Page 76 of A Castaway in Cornwall
Alex sent Daniel a concerned look, wondering how this delay would affect their onward travel plans. Unwilling to discuss it with François present, the men settled into tense silence broken only by idle conversation.
Hours later, François restlessly stood. “Excusez-moi,garçons. I think I will go on deck to speak with the captain.” He opened the door and, before he closed it, smirked, saying, “Don’t talk about me while I’m gone.”
When his boot steps faded, Alex sat on a low stool facing Daniel on the bunk. The two shared a long, sober look.
In a low voice, Daniel asked in French, “What should we do about François?”
“I don’t know.”
“Do you think he will betray us to the authorities when we land in Cornwall, him with his powerful letter and us with nothing?”
“It is a possibility.”
“He is up there ingratiating himself no doubt to the captain and crew.”
Alexander had not thought of that. “What can we do? It will be our word against his.”
“But you sound like an Englishman. He does not.”
“Nor do you,mon ami,” Alexander reminded him. He might be able to talk his way out of arrest, but his friend with limited English and no passport could not.
“True.” Daniel winced in concentration. He glanced at the coil of rope on the floor and asked, “Could we restrain him here in the cabin? Just to give us time to put some distance between us?”
“Not if a storm is—”
The door flew open, and they both started. François stood on its threshold, knife drawn and a look of triumph on his face, even as his blue eyes sparked with fury.
“I knew it! I knew it was only a matter of time until you two plotted against me. Now I shall do to you what you planned to do to me.Mercifor the excellent idea.”
He turned a flintlike face toward Alexander while he pointed his knife at Daniel. “Resist and your weak little friend will pay the price. You used to have much better taste in friends. But beggars cannot be choosers, I suppose.”
Gesturing with his knife, he kicked the rope toward Daniel and commanded, “Tie his wrists and ankles securely. No tricksor you both die. I know you are a sailor who is trained in tying knots.”
Daniel glanced at Alex, brows high with fear and uncertainty. Alexander nodded back. Daniel proceeded to tie him up as directed—and he was indeed proficient in tying knots. Once Alexander was restrained, François cut off a length of rope and tied Daniel’s wrists to a bunk chain.
Over his pounding heart and swirling thoughts of escape, Alexander became aware of other noises. Howling wind. Lashing waves. The cabin, he belatedly realized, had begun rolling and pitching. He knew the sounds and sensations too well. The storm had intensified.
From above came barked commands and shouts of confusion. The crew and ship were struggling. Everything in Alexander wanted to assist them.
“François, release me so I can go and help,” he urged. “It’s a storm. A violent one by the sounds of it.”
“Nice try.”
“I am in earnest. You can tie me up again if and when we reach safe harbour, but let me help now.”
Another smirk. “Not afraid of a little rough water, are you,Capitaine?”
François gathered his few belongings, then turned back. “Before I go, there is one more thing I need from you.” He squatted behind Alex and wrenched the ring from his finger, whispering slyly in his ear, “I have taken your wife and your brother, why not this too?”
Then François straightened and strode from the cabin, slamming the door shut behind him.
When the echoing slam faded, the sound of the wind, waves, and shouts of alarm seemed to fill the cabin. Alexander realizedthe possible threat of authorities was secondary to the imminent threat to their lives.
Suddenly the ship struck something, lurching violently. Alexander flew across the cabin and, with no way to stop his fall, landed hard on his shoulder and side. Daniel, tied to a bunk chain, was lifted from his perch but fell back against the rails.
“Are you all right?” Alexander asked.
“Yes. You?”
