Rapture of the Deep: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, Soldier, Sailor, Mermaid, Spy by L. A. Meyer
Authors: L. A. Meyer
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of my last evening with Jaimyâ'cept that, unlike them, I did expect to see him, however distant, in a week or so. Once, when Davy had to go off for a bit, my dear friend Annie comes up and says in my ear, "Oooh, Jacky, he's a pretty one, he is!" And I, grasping Jaimy's hand and nestling into his side, have to agree.
But it did have to end, after all, as morning comes early and the party has to break up. Embraces are exchanged, goodbyes are said, and we leave the Pig. Some of us, anywayâI relented in my order for Jim and Davy to spend the night aboard so's I could be sure we'd be ready to go in the morning, and let them spend this last night with their wives.
You're not so far away that you won't be able to hear the
Nancy B.'
s bell ringin' at five in the mornin', and you'd better be runnin' on down to her right quick or you'll pay for it! You hear me? Good. Now off with you.
Jaimy and I walk slowly back to our ships, arm in arm.
"It's a lovely night, Jaimy," I say, the gentle breeze from the sea wrapping around us.
"Yes, it is, Jacky. I can scarce believe we are here, after all that has happened."
I give him a poke in the ribs. "Hey. Maybe star-crossed lovers no more, eh, Jay-mee?"
He laughs. "I hope so. But this coming expedition does worry me some."
"Don't let it, love. Live in the moment as I do. And in this particular moment, I am standing by the side of my own true love under a star-spangled sky, and nothing could be finer."
We arrive at the silent
Dolphin
and walk aboard, saluted by the Officer of the Deck, Mr. Ropp. We cross the deck and stand by the brow that leads down to my schooner, lying below. I can hear Joannie and Daniel chattering below, and I see that John Thomas, Finn McGee, and John Tinker have strung their hammocks on the deck, in the cool night air, and are already in them.
Jaimy and I come together, and after our lips part I put my mouth to his ear and softly whisper, "Can you hear my heart beating, Jaimy?" I breathe, taking his hand and placing it flat on my heaving chest. "Can you?"
I hear him take a deep breath.
"If you can, Jaimy, I want you to know that it is beating for love of you."
"Yes, Jacky," he says. "I can feel your dear heart..."
"Good. Now hold me to you, Jaimy, and give me a last kiss, and then fare-thee-well for a time. I'll see you in the Caribbean, and then we shall be together again."
One last kiss, we part, and I turn and go down into my ship. The
Nancy B.
's bell is rung at five in the morning, and twenty minutes later, Davy and Jim come down to the ship, arm in arm with their wives. A last embrace and the lads come onboard, leaving Annie and Clementine on the dock.
Same as it ever was, the boys sail off and the girls are left to weep.
The sails are raised, the lines thrown off, a final wave, and we are bound for the Caribbean Sea.
PART III
Chapter 14
On our way to Key West it was ever so good feeling the world warm up with each degree of latitude that we crossed on our way south, shedding layer after layer of clothing as we went. I really don't like cold-weather sailing muchâhaving to go around bundled up and allâand knowing that it's instant death if you happen to fall into the water ain't at all restful to the mind.
Davy and Jim were mighty grumpy for the first few days after being so untimely ripped from the beds of their respective brides, but they soon cheered up. After all, what else could they doâmoan the whole voyage? The rest of the crewâTink and John Thomas, Smasher, and the kidsâseemed content, as well, and all looked forward to the Caribbean.
Dr. Sebastian was a little unsteady when we first got under wayâthe
Nancy B.
rockin' and rollin' a bit more than the
Dolphin
âbut he did become used to the increased pitch and yaw and soon was pottering happily in his new laboratory. He had brought along several specimens of his precious butterflies, and I painted them up for him as we sailed. Back in London he had
But it did have to end, after all, as morning comes early and the party has to break up. Embraces are exchanged, goodbyes are said, and we leave the Pig. Some of us, anywayâI relented in my order for Jim and Davy to spend the night aboard so's I could be sure we'd be ready to go in the morning, and let them spend this last night with their wives.
You're not so far away that you won't be able to hear the
Nancy B.'
s bell ringin' at five in the mornin', and you'd better be runnin' on down to her right quick or you'll pay for it! You hear me? Good. Now off with you.
Jaimy and I walk slowly back to our ships, arm in arm.
"It's a lovely night, Jaimy," I say, the gentle breeze from the sea wrapping around us.
"Yes, it is, Jacky. I can scarce believe we are here, after all that has happened."
I give him a poke in the ribs. "Hey. Maybe star-crossed lovers no more, eh, Jay-mee?"
He laughs. "I hope so. But this coming expedition does worry me some."
"Don't let it, love. Live in the moment as I do. And in this particular moment, I am standing by the side of my own true love under a star-spangled sky, and nothing could be finer."
We arrive at the silent
Dolphin
and walk aboard, saluted by the Officer of the Deck, Mr. Ropp. We cross the deck and stand by the brow that leads down to my schooner, lying below. I can hear Joannie and Daniel chattering below, and I see that John Thomas, Finn McGee, and John Tinker have strung their hammocks on the deck, in the cool night air, and are already in them.
Jaimy and I come together, and after our lips part I put my mouth to his ear and softly whisper, "Can you hear my heart beating, Jaimy?" I breathe, taking his hand and placing it flat on my heaving chest. "Can you?"
I hear him take a deep breath.
"If you can, Jaimy, I want you to know that it is beating for love of you."
"Yes, Jacky," he says. "I can feel your dear heart..."
"Good. Now hold me to you, Jaimy, and give me a last kiss, and then fare-thee-well for a time. I'll see you in the Caribbean, and then we shall be together again."
One last kiss, we part, and I turn and go down into my ship. The
Nancy B.
's bell is rung at five in the morning, and twenty minutes later, Davy and Jim come down to the ship, arm in arm with their wives. A last embrace and the lads come onboard, leaving Annie and Clementine on the dock.
Same as it ever was, the boys sail off and the girls are left to weep.
The sails are raised, the lines thrown off, a final wave, and we are bound for the Caribbean Sea.
PART III
Chapter 14
On our way to Key West it was ever so good feeling the world warm up with each degree of latitude that we crossed on our way south, shedding layer after layer of clothing as we went. I really don't like cold-weather sailing muchâhaving to go around bundled up and allâand knowing that it's instant death if you happen to fall into the water ain't at all restful to the mind.
Davy and Jim were mighty grumpy for the first few days after being so untimely ripped from the beds of their respective brides, but they soon cheered up. After all, what else could they doâmoan the whole voyage? The rest of the crewâTink and John Thomas, Smasher, and the kidsâseemed content, as well, and all looked forward to the Caribbean.
Dr. Sebastian was a little unsteady when we first got under wayâthe
Nancy B.
rockin' and rollin' a bit more than the
Dolphin
âbut he did become used to the increased pitch and yaw and soon was pottering happily in his new laboratory. He had brought along several specimens of his precious butterflies, and I painted them up for him as we sailed. Back in London he had
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