The Sound of a Siren's Call

69.) Jim Costa and the Cook

I breathed in the sea air. I could see the Red Revenge, sails seeming to gleam in the sun. It was like they were made out of gold like the sun was trying to paint over the rough wood that showed it'd seen battle.

I stood, leaning against the wood that held my own sail up. Was it gold? I couldn't see. I didn't want to see anything but home.

People were on the deck of the ship. They'd seen me. I pulled next to the ship, looking up at my father's face.

They let down a rope ladder. I grabbed the second rope that came, wriggling like a snake suddenly thrust into a free fall. I looped it through a notch in the Red Revenge's hull. That would keep it until they decided they wanted to do with my boat.

I started to climb. I climbed until my father's face stared at me again.

"Did you find them?"

I nodded. I had. And I hadn't brought them back.

"And you're sure he's just a friend?"

I stared at him. Fear had been right. I needed to say it.

"No, I like girls."

He nodded.

"That makes two of us."

I smiled. That had always been how I'd imagined the conversation going. He wasn't one to care about things like that. My mother would, but I wasn't ready to tell her. It wasn't anything she needed to know. She didn't try to set me up, and likely never would. Even if she had, I wouldn't have been ready. This was mine, and now my father's.

He wrapped his arm around me, using his free hand to sign.

"What are you going to do with your boat?"

"Can I keep it here?"

He nodded. "It won't fare well during an attack if we keep it on deck."

"I'll find a place for it before then."

He nodded. "I know you will."

That was it, then. I'd done it. We went below, where I ate like I'd just discovered food. It was good, like a little taste of my childhood. The majority of the men were still asleep.

"Did you have your election?"

"It's today at noon."

"Do you need my vote?"

"Your vote and then some."

"You have my support." I looked him in the eye.

He was going to lose captain because of me. The least I could do was help him scrabble to keep hold of the power. Besides, I didn't want to vote for Jim. Not that I thought Jim would be a bad captain and not that I didn't want Jim to be the captain. It wasn't either of those things.

I didn't care about Jim. He just wasn't a father.

Not that the current captain would be any less my father because he wasn't captain. It just didn't feel right. I wanted to check in on Castor and Juniper, but I needed to be here first.

I finished my food, standing.

"I'm tired."

My father nodded. "Sleep in the cabin. I'll wake you for the vote."

I nodded my appreciation. A nod was all I could manage. Now that the excitement was wearing off, my limbs were solid and unwilling. I moved down the hall, falling into the softness of the bed, barely stopping to pull back the blankets. What use were blankets when I was already falling asleep?