"Sarah Zettel - Miss Underwood and the Mermaid" - читать интересную книгу автора (Zettel Sarah)

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The next ten days passed without incident. Any incident. Even aboard a tight, happy privateer
there are cases of drunkenness, falls, minor disagreements that flare up into brawls. But not this time.
Nothing happened to keep any hand from her work, and they worked cheerfully. Never a cross word or
a mild curse. For the first time in twenty years of sailing, I heard sailors say "please" and "thank you" to
those of their own rank. I'd finger the nail I'd taken to keeping in my pocket and consider issuing them
generally, but I confess, I liked it. As unnatural as it was, it made for a remarkably pleasant change.

Miss Underwood herself kept to her cabin, only coming up once or twice a day to take a turn
on deck and stare straight ahead of us. Each time, I would ask her what course to set and each time I
would receive the same answer. "This one is most satisfactory, Captain." Then I would ask whether the
normal precautions against mermaids should be instituted and she would say, "Not at present, Captain,"
and I would have to be content with that.

In the middle of the morning watch on the eleventh day, I sat in my cabin drinking my first pot
of coffee and going over the charts. Miss Sherman knocked on my door.

"Beggin' your pardon, Captain," she said brightly. "But Miss Verity reports there is a sea
serpent."

I did not spit out my coffee. I swallowed. "A sea serpent?"

"Yes, and a most prodigious big one, she says."

I squinted at my First. Miss Sherman's eyes were lively and full of her native intelligence. She
simply did not see any reason to be alarmed. It was then I concluded things had perhaps gone too far.

"Very well, Miss Sherman. Beat to quarters and clear the decks for action fore and aft. Have
the great guns and all the muskets loaded directly. I shall follow you up."

"Very good, Ma'am."

She vanished, and I got to my feet. With great effort, I blanked my face of all expression. I
would not, I could not, appear before my crew wearing my fear. Only when I was certain I had
succeeded did I leave my cabin.

On deck, I found my orders being carried out, merrily, as if for a target competition. The
unoccupied crew leaned on the rails and grinned at the creature casting its shadow over our deck. Its
dripping head reared higher than our mainmast, its fins spread out broader than our spritsails. It bellowed
and sound and stench rolled over us. In the next instant, it bent its great, pale neck and swooped down
on us.

"Raise weapons!"

Those of my crew who had armed themselves lifted their muskets. The creature must have been
acquainted with guns, because it pulled back abruptly and had the nerve to look affronted.

I opened my mouth to give the command to fire, when the air stirred behind me.

"I would not recommend it, Captain," said Miss Underwood calmly. "Its hide is too tough for