Over The Waves Part 2 (Running the Straits)

The good ship Bīnggōngchǎng sailed out of Niǔyuē Port on a fine spring morning under a clear sky and steady winds. Captain Huan, on the other hand, showed himself to be a foul storm as soon as the ship left the harbor. He strode the decks with a whip in hand, and his trembling crew heard every order as a mortal threat. The crew’s provisions consisted of scant rice, flavored with rotten fish. They drank water mixed with vinegary wine. Despite his treatment of the crew, he was always deferential to Bangqiu and the other passengers and blamed his crew for any problems caused by the non-sailors. Bayan and Shoji noted the Captain’s conduct as unnecessarily strict but did not intervene, instead opting to stay in their cabins. Bangqiu had provided good rations for his friends, including Kafka’s sohei and despite the small space, the two groups lived side-by-side while barely acknowledging each other.

A week out from Niǔyuē, after leaving Zhounese coastal waters behind, Captain Huan allowed the Bīnggōngchǎng to drift for a day while the newly acquired cannons were tested. Kafka's warrior monks had received only the briefest instruction in loading and firing the unfamiliar weapons, but they learned quickly. They gathered coconuts, rocks, and driftwood from a nearby coral island and practiced with these before expending precious iron shot. Once they had found the range, the iron balls smashed into the tiny island again and again until a narrow channel split it in two. Captain Huan ordered his crew to watch the demonstration carefully.

Only Dai Duo and Pao Tiānkōng seemed unimpressed. While the cannons thundered across the water, the old monk calmly drilled his young companion on the foredeck. Blindfolded, Pao endured a relentless rain of blows while Dai Duo shouted cheerful encouragement, seemingly oblivious to the explosions echoing around them.

Several days later the Bīnggōngchǎng entered the contested waters of the Straits of Malaca, where the navies of both the Zhou Dang and Zhou Song empires hunted one another without mercy. Neutral shipping fared little better. Merchant captains had warned Huan that either navy might seize an unfamiliar vessel as an enemy.

The first day passed without incident. The second was equally quiet.

On the morning of the third day the ship entered a narrow passage between two long, jungle-covered barrier islands. Bo Jing stood watch from the masthead while Bangqiu floated another hundred feet above him upon a platform of air. From that lofty perch Bangqiu spotted a sail astern and called down to Bo Jing, who hurried to the quarterdeck.

By then the approaching vessel was plainly visible. Captain Huan studied it through his telescope.

"It bears neither Imperial colors," he said at last. "Nor does it resemble a warship. No danger."

Dai Duo glanced only briefly at the distant sails.

"That," he replied quietly, "is Noh-Moon—the most ruthless pirate in the known seas."

Young Bo Jing sided with Dai Duo and, assuming his authority as a baghatur, ordered Captain Huan to change his course, skirting the barrier islands in favor of the open sea and turning the Bīnggōngchǎng to port to maximize use of the canons.

As the range closed, Dai Duo's warning proved correct. Though little larger than the Bīnggōngchǎng, the pirate vessel carried perhaps three times as many fighting men. Rows of archers crowded her decks.

At roughly five hundred yards both ships turned to port.

The pirates prepared a devastating volley.

The cannons fired first.

All five guns roared together. Most of the iron balls splashed harmlessly into the sea, falling short of their target. Only one struck the pirate ship, crashing onto the crowded main deck. Before the pirates could recover, Bangqiu hurled a great sphere of magical fire from his aerial perch, engulfing the vessel's stern in flame.

The pirates answered with chilling discipline. Their archers ignored the wizard overhead and concentrated instead upon Kafka's cannon crews. Arrows swept the deck, sending many of the sohei below with grievous wounds. Those still standing hurriedly reloaded.

Only three cannons answered the second time.

One iron ball struck true, splintering the pirate's mainmast.

Bo Jing ordered Captain Huan to turn southeast and make all possible sail.

The damaged pirate vessel gave chase but could not close the distance. By the time the Bīnggōngchǎng cleared the barrier islands and reached open water, the reason for the ambush became clear. Waiting several miles beyond lay a second pirate ship, larger than the first and flying Noh-Moon's personal banner. The crippled raider had been intended only to drive its prey into the trap.

Denied that opportunity, neither pirate ship pursued.