Greyla roused De'Marc as much as she hated to disturb his rest. Ben was on her heels carrying guns and ammo.

"We've got trouble Grandpa. Looks like pirates," Greyla said. She extended a hand to help him sit up.

"I'm not that far gone," De'Marc said and pulled himself to his feet to peer out through his porthole.

The pirate ship was intercepting their course, cutting them off.

Raemolle slowed the engine and prepared to take evasive action.

De'Marc took out a spy glass and surveyed the approaching vessel. "They don't look so good. Check it out."

Greyla took the scope and gazed across at men on board. The gap was closing fast between them, and she could see what he meant. The pirates on deck looked to be in a weakened condition. As they grew closer, she could see the blotchy skin of their faces.

"Malnutrition?" she asked. "Scurvy?"

"This looks different."

A scratchy voice called out over the waves in a foreign tongue. By the tone it was obviously a warning.

"Ben, do you speak their tongue?" De'Marc asked.

"Some words. He said they will shoot if we try to run."

"Tell them we will shoot too," Greyla said.

"Wait," De'Marc said. "Tell them we are running from the security forces and were attacked at Catspaw. Ask them if they have seen any patrol boats."

"Why would they care?" Greyla asked.

"It's a gamble. I'm guessing they're no friend of the Beldorian Security fleet."

"So, the enemy of our enemy?" Greyla asked.

"Maybe not a friend, but perhaps not a foe," De'Marc said. "Hurry, Ben. Tell them what I just said."

"Yes, Captain."

Ben ran to the deck rail. The sailors looked surprised to see a child. He called out to them as De'Marc had instructed. They shouted back some words to Ben.

"They want to know why we were attacked."

De'Marc followed his intuition. "Tell them because we know about their sickness and what causes it."

Ben relayed the message. He clung to the railing to wait for an answer while they conferred among themselves. The wind was picking up and the water was growing choppy. White capped waves were dancing between the two vessels. A few of the sailors ran about adjusting the sails and rigging to prevent a collision.

"What are you aiming at?" Greyla asked.

"See that one closest to us? His hair is falling out. They have radiation poisoning until proven otherwise," De'Marc said. "Ben, tell them they have been poisoned by the Beldorian security forces."

Ben called out to the sailors again in their tongue. Another man in a long black coat, apparently the leader, came on deck and called back.

"He wants to know if we have medicine for this sickness," Ben said.

"Tell him there is no cure, but they must ditch all cargo, food or money they've obtained from the soldiers. Anyone who comes near it will die."

"I will try. I don't know all their words," Ben said, then shouted his message across the water.

"Greyla, go below and get the little black chest sitting on your work bench near the ammo boxes. You know the one?"

"Yes. I'll get it." She returned with the chest. "What's in this?"

"It's an instrument to detect radiation. When I turn it on, it will make a clicking noise when radioactive material is nearby," De'Marc explained. "Ben, tell them if they will leave us alone and go on their way, we'll give them this box. It will warn them when they are in danger from the poison, and nobody has to die."

Ben called out to the sailors again and held up the chest.

The man in the black coat nodded in agreement and his men dropped a dingy over the side.

Raemolle and Danlea stood ready with loaded rifles on the bridge. Greyla tied a rope securely around the box and prayed the pirates would accept the offer. The Sea Grinder was only a few hours away from the sub and safety. This had to work. She couldn't stand to see any harm come to little Ben. She'd seen far too many children die in Casgora.

Two of the sickly pirates came over, took the box, and rowed the dingy back to their ship. It seemed to take all their strength to fight against the rough water.

"Tell them the noise it makes will get louder and faster when near the source of the poison," De'Marc said.

Ben relayed the message.

The man in the black coat took the box from his men and walked to the stern of the ship where some large barrels were stored. The clicking was loud enough to be heard across the water.

"It's in the barrels," Greyla said.

The man cursed and kicked the one nearest to him. A general outcry went through the sailors on deck.

"It's the rum," Ben said. "They were paid in poisoned rum."

"Let's get out of here," Greyla called up to Raemolle.

Raemolle put the boat in motion and eased past the pirate vessel. The sailors were preoccupied with using the radiation dectector and started throwing barrels over the side. A few minutes later the Sea Grinder had left the other ship behind, and it disappeared from sight.

"They will die?" Ben asked following Greyla and De'Marc back to the captain's cabin.

"Yes. It's too late for them," De'Marc said. He lay back down on his bunk. The poison was coursing through his body and fever was overtaking him again.

He unpinned the badge from his clothing and nodded to Greyla. "Put this on Ben. He needs it more than I do."

She hesitated briefly, then transferred it to Ben's shirt. "Wear this at all times. If it changes color to red, you'll know you've been exposed to radiation poison."

The boy fingered the badge. "This poison is invisible?"

"Yes, but very real," De'Marc said. "Bring me some more of the tea please, Ben."

Ben ran to the galley to get the herbal remedy.

"That was a close call back there," Greyla said wiping his head with a clean damp cloth.

"It was. I don't think I'll shake this, Greyla," De'Marc said.

"I'm not giving up on you."

"In case I don't make it, here's the plan when you get to the sub," he said. "Leave the Sea Grinder's engine running and tie the wheel to keep the boat turning in a wide circle. If they come looking for you this ship may serve as a decoy long enough to buy more time."

"You're coming with us on that sub old man."

"Bury me at sea, Greyla. I don't want to leave Beldora."