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A crane hoisted the Dinghy on board Cait’s boat, the Rose, and Cait found her ship brimming with activity. The engines, however, were not running.
The manifest Tre had prepared told her their long-term Travelers would be staying with them, and they were picking up few bits of cargo. Billy was out getting the package, and Nina watched over the little bits of freight they’d be taking along, so Cait went to check on their only passengers.
Travelers, once a group of globe-wandering aristocrats from Maasburg, in the 21 Kingdoms, had exploded into an international organization. Most Travelers were kids who didn’t want to spend their youth studying in school, and sought their education in ports and in ships all over the world. The program had structure, and those who participated could study their craft in the epicenter of their profession. Artists went to the 21 Kingdoms, scholars and future beuracrats to Lingguo, boat crews to the Confederation of Ocean States, where Cait was headed. Some captains provided lessons, allowing Travelers to learn as they went. Cait provided a place to sleep, a meal to eat, and a means to get where they needed to be, so long as they paid their way.
Cait settled the Travelers in, though by this time Tami and Patel were both familiar with the rules of the ship. When Cait found them, they had already set about organizing the crew quarters. With everything in order, Cait started to the bridge. She had given the order to leave over a bell before, and The Rose was still silent. She turned a corner, and Xiphos collided with her, falling back against the wall. Xiphos gained her bearing and, out of breath, gave a sloppy salute.
“You are late.” Cait said, starting up the steps to the bridge.
“Are we in a hurry?”
“Yes,” Cait said flatly. “Is there any good reason why you are tardy, helmsman?” Xiphos followed, panting as she went.
“Yes,” Xiphos said, darting around Cait as they entered the bridge. She began flipping switches, powering on the command console and starting the ship’s systems.
“Well?” Cait folded her arms across her chest, her ears flattened against her head, and captured Xiphos in her intent gaze.
“Uhm,” Xiphos said, shrinking under the weight of Cait’s stare.
“Helmsman, when I sound the bell to leave, you come. Do you understand”
Xiphos nodded, her ears sliding back. “Yes, sir.” She spun around and continued down the check list. Xiphos was cat, of unknown nationality, mostly grey, with a white V starting just below her headfur line and splitting around her muzzle. She kept her headfur long, letting it fall down past her shoulders.
Xiphos had joined Cait’s crew years ago, when she was only 15, a simple hand that had earned Cait’s trust enough to pilot The Rose. At the age of 19, she was showing promise of an officer’s position, though she was still a little rough. Xiphos often felt like she could argue with Cait, though Cait never once questioned her loyalty.
The Rose hummed to life. “Get of us out of here as soon as possible,” Cait said, dropping her voice.
Xiphos took her seat at the helm, pulling one of the ship’s monitors up to her. She adjusted her view, raising the helm’s chair up to look out of the Rose’s viewport, off the bridge. “Are we in trouble, sir?”
Cait exhaled hard through her nose. “Just get it done, helmsman.”
“Sir.” Xiphos turned her chair and pulled the radio down off its hook. “Rose to New Haven harbor master, requesting a departure push.”
Cait left the bridge. In the reception gallery, Cait found Tre bolting the hatch shut, sealing the Rose.
“All aboard?” She asked.
Tre nodded. He pointed towards the cargo bay.
“Billy?”
Tre nodded again.
“Thank you, Tre.”
The cargo bay looked a lot larger than it was. It was big enough, though the lack of cargo made the expanse at the rear of the ship feel hollow. Lately, Cait avoided it, spending as much time as she could close to the bridge. But this cargo, this cargo was worth it. It was in a crate, small for something that was paying her as much as it was. Billy had taken a spare moment to open the crate and check out their new fare. He stood over it with his hands on his hips.
Billy always came off as imposing at first. He was human, and bore a striking resemblance to the human on the dock: tall, shaved head, generally large, and had the uncanny ability to look very mean. He had a few years on Cait, though she wasn’t quite sure how many. As a doctor, however, Billy was one of the gentlest that Cait knew of. When she had set out to find a doctor, Billy came well-recommended.
“This is it?” Cait asked. “This is the painting?”
“This is it, Billy said.
“How was the client?”
“Fine,” Billy said, waving his hand in the air a little. “Didn’t seem to mind the mix up.” He pulled an envelop from his pocked. “100,000 Leagues up front, a million more when we deliver.”
Cait inspected the bills inside.
“Where’d you find this guy?” Billy asked, staring at the painting.
“Referral.”
“What, from our copious patrons?”
Cait sighed. “It is a lot of money, dear. I do not want them to think we are ungrateful by asking a lot of questions. You each will receive bonuses after this.”
Billy made an approving sound in his throat. He rubbed his chin with his hand. After a moment, he said, “it’s a weird painting, Cait.”
Cait nodded. It looked off as soon as she saw it. On the surface, it was a map of Ta Ante, a map of the world. A long twig of a continent, Lat stretched across the middle of the map, skipping over the equator in a couple places. Lingguo was a big yellow blob in the south-east corner, Ysa up north, its collection of islands purple. What was now the 21 Kingdoms divided Lat in the west, and the Sand tribe had its own territory sketched out where Lat dipped south of the equator. The islands made up the rest of the map. The ocean’s coloring was spare, because it could be assumed where there were not little wisps of land, there was water.
The gods graced the painting, or at least the sides, dressed in colored robes that corresponded with their patron lands. They looked down at their creation like distant but proud parents.
There was one more thing. In the southwest corner of the map, in the area known as the Kraken Seas, was what looked like a boat. A boat where no boat dared to ever go.
“It is,” Cait said.
“It’s bad luck,” Billy said.
Cait rolled her eyes. “It is a painting, Billy.”
“It’s not right.”
“Pack it up,” Cait said. “We will be underway soon.”
[g]
and the were picking up few bits of cargo
they
Interesting. Dare I guess that the painting is some kind of treasure map?
I find it odd that people refer to Cait as ‘sir’. Perhaps a better term would be Captain?
Also: “had exploded onto an international organization” – I think you mean exploded into?
Check on the typo.
And yes, you may guess about the painting all you want. =D
As for ‘sir,’ somewhere down the line, it will be explained that “ma’am” is reserved for Monarchs and Matriarchs. ‘Captain’ is a term that is used, but the short, simple word would be ‘sir.’
Cool. Interesting. :)
I love that they call her “sir”. The female officers on Battlestar Galactica (and the president!) were always called sir :)
I’m so excited to read your story. It’s so refreshingly different from other things! Kudos :)
I’m glad you enjoyed that. It was a conscious decision to have everyone be called “sir”. “Ma’am” is just something you call old ladies, and that doesn’t make sense to me. Also, I tend to call everyone “sir,” or at least my friends.
Thank you so much for the comment! I’m glad you’re enjoying the story so far. And thanks for reading!