Special Cargo - Page 10 (Patreon)

Doucette would wait for the correct time to ask for some relief for Hadine. Now Tuomo's stories filled the whole deck, and there was no room to talk. The whiskey was high quality. It was strong, smoky, and had multiple after tastes. Most likely, it was single malt aged in barrels that had something to do with salt. Doucette hated whiskey, but she could tell when whiskey was good quality. Tuomo kept her sipping from the glass. She knew she was drinking too much and too fast. From time to time, she looked at Tapani. She had already learned why and how the engineer had become a mercenary—stories about his trips told by Tuomo and how bad temper redhead mother he had. Man didn't look evil or rude like mercenaries usually did. He had few scars. He was also nervous like soldiers were. He was looking around at the sky and horizon. 

Late summer evenings were endless this north, but the sun was already making small dive behind the horizon. Then, finally, the sky turned red, and the third glass of whiskey was going down slowly. Now Doucette understood what Tapani meant when he told Tuomo that he doesn't like how he makes everybody drunk. 

Finally, the old man said: "I will sit inside for a moment and see what horrible food you have brought to my boat. It smells like a pizzeria. Tapani, take care of our lovely guest and get her some food."

"Thank you." Doucette smiled. "I'm not very hungry." 

"Then finish your glass. I will fill it." Tuomo raised her glass and made her drink it until the end. Then he took the glass and vent to the cabinet.

"Fuck." Doucette cough. "Gods!"

Tapani smiled at her and sat next to her. "I always wanted to hear that from Princess."

Doucette was laughing. She understood she was drunk, beaten, and enslaved. The man who owned her was telling jokes. "Sorry, too much for one day." She whispered but laughed again when she started to wonder if she should call mercenary her Master. It took some time to calm down. Doucette knew she should keep her cool and think as clearly as possible. Then Tuomo appeared with a full glass of whiskey.