Page 49 of A Flash of Golden Fire

He kicked Donatello, who groaned and joined us at the rail, holding his head. When he saw the ship, he let go of his head and gripped the wooden balustrade.

“They don’t come in peace, Captain. Look,” Donatello said, his tone foreboding.

Fluttering on the mast of the approaching vessel was a black flag, with white insignia of an indefinable design. But that was enough to know they were bandits, pirates, or vagabonds with no allegiance to anyone but themselves, just like us.

“Who’s on watch?” Captain Martin asked, gazing around at the sleeping men.

“Beatty,” Donatello muttered. “He’s there.”

He pointed to a stout fellow sprawled fast asleep along the rail with an empty jug near him.

“Well, he’d better hope he’s killed in the skirmish we’re about to have, or the men will deal with him themselves,” the captain muttered ominously. He reached into his pocket and turned to me. “White, run and get my spyglass,” he said, pressing the key to his rooms in my hand.

“Yes, Captain,” I said, my heart in my chest and the taste of bile in my throat.

I ran.

I ran so fast I almost tumbled down the stairs to the lower deck. The key stuck in the lock of the door, and I cursed, wiggling it frantically. I took a deep breath and applied the key with more deliberation and less panic, and the latch clicked. I pushed the door open, ran in, grabbed the glass, and ran back to the deck.

“Here, Captain,” I said, passing the fine tool to Captain Martin, whilst Donatello roused the crew, wading in among them and kicking men with no ceremony.

“Get up! Get up, you buggers! Man the cannons! All crew to starboard!” he yelled.

Men staggered and scrambled, jumping up as they woke, no doubt with sore heads and limbs, but they rallied. They must have heard the urgency in the commands and realized this was a life or death situation.

The air filled with curses and cries as the men realized what was happening and saw the approaching ship themselves. I saw Beatty wake and leap up, his eyes wide and panic on his face. He met my gaze and I his, knowing the man’s days were numbered. Doubtless he knew his fatal mistake too. He should have been on watch, even with a celebration going on.

In fact, the entire night crew had indulged in the drink and the merrymaking, and woke now to a terrible situation of their own making. They and the day crew ran to their posts to see what could be done.

Captain Martin lifted his spyglass. The moonlight lit the sky and the surface of the water with a brilliance we could thank our chances for.

Donatello returned to the captain’s side.

“Can you make anything out?” he asked.

“No. It’s all dark, as if they’re asleep or adrift. But that’s not likely.”

“No. They’re biding time, most likely. Hoping we haven’t seen them.”

“We almost didn’t.” The captain’s gaze flashed to mine.

A great boom and a flash of bright light exploded over the waves.

“All hands to stations!” Donatello called. “We’re under attack!”

“Hard to port!” Mr Dunn yelled. “No time to clear the decks. Just do what you can to get the cannons in place!”

Our navigator had been well in the cups but now took command of the ship with a justified urgency. The first cannon shot missed us, but another was launched that skimmed the bow and splintered a rail.

“To the guns! Fire when ready!” Captain Martin shouted, backed up by Donatello.

TheArrowslowly turned and presented her broadside to the other vessel, as their cannons were reloaded. We could see much activity on her deck now as the rays of the morning sun peeked over the horizon and the stars began to dim.

My heart leapt in my chest, as the smell of sulphur and smoke filled my nostrils. My belly reeled with the effects of the drink from the night before and with a sudden fear for my life. This was a wholly new experience for me and I already didn’t like it. My instinct was to run below decks but I couldn’t possibly display such overt cowardice. Besides, I needed to know the captain was all right. I want to say that I jumped into readiness to help defend theArrow. However, I had no skills or training, and no idea what to do, so I decided it best to stay out of the way.

I crouched behind a barrel and tried to keep an eye on the captain and Donatello. I barely believed theArrowhadn’t disintegrated into a pile of splinters and flame because the fire kept coming. My ears rang with the sounds of shouting and cannon fire and gunshots, as our crew tried to defend us.

“Raise the white flag! Raise it now!” Captain Martin commanded, and I wondered at surrendering so quickly. Then again, I didn’t want the ship to go down, and our position did appear hopeless.