Milly and Peter tried to lash the supplies down, while Robin and Vera collected the watch, binoculars, and other important breakables. Jerome folded up the maps and stowed them, being careful to keep them dry, which was no easy feat. Gaps in the window boards, leaks in joints, and deteriorated seals left the Jolly Roger leaking badly topside. “Jerome, you’re my pumper.”
Jerome grabbed the large bamboo bailer and opened the floor hatch. “Oh no.”
“Shit don’t mean shit,” Peter said. “Get to it.”
The water was almost as high as the hatch, and soon the sea would overflow into the cabin. “I need help here,” Jerome said. He had brought the water level down a few inches, but there was still a long way to go.
Vera grabbed the second bailer and went at it, the two working in unison as though they’d practiced, she behind his dip and then he behind hers. Over and over, powered by the fear of death. Tye laughed to himself.
The storm pounded them for a day and a half, and when they opened the hatches, they found that both sails were gone. Out went the oars, and after a few days the trade winds picked up, but without sails they couldn’t take advantage of them. Instead they fought the currents and tides northeast, toward the old world country of Mexico.
The good news was they’d refilled the water jugs, but on the seventy-third day out of Respite, they ran out of food. They’d had the trolling poles out almost every second since they’d left, but had caught little.
As Tye had anticipated, after three days with no food, his crew got scared and foul. Along with that came an honesty that justified Tye’s harsher thoughts about his young companions.
“How do you know we haven’t just been going around in a circle?” Vera asked. She was a short, full figured woman with striking hazel eyes, and silky brown hair. Tough, smart and beautiful, she was on the quest because her father was Ashley Pendaltine’s son, and the Pendaltine clan needed a pair of optics so the old matriarch Ashley could see again. Doc believed they’d find usable lenses.
“Jerome, take the helm,” said Tye.
Jerome grasped the bamboo tiller and Tye led Vera to the front of the cabin. “Do you see that?” He was staring at the compass. “That’s how we know we haven’t been going in circles.”
“Assuming it’s working right, and it is what you say it is. How long are we going to go before we turn back?”
Milly overheard that and said, “We’re not going back.”
On day seventy-eight, Tye scanned the eastern horizon with the binoculars and a dark line cut through the thickening fog.
He yelled, “Land ho! Land ho!”
Chapter Seven
Year 2066, Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Mexico
Turned out land was a little farther away than it looked. It took six more days to reach the shoreline, but as they drew closer, the water got shallower, and they were able to catch fish. Initial euphoria had been replaced with stark determination. With land in sight the crew stroked harder, fighting the current and wind that wanted to take them out to sea. It rained, and the storm blew them closer. When the sky cleared, they were a mile offshore and rowing north along the coastline.
Milly peered through the binoculars, but didn’t see much. The beach was deserted save for a few birds dive-bombing fish. The dunes were covered in green foliage, and as the ground rose away from the shore, spidery trees with small oval leaves formed a wall of green that extended into mountains. They’d seen several river mouths, but Tye said it would be too difficult to fight the current upstream. He’d also expressed concern about being exposed to attack while on the river. When Milly asked who would attack them, Tye didn’t respond.
Tye held the rudder-arm and hung his head out the back window. The sun shined bright, and all the window coverings had been removed and the tangy-sweet scent of fresh sea air pushed out old smells and rotting thoughts.
“You ready for this?” Milly said to Tye.
“As much as I remember about the old world, it’s been a long time. Most of what I remember will be gone. As to the people we might encounter when we make landfall? I have no idea at all,” he said.
“That a no? You sounded convincing when you argued that you were most qualified for command based on your experience,” Milly said.
“That’s proof of how screwed we might be.”
Milly didn’t get it. “Are you going to lead this crew?” Everyone watched them now, Mr. Smee confronting Captain Hook.
“I visited Mexico once in my former life, but didn’t venture out of the resort. Unfortunate because I think Acapulco is south of here. I’m ex-military, and I’ve fought in the jungle, on the desert, and in the snow. I’ll lead, but I don’t want to make all the decisions. That was our deal. You confused?” Tye said.
“No. It’s just…”
“Yeah, I get it. Feels like a lifetime ago. The sea has a way of doing that to you. Stripping you of yourself. Laying you bare with no protection, no help, but you have help, and we’re getting off this boat now,” Tye said.
“So you figure we’re about halfway up the western coast of Mexico?” Jerome asked.
“Yeah. The sun, stars, charts, and compass all say we’re around there,” Tye said.
They entered a large bay boxed in by green mountains on three sides. Crystal blue water swirled, and the mountain peaks on the horizon made Milly think of going home. Is this how it will be? Except with the beach packed with all of Respite cheering? She frowned.
Tye issued no orders, and none were needed. Everyone
