Siren's Song 5/13
Lars paced nervously across the small cabin while he waited for the Captain to come back from his rounds. He was going to do this he had to. If he didn't push himself through his nerves this time then chances are he never would. It was time. He was more the old enough. Again and again he went over the list of reasons he had come up with two nights ago in that box. He had just started to change the speed of his pace when the door opened and he jumped.
“Finished with your chores early are you boy?” The Captain asked jovially and Lars felt his heart lift. He stood a better chance if the Captain was in a good mood.
“Yes, sir.” He answered quickly. “I was wondering if I could talk with you sir?”
“What's on your mind boy?” The Captain sat down at his desk and began to make notations on one of the sea charts spread out on it. The Captain never just stopped to talk. He kept his hands busy at all times.
“Well sir we are due to hit port tomorrow....” Lars trailed off he was losing his nerve.
“Yes, and?” The Captain motioned for him to continue.
“Well I was wondering since it's a very large port if you might be considering, or thinking of possibly looking for another Cabin Boy?” Lars felt like a ton of bricks had suddenly floated off his chest.
“Now why would I do that, boy? I already have you....unless.....” The Captain turned to look at him sternly. “You aren't planning on leaving are you? You aren't a traitor are you lad?”
“No NO no no no sir.” Lars couldn't say the word enough. “No I was just thinking I could join the regular crew sir. You know as a sailor.”
“Aww boy.” The Captain laughed. “We don't take boys on to be sailors only men. You're not a man yet.”
“I'm the same age as Thomas was when he started. Or I will be tomorrow.” Lars argued.
“Oh and you think number of years makes you a man does it?” The Captain asked. “You wouldn't last one day as a man boy. No sorry but you are not ready.”
“Test me!” Lars blurted out before he could think it through.
“Test you?” The Captain asked.
“Yes, sir. Anything. Just name it and I'll do it and then you'll see I'm ready.” Lars barreled on. The Captain looked thoughtful and it raised Lars' hopes.
“Hmm, alright boy tomorrow morning I will test your manhood.” The Captain smiled. “Now go fetch my dinner.”
“Yes sir!” Lars felt like skipping out the door but thought that was something a boy would do. Instead he walked with slow dignity until he was out of the cabin and the door shut behind him. Then he ran to the galley with a light heart.
The next morning Lars found himself humming all morning. He also learned the Captain did not like him humming. But he didn't even flinch at writing in his journal the number of lashes he would get for 'incessantly humming off tune.' The catcalls of the rest of the crew as he walked to the galley to fetch the Captain's breakfast might as well have not existed for all he noticed. Even Cook's dirty look and strange racial slur did not effect Lars' good mood.
“I am going to do a surprise morning inspection. Once you have eaten and finished your chores you may have your test.” The Captain announced after he had finished his breakfast.
When Lars went to collect the plate he nearly feinted with shock. One of the eggs was still on the plate along with all the vegetables and a small piece of ham. The Captain had never left that much for him to eat before. Before the Captain could come back and order him to skip breakfast he stuffed it into his mouth as fast as he could chew and swallow. Although he chewed very little of it. He would have liked to savor the ham he had not had any meat since....well he couldn't even remember the last time. However he didn't dare lest it be taken from him.
Full of joy at his luck and the chance to prove himself ahead he put extra effort into his chores. He was not leaving any chance for the Captain to postpone his test while he cleaned something for a second or third time until he 'got it right'. No everything was going to be perfect. He would become a full member of the crew, a regular sailor. No longer would they call him Larse but Mr. Murray.
When the door opened and the Captain returned Lars held himself at perfect attention. Just like he had seen the rest of the crew do. He would secretly practice it in front of the Captain's mirror when he wasn't around and he thought he had it down perfect.
“Your chores all done, boy?” The Captain asked.
“Yes, sir.” Lars answered.
“I will just do a quick inspection.” The Captain announced and even with the white glove he was unable to find any dirt anywhere. Larse wanted to smile or perhaps beam with pride but he held his emotions in check. “Very well let's get started then. Come with me.”
He followed the Captain outside and found the entire crew, except for the night shift that was just now going to bed, was standing on the deck facing the Captain's Cabin. They were all standing at ease but still very alert.
“Young Lars here would like to join the crew as a sailor. He claims he is too old to be my cabin boy. That he is in fact old enough and mature enough to work as a man.” The Captain announced. Every man on deck was listening and for the first time Lars had ever seen them completely quiet. “Now I have a devised a way of testing him to see if indeed he is ready to become a sailor and put in a man's shift.” The Captain announced a small buzz of excitement could be felt running through the crew. “Mr. Hastings if you will.” The Captain made a motion.
Mr. Hastings was the Captain's Second in Command. He approached Lars with a blank face and held up a black length of cloth. Stepping behind Lars he looped the cloth around Lars' head covering his eyes and tied it tightly behind Lars' head. Once blind folded Lars heard the captain say. “Spin him around a bit lads.”
Several hands took him by the shoulders and waist and he was spun around until he was so dizzy he thought he might black out. There were other hands who did more then spin making quick squeezes of his arse and crotch. Even without the blindfold he doubted he would have been able to tell who it was he was spinning so fast.
“Now guide him to the ladder.” The Captains voice commanded. He was mostly pushed in one direction. “Now Mr. Hastings.” The Captains voice carried from a distance. The blind fold was pulled down to hang around his neck and he found himself facing a rope ladder. He followed it up lifting his head and found it was the ladder to the crow's nest. “Now then Lars climb up to the top and pluck a feather from one of the crows and then bring it down. If you can do that without vomiting from seasickness then you will be a man.” The Captain spoke.
Lars swallowed a lump, even the most experienced sailors would sometimes get seasick in the crow's nest. Every single crewman looked at it as a punishment instead of duty assignment. Already as dizzy as he was Lars worried. However if there was one thing he could do was hold in his gag reflex. Determined that this would not be that difficult he took a firm grip of the ladder and started to climb.
The dizzy feeling from being spun around never faded in fact it seemed to get worse the higher he got. Also he felt his stomach start to cramp, it felt as if it was rolling around inside. Higher up it got harder to breathe and his chest ached as if it might explode. The current look out happened to be Thomas who gave him a hand up.
“What brings you up here?” Thomas asked.
“Climb up, pull feather, climb down get to be regular sailor, not cabin boy, real man.” Lars got out as the pain in his stomach spasms.
“Oh well I would try that one she's the nicest of the bunch.” Thomas commented. There were two cages each a crow in them.
Taking Thomas' advice Lars approached the indicated cage and reached in. The bird tried to move away but there was not much room in the cage. He grabbed on and as she tried to move again a feather was left in his hand. He pulled it out and nearly wept with joy. He had done it now he only had to get back down. Thomas helped him get a steady grip on the ladder as they swayed back and forth. Not wanting to loose it he put the feather in his teeth and clenched for dear life as he climbed back down.
When he reached the ground the Captain called for Thomas to come down. Once the other boy reached the ground the Captain spoke.
“Well Mr. Shorb did Lars here pluck this feather?” The Captain held out Lars feather.
“Well sir....” Thomas gave Lars a shy look. “I'm sorry Lars I have to.....” Then turned to look the Captain in the eyes. “He picked it off the floor sir. He begged me not to tell anyone.... to swear he plucked it but.....I couldn't sir that's just not right.”
“Well it seems our Cabin Boy thinks he can lie his way into becoming a man.” The Captain looked over at Lars.
Lars felt sick in his body but also sick in his soul. The one person he thought perhaps was close to being his friend had just lied to....Lars couldn't think why Thomas would lie. All those times he had lied to the Captain on Thomas' behave and this was how he was repaid. Without a thought for the consequences Lars launched at Thomas. He tackled the older boy to the ground and pounded the boy with both fists. The men around them hooted with excitement. Thomas turned out to be not much of a fighter. Instead he held his hands up to protect his face. Lars only got in four punches before someone lifted him up off of Thomas.
“Silence all of you!” The Captain bellowed. And silence was made. “Thank you Hastings. Mr. Larabee take Thomas below and see to any injuries he has.” The Captain did not have to bellow the rest. “As for you Lars it appears you not only failed your test but you failed to behave in a mature manner. I think it save to say you are still a child. And you will be punished as such. Mr. Hastings bring me a chair.”
A chair was brought out of the Captain's Cabin and he took a seat in it. The crew was buzzing with curiosity although no one spoke a word about it. Lars for his part was still too angry with Thomas and over whelmed with the pain in his stomach and the dizzy feeling in his head to even notice. That is until the Captain called his name.
“Lars strip from your waist and place yourself over my lap.” The Captain ordered.
Every single pair of eyes were on him now instead of the Captain. Lars had never felt so naked before as he did standing in front of the crew with out his pants and small clothes. It was almost as if he could feel every pair of eyes on his naked skin. It took a lot of effort but he forced himself not to appear distressed as he bent himself over the Captain's lap.
It was no warm up spanking this time. The Captain's hand plowed into his bare arse with enough force to make this teeth rattle. A cry of pain escaped his lips and the crew laughed. He was not required to count or say anything so he didn't. Without speaking the numbers he lost count of how many times the Captain's hand came down to blister his defenseless arse. All he could do was respond. And no matter how brave he tried to be he responded to the crew's satisfaction. He wailed and screamed and cried like the little boy they all thought him to be and it made his spasming stomach tighten even more.
When the order to get up finally came he was shaky on his feet. Then his mouth opened of his own accord and what must have been everything he had eaten in the last ten years poured from his mouth as he fell to his knees. The laughter around him tripled in size and his face burned to match his arse. But the worse was yet to come. When the laughter died down the Captain ordered everyone back to their stations. With only Mr. Hastings left the Captain spoke to Larse in that tone that made Lars skin craw with dread.
“That is a fine mess you made boy. Since you are already on your hands and knees you might as well do something constructive for a change.” The Captain spoke. A rag was thrown down by his hands. “I expect you to have that mess cleaned up and my lunch on my table by the appointed hour.”
Lars hung his head. The stench of his own vomit was inspiring his stomach to come up with more and he was fairly certain if he lifted his head to look at it the sight would inspire even more. His whole body felt weak and he wanted nothing but to lay down and let oblivion take him.
“Did you hear me boy?” The Captain asked.
“Yes, sir.” Lars answered. As soon as the words were out of his mouth the footsteps of the Captain and Mr. Hastings departing could be heard.
For a few moments he did nothing. Several taunts were thrown his way as well as several loud comments about the stench on deck. He ignored them. It didn't matter now. Nothing did. He thought only of breathing in and out and holding in the vomit.
“Here, lad.” The voice of Mr. Harding, the sailor who told him about siren, made Lars jerk. He looked up to find the man standing over him. Also he noticed a bucket of water had been placed next to his hands. “You might want to pull that blindfold up to cover your nose too.” Mr. Harding added before turning to leave.
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