Lady in the Mist - Laurie Alice Eakes [123]
“We won’t be for much longer. They—they’ll want to punish me before we up anchor.” Raleigh swallowed at the thought of that vicious cat-o’-nine-tails lacerating his back.
If a rope didn’t score his neck.
“That way all the hands can watch and know . . . They can see what happens to deserters.”
“But I’m not a hand.” Parks shifted in the dark. “I’m a prisoner.”
“They’ll make you a hand soon enough, and they’ll want you to see me punished. Pressed men are the most likely to desert, so they’ll want you to see what happens if you leave without their permission.” Raleigh snorted. “As if they ever grant permission to ordinary seamen. But you’re going to have to desert now or end up heaven only knows where.”
“Ha.” Parks didn’t sound amused. “I could end up heaven only knows where if I go over the side.”
“You could.” Raleigh rubbed his aching temples. Too little sleep, the blow to his head, and nearly no food or water for too long were taking their toll on his ability to think, to plan, to try at least one more time to get something right. “But I don’t think we’re all that far from shore. They got us here too quickly for distance, and the waves against the hull sound like shore breakers more than deeper-water waves.”
“They do,” Parks confirmed.
“And the few times they’ve opened the hatch,” Raleigh continued, “I’ve heard shore birds. But it could still be a mile or so. Can you manage that far?”
“If the tide is going in and not coming out.”
“If it’s going out . . .” Raleigh hesitated, not wanting to state the obvious.
Parks coughed. Or perhaps laughed. “I drown if it’s going out unless I can grab something to keep me afloat.”
“Maybe an oar. You might find an oar at hand if you’re near one of the boats.”
“And I could use it for a weapon if anyone tries to stop me.”
“Yes.”
But if he did strike another man with an oar and they caught him, he’d be lashed to the upright grating for flogging too.
Raleigh’s empty stomach churned. “It’s a big risk, Parks. Is it worth it?”
Parks remained silent for so long, Raleigh expected him to say no. Then the other man inhaled a loud, deep breath. “Yes, it’s worth it. But what about you? How will you get away?”
“I won’t,” Raleigh said. “When I got caught trying to desert, I made a bargain with the captain. I failed to fulfill it. I’ll never be trusted again.”
“I’m sorry.” Parks sounded as though he meant it.
“One thing, though, Parks.” Raleigh chose his words with care. “Please tell Tabitha the truth. I mean, please tell her that I helped you get away.”
“I’ll tell everyone.”
“No, just Tabitha. Let the others think I’m just . . . gone.”
“But your family.” Horror colored Parks’s voice. “Don’t you want your family to know where you are?”
“They’ll know.”
“But—”
“Quiet. Someone’s coming.”
A few moments later, the hatch opened and a marine stood in the opening, a lantern shining into the bread room. “Captain’ll see you, Trower.”
Parks stood as far as the low deck beams allowed. “What about me? I want to—”
“Sit down, sailor,” the marine barked. “If Captain wanted you, he’d have asked for you. Trower, on your feet.”
“Yes, sir.” Raleigh rose, head bent, shoulders slumped.
The marine moved aside. Raleigh stepped over the coaming and preceded him between rows of hammocks slung between the guns on this lower gun deck. Men slept in four-hour shifts. Neither the light nor the tramp of Raleigh’s and the marine’s booted feet seemed to disturb the men in their berths. They were too used to constant noise even in the middle of the night.
Raleigh had never gotten used to the noise. Only when completely exhausted had he slept. Perhaps he could use that as an excuse for his behavior, the agreement, the treachery.
God, let Tabitha forgive me so she can forgive others. Let her be happy. The prayer rose in his head as he climbed the ladder to the main deck and trudged to the quarterdeck companionway.
Another marine stood post outside the captain’s door. He thumped the butt of his musket on the deck and called, “Trower’s here, sir.”
“Come in,” was the