I was totally dizzy, like I had taken a blow to the head.

Was there something fishy about all this? Was it all a trap?

Yet, when I contacted Captain Jenkins, what Arenis had said turned out to be true. He was heading north, more precisely to New York. Jenkins was not a pirate, but a corrupt merchant who sold stolen goods.

"I can work. I've worked as a sailor, as a deckhand, as a cook's helper. I can do anything. Please."

"Do you have any money?"

"Yes."

We agreed on the price and finally he told me the time and day of departure. He couldn't take me directly to South Carolina. I'd be disembarking in New York and would have to make my own way from there.

"It's not a problem," I said. All I wanted was to escape the Black Star.

I spent the night before my departure sleepless. Anxiety twisted in my stomach and my mind kept showing me every possible scenario. I was afraid. I feared for my fate. It was all so unpredictable and risky. I hoped with all my heart that this was the last night I would spend in that dark, narrow cabin.

When Arenis came knocking at my door at five in the morning, I got up. I took my money purse and my jacket.

"Leave your jacket here."

"But how will I manage in the north if-?"

"It's 100 degrees in this place. They'll get suspicious."

"All right."

We had our lesson like every day. I tried harder than usual. I wanted, at least for once, to overpower her. After all, this was my last chance. Arenis seemed to have the upper hand, but I knew how to defend myself and was able to parry most of the attacks. I waited patiently for the right moment and, taking advantage of a slight smudge in my opponent's guard, I disarmed her. With a feline gesture, I pointed the tip of my sword an inch from her throat. We stood for a few seconds, staring at each other. Arenis looked at me smugly. With her fingers, she lowered the tip of my blade.

"It's not fair," I sighed. "You let me win."

"I did not."

"Don't lie. You left the guard uncovered on purpose."

Arenis rolled her eyes, exasperated. "I wanted to give you the satisfaction, at least this once."

"Don't ever do that again."

"As you wish," she retorted. "In any case, you did well. Excellent action. You watched your opponent and as soon as you saw an opportunity you took it without a second thought."

I nodded my head in thanks, a little uncomfortable. It was the first time she'd ever complimented me.

The sun rose over the horizon. Its light flooded everything, making the slightly rippling surface of the sea shimmer.

We had no conversation at breakfast that day either. In fact, everything seemed even quieter than usual. When Arenis left me in the hands of Jackie Jay and Dilthey, she looked me in the eyes one last time and then left, disappearing into the crowd at the port.

I convinced Dilthey and Jackie Jay to spend the day lounging in the market and the nearest tavern. There was an incessant buzz of people filling the streets. We ate anything and everything. We stopped in front of the stalls, where they sold grilled pork, marinated with spices and herbs, lobster served with butter sauce, stews of all kinds, fried pastries, grilled vegetables, fruit, so much fruit....

"I swear, if I eat any more I'm in danger of throwing up," Jackie Jay announced at one point. "I say we go take a nap somewhere."

The market was thick with people. The crowd surrounded us, frantic and agitated. A great jumble of voices echoed from all sides. When Jackie Jay and Dilthey stood in front of a stall selling chewing tobacco, I took advantage of that moment of distraction and slipped away.

I blended in among the people, keeping my head down and walking at a normal pace so as not to be conspicuous.

"Adler...?"

When I turned the corner, I ran. I ran as fast as I could to the harbour, slowed down by passers-by wandering the alleys. I bumped into a woman, who complained and slandered me, but I had no time to lose to make it up to her properly. I continued my run, with sweat dripping from my forehead. Once I got on the ship, they wouldn't look for me there. I had to find the ship. I had to find Captain Jenkins. Now.

I arrived at the port, all wet with sweat and out of breath from running. I proceeded up and down, impatiently, observing every ship docked. Captain Jenkins had told me that his ship was called Glory, and when I spied her, my heart was filled with joy.

"Captain Jenkins!"

He was on the dock. He was talking to some sailors next to several burlap sacks full of goods.

Hearing my call, he turned to my side. "Oh. Miss...?"

I almost couldn't speak out of breath. Either way, I couldn't hold back the smiles. "Adler, sir."

"Adler, right. I regret to inform you that departure is delayed in two hours."

"Two hours...?"

"Yes, I just got a new shipment and we are evaluating it. You won't mind waiting, will you? Did you bring the money?"

"Yes." I pulled my money purse out of my pants pocket and handed it to him. As he counted it, I looked around, distressed.

"Can I wait on board?" I asked, my heart in my throat.

"Of course. Please come."

The Glory was much smaller than the Black Star. She didn't need as many sailors to run the ship. These were intent on moving and rearranging the goods in the hold, making room for the new cargo. They greeted me with a nod. They knew I would come.

"Would you give us a hand moving those barrels? We need to make room in the hold," one boy asked.

I set to work. I lifted sacks and boxes and barrels and casks. I realized that my body had become more athletic. My arms had gotten bigger, my legs stronger. The work I'd done on the Black Star and Arenis' lessons had toughened me up.

Half an hour later, a loud commotion was heard. I peeked out of a porthole and saw a small group of men wandering around the harbour. They were all members of Arenis' crew, and among them were Jackie Jay and Dilthey. I darted away from the window to avoid being seen.

Damn it.

They were looking for me.

I continued my work, convincing myself that all would be well. Shortly after Captain Jenkins appeared, looking frightened.

"Miss Adler, come here a moment."

I obeyed. "Is there a problem?"

"There is, yes. There are men asking for you."

I clenched my fists and looked him straight in the eye. "Please. Don't tell them I'm here."

"I assumed you were on the run from something or someone, but... those are Captain Arenis' men. I can't..." The man shook his head gravely.

"Please," I begged him. "I have money put aside. I can give you everything I have."

"Why are they looking for you?"

"They kidnapped me. They won't let me go home. I have a family and they won't let me go back... Have mercy on me, I beg you. Save me from them."

Captain Jenkins nodded and squeezed my arm. "Don't worry. Just stay here in the hold until we leave, so they won't see you."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you... You have no idea how grateful I am!"

Relief filled my eyes with tears. At last. I was finally going back to my family.

That feeling, however, was short-lived. Ten minutes later Dilthey appeared on the ladder leading into the hold. At that moment I was trying to drag a barrel to the other side of the room, and when my eyes fell upon him, I was paralyzed.

"No..." I murmured.

"Adler, come out at once," he ordered. He looked mad.

I didn't move. My heart was beating so fast I could feel my veins throbbing. Something tremendously rotten crept inside me, a mixture of despair and despondency.

"Adler."

He reached me, grabbed me by the arm abruptly, and pushed me up to the ladder. "What did you think you were doing, huh? Do you know how much trouble you'd have gotten me and Jackie Jay into if you'd managed to slip away? Do you know?"

"No, that's not it... Arenis...!"

"Go outside."

"Let me go. Let me go!"

"Go outside, I said!"

When I was on deck, I saw Captain Jenkins talking to Jackie Jay. I realised it was the Captain himself who had told them where I was and it made me furious. He had betrayed me.

"You bastard!" I shouted.

"I'm sorry, young lady. I don't want any trouble with Captain Arenis. She happens to be one of my most efficient suppliers," he said.

"At least give me my money back!"

"What money?"

"Adler, no!"

I jumped on him, I threw him to the ground and landed on him, punching him two or three times in the nose and jaw. He howled with pain and tried to escape from my grasp, without succeeding. I rummaged in the pockets of his trousers, and in the left one I found my purse.

"This money, you scoundrel!" I exclaimed, putting it in front of his face.

Someone grabbed me by the forearm, lifted me up and pulled me away from Jenkins.

Hot tears slid uncontrollably down my cheeks. Anger quickly turned into a torrent of pain and anguish. Dilthey lifted me off the ground with momentum and ordered me to disembark from the Glory. I cast one last glance at Jenkins, who stood rolling on the ground and pressing his fingers to his dripping blood nose. His eyes were moist, a sign that it must have hurt. I was oddly satisfied that I'd caused him pain.

Nobody said anything. Jackie Jay and Dilthey remained silent the whole way to the Black Star. Even the other members of Arenis' crew didn't dare utter a sound. They were all aware that I was in deep trouble and that I was due an exemplary punishment.