Part 32 (2/2)
Lock tapped his heel against the side of the boat.
Sparrow felt the boy's fear, and though she knew he was as much a pirate as the rest, couldn't help feeling sorry for him. Even though Lock had no more right to that cargo than anyone else on board, to him and to the crew, it was his. She also knew there had to be some punishment for anyone who stole or else he'd lose control of the s.h.i.+p. Most likely the poor boy would be stuck below for the rest of the journey.
”You know what the punishment for theft is,” Lock said.
”Aye.”
”No!” the boy shrieked and struggled so hard Sparrow thought he might break his own arms to free himself. ”I don't want to die! No!”
”Die?” Sparrow stared at Lock. ”You're not really going to kill him?”
”It's how we punish thieves.”
”I won't go near the cargo again! I swear! Please!” The boy turned to Sparrow. ”Madam-”
”What are you looking at her for?” Lock grasped the boy's jaw roughly. ”You think a woman runs this s.h.i.+p? Is that the general idea?”
”No!”
Lock released the boy and glared at the man holding him.
”I didn't say nothing, Cap'n.” The older crewman's eyes widened.
”Lock, be reasonable!” Sparrow said. ”He's just a boy.”
”A boy with slippery fingers.”
”Didn't you ever make a mistake?”
”That was no mistake. If he'd been securing the cargo and the lid popped open and the coins jumped into his pockets, then that would be a mistake.”
”I guess death is a fitting sentence, then.” Sparrow held his eyes. ”In Begonia, thieves are killed, too. On the rack. After they've nearly been whipped to death...”
Lock's teeth ground, but she knew he understood her.
”Should we ready the plank?” the gray-haired man asked.
”No.”
”No, Cap'n?”
”I said no!” Lock growled. The crewman looked disappointed, and the boy relaxed visibly. Lock curled his lip. ”Don't look so happy. You still have to be made an example of.”
”Looks like asking Madam helped you after all,” the older man snickered.
”That'll be two examples,” Lock said, and the crewman looked stunned.
”What are you going to do to them?” Sparrow asked.
”None of your business. Now get below.”
”But-”
”I said get below!” He grasped her arm and dragged her toward the hatch.
In the galley, Sparrow's teeth ground as she kneaded bread. ”I can't stand another day of ”The Cap'n!” He thinks he's the king of the ocean! I can't believe he was going to kill that boy over a few handfuls of coins!”
A shrill cry sounded from above, and Sparrow wiped her hands on her ap.r.o.n as she hurried topside, muttering to herself, ”Now what?”
She stepped on deck in time to see the boy on his knees, clutching a blood-soaked cloth around his left hand. The older crewman who'd brought the boy to Lock stood with his arms tied to the main mast, another man behind him, whip in hand.
Sparrow approached the boy and knelt beside him. She touched his hand. ”Let me see.”
He shook his head, his eyes unfocused with shock.
Ilias approached, and Sparrow asked. ”What happened?”
”Lock cut off one of his fingers as punishment for theft. Could have been worse.”
”Cut off his...” Sparrow glared over her shoulder at Lock who stood, his arms folded across his chest, amidst the small crowd who'd gathered to watch the whipping.
The older man's s.h.i.+rt was ripped, exposing his back, and at a nod from Lock, the whipping began.
Sparrow hurried to Lock, her fists clenched at her sides. ”What are you doing? Have you gone mad?”
”Everyone knows what to expect when they act out of line. That's how control is kept, and I thought I told you to get below?”
Sparrow winced as leather struck flesh. ”I can't believe you've ordered a whipping!”
”Just ten lashes.” He shrugged. ”It certainly won't kill him. As a matter of fact, Sparrow, such a light sentence is almost an insult.”
Sparrow glanced at the crewman, noting five b.l.o.o.d.y cuts across his back. He winced as the sixth blow fell.
”You cut off that boy's finger!”
”It should have been his hand.” Lock's pale eyes held hers with a coldness that made her s.h.i.+ver. ”It should have been his life, but your plea saved it. It's that affection I have for you, girl.”
At that moment, Sparrow would have clawed his eyes out, but she knew she couldn't best him in a physical fight and would end up humiliated.
”This is none of your business, Sparrow. Now get back below.”
”Or what? You'll beat me, too? Cut off my fingers?”
Several crewmen glanced at the couple while others watched the whipping.
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