Lady of Blackness"Don"t be damned impertinent, Watters!" Mackay"s hands clenched into fists. "I"ve given you your orders; it"s your duty to carry them out."
"Yes, sir." Watters reached for his hat. "I"ll need to hire a boat. May I draw some funds to cover the cost?"
* * *
A pair of oystercatchers piped Watters clear of the beach, their calls somehow reassuring above the crash of the surf. Both birds circled the boat, their black and white plumage contrasting with the orange bill and legs.
With her name Joyce painted in simple black letters on her white hull, the boat was smaller than Grace, with a single mast and a pair of oars. Hoisting the lug sail, Watters concentrated on the tiller, hitting the waves at an angle so they broke on the bows and dashed aside. Keeping well clear of the
