Water & Storm Country

Lightning sizzles in jagged streaks above us,so close I can smell burning in the air. I stumble when the shipbreaks over a tall wave, plummeting down the steep side, tossedabout like a leaf in a whitewater river. Grabbing the railing, Iregain my balance and look up. Jade has missed a ladder rung and ishanging by her hands, which are slipping, slipping…

My breath catches as her feet scrabble wildlybelow her, but then they find purchase, somehow managing to findtraction on the slick foothold.

Danger looms from above.

The next wave.

How did it get above the ship? Dowaves have wings?

Dozens of shouts rise above the thunder asthe wave rains upon us, knocking each and every man and woman andwhite-ski

I’m swimming. I’m on the ship and I’mswimming, gasping for breath, choking on saltwater and pushingseaweed out of my eyes. Still alive, still fighting.

And then the ship lurches over the next wave,tilting so far that the pool of water rushes off over the side andback to whence it came. I slide along the deck, not stopping untilI slam into the railing, tangled with another man—the sailor Ihelped up earlier?—and a hefty woman who works in the kitchens andis known to eat more of what she cooks than those she cooks itfor.

But I barely see them, barely feel their armsand legs as we pull apart, because…

Because…

My eyes are glued to the mast, which isswaying, creaking, and finally cracking—with an awfulsplintering, ear-wrenching CRRRACKKK!—as Jade climbs higherand higher, past the torn sail, all the way to the bird’s nest,where she manages to slip over the side, disappearing fromsight.

Still lying on my back and feeling the BigBlue rage beneath the ship, I drop my gaze to the base of the mast,where a thin jagged line of black has formed in the wood. The mastis badly damaged, maybe permanently, but it’s still upright, notbroken through completely.

And she’s up there.

I realize someone else is tangled up with me,straining beneath my weight, pushing me away. When I roll to theside and look back, it’s Hobbs, glaring. “Rally the men!” heshouts. “This is too much, we have to make for land, run aground ifwe have to.”

There’s no time. The mast could collapse atany moment. Another wave, a burst of wind, a lightning strike.

“You do it,” I say. “I have to dosomething.”

His mouth contorts in anger. “You may be thelieutenant on board, but I’m still your superior officer. You’ll doas I command!”

I shake my head and clamber to my feet,squinting through the blistering rain.

With Hobbs cursing behind me, I run for themast.

The damage is even worse than I thought.Structurally, the mast is destroyed, splintered both vertically andhorizontally, sharp shards of wood sticking out at weird angles.Half of it, however, is still holding strong, as thick as a man’sthigh. I’ll be lucky if I make it to the top before it breaks.

But I have to try. I killed for her. I liedfor her. And now I have to save her.

The ladder rungs feel like they’re made ofwater, not metal. Before I can even get a grip, my fingers slideaway. I try again, this time being careful to lock my fingersaround them.

My feet slip twice on the way to the top, buteach time I manage to regain my footing. Three times I have to stopand just hang on as the ship climbs and topples over waves thatseem more like Big Blue’s fists than rolling mounds of water. Hepunches us, kicks us, but still the ship floats.

There are shouts from below, and I know it’sHobbs who’s rallying the men, the women, the bilge—saving us, doingmy job, or Captain Montgomery’s, or both.

Head down, I climb the last few rungs,hearing a voice from above. “Huck!”

I look up and Jade’s arms are there,stretching to grab me, to pull me into the crow’s nest. I tumbleover the side in an exhausted heap. Jade’s hugging me, but notawkwardly or passionately or anything normal. It’s more likeclinging to me, and I realize I’m clinging right back.

Water sloshes around us, escaping throughcracks in the lookout structure, but refilling faster than it canbe emptied.

“We have to get down before it collapses!” Iyell amidst a sudden clap of thunder.

Jade’s entire body shakes as she nods,trembling with cold and fear in my arms. Gone is her toughexterior. Was it all an act or has she just reached her limit?

Whatever the case, I must be strong for hernow.

I stand, pulling her up with me, peering overthe side. The crew, under Hobbs’ command, has managed to turn theship. The air is so thick with rain and fog that they can’tpossibly be sure of the right direction. More likely we’ll besailing in circles until the storm passes.

The ship lurches sharply one way and thenback the other, rolling over the mountains of waves. Each change indirection puts strain on the mast, which, miraculously, is stillholding strong.

Maybe, just maybe, we can get down beforeit’s too late…

CRRREAKKK!

The mast sways when it’s hit by a giant’sbreath of wind.

CRRAACKKKK!

It shatters, shuddering and groaning,wavering one way and then the other. The Deep Blue beckons it,calling for wood and blood and destruction and debris.

“Huck!” Jade cries as we fall, clutching atme as I clutch the side of the bird’s nest.

We fall, slowly at first, but then faster andfaster.

This can’t be happening. A bad dream. Areally bad dream.

I stare into the waiting arms of the waves.There’s nothing to be done. Nothing but fall and beg for mercy,think silent prayers. Deep Blue, please take me instead of her.Let my life be your sacrifice. Take me. Please.

All I see in the face of the Deep Blue ishunger. There will be no trade. Not when He can have us both.

SNAP! SNAP! SNAP! SNAP!

One by one, the rope bridges we so carefullyconstructed to allow us to repair the sails break off, snappingpast us, cracking like whips. One lashes my face, stinging my skin.If we can only grab one, swing away…

It’s too late—far too late for action.

The Deep Blue calls my name.Huuuuuuuck!

The impact of hitting the water is aspowerful as the shock. Water surrounds, cold and frantic, trying toforce its way into my mouth, my nose, to pull me under. I clutchthe splintered shards of wood sticking out from the bird’s nest,cutting my hands. Fighting for my life. That’s when it hits me:

Where’s Jade?

Chapter Thirty

Sadie

Firm hands shake meawake in the dark. “Sadie!” a voice says.

Reflexively, I reach out, grab the hands withmy own. Heat flashes in my head and chest. The hands are rough andstrong and Remy’s.

I let go like I’ve been burned.

“What is it?” I say.

“It’s, uh, I’m supposed to, um…”

I’ve never heard him stumble so much on asimple sentence. Did I surprise him just now? “Spit it out,” I say,smiling in the dark at his rare display of awkwardness.

“He’s awake,” Remy says, and he doesn’t haveto explain who the he is. The guard. The injured guard.

But there was so much blood.

“He won’t last long,” Remy says and I pushout a heavy breath. He’s dying.

“I’m—I’m sorry,” I say.

“Later,” Remy says. “You have to hurry.Father says you should be there for the questioning. You’re theclosest thing to a witness we have.”