Brian Ruckley - Corsair

‘Why is there an ape on the boat?’ Hamdan asked placidly.

He and Yulan sat cross-legged in the prow. Both exhausted. Bone-weary, Yulan would have called it. A bag of aches and pains, emptied out of all strength. But also of all worries, just for now. His mind had settled into the stillness of a deep pool. Neither was ready for sleep, though. Neither could put the day aside quite yet.

‘I’m not sure,’ Yulan admitted. ‘It seemed … I don’t know. It seemed cruel to just leave it there. I thought perhaps it wanted to leave, but did not know how to ask. Who would want to stay in that place, after all?’

‘And what are you going to do with your new friend, exactly?’

Yulan shrugged.

‘I’m not ready to be father, or brother, to an ape. There’ll be somewhere for it to go, I’m sure. Someone who wants it. Perhaps Merkent will have an idea or two.’

Hamdan shook his head, smiling.

‘On the whole, you know, there’s two reasons people join the Free. Either they think it’ll make them rich, or they’re looking for something they’ve not found anywhere else. The ones who last are the ones who find that something.’

‘And what is it I’m looking for?’

‘No idea. I imagine you’ll know it when you find it, though. You just need to get a bit more serious about staying alive long enough to figure it out.’

‘I’ll do my best,’ Yulan said.

He blinked and wrinkled his nose. His still contentment was fading. A familiar feeling was returning.

‘I think I’m going to be sick,’ he said.