Treasure of the sea |Lesbian story|

CHAPTER X

I cried all my tears that night. I stifled sobs into my pillow, clutching it tightly to my face. The humiliation of being left in that closet to rot kept haunting me. And then I thought of my father, how devastated he would be to have everything taken away from him. Most of the Adler fortune was on the Galatea. When my family had left for the New World two years before, they hadn't even taken a quarter of the money, to make sure they wouldn't be robbed. News usually flew fast, even overseas. People always knew when a rich family was coming to settle in the colonies. And rumours could reach even the seediest places. Surely even criminals had been aware of the Adlers' arrival in Charlestown. My parents, fearing that they might be attacked before they arrived, had decided that I would be the one to bring most of the money to America. My departure, in fact, would have been less conspicuous than theirs. Oh, how wrong they had been! I brooded most of the night. At half-past five in the morning the sun appeared on the horizon, and its rays came to rest on the walls of my cabin. The sea was flat, and the Galatea was making moderate progress. Everything seemed so calm, so normal, as if nothing had happened, as if at any moment Mr. Phillips would be knocking at my door to bring me my breakfast and wish me a warm good morning.

But, alas, my crew was no longer out there. And I didn't even know if Mr. Phillips was still alive.

I stayed in the cabin all day. I didn't dare go out of my own free will. It was far better to stay there to avoid facing those outlaws. In contrast to my previous quarters, the First Mate's cabin was very spartan. There was a table, a nightstand, a chest for clothes, two chairs, and a bed. I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling and listening to the sound of the water below me.

As night fell, that room was beginning to get more and more cramped; it felt like being locked in the closet again. I had the feeling that the walls were getting tighter and tighter, suffocating me.

I opened the door softly at suppertime, when all the sailors were busy eating their meal, and peeped out. There was not a soul outside, and I rejoiced within. I took a few uncertain steps, looking around to make sure there was no one there. Reassured, I felt free to walk on the bridge, savouring the crisp evening air. I hid behind the big mast and stood there, watching the sunset light up the sky.

"Are you enjoying the view?"

I gasped and turned toward the sound of the voice. A sailor, tall and stocky, was grinning at me. It was Dinnington.

"Yes," I cut in. "But perhaps I'd better go back to my cabin now..."

"Why leave at the most beautiful moment?"

"I'm tired and need to rest," I replied, looking for an excuse.

"You've been in the cabin all day, I don't think you're exhausted at all. Stay, come now, I mean no harm. How about a little chat?"

I hesitated. "I'm not in the mood."

"Is it true what the Captain says? Are you rich? I'll wager you were raised a noblewoman. My manners may be rude to you, but have mercy, I'm only the son of a poor butcher."

I was unsure whether to trust him or not, yet his calm demeanour inspired me to trust. "Um... You're doing fine."

The man brightened, genuinely pleased. "Really? Well, thank you. The Captain always told me I could consider myself a proper gentleman. I had no idea that was true."

The silence between us grew more oppressive as the minutes passed and at some point, I couldn't stand it any longer.

"How come there's a woman in charge of these men?" I asked. It was a question that had been nagging at my mind for hours.

Dinnington raised an eyebrow, as if accustomed to that scepticism. "Among pirates, the law of the fittest applies."

I thought he was joking, so at first I made a doubtful face. But he remained unmoved by my reaction. He had expected it.

"You mean to tell me that woman is capable of beating every man on this ship? But that's surreal! Even you who are tall and big could overpower her!"

"Unfortunately, that's not the case. She was the one who taught me how to fight. I was never able to win," he declared. "Besides, in combat, size doesn't matter much. It's cunning and speed that determine victory."

"And all these men are willing to obey a woman?"

"The Captain is not the sort of woman you are used to, Miss Adler. True, some men have some trouble at first accepting taking orders from a woman, but as soon as they see what she's made of they submit to her without a second thought."

We were silent for a while, after which I continued, "You seem to think very highly of her, don't you?"

"Oh, yes. She's like a daughter to me."

We were interrupted by the clatter of some sailors who had just emerged from below deck. Fortunately, they did not notice us, and I let out a sigh of relief.

"You need not fear," Dinnington reassured. "The Captain has made it clear that if they touch you or annoy you in any way they will see some good. "

"Does she really intend to release me when she receives my father's money?" asked I, hastily.

He stood staring at me, almost pained by my fear.

"The Captain always keeps her word."