hold of the woman. “It’s what you want, isn’t it? Well, I will not allow it, do you understand? It is NOT going to work, so
don’t even try,” she wagged her finger at the blonde then turned and made her way toward the crew’s quarters.
Ignoring the larger bunk area, she walked into the smaller cabin where Abu lived. Zara knew exactly what she was looking
for. With deft ease, she rummaged through her friend’s gear. By the time she found the bottle, Abu’s blankets, clothes and
scrolls with nude images drawn in them were strewn all over the floor.
“Captain?” Abu’s expression was riddled with concern as he stood in the doorway.
Turning, she held the bottle of liquor to him, removed the cap and quickly drank down the bitter, fiery liquid. After a few
deep swallows, Zara coughed as she leaned against the wall. Panting, she closed her eyes against the maddening thoughts.
With a shake of her head, she drank a few more swigs before she was able to speak to her friend.
“Abu, this is it. I have gone mad!” she sighed.
“Zara? What are you speaking of?” he asked as he stepped toward her, tried to take the bottle from her. He failed when she
held it tightly and drank deeper swigs until nothing remained in the bottle.
“I am telling you, Abu, my friend. I have gone mad, positively mad, and there is nothing that can be done.” Zara explained.
“But…” his brows creased in a frown, “why would you say this?”
“Why? Isn’t it obvious! I hear voices now! Yes, oh yes, that’s right, I’m hearing the ghost now,” she felt her words slurring
as the liquor slowly took effect. “There is no doubt, I am mad. What else could it be?” she asked as she felt the room shift
until she was sitting on the floor of Abu’s cabin.
“How did you get the floors to move up?” the captain’s words were barely audible as her glazed eyes glanced around her.
Before she could hear his reply, her eyelids closed. “Abu, not only am I mad, but I am now utterly blind!” she told her friend
as she felt him lifting her from the floor.
“Blind drunk, Captain,” he said with a chuckle as he lifted her in his arms.
“Blind drunk?” Zara’s slurred words asked.
“Yes, Captain. You are blind drunk, that is all.”
“Then it’s not permanent?” she felt her head loll backward as he easily carried her up the steps.
“No, Captain. I’m sure once the pain in your head stops hurting tomorrow, you’ll be able to open your eyes,” was Abu’s
gruff reply.
“Well, there is that good news,” she mumbled before the darkness of the liquor pulled her under.
Nadrah had been watching from the shadows. She waited patiently for Xena to come from the captain’s cabin. When it was
the captain who emerged first, she ducked behind the crates and watched as the Moroccan cross the deck. Mumbling to
herself, the tall woman’s brows were creased as she passed the crewmen.
For a moment, Nadrah thought there was going to be a fight when the captain bumped into Gabrielle. But at their instant
contact, the storyteller looked surprised as the captain shouted at her, then turned toward the men’s sleeping quarters. Once
she was out of sight, the crewmen began to gather on the deck while the blonde made her way to the railing.
“She’s mad, I told you so! It was bound to happen sooner or later,” Salih, one of the younger crewmen, stated matter-of-
factly as he continued to tie down the ropes of the sails.
“How so?” his friend, Harith, asked as he left his weaving and moved to his friend.
“Because of her,” Salih chuckled as he nodded toward Gabrielle.
“Her! Bah, you are mad! Surely you don’t believe she’s a witch too, do you?” Amr broke into the two men’s conversations.
“Of course not! But I have eyes, I see,” Salih pointed to his eyes, then toward the blonde. “And what I see is the captain
now sleeping in the day and leaving such a beauty alone at night!”
The men’s brows creased in thought. At their slight confusion, Salih sighed deeply. “Do you not understand? The captain is
no longer getting any!” the man laughed as he made motions with his pelvis thrusting forward, the pumping action bringing
laughter from the men.
“Ah!” a few of the men’s voices exclaimed in understanding as jovial laughter rose.
“Yes, that must be it! Why, how much longer could the captain continue having such a thirst and not be partaking of such a
fountain?” Salih added as he rolled his eyes toward Gabrielle’s retreating form.
“No, no, no!” Ayyub interrupted. With his apron on and carrying a spoon, he turned to the young men gathered. “No, that
is not what has driven the captain mad. What has driven her mad is really very simple,” the skinny man’s voice took on an air
of authority.
With a pleased smile, he waited until all eyes were on him. Satisfied that he held their attention, Ayyub said, “It is simple. It is
because the captain is not eating! She has not been eating, and what little I put in front of her, she leaves. Why, all she needs
is a good meal and she’ll be herself again!”
The crew remained silent as they stared at Ayyub’s broad smile. Then, like a chorus of chickens, they all spoke at once.
“That’s exactly what I said!” Salih exclaimed. He pointed toward the passenger and wagged his eyebrows, “The captain just
needs a good meal!”
“Ayyub, you’re daft!” one laughed.
“Food, we could all be so lucky!”
“More likely your food would drive one mad!” another shouted and was rewarded with laughter. Just when their cackling
began to take control, a loud voice broke through their humor.
“Bah! Ayyub, how ridiculous,” Tashfin exclaimed from across the deck. “You young ones do not understand a thing either!”
the old man spat. Rising from his place, he moved on scrawny legs to the crowd of men, the respect they gave for his age
pulled the others to his side.
“You are right that it was the woman that caused our captain’s madness, but, your reason is wrong! Why everyone knows
that a voyage is no place for a woman!” he spat. “Why, look at me! I still have all of my senses, and do you know why?”
He looked at the men’s faces but did not wait for an answer, “Because I see my wife for thirty days out of the year! Any
more than that, and she’d drive me crazier than the captain is!” His words brought about a roar of laughter as the older men
nodded their agreement.
