~
Paean came back with coffee for Ailyss and also for Shawn. She peered uncertainly to where her older brother and Federi had taken their debate – around the main mast, with the rest of the young crowd.
“Pae,” said Shawn, “don’t do that kind of thing again!”
“Shukar, little brother,” she smiled and accepted his fierce hug. “I have no doubt that Ailyss will be good! Where I’m concerned there was no risk.” She left him standing sipping his coffee and shaking his head at her. She had a few duties now. First things first.
“How’s the knee, Wolf?”
“Holding up, thanks,” grinned Wolf. She had learnt to recognize that grin. He was in pain.
“You’re a brave man, and what you did here tonight was hero craft,” said Paean firmly. “Now don’t overdo it. You’ll go back to the infirmary now.”
“Just a little longer, Doctor?” begged Wolf.
Just a little longer could be the difference between him keeping or losing that leg! Oh for the love of furry animals! Hell with it. It was his leg after all. His choice.
“Fine,” snapped Paean. “Under one condition.”
“What condition?”
She smiled nastily. “I’ll tell you later.”
“Urgh! You drive a hard bargain!”
“Take it or leave it,” said Paean lightly, turning away from him. She took a deep breath. And plunged right in.
“Come on, Federi,” she ordered smartly. “Below deck. Let me look at your hand in the light.”
Federi turned from his animated discussion with Ronan and regarded her, his eyebrows lifting in surprise at her snappy command.
“Right now?”
“Right now.” Might as well get that ruffle over with!
Federi followed her below deck, mulling. He’d speak to Captain! There was no way. Ailyss wasn’t worth a toenail clipping of this one! He was resolved that there would be no further killings; but if there had to be, he’d better choose who was going to survive. And speaking to this tempestuous young woman was pointless. She’d realize herself what she had done, once she’d slept on it.
Captain had said that minors couldn’t pledge. He’d keep him to that. Even if it meant… he rolled his eyes. Aargh! There was a way! Captain’s vile suggestion. He nearly gagged.
In the spotlights of the yellow infirmary, Federi sat down on the empty bunk. The one with the pea-green blanket. He held out his dishcloth-wrapped hand.
The little Irish devil rammed her fists into her hips and glared at him.
“So what was the point in that whole bogus trial?”
Aw hell! She’d seen through it!
“Paean, this is a pirate ship,” he started.
“Don’t start that with me,” she interrupted. “The Captain is King, his word is the Law, et cetera. I know! Why bother staging a trial?”
He shook his head, avoiding her eyes, which were glinting treacherously. “Sit down, little songbird!” He reached for her hand and pulled her towards the infirmary’s chair. And met her gaze. She remained standing. “Listen, Paean. Captain’s Law good and well. Federi hasn’t yet said his say.”
“Federi withheld his precious opinion, din’t he now?” she snapped.
“Federi is better at influencing people one-on-one,” he replied. “Going to talk to Captain in a second. When Jon is done delivering his absence of ideas.”
That accusing glare was cutting at his heart.
“So then what will you suggest?” she pushed.
To hell with it. “There is a way, little luv.” He grimaced. She’d have to understand that he was doing it for her. This was extremely complex. It was about buying time. There was always later.
“There’s something you can do?”
He nodded. “There’s a way,” he repeated quietly. “Trust me.”
The damp in her eyes condensed and trickled down her cheek as she smiled at him. He smiled too. Yes. This made the sacrifice worth it. This was one of these golden moments. He’d have to remind her, later. He really didn’t have any choice.
Paean seated herself on the chair and took the makeshift wrapping off his right hand. Federi obediently held still, though she had the distinct impression that he was finding this whole exercise unnecessary. This conference wasn’t about the hand. The subject of the meeting was already resolved. She darted him a smile as she dashed those pesky tears away. She owed him. There really was some way he was going to prevent the execution.
The dishcloth was drenched in oxidized blood, and some clear liquid. Rum? She looked at the twin gashes across Federi’s palm where his oldest friend, the Stiletto, had bitten him.
“Ye Gods!” Her gaze lifted to his dark eyes.
Federi got ready to stick out an arm to catch her before she collapsed on the floor, but she didn’t. She was staring at him, trying to read the scenario from his mind. Seeing straight through him.
“This is deep! What happened again?”
“I told you. Played with a knife!”
Paean snatched the Stiletto out of its hiding place before he could stop her. “This one?”
Federi laughed. Little devil! He angled for that knife. She evaded him, snatched up some of his soft black, unruly hair and deftly sliced off a whole long strand, laughing loudly. Still with tears in it.
“What -? You little mischief!” Federi grinned and caught her by the wrist and wrestled the knife back from her. The strand of black hair vanished into her pocket.
“I’ll have to put stitches in,” she said, struggling to get serious again. “This is really bad. And look now! It’s bleeding again! Och no, Federi! You shouldn’t have wrestled me with this!”
Federi gaped at her. She was unbelievable!
“See, you do too much, and you don’t take proper care of yourself,” scolded Paean. “And you climbed into the rigging with this, too! What did you disinfect it with? Rum? That’s what I smelt, isn’t it. You haven’t been drinking. And you tied it up with a dirty dishrag?”
Aw, at least she had brightened up! It had taken him sacrificing his personal values and a haircut, but after this afternoon he owed her his soul. He flashed her a grin.
“Just, please don’t put me under with that GM bug of yours,” he shot back, shuddering theatrically. “That thing gives me nightmares. I hate general anaesthetic. Always think I’m dying.”
“Okay, I guess in your case some local would be enough,” she shrugged. “Or would you prefer to tough it out without any?”
“No, I think I’d like some local,” said Federi hurriedly, wondering what else was going to come his way.
Paean rummaged in the drawers until she found some local anaesthetic. “Never thought I’d be stitching you up in here! Why, Federi?”
“Why what, Paean?”
“Why did you try anyway?” She focused on drawing up the clear liquid into the syringe. She wasn’t entirely sure if she had the calculation correct, but what the heck – a bit too much would only put his whole arm out of action. She wished she could put his left hand out of action too. Her shoulder still ached from his grip. Keep him distracted… keep him talking. Ha! Keep him immobilized! She scowled impatiently.
Federi looked thoroughly baffled. “What?”
“You toy with suicide, you make remarks like that one out there, you cut yourself like this... Why?”
“That remark?” Federi chuckled softly. “I was only reminding Captain of something. I once stood in Ailyss’ shoes.”
“You?” Paean laughed disbelievingly. “A saboteur? Do I detect a pattern again?” She poured some tincture over his hand and noticed with satisfaction that he hardly winced. “Give me a break! You come from a long line of professional liars. What else are you still going to tell me?”
“No, little sweetheart. Not a saboteur. And I’m telling you the truth. Federi is an assassin.”
>
Paean took a step back in astonishment and stared at him. Assassin? That he was! Of course! Beyond the shadow of a doubt. Things fell into place.
Well, that explained a lot! Her heart ached. What had caused her gentle friend to pick such a horrible profession? How could she fix this one for Federi? She couldn’t, she realized. Only take it from here, a day at a time… make him coffee… try to rehabilitate him… And Captain ruddy well exploited Federi’s sinister skills! Who was the pirate?
“My assignment,” added Federi with a half-smile, watching her closely, “was Radomir Lascek.”
She gasped. “What! Not the Captain! The Captain?”
“The same,” said Federi, smiling at her stricken face.
Oh hell! “Federi…”
He smiled.
“And then I got under his spell, just like everyone else here. How can one not revere him?”
“I know what you mean,” muttered Paean. She prepared to inject the local anaesthetic. “Hold still now. This will hurt!” She glanced at his eyes, then she injected. “Federi,” she said resolutely, “it changes nothing.”
He smiled and shook his head.
“He’s running a risk keeping me aboard,” he said dreamily. “But he knows. I’m his most loyal sailor. Then again, that’s why he doesn’t trust me. You saw.” He shook his head again. “You didn’t see. You were on the Barracuda. Whatever. Point is, there’s not a sailor on the Solar Wind who wouldn’t lay down his life for Captain. I think, even our cold little Ailyss. Must have been a struggle for her, seeing all the good he does and still trying to carry out her mission.”
“I s’pose,” said Paean, beginning to suture. Right now Federi sounded confused and disoriented to her. She needed to give him direction. Hero worship could go too far! “Doesn’t matter if Captain is a hypnotist though,” she added through clenched teeth. “I’ll not go along with murder, and neither will my brothers. And basta.”
Federi sighed. Neither would he! Not that Captain’s alternative was that much better…
31 - Verdict
“Here I am, Captain.” Federi found his comfort spot leaning against the drinks cabinet. He cast a glance at the radar screen. The same rocks as a half-hour ago. And the Solar Wind’s sails were unfurled and catching the wind again. “Got to get this fixed, Captain!”
The ship was continuing its course. Enough time had been lost. Ronan on lookout duty. Without Rushka. She was guarding Ailyss.
“Federi,” said Radomir Lascek, beaten. “I need you back aboard. This ship is harder to run without your unswerving loyalty.”
Federi stared at him, shocked. Half an hour back he’d suggested to Ronan that there was always the option of taking Captain out if he endorsed Paean’s madness. With the rifle. Add compulsive liar to that list, he thought.
And what had he told Paean, minutes later? That he was Captain’s most loyal sailor! That, at least, was true to a point. Yet – what was loyalty amongst pirates? But what was loyalty to the Tzigan? His life! Did he ever have a choice?
“Captain, you’ve got that,” he said emotionally. “You always had it. The day I fail to sail to hell for you, you can indeed hang me from the rigging.” Sometimes he wished his Captain would do just that! Radomir Lascek was only trying to do what was best for all of them. There weren’t going to be any further killings. Federi would see to it. Basta.
Radomir Lascek studied his gypsy thoughtfully. “I see you had your hand seen to,” he commented.
“The deck was stacked, the dice were loaded,” growled Federi, hoping the Captain wouldn’t notice that his hair had also been slightly seen to. And his mind…
“She’s a little bully, isn’t she,” laughed Radomir Lascek.
“Isn’t she just! Anna bottle!” Federi frowned. “And a stubborn girl. And a silly minor who has no idea about anything.”
“Absolutely,” agreed Lascek. “So, about Ailyss?”
Federi heaved a sigh and rolled his eyes. From here there would be no turning back. He’d be doing it to protect Paean. He might end up executing Ailyss by accident. Or the Captain. No. No further killings.
“Captain, you know I’ll ultimately obey any order you give me,” he said through his teeth. “All hells!”
“I know,” said Radomir Lascek, pouring two fingers of golden rum for Federi and some brandy for himself. Federi swirled the rum thoughtfully in its glass. He thought of dirty dishcloths and Paean. Her smile of thanks for his promise that Ailyss would live.
“I think,” said Lascek, “you’ve made it patently clear that you wish no such involvement. I shall not ask it of you.”
What? No! This was wrong! “Captain, I don’t like the assignment, but if that’s what it takes to stop her execution…”
“Federi?” Radomir Lascek scowled.
Federi cursed quietly.
“Captain, the Law of the Pacific doesn’t apply to minors!”
“A minor is the reason we’re in this pickle, Federi,” the Captain pointed out. “Keenan. We have to adapt to that!”
“So what do we do?” Federi’s left hand raked through his hair, moving the scarf. He stared at his bandaged right hand. And peered out to the deck. A solitary little figure was leaning against the rail at the bowsprit, watching the bridge. Unruly curls blowing about where they crawled out under the bandana.
How was he going to keep his promise now?
Radomir Lascek studied his Tzigan intently. There was a lot more boiling under the surface than the man was telling.
“Federi,” he tried again, “all I’m asking is your honest opinion. What must we do with her? I don’t want to decide without having heard you!”
Federi laughed mirthlessly. “Captain, my opinion? Necessarily it’s that of a hypocrite!”
“I would like to hear it anyway,” said the Captain. “It’s the opinion of a very important hypocrite!”
“She tried to kill us all,” said Federi. “If I were the Captain I’d have her strung up. I’d have strung me up, way back then!”
“I know,” said Radomir Lascek. “And you nearly did, that day! Marsden had to talk you out of it and convince you that little Rushka needed you!”
“So then,” said Federi, “Captain, that’s maybe the insight you wanted into Ailyss’ head at current! She’s in the galley being mothered by the young crew. She doesn’t deserve Paean’s sacrifice, blast her!”
“You’re right,” agreed the Captain. “And I’m not about to allow a minor to pledge her life for a criminal!”
Federi blew a sigh of relief.
“But that takes us full circle,” Lascek pointed out. “The crime demands a life. The Law of the Pacific…”
“When has Radomir Lascek ever bowed to the Law?” asked Federi angrily.
“When it made sense,” said the Captain. “I’m not a rebel out of principle, Federi. I merely make my own choices. And in the case of Ailyss…”
“My life,” said Federi, coming unstuck from the cabinet and gesturing towards the rigging with his glass. Rum flew across the console. He should have thought of it long ago! “You can execute me if she misbehaves. I’ll blasted well see to it that she doesn’t.”
“Your life,” said Lascek thoughtfully.
“Captain, there’s another reason you want to keep her aboard,” observed Federi, studying him intently.
Lascek sighed morosely. “It’s not my style to execute someone I rescued from the Unicate. None of you would be alive today. Oh, sorry.” He smiled bleakly. “Except Rhine Gold. And Jon is right too, if we execute her we’ll have to put her little brother out too.”
“Fiendish,” commented Federi. “I won’t stand for it, Captain. No more killings! Basta!”
Lascek studied him intently. And then he smiled. “It’s good to have you back aboard, my friend.”
“Captai
n, I never left.”
“Federi, this whole law is backwards. To expect a captain to execute a good crewmember along with a bad egg…”
“ ‘s a tough law,” agreed Federi. “Tough being pirates.”
“I don’t think I can allow it,” said Lascek. “She’s too dangerous.”
Federi put his glass down. “You’re the Captain,” he said. And waited for that nod that dismissed him.