The Nature of the Beast

Chapter 2

Vestal took her below, through some small rooms beside the captain's quarters in the stern of the ship. The floors creaked beneath her and the shouts of the men grew distant. Enid breathed in through her nose, taking in the smells, tar and the sweet scent of wood, mixed with a sour medicinal odour. It was warm and clean.

"This was my son's room. The room to the left is the sick bay, that's where you'll stay." Vestal led her through the door into a small confined cabin. "In the event we have more sick men than beds we'll find alternate arrangements for you to sleep."

Enid looked around. Two small beds built tight into each wall with a table and sideboard. It was cramped but cosy. Enid was used too much tighter sleeping arrangements, and this room had a window. It was heavenly.

"Where is your son? Did something happen to him?" She was thinking of her own brother, only weeks since he died and her chest tightened.

Vestal smiled, "No, no. Little rascal has become a man, sleeps below deck with the crew now. He doesn't think the men will respect him if he still sleeps so near his mum. But I keep it for him in case he changes his mind. I use it to store extra medical supplies, and the alcohol rations away from the men."

"Oh, I thought maybe something had happened to him."

"Nothing bad, only sad, for me anyway," she smiled. "There are books in the drawers under the beds, read anything you like. Can you read?"

Enid nodded. She could, rather well actually.

"Vestal?" Enid wanted to be sure before they weighed anchor of Vestal's true motives. "Why did you take me on? You don't really need my help, do you?"

"An extra set of hands is always helpful, especially with this lot. However, you paid for your passage; you don't need to help if you'd rather not." She looked Enid up and down once more and Enid was conscious of her filthy dress and boots, no longer pristine and new.

Vestal placed her hand over her belly and sighed.

"The truth is I lost a child a long time ago, a little girl. She died before she even lived." Vestal stroked her stomach as she spoke and Enid did the same, mimicking Vestal.

"I'm sorry." Enid knew the pain of loss as well.

"I thought, maybe this was a sign. I lost a daughter, you lost a mother. Maybe we were destined to meet." She smiled at Enid, eyes wide and hopeful.

Enid smiled too.

As Vestal left, shutting the door behind her, Enid sat on the bed and thought about her next steps. Where would she wind up, and what would she do when she got there. She didn't even know where they were headed.

For now, she was on this ship for weeks with over twenty strangers and most of them men. Her knees wobbled and her stomach lurched. She should have known any feelings of peace wouldn't last. Pain in her stomach was nothing new; fear was her constant companion these past few years. This time it came bound to sheer terror at her situation. Stranded aboard this ship with strangers. What was she thinking?

Her throat tightened. She stood and began shaking, trying with enormous effort to breathe. Having always acted impulsively in the past, this time was no different except her desperation made her act foolish. She had made an enormous mistake. As Enid ran to the door and flung it open, she barrelled straight into a young man, perhaps a few years her senior. She yelled and kicked him in the leg as he grabbed hold of her. He held her tight as she struggled.

"Stop, I'm not trying to hurt you. Calm down." 

He released her, laughing and she stopped struggling, realising she wasn't in imminent danger. He was just a boy, and a ratty looking one at that. She took in his tousled hair and the dirt streak across his chin; he must be the resident rat catcher. As the mangy looking boy continued to laugh, anger boiled up.