Chapter One

 

January 1909:

The sea was finally calm. The creature lay low and out of sight. Pieces of human flesh, along with other debris, floated about the bloody surface. The vessel’s two steam pipes were cracked, but still managed to expel steam in their regular fashion. The one sail was completely destroyed. It was early morning, where the day was already long and hard. Captain Colin Limmerick wrapped a wool scarf around his broad neck, while casting the nets into the sea. The ten-man crew worked endlessly at staying alert, hoping to overcome the incident from the previous night.

The Atlantic Mermaid sailed along the Irish coast, while still trying to make the catch they should have made hours ago. The sharp winds made their sail a difficult one, where the usual temperament of the sea had worsened. The crew’s knees buckled with exhaustion. They stunk of ale, sweat, and the sea. They watched the scarce rays of light beam upon the hull as the morning fully set in. The distant screeching of a plump dirigible floated above them, which gave them a sense of ease. Eddy, the first mate, woke from his bunk making his way to the deck where he saw his captain hang his torso over the gunnels in the midst of rising sun.

“Captain, haven’t ya slept at all?”

The towering captain turned to Eddy. “Slept?”

“Ya look awful; get some rest. We’re docked at the Dublin Quays. Go, clean yar self up ‘n get some sleep.”

“That I can’t do just yet, because I found this on the ship,” the captain said, holding a gigantic tooth with both his hands.

Eddy stepped back. “It looks heavy, Captain.”

“I’d say it’s a good weight.”

Eddy examined the tooth with his eyes. “It don’t resemble a shark, nor a whale.”

The Captain lowered it to the deck. “Surely, it doesn’t. I bloody don’t feckin’ know what attacked us last night, but this is what it left us.”

Eddy stepped closer. “The crew, Captain, are feelin’ a wee bit rattled at last night’s incident. Don’t show them that tooth. Yar crew could quit on yaz, ‘n then what?”

The captain raised his soaking cap and flicked back his lengthy forelock. He nervously tied back his long, wet hair.

“And then what? I’ll sell me boat ‘n move permanently to London.”

“Now, yar talkin’ nonsense. C’mon, let me buy ya a pint. Ya sure look like ya need it.”

“Ed, we docked at Rosslare some hours ago to get the reel fixed with a new net. Why? Somethin’ is still out there. Somethin’ devoured our lifeboat. Ed, what’s gone on here?” Colin’s complexion was pale. He found himself in an endless shiver. “Our Mermaid, she needs loads of fixin’. She can’t sail over shore; she’s all broke.”

Eddy gave Colin a pat on the shoulder. “Captain, yar starved; maybe we could go for some grub, eh? I remember when yaz was a wee lad workin’ on yar uncle’s ship. Ya always took everythin’ too serious, even then.”

Colin sighed. “I need to return to London. Get her fixed somehow. Just can’t stick ‘round here now.”

“London? The weekend’s not over yet. London won’t give ya the answers yaz lookin’ for.”

Colin pulled his soggy cap from his head. The dark circles under his eyes over-powered his handsome face. He stood on the deck, drenched with the sea as blood dripped from his inner thigh. He scanned his body to below his groin, noticing his bloodstained trousers. Eddy’s eyes widened with shock.

“Captain, ya need a doctor?”

“As long as me balls ’n cock are still hangin’ low, all is well,” Colin forced a smile and unbuttoned his trousers to check. He ran his fingers along his testicles and penis. “It’s all there, thank the good lord.” Eddy stood in silence and smiled. Colin smiled back at his first mate. “I bes’ get to work. We’s so bloody behind.”

He moved several large crates of fish onto the peer. The rest of the crew reluctantly helped. After their work was done for the day they decided to relax at the nearby fisherman’s pub.

Colin and his crew staggered in feeling their exhaustion and stress get the best of them. They sat at one of the largest tables. They ordered food and several pints of ale. Colin sat with his head buried in his arms. His tweed cap was pulled down over his eyes. His pint sat in front of him with the froth bubbling over top of the glass. His ears were perked, but his eyes were closed. A group of fisherman sat at the next table. They were drunk and loud.

“Three vessels went down last night,” one of the fishermen said, to the others at the next table. “Three, I tell yaz…three bloody vessels!” Colin’s head rose as he repositioned himself to sit straight in his chair. “It happened ‘round 3:00 in the mornin’. Gone, I tell yaz – all gone. Not a nibble of debris was even found.”

Colin took a swig of ale and glanced at his crew.

“What was out there?” one of the other fishermen at the next table asked. “Not a shark, nor a whale – not even the Scots’ Nessie. Sometin’ is out there.”

Colin gulped his ale. He glanced at his crew. “Shite. What have I done? Shite.”

Eddy tried to smile. “Done? Ya haven’t done anythin’, Captain. Yar not in charge of nature.”

The crew chuckled and agreed with the first mate. Colin stared at his first mate and then his crew with a serious expression on his face.

“Ye’d be surprised. Shite, what the feck?”

***

That following Monday morning London was dim and chilly. Colin made his way to the Natural History Building at The London University; bound up in his vested suit, coat and bowler hat. He used his umbrella as a cane, where each step was painful. He appeared more awkward than he felt, because the umbrella was so much smaller than a fitted cane would be for a man his size. He hoped he wouldn’t be noticed by anyone he knew.

He made his way into the building and proceeded to squirm up every step, which led to his office. He flopped in his chair, not bothering to remove his coat and hat. A lanky fair-haired, young man appeared.

“Mr. Limmerick, so here I find you looking not so fresh and not so professional in your so nice office. You have big drunk last night on high seas with your crew, nyet?” blurted Dr. Sasha Dimitrikov, peering through the doorframe.

Colin sat straight in his chair and fiddled with his crooked tie. “What the feck are ye goin’ on about now? Shite, man, we’ve got us more problems. Will this mess ever end?”

“Last time I see you, you so happy man with Miss Amoli – why you so upset now? I know, you have fight, da?”

“Don’t even think about draggin’ Amoli into this conversation. I had a rough weekend on the Atlantic Mermaid. Some kinda monster is tearin’ up the waters.”

Sasha quickly shut the door. “What happened on your ship?” Sasha asked, searching his blazer pockets.

“I don’t think we completely closed the vortex openin’.” Colin blinked his eyes several times with fatigue; he had lost his usual zest. “Our last prehistoric expedition was a failure, don’t ye think?”

“Shto?” Sasha asked in Russian, as he pulled a cigarette box from his jacket pocket. He sat down and popped it into his mouth. “What you say? Sorry, I sometimes forget my English.”

“We was at sea this weekend, close to home, the Irish Sea ’n Saint George’s Straight – ye know, not far at all. Somethin’ shook the bleedin’ feck out of the Atlantic Mermaid, so much so it tore away at me trawlin’ nets, the reel, ‘n even done away with our lifeboat.” He recklessly reached for his leather bolg and grabbed a small flask of whiskey. He drank from it with conviction. “I haven’t slept the weekend. We’ve got a serious problem, so we do.”

Sasha puffed on his cigarette. “Why you act like all so terrible? You all survive?”

“Aye.”

“Then, you not know my Russia. I leave my Russia at beginning of Revolution. You not know how we live. All workers work eleven-hour days. We have poor wages, you not know. All Russian goods very expensive. That is serious problem, da?”

Colin rolled his eyes back with a sigh. “Oh, mother of God, would ye stop comparin’ everythin’ to Russia? This is not Russia. We’ve done some expeditions through time ‘n now we’ve opened a Pendora’s box, don’t ye think?”

“I walk these streets of London, I do not see so much suffrage as my streets of Petersburg. You not know, Mr. Limmerick. I think Czar will soon be in great trouble. There is movement happening now.”

Ye like yer Czar?”

“Nyet! I hate him. I hate all politicals.”

Colin shook his head. “How’d we get onto this topic, I don’t know?”

“You mention serious problem. You not know serious problem. You are big strong Irishman. You have so easy.”

“Oh, God.”

“You visit my Russia and you see upheaval.”

“Ye certainly know bullocks about Ireland, don’t ye?”

Sasha had smoked his cigarette to its butt. “And, now, Mr. Limmerick, you sit there in comfortable university office, dressed in so nice suit, and so many women ogle for you.”

Colin sat forward in his chair behind his desk. “Mate, there’s prehistoric marine life roamin’ about our waters. I’m feelin’ rather responsible for it.”

Sasha’s eyes widened. “Did you see what was in water?”

“I didn’t. Somethin’ much bigger than any whale we know was definitely before us that night.”

Sasha gazed at the floor while he lit his cigarette. He paused, and slowly scanned the room.

“You blame it on vortex?”

Colin sat back in his chair, causing the springs to creek. “Oh, feck, why wouldn’t I blame it on the bloody vortex?”

“You imply something here? Shark do this.”

Colin hung over the table to get a closer view of Sasha. “And…there’s more. Somethin’ else happened,” he said, his voice trembled. “Three fishin’ vessels went down last night.”

“How you know this?”

“I heard other fishermen chattin’ about in the pub.”

Sasha pretended to be interested in the academic journals sitting on the desk. He smoked in silence. Colin was anxious, but silent. Colin folded his arms in front of him and took a deep breath.

“Sasha, I understand yer theory is beyond any scientists’ comprehension, but it has a shite load of bugs, so it does.”

“Bugs? What you say?”

“It’s all gone wrong is what I’m sayin’. We may’ve destroyed the world,” Colin huffed, as he rubbed the inseam of his leg. “Almost lost me tanker in the midst of the attack.”

Sasha smiled, and pointed at Colin’s crotch. “You lose that, you lose everything.” Colin’s eyes widened.

“If you see doctor he will say you have shark attack. All people know this.”

“That was no shark. Prehistoric it was. It had to be.”

“Prehistoric? Why? You not have prehistoric attack, you have big shark with so many teeth.”

“That was no shark.”

“Show me your wound, I tell you if it is shark attack.”

“First, I’m not removin’ me trousers here in me office. Second, this creature didn’t touch me. It was when I returned to me vessel after bein’ in the lifeboat, this monster attacked me ship almost capsizin’ us in the process. It swallowed down the lifeboat. The rigging boom fell on me cuttin’ the inside of me leg. I’m in pain every time I walk.”

Sasha appeared to be engrossed in one of the scientific journals on Colin’s desk. “A shark can do that.”

“In all me years at sea I’ve never spotted a shark. Why would a man-eatin’ shark be in these cold waters? Their primitive fish, not the most adaptable.” Colin reached for his whiskey-filled flask and took a few relentless gulps, and then took a few deep breaths. “Besides, this beast lost a tooth on me ship. By the looks of it, it’s no shark.”

“Show me this tooth.”

“It won’t mean anything to yez. Yer a physicist.”

“I know these things.”

“Ye don’t. I’ll show it to Rosa. She’s the archeologist, she’ll be able to make heads or tails out of it.”

“Fine, you think woman can examine it. Go ahead,” Sasha said, with his arms in the air.

Colin slapped his hand over his face. “Oh, dear God, whatever made me want to live in two different worlds? Why didn’t I just remain a fisherman, ‘n only that?”

Sasha stood up. “Because you want so bad to prove how Megaloceros came to be extinct.”

Colin ran his hands through his long crimson hair. “Aye, me thirst for the impossible got the best of me. I’m a Darwinist, ‘n me belief in natural selection had to be proven with me research on Megaloceros giganteus.”

“You were bored of fishing life, da?”

“Never bored of me life as a fisherman, but I wanted more, so ye see.”

“You get your degrees, and you still fisherman.”

Colin chuckled. “Here I am, a workin’ class fisherman from Ireland, no doubt. Me academic advisor hates me bleedin’ guts, ‘cause of who I am.”

“You no look like scholar, either.”

“Aye, me biggest problem is I stick out in a crowd, that’s for sure.”

“When I first saw you, I think you were lumberjack.”

“I’m cursed, so I am.”

“You not, but you work too much. Take vacation and relax. Rosa say me you like Portuguel coast.”

A brisk shadow passed by the doorway. “Colin! In my office, please!”

Colin tensed. “Cushing, that’s all I need just now.”

Sasha tiptoed to the door. “You must go to your Dr. Advisor and please him.”

“Never.”

“You have bad attitude, Mr. Limmerick.”

Colin hoisted himself from the chair. He clenched his teeth at Sasha and limped from the room.

“Can’t ye ever address me as Colin? Why ye always so damn formal?”

“Formal? I not formal? Good luck with your advisor, Mr. Limmerick,” Sasha said, as he watched Colin leave the room.

Sasha sighed and continued to smoke his cigarette. Colin poked his head in Dr. Cushing’s office.

“Ye needed to speak with me, sar?”

“Colin, yes, do come in,” Dr. Cushing said, placing his glasses onto his nose. “My, my, you do look dreadful.”

Colin leaned against the doorframe. “I had a challengin’ weekend, one could say.”

Dr. Cushing showed no concern. “I’m wondering where that chapter is on your time-travels to find the Horseshoe crab. Is 10,000 years suitable for your geologic time-frame?”

Colin took a deep breath, rolling his eyes back. “Wasn’t really plannin’ on time-travelin’ again, but who knows? Also, wasn’t really plannin’ on wastin’ me time-travelin’ in search of yer mate – the Horseshoe crab. There really isn’t space in me dissertation to devote a chapter on that bleedin’ crustacean.”

“Speak English. Are you saying you will be time-traveling some time soon?”

Colin took another deep breath, puffing his broad chest. “Soon, sar? Aye, it may very well be, but I’ll be enroute to find Megaloceros giganteus, or perhaps some of the Irish Deer’s neighborin’ community, like a large threatenin’ whale. I’m afraid there won’t be time for the Horseshoe crab, forgive me.”

“Oh, yes, you will very well make time for the Horseshoe crab. This is where you and I can collaborate an academic paper. I think this will impress the chancellor of this academic institution.”

“Ye ‘n me, write a paper together?” He chuckled loudly in a deep tone.

“Are you aware we have a new chancellor?”

“New chancellor, ye sayin’? Didn’t the university just get a new chancellor?”

“That was last year.”

“It’s not an annual position, is it, sar?”

Dr. Cushing grunted and snorted. “Oh, God, no. These positions are very valued in our academic world. They don’t come along everyday, you know.” Colin rose from his chair. “Do not express these outlandish thoughts to anyone on this campus, Colin. It could stand in the way of your academic reputation.”

“Do I even have an academic reputation, sar?”

“Reputation? Yes, of course you have a reputation.” Dr. Cushing laughed.

Colin gave another deep chuckle. “Reputations ‘n new chancellors, what’s this to do with me? I don’t know.”

“This is extremely important to all of us who produce the work we do.” He lifted one eyebrow. “But, I suppose you are too absorbed with your silly boat, when your thoughts should be here with this academic institution.”

Colin placed his hand over his mouth to yawn. “If yer done chattin’ with me, sar, I bes’ be on me way.”

“Not so fast. The concept of time-travel is astounding, don’t you think?”

“Astoundin’, ye put it? It has its pros ‘n cons; I think I’m feelin’ closer to the cons.”

Professor Cushing gathered some notes and handed them to Colin. “I have created a time-travel data scroll. It will be on this that you will record the geologic time frame in which you travel, and if you run your eyes down to the bottom of the page you will see there is a section for you to record your Horseshoe crab findings. On the blank spaces you will write the leg count.”

Dr. Cushing stood up and waved the form in Colin’s face. Colin’s head hung down and he shut his eyes.

“Leg count? I told ye I wasn’t goin’ after researchin’ this ridiculous crustacean of yers. Sar, if ye could excuse me, I left me specs at me flat ‘n I must really go fetch ‘im.”

“This is the problem with you as a graduate student – you spend too much time and energy on that damn boat of yours. You cannot afford to be rushing off here and there. This has got to stop, or I will see to it that your research funding is cut.”

Colin’s posture became more erect. “So, I either write about this crustacean or yer goin’ to bloody well cut off me fundin’? What’s this to do with me ship, I don’t know? You’ve gone too far this time.”

“I don’t think I’ve gone too far, no not at all. In fact, not far enough.”

“Excuse me whilst I go fetch me specs.”

Dr. Cushing watched Colin exit his office in a rage.

***

“Such a strong handsome man looking so ill-kept once again,” said Rosa, wearing a long cloth coat and feathered hat.

Colin glanced at her. “I’m not at me best. Ye need not look at me then ‘n ye can go about yer way.”

“What happened? You have a limp.”

“Had an accident on the ship this past weekend.”

“Oh, my, how awful.”

Colin stopped walking. “Shhh, I’d prefer if we keep this one under our hats, if ye don’t mind. Everyone here at the university has painted us as gods, yet nobody really knows the inner pitfalls of time-travel.”

Rosa had a confused expression on her face. “Wait a minute, you said there was an accident on your ship.” She lowered her eyebrows. “What does that have to do with time-travel?”

He took a deep breath. “Everythin’, love, everythin’.”

She moved closer to him and took a whiff. “Darling, you really must bathe; you do smell repulsive.”

“I was on me way to me flat to clean meself up.”

Maybe I could help you scrub your back?”

“I suppose.”

“Amoli wouldn’t mind?”

“Ah, um…that she would.” She latched onto his arm and buried herself in his over-sized bicep. She walked while he struggled in pain. “Ye know I’m with me crew each Friday to Sunday, somethin’ big ‘n aquatic tore me nets off me ship ‘n devoured me lifeboat. It shook us good, so it did. It put me crew at risk. Although, it seemed to have lost a tooth.”

She took her time to respond. “Well, the vortex opening was never closed. Sasha doesn’t know how to close it. I don’t know why he claims that he knows how to fix this mess. Sasha’s bright idea about that dodecagon was not effective. In fact, it was idiotic. I think you and Sasha are two twentieth-century men who don’t know what you’re doing in some far off time in the past – especially prehistoric times. Colin, think about it, was there really an opening to the time vortex?”

He noticed that it started to snow. “The vortex never had an openin’?”

“Think about it, Colin. Was it an actual opening, or was it a path through the passage of time?”

“A path, ye say?”

“Yes, a path, rather than some silly opening. You’re going to fix this mess. I know you will. Do you know for certain this creature you saw was, in fact, prehistoric?”

“Quite sure of it, I am. Nothin’ in our time would do that. I’m a fishin’ merchant – I know marine life, so I do. I’ve come across whales. Their teeth are different. Also, the size of this creature was, well, unthinkable.”

“I want to see this tooth.” She took his hand and held it tightly where she could feel his unease. “Why don’t we discuss this a little later? Right now, I think I’m going to walk with you to your flat, and see that you get cleaned up and get some bed rest.”

She tugged on his jacket. When they entered his flat she drew a hot bath for him. He stood in front of the toilet to urinate. She forced herself not to take notice. She scurried out the bathroom and shut the door leaving only a crack ajar. She placed her ear near the door and was relieved to hear him make a splash into the tub.

“Darling, Colin, maybe I’ll come in and wash your back.”

He soaked in the tub, rubbing a bar of soap in a circular motion around his pectoral muscles. He chuckled at her comment.

“I’m someone else’s gent, ye know it, so why ye so persistent to see me naked? Ye never fancied the thought of seein’ me hangin’ balls before.”

She cringed at his comment and fluttered around his flat trying to straighten up.

“If you had yourself a real lady in waiting she would straighten your messy and disgraceful flat. Maybe Amoli is a bigger slob than you, my dear,” she said, calling to him through the bathroom door.

He fondled himself in the water with a smile. “Ah, jealous, so ye are. Ye can’t fathom the thought of Amoli winnin’ over me manliness.”

She straightened the cushions on his sofa. “Colin Limmerick, you grow more disgusting with every day that passes,” she said, squinting her eyes as she heard his laughter penetrate through the bathroom door. “You better behave yourself, or I may just enter.”

He continued to laugh. “Ye wouldn’t, I know it.”

She noticed a photograph of Amoli sitting on his table. “She would do it without a second thought. Your sweet and innocent Amoli.”

“Jealous.”

“Never of her. When’s the wedding?” she asked, with a slight tremble.

He splashed loudly, while exiting the tub; his towel was wrapped around his lower half, to join her in the next room.

“Let’s see, it’s already mid January, me birthday’s in a fortnight. We’re goin’ after the end of the year sometime, a Catholic weddin’ it’ll be. I’m so busy these days. It may even be in 1910 or even after that. I just don’t know. She’s so anxious is what she is.”

She sat down where he caught her eyes scanning his body. “I’m afraid you will have to elope then. Her father would never allow it.”

“I do what I damn well want. It’s me bleedin’ weddin’ ‘n Amoli will be me wife.”

She wiped her sweaty palms on her skirt. “I do like a man in charge. However, you are making a mistake…a serious mistake.”

“How’s that?”

“For one, she is not your color; two, not your religion; and three, just think of what your children will look like.”

 He paced to his bedroom to get dressed. She entered and caught him buttoning his trousers. “You don’t love her. The one you’ll always love is me.”

He smiled, while he slipped into his shirt. She rushed to button it for him. He watched her do up each button with care.

“Ye shant be doin’ any of this for me. If Amoli were to walk in it would be another bloody battle, ‘n this time to the death, no doubt.”

Rosa stepped back. He pulled away from her.

“Colin, are you afraid of me, all of a sudden?”

“Never of ye, love.”

“Are you that much under Amoli’s spell?”

He laughed. “I just want to make sure you’re doing the right thing.”

“I’m a big enough lad to know what I’m doin’, don’t ye think?”

“You’ve waited this long to marry, and you think this spoiled little rich girl from India is the one for you?”

“She’s the only wench whose ever understood me. Ye never did ‘n I don’t blame ye, not a bit.”

Rosa stood directly in front of him. “You will tire of her, Colin.”

“Tire of her? She’s got way too much spunk for that.”

“Precisely! She’s half your age. You both will soon realize that you’re not on the same page.”

“I’ll take me chances.” He paced to the other end of the room and paused. He glanced at Rosa. She smiled at him. He continued to button his shirt. “Don’t see yez much with Sasha these days.”

“Don’t even mention him. He’s in his own little Russian world. Why did he even move to England? He still has strong ties to that country of his. He’s been very secretive about the letters he receives.”

Colin continued to get dressed. “Maybe they’s from his parents.”

“I don’t think so. He’s acting very strange.”

“I always thought of him as a mad scientist. Ye took him over me. I’ll always hate his guts for it, too.”

She cleared her throat. “So, I’m here in your flat to discuss business. I think we should get started.” She swirled around with her nose in the air. “Proceed, please.”

“Alright, well, this creature was a size I’ve never witnessed. I never saw teeth like that. The power of this creature was unstoppable. Sasha insists it was a shark. That was no shark, I tell ye. A shark would have to be stark mad to be swimmin’ about these chilly waters, wouldn’t ye think?”

“Do you have its tooth, so I can see it?”

“Aye. It’s under the bed, if ye can believe it?” he said, as he bent down beside the bed.

“Are you keeping this secret from Amoli?’

“Wouldn’t want to scare the poor lass.”

“I don’t think Amoli would even flinch if she saw that tooth.” Colin held the tooth before him, while Rosa examined it with her eyes. “Oh, my.” She felt the ridges along the side of it. “Is it really what I think it is?”

Colin’s eyes widened. “Do you know just by lookin’ at this?”

“Could it be Basilosaurus? You haven’t read about Basilosaurus? You’re so fixed on Megaloceros giganteus and nothing else. Basilosaurus was an ancient whale, which had tiny hind limbs. However, it was one of the earliest killer whales. It was a giant, about 18 meters and weighed 60 tones. It lived 35 million years ago.”

Colin sat on the bed, and took a deep breath. “I see. What shall I do? Millions of years ago. Feck, I don’t know how to deal with such a time in pre-history. This marine beast is post dinosaur era. What shall I do?”

“I’m only guessing based on this tooth. I’d have to take a closer look whilst in the lab.” He sprawled back on his bed. He stared at the ceiling almost in a trance. Rosa stepped closer to him. “Are you alright?”

“I’m not. I need to get langered in me grave tonight.”

She nestled up to his thigh. “I know you, you’re going to fix this mess.”

“I don’t know how.”

“You obtained the answers you needed for Megaloceros giganteus. Dear Colin, you can do anything. I know what kind of man you are, you’re impressively determined.”

“A stupid arse is what I am. Who do I think I am? I’m playin’ God, am I?”

She stroked his thigh. “I know you can solve this problem.”

“I never studied life on earth 35 million years ago. I wouldn’t know where to begin. Me stupid ideas will destroy our planet. Oh, sweet Lord, please help me.”

She ran her delicate fingers along his jaw. “I never stopped loving you. And I know you never stopped loving me.”

“Rosa, yer a confused wench. And now yer goin’ after confusin’ me. I won’t let ye do that to me, not again, no I won’t.”

She brought her face to his and kissed his lips. “I know you’re still attracted to me.” She untied the laces of her dress and let it fall below her shoulders. “You never stopped loving me.”

“Oh, why did I let ye in me flat? Ye can’t be here if yer doin’ that sort of thing.”

“Are you kicking me out?”

“I think so.” He sprung off the bed. “Fix yer dress the way it was.”

“Can you fix it for me? I heard you’re having difficulty with Amoli.”

“Heard what? From who?”

“You’re relationship is in trouble.” She slid off the bed to fasten her dress. “Will you ever forgive me for the time you found me with Sasha?”

“Forgiveness is what I’ve already given ye,” he said, trying not to focus on her delicate bare shoulders. “Yer Sasha’s wench.”

“Am I no longer beautiful to you? Why are you resisting me?” She stepped closer to him and tugged on his suspenders. “I want to do that with you, now. I’ve thought about it long enough. I think you and I should do that. I’m ready.”

Her eyes shifted around. He burst into laughter.

“Ready? Ready for what? Ye want me to feck ye? Is this what yer askin’ me?” He pulled her hands from him. “This can’t be happin’. Ye don’t want to get fecked, ‘n especially by me. Ye don’t want this, I know it.”

“I dream of you every night.”

“Surely, ye don’t dream of me feckin’ ye silly?”

She closed her eyes with a wince. “Must you be so disgusting when we discuss the act of love between a man and a woman? You talk like a sailor.”

“A sailor, so I am. Haven’t ye got it from Sasha yet?”

“I’d prefer to be married. He doesn’t seem that interested anymore.”

“Surely he is. He risked gettin’ his arse kicked by me. He’s interested in ye alright.”

“Yes, but I made a terrible mistake.” She stepped closer to him. “I don’t doubt your distrust in me. I’ve let you down too many times. I’ve come to realize there aren’t too many men out there like you.”

“Thank the Lord for that.”

“Colin, I know you still love me.”

“Don’t go actin’ the maggot.”

“Is that all you can say?”

“Aye.”