Its great tusk that had to be close to fifteen feet in length rose out of the water until it was suspended just over the side of the ship's netting. Keturah slid down the scarred rubbery snout to the tusk and gracefully walked the broad length of it barefoot.
That tusk had been rammed through countless sea monsters no doubt, but Keturah showed no fear. She stepped down onto the deck netting and the whale drew back as graceful and as calculated as the swish of a cat's tail.
Keturah smiled a little nervously and quickly stepped through our shock and awed ranks to head for the mainmast of the boat. She was obviously embarrassed over having been caught talking to an animal. She really had been scarred by someone into believing that she was crazy.
I looked from her at the mainmast back out to the sea. I was somewhat startled to see that the whale had come silently broad side of the vessel and its great eye was directly in front of me. It stared at me with an intensity that was undeniable. Just how much intelligence had God given to these creatures?
I knew that whales had their own language much the same as dolphins did, but I felt like I was getting a stern lecture through the one eyed glare of a higher significance. I got the message. Don't hurt his pretty master or there will be consequences.
Message delivered the whale dipped down silently beneath the waves and was gone from view.
Matt glanced from the still water to me with a knowing smirk, "Well you're still here so I guess he approves."
I gave him a dirty look and turned back to see what Keturah was up to. There was more of a sea breeze than there had been before and Keturah in the absence of my attention had already unfurled the sail and made the necessary tie offs of ropes attached to it. She really was a superb sailor and I respected her as such.
I stepped aft and undid the directional sail swing boom. So lost in the repetition of her timeworn habits Keturah was reaching for what I had just done when she saw I had already done it. She gave me a ready smile that had real pleasure in it.
"I hope you don't mind." I said, as the wind caught the sails more fully.
She quickly shook her head no as her smile got richer. It seemed that all her smiles and attentions were just for me. She was so giving of herself.
First she'd offered me her body whenever I wanted it and now she was handing over the reins of her boat, which had to be her one pride and joy in life. When it came to me she seemed to be nothing but joyful surrender. It was humbling, confusing, and utterly annoying.