06. sink or swim: a novel of lady pirates and merfolk
The next morning, Harry set off down the beach at dawn. She'd explained everything to the others before retiring -- they'd follow in their own time. She was hoping for a few more minutes alone with Kai to properly get her bearings. And she had set out so early in the hopes of beating him to the rendezvous.
But he was already waiting for her at the tideline. He was stretched out in the shallows, arms crossed behind his head and eyes closed against the sun. She slowed her pace, strangely taken aback by the sight of him in full light. He seemed larger than the night before, and this was her first real glimpse of his tail, vibrantly scaled in blue, gold, and green. The scales mostly ended where a human's waist began, but it wasn't a strict line delineating fish from man; there was still a faint smattering of blue and green scales across his stomach and up his sides, a few dotting his arms the way freckles spotted human skin.
His unscaled skin was a tawny brown and liberally marked with black tattoos: small triangles covered his left arm from elbow to wrist in a repetitive pattern that mimicked the scales of his tail, and there were whorls and spirals over his shoulders. His hair was long and dark, small braids visible in the tangled loose mass, and he had a short beard and moustache. A white scar bisected one thick eyebrow and he wore several necklaces; some were metal and others of braided rope, from which hung a number of carved shells and animal teeth.
"I promise I will not bite," he said suddenly, lifting one eyelid and arching an eyebrow.
"I know," Harry said quickly, trying not to look as though he had startled her. She bridged the last few feet between them and dropped down into a casual cross-legged seat. "The siren made it through the night. Miss Euphemia and Agnessa say it looks like she'll pull through -- she only woke up once, drank some water, and went right back to sleep."
"Sleep is good. The best medicine for her." He pushed himself up and picked up his net bag, which Harry hadn't even noticed lying beside him. "Though I do bring more medicines. This will help with the pain, and this with the burns in her throat and mouth. Tell me when she needs more of either -- or I could show one of you how to make them. They are not hard to brew. After a couple of days she should be able to eat solid food again."
"You know a lot about treating these kinds of injuries?" Harry said, intending it to be a joke.
"Yes," he said calmly. "When merfolk go to war, they aim for the throat and tongues as often as the fins. Taking away our fins is a killing blow, but taking away our songs cripples us. Such tactics are often used to incite fear and punish acts of rebellion. The liquid the siren was forced to drink was probably coral snake venom and crushed lionfish barbs -- such a potion will not kill us, but it does scar the throat forever."
"And artists think your people are sweet and romantic," Harry said.
"We are that, too," he said, suddenly breaking into a huge smile. How did he get his teeth so white? Maybe merfolk chewed on coral the way some humans rubbed their teeth clean... "I see that your ship's repairs have been completed."
"Yes. I suspect you're partially to thank for that."
"Only partially. ...Does this mean you will be leaving soon?"
"Do you want us to leave?"
"No, I do not," he said readily. Harry was beginning to wonder if it was actually impossible for him to lie or dissemble. He'd be terrible at cards, she knew that much. "I was hoping you would stay for some time. This is a beautiful place, isn't it? There is still a lot I could show you."
"Did you get any sleep last night?" Jo's voice interjected. Harry turned to see most of the crew approaching, Maddie yawning and rubbing her eyes.
"Don't mother hen me so much, woman," Harry replied.
"I wouldn't have to if you'd stop acting like such an impatient child," came the sharp retort. "So you're Kai."
"Yes."
"And you've been spying on us since we got here?"
"Yes."
"And after watching us for nearly two weeks you left a shiny sword for Harry?"
"Yes."
"What were you thinking, man?" Jo demanded, sitting down beside her captain. "It should only take a glance to see that this woman has poor impulse control. And you hand her an even longer, sharper sword than she already had. That's like giving a pair of scissors to a five-year-old boy and challenging him to a race. Just begging for trouble."
"Those are mutinous words, Josephine Duveau."
"You just try to challenge me to a duel, missy, and I'll tan your backside."
"Do you want to spark insubordination in the ranks? When a crew hears its first mate talk back to their captain in such a fashion--"
"You saved Silence yesterday," Maddie said suddenly, looking at Kai. "First from drowning, then from bleeding to death. Thank you."
"Silence?"
"That's what we're gonna call her, until Miss Euphemia can teach her how to write and she can tell us her real name. The siren."
"A fitting name," he said.
"So what were you two discussing so earnestly?" Jo demanded.
"Whether we'd be leaving soon or not. Kai wants us to stay a while longer."
"Oh, Kai does, does he?"
"And I had actually decided, before the madness last night, to suggest that we make this place a regular berth. Take some of that treasure, stock up on supplies, and make a couple permanent fixtures on the beach and the ridge. I was gonna put it to a vote."
"That would be alright with you?" Agnessa asked Kai. "You'd give us permission for that?"
"Yes, but why must I give such permission?" The merman was visibly confused.
"Because this is your island?" said Katherine.
"I do not own it. It is an island -- it cannot be owned by anyone. It has become part of my territory, yes, but I gave you permission to stay here long ago. The gifts," he explained. "And if I am to be a part of your pod, obviously this territory is now yours as well."
"Part of our pod?" Maddie said.
"He means our crew," clarified Harry.
"So you want to join the crew, too?" said Zora. "That may be a little tricky."
"Owning a pair of legs isn't a requirement to sail with The Sappho," said Harry.
"Or a womb," chimed in Franky. "I vote to let him join up -- it'd be nice to have another bloke to talk to."
"But it would be a bit awkward, wouldn't it?" said Zora. "He can't exactly help out when we're boarding another ship or in the middle of a fight."
"Plenty of other pirates have deals with merfolk," Wil pointed out. "They can get up to enemy craft without being seen and pick up information, sabotage hulls, scout ahead for naval ships and dangerous reefs..."
"We all have our specific jobs," said Agnessa, her clear voice cutting through the babble. "Zora, the Captain doesn't tell you to steer the ship because that's my job. Wilhelmina isn't expected to scale the mast and serve as lookout in the crow's nest because of her leg, so she works in the galley instead. Katherine mans the cannons rather than Miss Euphemia because Katherine's the strongest. So on and so forth. So why can't a merman be part of the crew?"
"Perfectly put, Nessa," Harry said with a smile. "From the way I see it, Kai's already proven himself a strong addition. That gold you all have been so pleased about? Wouldn't be in your pockets if not for him. And that girl would be dead if he hadn't brought her here."
A chorus of nods and murmurs of agreements met her words.
"So we put it to a vote: all in favor of giving the merman a chance, raise your hand."
It looked unanimous -- and then Katherine stepped out of the group.
"I'll say yea on one condition," she said solemnly, arms crossed over her ample chest as she stared down at a wide-eyed Kai.
"Yes?"
"You give me a tattoo like that one," she pointed at a tentacle-like swirl over his shoulder, made entirely of dozens of tiny dots.
"When would you like it done?"
"I'm free now," she said. "And I'd like it right here." She lifted up her shirt, eliciting a splutter of laughter from Maddie and grins all around.
"I'll go find a few urchins," Kai said, unfazed, rolling over and into the water.
"Okay, I like him," said Franky. "Didn't even bat an eye!"
"A shame he has a fish bottom," Katherine said thoughtfully. "He's a very handsome top half."
"You really are desperate, aren't you?" scoffed Zora. "Cap'n, when are we sailing?"
"Dawn tomorrow. That should get us to Bogo in three days, if the wind fares well. But I'll need a volunteer or two to stay behind and look after the siren--"
"Silence, Cap. We're calling her Silence."
"Silence, then. She can't be moved, and we can't leave her alone."
"I'm sure Miss Euphemia will want to stay with her," said Agnessa, speaking on her behalf. The old woman hadn't left the tent all night, not even once.
"I'll stay," said Wil. "I'd like to keep studying some of the plant life, anyway."
"And I'll stay," Maddie volunteered, only a second before Franky offered, "Me, too."
They're becoming a right terrible twosome, thought Harry privately. "Thank you. Mads, I'll pick you out a nice hat, alright? Franky, Wil, if there's anything you need, just say the word. And, Kai," Harry turned as he slid back out of the water, several spiny sea urchins protruding from the bag over his shoulder. "Would you stay close to the beach, in case they need you or your medicines?"
"Of course," he agreed readily. "Now, Katherine." He pulled an urchin free of the netting, breaking a needle-like spine from it. "Which one would you like the markings on? The right or the left?"
"Surprise me," she grinned, pulling her shirt off completely and sitting down before him amidst peals of laughter.