7. Chapter Seven
Chapter Seven
I had absolutely no idea how I was meant to persuade anyone in the crew to let me borrow a sunlamp. And borrow might be an overly generous term for what I would be doing, since if my hypothesis was correct, Ursa would need more than an average amount of sunlight to stay healthy.
I decided it would be best to broach the subject around dinnertime.
Even though the food on board the ship was nothing special, I have noticed that most people tend to be in their best spirits when their bellies are full, and the crew of the Trojan Horse was no exception.
So instead of sitting silently at a corner of the table and keeping my head down the entire time, as I’d gotten into the habit of doing after Ursa fell ill, I put on my brightest smile. “Yum! Dinner looks delicious tonight.”
Only moments before, the crew had been boisterous, jocular, trading stories and good-natured insults. I do not exaggerate when I say that the moment I spoke, all smiles faded and expressions became what can only be termed hostile.
Oh, bother. This was not an auspicious beginning. I’d counted on having at least Tobago here to converse with, but he appeared to be tending to some captain’s duties. Or perhaps he was caring for Indy, the only other person on the ship who was cordial to me. Double bother.
I picked up a biscuit on my plate, biting into it and feigning far more enthusiasm than it deserved. Anything to cut through the awkward tension radiating toward my presence. “Yummy.”
That was the second variation of “yum” in less than two minutes. What a nincompoop.
Zenny stabbed her meat substitute with rather more force than was strictly necessary. “So glad you’re enjoying it, Your Majesty.”
She spoke in an affected way that I assumed was meant to mimic my own accent. She hadn’t really nailed it, if I’m being honest, but that was beside the point. She was mocking me, to my face. I’d extended the olive branch of friendship, and her response was to sneer back at me.
Some of the others sniggered under their breaths. Some merely stared at me.
Egged on by this, Zenny continued, “Will your royal boy toy be joining us, my liege?”
Havens, is that how I sounded to people? Somehow I managed to keep smiling. “Not tonight. Ursa is still a bit under the weather.”
The men exchanged glances at that, and none of them looked pleased.
Too late, I realized I might not want to give too much away about the state of Ursa’s health.
I didn’t quite know how to navigate in this new space.
I didn’t know where anyone’s loyalties might lie. I didn’t know who was friend or foe.
“Nothing too serious,” I tagged on quickly. I’m afraid that even to my own ears, it didn’t sound entirely believable; nonetheless, I doubled down. “I’m sure he’ll be right as rain soon enough.”
When no reply was forthcoming, I cleared my throat. “Funny expression, isn’t it? ‘Right as rain’? I wonder where it comes from. I’ve always found the origins of phrases to be so fascinating—”
Luckily, someone spoke up, putting me out of my misery. Burt, a barrel-chested man, interrupted me as though I hadn’t been mid-sentence. “Who’s playing tonight?”
A few people around the table grunted their confirmation, including Croydon and Zenny. Val was the last to speak up. “If there’s nothing better to do, might as well.”
I looked around the group eagerly, waiting for someone to explain what it was they would be playing. When no answer was forthcoming, I swallowed back my trepidation and forced myself to ask, “What’s being played?”
The pause that followed stretched out for so long, I found myself nervously filling it again. “I like a little healthy competition. Every now and then.”
The crew exchanged a few sly smiles. “Poker,” Val said finally, her face inscrutable as she sized me up. “You want in?”
I didn’t quite manage to catch my surprise. “Oh! Yes. How nice. I wouldn’t mind playing a hand or two . . .”
Don’t worry, gentle reader. I know what you’re thinking now. That poor, naive idiot is about to be taken for a wild ride. But then, I also knew that was what the crew of the Trojan Horse were thinking, too, when they invited me to play.
Luckily for me, I happened to be an excellent card player. I’ve always loved the probability of cards, and since I had opted not to go into cryo-sleep during my journey from Haven 3 to Earth, I’d had plenty of time to become a more than proficient player.
It was quite obvious the crew of the Trojan Horse were determined to underestimate me. Let them. It would be to their detriment.
And come hell or black hole, I was going to win a sunlamp for Ursa.
I had to wait until after everyone finished eating and the galley was cleaned before putting my plan into action.
In the interim, some of the chairs seemed to have gone missing, and Croydon kept insisting I could just sit on his lap.
I had no desire to do so, obviously. Aside from the awkwardness of such a seating arrangement, it would be nearly impossible to keep him from seeing my cards.
Luckily, another chair was found—rather strangely stashed in the pantry; someone must have moved it around during cleaning.
Happy to be in my own seat, I faced my opponents and took a moment to study each: Val, enigmatic; Zenny, surly; Croydon, prone to staring; Willy and Rune, also starers; Burt, an older man in his fifties or sixties who was stocky and bearded and (I couldn’t help but notice) winced every time I opened my mouth—gruff and impatient; and last but not least, LeFleur, the man who’d been eavesdropping at our door, then announced to the entire crew that I was “definitely fucking” Ursa.
Not a favorite of mine, LeFleur—sneaky and smarmy.
I pretended to listen with interest as Croydon explained the rules of the game to me.
Better they all continue to think me a naive rube who would be easy prey.
“I think I’ll manage,” I said once he’d finished, smiling brightly at my companions around the table.
“It’s mostly for fun, anyway, isn’t it?”
Zenny snorted disdainfully.
Burt dealt the cards, eying me as he did so. “What will you be playing with?” he asked me bluntly.
LeFleur smiled in that sly, secretive way of his. “We can always get creative with your payment methods.”
Willy, Rune, and Croydon all laughed, as if sharing some mean, private joke. I wasn’t quite sure what could be so funny about his comment, unless they feared I intended to abscond from paying up if I lost the game. “I assure you, I’m good for it. You won’t be left wanting.”
To my surprise, those who’d been laughing now started guffawing. Croydon turned away, he was so overcome with mirth. Val didn’t laugh, but she shook her head and rolled her eyes, as though greatly affronted by my presence.
Perplexed, I looked up to the only person who would meet my gaze—Zenny, who eyed me with open contempt. “So what, you’re some kind of lady scientist?”
I didn’t know what gender had to do with it. “Yes, a mycologist. My specialty is in mycorrhizal relationships between—”
She was not in the least bit interested. “Is that why you dress like that?”
More muffled laughter from the men. Frowning, I looked down at my outfit.
I was wearing a jumpsuit, just like everyone else onboard, so I supposed she could have only been referring to my hair, which was pulled back in its usual no-nonsense braid, or my glasses.
I touched them self-consciously. “Well, I need them to see,” I explained stupidly.
Zenny scoffed and looked away. “I don’t know what he sees in you.”
It took me longer than I would care to admit to realize she was talking about Ursa.
Which it shouldn’t have, really, since I’d had similar thoughts.
I, too, was often confused about why he’d chosen me.
Still, to hear someone else voice the idea aloud felt deeply jarring.
I found I couldn’t say anything. Humiliatingly, my eyes stung with tears, which I attempted to blink away.
“It’s the naughty librarian thing.” Croydon looked me up and down and actually licked his lips, like he was eying a pork chop. “Lady on the streets but a freak in the sheets.”
I gaped at him in astonishment. “I beg your pardon!”
“Shut up, Croydon,” Burt snapped. “Are we here to play cards, or what?”
Croydon made a show of looking back down at his cards, while his mouth-breathing buddy, Willy, sniggered and Rune just continued to stare at me, slack-jawed. LeFleur said nothing but licked his lips when I made eye contact.
I quickly looked away, turning my gaze to Burt, intending to smile at him in thanks for putting Croydon back in his place.
Before I could, though, he gave me a surly glare before looking back to his own cards.
It seemed he hadn’t been defending me, precisely, but was probably just annoyed that the focus was being taken off the game.
You and me both, I would have told him if I thought he’d be remotely receptive to it.
Luckily after that, most of the conversation died down, and we were able to focus on playing. I now felt no compunction about taking my companions for a ride. If they already disliked me so much, I might as well give them a reason. And I didn’t care if they hated me, so long as I got a sunlamp.
I’m sure the Brethren will want all the details about the card game—who had which hand and what amount people were betting each round and other such nonsense.
1 Truthfully, I can’t remember. That was months ago now!
So I shall have to do my best to muddle through the details and try to recall everything to the best of my ability.
What I can remember, clearly, is what happened during the last hand. Zenny had already bowed out of the game a few rounds before, and Rune had not lasted much longer. That left Burt, Croydon, Willy, Val, LeFleur, and myself still playing.