Booty for Wine

In the morning, as the ships were being loaded, Bitias approached Tondo at the far end of the beach.

“Not that I would shed a tear, Tondo, but you’re overloading your ship. Look how low she sits in the water.”

“Mind your own business, Bitias.”

“Look at all that wine! Why hoard it? Every seaport has a healthy supply.”

“My men enjoy a drink every now and then.”

“Now and then? Morning, noon, and all night long!”

“They got a good deal on that wine,” Tondo grunted.

“They got a good deal? Oh, now I see! That little heap of jewels you took from the Sage sent them on a spending spree. You, sir, are losing control of your ship!”

“That’s none of your concern!”

“Dangerous situation, Tondo.”

“The danger is on your side! Now that they know you are transporting a fortune, their appetites are whetted. It’s just a matter of time before they rally and attack.”

“We can handle our defenses.”

“That remains to be seen. I, for one, will not resist their efforts.”

“It appears you have no choice.”

“A curse upon you!”

“I’m not responsible for your ship, but I suggest you use your common sense, if the gods gave you any. Unload some weight. Otherwise, you put your crew and passengers in peril.”

            Tondo snorted. “We have no passengers. They all abandoned ship back in Kition, and I’m glad to be rid of their whining, ‘The gods this and the gods that.’”

            “The gods will pull out your tongue if you’re not careful.”

            “Don’t tell me what to do with my tongue!”

“Well, at least you won’t be putting innocent lives in danger.”

“Why don’t you admit that Elishat is a coward…and a fool?”

            Bitias flattened his palm against the temptation to make a fist. He turned and walked away, shouting over his shoulder. “Bring your ship and your men into line, Tondo. In any case, leave us alone!”

            “I refuse to abandon a just cause!” Bitias returned to the fleet with a tinge of remorse. A captain rarely survived a mutiny, but there was nothing more he could do. He turned his attention to the Queen’s fleet. They had lost, miraculously, only one passenger to Kommos. With a few changes—Vohu Manah was re-assigned to the Phoenix after the passengers on the Sage complained that he was making their belongings disappear and reappear; several love-struck couples switched ships so they could be together; and the ships were now adorned with colorful pennants, a gift from the merry folk of Kommos—the fleet fluttered out to sea with Tondo’s vessel lumbering far behind.

← Chapter 31 | Chapter 33 →