Capt. Kate Short Story Post 4

Story toal = 1174 words
Post total = 698 words

“Adverse to that I am not.” Kate moved the lantern to show her smile. “Mayhaps if Bat had a beauteous voice, he would win more converts. Let’s tell our restless crew.”

“A pretty sight awaits us not with those supersticious curs.” Peadar pushed a cask out of his way and headed to the door.

Jenkin’s grizzled face twisted with a grin as he backed up the steps. Kate moved the lantern in front of her and let Peadar slosh ahead of her. The salty water even under the light was inky. She waded to the stairs and shook the water off her bare feet before climbing to the deck.


Jenkin and Peadar parted at the doorway as Kate emerged on the deck. Nay, t’was not pretty; the crew of adult males crowded around the lone twelve-year-old cabin boy like he was chum and they were the sharks.

“Thou hast doomed us all.” Toby Locke scowled with the unscarred half of his face. He moved ahead of the line of men. “Thou set us on this course.”

Hugh Saunders, the cabin boy, backed up against the wall of the ___________________.

“Where’s the other ship, laddie?” Cut Aldridge snarled. “Why ain’t she broken on these rocks like we are?” The line of men moved level with Toby.

Hugh closed his fists. “I did see the torches on the shp and it passed this way. That’s the course I called out!”

The crew’s muttering grew louder. Bat Pickering’s wavering voice carried over all of them. “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.” He took a deep breath and started over again. (May need to put in Latin)

Kate passed her lantern to Peadar and marched to Hugh’s side. He looked up at her gratefully as Jenkin and Peadar joined them. “Down you scurvy dogs!” Her hand wrapped around the hilt of her fighting dagger on her belt. “What is done is done. I will nay have anyone on this crew punished for this mishap!”

The crew grew silent and some stepped back. Bat lowered his arms and blinked at the lanterns.

With the crew not looking quite so bloodthirsty, Kate let go of her dagger. “The Master Carpenter can repair the Crimson Lady in the morn. We are going to empty the Lady and set up camp on the island’s beach tonight. The charts and stars had us close to Scotland. Once the fog clears, we can take our position and head to a port in Scotland or Clew Bay in Ireland once the Lady is repaired.”

“But what if this island is Saint Brendan’s isle?” Bat demanded.

“Zounds, Bat, doest thou create these saints out of the ether? Who is Bredan?”

Peadar switched the lantern to his other hand. “T’is a famous tale in Ireland, Captain. He ended up sailing around the world on the back of a giant fish.”

“Aye, what if this island disappears under the waves like a fish?” The hawk-faced man shook his rosary.

“T’is more likely it shall vanish much like the ship we followed.” Toby stroked the scar down the right side of his face.

Kate sighed. Stay on and drown, get off and drown, one did not conquer the sea by being afeared of it. “Master Jenkin, be sure to tie a rope from the Crimson Lady so if this island becomes a giant fish, we may pull her free of the rocks.”

“Aye, Captain. Heave to, you curs! Peadar, get a group started hauling out the cargo in the hold. Toby, Enrique, Wolter, ready the long boats. Everyone else, stowe the deck and their gear!”

The sailors broke apart, muttering and casting suspicious glances at the cabin boy. Kate put her hand on his shoulder. “Come, Hugh, help me pack me cabin.”

“Captain, I did see the torches on the ship.” His pinched face stared up at her.

“Aye, laddie. They saw the lights as well.” That be why they are so upset, she added silently.