Mama's Boy And Other Dark Tales Part 5

Will kissed the green amulet, ignoring the cook's warning, and helped him to his feet. A strange noise amidst the chaos caught their attention. Looking up, they saw a writhing shadow blot the sky above the ship. It descended, filling the air with the screeching cries of seabirds. They dove toward the captured ship, lighting only on the sailors of the trader. The pirates retreated as they watched the horror unfold. Men with eyes plucked from their sockets like bulging grapes collapsed on the deck, the stringy flesh left dangling down their b.l.o.o.d.y cheeks. Shrieks of birds and their victims filled the air as razor claws tore through clothing and flesh, leaving ribbons of meat on the deck to feast upon.

Will and the cook watched rapt in shock as the crazed birds continued to flay and blind the beleaguered sailors. Screams from terrified pirates and dying traders alike rose with the cacophony of bird sounds. Men slashed at the birds with swords and daggers, but the avian attack was swift and deadly. A few survivors remained, some cowering on the deck or thrashing overboard into the rough sea.

Without thinking, Will pulled the amulet from beneath his clothing and kissed it once more. He acted with complete instinct, as he had seen his mother do so many times in the forests and meadows of Eastville. She had a special way with animals, and with the amulet it seemed Will had it, too.

With a violent sound of flapping wings, the flock of birds returned to the sky, their shadow dissipating like a storm cloud on the wind.

The cook was not the only one who witnessed Will's actions. Rutt glowered at them from the deck above.

"I saw it with me own eyes, cap'n. The bairn's a b.l.o.o.d.y witch!" The first mate stood in the captain's quarters, shaking with feigned concern. "For the safety of the ship, that boy must be hanged at first light, lest the heathens slit his throat and throw 'im in the sea. Without a proper hangin' we'd be cursed with the ghost of a witch."

Busy with his charts and headings to trawl for their next trade acquisition, the captain sighed. "I should have seen it coming. Well, see to it, Mister Rutt, and make sure the cook keeps an eye on the boy until morning."

The lamplight flickered across Rutt's face, and a faint smile crossed his lips. "Aye, Cap'n, but Mister Spiers is ailin' from his wounds. I volunteer to take the bairn in me care until the morn."

The Captain looked up from his work with a knowing glance. "So be it, Mister Rutt," he said with an air of disgust. "Then hand the boy over to the master of arms for a proper hanging at first light."

With a triumphant stride, Rutt left the captain's quarters and headed for the galley.

Will carried a full tankard of grog to the fevered cook. Using two hands, he was careful not to spill a drop on the threat of being lashed by Mister Spiers as soon as he was well again. But the sudden appearance of the first mate startled him, and brown liquid splashed on the floor.

"Boy!" yelled the cook in a rasp from his perch in the corner of the room. His shoulder was bandaged and his arm neatly slung, but his white face and dark-circled eyes radiated the state of his fever. "What did I tell ye? I'll have the cat 'o nine tails on yer hide when I'm able. Now bring me the grog and clean up yer mess."

Without acknowledging Rutt's presence, the cook seized the tankard from Will and took a long, thirsty swallow. He closed his eyes with the pleasure of the drink and the tension melted away from his features. With a weary sigh, he opened his eyes and looked to the smug face of Mister Rutt.

"What is it you be needin', Mister Rutt?"

"On the order of the cap'n, Will Pennyc.o.c.k is to be hanged by the neck at first light. He be a witch, and a danger to our good ship."

Will's knees went weak, and he looked to the cook with sharp terror piercing his gut.

"The boy ain't no witch. I'll be talkin' with the cap'n about this." He pushed himself up from the pallet and with a swoon, tumbled to the floor. Will rushed to help him back to his bed.

Rutt laughed-a deep, wicked sound. "By the time ye be fit to talk with the cap'n, the bairn's carca.s.s will be swayin' from the boom."

Will found it hard to breathe. The image of his mother hanging from the gallows flashed through his mind. The sharp angle of her broken neck, her cold grey skin, and the stench of her emptied bowels. And her red hair, it was gone. They had shaved her bald, ridding her, it was said, of the mark of the devil.

Touching his fingers to his own red hair, Will was flushed with fear. He felt like a caged bird, frantic to escape. He darted around a table and dodged the first mate, fleeing up the stairs. Rutt followed, laughing, already enjoying the chase.

On deck, Will met with stares and hisses from the crew on duty. Scurrying in a panic, he looked for a place to hide, but a large black-skinned pirate approached, small bones rattling in his long, twisted braids.

"Where you tink you goin', boy? The devil no save you now." The black-skinned man pulled a long dagger from its sheath at his waist. "Come-me blade she's thirsty." He closed in on Will while the rest of the crew slowly drew in around him, tightening the circle like a noose. Gulls circled overhead.

Rutt viewed the show from the galley door. Flushed with the pleasure of watching the boy's terror, he stepped in before the sailor completed his task.

"Hold fast, mate," he shouted. "The bairn's under me care. If ye have argument with that, ye'll have me to fight." The men shouted dissent, their fear making them hungry for blood. "Back to yer posts, ye wee heathens," he said, his booming voice menacing. "I'll not have the witch's blood spilled on me watch. He'll be hanging soon enough."

Rutt pushed through the circle of angry men and grabbed Will by the collar of his coat. "Come along, laddy. We've business to attend to in me quarters."

As Rutt dragged the crying boy below deck, the black-skinned sailor shouted a warning.

"Careful wit dat one, mate. He got spirits, he do, and dey ain't happy. Kill 'im now, I say, before it be too late."

Shuddering uncontrollably, Will watched as the first mate swept the debris from his bunk and unbuckled his sword belt. Laying the weapon aside, the pirate grabbed him by the back of the hair and yanked his head back. Will squealed in pain, and with a husky groan the man pressed his lips to the soft skin of his neck, biting and kissing him. Rutt stripped off the heavy wool coat and Will felt like he'd been stripped of his skin.

Rutt breathed heavily, his stinking breath filling Will's nose, as the man ripped at his trousers. Will reached for the amulet on his chest as his pants fell to the floor. The sweating pirate's lips pressed hard against his mouth, and Will gagged as the stinking tongue penetrated into his throat. Struggling to release his own trousers, the pirate held Will fast, turning him around and bending him over the side of his bunk.

Sobbing, Will begged the pirate to stop. Still gripping his amulet, he felt the ship shudder. An instant later, Rutt released his grip, screaming in agony. Will tumbled onto the bunk and turned to see a black serpent, its fangs embedded deep in the pirate's bare leg. With his trousers pooled around his ankles, Rutt stumbled backward, falling hard against a heavy table. He lay there silently as Will clutched the green amulet against his chest.

A sudden pounding came at the door, followed by the shouts of a crewman.

"Mister Rutt! Mister Rutt! We be rammed by humpbacks. A pod be circling the ship, sir."

Will huddled against the wall behind the bunk, holding his breath, as the crewman pounded on the door. With no answer from the first mate, he heard the crewman's footsteps racing up the stairs to the deck. Will exhaled in relief and gingerly stepped off the bunk to retrieve his clothes. The serpent's fangs remained deep in the pirate's flesh, a trickle of blood flowing from each wound. After putting on his trousers, Will wrapped the comforting weight of the wool coat around him. Side-stepping the body and the snake, he opened the door and escaped up the steps to the deck. The crew was lined along the rails looking out at the ocean, some with lanterns in hand, others readying the guns to fire on the attacking whales.

Whales breached and spouted, the ocean writhing in the moonlight. Another hull-cracking impact struck the ship. The whale song that followed sounded like an angry scream to Will as he skirted along the deck to the galley door. He slipped down below to the safety of his friend, Mister Spiers. As he descended the steps, the floor of the galley seemed to ripple in the dim light of the oil lamps, but as Will stepped farther down, he saw a ma.s.s of rats swarming the floor. The skittering sound of their claws on the wood planks made him shiver. And in the corner lay the cook, his pallet infested. His color was grey and the rats circled his lifeless body without biting or scratching his flesh. Clutching the amulet, Will staggered back up the steps. The rats followed in a stream of greasy dark fur.

Although dazed by Rutt's a.s.sault and the death of his friend, Will knew in his heart the rats would not harm him. Instead, they swarmed onto the deck and in moments began their attack on the crew. As the ship shuddered with another battering from the whales, the rats a.s.saulted the distracted men.

In a horrified stupor, Will watched men covered head to toe with waves of filthy, starved rats. The animals stripped them of clothing and flesh like an army of small butchers as sailors bawled and screamed, blood slicking the deck. Men slashed wildly at the deadly rodents with daggers and swords, wounding each other in a frantic attempt to defend themselves. But the weapons were useless-the rats were crazed in their thirst for the pirates' blood and the crew was falling fast.

From the quarterdeck above, Will heard the captain hollering his name.

"Pennyc.o.c.k!" he shouted. "Pennyc.o.c.k! You must stop this. Stop this now before the ship's destroyed and all our lives with it!"

Will looked up at the man. He was swinging a bloodied cutla.s.s in a futile attempt to guard his post at the helm, slicing at the rats as they climbed the deck ladder. Not sure what to do, Will brought the amulet to his lips then shouted a desperate cry.

"Stop! I beg you all to stop!"

In quick order, the rats retreated from their attack, leaving the screams of the living and the bloodied flesh and bone of the dead behind. As quickly as they had come, the rodents filed down into the hold of the ship in a silent withdrawal. The whales circling the vessel spouted and sang as they retreated out to sea.

Will stood alone in the center of the main deck. All around him men wailed and moaned in agony and fear. Tears streamed down his face. He was responsible for the ma.s.sacre, unable to move from the shock of what had happened all around him.

He felt something warm rub against his calf. It was Mog. The big orange cat looked up at him, mewling. Will bent down and scooped him into his arms. The tabby's warmth gave him comfort in the midst of the devastation.

He watched as the captain slowly made his way down the stairs to the main deck. His pant legs were wet with blood from the rat attacks.

Looking over the state of his men, he shook his head.

"What have you done, boy?"

"Sir," was all Will managed to say. He hung his head and hugged the cat closer to his chest.

"What do you want? What will stop you from destroying my ship?"

Without a thought, without a moment of hesitation, Will replied, "Take me home, sir."

With what was left of the able men aboard, the captain set course for the coast and The Queen's Promise The Queen's Promise limped back toward the port of Eastville, Virginia. After two days sailing, they anch.o.r.ed off sh.o.r.e and the captain himself rowed a jolly boat into port to deliver Will to the village that had been his home. With the big tabby in his arms, Will climbed free of the boat. Not a word spoken, he stared out to sea as the captain maneuvered around and oared his way back to his ailing ship. limped back toward the port of Eastville, Virginia. After two days sailing, they anch.o.r.ed off sh.o.r.e and the captain himself rowed a jolly boat into port to deliver Will to the village that had been his home. With the big tabby in his arms, Will climbed free of the boat. Not a word spoken, he stared out to sea as the captain maneuvered around and oared his way back to his ailing ship.

Will kissed Mog on the top of the head. The cat gave him an indignant look, but continued to purr in his arms. The docks were dark so late at night, and the only sound was the splash of the waves against wood and sand.

Before his nightmare at sea, a dark night alone at the docks would have frightened Will, but now all he felt was the peace of it. Weary from the horrors of his journey, Will put the cat down beside him. He needed all his strength to climb the hill to the village, a shortcut he and his friends used when they hid at the docks. That life was so foreign now, so long ago. He climbed along the rocky path, Mog wandering along beside him, keeping pace as he headed to the only place he knew as home, the Eastville Inn. He hoped the missus still had use for him.

The inn was dark as he approached the old wooden building worn by the wind and the sea air. He knocked on the door-his attempt feeble for fear of waking the master. When no one answered, he pulled his wool coat tight around him and headed for the stable where at least he would find a bed of hay in which to rest. Mog stayed by the door, rubbing his whiskers against the jam.

"Come, Moggie. We'll try the door again in the morning."

A faint light appeared at the window near the door. Will heard the sound of the latch release and saw the missus' face aglow in the light of a candle.

"Who's rappin' at me door so late this night?" she called.

"Missus, it's me, Will Pennyc.o.c.k. I'm sorry to wake you."

The woman threw the door wide and rushed out into the night toward Will, still standing in the shadows.

"Will, lad," she said as she wrapped her arms around him, "you must be froze out here in the night. Come in, boy. Come inside." With an arm tight around his small shoulders, she hustled him indoors. The cat slipped past her feet as she closed the door behind them.

"Shush, shush." She batted at the cat.

"If it's okay, missus, he's my friend. Mog."

"Oh well then, I suppose he's a friend a mine too then. Let's get ye somethin' warm in yer belly."

Missus Cavender guided Will to the great oak table in the kitchen. His weariness was heavy in his bones and his eyes began to droop. He was half asleep at the table before the kettle boiled.

Bringing tea with honey and a plate of bread and cheese, she sat down beside Will. She pulled a folded letter from her pocket and laid it on the table in front of him. The seal of red wax was broken. Elbow on the table, with his head in his hand, Will's eyelids drooped.

"Eat a bit, me boy. We'll have you off to bed soon, but I've somethin' to tell ye before ye go off to sleep."

"Yes, Missus." Will yawned, took a piece of the cheese and tried his best to listen. After what he had been through, the quiet of the inn and the kindness of Missus Cavender felt foreign, but safe and peaceful.

"Will," said the missus, "seems Mister Worthing sent word of your mama's death to her family and shortly after those pirates stole you away, a messenger came to the village looking for you. He gave me money to ensure yer safety if ye were ever to return." She paused and looked at him closely. "Do you have a green stone with a family crest, lad?"

She waited with earnest antic.i.p.ation, her expression hopeful for his future.

Will dug his hand inside his shirt and pulled out the amulet.

"Is this it, Missus? I promise I didn't take it. It was my mother's."

Missus Cavender's eyes brimmed with tears. "Yes, Will. That's it. And not to worry, my boy. It's yours, all yours."

She rose from her seat and took Will by the shoulders, guiding him to the stairs. With wet eyes, she said. "Come along, lad. Tomorrow a new life awaits ye, but for now you've earned a fine long rest."

"Thank you, missus," said Will. Still bundled in his heavy wool coat, he shuffled up the steps, feeling safe and warm, the big orange tabby following close behind.

Orange and Golden You look bad, man," they said. "It'll be your last chance."

They'll be back around in the boat later, so I need to say goodbye. But I can't. If I want to live, I need to say goodbye. He wouldn't-no matter how hungry, how hot and how afraid he was, he would never leave me.

We've been friends for years. He's warmed my feet on winter nights. And I'd eyed him when a couch cushion turned up gutted-"Bad! Don't you ever do that again." Then I'd shrugged. Can't stay mad at someone who is never mad at me.

The water sits at the edge of the rooftop and the heat is bearing down. The shingles have rubbed my fingers raw and torn his paws. I cling to him, my arm around his strong neck. He struggles with the heat, his long hair matted down by my sweaty hands. But he never tires of my clinging, he never pulls away.

The water kept rising floor by floor, pouring through my broken windows. We had no where else to go but up. When I thought that I would die here on this roof, when no other soul in the world was here to comfort me, he lay beside me all through the watery night.

He's so calm. I am not. My skin is blistered from the sun, and my lips are cracked, my mouth rough and spitless. There is no help from outside. The guys in the boat are just guys with a boat-they offered me a ride. "No dog, man," they said. "We got one more stop-we'll be back. Last chance."

I can't leave him. He wouldn't. I can't. He'd die for me.

I open my sticky eyes and I see them coming-an aluminum oasis. The killing sun sets behind them-silhouettes with waving arms. My body has stiffened and I feel the fever and chills-sun poisoning. A hulking figure climbs onto my roof raft. I feel the thud of his feet hammer through my body. On my back, I cannot move-I can only open my eyes. A warm muzzle rests on my shoulder; brown eyes watch over me.

Hands grab my shoulders and the muzzle disappears from my sight. Lifted, my body is pulled, my heels dragging across the grit of the shingles.

"No," I whisper. "I can't."

My head rolls to the side and I see his fur lifting in the breeze as he sits near the peak of the roof, tongue lolling. The sunset colors him orange and golden.

"Please," I beg with no sound.

I am lumped onto the floor of the boat, cool metal against my back. The boat thrusts forward with grunts and rowing. No tears fall with my voiceless sobs.

Under the Dryer I tried to warn them, but the humans wouldn't listen and the cats just taunted me.

The faint paw prints in the dust were the first sign. I started sniffing out the cause and became alarmed at my findings. The great mastiff, Old Sam, my sire's brother, warned me about such things, but I never thought I would see them for myself. I stayed with Sam's family whenever my humans went away, and at night in the dark when the masters were asleep, he would whisper the old secrets.

"Nowadays it's just considered dog lore, boy," he said in his deep, growling voice. "But believe you me, these things can still happen. And it's the forgettin' that gives 'em power. Promise me, boy, no matter what they tell ya', you remember the truth. It's your sacred duty."

I promised him, of course. And later I tried to tell my friends at the park about my talks with Old Sam. They laughed at me and told me he was an old dog and those were just stupid stories. The Doberman twins teased me about it so much one day that I lost my temper. One of them ended up at the vet-served him right. I got banned from the park.

But I never forgot Old Sam's stories, and as the danger to my masters grew, I kept my word. He was long gone when the trouble started, but I knew I couldn't let Sam down-it was my duty.