Sky Pirates

Chapter 7

When Greene returned to his cabin the previous night after his dinner with Flynn, he hadn't been cuffed and chained again. . It felt good to undress, to wash himself, and to sleep in a nightshirt instead of his heavy uniform.

Now, Parker Greene wandered the ship freely; he nodded to the deck hands, as if it were his own ship, and they nodded back. Ever an early riser, he'd awoke, dressed, and wandered onto the deck of the Balsa Robin unmolested and perched on the ship's rail long before the sun peeked over the horizon. He enjoyed the feel of his walking stick in his hand. Parker unconsciously ran a finger along the rounded, carved filial that topped the thing.

While staying out of their way, he watched as all manner of men in all manner of dress, ran to and fro, moved barrels and crates, climbed rigging, furled and unfurled various sails, mopped, polished, and generally cleaned in a frenzy he'd never before witnessed on a ship; at least not one in flight. Greene found many of the shoeless men handsome with their thin waists and broad shoulders. Shirts open at their necks revealed deep-tanned, often haired chests that caused him to catch his breath with desire. At those thoughts, he couldn't help but think of the young, handsome blond man from the Barkley who was now stoking boilers below his feet, strangely glad that the lad was still alive.

While he felt a sense of freedom, Lord Greene couldn't help but notice that the eyes of all the men he could see were also keeping a watch of him. He took the moment to survey the deck: three mail schooners locked into positions. He wanted to inspect the couplings and discover how they managed to hold them upright in their mooring slots. Simply amazing.

As the sun rose a bit more, the call came from the crow's nest high above his head: "Land ho'!" Such a lovely, singsong voice gave out the cry again: "Land ho'!"

Lord Greene turned and spied a large, lush green island, with three other smaller islands keeping watch over her.

The activity all around him increased. Men swung and leapt into action. The great ship slowed and hovered, before beginning an easy descent toward the smallest of the four islands.

As they drew closer, a line of buildings came into view. They were some of the largest buildings Parker Greene had seen anywhere, ever. He finally realized what was happening. As they progressed closer and closer to the building in the middle of the long line of more than a dozen of nearly the same size, its great panel doors were opening, one-by-one, like a huge accordion. As each panel moved it made two sounds: a click and clack in tight rhythm. Click-clack. Click-clack.

Inside the building was dark. And then, the sound of what seemed a million bees buzzed deafeningly. With that hum came a brilliant yellow glow from within not just the terminal with the open doors, but from the windows of all the other adjacent and adjoining structures. As they lit up, Parker could see how they were each attached to one or two others. It was like a hive connected to a hive connected to a hive.

He found himself witha strong desire to participate as the energy of anticipation of returning homebuilt around him. He surveyed the deck for something to do: maybe toss ananchor or take up a rope or...but there was nothing for him to do. It now feltas if the deck had been abandoned. There weren't men scurrying anywhere now. Nobarefoot riggers worked the line or sails. No calls were offered from thecrow's nest above.