A Captain Sinks With The Ship

Chapter Five: It Was Implied

Realization dawned on me then, like a familiar yet unwanted visitor who had overstayed their welcome. I was laying in the hammock, swaying with the constant and gentle rhythm of the ship rocking against the waves. The crew's quarters were a bit cramped but I was lucky to be on break. Above me, I had no doubt that Melchior was swinging high over the heads of everyone. It was only dawn, and my body had settled into the gentle rhythm of rising come night fall and staying until the sun first kissed the horizon. Memo, somebody would call, coming to release me. Sleep and a strange feeling of apprehension fought in my groggy brain. I hoped that sleep would win and reward me with much-needed rest. My eyelids fluttered and I didn't resist the alluring temptation of sleep, despite the tightening in my gut telling me to get up.

When I woke, the cabin was dark. I glanced at the porthole. A storm was beginning to form and it looked like bad one. By the rumbling in my stomach, it was probably noon. I sat up. More people were in the cabin now, and a lithe shape slipped between their dozing bodies. Judging by the size and the emptiness of his bed, it was Melichor. But as the shadow drew nearer, I realized the shape was slightly feminine but a hood clouded the face. Desdemona? I thought briefly, looking at the narrow shoulders and short stature. But Desdemona would proudly march in, demanding whatever she was demanding. I peered at the shadow, growing steadily closer until it stood right beside my hammock. The voice that emerged from the hood was a familiar one, light and kind.
"Are you ready?"
The girl from yesterday.

In stunned silence, I watched as she extended a expectant hand to me.

"I was told by your rowdy friend you were informed of the evening's following events?" The way she said was as though it was my fault I didn't know what was going on. "In any case, my name is Saina Rice."
I opened my mouth on reflex to tell her mine. She shook her head. "Memo Dossier." I groaned internally. Of course Melchior would tell her that name, I thought, hopping down from my hammock, resigned to my unknown fate. Everyone on the sea was crazy, Memo was certain of it. Absolutely crazy.