Chapter Twelve: Tobiah's Cove

It’s just like in the song, Throp thought. The sailor, washed overboard and saved by a mermaid. Her silhouette hovered above him, a halo of bright sunlight glowing around her.

“Throp!” she was crying. She put her hands on his shoulders and shook him.

How does the mermaid know my name? he thought. Then his body entire body tensed in a horrible spasm and he rolled over, coughing, his lungs expelling mouthfuls of ocean water onto the sand.

He was on land, he realized. He looked at the mermaid and with his eyes now adjusted to the bright light, he could see it was the princess. Sand and seaweed clung to her hair. Behind her, small waves lazily lapped at the beach, the ocean now calm as if the storm had never happened. His eyes still stung from sea water.

“Are you-” Throp tried to ask if she was okay, but talking just sent him into another coughing fit.

“I’m all right,” she said. “Agnes, too.”

“The pirates?” Throp asked, when he’d recovered.

“The one with the sword made it,” she said softly. “The other one…” she trailed off, her eyes downcast. Throp looked around. Agnes was standing nearby, looking at him with relief. Her face was bruised, her clothes still sopping, but other than that she looked uninjured.

They were on a thin stretch of beach that extended for half a mile in either direction before being cut off by steep cliffs.

“What happened?”

“You fell overboard,” the princess said. “I, uh…”

“She tied a rope to herself and dove in after you,” Agnes said. “We had to drag you back to the boat.”

“Are you crazy?” Throp said, realizing how ungrateful he sounded as he said it.

“It was fairly amazing,” Agnes said. The princess looked away, shaking her head.

“If you want to see something amazing…” She pointed and Throp turned to see a small creature splayed out on a rock.

“Nib?!” The ferret’s head lifted when Throp called his name, but he let it drop back to the rock to continue his sunning.

“He’s a bit waterlogged,” the princess said. “I forgot he was in my pocket when jumped in the water.”

Throp was astounded the ferret had survived, astounded any of them had survived, really.

Tobiah, the girls told him, had gone off to determine exactly where they were. Throp stood, wanting to get his own bearings before the pirate returned, but a sharp pain in his left leg sent him back to the ground. He rolled up his pant leg to reveal a long, nasty bruise along the length of his calf. He heard Agnes suck her teeth when she saw it.

“Ouch,” the princess said. “I’m so sorry. They had to drag us both back onto the little boat and-

“It’s okay,” he said, waving her away. He tried again, moving more slowly. It still hurt when he stood, but he tried not to let it show.

“Where are we?” Throp asked.

“We are exactly where we are supposed to be,” Tobiah said. He appeared from behind one of the huge boulders that lined the foot of the cliff, looking too chipper for someone who just lost a mate and nearly his own life in a storm. Throp moved between Tobiah and the girls, standing defensively.

“Whoa,” Tobiah said. “We’re all friends here, aren’t we?” He was smiling as he said it, and although he had gotten them off the ship, Throp still wasn’t sure he was to be trusted.

“Will this make you feel better?” Tobiah asked. He reached for his sword at his belt and Throp tensed as he pulled it from its sheath and tossed it into the sand between them. The princess darted forward and picked it up, but held it at her side.

“Where are we?” Throp repeated. Tobiah grinned and stretched his arms out to his sides.

“Welcome!” he said. “To Tobiah’s cove!”

“It’s named after you?” Agnes asked.

“It is now,” Tobiah said. He winked at her then addressed Throp. “I know you’re having a bit of trouble there, but if you can make a few dozen yards, I guarantee it will be worth it." He turned and strutted off. Agnes followed him immediately.

“Do you need a hand?” the princess asked Throp. He shook his head. Although he wouldn’t have minded leaning on her as he walked, he didn’t want this pirate to know how hurt he as. The princess handed the sword over to him, then went to fetch Nib.

Tobiah talked as they followed him toward the cliffs that lined the narrow beach.

“You see, this little slice of paradise,” he explained. “Has been our waypoint for ages. At first glance it looks like any other bit of beach, right?” The reached the cliff, the foot of which was dotted with boulders the size of houses. Tobiah studied the cliff base, took a few steps then studied again.

“But as with most things in life,” he finally continued. “There is more than meets the eye.” He put his shoulder to an outcropping of rock against the cliff and pushed. To Throp’s astonishment, it moved, sliding across the sand and revealing a large opening in the cliff wall.

Tobiah disappeared into the dark cave. There was the sound of metal on metal, a spark in the darkness and a torch in Tobiah’s hand lit up. He walked around, lighting more torches, held by sconces on the wall, until the bulk of the cave was illuminated. He turned to them.

“Well, come on then,” he said.

A pair of tables and benches lined one wall of the cave. Against the other were stacks of crates. Tobiah pried one open and pulled out a pair of canteens. He tossed one at Throp, who wasn’t quick enough and it hit the ground in front of him. He winced as he reached to pick it up. He flipped the top off and sniffed. It was fresh water. He sighed with relief and offered it to Agnes, but Tobiah had already given her one of her own and another to the princess.

Throp sipped it, gingerly, feeling it wash away the sand that seemed to line his mouth and throat.

“No need to be shy,” Tobiah said. “There’s enough to last us a month. And we won’t be here nearly that long.” Throp gulped the water then, quickly emptying the canteen, followed by two more.

Tobiah dug into another crate, pulling out a pile of thin blankets.

“We should rest,” he said. He blew out a nearby torch, dimming the inside of the cave.

“It’s the middle of the day,” Throp said.

“And I am exhausted,” Tobiah said. He took one of the blankets, wrapped it around himself and laid down on one of the tables, crossing his arms behind his head.

“You said you would explain yourself,” Throp said.

“All in good time,” Tobiah said without even opening his eyes. Agnes picked up a blanket and gave it to Throp.

“We are all very tired,” she said softly. Throp nodded.

“You two rest then,” he said. “I want to keep an eye on him.”