Dawn didn't release her hold, but she quickly slanted upward. Her huge wings gave one enormous beat that sent her bursting out of the sea and into the air. Arthur tried to take a breath but had too much water already in his lungs, so he broke into a coughing fit that ended in him throwing up what seemed like gallons of water. Even more came out of his nose and ears.
Finally he managed a few racking breaths, interspersed with bouts of coughing, till he hung exhausted in Dawn's grasp, unable to stop thinking about what might have happened if the peg spell had failed when he was underwater in that black, freezing sea.
"We are nearly there," said Dawn. "Though it will take longer now that I cannot go by water."
Arthur nodded, unable to speak. Her flying speed seemed quite fast enough.
Eventually the water stopped coming out of Arthur's nose, and he could breathe normally again.
"The Triangle lies dead ahead," Dawn informed him. "Though it is unusually empty. There were reportedly thirty or forty ships there a few days ago. Now, I only count eight..."
Arthur looked down. At first all he saw was the sea, with the white tops of the waves relentlessly moving in the same direction. Then he shifted his gaze and saw eight ships of different sizes floating next to one another, in the lee of what at first sight appeared to be a sheer rock that thrust out of the sea. On closer inspection, Arthur realised the protrusion was actually the top of a pyramid, its stones heavily weathered by wind and ocean. It rose several hundred feet above the sea, and was perhaps half a mile long on each side. If it had once ended in a point, that was gone, leaving a flat platform about the size of a basketball court, which was almost completely occupied by a huge iron ring. There was a single six-foot-thick rope tied to the ring, swinging down the lee side of the pyramid into the sea. The ships were either tied up to this rope, or rafted up to a vessel that was.
"Can you see the Flying Mantis?" asked Arthur. "Or the Rats? What kind of ship do they have?"
"The Mantis is not there," said Dawn. "As for the Rats, one of their putrid, smoky steamers is tied up on the eastern side of the raft, next to the four-masted ship Undine."
"A steamship? The Rats have steamships? Why doesn't everyone else?"
"They are forbidden by Drowned Wednesday," said Dawn. "With good reason, for they are foul and unclean. But the Rats have their exemptions. Besides, only the steam vessels made by Grim Tuesday work in the Border Sea, and they are fuelled with Accelerated Coal, made from Nothing. As with everything from Grim Tuesday, the price of this coal is exorbitant."
"That'd be right," said Arthur. "Where is the Rats" ship again? I can't see it."
"Next to the big four-master on the eastern side, as I said."
Arthur looked again. This time, he saw the Rats" vessel. It was only a third the size of the four-masted barque next to it, and his eye had been momentarily confused because the Rats" ship could sail as well as steam, having two masts and square-rigged sails as well as a large central funnel that was not currently smoking.
"We will land on the Undine," said Dawn, "and see what is happening. It is unusual for so few ships to be here. Everything looks strangely quiet."
She began to spiral down. Arthur closed his eyes as their rapid descent made him feel dizzy. He didn't open them again until he suddenly felt a solid deck under his feet and Dawn let him go.
She had already transformed back into human form. This time, she was wearing a kind of naval uniform, with a very dark blue coat that was almost black, hung with medals and supporting two very large silver epaulettes. Arthur wondered how she managed to instantly change clothes.
There was no one on board to greet them. Dawn looked around, a frown wrinkling her forehead. There was no one to be seen on any of the other ships either. The only sounds were the groan of the wooden hulls, the high-pitched squeaking of the mooring ropes, and the wash of the sea.
Dawn opened her hand and gripped the air, and a flaming harpoon appeared in her fist. Arthur flinched, but though it was obviously magical, it was not like the Mariner's harpoon. It didn't make him feel odd when he looked at it, so he hoped it wouldn't have the horrible side effects the Captain's harpoon did when it was used.
"The guard boat is missing," said Dawn. "This is what comes of having all one's faithful Nisser..."
She restrained herself, but Arthur knew she had been going to say eaten.
"I suppose the crews are hiding inside the Triangle," Dawn continued. "Fearful of a pirate attack, no doubt. Which reminds me — put these on."
She pulled a pair of white leather gloves out of her sleeve and handed them to Arthur.
"No need to cause panic at the sight of the Red Hand," she said.
Arthur put on the gloves as Dawn stalked across the poop deck and looked over the port side, across to the pyramid. As she walked away, Arthur heard a shout to starboard.
"Ahoy the Undine!"
Arthur went to the rail and looked down. The shout had sounded high-pitched, so he wasn't that surprised to see a four-foot-tall Rat wearing a blue cap, blue breeches, and a loose white shirt hailing him from the forecastle of the steamship. A ship, Arthur noticed, that despite Dawn's disdain looked very spick-and-span. It also had a name, painted in white on the bow. Rattus Navis IV.
"Ahoy to you too," Arthur called out. "Where is everyone?"
"A score or more ships sailed within the last few hours, and of those that are left, most of the crews are quivering inside the Triangle," replied the Rat. "It started with the sea level dropping four fathoms for half an hour yesterday. Then the Shiver was sighted to the south this morning. What with the rumour of someone afflicted with the Red Hand and all, a dreadful fright got among the Denizens. The braver ones decided to chance it on the high seas, preferring not to be sitting here. Those less brave thought to barricade themselves inside the pyramid and leave the pickings to Feverfew."
"But he has not come," interrupted Dawn, looming up at Arthur's side. "Or he has become uncommonly gentle with his prey. Has Shiver been seen again today, Rat?"
The Rat doffed his cap before replying.
"No, ma'am."
"Is your captain aboard?"
"Captain and crew, ma'am, awaiting custom."
"Who are you?"
"Gunner's Mate First Watkingle, ma'am."
"And your captain?"
"That would be Longtayle, ma'am. Do you wish to come aboard?"
"No. I have other pressing matters to attend to, but my companion here has business with your captain. This is Lord Arthur, Master of the Lower House and the Far Reaches. For some reason he believes you Rats might be useful. He is an honoured guest of Lady Wednesday and is to be treated with all courtesy."
Watkingle bowed low, but didn't answer.
"Farewell, Lord Arthur," said Dawn, offering her hand. "I hope you succeed."
Arthur wasn't sure what to do, but he took it and gave a kind of half bow and a little shake.
"I'll do my best."
Dawn nodded, withdrew her hand, and took a standing jump over the rail and onto the deck of the next ship, without even flapping her wings.
"Just come down the Undine's ladder amidships, sir," called up Watkingle. "Then jump down, if you don't object."
As Arthur walked along to the waist of the ship, Watkingle called out something and more Rats came on the steamship's deck, arranging themselves in a line opposite the Undine's ladder. When Arthur climbed down and jumped across to the deck of the Rattus Navis IV, one of them played several piercing notes on a silver whistle. All the Rats immediately stood to attention.
Watkingle saluted Arthur, then said, "Welcome aboard, sir. Please follow me. Mind your head."