The Devil and the Dark Water

63

Arent writhed in his bunk, murmuring. Sara placed a hand over his heart, listening to it thump furiously in his chest. She’d only recently returned from her husband’s cabin and had been dismayed to find Arent in exactly the same state she’d left him in.

It wasn’t clear whether he’d caught the fever from his knife fight with Wyck, or working the bilge pumps during the storm, but his life hung in the balance. Sara heard wagers had been placed among the sailors and musketeers. The odds were against him. For all his strength, they’d seen men similarly struck down after a battle, and they knew what it meant. What was shattered could be sawn off and bad blood ran clean eventually, but what couldn’t be seen couldn’t be healed. More men died murmuring than screaming.

For the last three days, she’d tried everything she could to break this fever and there was nothing left, except patience and prayer.

‘I’ve had rations sent to Sammy,’ she said, knowing he’d like that. ‘The musketeer guarding his door, Thyman I think his name is, offered to walk with him at night, so he’s had his exercise. I spoke with him briefly last night. He misses you. He wanted to come up here and tend you himself, my husband be damned. I talked him out of it. I said you’d not thank me for letting him die while you were bedridden. It was hard for him to accept. He loves you a great deal.’ She swallowed, annoyed by how difficult this was. ‘I suspect he’s not the only one.’

She watched his face for any twitch, a suggestion of recognition.

‘He tried to comfort me,’ she continued, seeing nothing. ‘He told me you’d been into the dark before and found your way back.’ Sara put her lips to his ear. ‘He said you’d called for God, and he hadn’t come. He said you believed there was nothing waiting. No God or devil, no saints or sinners. He’s in awe of you. He said you’re remarkable because you choose to do good, rather than because you’re afraid of what’s waiting if you don’t, like most people.’ She struggled for words. ‘I don’t believe heaven is empty. I think God is waiting for you, but so am I.’ Her hand pressed fearfully against his chest. ‘I’m waiting for you here, on a blighted boat, stalked by a devil I can’t stop alone. I need you to wake up and help me, Arent. I need you.’

Something heavy splashed into the water outside, startling Sara, whose hand leapt away from his chest.

Going to his porthole, she looked outside. A few ripples showed on the ocean’s surface, but there was no indication of what had caused them.

The sea was keeping her secrets, as usual.

From behind her, Arent said hoarsely, ‘Can’t people see I’m trying to sleep.’