Country's War

            .4

Enjoy the Fish

     Goaded the giant tosses a few loaves, thudding the shoulder and forehead of the suicidal man. Rowdy shouts from the older soldiers grew more intense and bolder. Atryn looked around as the men began standing and moving toward the giant and the boy, some shouting some laughing.  The boy shrinking at the gunwale shutting his eyes he placed his palms flat against the cold metal wall. Seeming to Atryn as if he thought somehow the wall could protected him. The crew cheered the giant on, Parcleus stood and surveyed the excitement then looked down to Atryn. Leaning back, he shut his eyes, silently drifting.

            “They’ll toss em’ over!” He cried over the rising mayhem athwart ship. Atryn sat as still as the wind had become. Parcleus turned back to the disorder. The giant threw another loaf at the boy, who recoiling began to sob.

            “He’s tearin up he is!” A short filthy man pointed at the boy and giggled with his hands on either side of his belly. The giant roared his most boisterous delight. Turning he raised his arms to the crowd of onlookers. In unison they cheer him, fists pumping and backslapping. A loaf of bread pats the giant against the back of his massive cranium, the boy stood, eyes of tears chest higher than his head, and hushed the crowd. Turning slowly with eyes of disbelief and shock, the giant saw through to an end.

            “So, death is your wish after all.” Pointing at the boy with eyes of rage, and hair wild, his stomps rang out a clatter of metal as his steel boots pounded the iron deck. Rushing away, the boy tried escape, but the crowd enclosed him, pushing him towards his adversary. Bouncing off the enthralled mob, he ducked under the swing of the giant, momentarily escaping his fate. Parcleus turned back to Atryn.

            “Do something!”

            “You do something.” Atryn calmly retorted. Again the boy tried to rush into the sea of men, and again they fought him back and thrust him into the center of the ring, with the iron gunwale its unforgiving gate. It was his salvation and his damnation. Free from the agitated fence, he found himself with his back against the cold iron entry to the sea as the giant descended upon him. Into the air he went with one swift motion of the mountainous man, he was lifted high above the deck, an felt himself oddly safe in the monstrous hands of the giant as he lay cradled above all. Looking out he stared at the sky, thin and flat where it met the sea thin and flat, and thought of where they might collide.

            “Toss him over!”

            “Get on with it!” The men shouted for the giant to throw the boy off the ship.

            “Enjoy the fish.” The giant said as he bent slightly to send the boy out and over. From athwart ship a voice boomed in command.

            “Let em alone Tarkys!” The deck grew silent, and the crowd turned toward the bow. Startled Parcleus looked back, with the crew, at Atryn now standing with his eyes fixed on Tarkys, holding the thin boy above his head, whom was no longer squirming and fighting having made his peace with the waves and the clouds and fate. Tarkys slowly brought the boy down to the deck.

            “Pardon me. I wasn’t told of your promotion.” Tarkys acquiesced.

            “There’s been no promotion Tarkys.” Atryn began walking towards the crowd.

            “Surely you must be captain now, giving orders out.” Tarkys grinned, his eyes of anger, slightly wrinkled at the corners.

            “Tarkys, I’m no captain, leave the boy be.” The boy tried to run but the weight of Tarkys’ hands upon his shoulders kept him anchored to the deck directly in front of Tarkys. Atryn slowly approached the crowd Parcleus in tow, Tarkys towering above.

            “Moments ago you tried pushin em over yourself.” Their unwavering eyes were locked. The crew moved to either side allowing for a path between the two men.

            “The boy wanted to live, so I let em.” Atryn saw the boy for the first time, a thin lad with a straight nose and shaved head. A look of dissolution in his brown eyes. “Your right to do the same.” Tarkys lowered his giant brow.

            “My right.” Nodding his head, he placed his hands upon the boys waist and sent him flying over his head. Barely missing the top of the gunwale he disappeared behind it and Atryn heard a splash.