Cap'n," Randall, the bos'n, said worriedly, realizing that the captain had not been wounded in the arm as he had led everyone to believe. "Cap'n, ye've got a mean-looking splinter stickin' in ye. We've got to get it out."
"He is right, Cap'n."
"Later," he said, but he sensed it was already too late, and he vowed he would die on deck, fighting, not below, not in the dark. "Master Randall. A word of warning, if you please. Say nothing of the seriousness of my wound to my wife. She'll never leave the ship if she learns of it," Geoffrey Christian told them.
"Aye, Cap'n," he said before hurrying off to prepare his men.
"You know I have faith in your abilities, Captain," Master Waterston said softly. "But, if the worst should happen, what about Doña Magdalena and your daughter? They will be stranded."
"My wife, Master Waterston, is Spanish. My daughter is half-Spanish. Sir Basil is an English gentleman who will seem of little importance to the Spanish authorities. If we should go down, then Lawson will row back out to one of the galleons. They will not fire upon a boat with a woman and child aboard, regardless of Don Pedro's intentions concerning my family. They will be rescued and returned to Santo Domingo, where my wife's father will see to their needs and Sir Basil's ultimate return to England."
"Ye've got it all planned, Cap'n," John Waterston said in admiration.
"Yes, I do."
The sunrise held little beauty to Sir Basil as he came up on deck with Magdalena and Lily, whose wide-eyed stare was disbelieving as she saw the destruction. Capabells started chattering excitedly, for the smell of death and fear was strong.
"Geoffrey, I must protest," Sir Basil began, feeling like a coward abandoning ship.
" 'Tis for the best, Basil. I cannot see you manning one of the cannon, my friend. I will have more peace of mind, Basil, knowing you are with Magdalena and Lily. I would trust them to no one else," he told his somber-faced friend.
Basil felt helpless. He didn't know what to say. A feeling of desperation was spreading inside of him. "Geoffrey, I - -"
"No words are necessary between friends," Geoffrey told him, cutting him short as he watched the boat being prepared to be lowered. "Please take this," he said as he handed Basil the official log of the Arion. "Just in case we go down, I don't want it to get wet," he jested, as if making light of such a thing happening. "I'll get it back from you later," he added with that familiar grin of his as Basil tucked it under his arm with his own journal.
"All set, sweeting?" he asked as he bent down and hugged Lily to him, the monkey wrapped around her neck scolding him.
"Do I have to, Father?" Lily said, her green eyes meeting his for a long moment. "I want to stay on board with you. I don't want to leave, Father."
"Nor do I wish you to. but who will look after your mother and Sir Basil? Now, now. No tears, Lily Francisca. You know I am right. No questioning the captain's orders, mate," he told her, his hand smoothing the dark red hair lovingly.
Lily hugged him tight, smacking a kiss against his cheek before he stood up and embraced Magdalena. Before she could say anything, he kissed her. Taking her by the hand, he led her through the tangle of debris to where the boat was being readied.
They had rounded the headland of a small isle and Geoffrey Christian had brought the Arion's head into the wind, bringing her almost to a standstill while the boat was lowered. Now, as he watched, Sir Basil climbed down the rope ladder and into the boat below. One of the crew carried Lily and Capabells down, while Geoffrey, his face paling with the effort, help Magdalena over the rail, his eyes holding hers for a long moment. Her footing secure, she slowly made her way down into the boat, where Sir Basil stood ready to catch her should she miss her step.
As the boat was shoved off, the oars dipping regularly as Master Lawson rowed toward shore, Geoffrey Christian gave his orders to ease the
"He is right, Cap'n."
"Later," he said, but he sensed it was already too late, and he vowed he would die on deck, fighting, not below, not in the dark. "Master Randall. A word of warning, if you please. Say nothing of the seriousness of my wound to my wife. She'll never leave the ship if she learns of it," Geoffrey Christian told them.
"Aye, Cap'n," he said before hurrying off to prepare his men.
"You know I have faith in your abilities, Captain," Master Waterston said softly. "But, if the worst should happen, what about Doña Magdalena and your daughter? They will be stranded."
"My wife, Master Waterston, is Spanish. My daughter is half-Spanish. Sir Basil is an English gentleman who will seem of little importance to the Spanish authorities. If we should go down, then Lawson will row back out to one of the galleons. They will not fire upon a boat with a woman and child aboard, regardless of Don Pedro's intentions concerning my family. They will be rescued and returned to Santo Domingo, where my wife's father will see to their needs and Sir Basil's ultimate return to England."
"Ye've got it all planned, Cap'n," John Waterston said in admiration.
"Yes, I do."
The sunrise held little beauty to Sir Basil as he came up on deck with Magdalena and Lily, whose wide-eyed stare was disbelieving as she saw the destruction. Capabells started chattering excitedly, for the smell of death and fear was strong.
"Geoffrey, I must protest," Sir Basil began, feeling like a coward abandoning ship.
" 'Tis for the best, Basil. I cannot see you manning one of the cannon, my friend. I will have more peace of mind, Basil, knowing you are with Magdalena and Lily. I would trust them to no one else," he told his somber-faced friend.
Basil felt helpless. He didn't know what to say. A feeling of desperation was spreading inside of him. "Geoffrey, I - -"
"No words are necessary between friends," Geoffrey told him, cutting him short as he watched the boat being prepared to be lowered. "Please take this," he said as he handed Basil the official log of the Arion. "Just in case we go down, I don't want it to get wet," he jested, as if making light of such a thing happening. "I'll get it back from you later," he added with that familiar grin of his as Basil tucked it under his arm with his own journal.
"All set, sweeting?" he asked as he bent down and hugged Lily to him, the monkey wrapped around her neck scolding him.
"Do I have to, Father?" Lily said, her green eyes meeting his for a long moment. "I want to stay on board with you. I don't want to leave, Father."
"Nor do I wish you to. but who will look after your mother and Sir Basil? Now, now. No tears, Lily Francisca. You know I am right. No questioning the captain's orders, mate," he told her, his hand smoothing the dark red hair lovingly.
Lily hugged him tight, smacking a kiss against his cheek before he stood up and embraced Magdalena. Before she could say anything, he kissed her. Taking her by the hand, he led her through the tangle of debris to where the boat was being readied.
They had rounded the headland of a small isle and Geoffrey Christian had brought the Arion's head into the wind, bringing her almost to a standstill while the boat was lowered. Now, as he watched, Sir Basil climbed down the rope ladder and into the boat below. One of the crew carried Lily and Capabells down, while Geoffrey, his face paling with the effort, help Magdalena over the rail, his eyes holding hers for a long moment. Her footing secure, she slowly made her way down into the boat, where Sir Basil stood ready to catch her should she miss her step.
As the boat was shoved off, the oars dipping regularly as Master Lawson rowed toward shore, Geoffrey Christian gave his orders to ease the
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