Page 47 of CJ

“We were lucky this time. I’ve had a feeling in my bones the entire trip that something was going to go wrong. We’re almost home now. Hopefully, she’ll be pleased with what we’ve brought, and we’ll receive a bonus and a well-deserved rest.”

“Should I wake the men?” he asked.

“Not yet. They deserve to sleep a bit longer. We’re nearing Gibraltar. We’re safe now.” He tilted his head, thinking he’d heard someone at the door, then waved it off. When the door to the bridge opened, but no one was there, his first mate closed it.

“Maybe the wind,” said the mate.

“The winds are low,” he frowned. “Perhaps the latch is loose. We’ll look in the daylight.”

“Or, you could turn around now,” said Moose, pointing his weapon at the captain’s head. He reached for the controls, and U-Jin gripped his fingers, bending them backwards. The captain screamed, and the first mate stared at the men in terror.

“Now, why would you do that?” asked CJ.

“You have no idea whose ship this is,” said the man, holding his hand.

“Oh, I do,” nodded Rett. “Mikella Zacharov. Her sisters as well, although Alana is dead, and I’m going to guess that Irena will be dead soon as well.”

The first mate eyed the emergency alert button, staring at it and then back at the men in front of them.

“Let’s just take that concern from your plate,” said Ham. He took the end of his knife, prying the button from the panel, and disconnected the alarm. “Tie ‘em up and put them in the hold.”

As the minutes ticked by, they could hear in comms that the decks were being cleared and the crew secured in the hold. When they checked the ship again, they were relieved to know that everyone was accounted for below deck.

Up top, Ham took over the bridge, now dressed in his captain’s gear with U-Jin as his first mate.

“Have you ever steered a ship this large?” asked U-Jin.

“Nope. But it can’t be that hard, right?”

“It is very hard,” said U-Jin. He tapped his comms. “Marcel, I believe we may need your expertise on the bridge.”

“I’m offended by that,” smirked Ham. “You prefer a two-hundred-and-fifty-year-old sailor to me at the helm of a massive cargo ship?”

“Be offended all you like. I wish to live to see my wife.” When Marcel arrived at the bridge, he stared at the panel of buttons, dials, and electronics and frowned at U-Jin.

“I am experienced at steering ships, sailing ships, ships that did not require noisy, smelly machines to run them.”

“Didn’t you see ships coming and going the last two centuries? Didn’t you say that you boarded some to see how they operated?” asked Ham.

“I did, but that’s vastly different then actually driving one. I know the waters, and I know the currents and tides better than anyone. I will keep my eyes on those things. You keep your eyes on all these, these dials and knobs.”

“Well, we’ll figure this out together. We’re about to pass through into the Alboran Sea. Pray they let us through, and I don’t hit anything historic.”

Ham had never been so nervous in his entire life. As they passed through the straits of Gibraltar, his heart was racing a million miles a minute. Once through, he felt some relief but then realized they would have several more tests. They would pass by Malta, into the Mediterranean Sea, and then on to Cyprus.

“About an hour before dawn,” said U-Jin. “We will be in Cyprus soon. Are you ready?”

“As ready as I can be,” said Ham. “You good, Marcel?”

“I am good, my friend. I’ve died once. I do not wish to do it again. I have the controls now. I’ll be alright.”

“Let’s get the welcome committee ready.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

“Madam?”

“Yes,” she said sleepily.

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