Rammus’s heavy footsteps slowly clunked up the stairs, then he appeared in the doorway and stopped, his gaze serious. I gestured for him to take a seat in the chair. He wordlessly obeyed. I leaned against a window frame and stuck my hands in my coat pockets.
“I think I know why you called me up here, Captain.”
“Are you ready for me to step down?”
“Are you?”
“I’ve lived on the sea since I was fifteen,” I said calmly. I was more than happy to step down and let Rammus take over. I felt at peace with myself and the world. It was the right thing to hand the crew over now. “I became a skipper at age twenty five, bought my first boat at age thirty, and lost my first crew at age forty five, along with got cursed. Since then, I’ve watched the world fall and rise, dozens of people I’ve cared about die, helped keep cargo shipping alive and well enough, and provided so many people with lifelong careers under me. I’ve been around for almost two hundred and seventy eight years. I’m ready to retire.”
“What will you do?”
“I don’t know.”
“I don’t think retirement suits you, Captain.”
“Neither does remaining skipper.”
“That doesn’t leave you with much else.”
I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “Don’t worry. I’m not abandoning you and the rest of the crew. I’ll figure something out.”
Rammus looked at his lap and swallowed.
“I’ve been around a long time,” I said quietly. “A really long time. If anything, I’ll stick around and just relax and enjoy life. It’s something I’ve forgotten to do all these years.” After Delilah, I felt like I didn’t have it in me to give love any more tries. I’d loved many women over the centuries and that was enough. It wasn’t perfect but it was enough.
He nodded. “When do you want me to take over?”
“Right now, actually.”
“If you’re dead set on it, then consider it done, Ca—uh, sir. Or Dyne.”
“Alan. My name is Alan. Alan Lavere. I’ve changed my name a few times over the centuries to avoid questions about my longevity. You can call me Alan or Dyne. It doesn’t matter.”
“I’ll stick with Dyne. It’s what I’m a little more used to.”
“Fair enough.” I had no preference. I’d forgotten my given name for so long. Watching my home get rebuilt had stirred up the memory banks. I looked around the wheelhouse. “Let’s announce your promotion to the crew so I can get started on the paperwork and get everything put in your name.”
He slid off the chair. “Sure thing, Ca—darn it. This is going to take some getting used to.”
“I apologize in advance for every time I still respond to ‘Captain.’” I said lightly.
The crew took the announcement well. It was bittersweet. They were all happy for Rammus, yet sad to see me step down. I watched Sauna’s reaction carefully. He listened with a serious gaze, his eyes full of sadness at first, but then he began to watch Rammus as he had me. Rammus was in the seat of power now. Sauna would gravitate towards that. Sam looked sad as well, since he was the only one who knew about my selfish wants that were no longer there. I took him aside after the announcement and put his worries to rest. However, I did admit to feeling ready to go, yet was prepared to live out however many more years I had left in me to the fullest, if I had to.
The next night the crew threw a retirement party, complete with cake and cheeseburgers. The crew got me good right after my first bite of the best meal on earth. Scully, who was manning the wheelhouse, called everyone to arms for a pirate sighting. I cursed up a storm as I led the crew’s mad dash onto deck, only to find a bunch of boxes laid out on the bow and no pirates in sight. Scully set off all the fireworks and Mido handed me my cheeseburger. I savored every bite as I enjoyed all the pretty explosions.
Once the last explosive was spent, Jessie and Mido brought up the cake that was decorated to both celebrate my retirement and Rammus’s promotion. He and I cut each other slices from opposite corners and exchanged the slices. Then, right as I put two and two together as Ed and Ted stood behind us, they reached for our paper plates and mashed the slices in our faces. Once our initial shock subsided, it became a two captains versus one crew food fight. Handfuls of cake filled the air like confetti, and Sam took pictures of everyone once we all ran out of ammo.
I thoroughly enjoyed my retirement party.
Newport more or less came and went. We dropped off the huge shipment with the help of the military, had nothing to pick up and no place to stay, except my half-built house, so we pushed off the same day, chartered for Port Chesapeake. My house-in-progress had gained its familiar box shape, the outlines of windows, and a central flight of stairs and such. It was heartening to see. It left me feeling happy, able to let go of all that’d happened. It was time to move on.
I’d thought of settling there but I knew I couldn’t do it once I saw the place. The sea was my home. Had been ever since I’d left the house. But even with knowing I couldn’t settle there, I felt like my stay on the Pertinacious was steadily reaching its conclusion. Wasn’t sure how to explain it; just knew both house and ship weren’t my retirement homes. Knew it in my gut. As far as what I should do, I wasn’t sure. I’d developed a habit of spending time after dinner staring out over the stern, watching the sea, as if staring long enough would give me my answer.
Once Jessie and Mido finished cleaning up the galley, they headed out on deck for some fresh air and a stroll, since the cabins were full of ears. Sure Rammus or Scully would see them from the wheelhouse, and sometimes Ed and Ted joined their walks for the fun of it. The two were always enjoyable company, but tonight it was just the two of them. Shortly into their first lap, they spotted Dyne staring out over the stern, which he’d been doing a lot as of late. They usually left him be but tonight there was something about the way he braced his hands on the railing that gave Jessie pause. She led Mido over, then let go of his arm and stood beside Dyne, bracing her hands on the railing as well.
He glanced at her and smiled. “Back where we first met, but with our positions a bit reversed. Do you remember that day?”
“Somewhat,” she said. “I still cringe every time I remember oaring poor Scully in the head.”
He smirked. “I’d forgotten about that.”
“So why do you keep coming out here every night all of the sudden?”
“For thinking,” he said. “I’ve spent so many years being so focused on lifting my curse. Now that that’s done… I dunno. I’m so indebted to you. I’m not sure how to put it into words.”
“Then don’t try to. Just be happy.”
He nodded. “I can do that.” He looked back out over the darkened ocean.
“Well, I’ll leave you to just being happy.” Jessie turned to leave but a swish on the surface gave her pause. A stream of water rose up above the stern and spread into the shape of a woman with long, wavy hair. At first Jessie thought it was Amphitrite, but then she recognized who it was.
“Rhode,” Dyne breathed, his mouth ajar.
Rhode stood before them on the water, larger than life and emanating an otherworldly glow. “Sweet Dyne, I’m so pleased to see your curse lifted at last.”
“I never thought I’d get to see you again.”
“I heard your soul calling to the sea, so I answered.” Rhode glanced at Jessie, then spoke to Dyne. “Your soul is weary.” She held out a glowing hand. “Come. It’s time for you to rest a while, ye whose heart has been claimed by the sea.”