“Two other men we had on board who’d been there and returned. They went with the Priestess Argo in a boat of thirteen. Ten were dismembered and the pieces of their bodies were thrown in the water. Two survived to row the Priestess back to the boat. One was the sailor who died in the forecastle this morning. Not half an hour ago, I received news that the other one went overboard from the rigging and was lost in the sea. This is not a good trip. Men are not to be lost like coins in a game. Life is too valuable.”
“I see,” said Geo. “Thank you for your information and time, sir.”
“You are welcome,” the captain said. Then he turned away.
Geo descended the ladder again and walked slowly forward. Something touched him on the shoulder and he whirled.
“Snake, God damn it, don’t do that!”
The boy looked embarrassed.
“I didn’t mean to yell,” Geo said, putting his arm around the boy’s shoulder. “Come on, though. What did you find? I’ll trade you what I know for what you do.”
You … sleep
, came from Snake.
“I’m sorry, friend,” laughed Geo. “But I couldn’t take a nap now if you paid me. Now tell me, whose eyes were we seeing through last night? The captain’s?”
Snake shook his head.
“The mate’s?”
Snake nodded.
“I thought so. Now, did he want to kill … wait a minute,” said Geo. “Can the mate read minds, too? Is that why you’re keeping things from us?”
Snake shrugged.
“Come on now,” Geo said. “Do a little yelling and explain.”
Don’t … know
, Snake thought out loud. Can … see … what … he … sees … hear … what … he … hears. But … no … hear … thoughts …
“I see. Look, take a chance that he can’t read minds and tell me, did he kill the man in the bed you should have been in.”
Snake paused for a minute. Then nodded.
“Do you think he was trying to kill you?”
Snake nodded again.
“Did you know that the man killed this morning in your place was one of the two men who came back from Aptor with the Priestess?”
Snake looked surprised.
“And that the other one drowned this morning, fell overboard, and was lost?”
Snake nearly jumped.
“What is it?”
Look … for … him … all … morning. He … not … dead … hear … thoughts … dim … low.
“Who’s not dead?” Geo asked. “Which one?”
Second … man.
“Did you find him?” Geo asked.
Can’t … find
, Snake said. But … alive … I … know.
“One other question,” Geo raised the jewel from where it hung against his chest. “How do you work this silly thing?”
Think … through … it
, said Snake.
Geo frowned. “What do you mean? Can you tell me how it works?”
You … have … no … words
, Snake said. Radio … electricity … diode …
“Radio, electricity, diode?” repeated Geo, the sounds coming unfamiliarly to his tongue. “What are they?”
Snake shrugged.
Geo got a chance to report his findings to Urson that evening and the big man was puzzled.
“Can you add anything?” Geo asked.
“All I’ve had a chance to do is work,” grumbled Urson. They were standing by the edge of the rail beyond which the mist steeped thickly, making sky and water indistinguishable and grave. “Hey, Four-arms,” Urson suddenly asked. “What are you looking at?”
Snake stared at the water but said nothing.
“Maybe he’s listening to something,” suggested Geo.
“You’d think there were better things to eavesdrop on than fishes,” said Urson. “I guess Argo’s given special orders that you two get no work. Some people! Let’s go eat.” As they started toward the convergence of sailors at the entrance of the mess hall, Urson said, “Oh, guess what?” He turned to Geo and picked up the jewel from the boy’s chest. “All you people are going around with such finery, I took my coins to the smithy and had him put chains on them. Now I’ll strut with the best of you.” He laughed, and then went through the narrow way, crowding with the other sailors into the wide hall.
For two weeks, nights without dreams left them early, and the boat rolled from beneath the fog. Dawn was gray, but clear; then, by one breakfast time the ragged slip of Aptor’s beach hemmed the horizon.
On the wheel deck the sailors clustered to the rail, and before them rocks struck like broken teeth from the water. Urson, in his new, triple neckchain, joined Snake and Geo at the rail. “Whew,” he said. “Getting through them is going to be fun.”
Suddenly heads turned. Behind them now, Argo’s dark veils, bloated with the breeze, filled about her as she mounted the steps to the wheel deck. The sailors moved away from her. Then, one hand on a stay rope, she stared across the gray water to the dark tongue of land.
From the wheel the captain spoke, “Jordde, disperse the men and take over the wheel.”
“Aye, sir,” said the mate. “You, you, and you to the tops.” He pointed among the men. “You also, and you. Hey, didn’t you hear me?”
“Me, sir?” Geo turned around.
“Yes, you, up to the top spar there.”
“You can’t send him up,” Urson called out. “He’s never been topside at all before. It’s too choppy for any lad’s first time up. He doesn’t even know …”
“And who asked you?” demanded the mate.
“Nobody asked me, sir,” said Urson, “but—”
“Then you get below before I have you brigged for insubordination and fine you your three gold baubles. Don’t you think I recognize dead man’s gold?”
“Now look here,” Urson roared.
Geo glanced from Argo to the captain. The bewilderment that flooded the face of the Priestess shocked him.
Jordde suddenly seized up a marlin pin, raised it, and shouted at Urson, “Get down below before I break your skull open.”
Urson’s fists sprang up.
“Calmly, brother bear,” Geo began.
“In a bitch’s ass,” snarled Urson and swung his huge arm forward. Something leaped on Jordde from behind—Snake! The marlin pin
