The Golden Penrod:Part 7

The Golden Penrod
By Darjeeling

Part Seven

Nevaeh quietly took a swig of rum from the newly opened bottle and swirled it in her mouth before swallowing. She felt sad, knowing that she could no longer gift her beloved with it, and confused, wondering if she was not drinking a toast to something in which John Hayes was completely left out. She could not help but think of her captor as she drank the rum. Yes, Evinrude presented himself as a scoundrel, but his outer gruffness seemed to hide an inner kindness, a kindness which showed itself at unexpected moments and left Nevaeh desiring more.

She was grateful for the means with which to wash away the odd taste and otherworldly feel of The Golden Penrod. The rum's strong flavor made her grimace but Evinrude's gracious offering made her feel like having a fit and jumping into the sea. Releasing the powers of the magical treasure was something from which she must slowly recover. There had been a jolt through her body like she was stricken by lightning (having been the recipient of this stormy phenomena four times, she was rather an expert on its effects on human flesh) and she could have sworn that The Golden Penrod released a shimmering purple substance that radiated through her entire being. She could not see or feel it, but she knew it metaphysically and it frightened her.

She turned to look at Evinrude. He was sleeping in his bed, exhausted by the afternoon's events. "Looting a village, assaulting a man of God and then using supernatural means to rescue a stranger from Teh Gay must be very tiring," Nevaeh thought, smiling at the pirate. As if in response, a low and steady rumbling came from under the covers. The bed linens billowed seductively.

Awakened by this mild quaking, Evinrude turned over, slowly opening his eyes. He blinked at Nevaeh and then sat up. "Bring me that," he snorted. "I need a drink."

Nevaeh dutifully delivered the rum and shyly sat on the bed as the privateer downed an impressive amount of the liquor. Evinrude looked handsome in the moonlight beaming in from the open window: his black hair was gently tousled from his nap and his strong jaw was attractively stubbled. He seemed so coarse and unwashed at their first meeting, but since beholding The Golden Penrod Nevaeh had regarded its owner as an altruistic enigma worthy of praise and affection.

Evinrude rubbed the last remnants of sleep from his dark eyes and met Nevaeh's adoring gaze. " You'll be back on land by morning," he said softly, "and then you can start your journey home."

Nevaeh was surprised to find herself crestfallen by this news. Why was she not more eager to be reunited with John Hayes? The Golden Penrod had swept Teh Gay from his life, and he and Nevaeh would now be free to marry and begin their life together. Why was she mournful at the mention of parting ways with Evinrude? Why did he stir feelings in her that John Hayes could not? Was she falling in love with this rough man, this filthy criminal?

Nevaeh clasped her hands together and looked down. "I shall be sorry to leave you," she whispered. Her confession did not receive a response. "You have been so kind to me and John Hayes," she went on, her voice beginning to break, "and I am pained that you and I will go our separate ways without knowing one another better."

Evinrude cleared his throat. "Well, then, let's remedy that." He moved closer to Nevaeh and ran his hand through her glorious flaming tresses. "Tell me about yourself, dear. Tell me how you came to have such a...er...unique name."

She smiled at him. "It is unique, isn't it? That is precisely what my parents wanted. They wanted me to have a name that I would share with no one else!" She paused dramatically. "It's Heaven spelt backwards."

"I see." The pirate chuckled politely. "It certainly is unusual."

An awkward silence covered the small room. "Now," Nevaeh said finally, "you must tell me something about yourself. Tell me about your ship."

Evinrude became tense and pulled away from Nevaeh. "This ship," he said, "is known as the Rebecca Hidalgo."

When he did not continue, Nevaeh gently prodded him to go on. "Was she a woman you loved? She must have been quite notable to have a ship named after her."

"Rebecca Hildalgo is my mother," Evinrude hissed, "and she is a whore!" He looked at Nevaeh, who gasped at the flashing anger in his black eyes. "Why did I name my ship after such a creature, you ask?" He laughed without mirth. "I am a man who loves sarcasm."

Nevaeh felt deeply for this troubled soul. "Will you go home with me?" she asked. "You could talk to John Hayes about everything that weighs heavily on you. John is a wonderful minister and can help you find peace."

Evinrude snorted and stood up. "What can John Hayes possibly do for me? Give me religion? I don't need it!" He scratched his privy area and belched, as if to mock his Creator. "I don't need anything from God. I am the captain of the best and biggest damn ship in the Atlantic! If I want something, I take it!"

He took a long gulp from the rum bottle and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "My soul, if I have one, is no more important or lasting than this here bottle." He motioned to his and Nevaeh's shadows on the wall. "Hell, our shadows are taller than our souls!"

He whipped around and glared at Nevaeh. "I must see to my men and my ship. You have this time for yourself, and I will return for you when land is spotted."

He wordlessly stomped across the room. Letting himself out, he slammed the door angrily. The walls of the room shook and then settled into a dreary silence.

Nevaeh began sobbing, hiding her face in her hands. Oh, what a strange and baffling man! Once again she feared Evinrude, and this time she hated herself for caring for him.

She wearily lay down on the bed, resting her head on the same pillows that Evinrude had slept on. "You are a fool!" she told herself as she flitted off to sleep. "You are a fool..."

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