Читать книгу Aqueous Passage - Krystyna Faroe - Страница 8

Elm was walking his room when Hemlock stepped through the doorway. They were sharing so he didn’t knock and Elm gave a shrug to himself at the fact that it didn’t bother him, it wasn’t as if he’d be up to anything anyway. Those days were gone. The plotting and the scheming, he wondered at himself for ever having bothered. What had been the point? He scratched his head and ran his fingers through his fine hair; the waves curled around them momentarily, then slipped back to caressing the sides of his face.

Hemlock stood staring at him, he hadn’t moved since he’d walked through the door, so Elm now stopped to enquire why. “What’s the look for?”

“Because you’re a buffoon!” he retorted.

Elm gave a short, sharp laugh. “What does that mean?”

“I read it in a book and looked it up later. I thought it was some type of monkey but apparently it’s a person that is a joker.”

“Now you really have me confused what have I got to do with a joker?”

“A joker is a fool.”

Elm stared at him wide eyed. “Well that’s a roundabout way to call me stupid!”

Hemlock grinned and shrugged his shoulders. “Look at it this way. If I’d called you stupid at the beginning you would have punched me. This way I still have my chin intact.”

Elm gave a spurt of laughter and punched Hemlock in the arm. “You’re a good friend! However, I would like to know why I’m a buffoon?”

“Oh!” Hemlock turned away and then spun back again, an action that Elm noted for Hemlock was a quick source of courage. “Well, you know…because of your passion for Fern and hatred for Oak…your manipulation of those around you to get what you want and your goal to depose Oak and well…the whole vie for power struggle thing.”

Elm looked at him in disbelief and then burst out laughing. “Are you sure you’re not writing a story. I hadn’t realized I’d been quite that dramatic.”

Hemlock smirked, “I guess you just haven’t been paying attention then have you?”

“I guess not.” Elm replied and sat down on his cot looking down at the floor as he continued. “I never realized how bad a person I was and I’m surprised at myself for becoming that way.” He looked up at Hemlock. “What went wrong with me? I used to be a good member of the clan.”

“You fell in love. Which wouldn’t be a bad thing but you fell in love with someone that didn’t love you. That’s painful, it’s demoralizing too and because of that it leads to frustration and resentment. Those things build up to anger and from there, well you know…”

“Yes, I know.” Elm replied dropping his eyes to the floor once more. “And now I’m stuck on a ship with the very person that brings out all of the worst in me.”

“Not true.”

Elm’s head shot up. “Huh?”

“Well since you two have been together on this ship you’ve been a good person to be with. It seems she brings out the good and bad in you.”

“Yeah.” Elm dropped his head again.

“You’ve even been fun at times, which you weren’t before.”

Elm raised his eyes to Hemlock's to see a glimmer within them. “In fact you’re just in time for a bit of amusement.

Elm cocked his head to one side. “What are you up to?”

“You’ll have to come and see.”

“We don’t have time Hemlock. We have drills this evening and you know Pine, he’s determined that we’re all there and perfect in every combative move there is.”

“Yes, I know but come with me anyway.”

“Fine, what do I care if Pine is even more aggravated, he’d push me over board if he didn’t still have his moral values anyway. Disobeying him will just add to the long list he has against me already.” Elm rose up to face Hemlock. “I’m not sure it’s just Fern that brings out the worst in me, now it seems you’re about to do the same.”

“Oh well, so we’re both rotten!”

Elm jerked his head slightly to take Hemlock in, he saw no tell as to what was going on and decided to go along with the game anyway.

Hemlock flung the door wide for him and grinned. Elm with a curious expression stared back stepped through and proceeded down the corridor.

“We’re going to the deck.” Hemlock said behind him with eagerness in his voice that made the distrusting side of Elm want to be cautious but he gave in to trust and continued.

When they stepped out onto the deck instead of going right to the training area Hemlock turned left, he motioned for Elm to follow. To Elm’s surprise he found all of the Woodlanders waiting there, the only exception being Pine. He was about to speak to ask what was going on when Hemlock motioned for silence. The others waited apprehensively confusing Elm even more. Finally the roar of Pine’s voice rose above the struts and beams.

“What on the earth is going on?” Pine's voice carried through the ship it was so loud and thunderous.

Everyone held their breath for a moment as they listened. Soon they heard the release of rumbling laughter as it resonated toward them. Everyone joined in now doubling over as Elm watched them, disbelieving what he was seeing and wondering what insanity was going on. He gazed on as they started to move, still chortling as they left their hiding place to go to the opposite side of the deck.

Elm looked on thinking they were all crazy as they passed him until Hemlock grabbed his arm. “Come and take a look.”

Elm followed still taking in the amused group around him and unconsciously shaking his head. When he rounded the corner he saw Pine bent over still laughing. In the place where they would normally line up to start their training were a row of envillion fish heads, their round gray foreheads shining in the last of the sunlight, rows of teeth glinting from the open mouths giving the impression of surprise and causing everyone to guffaw into more peals of laughter.

“Very juvenile!” Pine said as he turned to the approaching group, “but amusing and we all know we need some break in this repetitious journey.”

His smile was broad and once more Elm realized that Pine deserved more respect than he had ever given him. He understood why Oak relied on him, he knew when to be serious, and when to make allowances and this was a time for an exception to the rules.

He hadn’t noticed that he’d been laughing himself until he heard it vibrate up to his ears. He liked the feeling, the sense of well-being that it gave him and he wondered that he hadn’t experienced it more in his short life. They all should, they’d grown up quickly and missed out on many of the joys of childhood. They thought they were adults and they were, had been for years but they were still boys, missing the pranks of youth, as humour sat waiting for a time when it could surface like today, when survival could be forgotten and the joy in something silly appreciated instead.

Taking in all the youthful faces around him he noted how childlike they looked, he imagined parents scuffing the heads of hair and laughing with them, the way it should have been. No one ever discussed the past, the losses and the pain. Perhaps it was a good thing to forget but he couldn’t help thinking that by pushing away the memories they had lost some of the good ones that would help them in life, and by leaving behind the influences they had had they were disrespecting those that had raised them for those years before the Devastation. He wished he could remember his father, the face would be there sometimes but not clearly, over the years it had blurred and he was afraid that one day he would find there was nothing left of the man that had once been so important in his life.

He tried to picture him, his dark hair with waves of grey at the side, the dark eyes that would stare intently at Elm when he’d been bad. The smile that would quirk at the side of his father’s mouth as he tried to stay serious as his mother’s words would carry over the two of them in her displeasure. They would stand for what seemed an eternity together as he solemnly told him what he’d done was wrong and how he’d upset his mother, how he now had to right that wrong. It had always ended with a brief wink from a twinkling eye and a loving smile that he’d return knowing his dad had forgiven him. The shining eyes had faded long ago, the well-defined features, jutting jaw that had sometimes ground back and forth in moments of stress; all had once been pictures so clear every night after they’d died, but were now no more than a hazy form and it saddened him.

It was then he decided that even though his past had dwindled and his memories were not as sharp anymore, he would make sure he told his children about his parents and his older siblings. He would tell them stories of things that had happened, tales he wouldn’t forget because they were indelibly marked upon him even if visually he could not bring them to mind. He would let them know what had happened even though it meant bringing back the pain; he’d let them know why they died, because human folly like that should never occur again.

He’d stopped laughing; Hemlock gave him a nudge to bring him back to what was happening. He saw Cedar falling to the floor grasping an envillion head at his throat, the rows of teeth still looking dangerous even without the rest of the body. Its size was so large that it took two hands to hold it, making the struggle to carry it look like a genuine wrestle for life.

“Help me! Help me!” He yelled writhing on the floor whilst everyone around him roared in further laughter.

Elm gave spurts of chuckles too. This day hadn’t turned out as bad as he thought it would be. He continued to smile as he swung his head away to feel more of the fading sun’s rays to further his enjoyment. It was then he saw her stood with her back to the railing as she often did when she watched them train. Always at enough of a distance to be out of the way but close enough to see the moves they performed. She was laughing too and even though he couldn’t see her clearly he knew her cheeks were tinged with pink as they usually were when she was happy. He couldn’t stop himself from taking in all of her slim frame nor stop admiring the slight curves that had become more obvious from the cuisine of envillion and the fatty tissue it had left upon all of them.

He’d caught her eye and she stopped laughing. He hated that he could stop her from being happy so he turned back to the group. Now it was Hemlock that was hopping about the deck with an envillion head at his foot as he screamed, “My toes! My toes!”

Hilarious laughter continued around him, he looked at faces with tears streaming over cheeks and he joined in the good humour by grabbing hold of the envillion at Hemlock’s foot.

“I’ll help you!”

Hemlock’s face gave a look of surprise as Elm gave a fake energetic tug and released it staggering backward gasping for his breath. “I’m sorry Hemlock,” he said as he pulled out his sword. “But it looks like the only way to save you is by letting it have your foot!”

Hemlock’s jaw fell open as his face paled and genuine fear momentarily crossed his face. Elm understood why, he was wondering if he’d pushed the boundaries of their friendship too far that day. Bodies around him flew backwards in violent laughter and he even saw Pine bend over holding his belly as he gave a huge guffaw himself. Others were pointing at Hemlock’s stricken face and laughed hysterically. Hemlock’s head swung back and forth at them in panic as to what he should do as he now looked on with enlarged eyes at Elm.

Elm moved determinedly toward Hemlock his jaw jutting out slightly with concentration, his drawn sword hanging at his side, his face serious and relentless. Hemlock’s eyes dropped to Elm’s white knuckles as they tightly held the sword. Elm watched Hemlock’s Adams apple move up and down, watched his head swing wildly back and forth again, looked at the eyes that were about to pop as they gawked into his. Until, unable to take anymore Hemlock dropped the fish head and ran. Elm stopped, his eyes followed him until he released the trapped surge of laughter. Allowing it to escape in a bellow of a laugh he watched the rapidly departing form of Hemlock tear around the corner.

Standing over the fish head he picked it up in triumph, wielding his sword high and proclaimed, “Once again the Woodlanders are victorious.” Swinging his head around he pulled a confused expression as he scanned the deck. “But I seem to have lost my fellow defender!”

More spurts of laughter erupted and he smiled realizing that he finally had camaraderie with his clan once more. It was good to see them all relaxed and happy; too often everyone looked tense and worried. They needed the break.

“When you are done playing with tomorrows lunch!” The irate voice of the cook halted any further laughter as all eyes now landed upon the big burly body of their meal provider. He took them all in one by one, a menacing scowl upon his face. “I’ll be needing those heads for the soup.”

Defenders dispelled air as they mumbled “Ugh!” and looked away from the fish heads that had once been amusing. Cook smiled as his words had the desired effect; taking in the cringing blanched faces before him he became self-satisfied with the result. The defenders that had been holding their bellies to prevent cramping from taught muscles due to laughter were now placed there to stop rolling stomachs instead. A contented expression crossed Cook’s face as he kicked a crate toward them.

“And since you took them, you can put them back.”

Pine stepped forward. “My apologies for my fellow clan members prank. We didn’t mean to offend you.”

Cook squinted one eye as he looked at him and purposefully bent down to accentuate their difference in height. “Then they shouldn’t have set foot in my storage room.” The words were growled at Pine but they weren’t threatening, more I have a gruff reputation and I will keep it no matter how amusing your stunt was.

Pine nodded in agreement.

“Not one of them will set foot in your storage room again.”

“Make sure they don’t or it won’t be just the fishes losing their heads!” With that Cook turned on his heel and stomped heavily across the deck to emphasize his displeasure.

Pine turned to everyone including Hemlock who had snuck back during the brief tirade from Cook.

“As funny as this was we must remember we are guests on board this ship and we should respect our hosts. No more interfering or entering places we are not allowed access; understood?” Heads nodded in return and Pine, satisfied, turned to Cedar. “Time for practice, start the drills.”

Elm replaced his sword and prepared for physical combat. He paired up with Hemlock who seemed to have regained his trust and now wore a constant smirk.

Elm gave a quick glance over to Fern whom he’d forgotten in the commotion but she wasn’t there and he felt his spirits drop from her absence. The feeling was momentary as Hemlock caught him off guard and took his feet out from under him causing him to fall backward and hit the metal deck with a thunk; the sound reverberated through the floor causing his head to throb and his pulse to resonate in his ears. Looking up he smiled and gradually pushed himself back up.

“Now you’re in for it!”

He received the response he wanted, a slight blanching and stall in Hemlock's movements, enough time for him to get hold of him in a grapple. He immediately trapped Hemlock's arms behind him in a hook with his left arm and went for a choke hold with his right arm. He noticed a look of admiration from Pine at the swiftness and exactness of his move. He felt a slight glow from it just as he had in his childhood when his father had commended him on something he’d done. It seemed ironic that Pine of all people was now his only paternal influence.

**********

Fern had laughed and wiped away tears as she had looked upon the high spirits of the defenders. The jerk of emotion she felt when Elm had finally seen her caused her so much confusion and turmoil that she had to leave. She moved to the other side of the deck where the sound was muffled and her view obscured. It gave her a break from Elm’s face, a face that invaded her thoughts so much that she could barely place Oak’s features anymore.

Feeling angry with herself she went under the pagoda and threw herself into one of the heavy wooden chairs. It was going to be dark soon; the Lakeller girls would be dining with the captain and having drinks after their meal. It appeared to Fern that the girls were always on the deck either late in the morning or late in the evening when it was dark. They were never on deck early in the morning, the Lakeller girls were never out of bed at that time; they all seemed to sleep until almost noon. She’d wondered why they were never up early but the smirk and sparkling eyes of one of the Lakeller boys told her more than she wanted to know so she didn’t ask for further details.

Lying back she stretched out her legs and pointed her toes to try and relax, pulling her toes up in a supine position she dropped them to the floor once more. The subdued sun gave a haze to everything and she closed her eyes to quiet her rambling thoughts. Ignoring what was happening on the opposite side of the ship she tried to picture Elanclose Forest. It didn’t take long for her to see the massive green leaves of the bushes, trees stretching high up, she could almost sense the breeze wavering around the vegetation, her hair moving with the soft flow of air, the earthy smell of brush and saw herself settling herself down upon a soft mossy bed of contentment. Her heart slowed with her vision, her body becoming pliable like the wavering leaves beside her, she felt her body heavy upon the ground, her problems sinking with her weight as if the pull of gravity was pulling away her personal torments.

Her eyes suddenly burst open as she tried to gasp for breath, her body was restricted, tight as it fought against unknown forces that held her. Fear scorched through her destroying the peaceful images she had beheld only seconds ago. She felt her palms prickle with sweat as she recognized her restriction for breath was a gag that had been forced into her mouth. She could feel large fumbling hands tying the knot behind her head grasping clumps of hair in the process making her cringe as they were pulled out from her scalp. She tried to pull away but there was too much resistance, so she slid down. A hand grasped her arm before she could get anywhere; it held her with brutal force as a muffled cry escaped from her impinged mouth.

She looked to her side to see Laroche, his expression sardonic and cruel; if her heart could have stopped it would have done at that moment. The very person she hated and feared the most had hold of her yet again and as she had felt that morning her stomach told her it wanted to eject its contents yet again. She knew she’d paled and couldn’t help but widen her eyes, she saw a forbidding smile touch Laroche’s face, he looked maliciously happy.

It didn’t take much thought to know whose large fingers were behind her and she was soon presented with the inept frame of Gisburn. His expression was comical and she would have laughed if her circumstances weren’t as serious as she now knew them to be. He looked at her with both sorrow and determination. If he had been constantly saying sorry after everything he did it wouldn’t have surprised her. He looked at Laroche awaiting his orders.

Ignoring Gisburn Laroche continued to stare malevolently at her. “You, are coming with me.”

Pulling her up she saw a chance of escape and was about to veer to the opposite side of Gisburn and Laroche when she felt another hand grasp her free arm. Quickly turning to the new intrusive hand she silently gasped at the sight of Madden. A shiver ran through her as she looked into his spiteful eyes and took in the contempt he felt for her. Her options were the ruthless hands of Madden or the cruel ones of Laroche. Either way, she knew her future was a bleak one.

“It seems there is no escape from being a captive is there Fern?” Madden’s eyes glowed as he said the words.

She didn’t have time to be distressed further as she was pulled along by the two as Laroche strode ahead. Her mind was visualizing many scenarios; most of them methods of escape, others of where they were taking her. When they approached a readied boat she was not surprised, however, she was shocked that there were no Lakellers around to prevent their escape from happening. Where were they? Where were the defenders? She could hear a voice in the distance, it was gruff and demanding, and she realized they were all still at the other side of the deck. They wouldn’t know what was going on.

Madden pushed her into the boat. It was the small boat that had been used to cross to the controls of the hydraulic lift. Her shock was intensified when she saw that someone else was waiting for them in the boat. Sat checking her fingernails was Simone, her face in a permanent huff and her eyes slightly puffy from the early rise. Giving Fern a scowl she turned to Laroche suddenly becoming bright and cheerful.

“Are we leaving now my love?” Her eyelashes fluttered at him, a small smile and show of one row of teeth flashed at him, until after little response her lips finally rested into the form of a pout.

Laroche looked at her; he said nothing but got in and sat next to her. Taking her hand in his to be gallant he gave a comforting smile to the moping face.

“Yes, we are leaving; do not worry yourself further my dear.” He gave her hand a gentle stroke and smiled with honeyed eyes back at her.

Simone gave him another brief smile that expressed both acceptance and reticence at what she was doing and then turned away. Simone didn’t see the smile that crossed Laroche’s face as he continued to gaze at her; if she had she would have run with as much speed as her heeled shoes would have allowed her.

Madden forced Fern onto the seat opposite them and sat himself as close to her as he could, purposefully wriggling into her. She didn’t move nor change her expression; for once she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. Having nothing to respond to he sat quietly as the boat was slowly let down to the water.

Fern’s attention was taken up by Simone, as always she looked perfect, her blonde hair was clipped back in waves and the sparkling diamond ear-rings Fern had admired at one of the dinners adorned her ear lobes. She wore a dress, shaped to her bust, waist and hips, it flowed to the floor of the boat and Fern couldn’t help but smile at how impractical Simone was. The distraction was good, her heart was settling into its normal beat and the nausea she’d felt had now passed. As much as she disliked Simone her presence on the boat helped to calm Fern and put her more at ease. She knew that was a good thing because with emotional control came solutions to problems and clearer thought processes.

The splash when they hit the canal flung drops of water into the boat and Simone hastily brushed her dress as if she could move them off with her hands. After no luck and remaining wet spots upon her clothes she gave a miffed glance up to the now descending Gisburn. When she noticed that Gisburn was sliding down a rope quite rapidly toward them, more so in her direction she gave a horrified expression and darted to one side only just avoiding his plummeting body. He dropped heavily into the boat rocking it so much that they almost overturned as all hands rapidly grabbed the sides.

Fern saw this as her chance to jump into the water but Madden had already foreseen that she would make such an attempt and she was thrown roughly to the floor. With Madden lying on top of her she could feel the vibration of anger through his ribcage as he spoke to her.

“If you attempt anything like that again, anything at all…” he growled through grating teeth. “I will take your slim neck between my hands and squeeze it until your face is dark red with blood and your tongue is bloated and lolling like a terakian beast's.”

She turned her head to the side to avoid the close proximity of his mouth, feeling his spittle land upon her cheek she quickly nodded, assenting that she understood what he’d said and would attempt nothing further.

He still didn’t move until Laroche jerked him back to attention. “We must leave now or we will be found and our escape would have been for naught.”

Madden was on his feet, hauling Fern up as if she were no more than a child and pushing her back onto the seat opposite Simone and Laroche. Placing himself next to her he quickly grabbed an oar. Gisburn had stumbled to the seat beside her and Madden nodded, instructing him to start rowing to be in sync with him for the pull strokes. The oars hit the water seemingly loud and Fern felt sure someone would have heard them. She looked up expecting ropes to fall and defenders to descend into the boat but no one was there, all was quiet.

Fern heard Gisburn grunt next to her as he pulled his oar through the water. Now her arms were free of restricting hands she pulled the gag out of her mouth and let it sit around her neck. They were heading away behind the ship and she stared at the hull as if it were a lover she was saying farewell to. It was ironic when she realized that in a way she was. She’d lost Oak when they took her the first time and now she was to lose Elm. She looked down at the rippling water below her.

“No point thinking about bailing out on us my dear.” She looked up at Laroche, his face held a smugness to it. “If you think of jumping…” he looked down to his hand as it pulled out a throwing dagger from the side of his boot. He turned the blade so the sun glinted from it. “You haven’t seen how good I am with knives. I used to practice throwing them every day until they locked me up.” He glowered at her for a moment and then smiled. “But by all means go ahead I would be glad to practice again.”

A sinister smile formed upon his face making his olive toned skin take on a yellow hue in the reflection of the sunlight.

“I see no need for me to gratify you with an easy target.” She replied smiling back; she kept the fear out of her voice. There was no need to give him the satisfaction of knowing she was afraid of what was going to happen to her and there was no point her worrying about it, it was a waste of her energy. She would go from moment to moment and try to formulate possible plans of escape. She had to have the hope of escape because without hope she would have nothing.

They travelled for a while in silence. She listened to the splash of oars hitting the water, the drag and then the slurp of the oar being pulled out. It kept her busy just sitting waiting for the sounds but after a while she started to fidget as the repetition started getting to her and a need for some other stimulation took over. After one bought of shuffling in her seat she felt Madden move his backside over.

She gave a slight jerk when Madden moved his leg closer to hers to get her attention. His profile showed a smile at the reaction as he spoke to her. “Imagine getting kidnapped twice, just how much bad luck do you have?”

She took in his sneering face, looked at his hands tight upon the oar as he seamlessly pulled his strokes and decided she wouldn’t be baited.

“A lot it seems, since I met you.” Her reply was light-hearted and playful.

A snort of a laugh escaped Madden in surprise at her answer and he momentarily lost synch with Gisburn. Fern turned to Gisburn and gave a small laugh at the look of panic on his face. Simone leaned forward and scowled at her momentarily until looking down she noticed the creases in her dress and quickly got to work at straightening them out. Laroche remained immobile beside her but she saw a small tick quiver his lips.

Ignoring everyone else Fern continued. “Shame though…”

“What is?” Madden asked still concentrating on rowing but curious.

“That you’re not dead.” She replied so matter of fact that both Gisburn and Laroche spurted laughter. She looked at Madden’s profile, even his face held a slight grin.

“I’m glad to disappoint you.” He didn’t turn as he replied just kept with the smooth motion of pulling the large oar in his hands.

“In fact…” Fern continued. “When Elm told me what had happened I immediately had an affinity with the terakian beast that played toss and gore with you, since it was something I would have liked to do myself. I planned on making him a cherished pet when I returned.”

“Hah!” Madden gave another trumpet of a laugh. “The two of you would have made fine company but I believe he would have tired of the wimpy warrior woman very fast and decided you were better at being a tasty snack.”

Fern smiled suppressing a slight chuckle. “Still anything that is against you definitely deserves a treat.” She retorted but with no malice in her voice. The conversation between them surprisingly held no real threats just jocularity to ease the boredom of the journey.

Madden turned briefly, a seedy smile upon his face. “I’m hoping to make you my treat.”

“I doubt you’ll find me a treat.” She replied as she looked at him with narrowed eyes, he returned the look with a glint in his own.

“That’s fine because I plan on making your life very difficult,” he responded. “In fact the more grief I can give you the happier you will make me.”

“Well then, it looks like we’ll get along very well because I plan on making your life as miserable as possible too. We shall be a well matched couple.”

The roar of laughter that came from him was unexpected and she couldn’t help but laugh herself.

“I knew I liked you the moment I saw you contemplate grabbing your sword and gutting Gisburn.”

Fern gave a small smile herself at the memory. “Actually if I’d known you better then, I would have thought about gutting you instead.”

His laugh rocked the boat slightly as his body moved with the effort. “I’ll most certainly let you get to know me better, you’ll learn more than you really want to.” His voice held a brazen tone.

“No doubt but then I already know a lot about you that I don’t want to.”

Both Madden and Gisburn gave spurts of laughter until Laroche’s ominous voice cut through.

“No one will be doing anything without my say and I can guarantee you my dear that the only person that will make your life hell will be me.” He paused to emphasize the severity of the situation as further words grated out from the depths of his anger. “I have suffered the loss of my ship and crew because of you, and I will make sure you go through much more misery than I have, because I believe that you should always give worse than you get.”

His face was sinister and foreboding, the bloodshot eyes were opened wide presenting a look of psychosis and everyone aboard could not help but hear it in his voice. The boat became silent except for the splash of the oars in and out of the water. Even Simone’s eyes held a look of alarm as she turned away from the twisted face of Laroche and stared down at the small swells created. Fern kept quiet, surprisingly out of all of them Laroche was the most frightening and yet to all appearances he seemed the most benign.

She realized his jealousy and resentment knew no bound, she didn’t doubt for a moment that he would be exceedingly cruel to her and noted that this would probably be the most jovial time she would see with this group. Once away from the risks of being caught he would begin his tirade as master over them all and none of them would be spared his malice. She began to count the oar strokes to take her mind off the harsh words and thoughts that invaded her head as she stared at the floor of the boat. She concentrated on listening to its creaks and groans; inwardly she was doing the same.

Once she was bored with counting she turned her head behind her to look in the direction they were going. It was then she saw that they were approaching the massive concrete walls. Turning back she saw Laroche put up a hand and both Madden and Gisburn turned to see how much further they needed to go. Assessing the few strokes required they continued until they were beside the towering concrete wall.

Fern looked behind her once more to see what their destination was and caught sight of a narrow metal ladder leading up to the top of the smooth grey wall. The final pinions at the top held a platform that was surrounded with barriers. The nearest barrier jutted out over the water allowing the climber access through a gap in front of it to step onto the platform. She couldn’t see how far the stand projected back the angle was now making it more difficult to see as they approached. After the final splash Madden leaned forward and grabbed hold of the ladder.

Her attention was pulled away when she heard Simone’s whining voice. “You want me to climb up there in these shoes!”

She pulled up her dress to show her narrow heeled shoes, a slim pretty ankle joined her slim calf. It had no muscle tone and Fern couldn’t help but stare in surprise. How was Simone going to handle the walk they had ahead of them when she obviously had never walked any distance other than the length of the ship and perhaps a short walk on the land?

Laroche patted her hand suddenly chivalrous and doting once more.

“Don’t worry my dear, we will help you.”

He smiled encouragingly at her as she gave a small smile back in response. She didn’t look convinced and Fern had to hide a smirk as she saw Laroche go up ahead of her and not turn back to give her a hand. She watched Simone struggle to follow stumbling and rocking the boat even though Madden attempted to keep it steady. Grabbing her dress in front she made a huge knot and carefully placed her foot on the narrow metal rung. Her foot slipped but her heel caught as it hit the rung and she gave another whine. Madden’s hands landed upon her behind as he pushed her up, the face she turned toward him was one of a cat spitting in anger but the only effect it had was to widen Madden’s grin. Fern suppressed a laugh as she followed Madden who had stepped into stride after Simone. Gisburn was behind Fern but he made no attempt to place a hand upon her and she was glad she didn’t need to kick him off the ladder as it would have complicated things too much.

Laroche was at the top long before the rest of them. Simone had to stop many times to adjust her dress and whine some more about how the rungs were scratching the heels on her shoes. Madden always rewarded her with a hefty push on her backside with one hand and she would let out a scream to which Laroche would angrily tell her to shut up. She would try to continue to complain but Laroche’s demanding “No more” was enough to keep her quiet for the rest of the climb. Fern smiled the whole way up. Madden had gone up in her esteem for the moment.

Getting Simone onto the platform turned into a farce, the girl had no sense of balance or agility and her dress seemed to catch on everything. She could hear Laroche guiding her in an ominous soft voice and wondered if Simone was shaking in her pretty shoes knowing that one push and she would be in the water and left to drown. Laroche kept surprisingly calm and patient until finally he was guiding her along the platform. Madden quickly disappeared next and Fern followed.

As she stepped over the crest of the wall she was greeted with the most magnificent view of undulating hills filled with bright green vegetation and she felt a roll of home sickness sweep over her. She didn’t stop because Gisburn was behind her but she absorbed the air and vision before her with relish. Taking deep breaths she scanned left and right to see how far the vegetation extended it seemed to continue to infinity both ways.

Holding the barriers she came to the end of the platform and turned around to descend the same type of ladder on the opposite side. She could hear Simone whining about having to do it all over again and wondered how long Laroche would be able to deal with her. Right now Fern was ready to give her a push off so they could all have some peace and quiet.

Eventually after more fussing and huffing from Simone they made it to the ground. Fern, Madden and Gisburn couldn’t help but stare at her and wonder what Laroche was thinking in bringing her with them.

She gave them all a pout. “What are you all looking at? Just because I’m the only pretty one here doesn’t mean you have the right to gawk at me.

No comments were made as they all knew they didn’t care about how she looked and they didn’t want to annoy Laroche further by telling her what they really thought of her.

They all looked to Laroche in expectation. He turned his head one way to the direction the Genoa had travelled from and then the other to the direction of where the Aqueous Passage was going to. He stroked his chin for a while and then smiled at them all.

“They will assume that we will either go back or as far away from the Aqueous Passage as we can.”

Eyebrows were raised momentarily.

“But we will follow the route they are taking instead.”

There were more wriggling eyebrows of curiosity.

“We will travel away from the Aqueous Passage but she is so large and seemingly ubiquitous we’ll be able to see her from quite a distance. We’ll maintain that distance to keep her just within our sight.”

Gisburn looked confused and nudged Madden.

“Ubi what?” he asked.

“Ever present.” He replied. “It’s so big we’ll always see it.”

“Oh!” Gisburn gave a shrug of his shoulders and glanced up at the enormous concrete legs the Aqueous Passage sat upon. “That’s for sure.” He mumbled.

Fern took a look at Madden’s features as she queried his intellect to herself. He was more intelligent than she thought, he obviously had had books to read like Laroche and the Woodlanders but she knew most of the other Lakellers were not educated. It made her curious wondering where he’d learned so much.

Laroche looked up at the setting sun. “We are running out of daylight, we must make haste to find a site to camp for the night. We have very little time left.”

“Wouldn’t it be best to stay here then?” enquired Simone petulant at spending the evening outside.

Laroche ignored her and set off on a diagonal route away from the Aqueous Passage but still in the direction that the Genoa was headed within her bounds. He walked at a fast pace and they all had to sprint to catch him up.

Simone was determined she would be behind him but the speed he kept caused her to have to run in spurts to keep up with him. Surprisingly she’d stopped whining but instead fumbled with her dress to untie the knot she had put there.

“Leave it my dear.”

Simone gave a start at Laroche knowing what she was doing when he hadn’t turned to look at her. His voice was soft and unreadable as he continued his pace uninterrupted.

“Your choices are to keep the knot or I rip the dress.”

The look of horror on Simone’s face was comical and Fern put a fist to her lips to stop an outright laugh. Simone’s glare just made her want to laugh even more. Simone slipped back slightly in her pace due to her ill temper at the thought of Laroche ripping her dress.

They were all level with Simone now because she was so slow and without thought they overtook her to keep up with Laroche. In single file they followed him, Madden, Fern, Gisburn and straggling behind huffing and puffing although they had only gone a few hundred feet was Simone, red faced and peeved.

“You’d better keep up my dear.” Laroche quipped without being short of breath. “I won’t be stopping for anyone and who knows what beasts lurk out here looking for a quick meal.”

The shuffling they heard come up beside them made them all turn except Laroche and Fern imagined the look of glee on his face at making Simone jump to. Stumbling she passed them at a run to take her place beside Laroche.

“Well done!” He said to her as if cooing to a little dog and continued at the same rapid walk.

“Good girl.” Madden mumbled under his breath.

“What was that?” Simone retorted.

“Got gin?” Madden slithered seamlessly out. “I was hoping perhaps someone was able to raid some liquor before we left.”

“I could do with a sip myself.” Fern looked back at Gisburn to see him licking his lips in anticipation.

“We have nothing.” Laroche answered, our escape was unplanned and immediate so no supplies were brought. We will have to find food and water.” He slowed to turn and look at Fern, his eyebrows curled together. “I’m sure our little Woodlander can help us out there.”

“Anything for you sir.” Sarcasm dripped in her voice and she received a honeyed smile back from him. She’d become used to that smile as it often meant foreboding things would happen and she succumbed to obliging him some respect instead. There was no use in starting the misery now that would happen soon enough. “Let me know when you want to stop and I can search out edible food for us.” She gave him a deferential glance in return.

Laroche nodded his head in satisfaction as he quietly said. “Good girl.”

Simone stared at him and then at Fern. Perhaps she was finally realizing that she’d made a huge mistake leaving the Genoa. Staying with her ex-partner would have been better than being subjected to Laroche’s game of cat and mouse. Anyone could see he was toying with both of them. It was obvious that eventually they would both be released to escape for him to enjoy the chase. He would search for them with a lethal enthusiasm; they would be hunted down and hopefully, if they were lucky, instantly killed.