Secrets of the Sea

Chapter 22

Peter fell in and out of a feverish dream throughout the next couple of days. The sick bay was hot and stuffy, which I doubt did any help, and a sharp coppery odor refused to waft away, despite the cleaning spray the doctors sprayed everywhere and the alcohol they cleaned the tools in. However, the open windows did little to clear the room, except when the nurses would physically air out the room. The effect of that, though, only lasted about an hour.

            The ship’s doctor, a balding man with thick spectacles, had sewn up Peter’s wound, but it continued to stay swollen and fester. If the swelling doesn’t die down in the next hour, he said, they would have to re-open and clean the wound.

            “One of the most dangerous things about these battle wounds is that you don’t know what state the blade was in. From the looks of this, it was probably rusty, and is causing an infection,” he told me.

            Now I watched as he prepared the necessary tools. Scissors, alcohol, cloths. A blade that gleamed in the candle light. An assistant poured some wine down Peter’s throat to numb the pain. I looked around in panic. I didn’t want to watch them cut him open. I didn’t want to watch him writher in pain as the blade, gleaming in the candle light, sliced through his skin, even though he was unconscious. The doctor’s assistant noticed my worry and told me to wait outside. Part of me wanted to stay. I promised myself I wouldn’t leave him. But with another word from her and I left.

            I gasped in the salty sea air. The sun warmed my skin. It was the first time in days I had been out on deck. The heavy clomp of boots announced Liana’s arrival.

            “You look like a wreck,” she said.

            “No doubt,” I replied. I remembered the cold way she had looked at me after she saw Peter kiss me, right before he fainted. 

            “I’m surprised to see you up here. I thought you’d stay in the sick bay until you got sick yourself.”

            I didn’t reply. How was I supposed to? Even I didn’t know why I stayed there. Why I wouldn’t leave his side.

            Liana sighed. “Follow me. I’m having a bath prepared for you in my quarters. You stink of blood and look like you came back from the dead. I’ll not be having my men make up ghost stories because of it; the poor cabin boys have seen enough horror to scare them for a life time.”

***

            I hope it’s like this in the Heavenly Realms, I thought, dozing off in the warm water. Liana had her maid, Leslie, a slight blonde girl with sweet blue eyes, refilled the tub twice already.

            “You’re welcome to come out any day now.” Liana was flopped on her bed, waiting. Unlike Peter’s almost Spartan-like room, Liana’s was lavishly furnished. Lavender drapes graced the open windows, fluttering in the soft sea’s sighing breeze. Dark purple satin sheets lay atop her goose-feather mattress. It was big enough to hold at least two people. I wondered who she shared it with. A suitor? Husband?

Exasperated sighs came from the direction every once in a while, but I chose to ignore them. I wanted to luxuriate in the warm rose-scented water forever.

            “Don’t you have anything better to do? You are the Captain, after all.”

            “Sayan is perfectly capable of maintaining the ship for a few more hours. She told me to rest.”

            “Well, then, rest,” I sighed.

            “I have been. For the past two hours.”