“Very well.” Ian slowly gave a simple description of his family.
“Tell me more.” He slowly described Scotland and gave a bit of family history.
“Ian, tell me…places…you go….China?” He slowly gave her a description of some of the places they had seen and of the two sea battles they had fought with pirates near Madagascar and China. She asked him about the four fake gun ports she had noticed that were painted on each side of Elsie.
After explaining that they were to deter attacks by making it seem like they had more cannons, he told her that she constantly surprised him with her thirst for knowledge about so many things. She replied that she had always been that way and had insisted on learning Latin and French, as well as mathematics and general science. She had worn her father down and had always gotten the teaching she desired.
“Lady Alandra, I find that I can talk with you. I, um…I’m…amazed. I’m just a seaman and I’m surprised that you would want to talk with me at all. I am…humbled.” She gave that delighted laugh again and Ian again laughed with her. “Oh Ian, I very much…like…talk with you.”
She spoke slowly in her halting English and told of her childhood and her family and about Spain in general and Barcelona in particular. She told Ian that she was being taken to meet the family of a man she was betrothed to. It was part of a very formal courtship that would take over a year to finish. Ian said “Are marriages always arranged so in Spain?
“Yes, Ian, it…custom in my country. I am…old…now…for betrothed…promise…be wife.” Ian laughed at that
“Ian, what…..funny….you laugh?
“Och, Lassie! You are but seventeen and you think you are old?
“Ian, fifteen is age….betrothed…..to marry in Spain. What is ‘lass…lassie’?”
“Lass is the same as saying ‘senorita’. It is common to speak so in Scotland. And about my laughing, please don’t be offended. I did not know that you were betrothed so young in Spain. It does happen in Scotland some yet. Do you like this man, or is he a boy?”
“He is nineteen years old. I have known him since I was ten. He is very nice….kind…and trusting. He is….what….impulsive….hot….temper. I resist my father….he….wait….but now make me…to be promised. I…still….not really ready. Do ladies…Scotland…betrothed to another… by family?”
“Many are and but many are not. It seems to be a thing that is becoming less common than in the past.”
“Ian….you betrothed?”
“Nah, lassie, I’ve never found a woman that I wanted for a wife. I’ve sailed since I was four, and worked aboard ship since I was seven. My mother and father both insisted that I learn my letters, to read, write, mathematics, history and science.”
“To learn….that…common for…you…in Scotland?”
“No. They pressed me on that and allowed me to sail on trading voyages in summertime. In those days, my father would sail with us as first mate.
“How old….you, Ian?
“Twenty three.” He didn’t add that his only acquaintance with women of his age were tavern wenches, whether in Amsterdam, Liverpool, Edinburg, or London. In fact since this trip that would also include Calcutta, Cape Town, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Passing the hours they talked about a number of things, and Ian grew to be greatly impressed by her intellect as well as her beauty. They continued until the midnight watch changed aboard Elsie. That was the signal to change the watch aboard the prize ship too, so Ian reluctantly escorted Alandra back to her cabin and softly bid her good night. He then woke the two crewmen in the adjacent cabin to start their watch. Thinking of Alandra, he took a few minutes to fall asleep, which was out of character for him, but then he drifted off to a dreamless sleep.
Chapter 6
The next day saw them becalmed still. Up at dawn, Ian went to see to the extra provisions, then to speak with MacGregor and MacCarr. He asked them to try to include Mustafa in some of their work. Then he went to the galley to seek Li Hong. Li was half Chinese and half English, and he had joined them while in Hong Kong. He was lean like Ian, but maybe four inches shorter. Nice looking, he had regular features and straight black hair. He was square-jawed with a European cast to his face, save for his oriental looking eyes. A hunted man by the Triads, he had killed four of them for murdering his mother, father, and two sisters. There had been nothing to hold him in China and he knew that the Triads would keep looking for him as long as he stayed there. He had learned English and to a lesser extent, Portuguese being that he lived in Hong Kong, a vibrant and busy trade center.
Ian had seen him the night he had killed two of the four Triads, and was singularly impressed that he had done it with no weapon whatsoever, whereas they had wielded knives. He had waded in and helped Li, simply because of the odds and had sliced one badly with his knife. By the time he had joined Li at his side again, two were dead and another had a broken arm.
One thing led to another and he persuaded Angus to take on the twenty-seven year old Li as a crewman, observing that they could use help in the galley; and that it would serve the interests of the whole crew to learn as much about the art of hand-to-hand combat that Li had demonstrated. Li was a fine cook, and they had never eaten so well before. So it was that he came to be a crewman on board Elsie’s Cloud.
Ian sought him in the galley and asked if he could instruct him in hand to hand combat that morning seeing as how breakfast had already been served. Li was enthusiastic, and was still complaining that he had not gotten to board the Tico with Ian for the final part of that battle.
Laughing merrily at his complaints Ian replied “Li, if I’d taken you and you’d been killed, they would have hung me for losing the best cook we ever had!”
They went to the low foredeck where they stretched their muscles for a good ten minutes in the still, humid air, perspiring freely. Facing each other they each placed their right fist in against their flattened left palm and bowed. Ian asked Li to go over how to quickly sweep the lead foot from under an opponent. Li showed him in slow motion several times and then had him try it. Speed and accuracy was stressed over power. Li was instructing Ian using Mandarin Chinese as was their custom. Ian had gotten to where he could speak it fairly well.
Alandra and Celita had appeared on the main deck. They were dressed more casually than they had been for dinner last night. Both were wearing outfits more appropriate for riding; pantaloons and boots, with only light cotton blouses and the hair of both of them tied back into a simple pony tail with black ribbons. They would never have gotten away with that if a proper chaperone had been with them.
Noticing a group of around nine men gathered on the main deck, near the foredeck they saw Ian and Li there, just as they bowed to each other. Alandra noticed that both men were stripped to their waist, with sweat bands tied around their heads. Ian was taller, darker skinned, and had curly black hair on his muscular chest, stomach, legs, and forearms, while Li was nearly hairless. Both men had highly defined musculature, being lean and fit looking. Rivulets of sweat ran freely down the contours of their glistening bodies in the still, humid air.
After climbing onto the top of the forward cargo hatch to see over the heads of the crewmen, they watched with great interest. Alandra couldn’t take her gaze from Ian. They noticed that Li spoke in an unknown tongue as did Ian. At times, without turning around, Ian explained to the crew there what Li was saying. Li again went over how to quickly step inside an opponent’s reach while sweeping a foot behind him for a take down. He did it several times at a very slow speed.
Finally Li did it at fighting speed and Ian went down on his back with a thump. Alandra and Celita both gasped, never having seen such a sight before. The sudden speed of the thing amazed them both. Ian laughed good-naturedly as Li helped him up and then gestured him to do likewise. Ian moved in like lightning and it was Li Hong who crashed to the deck, bringing another gasp from the two wo
men, followed by giggling. At the sound of their giggling, Ian, Li, and the assembled crewmen all turned.
Seeing both ladies, Ian blushed, as the crew laughed uproariously. Alandra thought this was just marvelous and clapped her hands together while laughing. Ian fastened his gaze on Alandra and she gradually stopped laughing. Then a slow smile spread over the face of both of them, not unnoticed by Celita who giggled all the more. Two of the crew whistled and all applauded, causing Ian and Alandra both to blush even more and to break into laughter.
About then that magical moment evaporated as the ship’s sails ruffled in a breeze that had sprung from nowhere. Ian shouted “Wind’s up. Stu, fetch Cap’n McCloud!” Shortly they had a volunteer crew of eight men and were separated from Elsie. The ladies had elected to stay aboard Tico.
***
They had four good days of sailing. At dusk they would furl all sails on Tico and rig to be towed overnight by Elsie. They would all have supper aboard Elsie and then were able to sail all night long with no lights showing. Ian had persuaded Angus to allow Li to sail with him aboard Tico. They kept the same routine each morning with either Ian giving fencing lessons or Li giving Kung Fu lessons. The steady breeze was a welcome respite from the warm humid air they all experienced while becalmed. Ian also taught Li all manner of seaman’s knots. Alandra seemed interested in this and participated regularly. She talked with Ian every time there was an opportunity. They were getting to know each other very well. Celita seemed to smile a lot at Tom McBride.
The blue sky and sparking sea about them promised a fifth fair day of sailing. It was windier than any day since entering the Mediterranean, and Ian settled in for a four hour watch at the helm. As he stood at the helm, he reflected on the events that had transpired since Elsie had entered the Mediterranean. He thought of how they could have easily been sunk or overrun by the pirates. Another pirate craft or a pair of them could have joined in. Seeing smoke of a cannon fight at sea would attract them like a dead body would attract buzzards. Things could have gone badly for them.
Pondering the history of Elsie and her construction, he was still surprised that his emergency bow rudders had been used to save the day; and recalled the time they had first tested them on Elsie’s first day at sea near Amsterdam.
He had doubted that they would ever use one of them as time went on. How wrong that turned out to be! Ian let his mind wander and in due course his gaze met that of Alandra, who smiled sweetly at him. By Heaven she takes my breath away!
Two hours later, he called for a crewman to take the helm. He then climbed aloft on first one mast and then the other one rigged by MacCarr while carrying a skin of water to the lookout. He wanted to check a spar anchor on the rear mast.
Tico’s cargo was rich indeed. Ian had seen expensively made leather saddles furnished with silver buckles, cases of finely crafted sabers of Toledo steel and ornate sheaths. There were cases of pistols and muskets of superb quality as well of numerous items of fine silver and golden goblets, candelabras, fine crockery and china. They would give all of Alandra’s family belongings back but would keep the ship owner’s cargo to sell later, when they repaired and sold Tico.
Alandra came and joined him at the helm, bringing food and water. He asked her to take the helm while he ate. She was hesitant at first, and then took it as he stepped aside. They had a pleasant conversation, she asking for details about different places he had seen in his travels. Her English had improved markedly in just these few days.
She asked many questions in her halting English, which he was admittedly growing to love. He noticed that her hair which had looked black in the cabin the first time he had seen her, had reddish highlights. It blew carelessly across her neck and Ian was quite distracted by her presence.
They had drifted over one hundred feet to port, widening the gap between them and Elsie. Ian said “Alandra, we’re too far from Elsie. Steer a wee bit to starboard.” She turned to him impishly, and feigning a deep voice said “Och lad, give…lassie…this one… a chance!” punctuating that with a giggle. Ian’s mouth dropped open and he must have had a priceless look on his face because Alandra then burst forth with raucous laughter, as she threw her head back and shook her hair. Ian finally joined in. They laughed until they could hardly breathe, attracting some attention from others on board. Ian finally said “Ah lass, we must find you a better English teacher.”
Taking a final long pull at the water skin, Ian stepped close behind Alandra and reaching around her with both arms, corrected their course a bit. Alandra’s heart beat a bit faster as she felt his nearness and the warmth of his encircling arms. Once his right hand rested on hers for a moment, and Alandra felt something like electricity pass through her body.
“You have a touch for this, Alandra. I think in time, you could sail a craft on your own with no help.” She laughed at that, saying “Ian…you make…joke?” Laughing, Ian said “Nah, lassie, I meant it. You have a natural balance but Celita is a landlubber.
“Celita…the….landbubber…bandlubber….landlubber”. Another giggle followed and Ian couldn’t help himself but to laugh with her.
“You climb …like…cat, Ian. You…same up ….in sails as on…. deck.”
“I have played in ships at home since I was a wee lad Alandra.”
“What is ‘wee’, Ian?” With a low chuckle, he explained ‘wee’ to her. She then said “You fight with Chinese man…..he teach you?”
“Aye, lass.” He related the circumstances of their chance meeting and Li’s coming to be a seaman on Elsie. They stood like that for over a half hour and finally Ian stepped away, to Alandra’s regret. He called to a crewman to take the helm. After speaking briefly to him, Ian said “Come with me Alandra, and I’ll show you something special.”
Stooping, he picked up his jacket from the deck and they walked toward the bow of the ship side by side. Ian stopped to pull hard on several ropes holding the repaired mast and looked briefly at it to see if anything was loosening. Satisfied, he picked up a short coil of rope left over from the repairs and looped it over his shoulder. He gestured towards the bow and they climbed the steps to the low foredeck. Walking beside her he said “Would you like to feel like you are the ship?” She said yes to that, so he hopped catlike up to the bowsprit and walking out onto it, he sat down, facing out to sea.
“If I keep my eyes on the horizon and just sit here like this, in a short while, I will begin to feel like I am the ship itself. It’s almost like flying. Would you like to try it?”
“I will try it if you help me.” Afraid, but unwilling to show it, she waited as he sprang up from the bowsprit and spun around. He took the coil of rope and secured it to the jib and quickly fashioned a loop in it. He then slipped the loop over her and secured it under her arms and adjusted it from the back. He led her to where there was a step that he had ignored, and steadied her as she mounted it. Shortly she was sitting astride the bowsprit. Ian had folded his jacket to make a pad for her to sit on. He placed both of his arms around her waist, saying “Now lass, look off to the horizon and keep your eyes there.”
Alandra’s heart was hammering so within her that she wondered if he could hear it. She wondered if it was more to do with being in such a precarious place, or if it was because of being so near to him.
After several minutes he said “You’re tense. You won’t feel it until you relax.” He pulled her back gently a bit to recline against him. The sound of the wind and the waves as the bow parted them drowned out any sounds from behind them on the ship. The feel of her against his chest was exhilarating beyond anything he had ever felt in his life. He was mesmerized, as was she. His heart pounded as he felt the warmth of her seep into his chest and stomach. The smell of her hair was intoxicating. She sighed deeply and let her head sink back to his throat. Her fingers sought and entwined with his. They sat suspended in time in some magical world that neither had known existed anywhere.
As the moments passed, Ian spoke tenderly to her, “Ah, Alandra, please don’t be angry with me. I’ve never felt like this in my whole life. I could sit here with you forever.”
“Oh, Ian…..I….so content and…..warm….all over…..inside and out. Just do hold me, please, Ian…not let go…..please. Mmmmm” She didn’t say it in fear, but with longing and passion. They sat that way, not speaking any more, only each drinking in the nearness of the other. It was a moment frozen in time; then…….”Ian, I feel it, I am….like one…the ship….I and you and the ship are one, Ian. Oh, you are right, this….is …wonderful thing….feeling….I… never guess….ever!” Time passed, yet seemed suspended in this tiny universe of only him, Alandra, and the shimmering azure sea and blue sky. He took one hand and gently laid her hair aside and kissed her tenderly on her neck. She shivered as a thrill unlike anything she had ever known ran through her body. They sat as one for an interminable time. He took more notice of the sky then, saying “Alandra, look at the sky.”
“What is it?
“See those clouds?” She looked and noticed the wispy curved clouds. “Those are what we call ‘mares’ tails’.” He explained how the clouds appearances mimicked a horse’s tail in appearance. “Those mean we’ll get colder weather tomorrow or maybe tonight. See how fast they move to the east?”
“Is that a good thing?”
“I’ve never seen them move so fast before. It’s been so warm, that the weather could be stormy when that cold air meets this warm air. The colder that air is, the stormier it will be. You and Celita will need to sleep on Elsie tonight just in case of bad weather”
“Why?
“Elsie will take weather far better than this ship will. Uncle Angus is likely to signal me at any time to pull alongside. When he does, you and Celita must be ready to board her. We must be up and about.” The winds had been getting stronger all afternoon now, and Angus wouldn’t want to wait for the sea to get wilder than it was. Had he not been otherwise occupied with Alandra, he would have noticed sooner.