The Voyage of the Sea Wolf by Eve Bunting Page B

from
The Tain
.
    On the third day we passed at a distance from a bare rock that rose out of the sea like a monstrous sleeping whale.
    â€œTurtle Island,” Sebastian said. “You’ll not be marooned on that one, Cate.” He had come to calling me Cate in a friendly way which made our work together more tolerable.
    I gazed at Turtle Island, my heart beating too fast. Would I ever again hear the word island without this breath-stopping panic?
    William passed by one time, rolling a barrel of water. I thought quickly. “I never see my friend William,” I said to Sebastian in my most carrying voice. “I miss him every day.”
    William paused. “Sebastian,” he said. “I think o’ my friend every minute. But it must be endured.”
    â€œAre ye speakin’ to me?” Sebastian asked. “Better get on wi’ yer work.”
    â€œAye,” William said.
    I watched him till he was out of sight.
    â€œâ€™Twill not be good to be smarter that Captain Moriarity,” Sebastian said. “She has no likin’ for disobedience.”
    â€œWhat disobedience do you speak of?” I asked and he fixed me with his green stare, shrugged and went back to his stitching.
    I got to recognize some of the crew as they stopped to exchange words with Sebastian. Horn, who spoke with such difficulty that he mostly signed with his small, calloused hands. Catman who was friend to the ship’s black cat, the wild creature that would not let anyone else touch her. Claw, so called for the metal apparatus he had in place of a hand. I kept a watch out for the man with the missing finger that the captain had cut off when he used it inappropriately in her presence but did not see him. Magruder, leering and squinting, made every excuse to stop and stare greedily at me.
    â€œI might mention to the cap’n that you doesn’t have enough work to do,” Sebastian told him once and Magruder said, “Aye, ye better do that, ye mealy little midget.”
    â€œGo,” Sebastian said. “And next time ye come this way, do not stop.”
    Then, one night when Sebastian’s weather string had warned him of a savage storm fast approaching, William and I met by chance, alone on the rolling deck. The
Sea
Wolf
pitched and yawed. The sea around was fierce, frosted with white foam that spat at the ship. Wind tore at the reefed sails, trying to loose them. The crew was busy, battening hatches, tying down anything the storm might take. Rain drummed on the deck.
    First he was only a shadow, coming toward me.
    Then he was William.
    We clung to each other. There was little time for words. Someone could come at any minute. There was just the warmth of our kisses that mixed with the rain beating on us. “Me love. My darlin’ girl,” he whispered. On the island, when we came out of the sea, we’d been wet like this. Those kisses and those holdings had been the sweetest.
    I ran my hand through his hair, felt under my fingers the thin line of scar on his face, stood tiptoe to kiss it.
    â€œI don’t think I can bear it.”
    My words were muffled against his chest.
    â€œShh, shh. We have to keep on livin’. We have to do anything, say anything to hang on. The voyage will end.”
    A sob rose in my throat. “What if she decides I am to be marooned again, alone? She will never let you go.”
    â€œIf she tried to keep me ’twould be in vain. I’d jump after ye. Beelzebub himself could not stop me.”
    There was an urgent whisper behind us that was almost lost in the wind.
    Skelly!
    â€œGet yerselves away! Puce and Skull be’s comin’. Hurry!”
    There was no time for a goodbye word. We moved quickly in opposite directions.
    Back along the deck, fighting the force of the gale I saw Sebastian.
    He stood with his arms wide, his back to the wind. In one hand he held his knotted string. “Aye,” he said. “I told cap’n