Stormdragons

Chapter 19

Joe knelt on the hard deck. A cool breeze blew on the back of his shirt. His head was covered by a hood and his wrists were tied. He listened as his kidnappers argued with the ship's Captain over the price for handing him over.

'And he's already had sailing experience, you say?' asked the Captain.

'Absolutely. He's got salt in his blood, this one,' replied the leader of the three ruffians who had taken Joe from the tavern.

'Alright, it's a deal,' said the Captain.

'Want me to fetch another one? There's plenty of boys who'd not be missed.'

'No, this one completes the crew. He'll keep the Admiral off my back for a while. But come back in a month or so. They die like flies around here, especially the young ones.'

The kidnapper laughed.

'They may be shark-fodder but at least they're cheap,' he said.

The Captain grunted as he handed over the money.

'Not that cheap. So where are you off to now? Back home?' he asked.

'Not yet. With so many people in town for the celebrations, there's rich pickings to be had right here in Bandar-e-Abbar.'

'Ah, the celebrations – and I'm stuck here trying to catch smugglers.'

The kidnapper laughed again.

'You'll get no sympathy from me, brother. You took the job,' he said and began climbing down the side of the ship.

Joe was glad to hear his kidnappers leave. The way he figured it, being under the command of a naval officer, however corrupt and unscrupulous, was almost certainly better than being at the mercy of brigands. Besides he was tired of being moved about. All night he had travelled on a donkey, hooded and tied to the saddle. Eventually, he had been lifted off the animal and made to sit in a small, wooden boat. After a short journey in the boat, he had been forced to climb a rope ladder. Now he guessed he was kneeling on the deck a much bigger vessel.

'Kemal,' shouted the Captain.

Joe heard the sound of bare feet come running up.

'Take this wretch down below. He's your new rigging monkey.'

'Aye, aye Captain,' replied a throaty, phlegm-ridden voice.

'And Kemal, try to keep him alive longer than the last one.'

'Aye, aye, Captain.'

Rough, impatient hands untied the hood and pulled it off Joe's head. A voice whispered close to his ear.

'Easy now, boy. You give me any trouble and I'll beat you black and blue.'

Joe looked around quickly. Dawn was breaking and there was just enough light to make out his surroundings. He was indeed on board a ship, a long, single-masted ship. The sail was furled but, judging by the slim shape and high prow, it was a fighting vessel.

A wizened face bent over his, two small eyes set deep in a leathery skull.

'Kemal's my name and you'll do well to respect it,' said the man.

Kemal was a small, wiry man with a face as wrinkled as a prune. A thousand lines creased his hollow cheeks and his bony forehead. He slipped a knife from his belt and cut the rope at Joe's wrists.

'You get below and find a space for yourself. Your shift starts in a few hours time and I ain't going easy on you 'cos you've just arrived. As you're gonna find out,' he added ominously, 'going easy on people ain't my style.'