FSE

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"I tell you, Ivan, we're gonna be rich!"

Captain Robert's words came with a hearty slap on the back that knocked the breath from my smaller frame, and had me grabbing for the ship's guardrail to keep from toppling to the waves fifteen feet below. The middle-aged lion acknowledged my sullen glower with a laugh that shook his substantial gut.

"Don't give me that face, lad. Just think--in a week or so, you'll be living the good life, even on a rookie's cut. Pretty ladies, nice cars, fancy clothes... hell, can even buy yourself a nice house! How many pups your age can claim that, eh? Or, don't! Take my advice; travel, see the world! But no matter what you do, lighten up a little!"

Paying off student loans would be first, but I nodded anyway, receiving another much-too-enthusiastic pat, before he preceded me down the companionway to the lower deck, leaning easily with the ship's gentle rolling. I paused at the top of the companionway, glancing out over the waves, drawing a salted breath from the breeze.

A few days, and we'd be docking in Fort-de-France, unloading our haul for processing and shipment back to the United States. At sea for no more than two weeks, and our sturdy Daisy Grey had her draft lowered by a good five feet with the weight in her hold. During the treasure-hunting craze of the late 90's, the biggest find from international waters hadn't exceeded fifty million USD, and this looked easily set to double that. It was probably some sort of record.

So why was it so hard to let myself smile?

The steps rung beneath my boots as I joined the rest of the crew in the galley. A bit cozy with all four of us at once, but that was expected on a research vessel, where more space went to utility than crew comfort. Martin had his portable stereo cranked, his lithe ferret frame undulating as he coaxed the others to sing along to the swelling rock music.

"When you've got that feeeeling!"

"Ivan!" Sandy Rivers, our resident history expert, waved me to an empty seat beside her, a grin gracing her black and white muzzle, her tail beating a tattoo on the wooden bench. "C'mon, us canines gotta stick together!"

Swallowing hard, I accepted the invitation, sliding in next to her at the dining table. The bench was tight, requiring me to perch on its edge to avoid crowding her.

"What's with the sourpuss look?" she said, her breath warm on my ear as she drew close to speak over the music without shouting. "Martin's caterwauling is awful, and don't get me started on Louis'." She nodded at the raven, who had his arm around Martin's shoulder now, the pair rocking back and forth, singing at the top of their lungs.

"It's a good night for believing!"

"No, they're fine."

"Is your stomach bothering you again?" Concern entered her pretty brown eyes, her floppy ears flicking. "I've got some dramamine in my bag if you need it."

"No, it's fine, don't worry about me. I'm just a bit worn out." Even after days spent in scuba gear, she still managed to smell like sage and gooseberry. Nothing overpowering, just a pleasant hint that settled in with each breath...

"Alright, if you say so." The border collie's ears flicked again. "Join in for the last chorus then!" Her tail fluttered, brushing my hip.

My mumbled attempts at the last few lines were lost among the rising chorus of my crewmates. I shifted slightly in my seat to make sure I wasn't leaning against Sandy, but she slid an inch closer, her thigh pressing against mine. Plush heat, inches from my paw... I stuttered through the last lines of the song. She didn't make eye contact when I glanced her way, but the renewed perk of her ears as she belted out the lyrics told me it hadn't been an accident. My traitor tail twitched. Had she noticed?

"Alright you lot!" Captain Robert clapped his massive hands together as the song's final notes died. "I've got a few goddamn things to say!"

"Aye aye, Cap'n!" Martin called, disentangling from Louis and snagging an opened bottle of beer from the table.

"First off, it's a bloody good thing none of you are relying on a singing career, myself included!"

This brought murmurs of agreement from all save Martin, who smirked and shot Robert a thumbs-down while taking a generous swallow from his drink.

"Second, I want to say congratu-fucking-lations to all of us, and we have every damn right to celebrate however we please!"

Palms slapped the table in mock applause, while bottles were raised in salute.

"Hear hear!"

"Preach it, Cap!"

My breath hitched. Sandy's hand was on my knee.

"I think I know what would please me..." Her voice was pitched low enough that only my pointed ears would catch it.

"And furthermore, I want to personally thank all of you for your hard work on this expedition." The lion spread his arms, rolling expansive shoulders. "I know we're a team and all that, but a team is only as strong as its weakest member, and I'm happy to say that each of you has more than pulled their weight. Which is why..."

Turning, he stooped and picked up a sizable crate sitting against the galley wall, dropping it onto the table with a heavy thump.

"I've got a little something for each of you." "Aww, Cap, you shouldn't have," Martin said, though the grin and the sparkle in his beady eyes belied his words.

"I know, I know. Be sure to say something nice at my funeral one day." Robert chuckled, reaching into the crate, his old US Navy shirt straining along his chest and arms. "Probably not a lot of surprises here..." He produced an intricately carved ivory box and handed it to Louis. "All of you picked your presents already after all, though can't say I agree with all of your tastes."

"This might be one of the first Mahjong sets to enter the new world, Cap," Louis said, stroking the box top, his New Orleans drawl obscuring his 'r's.

"Sure thing, but see, Sandy here..." Robert pulled a long silver chain from the crate, its center culminating in a wrought pendant with silver ropes twisted around sparkling rubies. "This is a lady with a sense of style!" He passed the necklace to the border collie, who accepted with a nod and a grin before slipping it over her head. The pendant settled between the swell of her breasts, accenting her dark green blouse starkly.

"Reminded me of one my grandmother owned," she said. "Though I'm pretty sure hers was more of a costume piece."

"Suits you, m'dear," Robert said with a grunt, pulling the next item free. "Unlike this little number..." A golden crown, bedecked with multiple coloured jewels passed hands to Martin, who set it atop his head with a whoop.

"Aha! You say that, but you're just trying to hide your jealousy," he said, rubbing his palms together. "What you don't realize is that now I'm the king of Spain!"

"I'm sure their president will agree," I said, earning a giggle from Sandy and a rude gesture from Martin.

"And of course, our industrious rookie here..." Shrugging, Robert handed me a small brass looking glass. "Are you sure this is all you want?"

I nodded, taking the smooth tube from him carefully. "I collect naval artifacts. This is perfect." It wasn't even considered part of the treasure we'd found aboard the ancient galleon. Just a trinket I'd picked up on one of the dives that I'd taken a fancy to. It would look great on my wall, next to the sextant I'd salvaged from a 15th century Portuguese Man-o-War.

"Suit yourself." The captain spread his hands, as if to gather all of his crew into a bear hug. "Now, I know it's a special night and all, but none of you best be getting so tipsy that we have to fish you out of the sea, clear? I'm looking at you, Martin."

"Aye Cap'n!" The ferret saluted, even while raising a second bottle to his lips.

"What'd you pick, Cap?" Louis asked, nodding to the crate. "You never showed us."

"Ah! Curious as ever, my friend." Robert winked. "Nothing so grand as His Grace over there, but..." Reaching into the crate, he drew out a short, curved cutlass, its blade tarnished and flaking green oxidation, but still sparkling faintly in the galley's light. "More of a symbol than anything." He gripped the golden hilt, which was much too small for his hand, and raised it above his head.

My stomach twisted in on itself, phantom icewater crashing down my back. Sandy's fingers walking across my thigh faded from my immediate concerns. The last I'd seen that sword, it had been clutched in a skeletal hand...

"...proof," Robert was saying, "that it was Silvertail's ship. Even has his sigil on the hilt, see?" He turned the blade about, showing the engraving of two crossed bones wrapped in what appeared to be rope. "Most feared pirate of the Caribbean, and we found his ship, loaded to the gills!"

The others murmured their appreciation of the artifact, Louis crowding in for a closer look. I couldn't take my eyes off it, frozen in my seat. So he'd gone back for it.

"Hey..."

The soft whisper broke my trance. I turned to Sandy, tilting my head. "Yeah?"

"I'm not being too um... fast, here, am I?" Her hand had stilled on my knee, and her ears lay flat. "I just thought maybe..." The sharp tang of uncertainty coiled through her scent. "You seemed like you'd be okay with getting to know one another a little better."

"Yes! I mean, no... you're not, I--" Why wouldn't my tongue unknot itself? Martin was smirking at me over his beer bottle. I glared, and he only winked, tossing back another swig. "Sorry," I murmured. "Can we maybe talk about this a bit later? In... private?"

"Sure." The withdrawal of that warm touch on my leg felt like a stab to the gut, especially combined with her reaching for a beer without looking at me, her new antique necklace swaying. Unbidden, the image of her in her diving gear sprung to mind, the fur-tight wetsuit clinging to every curve...

Trembling, I pushed myself up from the table, reaching over and tapping Robert on the shoulder.

"Captain? May I have a word with you? Outside?"

"Eh?" The lion regarded me, reclaiming his prize from Louis. "Something eating you, Ivan?" Shrugging, he stood, rapping his knuckles on the table as he did, and tucking the cutlass into his belt. "Be back in a jiff, y'hear? Don't go burning the place down!"

"Aye, Cap'n!"

I lead the way up to the top deck, the lion's looming presence close behind. Bursting into the fresh sea air and its explosion of briny scents usually brought a shock of clarity to my spinning thoughts, but this time I only felt the same crawling unease I'd been battling since Robert had revealed the cutlass.

"What's on your mind, lad?"

I leaned against the railing, letting the wind ruffle beneath my unzipped jacket. "Captain, we need to tell them."

"Tell them what?"

"What we saw!"

"What you saw, you mean? I'm telling you, it was nothing. Just a trick of the light, or maybe you'd been too long under. You've read too many ghost stories, lad."

I glanced at him. A frown creased his muzzle, his tail lashing, fingers tapping the railing. His other hand rested on the hilt of the cutlass, stroking it like some loyal pet. My traitor tail wriggled between my legs. It had been the third dive of the day, and my tanks were three-quarter full. That hadn't been an oxygen-deprivation hallucination.

"I saw it move, Captain."