Page 103 of A Flash of Golden Fire

Domingo turned briefly and blew the woman a kiss. “I’m sorry, Beulah, but I’ve a new assignment! Thanks for the memories, darling!”

And we were gone.

Coming out of the Turnkey into the dim city streets, where people ran to and fro, and bursts of fire lit up the night was terrifying, and I clutched Dinesh’s hand like a frightened child as he pulled me along, Domingo keeping close to both of us, the covered cage clutched under his arm.

“This is not how my night was supposed to go,” he panted, tucking a length of hair behind his ear and rushing along next to us.

“Nor mine,” Dinesh muttered, guiding me past multiple desperate people who ran in all directions.

“Will we make the docks?” I voiced my main fear.

“They’re our best bet. We must.”

“But the crew…”

“They’re all making a run for the skiffs. I was with some of them when the attack began, but I ran back to get you and Domingo.”

“Thank the Gods!” A strike of fear shot up my spine imagining him not coming back for me and what that would have been like.

“I wasn’t leaving without you, Rooster. If that meant my death, then I was prepared for the end.”

“Don’t speak of such things, Dinesh. We’ll be all right,” Domingo said, and I’d never appreciated him more.

“Yes, we will,” Captain Martin agreed.

When we got to the docks, someone yelled the captain’s name.

“There’s Guthrie! Thank God,” he said and tugged me forward.

My hand slipped from his grip and I yelled out, but no sooner had I noticed, than I was immediately grabbed by Domingo and practically lifted off my feet.

“I’ve got you!” he said as he pulled me up.

Captain Martin had stopped when he’d lost hold, but seeing that Domingo had me, he gave a smile and a nod, and we all continued on at a fast pace.

I grasped Domingo’s hand, so thankful he was with us, as we spied the waiting skiff filled with half the crew.

“The others are already at the ship. Let’s make haste and leave this blasted place,” Guthrie muttered.

“Quite!” The captain agreed, helping Domingo to get me into the boat as another voice shouted above the din.

“Wait! Wait!”

I looked in the direction of the cry to see none other than Squid racing towards us. He was dodging between frantic people and almost fell off the dock in a moment of carelessness.

“Come on, man!” the captain yelled. “Watch yourself!”

“We have to cast off, sir,” Hillier said. “We daren’t wait for anyone else!”

“He’s almost here,” I cried. “Just one more moment!”

I gazed at Dinesh with desperation in my eyes. We couldn’t leave Squid. Not like this.

Captain Martin stood and leaned over the side of the skiff, reaching for Squid, who grabbed his hand like a lifeline and was tugged forward, falling into the boat as the captain yelled out, “Now! Go!”

The men on the oars managed to pull us away from the dock, far enough that we thought we’d make our getaway. We gazed onto the port city of Cayonne, where multiple structures burned and smoke obscured the stars.

Then came a drawn-out whistle of impending doom and hell was upon us.

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