p>The Pearl Diver
Juriy Tashkinov
© Juriy Tashkinov, 2024
ISBN 978-5-0062-2861-0
Created with Ridero smart publishing system
Chapter 1
The ship rested on the surface of the sea. The sun was sliding below the horizon, trying not to drown. Its rays clung to the clear sky, painting the world with wondrous colors, like an artist using a brush to transform a plain canvas into a work of art. Peace and quiet. The third day was coming to an end when the wind stopped moving the black flag with the image of a skull. Calm. The ship barely moved all this time.
The captain of the ship, notorious throughout the Erin Sea, gave orders dispassionately, although his soul was not at peace. They say that the inhabitants of distant Sartoll invented ships that can plow the seas and oceans, regardless of the wind. But for the Soul of the Corsair, calm was death.
Liton greedily inhaled the salty, humid air, hoping that it would become cooler. Touching the steering wheel, he expected at least a fleeting breeze.
– Why did you sit down? Do you think, like merchants, sitting at the market, you can get something useful? Will not work! Come on, quickly put some rags in your hands and scrub the deck!
The crew became despondent; the main thing was not to let people sit idle. Otherwise, if they completely lose heart, that will be the end. Life goes on as long as we don’t stand still. But stopping is worse than death. Worse than calm. The sailors respected the captain. Yes, sometimes he was too rude, but the sea is not for women, it loves such strong and fearless people.
A few more days and the provisions will come to an end. And there isn’t much fresh water. Who knew that the sea would bring such a surprise? But there was rum. A lot of rum – where would pirates be without it?
– Captain Liton, the deck shines like a cat’s eyes!
– Oh, well done, guys! – Liton beamed. – You can’t even say anything. They deserve it. You can take a flask each – there is no need for a burly pirate to work after sunset. Night is a time for fun.
A pirate never needs to be told twice when it comes to plunder or entertainment. Everyone uncorked a flask, and the intoxicating aroma of rum filled the deck. They drank straight from the throat without biting. This way you’ll fit in more, and you’ll get drunk faster, but what else do you need to be happy? Then someone started singing a familiar song, and the other guys immediately started singing along. Out of place, but not in a church choir after all?
Yo-ho-ho! We are not afraid of the dead
We love mermaids, we are bottomlessly drunk.
We will be hanged – we will be finished!
But while we are alive, you are doomed!
We drank and sang. For those who didn’t fall asleep right away, it’s time for stories.
– Rakon, you are the oldest! Tell us something about your daring hikes!
And the old man was just waiting for this. He spent his youth daringly, how many times did he escape right from under the noses of the guards, almost ending up on the gallows! He was missing one eye – instead he had a black bandage over his head. And on the entire tattooed body you can barely find one inch of skin that is not streaked with scars and cuts from endless battles. But youth passed, and with it the daring woman went away. Rarely did any of the pirates live to such an age – their life was cheerful, daring, but it could not be called long. And the old people were most often put on the island so that they would not eat other people’s meat and drink rum not earned by honest robbery. Don’t think that pirates are cruel – no worse than other people, they just don’t need to play nobility. But the sailors loved Racon, so he still delighted them with his fables.
– Oh, what have I not seen! – the old man began. – And I saw mermaids, I once spent the night with their sea mistress – wow, woman, unlike the young ones, she’s almost like a person. Well, at least without a tail!
The sailors laughed together.
«And the sea devil once almost grabbed him with his tentacles and claws,» Racon continued.
– Tell!
– Tell! – the listeners began.
– What can I tell you? We went to Tonden Island in search of treasure. The gold was never found in the place marked with a cross – apparently, the owner of the map, before handing me the piece of paper, dug out the chest himself. Cattle! Although, it’s not so offensive – I didn’t pay money for the card – the boatman himself gave it to me before I stabbed him. But I met her on the island. Well, I immediately lost my mind – you know how hard it is at sea without girls.
The sailors nodded understandingly. A particularly frail young man who often fell under the «hot hand» of pirates hungry for communication with the opposite sex. A woman on a ship means trouble. Any navigator knows this. But after a week or two, willy-nilly, I want to break this rule – these unshaven rude people do not have the affection that even the sternest men love.
– That means I’m lying on the queen of mermaids. Drunk, as always, but that never stopped me from loving. My comrades are standing around – waiting, after all, I was the captain, so I was always the first in everything. Then I hear some strange squelching sound. I look up and he’s standing there. He was probably the husband of the sea queen, but not as handsome as her. Long tentacles hung down instead of a beard and hair, and instead of hands there were huge claws. The mouth is filled with four rows of shark teeth. It’s like he’s going to grab my finger! Miraculously escaped!
The old man raised his hand, and everyone saw the stump of his ring finger.
– A lot of our people died then. And I myself miraculously escaped from the embrace of the sea devil. For a long time afterwards I dreamed of its tentacles and claws. Even now I often remember meeting him.
– Why are you lying, old man? Probably, I was stoned on hashish and it was a dream! – said the bully Liu.
– Will you ever shut up, asshole? Let the old man finish his story!
– How! What did you call me? Well, repeat it again?
– Shut up, you fucking asshole!
Liu’s eyes became bloodshot, he jumped up from the stool and threw Lanton to the floor. Then he took out a knife from his bosom and plunged it into the heart of the offender.
– You! – screamed Tart, the bosom friend of the murdered man. And he immediately rushed at the killer. If you drop by to visit the pirates, don’t expect a quiet evening, with poetry and courtly manners of sirs in pomaded wigs. Another minute passed, and it was no longer possible to recognize those sailors who had huddled around the old man and listened with reverence to his stories. They turned into a rabble, a bunch of animals who fight for a piece of meat. A musket shot rang out, and there was silence for a second. Everyone looked towards the sound.
Captain Liton clutched a weapon, smoking from a recent shot, aimed at the ceiling.
– The next shot will be in the heart of the one who moves now. Do you understand? Lew, I’m tired of you with your antics! I warned you, but it doesn’t seem to have any effect on you. Well, so much the better. Grab him!
The guy fell to his knees.
– Ask. Captain, no need! Sorry! I… This is the last time, I promise. I won’t do it again! Exactly!
– I have already forgiven you once. And you just killed one of our best warriors. Are you deaf or something? I told you, grab him!
Liu jumped to his feet and ran towards Liton. But they grabbed him by the hands and took him out into the fresh air. The captain looked at all the sailors.
– For violation of discipline. For swinish behavior. For disrespect to the captain. And most importantly, for the murder of a comrade. Liu is sentenced to exile. Who can say anything in his defense?
– Captain,