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THEY DIDN’T RUN INTO any pirates over the rest of the day. Just a few squirrel-like animals, some jaguar prints, snakes, and a colony of bats inside a cave. Hank and Maria and Anwaegbu found plenty of fresh fruits in the trees surrounding their camp, which Anwaegbu and Maria both agreed were safe to eat and not poisonous, and they feasted well on fresh fruit and roasted meats from a successful hunting trip.
As he settled back on the sands sipping on a bottle of gingerbrew, Walter wondered how the Fleet was faring at anchor by Horseshoe Island. Hopefully, no pirates had come while they were waiting there. And hopefully, Kazimushu hadn’t been causing trouble for Sir Percy. Even after the duel, Walter wondered about bringing accusations of the firepowder theft. He had told Kazimushu that there would be peace between them if Walter was allowed to explore the portal unhindered. To bring up the firepowder theft now could seriously alter the fragile peace between them.
Walter looked over at General Shinosari. The general’s bald head gleamed in the firelight as he stared out to the western horizon where the sun had set earlier. The man looked at peace for the first time since leaving Caprika, his usual tense posture and stoic expression relaxed. It was as though Walter was getting to see the real Shinosari, away from the expectations of public eyes or the looming shadow of Kazimushu.
“General,” he said, “may I speak with you privately?”
“Certainly, Your Highness,” the man nodded and rose from the sand.
The two of them walked further along the shoreline until the firelight and Maria and Hank’s sea shanty duel had faded in the distance.
“I would like to speak to you on a serious matter,” Walter finally said. “One that could bring much trouble between our nations, but I fear one that must be addressed. I hope you will not be offended.”
In the moonlight, Walter could see the general’s tired stoic expression return. “You wish to discuss the actions of my superior Kazimushu with me.”
“No, no. Well, sort of.” Walter sighed. “I have promised Kazimushu that his words and actions will be forgotten, as I have been able to explore this portal as I wished. But there is another matter that preceded all this, which I may not be able to ignore. Please understand also that I believe you to be a man of honor, in no way connected to any of this.
“After the events at Dewey’s Sound, Sir Percy informed Aaron and I that some of Arualia’s firepowder supplies on Fortune were missing. Given that no battles had been fought since the last time we had made an inventory, and none besides Sir Percy, Aaron, and I have the keys to the storage room, our only conclusion was that they had been stolen.”
General Shinosari was silent for a moment. “And you believe Kazimushu had something to do with this?”
“I don’t know what to think.” Walter rubbed at the back of his neck as he stared off across the sea. “It seemed to us to be the most logical answer. Kazimushu has always acted extremely jealous of Arualia’s firepowder. But we had no proof, and I did not wish to strain any relations between our nations by making public accusations.”
“And for that, I am grateful to you,” the general bowed.
“Do you think it likely? Could this be something the niahntó ordered?”
“The niahntó... He might send someone to try to steal some of Arualia’s firepowder,” the general admitted. “But I do not believe he would send Kazimushu to do so, not from the Fleet. He is smarter than to try that. If he were to do so, it would not be so obvious so that the theft cannot be connected to him.”
“What about the niahnshó?”
General Shinosari gave a slight smile. “She is an intelligent woman. While she may be crafty, she is also honorable. And proud. I do not believe that she would stoop so low as to steal it from Arualia. No, if Kazimushu has committed this grievous act, he has done so alone, of his own volition. Maybe he thinks that he will help the niahntó and earn more favor with him by doing so.
“Do not trouble more about this. I will investigate myself when we have returned to Fortune’s Wings. If Kazimushu has indeed committed this crime, he shall be dealt with.”
He clapped Walter on the shoulder, and they returned to the fire where Maria was serenading the jungle with the Legend of Salawake’s gold:
“From the east she sailed, that great black ship,
so laden that gold from her bow did drip.
She sails no more for she lies in her crypt
at the bottom of the great east sea.
They looked to the south and a ship drew near.
The hearts of the sailors quaked with fear
as the colors shook out their folds in the wind.
’Twas that terror of the great east sea!
The colors made their blood run cold.
Death and glory, black and gold.
Salawake had claimed his prize.
He was the terror of the great east sea.
A captain king of the pirates he,
the name of the man was Salawake.
So dark of heart his blood ran black.
He was the terror of the great east sea.
The great black ship it made to flee.
Great chase was given by Salawake,
but the ship fell cursed by the pirate’s greed
in the battle on the great east sea.
Then Salawake took his prize on board,
the gold and jewels of the treasure hoard.
The great black ship was now red with blood
and sank to the bottom of the sea.
The pirate sailed to his secret cove,
hid his magnificent treasure trove
in his lair on an island hidden away
somewhere in the vast east sea.
He boasted and bragged at every bar
from Fortune Cove to the Port of Nyre,
spending his wealth without a care,
the richest man of the great east sea.
But the Nushalun judged that it was time
for the pirate king to pay for his crimes,
and the Deep prepared to rid itself
of the terror of the great east sea.
Salawake to his lair returned.
The waves around him swelled and churned.
From beneath the waves a head arose –
’twas the lion of the great east sea!
Its mighty jaw closed round the ship.
Its claws held firm with an iron grip.
It crushed and splintered and dragged it down
to the bottom of the great east sea.”