Coggler's Brood (Work in Progress)

Chapter 12

"Sail Ho!"

For two days we have quartered a seemingly random section of clear sky waiting for our prey and practicing our response.

I lift a loud hailer to my lips. "Beat to quarters. Run out the guns. Bring the ship onto an intercept course." Twice we have been through this drill already, but each time Anabella Steenkamph swarms up to the crow's nest, projecting from the top of the blimp, with a telescope, and stands us down. Clearly, she is waiting for a specific ship.

A drum beats, alerting everyone to our battle status. Sails flap and tighten as the Shonti Bloom swings onto her new course, and Anabella heads for the crow's nest again.

As much as I loved the old Shonti Bloom, this refitted, sail powered version is far more satisfying to fly. Difficult to maneuver, demanding to navigate, and requiring a larger crew, but actually more fun. I am enjoying getting to know the new ship and practicing my sailing skills. Slowly but surely, I am familiarizing myself with her nuances and peculiarities, and she is once again becoming an extension of my own senses.

However, the more intuitive the ship is to fly, the sadder I become. I long to move out of the map room into the captain's cabin. My cabin. I pine for ownership of the Shonti Bloom; the ship that was once mine, but is now Anabella's. Every night I wake with a dozen schemes running through my mind: how I can ditch Ms Steenkamph over the side, turn her in for piracy, slam her in the brig and take back my ship. Most disturbing of all is that in my dreams Jack and Magnus often take her side.

I know I'm becoming morose: it's a combination of inaction, longing, and frustration, and yes, jealousy. The deeper my mood sinks, the further I push Jack away, and the more annoyed I become when I see him laughing and joking with Anabella. Is he flirting with her to get back at me, or does he genuinely like her?

"That's our ship." Anabella has returned from the crow's nest. "Full battle speed."

A frisson of anticipation ripples through the crew.

I shove my worries to the back of my mind, now is the time for a razor sharp focus. I can do that, compartmentalize my feelings, consciously bottle them up and concentrate on other things. Scud once told me it was the skill of a psychopath. I believe him.

I snatch up a speaking tube.

"Gears," announces Scud's tinny voice. He is enjoying the new Shonti Bloom too. No doubts about his loyalty.

"Full speed on both props. Full pressure to the guns. We're going into battle," I shout down the tube.

"Aye, aye, Captain." Before the tube is replaced I hear him yelling orders to the cogglers. "Crank up those gears. I want both teams running turn-and-turn-about."

Magnus joins me at the wheel. He will manage the sails while I navigate. He will also lend his strength to the woman on the helm if required. "So this is it."

"In deed it is, Mr Tristan." I remind myself that we need whatever cargo that ship is carrying to buy our way into the presence of the Doyles. Without it my mission to find Papa Doyle is doomed. Still, I am far from happy about attacking another ship; if there were another way to thwart my mother I would take it, but Anabella is adamant this is the only option.

We travel in silence as the dot on the horizon resolves itself into a quadruple-masted cargo ship, similar to the ill-fated Sequestria, but more heavily armed. Soon, our prey spots our approach and takes flight. The chase is on.

I'm expecting Anabella to take control of the Shonti Bloom for the pursuit. Instead, she strolls to the hatch. "Call me when we are in cannon range." Then she disappears below deck leaving me in charge.