Hope of Earth (39 page)

Most of the enemy ships escaped, but when the action was done, one had been sunk—it wasn’t as light as the fast ships—another disabled, and twelve captured. It was a stunning victory, with no Athenian losses.

They made their leisurely way home, towing some of the ships that they hadn’t manned. The men were still under orders, but they were smiling and joking, and the officers made no objection.

During a break, Captain Ittai ambled by Jes’s station. “Now you know,” he said with satisfaction.

“Indeed I do, sir,” she agreed.

Kettle, nearby, nodded. He had not scowled at her all day.

There followed a bout of repairing and refurbishing, as they got the captured ships into shape. They would not be used for some time, because they lacked captains and crews, but they bode well for the future of the Athenian navy hi these waters. The crews were given leave time for a few days; they had earned their rest.

Then Captain Ittai approached Jes when she reported for duty, as she had to to be sure of her pay. “We are not going out today,” he said. “But come aboard anyway. I have been meaning to tell you something, and to ask you something.”

She joined him on the otherwise deserted ship, uncertain what this was about. He gave her the helmsman’s vacant seat in the stern, and took his own. From this deck they had a good view of the surrounding harbor.

Ittai looked around, seeming vaguely uneasy. “May I speak candidly?”

“Sir?” Because of course a captain had no need to ask permission of any crewman for anything.

“I have in mind a matter that does not relate to business. It is personal and private.”

Oh. “Of course, sir. I will not repeat it elsewhere.”

“Thank you.” He hesitated, then plunged in. “I will not be marrying Wona.”

Oops. “If I offended you by introducing—”

“No offense. She is a beautiful woman, and most obliging in the female way. She made me realize that I am after all ready to consider marrying again. But she is also vain, faithless, lazy, and inconsiderate of those of whom she believes she has no need. I believe I would regret marrying such a woman, who is not at all in the class of my former wife.”

He had Wona precisely targeted! Jes could not in conscience argue the woman’s case. “I am sorry, sir.”

“Don’t be. There are many men who would be quite satisfied with such a woman. Perhaps I was spoiled by my wife, who was no beauty, but a creature of sterling personal qualities.”

This remained awkward. “Surely so, sir.”

“So I wanted to make clear to you my decision in that respect, before asking you my question. Wona and I have no future, regardless.”

She looked at him questioningly. What else was on his mind? This hesitancy was unlike him.

“As I mentioned before, I am not adept at social relations,” he said after a pause. “I command men, but I do not know how to speak to a woman in a truly courteous manner. I am a man of the sea.”

She waited. She felt much the same when dealing on a social level with men, but she couldn’t say that.

“So I ask you to understand that no affront to you is intended, and to hear me out before you answer.”

“Of course, sir.”

He set himself, and spoke again. “I know you are a woman.”

Oh, no! He was going to fire her. He would have to, because women were not allowed on warships. So he was apologetic because he didn’t like having to do it.

She held her chin up, determined not to cry. ‘“If I may ask—how did I give myself away?”

He smiled. “You didn’t. You play your part so well that I could not be sure, though I fancy myself an astute judge of crewmen. I marveled that a stripling should pipe so well, with such feeling for the sea and oars. Usually it takes a man some time and experience to develop that spirit—yet you lacked experience. Your explanation of rowing alone sufficed, but the matter did not quite leave my mind. It was a minor mystery. Then when you introduced me to Wona—”

“She told you?” Jes asked, appalled.

“No. She did not betray you. She does have loyalty to you, a person she respects beyond others. But I made a connection. There had been a story of a beautiful woman traveling in the company of a stripling brother who nevertheless could handle weapons; it was said that he killed several Persian raiders last year, and did not brag of it. That was why that story remained in my memory, another minor curiosity. As a manager of men, I have an awareness of details that don’t quite mesh; sometimes there is a larger pattern. I concluded that you must be that stripling.”

“I did not realize how news travels,” Jes said ruefully. “I take no pride in killing, but I had no choice.”

“So I gathered. One of my suppliers is a trader named Crockson. He—”

“Crockson!”

“I do not know him personally, but I know of him. He fancies stripling males, and treats them well. He is currently without one. There was a story that one with a beautiful sister came to work for him, but that he did not take that particular stripling as a lover. Not, I think, because of refusal, for he gave that stripling money and a flute, and the lad played well.”

Jes brought out her flute. “Yes, it is his flute. He helped me practice, and had me study the ships, so that I could do—as I did.”

“That third memory finally enabled me to see the larger pattern. But though I could fathom a reason why you were not his lover, I still wasn’t sure. So I verified it.”

She looked at him questioningly.

“One of my bowmen has exceptional night vision. I asked him to spy on you in the night, during the bivouac. He reported that you found it necessary to squat to urinate. He was instructed to tell no one but me, and he obeys instructions. I was then satisfied with my diagnosis.”

He had certainly been careful and competent in his investigation! “I—I will go without fuss, sir, so as not to embarrass you. I—”

“No. You are an excellent pipeman, and I want to keep you. You did not panic under Stress in the battle. It is my prerogative to hire whom I please, regardless of gender. But it would be better if the remaining crew did not know. The oarsmen, in particular, have their superstitions, and the hoplites might seek to take advantage, the moment you left the protection of the ship.”

“Yes, sir.” She thought of Kettle, the commander of the hoplites, who would surely be furious to learn he had been backed off by a woman. She had been on the way to earning his grudging respect; this would destroy it.

“So keep your secret, and so will I, for the duration of your service on my ship.”

“Oh, thank you sir! I love it on your ship. I—”

“Do not be grateful yet. There is worse. I don’t know how to make this sound appropriate, so I won’t try. I want to marry you.”

Stunned, she stared at him. “What?”

“By the time I had ascertained your gender, I had learned a good deal about you. You are a fine person. You possess all the qualities Wona lacks. You have courage, integrity, constancy, discretion, and ability. And I think you could learn love. You are the kind of woman I want. A woman who could replace my wife without seeming inferior.”

“But I’m not beautiful!” she blurted.

“You are not buxom, agreed. Your face is not pretty. But you are slender and graceful. In any event, you are quite attractive to me in personality, and I think in body-too, were you appropriately garbed and coifed. Much lies in the way a woman presents herself.”

That was true, as Wona had taught her. She could act like a woman, if she tried. But she was still so amazed by his offer that she could not truly believe it. “I—I can’t—”

“I realize I am old,” he said. “And stout. I can’t blame you for not finding me desirable as a man. But I can offer you an excellent life in other respects. A life that will continue well after I am gone. That should be some compensation.”

“Oh, it isn’t that, sir. I respect you as a man. I just never thought—”

“In any event, there is no need to make an immediate decision. All I ask is that you consider the matter for a fair period, and give me your answer, of whatever nature, before this tour is done.”

“I think I am dreaming this,” she said. “But even in a dream, I have to say that I came here with Wona to find a husband for her, not for me, and I am honor bound not to desert her until she finds a suitable man.”

“I will obtain another officer for her. One who will satisfy her, and be satisfied by her. You can assure yourself on that score before saying anything further to me.”

“And I—I never even thought of marriage. Not to a man of your stature. I—I like being a crewman. I don’t think I could be a gracious woman, confined to a house. I would always want to put on mannish garb and go out for more adventure.”

“If that is the price of you, I will gladly pay it. I would ask only that I be allowed to accompany you on your adventuring, so as to be assured of your safety.” Then he frowned, reconsidering. “Unless you are saying that your taste is not, after all, in men.”

“Oh, no, sir! I want to be with a man when—I mean, I try to look like a stripling male, but that’s to enable me to go about my business safely. I am a woman. I long to be—to be a woman with a good man. To be desired as a woman.”

“I am very glad to hear it. Then I trust we are agreed: You will continue your position here, in male guise. But you will also think about the role I offer you as a female.”

“I will certainly think about it. But—may I speak candidly, sir?”

He laughed. “There is another level? Speak; I will not be angry.”

“You—in your position—you can command women, any women you desire. You can—can command me. As a woman. I am young and inexperienced in this respect, but I—I would do whatever you asked, just to keep my position on your ship. And I would not—not find it unpleasant, though I would lack the ability Wona has. You surely know this. You could use me and discard me, without commitment. Why do you speak of—of marriage?”

“That is easy to answer. Because I don’t want easy passion, or experience. I can get that from women like Wona. I want a true relationship. I want love. That cannot be compelled, and I would not compel it if it were possible. You are young, but you understand honor. I know you would not speak love to me unless you meant it. If—if it is your desire to marry me without the commitment of love, I will accept that, hoping love will come in due course. But I would much prefer to have your love, and give you mine. I realize that this makes me a foolish man, but it was the way it was with my wife. So you must come to your own conclusion, and if you realize that you can never love me, I will let you go without rancor. But I sincerely hope that is not the case.”

Jes found herself flattered as well a£ surprised by his offer. But marriage? It was so far beyond any notion she had ever entertained that she simply could not assimilate it. “I will think about it, sir,” she finally said.

“Thank you.” He stood, in that manner dismissing her. “In the interim I will see about placing Wona.”

“Thank you, sir.” She turned to go, and felt him pat her bottom. She remembered what Wona had said about that: proof that a man was interested. That little token impressed her almost as much as his words did. It wasn’t a purely intellectual thing.

She made her way numbly to the apartment. What was she to do? What Ittai asked seemed inconceivable, yet she knew he was serious. She had to decide, and give him an answer. But what would be her answer? She was not close to a conclusion.

Wona showed up when her shift was done. Jes wasn’t sure what to say to her, so said nothing. That turned out to be easy, because Wona was full of news of her own. “I met this new man,” she said. “He says word got around about Trierarch Ittai’s new woman, so he wanted to see for himself. He’s a citizen too, and younger and handsomer than Ittai. I’m free tonight, so I’ll give him a try.” She perfected her appearance and breezed out.

Jes had not had to say anything. That seemed best. Evidently Ittai had been as good as his word, and spoken to another officer. Wona was not even aware that she had been passed off. She thought she was just being her normal faithless self, choosing among options.

The training sessions resumed. It was clear that the war was not over, and the power of Sparta and Corinth had been set back, not broken. There would be other encounters. In fact, the enemy had not given up its designs on Acarnania and was determined to dislodge Phormio and open the blockade. More Peloponnesian ships were being mustered.

Phormio, alarmed, sent to Athens for more ships. Word was received that a fleet of twenty fast triereis was on its way. But then they were diverted south to Crete, and were indefinitely delayed there.

“The idiots!” Wona exclaimed as she relayed this gossip. “Don’t they know we have a war on here?” Apparently she was coming to identify with the war effort, now that she was dating a younger and more communicative officer.

Jes was concerned too. The news was that a fleet of at least seventy-five ships was coming, and these were not an expeditionary force loaded with gear and troops, but were cleared for action. They were intent on destroying the Athenian fleet. And they had a new and talented commander named Brasidas. Not only was this fleet larger and deadlier, its commander would not be making the foolish mistake of allowing the wind to mess up his formation. This time the odds seemed truly overwhelming.