Golden Age and Other Stories Read online

  He was still anxious about finding his way back, afterwards. There were no landmarks upon the ocean,anditseemedeasytogetturnedround.Butthenextmorninghewokeandfoundeveryoneelsehad gotupquietlybeforehim,goneonafrenzyoffishingandbothgorgedthemselvesandscaredawayallthe fish from the local waters. Now they were all pretending to be asleep again. It was a perfectly clear message,andwithfeelingssomewhatinjured,Célestedecidedhedidnotcareifhedidnotfindhisway back;hecoulddojustaswellonanotherisland.

  Hesetoff,therefore,flyingstraightoutovertheopenocean.Apangstruckhimwhenhelookedback, andtheislandhadbecomethefaintestlineonthehorizon,buthetookadeepbreathandkeptgoinguntilit vanishedentirely.Buthiscouragewasrewarded:nothalfanhourlater,hespottedsomethinglargeand silvery ahead just beneath the surface of the water. He decided he would not risk waiting for a closer look;hefoldedhiswingsanddivedforitatasteepangle,andhisclawssankintoitsflesh.

  The fish was indeed enormous: he had never seen anything like it. It was so heavy he had a real struggletoliftit,thewholeshapepeculiarlyroundandflatandbulging.Itdidnotwriggle,butflappedits fins with alarm until he bit it several times, and it finally went limp. He ate and ate, hovering, until he discoveredhedidnot wanttoeatmore:asensationhehadnotpreviouslyexperienced.Therewasindeed someofitremaining.Afterabitofconsideration,hedecidedhe wouldgoback;hefeltratherincharity withtheworldatpresent,andreadytobeforgiving,sinceMiklihad notliedtohim.

  Hedidmanagetofindhisway;someinstinctguidedhisheaddespitethefeaturelessspreadofthe ocean,andhadthepleasureoflandingonthebeachwiththeremnantofhiscatchtothegreatsurpriseand loudadmirationoftheothers:evenwhatwasleftofhisfishwasbiggerthananythinganyonecouldcatch inthebay,andcertainlynoneofthemcouldhavemanageditthemselves.“Yes,”hesaid,smugly,“youmay eat it; I have already had my fill,” even though they did not really deserve it; but everyone was very appreciative.

  “Iteatsverywell,”Miklisaid,“althoughitisnotakraken; thoseareevenbigger.”

  “I do not suppose that anyone could really want a bigger fish,” Céleste said coolly. “It would certainlygobadbeforeitcouldbeeatenup.”

  Buthekeptgrowing.Hefoundanotheroftheround-facedfishtwoweekslater,justasbig,andateit downtothefinseveryscrap.Inbetweenhewasouteverydaycatchingotherbigfishintheopenocean, asmanyashecould,andhecouldnothelphimself;heatethemallwithoutbringingbackasinglebite.

  However,noonemadeanyremarksanymore.Indeed,theyhadallbecomereallyquiterespectfuland polite.

  Nevertheless,hewasdelightedonthedaywhenatlasthedidencounteroneofMikli’swhales.She nudgedhimawakethatmorningherselfandsaid,“Theyarehere!Thewhalesarecomingby,comeand havealook.”

  They were not very far from the island, and there were several of them traveling in company, of varioussizes:somewereevenlargerthanhimself,andhewassurprisedtorealizethathehadnotseen anythingbiggerthanhewasforsometimenow.Heconsideredtakingoneofthesmallerones,butthenhe lookedoverattheislandandjudgedthedistance;hesaidtoMikli,whohadaccompaniedhim,“Goand bringanyoneelsewhowouldlikeashare,tohelp.”Shehadbeencirclingoverhead—theothersdidnot seemtohavethetrickofhovering—andshedashedawayatonce,returningwithadozenoftheothers.

  Hepickedoutalargeandsluggishmemberofthegroupattheend.“Goatthetail!”hecalledtothe others, and they all latched onto the flukes in great excitement. Diving, he seized the base of the tail, closesttothebody,andcalled,“Togethernow,pull!”

  Ittookthemnearlyanhour,buttheydraggedthewhaletogetherbacktotheislandandontotheshore.

  Itwassoenormoustheyallfeastedthemselvestotheirswollen-belliedlimits,andthenCélestepermitted the rest of the dragons to come and have a share, even if they had not helped. “But next time,” he said sternly,“anyonewhodoesnothelpshallnothaveashare,unlesstheyaresick,oriftheyhavedonetheir partanotherday.And,”headded,“wewillthinkofsomethingtodowiththeleftovers.”

  “Wemighttrydryingit,”Galantsuggested.“Ihaveseenmendryfish,andeatitagainlater.”

  They sliced it up with their talons, and tried to hang it on trees; they did not have much luck, however,andfourdayslater,itrainedandallthemeatbegantostinksodreadfullynoonewantedtotry eatingitanymore.Butthatwasallright:theythrewitinthewatersadistanceofftheisland,andsomany fishcametoeatitthattheyalltooktheirfill,evenCéleste.Andwhennexttheywantedawhale,everyone didcometohelp,anyway.

  The days rolled away with placid sameness. Céleste’s appetite at last began to slacken; he still wanted a big meal every three days or so, but he was not so hungry all the time. “You have got your growth,Iexpect,”Galantsaidknowledgably,andeveryoneexpressedtheirreliefinloudcongratulations.

  Célestewassobignowhecoveredaconsiderablestretchofthebeachatnight.Galantwasthelargest otherwise,andCélestecouldhavespannedhisentirebackwiththetalonsofoneforefoot.Arounddozen oftheotherssleptonhisbackatnight,andmorecurleduproundhissides,allofthempleasantlywarmer asaresult.

  Butashishungerfaded,hebegantofeelincreasinglyrestless.“No,Iamnothungry;only,whatisthe useofjustlyinghereallday?”hesaid,whentheothersaskedwhyhewasgettingup,andwhetherhewas goinghuntingagain.

  “Iwillgowithyou,”Miklisaid.Allofthemhadforoncehadenoughtoeatwithouthavingtowork veryhardforit,andwithfoodgrowneasiertocomeby,severaloftheotherswerealsowillingtojoin himinexploring.Theyflewidlyroundthenearbyislands,butfoundnothingmuchmoreexcitingthana herdofiguanasdisinclinedtomakeroomontheirbeach.

  “You had better be glad not to have found any trouble,” Galant said. “Stay away from the bigger islands! You may be sure if you came on some men, they would straightaway try to put you to work. It wouldberopesandchainsandlectures,allday.”Célestecouldnotreallymusterupanyfear:anyonewho hadlivedinthoselittlehutscouldnotalarmhim.Butthatwashardlyarecommendationtoseekoutsuch rudepeople,either.Hecouldnothavenamedwhathewanted,heonlyknewhewasdissatisfied.Heflew furtherandfurthereachdayoutovertheopenocean.

  Threedayslater,hewentwhale-huntingagainwithhisfriends.Theywereallofthemstillwell-fed andfullofenergy,dancingaroundtheclouds,anditwassuchalovelydayforflyingthatevenafterthey spottedthepod,theydidnotimmediatelypounce:theywerefarenoughawayfromshoreitwouldbea longflighttodragtheirpreyhome,andnoonewasinarush,leastofallCéleste.Insteadtheyflewalong, playinggamesoftagandfly-the-loop,andsuddenlyGalantsaid,“Ah!Weshouldgetourhuntingdoneand getoutoftheway:look.”

  Averypeculiarthinghadappearedonthehorizon,somethingratherlikeadragonlyingonitssidein thewaterwithonewingstickingup,onlyithadmanywings,allwhite,andtheywerenotflappingbutjust belled out with the wind, and it was not a dragon. It did not look like anything Céleste had ever seen.

  “Whatisit?”

  “Itisaship,”Galantsaid.“Andwhentheyseeus,theywillcertainlyfireaguntochaseusoff.Don’t gettooclose!”

  Célestewasmoreinterestedthanalarmed,andheturnedasidefromthewhalesandinsteadfollowed theship.Hecouldseeitwasmadeofwood,andwhenhepeeredcloserhecouldseemanylittlecreatures swarming over it, which he supposed were men. He thought of going lower and tr
ying to say hello: accordingtoGalant,theycouldspeak,andiftheyhad madethisship,theyweresurelyveryclever,and perhapsinteresting.“DoyouthinktheywillknowFrench?”heasked.

  “Idonotknow,andIdonotwanttoknow,”Galantsaiddecisively.“Ifwearenottakingawhale,I amforgoinghome.”

  “Well,Iwilltry,atleast,”Célestesaid,andhedippedfromthecloudsanddroppedtohoverbefore theship,calling,“Bonjour!”asloudlyashecould.

  Agreatnoisearosefromtheshipatonce,butnoneofitsoundedlikeananswer.Célestewinced.All the men were scurrying and running and shouting; some of them had brought out long things that shone silverinthesunlightandwerewavingthemintheair.Oneofthemen,withamagnificentandenormous growthuponthetopofhisheadthatmadeitlargerthananyoftheothers,shoutedsomethingovertherest ofthem.ItdidnotsoundquitelikeFrenchatall,unfortunately,butCélestesawthatagreatmanyofthe othermenweremovingquicklyinresponse,andpullingforwardalargepeculiartubeofblack,housedin wood,tothefrontoftheship.

  “Itoldyou,Itoldyou!”Galantcriedfromabove,flyinganxiouscircles.“Itisagun!Comeaway!”

  Céleste was cautious enough to dart to one side when the thing made its loud roaring noise, and somethingcameflyingpasthim,soquicklyhecouldnotmakeitoutorseewhereitwent,exceptthere wasaterrificsplashasitlandedinthewater,flingingspraysohighitspatteredhimwherehehovered.

  Themenhadalsobroughtoutseverallongsticklikethingsandpointedthemathim.Thesemadeloud poppingnoisesnotquiteasunpleasantasthebiggun,butsomethingspatteredhotandhorriblyunpleasant againstCéleste’slegfromthem,andhecriedoutandjerkedbackinsurpriseddismayandpain.Allthe menaboardbeganshoutingagain,inajeeringsortofway,andtherewas—therewasblood,spillingfrom hisleg,andinoutrageandindignationCélestedrewadeepfuriousbreathandroared.

  Hehadneverroaredbefore;hehadneverfeltimpelledtodoso.Butitcamequitenaturally.Theroar burst from his chest and the whole ship heaved back from him as if carried by it: the gun rolled backwardsintothementryingtoputanotherlumpofmetalinsideit,andwentflyingdownthelengthof theship;thenearestofthetallspindlytrunksshattered,anditshugewhitewingscamesinkingdownupon theheadsofthemenwiththeirpoppingsticks.Screamsandyellsroseup.

  Othermenbegantofiremoreofthepoppingsticksathimfromupintheothertrunks.Célestebacked away,rathertakenabackbytheresult,butMiklihaddiveddownroaringherselftohisaid.Shesqualled asoneofthemenmanagedtohither,too,directlyintheshoulder,andshefelloutoftheskyontothedeck.

  Themenbegantoleapuponherwiththeirsilverthings,andCélesterealizedafteroneterrifiedcry from her that they were like claws; the men were cutting into her body. He roared furiously again and flunghimselfupontheship:heseizeduponthelargesttrunkandwrenchedthewholethingbodilyaround untilitcrackedandcameupfromthedeck,andthenheflungitwithallthemenaboardintotheocean.

  Lunging, he snatched more of them by handfuls and threw them off, knocking a dozen of them off Mikli withoneswipe.

  Theotherdragonspoureddowntohelp,grabbingmenbytheshouldersandcarryingthemoff,and thentherestofthemenwereallleapingawayoverboard:theyhadacoupleofsmallerwoodenhollow things,whichtheyheavedintothewater,andthemencrammedthemselvesaboardtheseandbegantouse longstickstopushthemselvesawayfromtheship.

  Céleste paused, hard of breath; the ship was creaking and wobbling beneath him. All the men had vanished, except for a last few diving off the back of the ship; he paid them no attention. “Are you all right?”heaskedMikli.

  “No!”shesaid.Shewasmakingsmallmiserablecriesofpain,andwhenhetriedtogetheruponhis back,sheshrilledandrefusedtobemoved.FinallyCélestegaveup,andseizedupalltheropeshecould findlyingaboutanddraggedtheshipthroughthewatertowardstheisland.

  Theothersalltookaropeandhelpedhim,butitwasstillveryhardgoing.Butatlasttheyreached thebayagain,andMikliwaspersuadedtocrawloffthedeckandontothebeach.Shelaydownwithan airofmartyrdom,andtheyallanxiouslyinspectedherwounds:onlytofindnothingbutafewsuperficial scratches already closed, and one small puncture in her shoulder, which was barely bleeding anymore.

  “Well, it was very painful!” she said defensively, after they all upbraided her for giving them so much workandworry.

  “Andnowwehavenothingtoeat,either,”Galantsaid.“Well,wemayaswellseewhatisinsidethe ship:theymayhavesomekindoffoodstuffsinthere.”

  Célestepushedtheshipover,andalltogethertheypoundeditupanddownagainsttherocksuntilthe holdcrackedopen,likeaturtleshell.Butnofoodfellout.Instead,witharumblingclang,outspilleda

  heapofsmallbarsofsomedazzling,brilliantstuff,blazingthroughthewaterinthesunlight,andasthey alldrewinasingleunitedgaspofadmiration,Galantsaid,“Gold!”

  CAPTAINLAURENCEletthelastpagedroptohissmalldesk,frowning.Hehadreadforthetwentieth time through all fourteen separate accounts of the pirates with the enormous black dragon, from twelve separate incidents, and he remained dissatisfied with his intelligence. Though several reported being hailedinFrench,notaoneofferedtheslightestdescriptionofshiporsailtoguidehimtohisenemy.As far as anyone might have told, the dragon was appearing full-blown from the depths to punish greedy mortalsfortheirsins,astheespeciallyfancifulaccountoftheLeanderwouldhavehadit.Thereportshad almostallcomefromsailorsonmerchantmen,ofcourse,whomLaurencedidnotentirelytrusttoprovide areliableaccountofabattle,butthecaptainoftheill-fated SanEstebanhadbeenaformerSpanishnaval officer,andaBritishprivateerhadalsobeenamongthevictims.

  Laurencelookeddownatthepagesstrewnacrossthewoodandthenwithdecisionsweptthemintoa drawerandstoodup.Hewentoutontothedeckofthe Reliant:hisfirstlieutenantRileywasonduty,and salutedashecameout.“Afairwind,sir,”hesaid.“IthinkwewillmakeBermudabymorning.”

  “Good,” Laurence said. “You will oblige me by arranging a standing guard with pepper guns, henceforth,andwewillbringuptenofthetwenty-fourstothequarterdeck.”Rileylookeddismayed,as wellhemight:morethanhalftheirguns.Buttherewasnosensekeepingthemselvesreadytomeetaship, whennoonehadyetmanagedtocounterthedragon.

  LaurencebegantosuspecttheattacksnoworkofFranceafterall,whatevertheAdmiraltythought.

  Hediscountedthetalesofthedragon’simmensesizebyaconsiderablemargin:hehadfoughtunderaerial supportthreetimesinhiscareer,andhewaswellawarethatevenatidylight-weightcombatbeasteasily gave the impression of hideous scale when it was flying directly overhead, roaring. The coloration, by contrast,seemedtohimentirelylikelytobefixedaccuratelyinthemind,andtheFrenchdidnothavea solidblackdragonbreed.Inanycase,certainlyitpassedtheboundsofcredulitythatadragontransport couldescapenotice.

  Morelikelysomecrewofoutrightpirateshadbymischancemanagedtoputtheirhandsupontheegg of a fighting-dragon, or some larger breed native to the Americas. Their ship might well be a mere afterthought, a brig or something like, easily-overlooked in the confusion of battle and dismay. They wouldbemakingtheirhomeinsomedesertedcoveorbay,nearenoughthesiteofthevariousattacksto puttheminflyingrange.

  He laid out his thoughts to his officers the following night over dinner, as they rode at anchor in Nassauharbor.Theattacksmadearelativelysmallknotofmarksuponhismap,whichhehadrolledout overtheclo
thoncethedisheswerecleared.“Iamnotinclinedtoassumewewillhaveaneasytimeofit, gentlemen,” he said. “I think we can trust the Quickly to have given them a respectable fight, and her twelvegunsoughttohavebeenenoughtoscareoffanyordinaryferalbeast.Wewilldoublethewatchin thetops,andfurloursailsonanycloudyday.”

  ThreeweekscrossingtheCaribbeanSeabackandforthwasproductiveofnothingbutthecorruption of some of his crew, overcome by the easy availability of women and liquor from the bum-boats that swarmedthemanytimetheycamenearenoughaharbor.Inexasperationafterhavingbeenforcedtoputin to Nassau again in order to deposit ashore not one but three separate ladies-of-pleasure who had been secretedaboard,onebyanover-ambitiousmidshipmanofthirteenyearsofage,Laurenceorderedhisship toremainclosertotheuninhabitedislandsfurtherfromanysourceofsuchirresistibledelights.

  The following morning he was rewarded by the shout of, “Wing three points to starboard!” while stillathisbreakfast.Laurencemadehimselffinishtheswallowofhisteabeforeheroseandputonhis swordandwentoutontothedeck,hisstepsquickeninginvoluntarily.Thewatchofficerwasstandingat thestarboardrailwithhisglassandpointedLaurencetothesighting.

  The dragon in the distance was however only one of the ordinary ferals, brightly colored and courier-sizeatbest,sportingidlyoverthewaves.Laurenceloweredhisglassandrestedhisfistsagainst therail,considering.Thebeastwasalreadydartingawayintothedistance,vanishingtotheeast.