~
The Solar Wind ploughed on through the night. Paean was in her favourite spot on the prow by the figurehead, gazing at the white spray of the prow wave.
“Hey, little luv!”
She peered at him. “So how did it go?”
Federi flashed her a smile.
“No problem,” he said. “Never have a problem with the Captain!”
“Professional liar!”
“No,” said Federi. “That’s a principle. Never have a problem with the Captain.”
“Ah!” Paean giggled softly. “I see.” She peered across at the bridge. The night was nippy after that storm. “I see Mr Marsden’s on the bridge with Captain again.” She glanced back at the gypsy. “Think you made a difference?”
“Don’t know. We should have results in a second. Where’s Ailyss?”
“Being crowded in the galley,” said Paean. “Don’t think she’s ever had so many friends before.”
Federi smiled again. “Friends. What about you?”
“Just waiting for you,” said Paean. Ailyss had enough people to look after her. The redhead smiled. “You got it right? That other way?”
Federi’s smile dropped and he shook his head.
“Maybe, little luv. There are no guarantees. His word still goes. Keep your hopes up. Captain is a fair man.” He bared his teeth. There was always a possibility of creating havoc on the ship at the moment of the verdict, and spiriting Ailyss away… that was the most counterproductive idea he’d had all evening! Why would he want to take action against the Solar Wind? For someone he didn’t even like? No. He’d done what he could. All he could do now was wait for that cookie to crumble.
Paean squeezed his left hand briefly. “Thank you, Federi! Thanks for trying.”
The Tzigan sighed. He certainly looked better than this afternoon. But she wasn’t taking any chances yet. Federi, an assassin! She wondered how often he tried terminating himself! Oh hell, she’d better look after him!
Federi tugged at her scarf. “Thanks, little pirate. For waiting here for me.”
“Och, Federi, any day! You know, it’s funny,” she said, “honour amongst thieves! I only understand now what you meant that time!”
“No, you don’t,” replied Federi, grinning. “Not by a long shot.” He laughed. “Honour amongst thieves! Even the words are stolen!”
“I know,” said Paean. “Mrs Flanagan read it to us. Really funny with that ancient English.” She stared squarely at him. “Federi, this afternoon. That had nothing to do with Captain, am I right?”
“Course not!”
“And with Ailyss?”
He laughed cynically and shook his head. “Little luv, if it didn’t mean that much to you I’d let her get what’s coming to her. She deserves it.”
Paean scowled. He was trying to veer off the topic! “It’s all the blood?” she pushed.
“The killings – yes, always…” He smiled. “ ‘s against the romipen, you know,” he added. “Killing. Federi’s an outcast. Can’t return to my people.”
She stared critically at him. It was a ruse, to throw her off track!
“But that’s not the main reason,” she observed.
His lack of a reply was enough of an answer. She was quiet for a second. So he didn’t want to tell her.
“I was frightened,” she said then.
“I’m sorry, little luv.”
“Don’t want a repeat of that!”
Federi gazed past her at the rolling waves and sighed.
“Then I’d better tell you, right? See, little luv. Federi’s got this gift. Captain calls it a gypsy radar.”
“I know,” said Paean. “He called mine voodoo!”
Federi laughed. “So, your voodoo and my radar! Lovely! The point is, the gypsy radar’s the reason Federi always gets away. I know when something bad is about to happen. Sometimes I walk into it with open eyes. Like back there at Atuona. Cor! Didn’t think it would escalate like that though!”
“I know,” said Paean. “I saw you pick something up, there at the pool.”
“Was smelling the corpse,” said Federi.
“Urgh!”
“Exactly. Actually surprised how Shawn could have thought that man was just asleep! Maybe he hasn’t been around a lot of dead people.”
“Yes, he’s not,” agreed Paean.
“That gypsy radar, little luv,” Federi carried on. “You have no idea how it stretches a man to know something horrible is going to happen and not to know what, or when.”
Paean shuddered. Her second sight was more a thing that kept tabs on loved ones.
“But it’s over now, isn’t it?” she asked.
Federi gave her a troubled glance. “Wish I could say yes, little sweetheart!”
“Ah,” said Paean. “So the Rebellion is still on our tails!”
“And the Unicate too,” completed Federi. “Think about it! We’ve now sunk a Rebellion flotilla! They want our blood. That freedom that you felt when we crossed over into the Pacific?”
“It’s gone,” said Paean. “We’re hunted here too, now!”
“There’s nowhere on Earth the Solar Wind can move in safety now,” said Federi. “Captain bought us some time sinking that fleet. How long? Not very.”
“Cor,” muttered Paean.
“Worse than that,” said Federi. “They’re tightening the net. Captain does have a plan, but it relies on running and hiding. All hells, that’s never going to be enough! So tired of running, little songbird! So tired of being an old coward!” He sighed.
“You’re not an old coward, Federi!”
“Everyone around me gets killed,” said the Romany darkly, “and Federi gets away. ‘s a curse!”
“And that’s why you wanted to kill yourself,” she said with sudden insight. Federi nodded and stared out over the black rolling waterscape.
“Och, Federi!” She wished she could somehow comfort him, give him hope. He was not afraid of dying. He was afraid of surviving! “And that’s also why you hide your reminders?” she asked. “Even in hot weather, when even Ronan with his fair skin works without a shirt on?”
“Something like that.” Of course he was hiding his concealed weapons too. He smiled. He ought to train her. She had that sharp element that was needed. Sheer!
“Well, it’s not going to be, this time,” said Paean resolutely. “This time, we’re all going to get away. And Ailyss too. We need a bigger plan, don’t you think?”
“A bigger plan,” smiled Federi. “What did you have in mind, little pirate?”
“Well, I don’t have one,” said Paean. “Yet! But we’ll work something out. We’re fugitives too, don’t forget!”
“That’s right.”
“Federi,” said Paean seriously, “I want you to hang close.”
“Oh?”
“Makes it easier to supervise you,” she grinned.
“Little vixen! There’s the Captain now, isda!”
Radomir Lascek and Jon Marsden came down from the bridge. Old Sherman took over at the console.
“All hands on deck,” came his voice through the ship com. “On the dooble!”
The crew came trundling up out of the Solar Wind’s interior.
Ailyss was clinging to her little brother’s hand as though he might get lost in the crowd. She felt sick. Shawn Donegal and Rhine Gold, with Wolf Svendsson between them, were following her closely and took seats near her. She was aware of them, but it helped nothing. Captain’s verdict would cut straight through them, and then they’d have to stand back and watch how she was going to be hanged…
She only hoped someone would take her little brother below deck!
“Ailyss,” said Radomir Lascek. “Just for your record. The Solar Wind’s crew feels unanimously that you and your brother should be kept aboard.”
She glanced at them.
She was thankful for that at least.
“The Law of the Pacific demands a life for treason,” he continued. “By your treachery you have put us into an impossible position. You do understand, don’t you.”
She nodded. They couldn’t keep her on. They couldn’t put her ashore either. She was too dangerous. And Paean’s little loophole – that didn’t work because she was too young. Captain didn’t even need to mention it.
Her life was up.
“So your life has been guaranteed by one of my officers.”
She gasped. Had she heard right?
“This means that you are acquitted, provisionally,” continued Radomir Lascek. “You’re both staying on the Solar Wind. You are permanent crew. Your duties remain what they were; Keenan will be a cabin boy until he is of an age to take on bigger duties. I expect undivided loyalty from both of you!” He paused. “I’ll take that as agreement,” he said, as Ailyss covered her face and cried hysterically as the truth sank in. “Welcome aboard, Ailyss and Keenan Quinlan!”
The crew cheered. She heard it through the din in her head. She felt Wolf Svendsson’s huge hand on her one shoulder, Shawn Donegal’s smaller one on her other. She glanced up, and into the gypsy’s face. He was holding something out to her. A glass. With something in it. Rum? She looked a bit further. Most of the crew were already holding a glass.
“Welcome aboard the Solar Wind, Ailyss!”
The terrifying assassin was actually smiling at her. Paean was next to him; as he moved on, she hugged Ailyss.
“Welcome home, my sister!”
I don’t deserve this, thought the spy incoherently. I deserve death. Captain’s given me my life back! She’d sail to hell for him too, she knew. Like all of his crew. And she’d find out who that officer was. She peered at Jon Marsden. He smiled at her.
“Ceilidh!” demanded Wolf.
“You!” Paean pointed a finger at the engineer. “You’re now pushing the limits! You ought to be in Sick Bay!”
“Have mercy, Paean!”
“Oh well, you owe me,” she said lightly. “Haven’t named my condition yet.”
“Urgh,” said Wolf.
“So nice that Wolf Svendsson is honest and sticks to the rules,” she added with an evil grin.
“Aargh!” groaned Wolf. “Lends itself to abuse!”
Federi stuck a glass of greengage jelly juice into Paean’s hand. The two young boys had also received non-alcoholic drinks. It came with observing the Donegal house rules. As honorary Donegal he had this duty now. He waved a finger at Paean.
“Victimizing the Wolf again, are you?”
“My favourite hobby,” laughed Paean.
“Listen, dulciuri!” Federi took her aside, to the prow, his long fingers around her wrist. Noisy place, this deck!
“Tomorrow,” he said quietly, for her ears only, “we’re landing at Prime Oil. Then I’ll take you around the place and show you our Captain’s plan! You’re going to love Prime Oil, my little songbird!”
Paean smiled blissfully. Her gentle friend had guaranteed Ailyss’ life by pledging his own! Her heart was singing. She suddenly knew the way forward for the Assassin. Step by step, one saved life at a time. And she was going to be right there supporting him.
The moon that peered through the rigging looked a bit like a silver dollar. With a sliver off of it. The Solar Wind ploughed on through the night.