human
Where are we bound? Manuel shrugged and grinned and spread his hands, and shook his head until Ben feared he might be another mute, and then said at last:
gpt
Rain stop soon.
human
Mr. Shawn, are we tacking?
gpt
Now why would we be tacking, Beneen?
human
Don't call me that!
gpt
I may not then? Shawn displayed no anger, though Ben had almost hoped for it. The blue eyes dilated a little, perhaps in hurt, but he did not cease smiling.
human
Well--well, Cory, why would we be tacking, and a good little westerly breeze on the sta'board quarter that do be sending us where we wish to go?
gpt
And where is that?
human
Why, tomorrow, Cory, I fear you'll see little except water--a great deal of it--but you'll see tacking enough if that's your wish, and you'll be learning something about the handling of sail on small craft in the forenoon watch, I'm hoping, and later. And now and then, man dear, away far off up in the northwest or sometimes due north, you'll find me a wee blue lump on the horizon--why, so faint and small that sometimes your eyes will say it's not there at all, but it'll be there. And it'll be there the following day, and maybe the day after that, for we'll be standing off and on. Now that's a way of waiting, Cory, that's the way a vessel must wait if she's in the open waters and biding her time for a certain thing to happen--it's the way of a hawk in the air, if you like, the way he must move about continually up there in the great sky, biding his time for a certain thing to happen. He was coming to Ben, and his broad hands fell heavy on Ben's shoulders. The blue stare dilated to black; Ben met it, refusing to shrink away.
gpt
That blue lump will be an island, Cory, a sprawling island where it happens I've never gone ashore, but I know how it lies. I'm of no mind to go there on my errand, do you see, because on land--why, on land I'm compassed about, I have enemies, Mother of God, and some of them are agents of--puh!--Her Majesty Queen Anne.
human
What's that you say?
gpt
Easy, Cory, easy! You have a new allegiance. That I will explain later, not now.
human
I have no new allegiance.
gpt
Later, friend, I said. The name of the island is Nantucket. Now sooner or later--on the second, the third day, it doesn't matter--a lovely small vessel will put out from Sherburne. We shall speak her, the island then being over the horizon.
human
I think I understand your meaning, Ben said.
gpt
I think I understood it when that murderer struck me in the face.
human
I'm hoping he did not harm you, said Shawn mildly. The eyes were altogether black; the smile remained.
gpt
No murderer, Ben. He acted at command of a certain voice--more of that later too, you wouldn't be understanding it now. As for striking you--mere shipboard discipline, Cory. You might be thanking him for that one day, when you've come around to learning how to obey a captain's orders.
human
If I understand your meaning, I will have no part of it.
gpt
Can you walk on water? Swim among the fishes?
human
That's not worth an answer, said Ben, and he heard Manuel suck in his breath as if in pain, but would not look his way.
gpt
I met you last night in friendship. I came aboard here, and drank with you as a friend because I supposed you to be one. Oh, my brother....
human
Your brother?
gpt
My brother was right, and you no friend. It was possible that some day Shawn would be ashore again, where Reuben was.
human
Nothing about my brother, said Ben--
gpt
But, said Shawn peacefully,
human
I must have an answer to what I asked. Do you wish to live?
gpt
Yes, like any man. Not at cost of betraying my own people or doing what my heart refuses.
human
Why, that's very bravely spoken.
gpt
You thought I'd help you take _Artemis_?
human
Oh, said Shawn, and took out the copper coin and frowned at it.
gpt
Who's to know all the whims of a green boy?
human
Whims, Mr. Shawn? Well, not that or any other dirty piracy.
gpt
Oh! said Shawn again, and held up the coin, turning it about in the gray light. His forehead was damp, perhaps from the spray.
human
A St. Patrick farthing, Beneen. From Dromore. Sometimes I'm wondering why I keep it. Not much there, ha, to make a man think of the green land?... Well, you'll forget you said that--in time, time. Your heart, is it? And so, do you see, it's your heart I must teach. I must change it, the way you'll be breaking the old bonds and will sail with me to the new lands. Time--that's all. The old gray mother'll give you the truth of it, and I'll change your heart.
gpt
That no one can do.
human
But I can,