Midnight Jewel
Page 34

   The sailor jumped down beside me and tried to push the beam off but didn’t even budge it. “I’ll get help,” he shouted. He disappeared into the haze of rain, and judging from the frantic way everyone was hustling about, I doubted help would be coming anytime soon. No sailor would halt work that could save this ship in order to rescue one unwary passenger.
   I tried tugging my leg again, but the yard held fast. It was so heavy that it didn’t roll around as many other loose items did on the rocking ship, so that was something. Pinned in place, I was able to focus more on what was happening. Most of the sails had been secured. Waves broke over the ship’s deck when we tipped too far, making me feel certain we’d go all the way over. We righted each time, but part of me kept thinking it was just a matter of time before our luck ended.
   Through the wind, I heard a crotchety voice yell at someone, “What are you doing, girl? Get below!”
   And a familiar voice answered: “Get help! You have to get it off her!”
   Astonished, I looked up as Adelaide came toward me, fear on her pale face. An old sailor was hurrying past her. “You get it off her. We’ve got to keep this ship from sinking.”
   Adelaide knelt beside me and attempted to pull the beam away. A new panic set in, not for me, but for my friend. The wind and waves were too powerful, and we were dangerously close to the edge.
   “It’s too heavy! Leave me, and get back below.”
   Adelaide’s face hardened as she tried again. “Never.”
   I could see the effort it cost her, the pain she endured. As I tried to urge her away again, Grant suddenly crouched down beside her. His flyaway hair was now slicked down against his head. “Pull with me,” he ordered Adelaide. When their efforts proved fruitless, he shot her a glare. “Damn it. Are you even trying, girl?”
   If Adelaide was shocked at the difference between real-Grant and public-Grant, she didn’t show it. She was too worked up over me, too scared and frustrated. “Of course I am!”
   I couldn’t stand the risk they were taking. “You both need to go—”
   “Be quiet,” Grant told me. He glanced back at Adelaide. “We’ll do it on the count of three. Put all the strength you’ve got into it, and then dig up some you didn’t even know you had. One—two—three!”
   They worked together, pushing their muscles as far as they would go. At first, it looked as though this attempt too would fail, and then I felt the slightest change of pressure above my ankle. It wasn’t much, but the beam shifted just enough for me to slide my foot out before they released their load. Grant shot over to my side and slid an arm around my waist to help me up. I wobbled a bit but managed to stand and put weight on my foot.
   “Can you walk?” he asked.
   I nodded, but with each step, I felt a shooting pain in my ankle. Adelaide quickly supported me on my other side, and the three of us hobbled across the deck, fighting our way through the lashing wind and rain. A streak of lightning drew my eye toward the sea, and I did a double take at what I saw. Off in the distance, through the murky light and haze of rain, I could see the Gray Gull fighting its own battle on the ocean. Wind and waves tossed it around effortlessly. I knew the ship was as heavy and hulking as ours, but in that moment, it appeared so fragile.
   “Adelaide,” I said, pointing.
   She came to a stop and looked where I indicated. Her eyes widened, and I knew she was thinking of Tamsin.
   Grant nudged us both. “Stop gaping! Go! Hurry!”
   We made it inside and back down to our hallway. “Where are you going?” I asked when Grant immediately began heading back in the direction we’d come.
   “To see if any other fools need help.”
   “Men get to do everything,” I grumbled after him.
   “You want to go back out there?” Adelaide asked, pushing a tangle of dripping hair out of her face.
   “I’d rather do something useful than sit around and worry about my dress being wet.”
   “Girls!” Miss Bradley called from the common room. “Get in here! Thank Uros you’re safe.”
   The rest of our cohort was still inside, many weeping and clinging to each other for comfort. I didn’t think I’d broken any bones, but it felt good to sit and rest my foot and ankle. They’d probably hurt for a few days, but I didn’t expect to be doing anything particularly athletic in the near future. I could see pale faces and wide eyes throughout the room. We were all scared. Everyone on the Gray Gull had to be scared too. But at least Adelaide and I had each other for comfort. Who was there for Tamsin?
   On and on that night went. I grew so used to the constant rocking that even when we hit small lulls, the room still seemed to spin. And those lulls provided illusory hope that soon gave way to heaving even worse than what we’d experienced before. If it wasn’t for Adelaide, I probably would’ve gone back up to the deck. To do what, I couldn’t say. Probably just cause more hassle for someone. But it was hard for me to think of the sailors working to save our lives while we sat safely down here, doing nothing.
   Grant was up there too. He’d grumbled and snapped at us, but I’d seen the concern in his eyes when he looked me over. And for someone who could put on such an arrogant air and talk about staying unattached from others, he’d headed back into the storm without hesitation.
   It wasn’t until the night’s end that I dared believe the worst was over. The waters calmed, and the ship steadied. Girls fell into restful sleep, and Adelaide and I exchanged wondering looks, neither having the courage to voice what we both hoped. Cedric finally stopped by the room, just long enough to give an update.
   “My father talked to the captain, and we’re out of it,” he said. Adelaide sighed happily against me as he continued. “Amazingly, no one was lost, and there was no damage to the ship. It’s unclear how the cargo fared, but we’ll figure that out later. It’s still night, and as soon as the clouds clear, the captain can assess our position. In the meantime, get what rest you can.”