Page 30 of Valour

IN WHICH THERE IS HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL SINGING AND A PROPOSAL

5th November 1914, Grytviken Whaling Station, South Georgia

There was a soft knock on Charlotte’s door.

It was probably Hester or Valerie, come to check she was drinking enough. She had vomited for most of the last nine days, as they’d sailed into the heavy seas of the Southern Ocean.

Clutching her stomach, she swung her legs off the bed and opened the door to find Arnold standing there, dressed in furs and a woollen hat. All of the men now sported facial hair. They looked better for it.

“How are you this morning?” he asked, leaning against the doorframe.

“I’ve been better,” she said, her grimace turning to a smile as Marjorie bounded into her, followed by her motley crew of three enormous pups. She’d had them before they’d left Argentina, with Arnold, and his experience as a farmer’s son, to help deliver them. Due to their size, Charlotte had named the boys Hercules and Samson, and Hester had named the third, the only girl, Snowball.

“Come and get some air. We’re nearly there,” Arnold said, offering his arm. “Besides, there’s something I want to show you.”

She took his arm, dodging the fluffballs ricocheting off the walls of the corridor. “I’m intrigued! You’re a dear friend for coming to check on me.”

Arnold’s smile faltered for the briefest of seconds. “Of course.”

They walked up the companionway and onto the deck, the bitter wind blowing Charlotte’s hair in all directions. She wrapped her arms around herself. It was a little below freezing, and she was glad of all of the layers of wool and animal pelt.

“Up there.” Arnold pointed skywards. “Do you see it? The albatross?”

Charlotte spotted the enormous white bird flying next to the ship. “Oh! Wonderful.”

“You know, they say that albatrosses are sailor’s spirits come back to watch over those they love, and they bring luck.”

Charlotte swallowed past a lump that had formed in her throat and stepped forwards to grasp the railing, gazing up at the bird. There was a sudden lightness in her head. Could it really be Ernie keeping an eye out for her? She wanted to believe it. There was no harm in believing it.

A strange sound was wrapped into the howling of the wind, and she cocked her head. “Do you hear that?”

Arnold moved to stand closer to her side, his knuckles turning white on the railing.

Charlotte listened harder.

Singing. Someone was singing, the pure notes lilting, hauntingly beautiful. “Who is that?” She’d heard all of the crew sing at some point on the voyage, but no one sounded like that.

In a burst of movement, Arnold was up on the railing, feet balanced precariously.

“Arnold!” She grabbed for him, pulled him back, both of them falling into a heap on the deck. His body was heavy and taught on top of her, his eyes glazed over as if he were in a trance.

She slammed her hands over his ears, heart beating fast.

“My God,” he breathed, the glazed look in his eyes dissipating. “I wanted to throw myself into the sea.”

Charlotte’s cheeks flushed at the weight of him on top of her, heat spreading from her cheeks and down her neck. She glanced up and down the deck, but none of the other men were above decks. Only Betty and Fliss. The singing still floated on the wind, but it didn’t seem to have the same effect on her as it had on Arnold. She knew the myths of course, had read about all manner of things in the little book Ernie had left for her, the one that was tucked under her pillow. There was one creature with a beautiful voice that could lure men to their doom. But surely it couldn’t be…“You should go below.”

“Right.” He pushed to his feet but made a dash for the railing again as soon as he took his hands from his ears. Charlotte dragged him back.

“Go!” She pushed him back. “Tell the other men to stay below, too. Send Hester up.”

Ears covered, he ran for the companionway.

Hester appeared moments later, bleary-eyed from sleep. “What is it?”

The singing had stopped. Charlotte frowned. “There was beautiful music—singing. Arnold tried to throw himself overboard.”

Hester frowned, cupping a hand to her ear. “I hear nothing.”