Part 16 (2/2)
Dulam's suggestion was welcomed wholeheartedly. The crew were much happier now they were in calmer climes with a plan of action worked out.
A full moon beamed down on the Sayna Sayna as she drifted south on calm seas. Luke let Denno, a fat jolly mouse, take the tiller. as she drifted south on calm seas. Luke let Denno, a fat jolly mouse, take the tiller.
”Let her sail easy, Denno, just keep your eyes open and check the tiller from swingin' wide in another direction. I can tell by the smoke comin' from our galley there's some serious cookin' goin' on. Better take a peek, eh?”
Denno shook his head, chuckling. ”You'll probly get chased away. There's more cooks in that galley than y'could shake a stick at, an' that Cardo's the worst of all. Thinks 'e's cap'n o' the stewpot!”
Lantern light and steam came from the open galley window. Out on the darkened deck, Luke shook with suppressed laughter as he watched the antics of his crew. They bustled and b.u.mped into one another, each trying to advise or outdo the other with tips on cooking expertise.
”Not too much o' that dried barley, Vurg, go easy.”
”Oh, rubbish, my ole mum always put plenty o' barley in every thin' she cooked!”
”Aye, I thought yore mum's fruitcake tasted a bit funny.”
”Well it didn't stop you scoffin' it, y'great lard bucket!”
”Lard bucket yoreself, mate. Hoi, Dulam, where are you goin' with the salt? s.h.i.+p's stew needs lots of salt!”
”How d'you know? 'Tis the first time you've been on a s.h.i.+p. Put any more salt in that stew an' we'll drink the water barrels dry afore mornin'.”
”Aye aye there, chop those carrots smaller, mate!”
”Gerrout, I like big cobs o' carrot!”
”So that means we've all got to 'ave great lumps o' carrot?”
”Huh, won't 'urt you. Hey, 'tis my turn to stir. Gimme that ladle.”
”I'll give ye it on yore nose, see 'ow y'like that!”
A large cauldron of stew was carried into the big cabin, where Luke had set out beakers of ale and an oatcake by each place. Doing his utmost to keep a straight face, he tried sniffing appreciatively. ”Mmm, that smells good. What is it, Cardo?”
A heated debate broke out over the cauldron's contents.
”I call it Cardo's Carrot Seastew!”
”Ho, do you now, well I calls it Vurg's Veggible Delight!”
”I did all the work, so 'tis goin' t'be called Coil's Combination Concoction!”
”No it ain't, it's Dulam's Delicious s.h.i.+pstew!”
Luke banged the mess table with the serving ladle. ”Enough! I won't have mutiny aboard my s.h.i.+p over a pot o' grub. I'll name the stew. Put it down here!”
They watched as Luke ladled a portion into his bowl. Blowing on a spoonful he sampled it gingerly, with his crew looking on anxiously. Bravely, Luke chewed at the stew, his face expressionless. He put down the spoon and took a deep draught of ale.
They all spoke the word at once. ”Well?”
Luke picked something from between his teeth and looked at it quizzically before returning his verdict.
”I think it should be called crunchy barley, half-cooked carrot lump, far too salty 'ot.w.a.ter stew. So if you'll excuse me, I'll just stick to oatcake an' ale for tonight's meal, mates. Eat up, an' see how you lot like it!”
Luke wandered out on deck with his frugal meal. ”I'll take the tiller for a while, mate. You go an' get somethin' to eat.”
Denno immediately stopped gazing at the peaceful moonflaked waves and relinquished his watch. ”Certainly smelled great when they carried it to the cabin, Luke. Thankee, mate. I'll enjoy some o' that stew.”
Luke smiled wryly. ”Oh aye, I'm sure you will!”
Soft pastel-hued skies heralded the dawn. A mouse named Cordle dozed at the tiller, a canteen of water held loosely in his paw. Coll came to relieve him, sipping from a beaker.
”Huh, fine one you are, sleepin' on watch. Good job Luke never caught ye or he'd 'ave whacked yore tail off!”
Cordle blinked sleepily and took a quick swig of water. ”Leastways while I'm sleepin' I'm not drinkin'. I tell ye, Coll, I never drank so much water in all me life!”
”Aye, no more o' that blinkin' stew fer me, mate. You could've stood a spoon up in the salt that went into it! If we capture any Sea Rogues, I reckon we should feed it to 'em, that'd teach 'em a lesson.” But Cordle was not listeninghe was staring eagerly out to sea. ”What's up, Cordle?”
”Look, land! I'm sure of it. That's land of some sort dead ahead. Laaaaand hoooooooo!”
Instantly the s.h.i.+p came alive. The mousecrew tumbled from their bunks and staggered out on deck, rubbing sleep from their eyes as they followed the outstretched paw of Cordle.
”It's land! Land!”
”Dead ahead, Luke. Cordle's spotted land!”
Luke climbed to the bowsprit and viewed the dark blot on the horizon. ”Aye, 'tis land sure enough, an island by the look of it. Take in the bow an' mainsails, Coll, an' steer north. We'll sail in nice'n'easy 'round the other side of that island. No sense in chargin' at it full sail. Right, mates, I want you all armed an' alert. Cordle, Denno, Dulam, stay with the s.h.i.+p an' guard it close. The rest of you'll come ash.o.r.e with me. Make no noise, tread careful an' follow my lead. There's no tellin' what we might meet!”
The Sayna Sayna dropped anchor in a sheltered inlet on the island's west side at early noontide. It was sunny, silent and windless. Luke inspected the high rocks surrounding the cove. Seabirds nested in the crags beneath a jumble of trees and vegetation growing on the clifftops. Climbing over the s.h.i.+p's side, the sh.o.r.e party waded through clear sunwarmed shallows to a narrow strip of sandy beach. dropped anchor in a sheltered inlet on the island's west side at early noontide. It was sunny, silent and windless. Luke inspected the high rocks surrounding the cove. Seabirds nested in the crags beneath a jumble of trees and vegetation growing on the clifftops. Climbing over the s.h.i.+p's side, the sh.o.r.e party waded through clear sunwarmed shallows to a narrow strip of sandy beach.
Vurg gripped his spear tight, whispering to Luke, ”I don't like it, mate. 'Tis far too quietplace gives me the creeps. I feel like somebeast's watchin' us!”
Luke drew a scimitar he had chosen from the former crew's weaponry. He pointed it at a strange sight, a flight of steps carved into the cliffs. ”I wonder who took the trouble t'do that? Looks as if they've been there a long time. Let's take a look.”
In single file they climbed the smooth, well-carved steps, which, though narrow, were easily negotiable. They ascended in several zigzag shapes to the cliff top. From above, the Sayna Sayna looked very small in the cove below. Cardo uprooted something from the ground which he wiped on his tunic before beginning to eat it. looked very small in the cove below. Cardo uprooted something from the ground which he wiped on his tunic before beginning to eat it.
”Mmm, young onion. Wonder how that got here?”
A loud, frightening cry rang out from the trees.
”Oohoohoohaaaaaarrrrreeeeeegharr!”
The hair on Cardo's nape stood straight up, and he dropped the onion. ”What'n the name o' frogs was that?”
Luke and Vurg began creeping forward, gesturing to the rest not to follow them. ”Stay here. We'll go an' take a look.” Crouching low, they made their way into the thickets.
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