Kid hunkered down in his seat, made himself small. He tensed. The adults weren’t getting along, and he didn’t like it. The boy reached for the rum and took a long swig straight from the bottle. His swallowing could be heard in the intervening silence. He remained seated but spoke up, addressing Katerina. "Aww, Kat, don’t be like that. I see the doubt in yer eyes. Maybe I shoulda tol' you it were cap'n ye'd be treatin' wit'. If there's fault, it're mine. I didna think you knew him, an' cain't be too careful. 'Specially not wit' eavesdroppers all 'round. Saw one jess on me way ter find ya at the Colonial, funny looking sort he were. Watching you, an' had a gris gris bag on 'im. Ran 'im off when I came round the bend." Kid once again tried but failed spectacularly to emulate James's proper English, with predictably laughable results. Too, the rum kicked in and he was unsteady on his feet.
The youth reached in his pocket and took out the watch and chain. Getting up from the table, Kid crossed the room and handed the gold timepiece to Barrington. He gave up on proper English, reverting instead to his native patois. ”It’s yers, cap’n. Don’t be mad. S’brought me luck.” He stayed by Barrington’s side, but turned and offered to Kat, ”I want in. The crew knows me. You know I kin climb an’ rig. But there’s more. Here, wait.” Kid dug out the Aztec coin. He kept the coin in the palm of his brown hand and crossed to the opposite side of the room to show Katerina. ”I took it, see. I cain’t gib it up, neither. S’gotta go back to La Gloriosa. I know, ‘cause it whispers ter me at night. An’ I feel it pressin’ on me heart somethin’ fierce, like a boulder. Please, Kat. I cain't swim, it's gotta go down ter the depths, an' I'm scared.” The boy looked up at her. ”But take Jim, too. He’s smart, an’ done me in good stead today, feedin’ me an’ showin’ me a thing’re two. He's family ter me, jess like you, Lady Kat.”
Kid launched himself at Kat. Lanky brown arms again wrapped about her mid-section. She felt his boy's body vibrate with relief and excitement, both. 
