Voyage of Slaves

Ben had been reliving the scene in his mind. Now the truth of it dawned on him. He ruffled Ned’s ears warmly. “My good old mate! Thanks for telling me, I’ll make it up to her first thing tomorrow.”

The dog allowed himself to be patted before he continued. “Ah, but that isn’t all. I heard another conversation this afternoon, while you were sitting up here wanting to be alone. It was between Ghigno and Bomba.”

Ben felt suddenly apprehensive. “Go on, what did they say?”

The dog paused. “The news isn’t good, mate. I was lying in the shade under the steps when those two blackguards came along. They leaned on the midship rails, talking together. So I listened in—they never even noticed me. Ghigno was saying that you were a danger to them, because you knew too much. He said, if that captain today had been a stranger, and listened to you, then they would all have their necks in a noose. Bomba agreed with him, but said that Al Misurata said you weren’t to be harmed. The scar-faced one wasn’t too pleased at that. He said that Misurata was putting them at risk through his greed for gold. Bomba’s head was bobbing up and down like a pigeon pecking corn. He felt that you would get to someone who would take notice of your accusations, and what then? After all, it was a long journey to where they were bound, and who could stand guard over an infidel boy who was so clever and devious?”

Ben took hold of Ned’s paw. “So what did they decide?”

The dog’s answer came as no surprise to him. “By tomorrow night we should make Valleta harbour at Malta. Now I don’t know the exact details, but that’s where we’re both going to be murdered and tossed into the sea. The sharks should take care of our bodies. All Ghigno has to do is to tell Al Misurata that we’ve escaped and gone ashore.”

Ben looked grim. “Aye, that would work for them. Al Misurata could only stop for so long to have the island searched, then he’d have to leave. Very crafty, mate, nobody would ever be sure what really happened to us.”

Ned placed his head in Ben’s lap. “Poor old us, served up as shark stew just for being too knowledgeable. So, when do we jump ship?”

Ben answered promptly. “First chance we get as soon as we sight land. We’ll have to take our chances quickly.”

The dog raised his eyebrows. “Without a word to anyone, I suppose. It won’t do your romance much good, mate, going off without so much as a fond farewell to that lovely girl.”

Ben nodded. “She’ll understand in time, I hope.”

Next morning, Ben was up as dawn spread over the Mediterranean Sea. He saw Otto come out on deck and start his exercise routine. Then Serafina emerged from her cabin, calling to the strongman.

“When you’ve finished we’ll go and get breakfast for the troupe.”

Ben hastened to her side. “Leave Otto to his training. We’ll go and fetch the food, you and I.”

Ned sent the boy a thought. “That’s the stuff, I’ll stop here with Otto and allow you to make up.”

They descended the steps in an awkward silence, then Ben turned and found his tongue running away with him.

“Serafina, about yesterday, I’m sorry I spoke sharply to you but I wanted to get you away, to save you being hurt by Bomba and Ghigno. I didn’t mind being knocked about a bit but I couldn’t bear the thought of anybody trying to hurt you. But I had no time to explain gently, so I spoke harshly and I didn’t get a chance to apologise later, you looked so cold and distant, you went into the cabin, and I couldn’t follow you inside . . . and . . . and . . . I’m sorry!”

The girl covered her mouth, stifling the laughter that was bubbling out. Ben stared at her, nonplussed.

“What?”

“Oh, haha . . . oh, I’m sorry . . . Hahaha! Poor Ben, standing there gabbling away with your cheeks as red as tomatoes. How could I not forgive you, my friend? But can you forgive me? Flouncing off with my lip pouting, when all you were trying to do was to protect me. It was a silly thing for me to do.”

Ben looked at the deck. “You could never do anything silly, Serafina. Are we still friends?”

She took his hand and squeezed it lightly. “Of course. Come on, let’s get some breakfast for the starving players.”

They walked hand in hand to the galley, though Ben could not feel the deck beneath his feet, and his heart was singing.

They set all the food on a piece of planking and carried it between them. Before they reached the steps Ghigno stepped out, barring the way. The awful scar made his face crease into a sardonic sneer as he stepped aside and did a flourishing bow.

“Good morning to you, pretty miss, and you, young sir!”

They passed by him in silence. At the top of the steps, Serafina turned to see Ghigno enter the galley.

“I wonder what made him do that?”

Ben shook his head. “Probably the sight of us made him feel unusually happy, what d’you think?”

Serafina reflected. “Hmm, perhaps it did, though I couldn’t imagine the sight of him would make anybody unusually happy, not even his mother!”

Simultaneously the two young people took a fit of laughing.