The Scarlet King Read Free Page B

for the safety of my ship
and turned to the southeast to run with the storm,” the Captain
replied. “I expect we are somewhat south of the great peninsula
that divides the waters of my country from the rest of the
world."
    Jason asked, "What lies beyond our
position?"
    "To the south is a great ocean with but few
islands. To the east lies the country from which we emigrated many
generations ago. To the west is a vast unknown and to the north is
my home."
    "How far to the east lies this ancient
country?” asked Jason.
    The Captain replied, "It is said to be a
journey of over a month but few have ever made it. The storms make
it a most perilous journey." He added, "Traders who have attempted
the journey were poorly received and many did not survive the
attempt."
    Jason stood in silence and watched with the
Captain who gave but occasional orders to the helmsman. All sails
were down except for the small storm sail. There was nothing for
the deck hands to do and no reason to risk their lives on the
pitching deck and above in the rigging.
    Jason spoke, "The stars have shifted as we
sailed. If we could sail far enough, would we return to where we
started and the stars would again be in the proper place?"
    The Captain answered not but simply looked at
Jason. He finally responded, "For one not of the sea you notice
much. Some of us believe what you say is true, others think there
is an edge, an abyss from which return is not possible." He then
asked, "How could the length of the journey be determined?"
    It was Jason's turn for thought. He brought
out a small pad of paper and begin working with numbers. He finally
looked up from his work and said, "I would have a proper person of
numbers look at my work, but it would seem that the angle has
changed about thirty degrees in our month of sailing. If our world
is truly round it would take twelve months of sailing to complete
the journey."
    The Captain nodded his head and said, "Those
of us who think the journey possible have arrived at a similar
number. Until the journey is made we shall never know."
    Jason tried to respond but the gust of wind
tore the sound of his words away as the ship heeled sharply to the
side. The Captain's fatigue seemed to disappear as he shouted
orders to the helmsman. The ship stabilized and the more regular
pitching resumed. Jason had held onto the leather strap which
crossed the ceiling; his death grip on the strap was all that kept
him from crashing into the helmsman.
    "The wind has begun to shift,” said the
Captain. “The seas will be more confused for awhile, but I think we
are now on the backside of the storm. It may be best if you stayed
below."
    Jason responded, "If you think it necessary I
will go below, but I prefer to experience this journey to its
fullest. This is freedom such as I have never known. King I may be
but free I am not."
    "As you wish. You must at all times securely
hold the safety strap."
    They sailed on before the storm, driven ever
more to the east and the south. Jason seemed immune to the sickness
of the sea and stood watch with the Captain until hunger drove him
below. Jeremy was at table sipping his ginger tea and not looking
very good. Jason asked him of Edna and he replied, "She suffers
from the sickness of the sea. I suspect those of us of the Forest
were never meant for the sea."
    Jason said, "The Captain thinks we are at the
backside of the storm, but says the seas will be unsettled for some
time yet."
    Jeremy looked at the amount of food that
Jason was consuming and got even a little greener around the edges.
He asked, "Does not the sickness of the sea affect you?"
    Jason shrugged his shoulders and replied, "It
seems not. The storm seems to have invigorated my soul. When I was
dangling from your thin rope during my
rescue [?] I was afraid, but felt
more alive than I had for many years. For some reason I fear not
the sea but yet have the sense of being very much alive. I think I
could be one of the sea."
    By nightfall,