“I’ll get him. Keep her quiet.”
“My pleasure.” A rough laugh, and then I feel a weight settle on my side. No, not a weight, it’s a boot.
I try to roll away from it, but the pressure only increases. The bag grows more claustrophobic, and I inch my hands up to my face to push the fabric away from it.
“Don’t bother. You aren’t going anywhere.” The pirate rocks the boat a little, then I hear aglug-glugnoise. “Want some?”
Something drips onto the burlap, wetting it and my face. Bitter alcohol, the scent of it stinging my nose. I cough and try to roll to my side, but his boot presses down harder, forcing me onto my back.
“A little more?” He pours it right over my face, the caustic liquid going up my nose as I turn my head and keep my eyes shut tight.
“Cock, what are you doing?” The boat rocks violently as the pirate stops waterboarding me with alcohol and I try to breathe.
“Just wetting her whistle for you, Captain,” the pirate mumbles.
“Row. Fast.” Someone grabs the bottom of the sack and starts yanking it up. “No, Balls, you row. You’re stronger.”
“Aye, Captain.” The boat shifts again, and then I hear theshick shickof oars in the water.
When the burlap is lifted from my face, I use the sleeve of my nightdress to wipe the liquor off my face. Looking up, I only see the brim of a giant black hat with the moon high behind it.
“Puny, ain’t she?” one of the pirates says. “Not worth the trouble.”
The hat moves, and I hear the sound of a hand hitting flesh. “When I want your opinion, I’ll give it to you, Cock.”
“Sorry, Captain.”
I scramble to a sitting position and back away from the squabbling pirates. But that lands me at the feet of the rowing pirate where I almost get brained with the end of the oar. Turning, I press my back to the side of the boat and wrap my arms around myself.
The huge hat keeps the pirate’s face in shadow, but the other two are practically leering at me, though one is holding his cheek.
“Sorry for Cock and Balls. They aren’t the brightest on my crew.” The pirate offers me his hand.
I don’t take it. I’m too busy trying not to look at the black water or think about the fact this pirate’s crew are named Cock and Balls.
“Ah, well.” The captain leans back on his elbow. “You’re suspicious.”
“Where are you taking me?”
“To my ship of course.”
“Why?”
The captain leans closer, whiskey on his breath. “What? A fellow can’t take a pretty woman when he sees one anymore?”
All I can do is blink up at the ridiculous hat.
“Of course he can, Captain. Way of the world.” The one rowing, Balls I think, gives me a rude wink.
I could scream. But what would that do for me? Bring Hook? Out of the frying pan and into the fire. I pull my knees up, though I’m careful to keep my legs together. I didn’t think this through enough. Notnearlyenough.
“Anyone following?” The captain turns his head, and I finally get a look at him in the moonlight.
He’s the one who I saw coming ashore earlier. At least I think he is. Pirate fashion isn’t too varied, it seems. He’s got dirty blond hair, a wide mustache that curls upward on the ends, and hollow cheeks. I couldn’t guess his age. He could be a worn 25 or a youthful 50.
“Naw, we’re clear.” Cock turns and keeps an eye on the shore as Balls continues rowing, his body odor wafting over me with each stroke.
I put a hand to my nose and try to breathe deeply to calm the stampeding beat of my heart. There has to be a way out of this. I glance at the black water. No way. Even if I could bring myself to jump out of this boat—which I don’t think I can… That’s it. That’s where my thought stops, because my mind can’t even contemplate it any farther. The fear is too big, eclipsing the idea before it’s fully born.
