Читать книгу Draca - Geoffrey Gudgion - Страница 42

10 ^th October. Wind ESE, 5, gusting 7. Rain.

The dragon wanted the sea. So did I. Neither of us liked Draca being cooped up at the mooring.

I called them all. Again. Everyone who sailed with me, the men who used to badger me to come along. Now every last one of them said no. Couldn ’ t they feel the joy of a strong ship in a storm?

I took her out anyway. One last trip before winter. Jack should have been there, just to see me. Seventy-five years old and still sailing single-handed.

Wind was light in the morning. Managed to hoist the mainsail on my own, too. Ran the halyard to the windlass. Bit slack but I did it. She holds her course at almost any point of the compass, if you lash the tiller. And I set the square sail , but that ’ s easy after the main. Running before the wind with the square sail set, off Anfel Head, we were invincible.

But Draca didn ’ t want to come home. Anfel Head again. Threw a fit when I turned, and fought me, all the way back. I think the dragon knows his friends are down there. The oath-breakers in the realm of Rán .

And that blow wasn ’ t forecast. Wind 4, they said, rising 5. We had Force 7 and I couldn ’ t reef. No strength in my hands.

Now Draca ’ s hurt. We came back on the engine, trailing rigging. It was all I could do to keep the lines inboard and clear of the prop. If that had fouled we ’ d have been in real trouble.

Feel bad. Feel a fool as well. Don ’ t want to see the cowards at the yard. If I ’ d have had help, we could have reefed.

But, now I ’ m back, I don ’ t think it would have been such a bad way to go. I think if I went out again, and there was a big wave, I ’ d die happy. Especially in The Race, fighting a storm, like the oath-breakers. I think Draca would like that, too. End it together.