*Alright,* Maeve thought, *Sean said to play the part, so let's play the part.* She reached up and undid another button on her blouse, ruffled her hair a bit and laid back comfortably on the bed. Then, in a sing-song voice, she said, "Ohhh, Caaaptaaainnn???"
The next moment the Captain was in the room, obviously taking pleasure in the fact that he was about to execute a plan he had been working on all day.
"So, my little wench, are you ready to have a little..... fun?" the Captain drawled.
Maeve smiled her most seductive smile and replied, "My Captain, I've been waiting all day for this." It was plain to see that the Captain enjoyed this comment. He moved forward as Maeve stood up from the bed to 'greet' him.
"Well, why don't we get down to business?" he said as he took her in his arms and headed toward the bed.
He laid her down, gently this time, and was about to join her when Maeve said, "Captain, dear, could you hand me that glass of water? I do hate making love with a dry throat." Maeve thought, *He's really GOT to be gullible to fall for that one!* She put her hand on the sword under the sheets in anticipation. Sure enough, a moment later he turned around to get the water for Maeve, but before he had a chance to turn around and hand it to her, he felt a sharp pain in the back of his head and then allowed darkness to claim him.
"Nighty-night, Captain," Maeve said with a grin of pure happiness. She poked him with the sword once just to make sure that he was definitely unconscious, and then she headed toward the door. She reached for the knob and turned it, and to her surprise it was unlocked. *What an idiot!* Maeve thought.
Maeve peeked her head out the door and checked down the hall in both directions. When she was satisfied that there wasn't anything (or anyone) dangerous there, she went out and picked a direction. She ended up in the doorway of the galley, poking her head around the corner to see who was there. Sean was sitting at a table, along with a few other men. Sean was facing toward her but hadn't noticed her yet. She thought for a moment on what to do, and satisfied that there was no discreet way to get his attention, she stepped out into the room in full view, hefting the broadsword that Sean had brought to her.
Maeve cleared her throat and waited for the reaction when these men turned around to find an armed woman on their ship. After all, she hadn't been able to see the three men who attacked her that first night, and these could be them.
Sean looked up and gave Maeve a winning smile, one that had dimples much like Sinbad's. The other three men turned around and just stared. Sean gestured toward Maeve and said, "See, guys? I told you she could do it!" They all smiled in agreement and stood to greet Maeve, who in turn allowed her broadsword to take up a much less threatening position. Sean pointed to each of them in turn as he introduced them, "This is Ahmud, Hamek, and Clyde."
"Clyde?" Maeve asked.
"Don't ask," a short blond man replied.
"These three are my closest friends here," Sean explained. "They're the ones that I know I can trust."
"So they know?" Maeve inquired.
"Aye, they know everything. We haven't much time to lose. So, shall we?" Sean asked. Simultaneously all four men pulled weapons from seemingly nowhere: two broadswords, a saber, and a whip. Sean had the saber, Ahmud and Hamek had broadswords, and Clyde had the whip.
Everyone started toward the door that led to the top deck, and as Maeve started to follow she met some protest. "Wait a minute there, miss," Hamek said, "Are you sure you want to go up there? It's going to get pretty bad."
"Look, Hamek, I've been in plenty of 'pretty bad' situations. I think I can take care of myself," she added sarcastically.
Ahmud turned to Sean, "Do you really think that the woman should be fighting? What if she gets herself or one of us hurt?"
Sean scowled at his friends' criticisms, "Ahmud, Hamek, Maeve's no stranger to trouble from what I've heard. She killed one of the Captain's men, and the Captain himself now lies unconscious in his own cabin! She can take care of herself!" The two shrank back a little at Sean's tone, but they then seemed resigned to the fact that this woman was definitely going to be fighting with them. *Allah help us all if she slips up,* they thought.
"Sinbad!" Doubar called. The Captain of the Nomad had been up in the crow's nest for hours now, he needed a rest, and badly.
"What's the matter, Doubar?" Sinbad called back.
"I'll tell you when you come down!" Doubar's little trick worked, and as soon as Sinbad had his feet on the deck, Doubar picked him up, slung him over his shoulder, and carried him down below.
"Doubar! DOUBAR!!! What are you DOING!?" Sinbad demanded.
As Sinbad was plopped down on his bed, Doubar replied, "I'm giving you official orders to GET SOME REST!!!"
"You're giving ME orders? I'm the Captain!"
"Well I'M your big brother, and I'm telling you you're going to rest!"
Sinbad sighed, resigned to his fate, and laid down on his bed.
"You and Dermott..... you're both against me....." Sinbad mumbled.
"What was that little brother?" Doubar asked.
"Nothing..... I just said you're right, I really do need some rest." Doubar smiled, satisfied, and left the room, heading back on deck to attend to his duties.
"Mutiny," Sinbad mumbled again, laughing at the prospect, "They're all going to mutiny against me if I don't get some sleep." Sighing again he yanked off his boots and curled up on his side to sleep for a few hours.
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A Fact Of Life - Part 7