Entry 4

Entry 4:

I AM DISCOVERED!

My Nautolan ressurectee has been nominally co-operative. I explained to him, at length, what the rest of the crew would do were they to discover him alive and this seems to have had the desired effect.

Unfortunately this has meant keeping him bound and gagged for the majority of each day. I have fed and watered him - literally in the case of a Nautolan - regularly. And released him for an hour each day to exercise and undertake his other necessary functions in my cabin. (At pistol-point, of course.)

Over the days I monitored his recovery, interrogated him with regard to his experience of, and memories of, death and undertook further studies - for example inflicting minor cuts upon him and myself to compare the recovery process. All of this is recording in my medical notes. In short, he seems to be fully recovered and his flesh does not seem necrotic. Interestingly Nautolan bodily fluid seems sit somewhere between the blood of mammals and the ichor of lower beasts. "Blichor".

He claims to have no memories past his killing, prior to his re-animation, but I am not sure he is completely honest. When asked his name (not by me), he gave it as "Nauton". (Nauton the Nautolan!)

Above decks the interminable trawl to our destination continued - the needs of sailing such a huge vessel with so Iimited a crew taking tolls upon everyone. There were no more encounters with the strange tempests but Methuselah has been monitored movements in the stars. He feels they are coming to a conjunction of some sorts in between four and eight weeks. This is a fascinating and, if I weren't busy with my own vital researches, I would be actively investigating it myself.

There was one minor incident where Methuselah's poor navigation nearly ran us aground but Tabithah's quick thinking in spinning the ship's wheel violently and randomly saved us - though recovering from that did lengthen this journey even more.

Eventually we were able to beach The Viceroy at our Island and set about converting it into a makeshift fortress - it is much better appointed, armed and comfortable than our previous huts.

There was much discussion about the next steps. I was busy with my researches and didn't partake. Apparently Methuselah wished to put part of our takings into a bank which caused Tabithah much concern. The concept is completely alien to Rakashans.

Eventually it was decided to hie back to Nicante to restock and take on more crew. I was able to transfer my guest to The Chimera in a large chest unnoticed and immediately started to grow a beard and change my hair style to disguise my features. There had been no wanted posters in the town during our last visit, but news does travel eventually.

The voyage to Nicante took two days. However, upon arrival my shipmates took to arguing amongst themselves as to exactly what to do do next, so I headed off into town myself to fulfil my needs. Initially I was unable to make any contacts but Tyrann tracked me down and - between us - we found a supplier able to provide me more of the herb for which Hannah - our avian - has developed such a craving. He was a Rakashan with a shaved arm revealing an anatomical  tattoo of a female of his species. As always, I arranged to buy both that and every other strange herb and liquor he possessed - to aid in my researches. A deal was struck - 1,000 gold prices, a bargain! - and payment arranged in 24 hours.

The rest of the crew were relaxing in a tavern but I chose to retire early.  In the morning, Methuselah tried to recruit crew members at the dock. Though his rousing speech failed to retain most passerby's interest, a quiet word from myself brought many back. It's a learnt persona but I do have a passable bed-side manner. (The important thing is sincerity. When you can fake that, you've got it made.)

So we had interest from a motley crew of Rakashans, Nautolaons, Saurians and Humans. Alas there were no Mole-men but there were two Rhinotaurs interested. So I had the opportunity to expand my menagerie.

I fulfilled my duties as ship's doctor, checking their general health and rejecting any who were ill or unfit. I was able to check the respiratory functions of most species myself with a quick blow to their solar plexi, but needed Tyrann and Tabitha's help with their individual species. (We didn't bother checking the Rhinotaurs.)

Leaving our crew mates to orient - and equip and armour - our new shipmates, Methuselah and myself trawled the local bookstores. There is no library in Nicante. (We need to travel to a larger city.)

We found no good books on medicine, nor much about the strange storms. All we found were legends - the World was once destroyed by a piglike demonic race and a saviour appeared to rescue The Races and transfer them to our current home. Etc. Apparently this world has a recorded history of only five centuries.  Madness! (More research is needed.)

I visited a local apothecary to restock on mundane medicines.

As night fell, Tyrann and I attended our meeting to acquire the more esoteric substances I'd ordered. My crew mates (especially Tabithah) suspected a trap and elaborate arrangements were put in place should the dealer attempt a double cross.

The meeting took place in a warehouse in the docks and went off without a hitch. I tested samples of each substance, payment was made and we transferred a chest containing the full consignment to The Chimera.

One of the samples - a red liquid - had a delayed effect and I passed out. (Note: it may be useful as an anaesthetic for more future surgeries).

I awoke in my cabin. Upon speaking to Nauton, I found that he had been discovered by Tyrann - who, you will recall, was responsible for killing him in the first place - and Tabithah - who was the one who'd asked the Nautolan his name.

(Never name your patients! You'll only get attached to them.)

Strangely, they hadn't killed (re-killed?) him but just left him bound, gagged and covered in his tarpaulin. I cannot help but wonder as to their motives.

Nauton (damn! Now I'M doing it!) became extremely uncooperative - complaining about being bound for over 24 hours and the days (weeks) he'd spent tied to my examining table. He even said he'd rather be dead. Ungrateful beast!

I regagged him and set out to find my shipmates. I suspect I have a serious conversation coming up...