The Fishing ....Trip Part 2

Juan looked sternly at Ruby and Matthew. “I’m afraid I don’t like it. The danger of you being cast accidentally adrift, so far from the ship. Its lunacy.”

Ruby shook her head slightly, remembering at the last moment she no longer had long locks to flick about. Instead she tried a different tact. “Please Juan. I’ll write about it. I’ll write everything I see. Give me a chance to find something I can get excited about.”

Matthews low, soothing voice cut in over her pleading. “The ships been becalmed for days. Not so much as a whiff of breeze to shift her more than a foot. Its no more than a five min row out. With the sea as it is, we could hear you whisper across the water, much less if you shouted for us to return.”

Rubys small upturned face, populated with genuine interest warmed Juans heart. Perhaps she needed to find some sort of beauty or passion in order for her to continue with her learning.

“The sails aren’t even out and you’ve got the sea anchor setting us in place. What could go wrong?”

Juan winced inwardly at her words. Bad luck and ill winds seemed to attached themselves to him ever since they had crossed paths. He thought again of the old superstitions pertaining women and the sea.

“Beggin’ your pardon Cap’n. We are all set to go with the fishing.” Pete had slipped quietly into the small huddle.

The busy hum of activity had stopped. Ropes had been fed into coils awaiting their journey into the sea, nets spread evenly into easily thrown shapes, knives sharpened and honed. A quiet creak of La Gongozzler matched the slight sway of movement as it sat on the dead still sea.

Ruby straightened and drew herself to a stately carriage. “I’ll not beg. I’m asking you Captain Juan. As a marooned guest upon this ship, I wish to see the wondered of a coral reef and take full responsibility for my safety.”

Against his better judgment he nodded reluctantly and turned his head slightly toward Pete. “Prepare the davit”. Pete ducked his head, glanced up at Ruby and Matthew and scrambled back down the companionway.

“Take Peitro and Bruno with you. Even if a freak wind stirs up or an unlikely swell shifts us in the next hour, their strength will row you back in no time. Best go before Calisto unleashes his pots.”