Free Demons of the Ocean by Justin Somper Page B

cabin."
    "Why not?"
    "I'll talk to him, Grace."
    "Today? Tonight?" She clasped her head. "Is it day or night? I don't know."
    "It's night, Grace," he said, taking her trembling hands and holding them for a moment. "Yes, I'll talk to him tonight," he said softly. "Now, will you not taste some of this porridge while it's still hot?"
    "It will stay hot," she said. "It always does. Just like these candles never burn down." She got up and stared into one of the glass lamps. "I've been here four days and these candles are always lit, except the one time when I blew them all out. And then they all lit up again. Explain that to me!"Lorcan smiled and shook his head. "I told you this was no ordinary ship."
    "But what kind of ship is it?"Her question hung there. He looked into the space between them as if waiting to pluck just the right words from out of the air."'Tis the kind of ship where girls grow tired and weak if they don't eat. Come on, Cook made it especially for you. It would break her heart to see it uneaten, so it would."
    "If you want it, you eat it," she said.He shook his head. "I have no hunger."
    "All right. All right. If it will make you feel any better, I'll eat your porridge."She
     brushed past him and sat down at the desk. There, on the tray was a large white bowl full of hot porridge. It did smell good. Also on the tray was a jug of cream and a bowl of brown sugar crystals. As usual, the spoon had been wrapped in a starchy white cloth napkin. And, as usual, Grace found the food impossible to resist. She unwrapped the napkin from the spoon and sprinkled sugar over the porridge. She watched as the heat of the oats melted the sugar crystals into a deliciously thick syrup. Then she plunged in her spoon and ate hungrily."There now, you'll feel better for that," said Lorcan, who had sat down on the edge of the bed while she ate.Porridge was supposed to give you energy. She remembered that from home economics class. But, like all the food she ate on board the ship, this left her feeling full but tired. Grace turned away from the desk and faced Lorcan again."Are you drugging my food?"
    "What?" He laughed."You heard me. Every time I eat or drink something, I feel so tired. Then I sleep for hours at an end--or what I think is hours. I really have no sense of time."
    "Grace, you nearly drowned the other day. When I found you, there was barely a flicker of life in you. The body and mind take time to heal. Has it not occurred to you that maybe you just need to sleep?"It did make sense when he put it like that. Lorcan Furey had a remarkable knack for calming her dark fears. He seemed able to make sense of everything, but when he left her--when she awoke alone--all that gnawing, pulsating dread crawled back inside her head."I'm going to go," he said, standing up. "I shall find the captain and ask him for news of your brother. You're right. You must have news of him. It isn't fair."He strode to the door."Are you sure I couldn't just come with you? Oh, I'd do anything to get out of this cabin for a bit."He shook his head. "I must go alone. But I understand. Really, I do. I'd hate to be cooped up in here--though it is one of the best cabins on board and," he pointed to the small washroom, "one of the few with en suite facilities. But, like I keep telling you, it's for your own safety. I shan't be long and while I'm gone..."
    "I know," she said, "I know--don't look out of the window."
    "I was going to say--try not to worry. But yes, since you mention it, please keep the curtain drawn."She nodded. He smiled at her and then slipped out through the door, locking it behind him.She was tired again. Of course she was. There had to be something in the food. And although she kept blowing out the incense, it seemed to keep relighting itself, sending its heady scent of vanilla and jasmine through the cabin. At first, she had thought the smell delicious--now it was cloying. She felt so sleepy. So very sleepy. No. She had to stay alert. This was