Beyond the Pale

Lights Out!

Castorius stood naked at the foot of Captain Caro's bed, regarding the sleeping woman sprawled on top of it. An oddly endearing sight, he thought. She looked peaceful now, the way they said the dead looked. Though, based on the deep red hue of her face, the woman was very much alive. She also looked comfortable now that Castorius had gotten a blanket on her, and she had fallen into a deep slumber.

Now it was the time to make sure she'd stay that way.

Castorius turned over the little red vial in his hand, the liquid sloshing within. He pulled the stopper out and sniffed, only to quickly withdraw from the pungent smell. What is this stuff, anyway?

It was obviously one of those questions better left unpondered.

Walking by the sacked out Captain, he felt the grip of hesitation. She's sleeping so soundly. Maybe this won't even be necessary. He shook his head at the desperate thought. This was no time for second guessing.

Then why did he have such a bad feeling about this? It's not like this was going to kill her? Unless . . . could that be what Roggie had really meant by saying that she'd "stay out". Castorius shook his head again. He would have been told if the mission was about killing the Captain.

Right?

Castorius stifled the paranoid thoughts and feelings of guilt. Carefully, he took the vial close to Caro's slightly parted lips. It was getting close to eight o'clock, and there would be no other chances. This was the one shot he'd get.

If the others were even waiting around anymore. Could it be that they'd concluded he'd failed and taken off?

Focus! Castorius was just about to pour out the liquid when the realization hit him. How much was I supposed to use? The whole thing? Judging by the smell, this was some strong stuff. Maybe it was only supposed to be a few drops? Perhaps any more that necessary would be lethal? Curse you, Roggie, and your inadequate instructions!

In reality, though, it was himself he should curse. He'd been in such a hurry to get the assignment done and over with that he'd forgotten to ask. Always in a hurry. So like you, Janus. So very much like you.

Castorius shook off all the perturbation and self-doubt. It was too late to ask questions now. Too late for regrets. He would simply start with a few drops, see what kind of effect it had, and then apply more if necessary. Maybe she'll sleep for a thousand years . . .

Shut it!

He let the fist two drops fall into the opening between Caro's lips. Perfect hit. She smacked her mouth, and gave a frown like a child having a taste of something very sour. Castorius cringed.

Captain Caro, however, appeared to get over the taste very quickly. She swallowed, and went on with her sleep.

Castorius felt his heart pound hard in his chest. There wasn't any significant change in the woman's being, though maybe she did breath a bit more deeply now. To make sure, he decided to get a few more drops in. Caro reacted much the same as the first time. Still nothing special. Castorius tipped the bottle over Caro's mouth another time. The stuff was almost gone. He shrugged, and just poured the rest of the vial's content in the woman's mouth.

He hadn't spilled any of it, which seemed like an awful petty thing to be proud of.

He stepped back. Nothing in Captain Caro seemed to have changed one way or another. He didn't see any other way but to accept that the stuff had worked. And at least she was still breathing.

Then he rushed to the windows at the back of the cabin, fiddled one open, and stuck his head out. The early night was still clear and the air crisp, but some mists were already starting to blow in from the sea. For some reason they had moved the ship away from the shore, and it was now sitting anchored in the middle of the river-mouth. He looked around, saw nothing at first, but then made out a rowboat waiting right down below him. There were several dark figures huddled in it.