crew. As the last of the boxes and bags were carried over, the pirates drew their pistols and pointed them at their victims.

  “We'll be on our way now,” the captain boasted. “Thanks very much for the supplies. Now you stay put until me and my crew have disembarked this lovely vessel.”

  The pirates headed back to the Ocean's Legend waving their pistols in the air. Captain Sokoll turned and looked over his crew, while Alexi removed the planks connecting them to the merchant ship.

  “Not yet, Alexi,” the captain said, still eying his crew. “Where's Lev?”

  “I saw him go below deck, sir,” Alexi replied, removing the last plank.

  “No,” Captain Sokoll said. “I commanded Lev to report to me immediately.”

  “Well, he didn’t,” Alexi said.

  “Are you giving me attitude, boy?” As the captain spoke, Lev appeared above deck on the other ship.

  “Captain!” he called as the merchant crew rose to their feet. Alexi hurried to drop a plank again, but it was too late. The captain of the merchant ship and several members of his crew surrounded Lev. They grabbed him and his sword and cut him down. Alexi stared at the scene, hands shaking.

  “Alexi!” Captain Sokoll's angry voice echoed around the ships. Alexi looked up at the Captain and dutifully walked toward him. He made no eye contact with anyone.

  Brusquely, Captain Sokoll grabbed Alexi by the throat, and slammed him into a wall.

  “What kind of imbecile are you? Are you just constantly looking for more ways to disappoint me? To make me embarrassed to call you son?”

  “What?” Anya whispered to her friends. Captain Sokoll turned to Fyodr and Pavel.

  “Ten lashes!” he roared. “And make them count!” Fyodr and Pavel obediently grabbed Alexi and dragged him over to the mainmast. They shoved him face-first into the mast and ripped open the back of his shirt. In all of the commotion, Ira grabbed a whip. And it began.

  Horrified, Lilia turned and hugged Zoya, whose gaze was fixed on the brutal scene before them.

  “I don't want to watch this,” Anya said, turning around as well. The whip cracked, and Alexi let out a stifled grunt.

  “Let's go back below deck,” Zoya suggested. Nikolai and Demyan stood in the doorway of the saloon, stunned silent by what they had seen. The whip cracked again. The five friends hurriedly descended below deck.

  Anya rushed into their cabin then walked out again. She clutched her stomach, her mouth quivering, then headed down the hall to where the toilet was located. Lilia sat on the floor in the corner and stared off into space. The other three paced around the tiny room.

  “This is all too real,” Demyan said at last. “This is exactly the kind of thing I was hoping we'd avoid.”

  “He should have waited, like the captain said,” Nikolai said. “His poor judgment just got Lev killed! He was murdered, right in front of us!”

  With an exasperated sigh, Zoya joined Lilia on the floor. “We're in over our heads,” she said.

  Anya stumbled back into the room. “His son? He's the captain's son?”

  “I don't think that's the most important point, right now,” Lilia said. “We just saw a child and then Lev murdered, and now there's a flogging going on!”

  “But at least they aren't going to kill him,” Zoya said.

  “Because he's the captain's son,” Anya said. She knelt on the cot. “This means something. It's connected, somehow.”

  “Connected to what?” Nikolai asked.

  “To why he was acting strangely,” she replied. “His warning about the gadget. He knows something.”

  “Wait, what?” Zoya asked. “He warned you about the gadget, too?” Anya stared at her, mouth agape.

  “What, that ball of gears?” Demyan asked.

  “He probably just wants to take it from you and sell it,” Nikolai said. “What could he possibly warn about? No offense, Zoya, but it looks like a piece of junk.” Zoya glared at Nikolai.

  “Nikolai, shut up,” Lilia growled. Anya stood, determined, and stormed back above deck.

  As she entered the saloon, intent on grabbing a cup of ale, Alexi stumbled in. His shirt, or what remained of it, was in tatters that fell to the floor. Exhausted and weak, he fell into the nearest seat and rested his head on the table. Anya stood still and silent, wondering if he had noticed her. A moment later, Pavel entered with a
leather bag. Out of it he pulled a glass vial and clean strips of fabric. He began tending to Alexi's wounds. As quietly as she could manage, Anya walked toward the cupboard.

  “Pour Alexi a cup as well,” Pavel told her. Alexi winced as Pavel placed a soaked piece of fabric onto his broken skin. Anya poured two cups of ale and walked to the table.

  “Are you ok?” Anya asked as Alexi downed the entire cup.

  “This is nothing,” he told her. “I'm surprised it wasn't worse. He could have thrown me into the ocean.” Anya contemplated his words for a moment.

  “How many…” she started, then paused. “Has this happened before?”

  “Accidentally abandoning a crew mate to die?” Alexi asked, looking into her eyes. “No. My father getting angry and having me whipped? Now that's a regular occurrence.” He winced again from the pain on his back.

  “Well,” Pavel said as he began packing up his leather bag. “Take it easy, Alexi. Best stay out of the captain’s sight for the rest of the day.” Alexi nodded as Pavel left the saloon.

  “So, you're the captain's son?” Anya said.

  “You don't need to sit here and babysit me,” Alexi grumbled. “Making small talk. I'm fine.” As he spoke, Tonia, Oleg, and Olya entered the saloon.

  “He should have killed you, boy,” Oleg spat. “You're lucky you're his brat.”

  “So they tell me,” Alexi replied, groaning as he stood. “I'll leave you alone.”

  “Wait,” Anya said. “It’s not his fault. He didn’t mean to strand Lev on that ship.”

  “Oh, he didn’t mean it,” Olya replied. “Good, then that will bring Lev right back to us.” Olya’s prosthetic hand formed into a fist. Anya stared at it. How did she do that?

  “You don’t know this boy like we do,” Tonia said. “He’s always been trouble. Mouthing off, disobeying orders. Give him an inch and he’ll take a mile. No mistake goes unpunished for this one.”

  “It’s fine, Anya,” Alexi said. The three pirates glared as Alexi slowly walked by them, hunched over in pain. He gripped the railing as he limped below deck. Anya followed him.

  “I'd stay away from that kid,” Tonia warned her. “You saw how he was today. He's too rash and doesn't appreciate all his father's given to him.”

  “I'll keep that in mind,” Anya replied and continued below deck after Alexi.

  “Can I help you with something?” Alexi asked sarcastically, turning to face Anya as they passed her and her friends' cabin.

  “I just want to talk,” Anya replied.

  “Well, I've got nothing to talk about,” Alexi said with a nasty tone. “Certainly not to you.”

  “Hey,” Nikolai said, walking out of the cabin. “Do we have a problem?”

  “We will if you don't turn back around.” Nikolai scowled at him and stood his ground.

  “You don't get to boss me around,” he said. “Not after you just got someone killed! Exactly how much trouble do you think you can get in before daddy decides you need to get what's really coming to you?”

  “Nikolai,” Anya said.

  “No, he's right,” Alexi said simply, turning to face Nikolai. He walked up to him and stared him down. “Exactly how much trouble do you think I can get in before my father gives me what's coming to me?”

  “Are you threatening me?” Nikolai asked, unflinching.

  “I simply restated your own observations,” Alexi replied. “Make of them what you will.” Nikolai pushed Alexi away from him.

  “Nikolai, stop,” Anya protested. Nikolai ignored her and walked toward Alexi, who was laughing.

  “You're going to pick of a fight with me?” Alexi asked through his laughter. “Oh, big tough man you are! Fighting a man who's just been flogged! How do you find such bravery?”

  “You son of a—“ Nikolai shoved Alexi again, this time hard enough to knock him into the wall. Alexi let out a groan of pain, but continued to laugh. Nikolai punched him square in the face.

  “Nikolai!” Demyan shouted as he grabbed his friend by the arm. Nikolai struggled and spat at Alexi as Demyan pulled him away.

  “You stay away from us,” Nikolai said, turning back to their cabin.

  “Gladly,” Alexi responded, wiping blood from his nose. He turned and lurched down the hall. Lilia and Demyan walked back into the cabin.

  “Let him be,” Zoya told Anya, who followed Alexi with her eyes. “For now.” Anya nodded, and the two of them joined their friends in the cabin.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Breakfast the following morning was interrupted by a startling shout from Fyodr.

  “Something's in the water!”

  Zoya and her friends followed as half the crew headed outside at his call, walking to the port side of the ship. The Ocean’s Legend had left the Starzapad Strait, entering the much wider Glavny Strait. Morozhia and Starzapad were faint gray phantoms on the horizon behind them.

  Zoya gazed into the open water and spotted dark shapes floating ahead.

  “I'm going to get a better look,” Anya said. She walked to the shrouds and began to climb.

  “What are you doing?” Lilia asked. “You're going to fall!”

  “No I won't!” Anya replied while smiling. She leaned forward, gripped the ropes tightly, and scanned the waters below.

  “I think it's a ship!” she shouted to the crew. Then she recanted. “Er, it looks like it was a ship.”

  Captain Sokoll plodded out of his cabin and strode toward the bow.

  Small pieces of wood, cracked and burned, began floating by the Ocean's Legend. As the ship slowly neared the center of the wreckage, a strong smoky odor filled the air.

  A large piece of charred wood floated by, with the words Hello Eddie scratched on it.

  Captain Sokoll snarled and slammed his fists into the railing.

  “Sir,” Pavel said slowly. “You don't think—“

  “Of course it's her,” the captain said. “Who else would it be?” Turning in a fury, he stomped toward the pilot house.

  “Fyodr!” he shouted. “Change course! Whatever the nearest town is. We'll make a short trip of it.” He turned to Zoya.

  “Go find Tonia in the boiler room. I want the engine operating at full speed,” he commanded. Without a word, Zoya ran down to the boiler room. There she found Tonia, along with Olya and Oleg, covered in soot and out of breath.

  “What happened in here?” Zoya asked.

  “Nothing you need to worry about,” Oleg replied.

  “Crisis averted,” Olya added. She held her prosthetic in her right hand, then twisted it onto the end of her left arm until it clicked. The mechanical fingers twitched. Zoya watched with interest.

  “How do those work?” she asked, glancing at Oleg’s matching mechanical hand.

  “Magic,” Olya replied, winking.

  Zoya frowned. “Ok, well, the captain wants the engine at full speed.”

  “Why?” Tonia asked.

  “We just passed a wrecked ship, and the captain seems really upset by it. We're changing course to get to land sooner. Whoever attacked that ship, the captain seems to want to stay far away from them.”

  “Well, good,” Olya stated. “We're running low on coal. Better to get to a town as soon as possible, anyway.”

  “We'll get her going as fast as she can go,” Tonia said with urgency, picking up a shovel.

  Zoya nodded, grabbing a shovel as well.

  “Do you know who it is?” Zoya asked as she shoveled coal. “Who the captain is afraid of?”

  “The captain isn't afraid of anyone,” Olya and Oleg retorted in unison. Tonia nodded in agreement.

  “He's not scared,” she said. “But some people are simply problematic. Especially when they're family.”

  “Family?” Zoya asked.

  “If I'm assuming what the captain's assuming,” Tonia replied, “the crew that attacked that ship is led by the captain's sister.”

  “Brother and sister, rival pirates,” Zoya mused. “Sounds messy.”

  “You
have no idea.”

  “You know,” Lilia called after Anya, who was rushing below deck. “Other members of the crew may be able to tell us what's going on.” Anya ignored her and continued down the stairs. She weaved her way to Alexi’s cabin.

  “Now what do you want?” Alexi asked as Anya entered. “Can't you just let me rest?”

  “Your father's upset,” Anya said.

  Alexi laughed. “Yes, I'm aware.”

  “No,” Anya said. “Not because of you. We just passed a wrecked ship. He was livid and ordered Fyodr to change course.” Anya studied Alexi's face.

  “So?” Alexi responded after a moment. “We've got a ship full of goods, we're running low on coal, and the crew is tired. We don't want to challenge another pirate crew right now.”

  “Really? That's why your father is so mad? Alexi, he was absolutely furious!”

  “Residual anger at me, I'm sure,” Alexi said. “And he hates to be inconvenienced.”

  “Sorry,” Anya said, sitting on a crate by Alexi. “But I don't believe you.”

  “Sorry, but that's your problem.” Alexi lay down in his hammock with his back to Anya.

  “Why did you tell me that Zoya needs to keep her gadget hidden?” Anya asked.

  “Well, if she doesn't want us to steal it…” Alexi said.

  “Will you stop lying?” Anya shouted in frustration. She grabbed a necklace that she wore around her neck, and pulled Alexi over to face her.

  “This necklace is solid gold,” she said. “With three large pieces of solid opal that my father snuck out of the Lodninsk mines for me. I wear this in plain sight. You haven't said a thing about it.”

  “Sorry I didn't notice your pretty necklace,” Alexi replied, shaking Anya's hand off his arm.

  “Something about that object is different,” she said. “Somehow. It means something. Doesn't it?”

  “Keep your voice down,” Alexi said.

  “Why? Because you don't want anyone to know what we're talking about? Because it needs to be kept a secret?”

  “Because you are loud and I'm tired!” Alexi shouted at her. “So shut up! I don't know what you're going on about. Just leave me alone!” Anya slapped him across the face then stood and hurried out of the room.