Toby stared. “You’re a Greyman! A commander!”
“You make it sound like a bad thing.” Judy caught the first line that was thrown down and attached it to one end of their boat.
“It is a bad thing.” Toby grabbed her arm. “The Greymen are evil, they’ve been after us for years.”
“Because you’re pirates, Toby. Attach the other line, will you? We’re the good guys, you’re the bad guys. We’re the law.”
“There is no law on the salt.” Toby ignored the cable and Judy sighed as it splashed into the sea.
“There are laws, our laws – your father chooses to ignore them.” She reached over him for the second line and started clipping it to the hook in the stern. When the winch was secure she gave the cable a tug. “Hold on.” She sat and wrapped her fists around the rudder pole. Toby continued to stand, wobbling only slightly when the boat began to rise.
“St George doesn’t own the salt, no one does.” Toby folded his arms. “We’ve seen the result of your Greyman laws. You can’t take me up there.”
Judy raised her eyebrows. “You’ve seen the result? You never leave the Phoenix.”
“The crew has. You demand taxes people can’t give, people who aren’t even on the isle of St George. You’re nothing more than racketeers under the guise of a government.”
“Do you believe every word you hear? The word of criminals, of people who are fleeing the law? If you’ve never seen for yourself, Toby, you can’t judge.”
The higher the boat rose up the side of the grey ship, the more panicked Toby became. Tension thrummed through him. He couldn’t allow them to be taken on the Greyman vessel – they’d never get off again. “You’re back at your ship, so why not let Ayla and me go in the boat?”
“Sorry, Toby, you won’t be leaving until I can trust you to come back. I suspect that’ll be a long time yet.” She fixed him with her cold stare and Toby shuddered. “You’re with me, now. You can see what it’s like to be on the side of the law for a change.”
“And Ayla?” As Toby said her name, she stirred and her eyes opened. She lay still for a long moment, then sat up.
“I shouldn’t be surprised that you’re still a Greyman,” she said and gestured dismissively at the ship that bumped their starboard side. Her brave words belied the paleness of her cheeks. “What better job for a murderer than St George Security?”
Judy ignored her and spoke to Toby. “The pirate you picked up will be going in the brig.”
“You put Ayla in the brig and you’ll have to put me in there, too,” Toby said.
“Don’t be such a child.” Judy’s eyes hardened. “I don’t know what discipline is like on the Phoenix, but I can imagine: your father was always soft. On a St George ship you obey your commander or you get thrown overboard, is that clear?”
“You’ve spent all this time looking for me, only to chuck me in the salt?” Toby glowered right back.
“You’re correct.” Judy rubbed her eyes with the back of a hand. “I won’t have you thrown in the salt, but I will have you flogged.”
Ayla guffawed and Toby spun to face her. “You think this is funny?”
She shook her head and leaned back. “Check out the new boss – same as the old one.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Judy narrowed her eyes.
“You know what it means, murderer. Life on that ship isn’t going to be any different to life on the Banshee. At least my mother has a good reason to be a hard-faced maniac. What’s yours?”
Judy scowled and looked up – their boat was almost at the top of the creaking winch. “My son was stolen and hidden from me,” she murmured.
The boat rattled and rocked as it docked. Once it hung still, Judy stood up. Toby sank back into the seat, his eyes met Ayla’s and he saw panic.
“What do we do now?” she mouthed.
Toby spread his hands. They were trapped.
A grey-coated man with a thin beard pushed a set of steps up to the side of the boat.
Judy took his hand and stepped down. “Out,” she said over her shoulder.
Crewmen had gathered around their small boat.
Toby climbed down the steps. Despite the circumstances, the movement of the deck was almost comforting compared to the stillness of Gozo.
Ayla landed beside him. She had wrapped the sheet tightly around her shoulders and she stood so close to Toby that the fingers of her dangling hand touched his.
“You found the boy!” An older woman squirmed through the gathered crew. She was hunched over, her long arms looping around her chest. She drew in close to Toby.
“I found my son.” Judy’s voice was drum-tight. “You’ll want to report to General Hopewell.”
“Oh yes.” The woman stared right into Toby’s eyes until he shifted uncomfortably. “I see the resemblance.” She wheeled back to Judy. “Now your son’s off the Phoenix, the fleet can attack – as per your deal with the general. Get the coordinates off the boy. I’ll be waiting in the telegraph room.”
“What?” Toby jerked as if the salt had splashed him in the eyes. “You’re going to attack the Phoenix?”
The woman turned around. “Didn’t you know? The only reason the Phoenix hasn’t been taken back to St George all these years was that your mother struck a deal with the general. She demanded your safety in return for her silence about the Wrights’ deaths. As long as you were on board, the Phoenix remained free. Now it’s ours.”
“You’ll never find her,” Toby laughed. “We have anchorages all over the place – safe ports, friends…”
“True.” The woman smiled. “But now we have you. And you know all of them.”
Toby sagged and Ayla’s fingers dug into his forearm, forcing him to straighten. “Don’t give them the satisfaction,” she murmured.
Toby forced steel into his spine.
Judy turned to her son with a grimace. “I’d hoped to give you a little time…” She shook her head. “But as you’ve heard, we have none. Where is the Phoenix anchored?”
“I’ll never say.” He wanted to sound more confident than he did.
“Barnaby was on Gozo, so she can’t be far. Where is she? Palermo? Catania? Monastir? Comino? Malta?”
Toby said nothing.
“Most likely Comino or Malta,” Judy mused. “But again, which side – Valetta?”
Toby gave no sign that he heard her.
Judy sighed. “Toby, I will have you flogged.”
“You have no idea what we’ve been through recently,” Ayla scoffed. “That’s no threat.”
Judy rubbed her face. “I wanted our relationship to get off to a better start – I don’t want to have to do this. Just tell me where the Phoenix is.”
Toby set his chin. Ayla was right, what was a flogging compared to being chained in the salt?
“Toby, I’m your mother, I know what to do to make you talk.”
Toby laughed. “You’ve not seen me in ten years – you don’t know me at all.”
Judy shook her head. “But I know the man who raised you.” She grabbed Ayla’s arm and shoved her towards the waiting crowd of Greymen. “Whip the girl.”
Toby surged forwards but two Greymen grabbed him by the shoulders and forced him to his knees.
Ayla sneered. “Do you think I can’t take a flogging? I’m Nell Wright’s daughter.” She raised her voice. “Hear that, you cowardly dogs? I’m the daughter of the woman you burned. There’s nothing you can dish out that I can’t handle. Bring it on.”
“Ayla, be quiet!” Toby twisted in the grip of Greymen, but they pressed him harder into the deck until his knees screamed and he dropped to his hands for support. He focused on Judy. “If you do this, I’ll never forgive you.”
“All you have to do is tell me where the Phoenix is.” Judy crouched next to him, her faded blond hair whipping in the breeze. A gap opened up between the Greymen, clearing his line of sight. For the first time he was grateful for the spots in front of his eyes. They had Ayla tied to a post with her hands over her head. The sheet pooled at her waist, only her breast band remained to protect the skin of her back.
“Don’t tell them anything,” she called. “I betrayed you – you owe me nothing.”
“Please don’t.” He turned his eyes on his mother.
“Tell me where the Phoenix is.”
He hung his head. “I can’t say. Ayla, I’m sorry.”
A big woman, muscled like a wrestler, started to remove her uniform jacket.
“I don’t like to hit children.” She cracked her knuckles.
“You should get your commander to do it.” Ayla tossed her head. “She burns them alive.”
The woman picked up a long thin piece of cable, wrapped with leather to make a handle. She swung it experimentally then looked at Judy.
Judy caught Toby’s chin and forced him to face her. “Last chance, son. Tell me where the Phoenix is. It doesn’t belong to your father – he stole it. It’s time to return it to the rightful owners.”
“I’m no son of yours.” Toby tore away from her fingers.
Judy shook her head. “I’m sorry you’re forcing me to do this.”
“I’m not forcing you to do anything,” Toby replied. “This is all you.”
“You have to know I’d never willingly hurt you,” Judy said. “But my deal with Hopewell protected you only as long as you were on board the Phoenix. If he comes for you… Well, my way is better.”
He tried to turn, to beg, but the Greymen tightened their grip on his shoulders. “Just let us go – tell Hopewell you never found us.”
“His agent already knows. Hopewell will sail from St George on the next tide. He’ll need the location of the Phoenix before his ship leaves the channel. Give it up, Toby.”
Toby looked one more time at Ayla. She shook her head vehemently and he clenched his fists.
“Remember, this is your own fault.” Judy nodded and the woman raised her whip.
Ayla set her jaw as the cable whistled through the hot air and cracked against her bare back. She twitched, but made no sound.
“Again,” Judy called.
“Harder this time,” Ayla shouted wildly. “Are you trying to tickle me to death?”
“Ayla…” Toby’s voice cracked and the whip came down. This time Ayla flinched slightly, but still made no sound.
“Again.”
“Stop,” Toby begged.
“You’ll tell me?” Judy asked softly.
Toby shook his head. “I can’t. I just need you to stop.”
Judy sighed again. “Tell me what I need to know and it’ll all be over.”
“Don’t you bloody dare!” Ayla yelled. “Hit me again.” She half-twisted towards the Greyman. “Come on, do it.”
Judy nodded and the whip slammed down. The tip caught Ayla’s chin and blood gleamed in the rays of the setting sun.
Toby groaned and closed his eyes.
“Look at her, son. Doesn’t she at least deserve that you watch what you’re doing to her?”
For a long moment Toby kept his eyes closed; then he lifted his head and opened his eyes.
“Let me up.” His voice was calm. “I won’t go anywhere.”
Judy gestured and the Greymen lifted him to his feet. Toby shoved them away and stood mast straight. His fixed his eyes on to Ayla’s. “Again,” he said. He looked briefly at his mother, before turning back to Ayla. “And don’t call me son.”
The whip cracked down again and again, but Toby refused to look away. Blood formed on Ayla’s back as welts split and she sagged. Only the rope against her wrists held her upright. Still she made no sound, and the mad gleam grew in her eyes as she focused all of her attention on him. Toby kept his eyes on hers as though he could hold her upright with sheer will.
“What do you think,” Toby said eventually, without removing his eyes from Ayla’s. “Is this working?”
Judy growled. “Perhaps not yet.” She waved at the woman to stop.
Ayla raised her head, breaking eye contact with Toby for the first time. “What’s the matter,” she whispered. “Your arm got tired?”
Tears gathered in the corner of Toby’s eyes and he turned his face to the sky as he tried to force them back in. Then he frowned. His sight was still blurry, probably always would be, but he was certain that something flashed across the sky – something that reflected the evening sun as it flew.
Polly. She was circling high overhead, he was sure of it – despite his damaged vision.
“Untie the girl.” Fury filled Judy’s voice and Toby quickly looked back at her. “Put them in the brig together – let my son get a good look at her injuries. Once he’s thought about what he’s done we’ll have another talk.”
The muscled woman pulled the ropes from Ayla’s wrists.
She immediately collapsed and the woman lifted her up in her arms like a baby. “Idiot girl,” she whispered, barely loud enough for Toby to hear.
Ayla smiled weakly.
The woman marched towards an open hatch that led into the depths of the Grey ship. Left with no choice, Toby followed.