Victory And A Cabin Boy

Chapter 5

Already tired of watching the same thing happen over and over again, she sighed impatiently for the sixth time in five minutes. But she knew she couldn't move, and shouldn't be seen. Sir Roberts had warned her against it, being seen by the crew members would only mean turning herself in as a slave to be sold across the sea or worse, as a sex slave for the crew men on the ship.

The kitchen was not exactly the best place to hide, not with all the heat still hanging and the ocean breezes. Once they were out to sea it wouldn't be so bad, but now, with the huge brick ovens radiating heat since before morning, and steam rolling out of pots on the stove from what promised to be a tasty evening meal, it was hot as the devil's welcome.

The cook and his two helpers had discarded most of their clothes by the time the crew started wandering in for a quick breakfast, a man or two at a time strolled into the kitchen occasionally, since the hours before takeoff were the busiest time aboard.

She watched the activity on the outside with curious eyes for a while as the last of the ship's supplies and equipment were delivered and carried to the storage and Kitchen.

If it weren't for the heat, she would really have liked it in the kitchen because it was certainly the cleanest part of the ship she'd seen yet. But then the whole ship had a dirty look to it, and, in fact, Sir Roberts had informed her that this particular one was headed to North America, he had said they had 'cargo' which they wished to sell. She guessed correctly that that 'cargo' included slaves and palm oil and other things that would attract illegal money.

Her thoughts were interrupted when a white cat ran past leg with a terrifying speed. She scanned the room frantically in search of the cat, but she couldn’t tell where it had entered. A long table in the center of the room was lined with different cooking equipment, a butcher's knife lay carelessly on the table waiting to drip blood from one of the many live animals cages to guarantee fresh meat for the whole voyage.

The room was as cluttered like any kitchen with spices and pots, bags and utensils, and everything was carefully secured to the floor, walls, or ceiling, probably to hold it in place during a storm. She considered making use of the butcher's knife as the cat made towards her again, but she changed her mind when it curled into a ball with its head on her feet.

She reached for its head and stroked it gently, the cat yawned and stretched as she caressed its back softly and it let out a shrill cry of pleasure.

"Little cutie, my mother did not send you here to monitor me now, did she?"

The cat made a sliding move with its hand while she laughed at her own question, "Forgive my superstitious reasoning.

The cat meowed now and shifted closer to her leg, probably for warmth.

Nancy lifted the cat into her arms and continued to caress it's back softly, on closer examination, it was actually a kitten, "Poor baby, speaking of mothers, where is yours?"

When the kitten only yawned, she whispered, "I take it you are lost then, I actually need a companion, so I might as well keep you"

"Alright, that would not be fair,” she said on second thoughts, “I'll give you an opportunity to decide if you want to stay with me or not. If you are lost, once I drop you, go back where you came from, but if you want to stay with me, don't go,"

She took in a light breath and dropped the kitten, it only stared back at her when she tried to turn away, She counted to five before picking it back into her arms, "I take it you want to be with me then, I'll call you…Victory! Because we'll make it to our destination and travel the world together"

The cat meowed in the comfort of her new mistress's arms.

********

When Sir Roberts returned to the Kitchen where he had left the girl later that evening, it was to find her sleeping peacefully on the cold floor with a kitten curled in a ball also sleeping peacefully in the crook of her arm. He was surprised to find her sleeping, and more surprised to find her with the Kitten, he had been gone all day in search of a safe place on the ship for her to stay through the voyage.

He knelt beside her sleeping form, intending to tap her, but he paused to stare. The girl was just too beautiful. He stared at her closed eyes perfectly shaded by long curly black lashes that complemented her dark brown skin. Those eyes led down to a perfectly shaped nose, not pointed and not flat. And underneath it lay the lips, luscious and sensual.

From the first day he had seen her in the village, his only dream had been to kiss those lips, and once that dream had come to pass. But it had happened only because she had been curious, curious to find out what a man's lips felt like. She was perfectly made, his Nancy, her shape was heavenly. A perfect definition of an African queen, strong willed and resilient.

When she had proposed to follow him on his next voyage back to America, he had been glad. It had been a dream come true for him, because he had been willing to ask her to follow him, willing to ask her to marry him.

He had taught her a few things, taught her the basics of his people and she was willing to learn and adjust, it would be just a matter of time before she got used to her new life with his people, and then they'll live together and make babies, beautiful babies.

With that thought, he smiled and tapped her gently, the kitten woke up first and stared at him inquisitively.

"Roberts, you are back"

Roberts flashed her a smile, " You slept off, who is your companion? You brought a kitten onboard? It would die before we even make it to the heart of the sea,"

Nancy eyed him cautiously and held the kitten to her chest tightly, "You are not planning to kill it, are you?"

"Ah, no. I wouldn't do that. But the weather condition here would be too harsh for it, it might not survive a storm"

Nancy eyed him again and he gave her an apologetic look, she smiled reassuringly. "Actually, I did not bring it with me, we met here and fell in love, I've taken it in and I've christened it Victory"

"Victory. That's quite a name. Are you sure its owners are not close?"

"I think it's stranded. I'll give it all the warmth I can, Roberts. It will not die. Speaking of the storm, did you find a place?"

"Oh yes. I was able to secure a cabin, but you'll have to hide from the crew. I'll sneak in meals for you anytime I'm opportuned to. If you intend to keep the kitten then keep it as quiet as you can."

Nancy nodded, "And where will you be staying?" She asked.

"I'll be with Donald in his cabin through the trip, I couldn't find two free cabins because the ship is crowded and we came in late yesterday."

"You gave me your own, then?"

He smiled, "We should go now before the hall gets flooded again, we can't risk your being discovered. Keep that thing as quiet as you can" he nodded towards the kitten.

"Thank you very much Roberts, for all you have done for me so far. We'll be quiet." Nancy said.

He paused to look at her for a while, she looked too revealed in the shapely African dress she wore, it did nothing to hide her curvy body. Roberts shook his head in disapproval, he took out out some of his clothes from his bag and threw it to her, "Wear these"

"Why? These are your clothes… male wears" She frowned.

"Wear them" He tossed her his hat and added, "And wear that too, make sure you hide your hair"

"Why do I have to dress in your clothes?"

"Because you'll be disguised as a boy through this trip, a cabin boy"