Wind in My Sails

Chapter 7

Finn looked over his shoulder as he urged the twelve men into his and Noah's cabin. It was a tight fit but this was important. He came inside and closed the door. "Shue has gone mad!"

"What was your first clue?" Michael said flatly.

Finn was surprised. "You see it?"

"Of course we see it." Arthur rolled his cerulean eyes. "Everybody sees it."

"Why did no one tell me?!"

"What were we supposed to say?" Samuel demanded.

"That our captain has lost his mind!"

Sebastian took him by the shoulders and shouted in his face, "Our captain has lost his mind!"

Finn glared at him then broke away. "So what are we supposed to do about it?"

"What can we do?" David shrugged. "He's our captain."

"Short of a mutiny, there is alas not much we can do." Shane said.

"Mutiny?!" Finn shushed himself. "We can't have a mutiny!"

"No one's talking about a mutiny." Ross soothed him.

"Not yet." Noah muttered. Finn turned wide eyes on him so he explained. "He's going to start becoming dangerous soon. It's madness, not a night at White's. He'll put us all in danger one day."

"You can't mean that." Finn whispered.

"I mean it." Jacob bit off. "I didn't sign up just to be ridden into the eye of the storm over a piece of parchment for someone who isn't even my king."

"Treason!" Finn gasped.

"I'm not English..."

Finn frowned. "Do all of you feel this way?"

"The Americas may be new but at least I don't have to worry about dying over a map." Samuel spat.

"What am I supposed to tell him? I'm his first mate. I'm supposed to warn him of a mutiny." Finn was miserable.

"It's not a mutiny." Ryder said.

"Just tell him morale is down and we need to let off steam." Malcolm suggested.

"Big time." Azimio added.

Finn nodded. "Aye. I hope he listens."

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Finn waited. "Sir?"

Shue stared at him long and hard. "You think I don't hear the talk round the ship? I know you all think I've gone mad."

Finn reacted terribly. He flailed around and gasped. "Sir, no, sir!"

Shue gave him a particular look. "I am not stupid. I may be a touch mad though. The men are right. I have gone weak in the head about finding the pirates. I just want my men to be able to go home to their families. Is that so wrong?"

Finn shook his head. "No, sir."

Shue breathed deeply. "Mayhap we should let off steam? Perhaps at the next port, we should get off this ship?"

Finn nodded. "If tis what you think best, Captain."

"I do. Tell the men."

"Aye, aye, sir."

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"Enjoy yourselves for tonight!" Sly walked back and forth in front of her crew. "Tomorrow begins our search for the island that houses the treasure! We set sail at dawn and twill be our finest adventure to date!"