章 5: A kitchen test
Carmen made room for Ethel to cook, watching closely as the young man assessed the ingredients available to him.
"What should I cook? A simple dish might not impress Carmen, but I'm not an expert chef either," Ethel thought as his eyes scanned the ingredients. Finally, an idea formed in his mind, and he got to work.
"All right, I'll make an octopus ceviche with passion fruit," he decided quietly.
He began by briefly cooking the octopus, carefully maintaining its firm texture without losing tenderness. He then left it to cool in a bowl with the juice of four limes and two oranges.
"I'll let it marinate for about fifteen minutes in the fridge," Ethel explained, focused on his task.
Carmen and the other cooks watched in silence. They had seen ceviche prepared before, but not with these specific steps.
Ethel headed to the pantry and grabbed three passion fruits, cutting them into several pieces. He took the marinated octopus out of the fridge and added the fruit and juice. Then, with skillful precision, he finely chopped red onion, fresh cilantro, and chili pepper, adding a bit of olive oil. He placed the dish back in the fridge to chill properly.
When he took it out, he presented the dish with a smile.
"Voilà. Here you have an octopus ceviche with passion fruit. A refreshing dish for a hot day and a lot of work."
Carmen stepped forward, taking the initiative to taste the dish.
"Not bad, kid. At least you know how to plate a dish. Let's see how it tastes," she said, taking a bite.
With each bite, Carmen savored the flavors, analyzing each ingredient and their combination. Finally, after a few moments of silence, she nodded in approval.
"It's good. The process could be improved, but it's a solid dish. You've passed the test; you can stay and help us in the kitchen," Carmen concluded, with a slight but genuine smile.
"I expected her to be more intense and proud," Ethel thought, letting out a small laugh.
The cooks got to work, as they had to prepare food for about thirty sailors. Ethel, while working, took every opportunity to talk with Carmen.
"How did you end up on this ship? I've heard you're a well-known chef in the East Blue," he asked curiously, watching her work.
Carmen, with her characteristic intensity, put down the spoon she was using to taste a sauce and responded.
"I'm a friend of the company's owner. Since I usually travel to different islands, they take me along, and I help with the cooking," she explained, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"I see. So you don't stay in one place for long? Don't you miss your home?" Ethel pressed, eager to learn more about her.
Carmen paused for a moment before replying.
"Honestly, no. My family's been gone for a long time, and now I'm just looking to learn more about cooking," she replied, her tone a mix of resignation and determination.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up something sad," Ethel said, noticing the sorrow in her voice.
"Don't worry, it's just another story. That's the way things are in these times," she replied, as she finished decorating a dish with her signature style, full of intricate details.
"Yeah, now more than ever, you have to stay alert. Even the Marines can't be trusted with how corrupt they've become; imagine the bandits and pirates," Ethel commented, expressing his frustration.
Carmen looked at him curiously before speaking.
"I see you're not too happy with the Marines, from what you're saying. Have you had a bad experience with them?" she asked, intrigued by his story.
"I suppose it's like everyone else's. Corruption. It's no longer about protecting the citizens, but about gaining wealth and power for themselves," Ethel replied, a hint of bitterness in his voice. Changing the subject, he added, "But enough about that. What are you planning to do when we reach the Gecko Islands?"
"You sure have a lot of questions, kid," Carmen said with a smile. "I'm going to pick up my two apprentices. Once we deliver the goods and supplies to the islands, this ship will continue to Logue Town," she explained as she continued with her tasks.
"Haha, just a few questions, that's all. So, you have two students. I'll probably stay on one of the islands in that area for a while," Ethel explained, still smiling.
"Yeah, they rely on me to grow as chefs, but it seems leaving them alone for a while wasn't such a great idea after all. Anyway, enough about me. What about you? You don't seem like someone who cooks for a living, do you?" Carmen asked, curious to learn more about the young man.
"No, you could call me an adventurer. I go from island to island exploring. Right now, I'm looking for a way to reach the Grand Line," Ethel said, his tone full of excitement and a smile reflecting his ambitions.
Carmen looked at him for a few moments. She wouldn't have imagined that this young man, who seemed so calm, had such ambitious dreams as going to the Grand Line, especially being on his own.
"So, you want to go to the Grand Line. You're surely aware of the dangers that await there. But I guess it's charming to chase your dream like that," Carmen commented, with a tone mixing admiration and caution.
"You're doing the same thing. That's why you keep moving from island to island," Ethel replied, still smiling.
"Maybe you're right about that…" Carmen began to say, but she was interrupted by the sudden sound of several bells ringing loudly throughout the ship.
Carmen immediately recognized those sounds and quickly ordered, "Everyone grab a knife and hide in the cabins! We're under attack!" she shouted with authority as she grabbed a clean pan by the handle, ready to defend herself.
Ethel was startled by the alarm. "We're under attack. It must be pirates. I need to go see," he quickly thought as he headed toward the kitchen door.
Carmen tried to stop him, concerned for the young man's safety, but Ethel was faster and ran out into the central corridor of the ship.
Once outside, he saw several sailors preparing for battle. Some were in the cannon rooms, ready to respond with fire, while others ran across the deck, arming themselves with whatever they could find. The tension was palpable, and Ethel felt his adrenaline start to flow, aware that a battle was about to begin.
As he reached the bow, Ethel ran into Leandro, who was organizing the sailors with firm and decisive leadership.
"Kid, do you know how to fight?" Leandro asked bluntly, wasting no time on formalities.
"Yes, don't worry about me. I can defend myself. Is there a plan?" Ethel responded, feeling the adrenaline coursing through his veins as he gripped the hilt of his katana tightly.
"Wait for the boarding. They don't intend to sink us with their cannons. They probably want the cargo, but I don't think they have enough men to pull it off," Leandro shouted over the roar of the sea and cannons before moving away to continue organizing the other sailors.
Ethel, ready for combat, looked toward the approaching pirate ship. It was clear that this was a pirate attack. He observed the Jolly Roger flying high on the mast, but he didn't recognize it; it likely belonged to a minor pirate. Even so, the enemy ship was large and well-armed, too much for a small group of attackers.
"There must be about thirty of them. We have the advantage in numbers, but there are also many cooks and others here who don't know how to fight. This will be a good chance to practice," Ethel said, feeling a strange excitement welling up from deep within him.
Maybe it was the adrenaline of knowing his life was on the line, or perhaps something had changed within him since arriving in this new world, but he didn't feel fear. Though it was his first time in such a situation, he looked forward to it as if a part of him had always been destined for this.
The brothers Ron and Marcel, who had worked with him from the start, also came out to the bow to defend the ship. Both held swords in their hands, but the tension on their faces was evident.
Ethel approached them, aware of the need to stay united.
"Don't separate! Wait until they jump and attack together! Defend each other!" he shouted, trying to instill confidence in them.
The two brothers nodded silently, gripping their weapons with determination. They knew the danger was real, but with Ethel by their side, they felt a spark of hope. The battle was about to begin, and the fate of everyone on the ship would be decided in the coming moments.
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