of them were to have the slightest chance of survival, then he would have to risk everything. "Hard to starboard, Master Evans!"
"Starboard, Cap'n?" the young helmsman repeated in confusion, for that course would take them right across the closest galleon's bows and within range of another devastating broadside. There was also a cay less than a league distant and lying directly across their path if they followed that sudden change of course. They'd run aground. The captain must be crazed, the young man thought in horror.
"Hard to, mister!" Geoffrey Christian yelled again. An old hand standing duty as lee helmsman took charge from the bemused helmsman and steered the ship as ordered. There wasn't time to question the captain's orders. "Stand on!" the captain called as the Arion's bowsprit swung into the wind.
As Geoffrey Christian had expected, the galleons trying to intercept the Arion off to starboard changed course, intending to catch the Arion as she headed into the deep channel between the cay and Great Bahama Bank, thinking the Arion might be trying to escape to the south to find a safe hiding place in one of the countless coves along the uninhabited Cuban coast. Several of the crew peered over the railing at the bright, razor-toothed coral just beneath the Arion's hull their mouths gaping open as she rode over it and the sandy bottom so close below. A harsh scraping noise reverberated through the timbers of the ship as she touched the ground but she continued without any apparent serious damage. Unfortunately, the Spaniards aboard the galleon, and her angle across the cay hadn't been as sharp, for the Arion's course had been just along the outer rim of coral before the captain had given the order to turn her back on her original course with the wind off her quarter. The deception had worked, and now the Arion headed back into the safe channel of deep water.
They were not safely out of danger yet, but at least the Arion had a little more room to maneuver, and Geoffrey Christian intended to make the most of it. The Estrella D'Alba had been far enough astern to watch the Arion's deception and avoid the cay, and now she gave chase, closing the distance with the smaller ship that, because of the damage she'd suffered in the battle, was not handling well and looked as if she were about to founder, as she fought her way north. With a heaviness in his heart, Geoffrey Christian knew that it was just a matter of time before the Estrella D'Alba overtook the Arion , if they continued north, riding the Gulf Stream into the Atlantic. His only hope was to keep a steady distance ahead until they reached the channel cutting through the Bahamas just north of the Great Bahama Bank. If he could steer a course into the islands, he might just be able to lose the Estrella D'Alba , if not, then . . . but he shook his head, wincing with the pain from his wound. He would not even think of the alternative. Not yet.
"Geoffrey?"
The voice he longed to hear, yet had dreaded hearing, now spoke his name. He turned to see Magdalena staring at him with tears in her eyes. Strands of dark red hair fell about her shoulders and several fine strands blew across her face as she stood staring at him, unable to move.
"Geoffrey. Oh, Geoffrey." Her eyes reflected the horror of seeing him covered in blood and the death she had witnessed throughout the day as she had tried to help the wounded. The blood of the dying stained her gown, drying now as she stood on the deck in the gentle warmth of the trades.
Geoffrey held out a hand to her. Magdalena rested her face against his chest, not seeing the look of pain that crossed his features.
"Why? Why? Geoffrey, must it end this way?" she spoke softly, sensing that all was lost.
"It won't, Magdalena. I won't let it end like this."
Magdalena looked up into his eyes. "I love you."
Geoffrey pressed her lips with his. "My only love. I do not think you realize how happy you have made me. My life would have been very
"Starboard, Cap'n?" the young helmsman repeated in confusion, for that course would take them right across the closest galleon's bows and within range of another devastating broadside. There was also a cay less than a league distant and lying directly across their path if they followed that sudden change of course. They'd run aground. The captain must be crazed, the young man thought in horror.
"Hard to, mister!" Geoffrey Christian yelled again. An old hand standing duty as lee helmsman took charge from the bemused helmsman and steered the ship as ordered. There wasn't time to question the captain's orders. "Stand on!" the captain called as the Arion's bowsprit swung into the wind.
As Geoffrey Christian had expected, the galleons trying to intercept the Arion off to starboard changed course, intending to catch the Arion as she headed into the deep channel between the cay and Great Bahama Bank, thinking the Arion might be trying to escape to the south to find a safe hiding place in one of the countless coves along the uninhabited Cuban coast. Several of the crew peered over the railing at the bright, razor-toothed coral just beneath the Arion's hull their mouths gaping open as she rode over it and the sandy bottom so close below. A harsh scraping noise reverberated through the timbers of the ship as she touched the ground but she continued without any apparent serious damage. Unfortunately, the Spaniards aboard the galleon, and her angle across the cay hadn't been as sharp, for the Arion's course had been just along the outer rim of coral before the captain had given the order to turn her back on her original course with the wind off her quarter. The deception had worked, and now the Arion headed back into the safe channel of deep water.
They were not safely out of danger yet, but at least the Arion had a little more room to maneuver, and Geoffrey Christian intended to make the most of it. The Estrella D'Alba had been far enough astern to watch the Arion's deception and avoid the cay, and now she gave chase, closing the distance with the smaller ship that, because of the damage she'd suffered in the battle, was not handling well and looked as if she were about to founder, as she fought her way north. With a heaviness in his heart, Geoffrey Christian knew that it was just a matter of time before the Estrella D'Alba overtook the Arion , if they continued north, riding the Gulf Stream into the Atlantic. His only hope was to keep a steady distance ahead until they reached the channel cutting through the Bahamas just north of the Great Bahama Bank. If he could steer a course into the islands, he might just be able to lose the Estrella D'Alba , if not, then . . . but he shook his head, wincing with the pain from his wound. He would not even think of the alternative. Not yet.
"Geoffrey?"
The voice he longed to hear, yet had dreaded hearing, now spoke his name. He turned to see Magdalena staring at him with tears in her eyes. Strands of dark red hair fell about her shoulders and several fine strands blew across her face as she stood staring at him, unable to move.
"Geoffrey. Oh, Geoffrey." Her eyes reflected the horror of seeing him covered in blood and the death she had witnessed throughout the day as she had tried to help the wounded. The blood of the dying stained her gown, drying now as she stood on the deck in the gentle warmth of the trades.
Geoffrey held out a hand to her. Magdalena rested her face against his chest, not seeing the look of pain that crossed his features.
"Why? Why? Geoffrey, must it end this way?" she spoke softly, sensing that all was lost.
"It won't, Magdalena. I won't let it end like this."
Magdalena looked up into his eyes. "I love you."
Geoffrey pressed her lips with his. "My only love. I do not think you realize how happy you have made me. My life would have been very
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