I let out a gasp as I backed off the rail, unsure what to do. Perrault was asleep, surely, and he had told me not to be out too late—what time was it? If I woke him, and it was nothing, he would know I had disobeyed, and I would be punished. But if I did nothing, and the ship was heading to attack, the consequences would be worse. So I settled for the middle path. I had to alert somebody, just not Perrault. I rushed to find the forward lookout.
“Wake up! Wake up, sir,” I said. He didn’t answer, so I repeated my request more forcefully, accentuating it with a push. He responded with a loud snore, and an empty bottle tumbled out from its cradle in the crook of his arm. He would be no help.
Frustrated, I ran to the stern and climbed up on the aft deck near the ship’s wheel. The guard was awake, but when I rushed over, he spoke in a language I didn’t understand.
“ ’Ey boy, ’ows enyt trit’n or ees?” he said through a mouth devoid of teeth. My blank stare prompted a repetition, but the words came no more clearly.
I decided to speak to him and hope he could understand me. “Sir, there’s something out there,” I said, pointing to the western horizon.
“O ah, der sum’n ery ware, ya know, boy,” he replied with a kind-hearted smile. Again, I couldn’t make any sense of the words.
“A ship is out there, coming directly at us. It’s closing fast. I don’t know what to do!” I pronounced every word very clearly, and this time it seemed to sink in. The kindly smile disappeared from his face, replaced by a look of fear.
“A ship. Yes. Right there.” I moved to the rail and pointed straight at it. The man followed me, and stared into the darkness.
He fell back from the rail and sounded the alarm.
“A chip! A chip! Cap’n, wek de Cap’n, ders a chip an its lik’n be’n pirates! Pirates, Cap’n!” he screamed loudly as he rushed to the ladder and down, toward the cabin Perrault and I had taken. Realizing his error, he galloped below decks. I could hear his screams echoing up from below. The only word he could pronounce clearly was “pirates,” and I heard it over and over, each time sending a chill up my spine.
Soon the deck was a flurry of activity, men scrambling all around. Many went up the mainmast to unfurl the sails, sure-handed even in the darkness. The helmsman, the captain, and Perrault all made their way to the aft deck, where I stood. Anyone without a task gathered at the west rail, watching the ship as it closed.
As soon as the sails were unfurled, they were turned to catch the wind, but the wind blew in from the west, from starboard, and though we could catch a fair breeze, our pursuer had it full on her back. Soon we were turning, running in a straight line with the pursuer. But still the ship closed.
“We cannot outpace her, Captain, she runs too swiftly,” I heard Perrault say quietly, so none of the crew would overhear. “We should consider surrendering.”
The captain’s face turned red. “You have no authority to make such a decision. I say we run, and we hope at dawn to see friendly sails to deter the pirates! And if not, we’ll deter them ourselves, at sword point!” The captain’s voice was loud, and several nearby crew turned to look. A few let out a halfhearted cheer at the captain’s proclamation.
“If you run,” Perrault replied, lifting his voice to match the captain’s, “and are caught, they will be far less merciful. If you fight, they will slaughter you, every one.” No cheers at that, but a few of the sailors nodded in agreement. The captain’s face was turning toward purple.
“Are you telling me,” Smythe said, straining to keep his tone level, “to surrender my ship, to entrust the fate of myself and my crew to the mercy of pirates?”
“My own fate, and that of my ward, are tied to yours.”
“Not so long as you have that damned horse!” He was screaming and the crew stared, but Smythe didn’t notice. “I’ll kill the thing, and then we’ll see if you want to surrender!”
He took a step toward the captain’s cabin, where Haze was resting. But only one step, because suddenly Perrault was armed, his sword pointed at the captain’s throat. “You have but one more step to take, sir. Choose it wisely.”
Smythe turned slowly to face Perrault. “Get off my deck,” he said.
Perrault nodded and turned to me. He took my hand, gently, and led me to the captain’s quarters. All the way, I could hear a stream of curses pouring from Captain Smythe. I tried to ignore him, but it was impossible. By the time the cabin door closed behind us, I was shaking.
Perrault checked on Haze—she was still exhausted from the taxing run so far out to sea. I wanted to suggest we ride away before the pirates arrived, but seeing her, I knew there was no chance. She could run forever across the ground, but running over water cost her great energy. Looking at her now, I was amazed we ever even reached the ship. I wondered if Perrault had known where the ship would be before we set off, and the thought chilled me—running blind across the great open ocean, hoping to find a ship, a mere speck on the great blue emptiness… .
Perrault led Haze into the captain’s bedroom and I followed. He slid the heavy dresser in front of the door and stood near the porthole. I realized I was exhausted, so I dropped onto the cot. Despite my tiredness, no sleep would come. A question pressed at my mind until I could hold it no longer, so I had to ask Perrault, “What will happen when the pirates catch us?”
Perrault’s expression was grim. “If the crew fight, they will die. If they surrender, who knows?”