Golden Age and Other Stories Page 3

  Soshehadhercaptain’sbarsandExcidium’swingsatherback,andshedidnotmeantobecowed.

  However,shewasnotquitesoangryasshehadbeen,asagirl,soneitherdidshemeantopickaquarrel whereitwouldnotservetheCorps.Caudecwasalump,buthewasnotatleastascoundrel,oradisgrace to the name; she knew he had done serviceable work under Captain Lenton. He did not shine amid the firmament, and that had kept him from an egg of his own, so he had taken a post where he might be a captaininallbutname.Janecouldunderstandthechoice;hehadnotdoneitoutoflikingtobullyashy woman.Themenwerekeptindecentorder,ifallofthemabitdull,butnoreallygoodofficerwouldbe eager to serve on a mismanaged dragon, even a Longwing. Her wing-dragons had better crews, and Candeoris,theRegalCopperattheirheels.

  Shewouldrepairthat,byandby.FirstitremainedtoseeifCaudeccouldbesalvaged,andshehad aninklingthattodaywouldseethatquestionanswered.TheyhadchasedBonaparte’sfleetallroundthe Mednowwithoutyetcatchingaglimpseofthem,butJanefeltinherbonesthepursuithaddrawnclose.

  Alexandria harbor was packed to the brim with French transports, and the French had been here. This Nelsonknewhisbusiness,too.Iftheycouldbecaught,hewouldcatchthem.

  Jane had seen from aloft his captains rowing day after day over to the flagship, and she had sent Candeoris’sCaptainNutleydownonceortwice,sinceshecouldnotgoherselfwithoutsettingupagreat noise. Nutley was not a lump, but he still did not like taking orders from a girl fifteen years his junior when Excidium and his own beast were not in the middle. However, Jane was prepared to use a few wilesforthat:shehadwrittenhimaletteraskingifhewouldrepresenttheformation,andwriteanoteto allthecaptainsafterwardswithwhateverhelearned.

  SosheknewwhatNelsonmeanttodo,innearlyanycircumstance,andsodidhiscaptains,andher own. She would have liked to hold like conferences herself, if she could have trusted her captains to come, but instead she had talked out her plans with Excidium, in the afternoons when Caudec took his sleepingshift.Shewouldsettleformanagingthedragons,andletthemendecideiftheylikedtobemore thanpassengersaloft.

  She walked back to the knot of the tailbone, with a nod to the riflemen, and sat there under the warmthoftheclimbingsun,lettingthefiercewindofExcidium’svastwingsstreampastheruntilaslight increase came, a quickening of half a beat; she turned and saw Glidius winging back towards them at break-neck pace. She went back along Excidium’s back double-quick, trusting her hands to find the harness-ringswithoutlooking.“Allhandstopside,Mr.Caudec,”shesaid,againbeforehecouldspeak:he hadbeen stewing atthe neck watchingher all this while,waiting for hischance. “Bridely,” she called, ignoringthegapeCaudecgaveher,“showGlidiusasignal: where? ”

  Glidiushadayoungcaptain,aboyofsixteenasenthusiasticasyoucouldlike:hehadhisflagsout and waving the first symbols of French ships already. Saved the trouble of telling them what anyone couldguess,thathehadfoundthefleet,heatoncebeganspellingoutthename.“AboukirBay,”Janesaid, recognizing the name when he was halfway through. “Bridely, ask him how many, ships, dragons, and thenrelaytotheflagshipandtothefullwing:FrenchfleetinAboukirBay,withnumbers,andgivecredit toBezaidforfirstsight.”

  Bridely did not hesitate; he had caught the excitement himself, and all the men in earshot; even Caudechadpaused.Sheturnedandgavehimahardlook.“Mr.Caudec!”shesaidsharply,andhestarted, at last understood he must swallow his prepared lecture, and turning instead finally said to Lieutenant Gladstoke,“Allhandstopside,Mr.Gladstoke.”

  The men came swarming out of the belly-netting, half of them rubbing their faces. They were a slovenlylot:unshavenandhalf-dressed.Janedidnotmuchcare,exceptitgavehersomethingtodowith them.“Gentlemen!”shesaid,thetrumpettohermouthandherlungsbehindit.“Wehavefinallymanaged tocornertheFrogstogiveusadance;beforesundownthisevening,ifthewinddoesnotchange,andI trusteverymanaloftfindsthenewsaswelcomeasdoI.Breakfastatonce,andcoatsandneckclothsall round:letusbepresentableforthefestivities.Wewillrequestpontoonsatfourbellsoftheafternoon,so Excidiumcanhavearestandasup.Youmaycheeryourdragon,”sheadded,andafterastartledmoment theyallshouted,“Excidium!”intolerablyfullvoice.

  Excidiumflickedhisearsback,justatwitch,butenoughsheknewhehadheard.“Passthewordfor a steady pace, if you please,” she called to him. “We have some young beasts along, who may need a reminder.”

  Candeoris was indeed creeping up on their tail already, as the signals were being passed along; Excidiumdidnotspeak,butflickedhisowntailinaslightlashbywayofhinting,andgavehiswing-tips a quick flip on the down-stroke to mark the formation’s leading edge to either side. It was enough remindertothebeasts,ifnottotheircaptains,andinamomenttheyhadallsettlednicely.Thecrew,too, had all made a dash for the belly-netting to make themselves presentable, and the duty officers were passingupbiscuitandgrog:theground-crewhadbeenleftbehindwiththe Allegiance,too.

  Janetookacoveredmugfulherself,watereddownbyhalfonherstandingorders,andwenttomunch her biscuit looking over the leading edge of Excidium’s shoulder. The news had gone through the fleet belowwithasmuchenergy:everyvesselhadpressedonabitmoresail,andshecouldseecrewsbusy scrubbingthedecks.“Wearemakingagoodtime,”shecommentedtoCaudec,whenhecautiouslymade hiswayouttoher:shewasbalancedattheveryedgewherethechestslopeddownandaway.Shedidnot rememberanytimebeforeshehadbeenusedtositso,butCaudechadcometotheCorpsatsevenlike mostboys,andhehadnotgonealoftbeforetwelve;besideshewasnotayoungmananymore

  “Awordwithyou,atthetail,”Caudecsaid,andreachedouttoputhishandonherarm.

  Shehadhalfexpectedsomethingofthesort.Shehadchosenthesittingplacedeliberately.Thecrew weremostofthemdownbelow,andothersatleastplausiblyoutofearshot;hecouldnotbehumiliated, beforethemen,andkepton.Shedidnotmove,andonlylookedathimandsaid,“Takeyourhandoffme thisinstant,Lieutenant,orIwillhaveExcidiumtakeyouoffandputyouinthenetting.”

  Hehalted,hisfacecaughtbetweenangerandasaggingfoolishness.Hedidnottakehishandawayat once, but he did not try to pull upon her, either, so she drew a deep breath, and thrust down the rising angerbeforeitcouldclimbtoohighintohergorge.Davidsonwasmorethantenyearsdead,now,thanks toaFrenchrifleman,andpastanythingshecoulddo.ShewouldnotdealwithCaudecasifhewerethe samemanwhohadmadehermotherweep,tellinghertenderlyitwasjustaswellshewasintheCorps, andwhatadreadfullifeitwasforaworn-outwomanotherwisewithoutaman’sprotection;allthewhile takingherpayandmakinghersayshewasgratefultohavehimwarmherbed.

  Caudecwasonlyusedtothinkhemightgivetheorders,andthathewastheonlyonefittogivethem; andhehadbeenright,notverylongago.

  “Iamnotmymother,Mr.Caudec,”Janesaid.“IamandIwillbecaptainhere.Youmustdecidenow ifyouwillbearit,andbetheofficerandthebulwarkExcidiumandIrequire,withouttryingtolayclaim toafalseauthority.Ifnot,yougobelow,andIwillleaveyouonboardshipwhenwetakeflightforthe battle.”

  Hestillhesitated.Hismustacheworkedupanddownwithhismouth,buthekeptinthespluttering; sosheadded,“Youmayconsiderthisdayatrial,ifyoulike.Iamsureifafterwards,youprefertoask their Lordships for another post, they will have every con
sideration for your circumstances.” The last dryly:theAdmiraltysurelyowedhimasmuch,havingputhimintothem.

  Heswallowed,andthenhetookhishandawayslowlyfromherarm.Janenoddedbrisklyasifhe

  hadjustagreedwithawholeheart.“Justaswell:ifIamknockedontheheadinthefighting,Iamsure Excidium shall be glad to have you aboard,” she said, which would give him another scrap of hope to clingto.“Praylookinonourarmaments,ifyouplease;wemusthavefreshlocksinalltheincendiaries, andifweareshortofpowderorshot,wehadbetterknowitandsenddownwordbeforethepontoons comeout.”

  Hedidnotsayanything,buthenoddedafteramoment,andturnedinhiscarabinersandwentback towardsthespine.Janeputhimatherbackagain,andlookedoutahead.Shecouldseetheoceanrushing away beneath them, and a tiny distant forest of masts and white sails standing in a line inside the blue cuppedhalf-circleofthebayahead.Therewerefourteendragonssunningthemselvesontheshore,more thanshehadatherback.Janesmiledintothewind.Shewasnotafraid.

  GoldenAge

  (artbySandaraTang)

  TANGSHENWASverytired.Theshipwasstillsinkingbehindhim,thehollowsoundofitswooded sidesbeatingagainststoneaudibleeventhroughtheroarofthestorm.Thedraggingweightofthecrate pulleduponhisbodyattheotherendoftheropeloopedaroundhisarms,andhehadbeenillforthree weeksnow.Thefeverstillburnedinhisforeheadandachedineveryjointevennowbeingnumbedbythe water.Buthehadbeenchampionswimmerinhisvillageasaboy,beforehehadbenttohisstudies;he hadbeengivenhispromotionandsentuponthisperilousjourneyforthatveryreason.

  In any case, he was the last of his companions left; they had all sickened with the same terrible feversastherestofthebarbariancrew,andnowtheshipitselfwithallofthosesailorswasvanishing beneaththewaves.Hewasthelasthopeoftheegg’ssurvival.Hekepthisarmsandlegsmovingthrough thesurf.Perhapsnonewouldeverknowwhathedidhere;perhapshewouldfail.Butatleasthewould try.

  Lightningflashesoverheadilluminatedthewallofrockloomingtohisright,buthecaughtaglimpse ahead of the pale white of an empty shore, sand reflecting the light. His strength renewed by hope, he gulpedairandplungedbeneaththeocean’stumult.Heswamasmanystrokesashecouldbeforesurfacing, tryingtoclearthedarkmassoftherock.Onemoregaspforair,andthenhemanagedtokickroundand intothesmallbay.Thewatercalmedafewstrokesfurtherin,andcalmedfurtherquickly;whenheputhis headintothewater,hecouldseedarkershapeswavingbeneathhim,aforestofseaweedgrowingfrom below.

  Thewaveswerehelpinghimnow,carryinghimin.Hestoppedlaboringandletthemsloshhisbody forward, his arms moving in slow, dull circles. The ocean floor rose abruptly and caught his feet. He beganalmostcrawlingratherthanswimming,grabbingatthefloorandpushinghimselfalongforalong wayintheshallowwateruntilhemanagedtostaggerupontohisfeetandgaintheshore.Thewindstill blew fiercely, and the wide fronds of the trees overhead were lashing with a dull rushing noise, but he wasondryground.Hesatheavilyatthebaseofatreeandbegantopullinthecratehandoverhand.It wasnearlyattheshorewhenhishandsfellfromtherope,andhisheadleanedbackagainstthetrunkof thetree.

  When the morning came, the wind and tide had left the crate by Tang Shen’s feet. His corpse was alreadybeginningtobloatinthehotsun.Itsraysalsopenetratedthewaterloggedwoodandslowlybegan tosteamthemoisturefromthestraw.Itwaspleasantlyhotwithinthecrate.Theeggrestedpeacefully.The oceancontinuedtothrowupbitsofshatteredwoodfromthewreck,scrapsofsailclothandrope,barrels andboxesmarked Amitié.

  THE CORPSE'S bones were mostly picked clean by rats and ants by the time the egg within the crate begantocrack.Thehatchlingwasnotpleasedtoemergeintoathickcloudofstraw,nortofindathick woodenwallbeyondit;instinctanddesperationmadehisstrugglesvigorous,andhemanagedtotumble hiscrateoverandburstopentheweakenedlid.Thedragonetspilledoutontothesandandrolledover twicebeforesittinguponhishaunches,shakingsandoffindignantly.

  To either side of him a small gentle curve of sand stretched away a little distance, quite empty.

  Ahead,thevastwideoceanrandarkbluetothehorizon.Behind,asolidtangleofgreeneryandtrees.He nosedcuriouslyatthecratefromwhichhehademerged,andthecollapsingpileofbonesattheotherend of the rope, but neither responded. He looked round himself uncertainly. The silence seemed very peculiar. He had spent the last several months surrounded by the echoing voices of French sailors and Chineseattendants,theconstantcreakandgroanofasailingship,theriseandfallofherrhythmonthe waves.

  “Bonjour?”hecalledatlast,tentative.Nooneansweredhim.

  Buttheeeriequalityofhissituationcouldnotlongcompeteforhisattention.Hewas hungry, and theredidnotseemtobeanythingheretoeat.Hebrokeopenseveralofthebarrels,andfoundsomesoggy biscuitandsomesaltpork.Hetookafewbitesofeach,buttheiredibilityseemedquestionable.Heflung outhiswingsandshookthem,andafteracoupleofattemptsmanagedtogetintotheair.Hecouldnotstay there for very long, but fortune smiled on him: on his third crash into the water, he knocked into a sea turtle. It was large and perplexed by the collision; the dragonet suffered no similar confusion. He immediatelybitofftheturtle’shead,andthenswamawkwardlytotheshoredraggingitalongandspent therestofapleasantafternoonpryingopenitsshellanddevouringthesoftmeat.Itwasdelicious.

  Asthesunwentdownhesatupontheshorelookingoutattheoceaninamoreharmoniousspirit.He sangoneofthesailors’songs,withoutquitegraspingwhatthewordsmeant,becauseitwastheonlyway hehadfoundtomakeanyofthefriendlynoisethathadgonemissing.Andthenhecurledhimselfupand wenttosleep.

  AWEEKlater,beginningtoflylongerdistances,hestumbleduponacovewithtwootherdragonsinit dozing.Theywereroughlyhissize,andstartledwhenhelanded.Theyhissedathimatfirst,buthewas carrying a large fish which he had just caught, and after a moment of thought, he carved it into three pieces,andshovedtheothertwoportionsover.Hefeltthatnoonecouldtakethatthewrongway,andhis instinctwascorrect;afteramoment,theothertwodragonsateuptheirshares,andafterwardstheyspoke to him. He could not understand what they were saying, but then one of them said, very slowly and roundly,“Français?”andhebrightenedandnodded.

  They took him a short flight to a much larger beach, where the rest of a flock of dragons were sunning themselves comfortably, and there introduced him to Galant. Very quickly the familiar sounds begantofallintoplaceandtakeonmeaning.

  “But where did you come from?” Galant demanded, when shortly they could make themselves understoodtooneanother.“Youarenothingliketherestofus.”HehimselfhadbeenhatchedinaFrench colony on another distant island, and had flown away because they wished him always to be carrying heavyloads,buthestilllookedlikethelocaldragons,withlongishscalesinmanybrightcolors:hesaid theywerescatteredallthroughouttheislands.“Andwhatisyourname?”

  “Oh,” the dragonet said, doubtfully. He vaguely recalled the voices speaking around him; had they calledhimsomething?“Céleste,”hesaidafteramoment.“Atleast,Ithinkso.AndIhatchedonabeach overontheotherside.”

  “Yes,buteggsdonotsproutfromthesand,”Galantsaiddecisively.HeflewbackwithCélestetothe beach, and after a little inspection announced that he had come from a shipwreck, and undoubtedly the shiphadbeenFrench.

  “Notthatyouneedtakemu
chnoticeofthat,”Galantsaid,withgreatcondescension.“Youareafree dragonnow,andyoucanstickwithme.Iwilltranslateforyouwiththeothers.”

  “That is very kind of you,” Céleste said, although he felt privately that he would rather speak to everyoneelsehimself,andnotthroughanintermediaryallthetime.

  Hedidmanagetomastertheislanddragons’languageinanotherfewweeks,whichwasjustaswell, becauseeveryonewasbecomingquitedisgruntledwithhim:hewasstillgrowing.Célestetriedtoshare asmuchofhiscatchashecouldbearto,apologetically;hewasconsciousthathewastakingrathermore thananytenotherdragons,andtheothersweremakingdarkremarksaboutoverfishing.Buthewasstill hungryallthetime.

  He found a few signs of some other presence on the island as he flew across it, hunting: little decaying huts that someone had surely built, but when he peered inside, there was no one ever there.

  “There were people here, some time, I believe,” Galant said. “But they were all taken away in ships.”

  Therewerenolargeanimals.

  IncreasinghungeratlastdroveCélestetoattemptalongerflight.“Therearewhalesandsometimes evenkraken,ifyougooutpastallthereefs,”Miklitoldhim:shewasoneoftheislanddragons.“Theyare sobigyoucouldnoteatallofone,”whichCélestewasnotquitesurehebelieved.Mikliwasoneofthe quickest to talk about greedy persons, who liked to take so many fish that there were not enough for everyone,eventhoughnotlongagotherehadbeen nodifficulty.ButGalantagreedthatonecouldindeed find enormous fish out in the deeper ocean. And it stood to reason, Céleste felt, that there must be somethingbigenoughtofeedhimsomewhere.