The Nature of the Beast

Chapter 11

It seems that hope and luck and love were not fated to be with Enid, perhaps not ever. Vestal died in the afternoon sun. Marko wailed. It took four of his mates to drag him off to seek solace in a bottle. Maybe Nikola was with them; she hoped he was as she couldn't be there to comfort him. She was seeing to Vestal's remains. She didn't cry. She was too exhausted, too numb and perhaps too angry to cry.

Enid spent the late afternoon washing Vestal's body, preparing her for the funeral. She washed her silky black hair, making sure her waves were dry, framing her face. She bathed and dressed her in her favourite royal blue gown. She brushed her hair a second time and gently placed her arms across her waist. She then slowly wrapped her in the white shroud for a shipboard burial.

The other men who died were wrapped in a slipshod manner and tossed. Not out of callousness, more from desperation to keep the disease from spreading. 

When Enid was finished, Nikola and Marko, along with a few other crew mates came down to carry her up on deck. Nikola's father was so drunk he teetered on his feet. He kept one hand on the body, partly to steady himself, partly to be near her, touching her.

They laid her down on a bench and Nikola said a few quiet words in Serbian, weeping as he spoke. The men had all shaved and were dressed in the cleanest shirts they owned. The sun shone as it set beneath the horizon, red and orange like the fire in Enid's soul. It was a bittersweet sight and everyone wept in shock and disbelief. Vestal was like the pitch. She held this ship together and with her gone, it may as well be left to drift, as each man's soul was bound to be for a time.

Enid stood beside Nikola and held his hand, hoping to give him some small measure of comfort. She heard a hiss from behind her and knew Senka was there, wishing her ill.

The crew sang a haunting, beautiful song in Serbian while they lifted her body overboard. As they were hoisting her up, the sails fluttered and the wind gushed, heaving the boat, sending the crew askew. Nikola's father stumbled as Vestal was flung into the ocean and almost went over with her. He probably wouldn't have minded. His first mate grabbed hold and saved him from falling in. He screamed her name and crumpled to the floor, sobbing.

Enid, taking Nikola's hand, led him back to his room as the men busied themselves with sailing off. The wind was finally blowing but there was no celebration, just a steady return to work for the remaining men.

She lay on the bed beside him and held him as he wept. He wept and wept until he slept, exhausted. Enid lay there, stroking his head long after he fell asleep. Her own future was now uncertain. How long could she stay on this boat, safe? Vestal guaranteed her safety while she was living. Nikola would do all he could to keep her safe but would it be enough? With so many men on board, it wouldn't be long before someone tried to take advantage of her again. She had to leave, as soon as they reached a port somewhere. She kissed Nikola's head, wondering if he would come with her, before she too fell into an exhausted sleep.

When she woke it was dark and Nikola was gone. He still had duties above and his father most likely wasn't in any shape to meet his own. She stretched, caught a whiff of herself and cringed. She needed a wash and a change of clothes. She walked over to the washbasin and stripped off her dress, down to her bare skin. She began sponging off the sweat and oil from her days of hard work and death. The cool water felt good, running down between her breasts. Her thoughts went to Vestal and she started to shake, sobbing at the pain of her loss. Missing her presence and knowing Vestal would never be there for her again.

A small catch of breath behind her made her stop and turn. Marko was standing in the door, swaying, eyes glazed over but fixed on her.

"Vestal," he called out.