Forgotten Fragrance by Tea Cooper Page B

lifted it with such ease. She staggered as she slid it onto the deck. Garnering courage from some unknown reserve she peered down into the darkness, forcing back her rising nausea. The foul air emanating from the hold threw her back to the time when only Jamie’s promises had kept her alive. Her hand clasped the chain around her neck and she clamped her lips together.
    â€˜Marcus, I can’t see at all now. We need to get a lantern. It is far too dark.’
    â€˜Perhaps it is better left until the morning then. One more night is not going to make any difference to them.’
    â€˜One more night might make all the difference. Please. I beg of you, fetch a lantern and at least let me see if the crew have done as Captain Charity asked and provided food and clothing.’
    With a tiresome groan Marcus disappeared, returning moments later with a lantern. Charlotte backed down the ladder, one careful step at a time. The hold was eerily silent except for the quickening beat of her heart. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness she made out the cage where the girls were imprisoned. Before she’d reached the bottom step fractured beams of light spilt into the hold from above. Marcus lowered the lamp down through the open hatch and she grasped the thin metal handle and swung it around.
    Someone had taken the Captain’s orders to heart and a bundle of clothes and thin blankets sat next to the open doors of the cage. A flurry of movement rippled through the crumple of bodies. Dark eyes wide with fright gazed up at her, and then the same low pitiful wail filled the confined space.
    Resisting the temptation to cover her ears Charlotte crept closer and moved the pile of blankets revealing several hard dry hunks of bread and a pitcher of water. She stepped gingerly to the slatted gate of the cage and crouched down, offering a slab of bread in her outstretched hand. Long brown fingers reached out, snatched it from her and retreated into the stack of bodies then, slowly, the conglomeration of limbs untangled.
    â€˜Don’t be afraid, I am here to help you.’ She tried to beat back the tremor in her voice.
    Crawling on all fours like a beaten dog, a body wrapped in a tattered cloth moved forwards, blinking in the light. Charlotte reached for a blanket and offered it. The woman grabbed it from her and pulled it around her naked shoulders.
    â€˜What is your name?’ Realising her foolishness in expecting the woman to understand she reached for a second blanket.
    â€˜Mina.’
    Charlotte turned around. ‘Mina,’ she murmured, breaking off a piece of bread and passing it to her. Mina tore in with her nimble fingers and chewed.
    â€˜Where is your homeland?’ Charlotte said, settling the lamp on the floor. In the light she could see Mina clearly and contrary to her expectations she was indeed a woman.
    â€˜Loyalty Islands,’ she replied, wiping the remaining crumbs of bread into her mouth. ‘Loyalty Islands the missionary men call them.’
    Charlotte nodded. Marcus talked of the work of missionaries all over the South Seas and New Zealand. ‘I’m here to help you. I have clothes and blankets for the hammocks.’ Determined not to make any sudden movement and jeopardise the fragile truce she’d established, Charlotte stood.
    Reaching up she hung the lantern on one of the beams and then stooped to pick up a damp blanket from the pile on the floor. She placed it in the hammock and swung it gently. ‘You can sleep here.’
    Mina’s white teeth flashed and she called something in her own tongue. In a matter of moments a dozen girls surrounded her.
    â€˜What in God’s name are you doing down there?’ Marcus’ voice filled the hold and the girls stilled like startled fawns, pulling the blankets over their frail shoulders.
    â€˜Marcus, everything is fine. I will be up in a moment.’
    â€˜I’m coming down.’ His footfall echoed on the ladder,