The Deepest Waters, A Novel Read Online Free PDF

“I find that hard to believe.”
    Laura couldn’t stand by any longer. “Captain, I beg your pardon, but I saw the whole thing.”
    “I’m not finished,” Maul said.
    Captain Meade looked at Micah. Laura saw something like compassion in his eyes. “Go on, miss . . .”
    “My name is Laura, Mrs . Laura Foster.” She explained in a few sentences what really happened.
    The captain shook his head as he understood. “Maul, you had no cause to whip him like that. He’s not your slave, and you are the lowest ranking man on the crew. And Micah, I can’t have you striking the crew, no matter what. Do you understand? You could have asked one of the other men to intervene.”
    Micah nodded. “Cap’n, may I say somethin’?”
    “What?”
    “I meant no harm to Missuh Maul here. I truly didn’t. But there weren’t time. He had Crabby in his hand, another second he’d a’ flung her over that rail. Rate we be movin,’ she’d be a goner for sure.”
    Laura remembered what Micah had said about the captain liking Crabby too.
    He turned to Maul, a stern look in his eyes. “Mr. Maul. I’m only going to say this once. You are new on this crew so I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt.” He bent down and looked at Crabby hiding behind Micah’s legs. He put his hand out, and she ran right to him, her tail wagging furiously. “Crabby here is under my protection.”
    “Yes, sir,” said Maul.
    “I don’t care what she does that you don’t like, don’t you ever lay a hand on her or Micah again. Are we clear?”
    Maul looked at Micah then down at Crabby, his hatred still present but subdued. “I understand, Captain. Won’t happen again, sir.”
    “My apologies, ladies,” the captain announced, standing to his feet. “A bit of misunderstanding here, is all. Sorry to have disturbed your peace. I’ve been informed that dinner will be served in about one hour. While I have your attention, I might as well inform you . . . we are running low on provisions. As I said, we will share with you whatever we have, but I had no way of knowing how much it would take to feed over a hundred mouths a day. Our cook tells me if we don’t go to half rations, we’ll run out a day or so before reaching New York. So . . .” He smiled ever so slightly. “I regret to say, not only will the food be terrible, but there will be less of it.”
    Everyone laughed. The comment seemed to sweep away the tension on deck.
    For everyone, Laura observed, except Mr. Maul. He bent over and picked up his bucket. As he stood, he gave her a wicked hateful stare.

7
     
    Up then down, up then down. The movement unending.
    The heat scorched his neck and arms. And the thirst. But don’t drink. No matter how intense the thirst . . . don’t drink .
    “I can’t hold on, John. It’s time.”
    “No,” John said. “Robert, don’t. Just a little more.”
    “Why? There’s no point. I’m so tired.”
    “Can’t you feel it, Robert? The waves are calming.”
    “Does it matter?”
    “It will get easier to hold on. We can just float. Just a little longer, Robert. Think of Mary and your little ones. Hold on for them.” John looked to his right. Robert’s head faced away. He gave no reply. They had been sharing one of the wooden tables John had pulled from the dining saloon. “Robert?”
    “A little longer then,” Robert said.
    For the last several hours John had watched as one man after another gave up and slipped beneath the water, like the man who’d shared this table with Robert. Some had announced their departures, calling out their names, a few last words to convey to loved ones should any out here survive. Others just silently disappeared. There were less than a hundred men floating in their group. All the rest were dead.
    The big raft . . . there had been three men on it. Now there was only one . John quickly looked around, didn’t see anyone swimming toward it. “Robert? Hey, Robert.” John splashed