Treasure of the sea |Lesbian story|

CHAPTER XLVII

That night we all camped by the bonfire. The Nanticoke spread mattresses of rumpled leaves on the ground and gave each of us a blanket. The warmth of the fire was comforting and its flames cast long shadows all around us. Louise, who had placed herself next to me, kept talking in a low voice; her hopeful tone relaxed me. She was telling me about the future, how she felt. She said that we had saved her life. "I wasn't going to last much longer, in there, you know? I kept thinking about how to... how to take my own life. But now... Now it's all so full of possibilities."

"What would you like to do?"

"Oh. Anything." She smiled. "Do you think if I ask her, Arenis will welcome me into her crew?"

"Oh, I suppose that after Thorpe's attack Arenis will need new sailors. So many have died..."

"I'm afraid, however, that I don't have what it takes to do what you do. To fight the way you fight. To run a ship and all that..."

"We'll teach you."

Louise nodded, still unconvinced. "What's she like?"

"Tough," I replied. "Often ambitious, but listens to the will of the crew and acts accordingly. Reserved and somewhat-"

"Reserved?"

"Hmm," I confirmed. "It's weird. I've known her for months, but sometimes I feel like I don't know her at all. I don't know anything about her."

"Really? I thought..." said Louise then fell silent suddenly.

"What?"

"I thought you were friends. She treats you with more consideration than anyone else."

"Oh, that. She doesn't usually act like that. I think it's her way of thanking me for the escape..."

"I don't think she's doing this to thank you," Louise reflected, her brow furrowed.

"No?"

"Hey, you two! Will you stop whispering?" thundered Harris' voice, clearly frustrated. "Go to sleep."

I sighed. "Yes, sir! Forgive us, Harris." I looked at Louise with a smile and signalled her with my head to get down. "We'd better accommodate him, or he'll start grumbling and won't stop," I told her.

"All right," Louise giggled. "You know, it's nice talking to you."

"We all need someone willing to listen from time to time. Good night, Louise."

"Good night."

I woke up a little after dawn. Louise was still asleep, with the blanket pulled over her nose. As I sat up, I noticed Abooksigun and Arenis whispering near a house. Arenis was peeling a strange greenish fruit.

"Hey, Adler," she said, when she noticed I was awake. "Come here. There's food."

Abooksigun bent over a basket and retrieved a fruit for me. I turned it over in my hands, watching it carefully. "What is it?"

"Pawpaw," he replied. "Good. "

It had a creamy texture that reminded me a bit of banana. I sank my fingers into the pulp and brought it to my mouth with gusto. "Really good," I said to Abooksigun, nodding in approval. He smiled at me. "What were you guys talking about earlier?" I asked.

"I asked Abooksigun to show me where the nearest village of whites is," Arenis replied.

"Why on earth do you want to go there?"

"We need a ship, don't we? So we're going to go steal a ship."

"Hmm."

"Are you doubtful?"