The Little Bird

Avis felt eyes on him as he followed the smell of the sea down to the harbor. His stomach rumbled as he passed by the open door of a bakery and hunched down, keeping his eyes on the ground. He had a crust of bread in his pocket, but wanted to save it for emergencies, in case he had to spend another night on the street. As he got closer to the harbor, more and more people filled the narrow streets, and soon the yellow streets were filled with people selling their wares in a cacophony of different languages.

Avis marched through the crowd that parted around him and his unwashed clothes, though he wasn’t sure whether it was the look in his eyes, his long, unruly hair or his smell that was keeping everyone away from him, but regardless, he was glad for the space. Although there was a light breeze floating up from the harbor, the crowds around him made every breath of fresh air worth it, despite the sun still having a while to travel before it was high in the sky. Keeping one eye on the sky, Avis scanned the port until he found the ship that he was looking for. Snaking his way through the crowd, he marched up to the ship, but found the pier leading up to the ship blocked by a disheveled man sitting on a wooden box, swirling a bottle around.

As Avis walked up to him, he glanced up and narrowed his eyes at Avis, “Who are you?” he asked, clearly annoyed.

“Please let me work on the Lupin,” Avis requested.

The man slowly shook his head, “The Lupin already has enough crew,” he replied as he raised the bottle.

“I’m willing to do whatever you want me to do,” Avis replied, “I don’t eat that much or take up that much space.”

“We’re not a charity,” the man replied as he angrily lowered the bottle.

“Please,” Avis begged, but with the man’s blank face, he knew that it was most likely hopeless.

Just then, Avis noticed a young woman marching towards them, “What is going on here?” she demanded.

The man raised the bottle and took a sip, “Nothing,” the man quickly replied, “This boy wanted to work on the Lupin and I told him that we didn’t have any openings.”

“Please, I’ll do whatever you need me to do and I’ll never complain,” Avis promised.

“Why is a Prussian boy looking for a job on a French ship?” the woman asked.

“My parents were Prussian but my allegiance is to France,” Avis promised.

“Were?” the woman asked as the man took slow sips from his bottle, though each time he lifted the bottle, it seemed like he was struggling.

“They’re both dead,” Avis replied, “I’ve been trying to leave Havana ever since.”

“You do know there’s a war going on, right?” the woman asked, “There’s a chance that we could get caught in a battle.”

“Prussia has given me nothing except a hard life,” Avis replied calmly, “I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get my revenge.”

The woman shrugged, “Sure, we can try you out, if you’re not afraid of a little bit of danger. We’re making a short journey to a port in the Americas and if we find you unsatisfying, we’ll drop you off there,” the woman said, “Are you okay with that?”

“Sure,” Avis replied, “That’s totally fine.”

“Great,” the woman replied before she stuck her hand out, “My name is Katia and I’m the captain of the ship, and this is Cassian, our resident drunkard.”

“I’m Avis,” Avis said as he stared at Katia’s hand, confused about what he was supposed to do.

Katia dropped her hand a moment later, and added, “It’s nice to meet you Avis.”

“I can’t believe you’re really letting a Prussian spy onto your ship.” Cassian asked.

“If you don’t like who I invite on my crew, you’re free to leave,” Katia said.

“Nah, I’ll stay,” Cassian replied, “I want to watch your ship burn to the ground.”

Katia grabbed the bottle from Cassian’s hands before he could react and tossed it into the sea. Cassian watched the bottle slowly sink, while the woman said, “What have I told you about day drinking?”

“I don’t know,” Cassian replied, “I don’t listen.”

“Great,” Katia said, before she turned back to Avis, “Do you have any luggage or anything you need to grab before we leave? Or anyone you need to say goodbye to.”

“Nope,” Avis said, “I don’t have anything else or anyone to say goodbye to.”

“That’s okay. Gabriel should be able to sort you out and I’ll have Hartley give you a tour in the meantime,” Katia said before she turned back to the man, “Why don’t you show Avis to Hartley’s workshop, and let Gabriel know about our newest crew member and that I want the ship ready to set sail in 30 minutes?”

“Sure,” Cassian replied, “Anything else you want me to do?”

“That’s it,” the woman replied calmly, “I should be back before you’re ready to set sail.”

“You’d better hurry, or I might just tell Gabriel to leave you behind,” Cassian said.

“Ha ha, very funny,” Katia said as she marched down the pier towards the city.

“Follow me,” Cassian replied gruffly as he led the way towards the ship.

As Avis followed Cassian onto the ship, he was surprised to find the deck of ship emptier than he expected. With a ship the size of the Lupin, Avis expected at least a dozen people on deck, maintaining it, but there was only one man was on deck, drinking heavily as he leaned against the rail and stared. The man didn’t react as Cassian and Avis walked right passed him, and instead, took another large gulp of his bottle.

Cassian led him below deck, down a ladder and then two narrow flights of stairs. Avis glanced out the wall of glass windows lining one side of the corridor as he followed Cassian and marveled at the view of Havana and at how small that chaotic city looked now. He wished it a silent farewell as he looked away, as he doubted he would ever be back. Instead, he tried to distract himself by guessing what was behind each door that lined one side of the hallway. All of the doors were closed or slightly ajar, and Avis knew that Cassian would most likely not be willing to stop and let Avis explore.

Eventually, Cassian stopped in front of a worn, wooden door, with a small circular window at the end of the corridor, and banged his fist against the door, but to no avail. He groaned in annoyance as he knocked harder on the door, but when there was still no sound from behind the door, Cassian threw the door open.

Avis glanced inside to find a teenage about his age leaning over a table lit only by a singular lantern in the center of an even darker room, fiddling with two small unidentified pieces of metal.

“Hartley!” Cassian yelled, but Hartley didn’t look up, so Cassian marched up to him and shook him, causing Hartley to jump back and drop both pieces of metal onto the ground.

Hartley swore, “Knock next time,” he said.

“I did,” Cassian said, “Katia just hired someone new and wants you to give them a tour of the ship.”

“Really?” Hartley sighed as he bent down to pick up the pieces of metal, “Why can’t you do it? I’m busy.”

“Katia said it was your job,” Cassian replied, “Don’t whine to me.”

“Fine,” Hartley said as he threw down the pieces of metal, and without another word, Cassian turned and left Hartley alone with Avis.

“Are you the newest hire?” Hartley asked.

“Yeah,” Avis said, “I’m Avis.”

Hartley stuck out his hand, “I’m Hartley,” he exclaimed, “It’s really nice to finally have a fellow crew member around my age.”

Avis stared confused at the hand for a couple of seconds as he wondered whether it was part of some initiation rite he was supposed to do, before he asked, “How old are you?”

“I’m thirteen,” Hartley proclaimed, “What about you?”

“I think I’m thirteen in around three months,” Avis replied before he added, “You really don’t have to show me around if you don’t want to.”

“Nah, it’s fine,” Hartley said, “I needed a break anyway.”

Hartley abandoned the pieces of metal in the middle of the table as he left the room and led Avis down the corridor.

After a couple of moments, Hartley asked, “So, what’s your job?”

“Job?” Avis asked.

“Yeah, you must have some kind of skill if Katia let you on the Lupin,” Hartley replied, “I’m in charge of maintaining all of the technology and weapons.”

“All of it?” Avis asked, “On such a large ship.”

“Katia likes a smaller crew,” Hartley explained, “Right now there’s eight of us, well nine including you.”

“Really?” Avis asked, “But this ship is so huge.”

Hartley shrugged, “That’s why I’m glad that she’s hired someone new,” he said, “It means that I can finally get a full nights sleep.”

“Are things really that bad?” Avis asked.

“Katia makes sure that all the extra work is compensated well,” Hartley replied, “So, anyways, what’s supposed to be your job?”

“I don’t know,” Avis said, “I told Katia I’d do whatever she needed me to do.”

Hartley nodded slowly, a grim look on his face, “You’ll have to wait to see where Gabriel assigns you.”

Before Avis could respond, Hartley came to a sudden stop in the doorway of a small room filled with an assortment of tables and chairs, and that seemed to function as some sort of dining room. In the corner, Avis noticed a young woman hunched over a bowl.

“Samantha, come meet the fresh meat,” Hartley proclaimed as he shoved Avis into the room.

Samantha glanced up before a gentle smile filled her face, “Katia hired someone new?” she asked.

“She was probably worried she was overworking you too much,” Hartley replied.

“Me, I’m fine,” Samantha replied, “Have you figured out what was wrong with my riffle yet?”

“I’m working on it,” Hartley replied, “But I think whatever you did messed it up for good. You might need to get another riffle.”

“Really?” Samatha sighed, “You know how expensive those things are, especially now.”

Just then, the ship jolted forward, though Avis was able to catch himself on a nearby table. Hartley wasn’t so lucky. He stumbled forward but was unable to catch himself and went tumbling to the ground. Keeping her hand on a table as the boat started moving, Samantha got up and walked up to Hartley, who lay on the ground moaning, “Are you okay?” she asked.

“Yeah,” Hartley moaned as he picked himself off of the ground, “I’m fine.”

“It’ll probably take a while for you to get your sea legs again,” Samantha said before she turned to Avis, “What about you? Have you worked on a ship before?”

“It’s my first time,” Avis confessed.

Samantha’s eyes widened, “Really?” she asked, “Are you sure you’ll be okay? We might end up in a fight with a Prussian ship.”

“I’m not a little kid,” Avis insisted, “I can handle it.

Samantha hesitated before she eventually nodded, “Sure,” she said before she changed the topic, “Did Katia tell you where you’re supposed to be working yet?”

“Not yet,” Avis said, “Hartley said that Gabriel will be the one to tell me where I’m supposed to be working.”

Shadows seemed to grow around Samantha, “Have you not met Gabriel yet?” she asked, worry clear in her voice.

“Is it really going to be that bad?” Avis asked, “Is there anything I need to do to prepare?”

Silence filled the room as Samantha and Hartley seemed to be deep in thought, and Avis started to wonder whether he had made a mistake working on the Lupin.

Just then, a man in his thirties with bright blond hair peeked into the room, “There you are Samantha,” he said as he marched up to her, “I was looking everywhere for you.”

“I’ve been here for the last hour, eating my lunch,” Samantha replied, “Have you met our newest crew member yet, Gabriel?”

Gabriel turned to Avis with a bright smile on his face, and Avis took a couple of steps back, bracing himself for Gabriel’s reaction, but the smile never slipped off Gabriel’s face, “Cassian told me about you,” he said.

“Would you like me to start cleaning the toilets?” Avis asked, holding his breath.

Gabriel turned back to look at Samantha, who was grinning. He sighed, “Right now, it’s Cassian’s job to clean the toilets, and unless you plan on blowing up the deck of our ship, you shouldn’t have to clean the toilets. The worst jobs are saved as punishment for those too dumb to make good decision.”

“We all know that Hudson was the one who dared Cassian to blow up the deck,” Hartley replied.

“I’m not going to assign Hudson to test out your gadgets,” Gabriel replied before he turned to Avis, “Do you know how to read?”

“Some,” Avis shrugged, “I didn’t go to school much.

“How are you with small dark spaces?” Gabriel asked, thinking deeply.

Avis shuttered, “Not that good.”

“Do you know how to cook?” Gabriel asked.

“Not really,” Avis replied before quickly adding, “But I can learn really quick.”

“How do you feel about an assistant?” Gabriel asked Samantha.

“I could always use another set of hands,” Samantha replied.

“Then we’ll start you in the kitchen,” Gabriel told Avis, “Though if somewhere else needs help, then I might reassign you.”

“That’s fine,” Avis replied.

“Great,” Gabriel replied before he turned to Hartley, “How much have you shown Avis already?”

“He’s only seen my workshop and here,” Hartley replied.

“Do you mind if I steal him for a bit?” Gabriel asked, “Arlen will probably want to get a good look at him, and I want to sort out everything he’ll need.”

“Sure,” Hartley replied, “I’ll just wait here until you bring him back.”

“You’re just waiting here to steal more lunch,” Samantha declared.

“What?” Hartley replied slowly with wide eyes, “I would never.”

As Avis watched Samantha and Hartley interact, he felt a hand on his shoulder and flinched. He turned around to find Gabriel standing next to him, “Ready to go?” Gabriel asked.

Avis let Gabriel steer him out of the room, but kept glancing back over his shoulder. After they had gone a couple of feet down the hallway, Gabriel spoke up, “Don’t worry, they’ll be fine while we’re gone,” he said.

“I’m not worried,” Avis muttered, and Gabriel slowly nodded, though it was clear that Gabriel didn’t believe him.