Westerness was colonized by the men of Old Earth over four hundred years prior, in the Earth year 2210, almost a century after Mankind’s first, disastrous entry into Flatland in 2119. The computers on board that first foray into two-space brought back the Elder King’s Gift, a devastating, two-dimensional virus that caused a complete and irrecoverable collapse of the world-wide Info-Net. Within two hundred years of its colonization, Westerness grew to become the dominant force in Mankind’s activities in Flatland. By 2420, Westerness assumed control over the worlds of Man. For the last two centuries the Kingdom of Westerness ruled peacefully over the far-flung realm of Man.
The original colonizers of Westerness came from all corners of the Earth, but the majority of them hailed from Britain and North America. Over the centuries it became increasingly rare for anyone to carry distinctive racial characteristics. Thus Mr. Barlet’s gunmetal black skin was fairly unusual, as was Lieutenant Archer’s red beard. If Midshipman Ngobe was coffee colored, it was coffee with lots of cream, while Midshipman Tung had only faint traces of his oriental ancestry. What was important to the navy was not their appearance, or their ethnic background, but that they were brave and smart. With luck, brains, and lots of hard work these four young men might become commissioned officers in the Westerness Navy.
After the proceedings were closed, the board congratulated the new middies, and put them immediately to work. All of them would have four hours of schooling from Petreckski each morning, starting tomorrow. As the first mate, Fielder would also assign them on a rotating basis to the day and night shifts, with one midshipman assigned to each quarterdeck at all times except for school. Formal recognition among the officers would occur tomorrow evening, at the captain’s dinner. At Sunday afternoon formation they would be formally presented to the whole crew. For now there was little more than a handshake and a pat on the back, as they moved to assume their new duties.
After they completed the board proceedings Melville, Fielder and Petreckski stepped out onto the deck. Melville noticed Lady Elphinstone’s lob-lolly girl waiting patiently. “Mrs. Vodi! Thank you for coming. I’ve been informed that you’re a prime chef. The men of the sick bay all speak very highly of your efforts. They say you’ve done wonders with the stock of Guldur and Goblan food here on the ship. So I wonder if you’d do us the honor of preparing a meal for my officers and myself tomorrow evening.”
Mrs. Vodi had left her spit cup behind to come speak with the captain, but she still kept a chaw in her cheek. “Yes, Captain. I’d be glad to.”
“Good! I do sincerely thank you. My steward, and any other resources you may need, are at your disposal. Is there any other way that I can assist you?”
“Yes, Captain, there is. I need a Guldur to assist me. Right now I don’t have a clue what I’m working with. I test all the food items on myself first, but some of it might actually be poisonous. A native guide would be very useful. I understand several of them can speak English, and I’d like your permission to release one to be my assistant.”
“Of course. I’m on my way to our little brig to check up on the prisoners. Would you like to come with me?”
“Certainly, Captain.”
“Good. Brother Theo, would you come with us? I understand that you speak their language?”
“Yes, sir,” responded his purser. “But it really wasn’t necessary for me to tap into my limited Guldish. I found a translator early on, and used my limited skills to be sure that he was translating faithfully. Their officers all died in battle and they’ve been very cooperative.”
Down in the lower hold they found the Guldur, sitting disconsolately, truly hangdog in their appearance, guarded by two marines. Melville moved among them. At first he found his heart pounding as he remembered the battle and their despicable ambush of the Kestrel.
When first I saw you in the curious street
Like some platoon of soldier ghosts in gray,
My mad impulse was all to smite and slay,
To spit upon you—tread you ‘neath my feet.
Then he looked again, and the mental process he went through was one that might have been as old as warfare itself. It made him think of Lee’s “German Prisoners.”
But when I saw how each sad soul did greet
My gaze with no sign of defiant frown,
How from tired eyes looked spirits broken down,
How each face showed the pale flag of defeat,
And doubt, despair, and disillusionment,
And how were grievous wounds on many a head,
And on your garb red-faced was other red:
And how you stooped as men whose strength was spent,
I knew that we had suffered each other,
And could have grasped your hand and cried,
“My brother!”
Very quickly Vodi, with Petreckski’s assistance, picked her assistant. He was a buff-colored Guldur who had been a purser’s mate. He claimed to be familiar with the ship’s comestibles, where they were stored, and how they should be prepared.
It was sad to see how eager they were to be selected for any duty that would take them away from their current, depressing conditions. All of them were willing to give their parole and serve as trustees among the ship’s crew, apparently undisturbed by any sense of loyalty to their old masters. Their lives had been harsh, and they seemed truly doglike in their willingness to give their loyalty to anyone who would offer kindness, structure, and meaning to their lives.
Mrs. Vodi went to work exploring the foodstuffs that were stored all over the ship. She, the captain’s steward, and their Guldur guide poked into every corner of the ship. Her usual entourage of cats kept their distance, looking with dismay and distrust at the Guldur. She was particularly intrigued by barrels of brains that were stored in a brine solution. “Well, Fido, what do we have here?”
“Rit’s prig brains! Grrood struff!”
“Pig brains. Well, well, well, Rex. Combined with those nuts and that bottled green stuff we found, I do believe we’ll treat the captain and his guests to thrice cooked javelina brain with crunchy pecan coating and sweet leek sauce. Or a reasonable facsimile thereof.” She was happy to find such an excellent food source, but McAndrews didn’t see it that way.
“You call that food? I wouldn’t feed that to a hole in the ground!”
Vodi spat in her cup (“spputt”) and eyed him at a cross angle: “Aye, that’s food and some of the best at that.”
“Rats right! Grroood strufff!”
McAndrews took a cautious step back. He was half convinced that the old woman must have been hit on the head in their recent battle, and was inclined to poison them all.
Vodi sneered, “You tell ‘im, Spot.” Stepping forward and leaning into McAndrews’ face she continued with bravado. “When I set it on the board for you to feed to that noisy hole in your face, boy, I expect you to take the first bite because I said so, but the second, oh, I think the second bite you’ll take on your own and with many a thought towards how much you can get before it disappears into the other holes seated around the table.”
Their meal the next evening was a roaring success, a vital step in the process of bonding them all together as a team and establishing a new routine in their new ship. The thrice cooked javelina brains were a resounding hit, and outside the dining room McAndrews did indeed vie with Vodi’s Guldur assistant to sneak in bites whenever he could. Cats also kept slipping in, mewling for tidbits of whatever it was that smelled so good. They all competed with the ever-greedy ship’s boys coming in and out on errands, grabbing bites at every opportunity and constantly being whacked by Vodi’s wooden spoon. “This shur beets that dam’ munky meet,” muttered one as he snagged a morsel while ducking a swipe from Vodi.
At the head of the table Melville sat with his monkey on his shoulder. He was dressed, like all the sailors, in his blue jacket over a white cravat and white trousers. To his right, in the place of honor, was Lady Elphinstone, in her normal yellow gown with emeralds in her hair. By tradition that seat should have gone to the first mate, but a beautiful lady of noble lineage was gladly given precedence. Her grace and charm added much to the evening as their dinner wound its pleasant course. Across from her sat Fielder and his monkey. To her right was Archer, and across from him was Crater, both with monkeys perched on their shoulders. Their two brand-new lieutenants were uneasy with their new positions, but the natural goodwill and the freely flowing Guldur beer combined with their youthful cheer to make them good guests.