“My, thisis wonderful,” Captain Cook spoke with half a mouth full of stew.He ate like an animal, half the food falling from his face anddripping on his clothes. “And you made this with things youscrounged from the island?”
“Yes, Idid,” I told him and forced a big smile. “I can make food like thisanytime you wish. I’m glad you like it.”
“Like it?It’s delicious.” He let out a gurgled chuckle and threw amischievous glance around the table. “Slightly different from whatPleeman here cooks up for us.”
Next to me, Benjamin coughed. I twisted myhead and eyeballed him, dropping the smile. It did no good to useit on him, anyway. He took note of my expression and his browfurrowed in confusion. But his eyes searched mine as if pulling mythoughts from my mind and, I swear, a part of him suddenly knewthat I was on to them.
I turned backto the crew. “So, Captain,” I began, and he perked up from hisbowl. “About my living situation.”
“Ah, yes,I had been meaning to speak with you,” he replied.
“Oh?That’s great. I was hoping I could get my own private quarters.With such a small crew, I imagine there’s plenty ofroom.”
The raunchy maneyed me curiously as he sucked bits of food from the cracks ofblack teeth. I couldn’t read his face, but part of me felt that hewas considering his next words wisely.
“Ibelieve we can accommodate you. Why don’t you come back to myquarters after supper and we’ll speak about it?”
My stomachclenched, and I swallowed hard against the scratchy dryness thatsuddenly formed in my throat. The last thing I wanted was to bealone with the man. The very thought of his grimy hands on my bodyand his rotting mouth on mine drained the blood from my face. Butwhat could I say? How could I politely decline? And, worse yet, howlong could I avoid it?
“Actually,” Benjamin piped up. “Dianna and I discussed itearlier and she’ll be sharing my room with me for awhile.”
My head whippedto my right where he sat, my face turned from the rest of the crewthat sat at the long table. I narrowed my eyes and spoke throughclenched teeth, “Oh? I will?”
His deepchestnut eyes widened and willed me to agree. “Yes, remember?When we spokeearlier? On the island? You asked if you could sleep in myquarters?”
I realizedthen, he was trying to save me from his brother. And, I suppose, ifmy fate were to be mauled by a cannibal pirate, I’d be better offwith Benjamin than his revolting brother. I closed my eyes tightlyand silently chastised myself for what I would say next.
“Yes, Ididn’t think you would agree.” I craned my neck to face the rest ofthem again. “It seems I won’t be needing your assistance,after all, Captain.” Ifinished with a tip of my head and a brazen smile.
The captainlooked from me to his brother suspiciously. The rest of the crewremained silent, stuffing their mouths and pretending to ignore thediscreet snuff to their unhinged leader. After a few tense momentsof waiting, a giddy expression washed over him.
“Brother!It’s good to see you finally enjoying yourself.”
Benjaminnodded, unsmiling. “Yes, I suppose.” He seemed annoyed with hisbrother’s behavior.He stood from the table then. “And, if you’ll all excuse me, I’dlike to take Dianna back to my room.”
He peereddown and held out a hand for me to take. Reluctantly, Idid and raised to stand nextto him. But, before I could consider my next thought, the captainjumped up from his seat and stomped over to the end of the tablewhere we halted. His movements sometimes went from slow and lazy toknee-jerky and unsettling. I cringed and leaned away as his raunchybreath covered my face and a soiled finger twisted one of mycurls.
The man’s mouthwidened, showing me a closeup of the few blackened teeth thatremained. “Don’t get too comfortable, though. I’ll be anxiouslywaiting my turn.”
That wasall my stomach could stand. I fought to hold a straight face as thecontents of my gut inched their way up and pooled in my mouth. Igave a small smile, holding the vomit in, and nodded good nightbefore speed walking out of sight. Benjamin was close on my heels.I scrambled up the ladder to the main deck and darted to therailing where I spewed over the side, heaving and retching until I was empty.
“Dianna,”Benjamin called and came to my side.
I swat his handaway from my arm. “Don’t touch me! You’re no better than him!You’re all disgusting!”
“Shut up,woman!” he told me and nervously glanced back to the ladder hatchwhere the light of the mess deck shone brightly.
I pushedat his chest. He barely budged. I pushed again, harder. “No!You shut up. Just leave mealone.”
“I can’tdo that! Why are you being so difficult? Just come quietly.” Theman tried but failed to calm my flailing fists and the tears thatnow flowed down my face.
He wantedme to surrender? To give myself to him willingly, knowing I waspregnant with another man’s child and being held prisoner? No way, I’d fight with myvery last breath.
“I won’tgive you the satisfaction! If you want me, you’re going to have totake me by force!”
Swiftly,Benjamin capped a trembling hand over my mouth and pushed meagainst the railing, eyes bulging with intensity. He spoke quietlythrough gritted teeth, “Have it your way.”
The piratewrapped his massive arms around my body as I flailed about, kickingand yelling all the way across the deck to his quarters. Onceinside, he threw me to my feet before shutting and locking thedoor. He whipped around to face me.
“Areyou mad, woman?”
“I shouldask you the same question!” I spat back.
“What inGod’s name are you gettin’ on with?”
“You! Thewhole lot of you!” I wailed on. “Eating people like a bunch ofanimals! Is that what you planned to do with me when you plucked mefrom the
