AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I won’t,” Moon promised, head bobbing enthusiastically. “Let them go, please.”
Isaiah gestured until the two were released and stumbled back into the deck, where they were surrounded. They braced themselves, but the standoff lasted only seconds as Marko turned about and walked away.
“For hell’s sake, yer not paid to just stand there and ogle. Get back to your tasks! And ye two!” The signature scowl was directed at the two figures, dislike apparent but swallowed. “Don’t waste this opportunity granted by yer captain. Prove yerself!”
Isaiah noted the larger man approaching the smaller one, hand tapping the shoulder. The smaller one ignored him and followed, then paused when another scowl was thrown his way.
“Walk faster, would you? Yer wasting precious time.”
“Aye, aye, sir,” the smaller figure chirped, voice low and pinched. Trouble shadowed the larger figure, obviously in conflict, but the shoulders slumped as the man tailed after the two.
That had been solved rather quickly, the men dispersing to forget about the incident. Wheeler lagged.
“Captain, I can watch over them if you like. I can report to you the moment they step out of line.”
Out of line for Wheeler meant just about anything, so Isaiah shook his head. “There’s no need. Just do your tasks.”
Wheeler grumbled and went his way. Moon opened his mouth, but Isaiah held up a hand.
“Again, there’s no need. They are fine. Marko will watch them.”
Besides, something was still off—and Isaiah wouldn’t be a very good captain if he didn’t investigate it himself.
He observed them for days on end, pretending to monitor the crew when Marko could more than handle that. The two surprisingly stayed true to their working ethic, jumping to whatever task was asked of them and not complaining once. They also stuck to each other, glued to the hip, with the larger man always watching over the smaller one and ready to step in when needed. It was an odd camaraderie, one riddled with an argument here and there when the others weren’t looking. At the end of the week, they were no longer glued to the hip, as the smaller man actively stayed away.
Close to two weeks later, a pattern emerged, that of the smaller man disappearing from the deck during the day and the larger man taking over most of the work. Suspicion rose and had Isaiah’s nerves thrumming, but he waited until Marko visited the cabin to make his weekly report before bringing something up.
“How are the new crew members doing?”
“They are doing well.” Marko shrugged, then sneered. “Maddox is a scaredy cat and refuses to work at night, big baby that he is. Something about night monsters lurking in the waters. I would have punished him for it, but Nic is more than willing to take his slack and work through the night tasks.”
Amusement slid in, but he didn’t let it show. “So, it’s all working out.”
“It is. But we still can’t trust them.”
“Of course not. Consider it a test period. Good work, Marko. Now, go get the meat we have been diligently storing in the freezer.”
Marko’s eyes widened. “Isn’t it reserved for special occasions?”
“It’s a special occasion when two weeks have passed, and nothing has gone wrong. Go. Before I change my mind. Tell them they can rest for the night.”
Marko tucked down his glee, but the hastening retreat solidified that the crew would be roasting that meat tonight and getting out some spirits, too—the perfect distraction for what Isaiah planned to do next. He dawdled in the cabin, allowing them time to set up their feast. When he stepped out, laughter was already heard in the distance, and the night was quiet as they sailed through smooth waters.
“Sea monsters are real. Where do you think the myth originated but from reality? It’s not safe to be out here.”
“So, you would skip a grand meal just because you are too scared to hang out with a capable crowd?” Moon’s voice was skeptical.
“I’m going in my cabin,” Maddox said stubbornly. “You guys can have your feast. I would rather be safe.”
There was so much conviction that Isaiah would have believed him, but the lack of fear when the man had stood on the plank before contradicted the statement. He waited for the man to descend to the crew’s quarters and walked the other way until the laughter was gone and hammering sounds drew near. Isaiah observed Nic hunched over several boxes, deep in thought even while the hammer continued moving.
“What are you doing?”
The man lost his momentum, hit a finger, and cursed loudly. Then he whirled on Isaiah.
“What the—oh, Captain. I’m arranging the boxes. Marko asked that they be righted after that rocky path we took this morning.”
“Is that so? Does arranging involve a lot of hammering?”
