Under a Starless Sky novel Chapter 59

Though the Aslog mostly continued in a previously ‘Eastward’ direction, is was not due East. Torny recommended course corrections based on intuition, and more often than not brought them to other islands within a month’s time. East was no longer east. As they traveled, Shen and TL discussed whether it was ethical to return secretly to Worm Island and treat the people and land without their consent. Torny and Jerica listened to them without interjection, learning how they came about moral resolutions to debates. They weren’t just arguing; they had a primary belief of non-interference which had value, and though it was not static, it required a burden threshold to respond. Had Arne or Uffe been privy, they would have heatedly said return and act. Acting to save the islanders would have required a permanent presence, in their face, or invisible. TL could establish an invisible presence. The islanders were likely more aggressive due to nutritionally induced brain damage. That was not likely to go away for several generations, if at all, because those born into it would believe that was the way of life- so aggression and ignorance would be culturally sustained unless social intervention was enacted in addition to medical and environmental.

While this discussion was occurring, Orton was griping out loud: histrionics of north being south west, up was down, out was in, and women could block a gown ass man from eating his own kill.

“Let it drop,” Arne said.

“She said it herself. If we cooked it well, it would have been okay,” Orton said.

“Drop it or I will drop you,” Arne said.

“Like Shen allegedly dropped Uffe?” Orton said. He got the crew to laughing at that. “No one hear believes that shit.”

“You calling me a liar?” Uffe demanded.

“There is no way in hell he dropped you,” Orton said. “You were being generous because Arne has taken a liking to his woman…”

Uffe, Erico, and Arne pulled out their swords. Orton, and two other men pulled out their swords. The rest of the male crew retreated to make room for the entertainment. Torny suddenly had her staff in her hands. It had come to her grasp straight, flying across the deck. She tapped the floor. Bracelets flared, a ward against the sleeping spell.

“Boys!” Torny snapped. “Secure your weapons or I will.”

Orton laughed. “Arne’s anger increases the validity of my statement. Everyone sees how he look at her. How many marks on your bed post do you need, Arne? When will you surrender the new fuck to one of us?”

“Fuck, even I look at her,” Jerica said. “Who here hasn’t looked at her?”

The men laughed at that.

“I challenge Shen to take me down,” Orton said. “I promise I won’t coddle him the way Uffe did.”

“I will not fight you,” Shen said.

“You have been challenged. You will fight, or I will claim penalty. I will bed your woman the rest of this voyage in front of you,” Orton said.

TL laughed. “You’re all idiots. I will fuck who I want, when I want. And I’d fuck almost anyone who comes at me right. It will not change my loyalty to Jon, and nothing will change how he relates to me. We are that solid.”

“You cannot claim his woman as penalty,” Torny said. “She is not property. She is a free spirit.”

“It is the only thing he has to offer,” Orton said. “He will fight me and win, or I will bed her right here and now. The crew will see that I get my winnings.”

“Really?” Jerica said. “Have you all been sniffing lotus?”

“Or they ate raw pig,” Yaffa said.

“What is this?” Arne demanded. “A mutiny?”

“You have broken the code. We have equal share in the spoils of this journey. What have you shared with us lately, other than continuance of misery? Further from home and no treasure? You didn’t even let us fuck the natives on the last island.”

“The worms would have eaten your worm,” Jerica said.

“It seems to be getting smaller,” Arne said. “Fight me if you want a fight.”

“No more protecting this fucking runt and his woman,” Orton said. “I don’t care how much magic she wields. Tree Spirits serve us, not the other way around. Unless that too is path change. Come here, spirit. I have some wood that needs quenching.”

“I accept your challenge,” Shen said.

Arne, Erico, and Uffe sheaved their swords, and retreated from the combat area. Even Torny retreated from this. If a grown ass man accepts a challenge, men will not get in the way.

“Jon,” TL said. “This is some macho bullshit. Let it go.”

“It’s macho bullshit, and it needs to unfold,” Shen agreed.

TL was not happy. There was truth in the statement. “Okay,” she said. She backed off to stand with Jerrica.

“I accept, Orton. Come at me.”

“Someone lend this fool a sword,” Orton said.

“I need no weapon, come at me,” Shen said.

“Magic is cheating,” Orton said, pointing his sword.

Shen considered that, shook his head ambivalently. “Technically, it is not. A skill is a skill. But if you want that argument, the present disparity in intelligent is technically a cheat. I can’t make myself stupider to balance this playing field. If you wish to yield now, I will accept with no penalty.”

The men laughed.

“No magic,” Orton said.

“I promise. No magic. Come at me, by yourself and I will demonstrate my skill without killing you,” Shen said. “If you come at me together, one or more of you will die.”

Orton pointed his sword. “I will kill you, but not before you see me bed your woman.”

“All I hear is talk,” Shen said. “Come at me.”

“My challenge, you come at me,” Orton said.

“Come at me, or I will exact a penalty from you now,” Shen said.

Orton charged. What happened was so fast he didn’t even understand it. All he knew was he was on his back looking up at his own sword pointed down at him. THe hand that once held the sword was in a joint lock. Shen tossed the sword to the deck, retreated so that Orton could get up. No one was laughing.

Orton stood. “How is that not magic?”

“You fight like untrained school boys,” Shen said. “You know nothing about war. You know nothing about fighting a real enemy. I am not your enemy, but even now you are not learning from me. Hacking and slashing and using strength and weight, that’s just bullshit. Are you satisfied?"

Orton picked up his sword, made a signal, and charged. His two friends joined the melee. Again, Orton was flat on his back, one of the friend’s was dead, decapitated, blood pooling on the deck. The other was on his ass, broken leg, both swords against his neck. He tapped out. Shen tossed the swords to the deck and turned back to Orton.

“Yeild,” Shen requested.

Orton stood up. He came at Shen slowly, determined, but not rushing. Shen allowed him to get close, hoping he was coming to accept defeat. Orton threw a punch. Shen embraced it, coming out behind Orton, joint lock engaged. Orton went to his knees when the boot caved in the calf from behind. Orton quickly learned getting out of a joint lock was impossible.

“I don’t understand,” Orton said.

“Eyes!” Shen said. Orton met Shen’s eyes. Shen pointed to the joints, instructional. “Thumb and elbow, nerve fiber along here running to your shoulder, brain, down the spine. That’s part of it, also your present stance, body mechanics, won’t allow you to fall or stand. If you were sitting in a chair and I put one finger on your forehead, here,” Shen tapped the forehead, “you would not be able to standup. Not magic. This is simple physics and physiology. Yield.”

“No!” Orton yelled.

“Yield or I break your arm,” TL said.

“You don’t have the strength…’

“I don’t need strength. Your own weight when I topple you will break your arm,” Shen said. “Yield.”

“No! Frode?! Ingolf?!”

“Anyone else enters this, you will die here and now,” Shen said. “Yield, or I will sleep you so hard you will shit your pants.”

“Fuck you!” Orton said.

Using a Taser option facilitated through suit contact from the elbow, Orton went to sleep. His head hit the deck hard. Shen turned, his eyes low, assessing. If there was another intending to fight, he did not see it. Still, if they were harboring it, he would rather it be over now.

“Come on, let’s get this over with,” Shen said. “Who else wants to sleep?”

“It’s done,” Arne said. “Stand down, brother.”

“It’s not fucking done!” Shen shouted. His hands were shaking. A flag popped and he turned suddenly, like a cat ready to face the next threat. “Who else wants to sleep?! Come on, stump fuckers. None of you cowards want to visit Valhalla today? You know you want to prove yourself. Come at me.”

Arne came closer, arms out, hands up. “Brother. It is done. No one here questions you.”

“It’s not true. Look at their eyes. I am tired of having to prove myself over and over. Fucking bring it on, cowards,” Shen said.

“Brother,” Arne said. “A man will always have to prove himself. But today. With us. You are solid. Come. Let’s drink together.”

“Jon, come aft with me and Arne,” TL said, coming in closer. “We got you. It’s okay.” TL extended a hand.

“It’s not fucking okay,” Shen said. He didn’t emphasize there was a dead man. TL didn’t iterate that her reservation had been that someone would be dead and the weight would be his burden. He was in a fight or flight mode.

Shen took a moment to survey the eyes, came finally back to TL’s eyes, and accepted. She drew close, taking his arm, and lead him out of the blood. Arne walked with him. Erico accepted a glance from Arne, knowing he wanted the deck cleaned. Erico had the crew clean the mess. Bodies were stripped of metal, weighted with rock, and sent into the sea.