Under a Starless Sky novel Chapter 59

Though the Aslog mostly continued in a previously ‘Eastward’ direction, is was not due East. Torny recommended course corrections based on intuition, and more often than not brought them to other islands within a month’s time. East was no longer east. As they traveled, Shen and TL discussed whether it was ethical to return secretly to Worm Island and treat the people and land without their consent. Torny and Jerica listened to them without interjection, learning how they came about moral resolutions to debates. They weren’t just arguing; they had a primary belief of non-interference which had value, and though it was not static, it required a burden threshold to respond. Had Arne or Uffe been privy, they would have heatedly said return and act. Acting to save the islanders would have required a permanent presence, in their face, or invisible. TL could establish an invisible presence. The islanders were likely more aggressive due to nutritionally induced brain damage. That was not likely to go away for several generations, if at all, because those born into it would believe that was the way of life- so aggression and ignorance would be culturally sustained unless social intervention was enacted in addition to medical and environmental.

While this discussion was occurring, Orton was griping out loud: histrionics of north being south west, up was down, out was in, and women could block a gown ass man from eating his own kill.

“Let it drop,” Arne said.

“She said it herself. If we cooked it well, it would have been okay,” Orton said.

“Drop it or I will drop you,” Arne said.

“Like Shen allegedly dropped Uffe?” Orton said. He got the crew to laughing at that. “No one hear believes that shit.”

“You calling me a liar?” Uffe demanded.

“There is no way in hell he dropped you,” Orton said. “You were being generous because Arne has taken a liking to his woman…”

Uffe, Erico, and Arne pulled out their swords. Orton, and two other men pulled out their swords. The rest of the male crew retreated to make room for the entertainment. Torny suddenly had her staff in her hands. It had come to her grasp straight, flying across the deck. She tapped the floor. Bracelets flared, a ward against the sleeping spell.

“Boys!” Torny snapped. “Secure your weapons or I will.”

Orton laughed. “Arne’s anger increases the validity of my statement. Everyone sees how he look at her. How many marks on your bed post do you need, Arne? When will you surrender the new fuck to one of us?”

“Fuck, even I look at her,” Jerica said. “Who here hasn’t looked at her?”

The men laughed at that.

“I challenge Shen to take me down,” Orton said. “I promise I won’t coddle him the way Uffe did.”

“I will not fight you,” Shen said.

“You have been challenged. You will fight, or I will claim penalty. I will bed your woman the rest of this voyage in front of you,” Orton said.

TL laughed. “You’re all idiots. I will fuck who I want, when I want. And I’d fuck almost anyone who comes at me right. It will not change my loyalty to Jon, and nothing will change how he relates to me. We are that solid.”

“You cannot claim his woman as penalty,” Torny said. “She is not property. She is a free spirit.”

“It is the only thing he has to offer,” Orton said. “He will fight me and win, or I will bed her right here and now. The crew will see that I get my winnings.”

“Really?” Jerica said. “Have you all been sniffing lotus?”

“Or they ate raw pig,” Yaffa said.

“What is this?” Arne demanded. “A mutiny?”

“You have broken the code. We have equal share in the spoils of this journey. What have you shared with us lately, other than continuance of misery? Further from home and no treasure? You didn’t even let us fuck the natives on the last island.”

“The worms would have eaten your worm,” Jerica said.

“It seems to be getting smaller,” Arne said. “Fight me if you want a fight.”

“No more protecting this fucking runt and his woman,” Orton said. “I don’t care how much magic she wields. Tree Spirits serve us, not the other way around. Unless that too is path change. Come here, spirit. I have some wood that needs quenching.”

“I accept your challenge,” Shen said.

Arne, Erico, and Uffe sheaved their swords, and retreated from the combat area. Even Torny retreated from this. If a grown ass man accepts a challenge, men will not get in the way.

“Jon,” TL said. “This is some macho bullshit. Let it go.”

“It’s macho bullshit, and it needs to unfold,” Shen agreed.

TL was not happy. There was truth in the statement. “Okay,” she said. She backed off to stand with Jerrica.

“I accept, Orton. Come at me.”

“Someone lend this fool a sword,” Orton said.

“I need no weapon, come at me,” Shen said.

“Yield or I break your arm,” TL said.

“You don’t have the strength…’

“I don’t need strength. Your own weight when I topple you will break your arm,” Shen said. “Yield.”

“No! Frode?! Ingolf?!”

“Anyone else enters this, you will die here and now,” Shen said. “Yield, or I will sleep you so hard you will shit your pants.”

“Fuck you!” Orton said.

Using a Taser option facilitated through suit contact from the elbow, Orton went to sleep. His head hit the deck hard. Shen turned, his eyes low, assessing. If there was another intending to fight, he did not see it. Still, if they were harboring it, he would rather it be over now.

“Come on, let’s get this over with,” Shen said. “Who else wants to sleep?”

“It’s done,” Arne said. “Stand down, brother.”

“It’s not fucking done!” Shen shouted. His hands were shaking. A flag popped and he turned suddenly, like a cat ready to face the next threat. “Who else wants to sleep?! Come on, stump fuckers. None of you cowards want to visit Valhalla today? You know you want to prove yourself. Come at me.”

Arne came closer, arms out, hands up. “Brother. It is done. No one here questions you.”

“It’s not true. Look at their eyes. I am tired of having to prove myself over and over. Fucking bring it on, cowards,” Shen said.

“Brother,” Arne said. “A man will always have to prove himself. But today. With us. You are solid. Come. Let’s drink together.”

“Jon, come aft with me and Arne,” TL said, coming in closer. “We got you. It’s okay.” TL extended a hand.

“It’s not fucking okay,” Shen said. He didn’t emphasize there was a dead man. TL didn’t iterate that her reservation had been that someone would be dead and the weight would be his burden. He was in a fight or flight mode.

Shen took a moment to survey the eyes, came finally back to TL’s eyes, and accepted. She drew close, taking his arm, and lead him out of the blood. Arne walked with him. Erico accepted a glance from Arne, knowing he wanted the deck cleaned. Erico had the crew clean the mess. Bodies were stripped of metal, weighted with rock, and sent into the sea.