a.k.a. Katana

Chapter Eleven

A break in the white caps of the horizon was finally noticeable. Kokin watched it intently hoping it was his En's boat. The party boat still sat far to the west of them; no use risking detection by hanging around. A thin wisp of smoke trailing through the lightening sky told him it was still smoldering.

Kokin caught the slightest glimpse of orange on the object that was now, most definitely coming towards them. He waited just a few moments longer to make sure it was S'Nekka's boat and not just wishful thinking. He dipped his hands into the salty water and scrubbed at the makeup on his face. It was bad enough he had to wear the torn up pants, which were now more like capris, he didn't have to have stuff drawn on his face as well.

Getty was normally a very quiet man, stoic and seemingly without emotion. But he couldn't help laughing out loud at the sight in the little dinghy. Kokin's hair was a terrible, wild mess, there was makeup smeared underneath his eyes and down his cheeks and his thighs threatened to rip through the brightly colored pants he wore. Beside him lay the woman Getty assumed was Katana.

He couldn't see why Kokin had gone on about her so much back at S'Nekka. She was filthy and dressed in garish rags. Her tangle of black hair was tucked into a light blue checkered newsboy sort of style cap that hid her eyes. Her face was smeared with dirt and white paint.

"Shut up and bring us up Getty!" Kokin yelled up at his Z'Den as he stood in the bottom of the little boat. Getty obeyed at an irritatingly slow pace due to his laughing. "You really took this pirate thing seriously, huh?" Getty commented. If Kokin hadn't known Getty for so long, he might have been angry with him. Instead he waited, impatiently tapping his forefinger on the side of the little boat, while Getty pulled them up on the lift using the hand crank.

Kokin jumped off the boat and onto the deck before it was all the way up and then turned around and pulled Katana out. He ignored his En mates' laughter and wise ass comments as he carried Katana to the little room that served as his sleeping quarters as well as the clinic.

This ship was nowhere near as grand in size or furnishings as the party boat. But it was big enough to comfortably carry fifty or so men and a large cargo. It was made of a hardened black wood that was watertight. Nothing really needed to be painted because of the type of wood that was used and the treatment process it had undergone. It was decorated none the less with bright orange swirls of paint that created intricate designs and symbols.

Kokin laid Katana on top of one of the clinic beds and let her rest while he took a luke warm shower and changed clothes. Getty had followed him into the bathroom and was speaking with him through the shower door.

"Well, all my stuff is still at the hotel, Getty. We have to go back, at least for that. And I kind of told a guy I would fix his broken arm." Kokin called scrubbing the sub-par soap through his hair. The automatic soap function on the shower head was terrible compared to the homemade stuff his mother made.

Getty made a grunting sound which meant he would go, but didn't like it. "I'd take the little boat and just go by myself, but they would recognize it. It'll only take a couple of extra hours and we'll be on our way." Kokin assured him. "And the girl?" Getty asked.

"She's coming with us, of course. I'll teach her all about life at the En and she'll fit in eventually. I'm pretty sure she doesn't know about things like Ch' Ezzas and Z'Dens and T'Ke Lanas and such, but she's smart." Kokin could feel Getty's sense of unease about her. He turned off the water and opened the door. He met Getty's gaze straight on. "I love her, Getty." He said seriously.

Getty thought about pointing out the fact that he hardly knew the woman, but decided it would be futile after glancing down at the pants Kokin had left on the floor. He wouldn't have done such a thing for just anybody.