A Pirate's Life for Mei

The Spanish are Coming!

Mei

Mei saw Amos hurl the lantern down and, fear clutching her heart, launched herself from the window opening before she could mourn his loss or appreciate his sacrifice.

The explosion was so powerful that the rush of air and flame jetting through the window behind her flipped her over in midair. Upside down, she saw the blast separate the very stones making up the backside of the mill. For a brief moment, they lifted and allowed firelight through all the cracks. A vast plume of yellow and orange flames blew the top off the mill and engulfed everything as it rose into the night sky, illuminating the entire area much as the volcano had on St. Vincent.

Mei helplessly tumbled down through the air, a prisoner of gravity. She heard a cry of alarm and then felt herself slam mostly into the sugarcane refuse except for one leg that hit the top of the wagon box. Before she could shriek in pain, she bounced out of the wagon, pinwheeled, and landed square on her back on the ground, causing all the air to whoosh out of her lungs.

She lay there in a daze of stars, struggling for breath under the fireball above her. Her entire body hurt.

"Grab her!"

"Careful! She might have damaged her spine!"

It was unclear who was speaking, but she felt her body dragged under the wagon while bits of stone and wood cascaded down from the sky. From the corner of her vision, she saw that while most of the conical mill remained, the factory side had been vaporized, leaving only the floor and mangled equipment and vats, the walls and roof utterly gone.

"Mei! Mei, are you ok?"

She blinked and fought to breathe and regain her senses. She saw Armand's face above hers. "I'm ok. Give me a minute."

"We don't have a minute," Lance whispered.

She became aware of shouting, and a troupe of boots ran past, pounding the dirt.

A commanding voice rang out. "Find whoever's on duty here! Private Rattle, haul your ass into town and find Leftenant Davies."

"Surely he would have heard the explosion and come running on his own, sir."

"Depends how far into his cups and whores he is. Get moving!"

"Aye, sergeant!"

The voices passed.

Lance let out a breath. "I can't believe they didn't see us. We have to go. Now!"

Armand and Lia pulled Mei to her feet, and she stumbled along between them, her arms over their shoulders as they hurried in Lance's wake. He led them across the work yard and into the stables, where several horses knocked about in their stalls in fright.

The stable building was large, with a dozen animals. The companions pulled up shy of a brown mare whose eyes rolled white at the sight of them.

"Why come here?" Armand asked Lance.

The American vaguely gestured at the horses. "We need to go, fast. We'll ride out of here."

"Do you know how to saddle or ride a horse?" He deadpanned.

Lance's face reddened. "No."

Lia's face was tense and pale. Her eyes opened wide, and she hurriedly waved them out of the doorway and into hiding, dragging Mei along with her as she ducked into the shadows.

Two more soldiers ran past towards the inferno.

Mei felt a deep bruise on her leg and gingerly tested it, feeling a sharp stab of pain. She might have cracked her femur. Looking over at the animals, a horse to escape on would be nice, but she didn't know how to saddle or ride. She gritted her teeth and tried to stand on her own. "It's a long way to Bridgetown, and the night is running out. Let's just go."