The Book of Wonders by Jasmine Richards Page A

little.
    â€œSure thing, Zee,” the crewman named Rakin hollered, loosening the rigging, while Hakeem scaled the main mast and dealt with the sail at the top. It was a good call, and the wind caught the triangular sail perfectly and propelled them swiftly downstream, cutting through the soupy water.
    Captain Assam’s face was filled with admiration. “You’ve the makings of a fine sailor, Zee. Well done.”
    Zardi grinned and ran her hands over the hard wood of the tiller. She couldn’t believe she was really steering a boat. Her life had changed so much in just three days.
    â€œCaptain,” Hakeem shouted, still atop the mast. “There’s a boat in trouble.” He pointed upriver. “They’re flagging us down.”
    Zardi looked along the length of their vessel and saw the outline of a small boat, no more than six arm spans, by the riverbank. As they got closer it became clear that the boat had been caught by the reeds. A distraught-looking young man stood on the deck, gesturing frantically at them.
    â€œOh dear,” Rhidan commented. “Somehow, I don’t think that this guy is as good at sailing as you, Zee.”
    â€œWhat should I do, Captain?” Zardi asked, looking at Assam. She was surprised to see deep worry lines scoring the old man’s brow.
    â€œWe’re not stopping,” the captain replied. “I will not become an easy target for pirates.”
    Zardi bit down on the words of disagreement that rapidly formed in her mouth. If she was serious about passing herself off as a sailor she’d better get used to not arguing with the captain.
    She continued on course. However, as they drew level with the stranded boat and she saw the desperation on the young man’s face, Zubeyda’s frightened eyes, glittering with tears, floated in Zardi’s mind. They couldn’t just sail past.
    â€œPlease, Captain,” she implored, turning to Assam. “Can’t we help him?”
    The captain scowled at her, but after a moment’s more thought, nodded tersely. “Hakeem,” he barked, looking up at the crewman on the mast. “Trim back the sail and get down here. Zee, take us in toward the boat, not too close, we don’t want to get trapped by the reeds as well. Rakin, drop the anchor on my count, and Rhidan, go and fetch some rope from the cargo hatch. We’re going to pull that boat onto the river.”
    Rhidan, who still looked a bit green, agreed readily, and the rest of the crew set about their tasks. Zardi steered the Triumph in toward the bank, carefully skirting the olive-colored reeds that reached upward from the riverbed. Once she’d brought them as close to the bank as she dared, Assam went to the port side of the boat and instructed Rakin to drop anchor.
    Zardi peered over at the banked boat and its passenger. The stranded boatman’s face was deeply tanned and was all sharp angles, but he was much younger than she’d thought initially, maybe thirteen or fourteen.
    â€œWhat do you suppose he’s doing on that boat alone?” Rhidan asked, padding over to Zardi with the heavy rope slung over his shoulder. “Even I can see it’s too big for him to handle by himself.”
    Zardi frowned. It was almost as if Rhidan had plucked the words straight out of her brain. “Perhaps the rest of his crew have gone to get help,” she reasoned, even as a feeling of unease began to creep through her. What if this is some kind of trap?
    â€œRhidan, the rope,” Captain Assam bellowed, making her jump.
    â€œAll right, I’m coming,” Rhidan called back. “Would a ‘please’ hurt?” he muttered under his breath.
    â€œYou too, Zee,” Assam beckoned. “The tiller will be fine unmanned for a moment.”
    Zardi and Rhidan joined Assam and his crew at the boat’s railing and looked out at the smaller boat that was now only a few arm spans