The Pirate's Legacy: New Horizons

Chapter 27: Freedom

"Mr. Higginbothum!"

"Aye, sir?" called the bony man up in the crow's nest.

"I've decided to wait up for the captain," said the first mate, standing on the main deck. "I'll call you back when I've seen him." Michael waited until the bony older man had come down the shroud and disappeared down the hatch before he turned around and traversed the main deck to the top of the gangplank."Coast's clear," he called down in a low voice. "It's safe to come out now."

After a few tense seconds, from behind a large stack of crates on the dock landing, Blika emerged into view.

"Good job, Blika," said Michael as the little Afrikaansian boy walked up the gangplank. "Was there no trouble?"

Blika shook his head. Though he didn't speak, he did understand most of the Universal Language spoken to him. Only Michael and Louise knew of this.

"I thought you'd do something like this," said a lofty female voice from the direction of the hatch.

Michael spun around to face Em, who stood before the hatch with her hands on her hips and an eyebrow raised.

"Michael, what were you thinking?" she asked as he and Blika made their way toward her.

"Em, please don't say anything," said the blond man. "Especially to Roger. Not until I do."

"He'll know what you did," said Em, "if he doesn't know already."

"He doesn't. I've made sure of it," said the first mate. "Please. I don't want Blika here."

A heavy sigh escaped Em. Her hands dropped from her hips and hung at her sides. "Are you really going to convince Roger to make Blika his cabin boy?"

"I'll damn well try," said Michael.

"My prayers to you, then," said Em. She dropped her gaze to Blika, who stared back at her with black eyes that reminded her of Roger. In fact, now that she thought of it, Blika had many similar qualities to the enigmatic Pirate King. She had her own reservations about Roger's decision, but she understood his concern for worrying about Calypso than a slave boy. To Michael, she added, "It won't be on my head when things blow up in your face, however."

Michael shook his blond head before Em started descending the winding staircase. "Don't worry. I'll make sure you'll be implicated as the ringleader." Ushering Blika into the hatch after a chuckling Em, Michael brought the boy to the second deck where Louise waited for them in front of her cabin door. "Thank you," Michael said when he and Blika stopped in front of her.

Anxiety wrinkled the plain attendant's brow. Her hands wrung a portion of her large shirt even as her grey-green eyes flittered over Michael's shoulder toward the staircase. She had seen Em pass down the staircase, and the latter had given her a look that fully revealed that Em knew of the situation. "I have second thoughts," Louise said. "I don't want to incur Dread Robin's wrath—"

"I'll take full responsibility for whatever will occur," said Michael. "Louise, thank you. You are very brave to hide Blika for the time being."

Louise's grey-green eyes met Michael's blues. "Not so brave," she said with a small smile. "I'll do this since it means so much to you."

A full smile broke over Michael's tan face like a sunrise. "Again, thank you." He turned to Blika. "Louise will hide you. Do whatever she says, okay?"

Louise watched Blika nod up to Michael before turning his black eyes on her. She bent down so that her face could be level with his. " 'Tis nice to have you back, Blika," she said slowly.

Michael left Louise to settle Blika in her cabin before she had to return to Joshua's side and help serve supper to the men. He returned upstairs and settled in the crow's nest, fighting contentment at helping Blika and guilt for doing so behind Roger's back. It was not until about three hours later, long after supper had ended, when Michael stirred from his post at the sound of heavy footsteps going up the gangplank, as if the intruder made sure he was heard approaching. Michael stuck his head over the edge of the crow's nest. "Ahoy, Captain!" he called down to the tall, dark figure stepping onto the main deck. Michael scrambled over the edge and onto the portside shroud. The rope ladder creaked and swung as he climbed down. Roger waited with his arms crossed over his thin chest beside the inside of the shroud. Michael jumped down onto the deck. When he straightened up, his blue eyes widened at the sight of dried blood on Roger's neck and face. "What happened?"