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“The sea,” Blatt snorted. “Were there a way by sea half the town of Jikar would be off trading. All your gold will not pay the pirates, Trader, and there is but one warship left in Jikar.”
“There is a ship here?” MacKi
“For sale?” Hoorn thought slowly. “It belongs to the Ironsmiths. There is little in Jikar that is not for sale, including our daughters’ virtue. I could save you money in the purchase, for a fee to my Guild.”
“Not allowed.” Blatt spoke positively. “To sell a man that which sends him to his death is not allowed. Go back to your clothing, Hoorn; the Guilds ca
Nathan noted the sudden look of interest Brett tried to hide, then turned to Blatt. “I buy it willingly, Master Ta
CHAPTER ELEVEN
SHIPFITTER
MacKi
There was an additional blessing. Midshipman Landry had left with Renaldi. When Lieutenant Farr was told of MacKi
Before Renaldi left, the lieutenant had made it clear that the Navy was displeased with his treatment of MacKi
Mary Graham remained on Makassar. She pointedly refused to be on the same ship with Renaldi without MacKi
Nathan found she also insisted on accompanying the party on its expedition to Batav, and nothing MacKi
“What did you expect me to do here?” she insisted. “I knew there would be danger.”
“Freelady,” MacKi
“But there is no need for offices here,” Graham protested.
“True. But you ca
“Madness, Trader? Is it less mad to leave me here, in a city besieged? I may yet be of use to you.”
“No.”
“You say no. You had better reconsider. If I am not reliable enough to go with you, how can you trust me to remain silent for a year? You leave me here with the Imperial officers—”
“I did not say that I do not trust you.”
“Would Dougal leave me behind? Think on that. Dougal would have me killed rather than risk it.”
He would, MacKi
“Please,” she said. “Trader, I was told this mission is important, to Haven and to Prince Samual’s World. Will you deny me the chance to show that I — that the women of Haven — are no less bound to duty and honor than you? Do you think only men can be patriotic?”
I hadn’t considered it, MacKi
“Thank you. You won’t regret it.”
I regret it already, MacKi
And now she was busily clambering about the dockyard, following MacLean and hastily scribbling notes as the seaman happily inspected the craft. A gang of young locals, glad of employment, stood by under the supervision of the Shipwright Guildsmen. The Shipwrights had lost heavily in the brief and pointless battle with the Imperial Navy, and were willing to allow anyone in the town to work on MacKi
The boat itself was hardly impressive. Only about thirty meters long, it was drawn up out of the water on a primitive ways. MacKi
After MacLean inspected the vessel, MacKi
MacLean sucked on a pipe casually for a moment. Smoking did not seem to startle the villagers although they were never seen to smoke, but MacLean’s lighter was far in advance of anything on the planet. MacKi
“So we could make it?” When MacLean nodded, MacKi
“The way I intend to modify her, no more than twice the number we already have, but everyone will have to lend a hand. A few locals would be useful if you can hire them.
“I’m going to make her sail, Trader. She’s got that damned stubby mast on her; I’ll yank that and put in a taller one, then stay it properly, deck the boat over and put some iron ballast in her. Nothing the Imperials can object to. And I’ll mount leeboards.”
The term meant nothing to MacKi
MacLean shook his head. “Ballast will fix that, I hope. She’s beamy enough, should be good form stability. I like the hull sections. They’ve ridden out some mean storms in those things. That big iron ram on the prow goes back almost amidships; it’s the closest thing they’ve got to a ballast keel.” He sucked on his pipe. “You can tell there’s a lot of shallow water here, and with those weird tides from the two moons, they must run aground a lot. That’s why the boats have nearly flat bottoms. Beach them for the night usually, I expect. We can get there, Trader, but I don’t know about the pirates.”