The Emperor's Elephant(65)
Finally, Osric called up to say that the job was done. He and Abram climbed back aboard and an eager Protis ordered the mainsail to be re-hoisted, and the helmsman to set course directly for land.
‘There’s a small sheltered inlet a few miles along the coast,’ he said brightly, his confidence returning. ‘It’s ideal, with a good hard beach where we can go aground. Then we’ll lighten the ship and roll her over on her side so we can get at the leak. There are boat builders there who can help out.’
The ship slowly gathered way, though it was clear to all of us that she was very sluggish, barely moving with the weight of water in her hold. Anxiously we waited for the next report from the bailing team.
It was not long in coming. A cry of genuine panic had Protis sprinting to the hatchway and scrambling down the ladder again. When he reappeared, his face was ashen.
‘It hasn’t worked,’ he groaned. ‘The leak is worse than before – much, much worse.’
I stared towards the distant coast, trying to judge the distance. The heat haze made the brown mountains indistinct. At a guess we were still four or five miles offshore.
‘Do you think we can make it to land?’ I whispered to Osric beside me.
‘Not a chance,’ he murmured. ‘With all that water already in her bilge, I’d say she’ll founder before the day is out.’
I swung round to face Protis. ‘We must save the animals! We’ve not brought them all the way from the Northlands to drown here on a sunny day.’
He ran his hands despairingly through his cap of black curls. Suddenly he looked very young and vulnerable. ‘There’s no room for them in the ship’s boat.’
‘What about seeking help,’ I suggested, looking astern. Some distance away was the sail of a boat that had been within sight since dawn.
‘We’ll signal them, but I doubt they will respond,’ Protis answered.
He gave the order for an old, threadbare sail to be ripped into rags, soaked in olive oil, and set alight. The sailors then fed the flames with short lengths of tarred rope until a thin wavering column of smoke rose from our stricken vessel.
For a full hour we watched the distant sail, willing it to change course and come towards us. It did change course, but away, growing smaller with each minute.
The elderly sailor to whom I had spoken earlier cursed savagely.
‘They think we’re pirates,’ Protis said despondently, ‘trying to lure them in closer.’
‘Is there nothing else we can do?’ I asked.
‘We’ve no choice but to abandon ship.’
It was clear that our vessel was gradually settling deeper and deeper into the water. The hold was more than half full now, and the ship had a leaden, dead feeling. Without waiting for their captain’s order the crew were already setting down their buckets and gathering together their few belongings. Two of them climbed down into the ship’s skiff and the others began to pass down their bundles.
‘At least let us take the gyrfalcons. They’ll take up no space,’ I pleaded.
Protis had the decency to look ashamed as he shook his head. ‘I’m afraid not. The skiff will be overloaded as it is, and it will be a long row to reach land. We must leave all your animals behind.’
I felt a touch on my arm, and turned to find Walo; his face was working angrily. I had been distracted by all that was going on and had paid him no attention.
‘Walo, we must leave the ship,’ I explained. ‘We cannot take the animals. They stay behind.’
Deep in his throat he made a distressed growling noise and, seizing me by the elbow, pulled me across the deck. ‘For the falcons and the dogs,’ he said, placing a hand on the water trough. It was the river ferry we had cut into two and converted. I ran back to where Protis was standing. He had a satchel slung over his shoulder, ready to abandon ship. ‘We can use the cutoff ferryboat to carry the dogs and the gyrfalcons,’ I cried.
‘Impossible,’ he answered flatly. ‘It’ll be swamped or capsize! My men aren’t going to wait.’ He cast a glance over his shoulder to where the last members of his crew were standing by the rail. The others were already in the ship’s boat, setting the oars in place.
Osric limped over and announced that he was ready to try using the makeshift boat to get ashore with the smaller animals. I turned my attention to Abram. ‘Are you willing to give it a try?’
The dragoman nodded immediately. ‘I’ll send my own men with the ship’s crew. They can take our valuables with them.’
Protis threw up his hands. ‘You’re crazy, risking your lives for a couple of birds and some dogs!’