Page 227 of New Storm Rising
“Why, of course…a group hug!”
I had been right to feel dread before. The moment those words left my wife’s mouth, I implemented an immediate strategic retreat and vanished into the belly of the ship. It was not before ten minutes had passed that I re-emerged on deck. Just in time, too. The men on the dock had just untied the ropes that held the ship in place, and the sailors were looking at me for direction.
“Ready?” I demanded.
“Aye aye, Sir!”
“Then pull up the gangplank! Raise the anchor!”
“Ya heard him, mates!” one of the men shouted. “Let’s get to it!”
TheTresoro’s anchor chain rose from the water, creaking and clanking. A moment later, with a resoundingthwump, the first sail came down and was gripped by the wind in an instant.
“Make all sail!” I commanded. “Make all sail back to England!”
“Bleeeaaaawk?”
“And you be quiet!”
Soon, the ship headed out of the harbour and set out towards Great Britain. And apparently, Britain was not the only thing that was great, but my wife’s mood was as well. She had discovered the fact that the ship we were currently on, originally the property of a certain pair of Spanish nobles, was a luxurious flag ship that didn’t lose to a cruise ship in terms of opulence—and now, she was taking full advantage of it. Normally, the sight of my wife ordering hordes of waiters to bring her various expensive delicacies would have driven me up the wall. There were only two reasons why it didn’t: one, there were no walls here on the deck of the ship and, two, this wasn’t costing me anything. All the provisions stored on this ship had been confiscated from my enemies and would spoil if not consumed. I was not one for spoiling my wife, but it was preferable to letting food spoil instead.
Still, the sight of those expensive dishes being devoured one after another…
Shuddering, I decided to retreat below deck. There was no need to torture myself like this when I had yet to catalogue my acquisitions from this trip to America.
When, several hours later, I re-emerged with the satisfied feeling of once more being quite a bit richer, I found her deck chair empty. Frowning, I glanced around—and finally found her standing some distance away at the prow of the ship. To judge by the expression on her face, she didn’t seem to be enjoying the high life anymore. Her eyes were fixed on the distant horizon, and one of her hands rested on her belly, trembling ever so slightly.
She looked lonely. Afraid. And…was she hyperventilating?
Before I knew it, my legs were carrying me forward. Just a moment later, I was behind her, my arms encircling her in a strong embrace and pulling her against my chest. For an instant, she stiffened—then relaxed and sank into my arms. Two familiar eyes glanced up at me, full of self-doubt.
Lillian? Doubting herself?
Something was very wrong.
Tightening my grip, I gently pulled her closer, until she was firmly in my grasp.
“As I often tell my management staff,” I informed my wife, “step one of problem solving: identify the problem.”
I felt her swallow hard. Slowly, she took a deep breath, and the hand resting on her stomach clenched into a fist.
“I…I’m scared. I don’t know what my friends will say. How can I work now? How can we be together, not just like any husband and wife, but likeus, like we always are?”
Running around the world grabbing other people’s money, you mean?
But, feeling her shiver in my arms, I didn’t say that.
“How…how can I still be myself?” She swallowed again. “I’m scared.”
Was her voice actuallytrembling?
That just wouldn’t do. Not for my littleifrit.
“I am not.” At my callous words, she stiffened as if I had plunged a knife into her back. She made to move out of my arms—only for me to capture her cheek in my hand and force her to look at me. “I am not scared at all. Because you are with me.”
For a single second, the world seemed to stand still for us. The only things still moving were the roiling waves in the distance and the gentle ocean breeze. Then she suddenly whirled to fully face me and threw her arms around my neck, drawing me into a fierce embrace.
Well now, this was much better. My littleifritwas back.
