{"id":758,"date":"2016-12-05T04:06:32","date_gmt":"2016-12-05T09:06:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/?page_id=758"},"modified":"2016-12-05T04:06:32","modified_gmt":"2016-12-05T09:06:32","slug":"pirates-luck-chapter-seven-hooked","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/?page_id=758","title":{"rendered":"Pirate’s Luck: Chapter Seven–Hooked"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Pirate's<\/a>\u201cYou\u2019re a damned idiot,\u201d said a familiar voice. \u201cSeven lashes were more than enough and you struck too deep. Now, he\u2019s out of commission for at least a month. What use is he now, eh? I\u2019ll be paying for his upkeep and getting no work out of him.\u201d Arekan placed the complaining voice as Etharin as he came to consciousness face down in a bunk not his own.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m tired of his attitude. He won\u2019t do a damn thing I tell him.\u201d Grokin said belligerently.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what about you, eh? You disobeyed my order. Should I give you ten lashes, eh?\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan thought that was a great idea. He\u2019d love to see Grokin get a slice of his own treatment.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, sir,\u201d said Grokin. He didn\u2019t sound penitent but Etharin didn\u2019t seem eager to prove a point.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou damn well better be sorry,\u201d said Etharin. \u201cWe are short men as and he is a good blade. We\u2019d be the ones spaced if it wasn\u2019t for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAye, sir,\u201d said Grokin. His voice was rough with reluctant agreement.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen will he wake, you think?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot sure. The men let Issy overdose him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, at least we\u2019ll have that working for us. Make sure he gets regular doses.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAye, sir,\u201d said Grokin. \u201cBut Captain, what Issy has only goes so far. The men are in a bad way because it\u2019s all going to the blade. I only have the one, Captain. You sold her babies and we have no mate for \u2018er.\u201d<\/p>\n

In these last words were spoken plaintively and Arekan thought he heard Grokin\u2019s voice shake.
\n\u201cLike I\u2019d have a ship full of those damn things on my boat. Each man would be useless on their spit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not spit,\u201d complained Grokin.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, yeah, it\u2019s the holy venom of whatever god you worship, you godless git. Make sure the blade stays out of pain and let that back heal. And don\u2019t you dare screw that up. I\u2019ve got money on how long it will take for him to get back to work, and don\u2019t you be sabotaging that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAye, sir,\u201d grumbled the first mate.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut we\u2019ll stop by that planet your beast comes from and see if we can get another one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA male?\u201d said Grokin hopefully.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever we can get, you ass. It will be hard enough to get an out of that bug-infested hole with impies after us, without stopping to see the scenery.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAye, Captain,\u201d said Grokin dejectedly.<\/p>\n

Footsteps leading to the door signaled the captain\u2019s departure, but another set announced an arrival.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow\u2019s he doing?\u201d said Egren.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you care?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will check his stitches.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stitches? Arekan thought. He got actual stitches instead of his skin being repaired in the medbay? His back would be a mass of hideous scars.<\/p>\n

\u201cAye, they\u2019re clean enough,\u201d said Grokin.<\/p>\n

\u201cMove aside,\u201d said Egren. Arekan heard the rustle of fabric. He didn\u2019t realize he was covered with a sheet. Actually, he couldn\u2019t feel a thing, either the touch of fabric or of a hand, which worried him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s an ugly mess,\u201d said Egren.<\/p>\n

\u201cShut up, you,\u201d snarled Grokin. \u201cI\u2019m first mate on this tub. Don\u2019t question me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Egren huffed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only reason you are first mate is I don\u2019t want the job,\u201d growled Egren. \u201cThe boy didn\u2019t deserve the beating he got.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we weren\u2019t alone\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019d what? Look, you steroid-stuffed, muscle-bound piece of half-conscious trash, I can pound you into the decking, and you know it. So stop making empty threats. When is he going to be conscious?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s in and out. But Issy is keeping him quiet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat beast is the only mercy on this damnable ship. But I don\u2019t envy him what comes later.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you worry about that. Get back to work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan wondered about \u201cwhat comes later,\u201d because right now things were looking bleak. His mouth was dry and his stomach felt painfully hollow.<\/p>\n

\u201cWater,\u201d he tried to say, but all he felt was his mouth twitching.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s conscious, you damned fool. Have you been shorting him his pain relief?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe blade\u2019s still deep in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Egren cursed and Arekan heard rustling and the sound of running water. He felt a wet cloth at his mouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cSuck on that if you can, Thad,\u201d said Egren. \u201cThe venom of Grokin\u2019s beast is holding back the pain, but it\u2019s slowed down all your other functions. We can\u2019t feed you or give you drink until you come out of it. Sorry. But if we bring you out of it, you\u2019ll be hurting like blazes. You might not be able to take it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan attempted a nod, but he was still couldn\u2019t move.<\/p>\n

\u201cAch,\u201d said Grokin. \u201cHe can blink his eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThad,\u201d said Egren. \u201cDo you want to continue with the pain medicine? Blink once for yes. Twice for no.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan wasn\u2019t sure he could blink. But he knew he didn\u2019t want that snake to sink its fangs in him again. Just the thought of that made him queasy. His gut clenched, and he felt whatever remained in his belly roll and twist. He was going to retch.<\/p>\n

It was a good thing he lay on his stomach, and his head was pointing down through a hole in the table. Burning liquid bubbled through his esophagus and splattered on the floor.<\/p>\n

\u201cAye, there\u2019s your answer,\u201d said Grokin. \u201cHe can\u2019t take any more without killing him. And the captain doesn\u2019t want him killed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are just thinking about your own need, you sorry sot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy whip is still thirsty,\u201d growled Grokin. \u201cWant to give \u2018er a drink?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBastard,\u201d muttered Egren. \u201cOkay, Thad. Things might get rough for you. The med bay is offline, and no one can fix it. So we\u2019re doing this the hard way. I\u2019ve stitched up the worst of the cuts, but I\u2019ve had to let others scab.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan wanted to know why Egren was acting as medic. Maybe Grokin didn\u2019t know more than operating the barometric chamber he stuck Arekan in after they inducted him into the Heavenly Court. Either way he couldn\u2019t say he was grateful. Grokin gave him the lashes that put him in this misery, and Egren walked away and let him.<\/p>\n

Their boots hit the decking as they left the cabin. Arekan was left alone, in an out of consciousness on the table paralyzed for a measure of time he could not count. His nausea grew worse even though his stomach was empty. He dry heaved at regular intervals, and he experienced the curious and uncomfortable feeling of insects crawling on his skin. Then his back shot flickers of pain through his body. It manifested first a dull ache and then morphed into shooting agony as the hours passed by. He could twitch his fingers, and his toes, but any movement made his thundering headache worse.<\/p>\n

He would kill Grokin. Arekan may have said it, but now in his bones he knew it. For the first time in his life hate filled him so totally he couldn\u2019t consider Grokin\u2019s future death as murder. It was a public service.<\/p>\n

If he lived to kill the first mate that was. At this moment, Arekan doubted he could survive this torture.<\/p>\n

The long hours stretched with Arekan drifting into blessed sleep only to wrenched out of it by some pain, or itch he couldn\u2019t get touch, or a dry heave. He shivered in the cold, dark room which only made things worse.<\/p>\n

The hatch to the compartment opened again.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s me, boy,\u201d said Egren. \u201cJust checking on you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJack you,\u201d croaked Arekan. He couldn\u2019t believe he could finally voice his thoughts.<\/p>\n

\u201cAye. And you have a right to feel that way. This boat is hard and why we end up spacing more dead bodies than returning to port live ones. But Grokin said it. You\u2019ve got a will to survive. You\u2019ll come through this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat snake. Its venom,\u201d rasped Arekan.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. The most addictive substance known. That\u2019s why it is banned from the Four Nations, and why its planet is strictly quarantined.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCan anyone?\u201d started Arekan too exhausted to continue.<\/p>\n

\u201cRecover? Well, that\u2019s what we are finding out here. The best literature says that there is a one in four chance of recovery from the first envenomation. Repeated exposures? The victim dies without injections. That\u2019s how Etharin and Grokin keep crew on the ship. They make sure they are all addicted. Just the pain of withdrawal sends them crawling back to Issy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan tried to swallow, but he had no spit to do so. But it was chilling hearing this.<\/p>\n

Grokin deserved to die.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut you, Thad, I don\u2019t know what it is about you, but I think you\u2019ll put through. Just if you do, don\u2019t let that thing near you again. There isn\u2019t second chances with it. And I swear, it likes having humans under its thrall. I think it is more intelligent than we give it credit for.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t,\u201d started Arekan and then collapsed into a dry heave.<\/p>\n

\u201cSound like a crewman?\u201d said Egren completing his thought. \u201cYeah, well. Most likely you won\u2019t remember this conversation. I\u2019ve brought you a little help now you\u2019ve been through most of it. Don\u2019t worry. It\u2019s a non-addictive substance that will help you sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n

A flash of fire in his newly sensitized skin followed Arekan in falling into a dark chasm.<\/p>\n

Arekan faced Alteun who was slashing at him furiously with his blade. His swords master never pushed him so hard. It was if he was trying to kill him.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cFight,\u201d yelled Alteun. \u201cFight, gods damn, you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan fended of Alteun\u2019s attack but he had no wish to hurt Master Alteun.<\/p>\n

Searing pain ripped through his left arm just then, and Arekan knew Alteun\u2019s blade sliced him. Anger surged through him and adrenaline, and Arekan for an instant didn\u2019t see his swords master but a man trying to hurt or even kill him.<\/p>\n

Breathing hard against the pain, Arekan pressed an attack on the man facing him, using every movement, every turn of muscle and bone that Alteun taught him. At that moment, his lessons fell into place, and coalesced into a coherent whole. He saw the swordsman\u2019s faults in form, and weakness in strategy. He pressed forward with his advantages of speed and strength, gifts of his youth, and soon Alteun fell backwards to his rump, his face beading in sweat. But he broke out in a grin just the same, and laughed, which stopped Arekan in mid stroke.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you laughing at, old man?\u201d said Arekan. He was full of piss and vinegar now, and didn’t care how impolite he sounded.<\/p>\n

\u201cHah! Takes a little blood and pain to bring out your passion, eh?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShut up,\u201d snapped Arekan.<\/p>\n

In a micro-second Alteun was on his feet and shoving Arekan into a bulkhead. His hands crushed into Arekan\u2019s windpipe causing the teen to gasp.<\/p>\n

\u201cNever, ever underestimate an opponent, Arekan,\u201d he said angrily. \u201cEach opponent has the manner of your death at hand. It is for you to figure out theirs before they can execute yours.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan woke with a start at the sound of boots on the metal decking.<\/p>\n

\u201cUp, boy,\u201d said Grokin roughly.
\nHands went under his armpits and a beefy set grabbed his ankles pulling him up as his back screamed in agony. If he had the strength to struggle, he would have, but he was a weak as a newborn kitten.<\/p>\n

\u201cJack off,\u201d said Arekan through cracked lips.<\/p>\n

But the words didn\u2019t come out. Grokin shoved a bottle in his mouth and squeezed releasing a gush of water.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou need water and food, you thankless git. Get him to the table, men.\u201d<\/p>\n

Obon and Egren dragged Arekan to a slab that stuck out from the bulkhead and dumped him in a chair it. He bit back a groan as his injured back hit the back rest of the seat. As his eyes focused he found he was in the sickbay. It was a sad little compartment filled with dirty equipment,<\/p>\n

Grokin dropped a plate of goo on front of him.<\/p>\n

\u201cEat that. Nutrient paste. And drink what water you can.\u201d Grokin turned to walk away.<\/p>\n

\u201cGee, thanks,\u201d said Arekan sarcastically.<\/p>\n

Grokin whirled back to Arekan. \u201cYou still got sass in \u2018ya. Well, that won\u2019t last long. When you start craving Issy, you\u2019ll be a lot nicer to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTake that reptilian horror of yours and stick her where the sun don\u2019t shine. But,I imagine you\u2019d like that, wouldn\u2019t you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Grokin lifted his hand to backhand Arekan, but Egren pulled him back and whispered in his ear.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen you take care of him, you whiny sot,\u201d he snapped. Grokin walked out of the Sick Bay grumbling with Obon following him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did you say to him,\u201d asked Arekan.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust eat your food, boy,\u201d said Egren gruffly. \u201cGet your strength up. Your vacation is over.\u201d<\/p>\n

Next–Chapter Eight~Twice Cursed<\/a><\/p>\n

Image by Starry Night Graphix<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cYou\u2019re a damned idiot,\u201d said a familiar voice. \u201cSeven lashes were more than enough and you struck too deep. Now, he\u2019s out of commission for at least a month. What use is he now, eh? I\u2019ll be paying for his upkeep and getting no work out of him.\u201d Arekan placed the complaining voice as Etharin […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":413,"menu_order":7,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-758","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/758","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=758"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/758\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2230,"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/758\/revisions\/2230"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/413"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=758"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}