The Devil and the Dark Water

76

Sara emerged weary from the cave, staring at her fingers with a profound sense of satisfaction.

Three weeks ago, she’d boarded the Saardam, hidden so deeply under layers of etiquette and hatred that she’d almost forgotten who she was. But somewhere between the horrors of the storm and the torments of Old Tom, she’d discovered herself again, like a dusty mirror under a shroud. Amidst all of this misery she was as happy as she could remember being. For the last several hours, she’d practised her healing without being told it was beneath her station, or an affront to her dignity. She’d kissed Arent openly. She’d been able to go where she wanted, and say what she wanted, and let Lia be as clever as she wanted to be without having to reprimand her.

None of this would be possible once they returned to Amsterdam.

Guard Captain Drecht had seized the plans to The Folly, leaving Sara without anything to trade for her freedom. Lia could probably recreate it, but it would take years of work, and she wouldn’t be given time. She was of marriageable age, and Sara’s father would immediately seek a good match.

Sara would be chaperoned to the three places she was allowed to go, while her father chose her next husband from a list of suitors she’d never even met. The thought of it made her want to walk into the sea.

‘Sara,’ whispered Arent urgently, striding down the shoal.

She turned, her smile at his presence quickly banished by the grim expression on his face.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘Fetch Lia and Creesjie,’ he said. ‘I have some bad news.’

‘You never bring me any other kind,’ she chided gently. ‘Creesjie’s trying to coax the boys into napping. Whatever it is I’ll tell her later. I’d like Isabel to hear, though.’

‘Do you trust her?’

‘I do. She’s pregnant, Arent. Whatever’s happening, she should be part of it.’

He nodded and she quickly delivered Lia and Isabel. After ensuring they went unobserved, he harried them up the verge and into the treeline, out of sight. Once they were ensconced in the jungle, he explained Drecht’s plan.

‘A brothel?’ whispered Sara, in disgust.

The rain was falling hard and the musketeers were busy building shelters for the cargo and sharpening sticks for hunting, but they were also casting hungry glances at a group of women knotting fishing nets on the shoal.

‘When will he do it?’ asked Lia, wiping wet hair from her eyes. She was sodden and shivering, wearing the shawl she’d left the Saardam in. There were no more clothes to give her, forcing Sara to wrap herself around her like blanket.

‘They’re going tell everybody the plan tomorrow,’ said Arent. ‘Probably with their hands on their swords while they do it.’

Isabel placed her hand to her stomach in horror.

‘Then we all need to flee tonight,’ said Lia. ‘Can we hide in the forest?’

‘That’s the idea,’ said Arent. ‘I’m going to scout it this afternoon, and see if we can find some caves to fortify. Can you spread the word among the passengers, tell them to get ready? Drecht’s planning to hand out some jugs of wine to reward his men’s labours. Once they’re drunk, we’ll slip away.’

‘And then what? Drecht has all the rations and the weapons,’ said Sara. ‘He’ll find us eventually.’

A dangerous, reckless anger burnt in her voice.

‘We can’t fight, Sara,’ warned Arent. ‘It would be suicide.’

‘Fight today or die tomorrow, what difference does it make?’ she said fiercely.

‘Because if we flee today, we might find a way to flee tomorrow and the day after, until rescue comes,’ said Arent. ‘Surviving isn’t winning. It’s what you do when you’ve lost. Besides, this is Old Tom’s island. We were brought here for a purpose, which means the Eighth Lantern won’t be far behind.’

That brought a glint to Sara’s eyes. ‘You think we can seize a ghost ship?’

‘After everything it’s done to us, I think a ride back to Batavia is the least it can do.’

Giddy excitement crackled between them.

Somewhere distant, Drecht called Arent’s name. He was walking down the shoal, hands cupped to his mouth, searching for the mercenary.

‘I have to go,’ said Arent.

‘You should know, not all the passengers will come with us,’ said Sara.

Arent looked stunned. ‘What? Why?’

‘Some of them will think Drecht’s offer is fair, either because it doesn’t affect them, or because they think living is worth the price.’

‘I don’t understand.’

‘That’s because you’ve never had to,’ said Sara, her hair blowing around her face. ‘Don’t worry, we’ll try to spread the word only amongst the sympathetic. Just know we won’t be saving everybody.’

They looked at each other frankly. They had believed they would die on the boat. Now they believed they would die here. There were no barriers any more, no secrets. The Saardam had taken much, but at least it had also taken those.

‘Then we’ll save who we can,’ he said.