Kat appeared indifferent to the loss of us all, so sullenly, we rested in silence for many minutes. I knew Harmony was considering how to inform Kat of his approaching execution, could see the subject itch her lips. But for all her grace and well-meaning words, she would tactfully beat around the point, so I saved her the trouble. 'They're going to kill you Kat. You'll be executed first thing for murdering that sailor. If I can have a word with the captain before then, I'll try to explain.'
'It was self defense!' added Harmony. 'That's what to do Daniel. The captain cannot be an unreasonable man.'
Still looking away, we thought it best to leave Kat to his mood.
'A game then?' suggested Eddinray.
'Another?' Harmony sighed. 'Suppose it will pass the time. What game shall we play Godwin?'
'How about guess the sea shanty?' he exclaimed. 'I'm terribly excellent at that! There…once was a lad named Jack! Who was lost at sea in a hold with three, and now he doesn't know where he's at!'
'No, no, no!' squawked Harmony. 'Dreadful! Perhaps a blinking competition? Yes! The French are renowned holders of the blink you know, and I can confidently boast to be the best in my class!'
'Nonsensical notion!' jeered Eddinray. 'Now arm wrestling my dear, there is your game! Who dare face me first?'
Harmony rolled her eyes back. 'Can hardly arm wrestle in this state Godwin. Besides, your arms appear extremely stringy under that armor; they would likely snap if put against Kat's formidable strength.'
I smirked as she carried on. 'But the stare, hardly a mere game knight; it improves focus and concentration; a true commanding of the senses. First to blink loses. Godwin, you and I first.'
Enthusiastically the pair faced, preparing in all seriousness to out stare the other. 'Daniel,' she said, 'you are to judge.'
Eddinray rattled the blinks out of his system before meeting Harmony's bluest eyes; and after a three-second countdown, their duel began.
One minute passed with both unflinching. I leant closer to fairly referee the contest and suddenly found myself engrossed in this foolishness. Eddinray's eyes watered as Harmony continued to beam them down. In this game, she was merciless. Inevitably then, Eddinray wobbled as if a strained scaffold, and his blink conceded the contest. 'I win!' cheered Harmony. 'Hurrah!'
'You cheated!' he protested. 'Blew into my eyeballs you conniving French frog!'
'How dare you!' she returned. 'I am no cheat, and to suggest it of an angel is a ludicrous contradiction! What say you referee?'
In chains, I shrugged as best as I could. 'Didn't see any blowing Eddinray, sorry.'
Harmony wore a wide grin, and as Eddinray opened his mouth to further protest the result, the blood froze through our veins at a horrific scream coming from decks above — it was the very last sound a man could possibly make.
Silence followed, and in the gloomy light of a lantern, we surveyed the stern expressions of each other. There was stillness upstairs too — no scuffing heels on wood, no outraged cries or frantic scramble for aid. There was absolutely nothing.
32. The Captain's Table
Harmony and Eddinray discussed the scream and came to wild conclusions — an octopus attack, another mutiny, or perhaps a gigantic wave washing men overboard. I had an inkling too, but kept it to myself for the time being.
We where fast asleep when a wash of freezing water woke us. Bludgeon roused me several times this way, and although unlikely, I somehow expected to find him here now. It wasn't Bludgeon in the hold of Bounty, but a seedy old man showing the unsightly effects of scurvy. 'Name's McCoy,” he said, his Glaswegian accent similar to my father's. 'Captain requests the company of two at his table. Only two so decide amongst yerselves!'
'We heard a scream?' I said.
'And ye'll hear mare if ye don't get a move on! Hasty now, the meat's gettin' cold!'
'Meat?' said Eddinray, perking up. 'Real food?'
All of my friends could do with a meal inside them, but I felt my presence at this gathering was essential. They agreed. 'Kat,” I added. 'I'd like you to come with me.'
'Oh no!' growled McCoy, jabbing a finger into my chest. 'The killer stays where he is! Captain's orders!'
'I'll go Daniel,” offered Harmony. 'If that's alright with Godwin?'
Eddinray slunk. 'You're going to leave me alone? With Kat?'
'Angel goes!' snapped McCoy, unlocking our chains then kicking us upright with his scrawny legs.
'Bring me some chicken!' begged Eddinray. 'Rabbit! Orangutan! Anything!'
We had no time to respond, for McCoy ushered us up the steps at the end of a dirty cutlass, locking the door behind to leave an awkward air between Kat and Eddinray.
'My belly aches so!' the knight complained. 'I could eat a skunk, an honest to goodness skunk! And not the clean end! Are you not hungry samurai?'
'Not even a tad famished? A teeny part peckish?'
'Quite right Kat! I agree with you on that score! Why daydream of steaming steaks and lovely foaming beers? The subject is simply too torturous to bear! At least we have some quality time together, there is your silver lining; indeed, this is a capital opportunity to iron out the creases in our differences!'
'No talking,” Kat said, with a wiry mouth and wrinkly eyes. 'Ever.'
Eddinray huffed, dismissing Kat's objections. 'Believe it or not samurai, but I'm actually delighted not to be attending the captain's party. Danny has to plea for your pardon whilst Harmony, despite jesting about my arms, has the weakest I've yet seen on a woman thus badly needs the sustenance. They will learn much for us; yes; but alas, the banquet will be the lesser for my absence…'
Kat frowned, feeling the return of a migraine added with the constant buzzing of Eddinray in his ear, whose eyebrow curved as an idea came to him. 'I've been keen to ask a question of you samurai; just the one then I'll hush.'
'What?' roared Kat. 'What? What?'
Shocked, Eddinray's head seemed to recoil like a turtle into his armor. 'Now, there's no need for hostility! I certainly wouldn't ask if it weren't important!'
Resignation melted over Kat's features — he could not ignore or kill this insect, so he would have to indulge it. 'What,' he sighed, 'is your question?'
'The question is this: Did you see that cheating angel whiff into my eyes? Any blowing at all?'
With nothing good to say, the sore Kat appeared to wilt in his chains.
***
The deteriorated Scotsman guided us both through a cramped and bleakly lit corridor, the smell of potent piss coming from this sailor's motheaten garments.
Holding onto walls to counter the seas motion, we passed ladders to the upper deck and a ghostly room full of empty hammocks. A rat scuttled past our heels, and McCoy cursed his luck for failing to snatch it. Finally, we reached a plain door at the end of the corridor, and followed the unpleasant Scot in.
The blaring light of candles hit me first, about a dozen positioned in the centre of a dinner table; the wax of these candles was dark in color, comprised of compacted animal fat, which gave the room a pungent fragrance and sickly pink vapour. The table displayed two silver platters of what looked like old chicken, dimpled with sweat and surrounded by goblets of grog. Seated around the dinner table were the remaining sailors of Bounty, including John Hallet. However, most of the chairs here lay vacant.
Hallet acknowledged my presence directly and I his. I then observed McCoy take his place between the two seamen who'd assaulted Kat above deck; overall there were five sailors in this boxed room, the most prominent of them took his place at the far end of the dinner table. A moping presence away from candle light, I could make out his broad shoulders and the outline of a three quarter hat on his head. This was Bounty's Commander and God:
