Captain in Calico (10 page)

A minute later the child was kneeling by his grandfather's body, crying piteously, and in an almost incoherent torrent of words trying to explain that what they asked him was something he must not tell. The old slave smiled at him out of a face grey with agony, and when Nicodemus, sobbing, asked him a question, he shook his grizzled head and laid it in the dust again.

Kane swore and kicked the boy aside. Nicodemus crouched with his hands over his face, but he could still hear the
sickening crack of Kane's whip as it cut the life out of his grandfather's body.

Presently the whipping stopped, and he was wrenched to his feet again. Kane jerked his thumb at the inert figure on the floor.

‘Must I flog him to death? It's all one to me. Or will you come to your senses?' He shook the child to and fro. ‘When does she go again, ye little swine?'

Nicodemus looked past him at the body of the old man, and then blurted out: ‘To-morrow.'

Kane held him at arm's length, and grinned into the little dark face that was darker now with hatred. ‘I could ha' burned you to death afore you'd ha' told me,' he said. ‘Just as well ye did, for the old bastard's dead.' He let the boy go. ‘Pity ye didn't know, eh?' He turned on his heel. ‘Keep that brat in the roundhouse,' he instructed the guards, and strode back to the house to report his success.

‘Very well,' said Bonney, when Kane told him. He sat in silence for some minutes, his plump fingers playing with a quill, and when he spoke he kept glancing shiftily about the room as though he suspected unseen listeners.

‘This was the evidence we needed,' he reflected aloud. ‘You must have your tale pat, Kane, when the time comes to tell it to the Governor.'

Kane was taken aback. ‘The Governor?'

‘But of course.' Bonney's eyes were bright with malicious pleasure. ‘Who else? We must have all in train. She is a wife, and adultery is a serious matter, you know. If she prefers a gallant to myself she must be prepared to pay the price.' It was the measure of the man that he could discuss his own cuckoldry in front of his servant. ‘Yes, we shall to His Excellency, and Mistress Bonney shall be dealt with for what
she is. Do you know what that means, Kane?' Bonney rose from the table, and the only sign of excitement about him was the quill twisting nervously in his fingers. ‘I shall tell you. She shall go to the cart-tail. I shall see her lashed through the streets by the public hangman. Oh, she'll not hold her head so high once she's had the whip about her body, I'll warrant. And it may be that she'll come home again a more dutiful wife.'

Kane was a hardy rascal, but even he was shaken by the venom of the other's tone and the outrageousness of his suggestion. He stood dumb while Bonney slowly paced the room.

‘And for her pirate lover,' Bonney went on, ‘I think we can contrive without Governor Rogers' assistance. Yes, he shall be our first concern: a grace before meat.' He chuckled softly. ‘But that you may leave to me. I think I can promise Captain Rackham even livelier entertainment than he had on his first visit, and Mistress Anne shall share it with us before we take her to the Governor.'

From a small knoll overlooking the promontory of Dick Point, and conveniently screened on its landward sides by scrub, Rackham and Penner watched the brig
Star
dip her stately way across the sapphire bay beneath them. Her canvas gleamed in the bright sunshine, and across the half mile of water came the squeal of the bosun's pipe and the creak of tackle as she swung on to her south-easterly course and glided down the coast.

Rackham watched with a glass to his eye while Penner, his coat laid by and his close-cropped head swathed in a handkerchief, lay with his chin in his hands and blinked contentedly on the beauty of the scene.

In the glass Rackham could see quite plainly the features of the officers on the poop, and the scarlet-coated sentries at the ladder. When he trained the lens on the rigging he could even make out the knife at the waist of a half-naked sailor swinging his way up the futtock shrouds and into the main-top.

‘I could wish she carried more rubbish on her timbers,' he observed to Penner. ‘There's a good greasy keel under that water. Set her running before the wind and she'll lead the
Kingston
a fine dance. Still, she'll need all her speed and more if she's ever to see Port Royal.'

Penner screwed up his eyes against the sunlight. ‘Why is Rogers sending her to Jamaica at all?' he wondered. ‘She might have made a straight trip to England without danger, or if he wants to find an escort for her, what ails him that he doesn't send her north to Charles Town? He's risking his treasure in the lousiest, most dangerous stretch of ocean between Campeche and Carlisle Bay. It's most plaguily odd.'

‘Not when you think of the other risks,' said Rackham. ‘It had to go quickly, but he daren't send it to Charles Town, with the Florida Channel so thick with Dons there's hardly room for the fish. A straight run to England's too risky for a single ship, he reckons, so he looks to Port Royal and there he sends the
Star.
He'll let the Jamaica Squadron worry about her. Anyway, what does he have to fear?' He pointed down at the brig, which now had them directly on her starboard beam. ‘She's nimble enough to outsail most vessels: Rogers is a seaman, and ye can wager he picked her himself. She'll not outsail the
Kingston
, though, unless I've forgotten my trade.'

‘But could he not have sent to Jamaica for an escort, and then made the ocean crossing in safety?' Penner persisted.

‘And how long would it have taken to get one of the Jamaica Squadron up here? Every night Rogers would have been prowling down to his cellars to see the Spaniards weren't pinching his dollars. He wanted it out of his hands, so he couldn't be blamed for losing it. It's safer at sea than ever it was here. I had some of it aboard long enough to know. I ran the bloody stuff from Cuba to St Kitts looking for a safe
place, and the longer I sailed the surer I was it was safest of all right under my feet.' He shook his head at the recollection. ‘I know what's been in Rogers' mind, how he's been lying awake of nights, sweating.'

The Major sighed. ‘Aye, it's some consolation, now, when you lose a thing, knowing that him that stole it is having the horrors wondering what to do with it. Can ye picture the dirty looks there's going to be aboard the
Kingston
when we've taken the booty and everyone's ready to cut his neighbour's throat?'

‘I've seen it before,' said Rackham. He stood up and shook the sand from his clothing. ‘I'll know how to deal with it.'

The Major rose and donned his coat. Together they watched the
Star
as she stood down from the point, the Union flag stirring gently at her peak.

‘South over Tongue of the Ocean,' said Rackham. ‘Then south-westerly through the Old Channel for the Windward Passage. If she ever rounds Cape Maysi it'll be our own fault.' He smiled. ‘One way or the other, we can say good-bye to the sea for good.'

Separately they returned to town, Penner to make his last preparations aboard his sloop which lay in the harbour ready to sail, Rackham to take a last look by daylight at the
Kingston
, lying now beyond Hog Island, the flat bank that protected the harbour from the open sea. Standing in a doorway out of the hustle of the waterfront he could look across the channel and see the
Kingston
's masts above the scrub which dotted Hog Island: not until to-morrow or the day after did the port authorities intend to beach her for careening, and by then, if all went well, she would be speeding south in the wake of the
Star.
For half an hour he surveyed her and then made his way back to the inn, a prey to impatience and growing excitement.

The period of waiting through the evening was the worst part. Rackham sat alone in his room in the Cinque Ports, his solitude relieved only by occasional visits from Ben, who came to report that his thirty picked men were assembling in the taverns along Fish Street. There were three here and five there; never too many together, in case someone should become suspicious, and Ben made periodic trips along the street to see that all was well and that they kept moderately sober.

At nine o'clock a knock sounded at the door, and Rackham made haste to open it, expecting Anne. Instead, it was a serving man from the tap-room with a note which he said had been handed in by a negro who had gone as soon as his message was delivered.

Frowning, Rackham turned the little packet over in his hands. It bore only the superscription ‘Cap. Jn. Rackham', and was sealed with a blob of wax. Signing to the man to wait, he broke it open and carried it close to the candle to read it.

‘He discovered us from Nicodemus (it read) and keeps me close here. In the morning he goes to seek the Governor. Quickly, for God's sake.' The note was signed ‘A.'

For a moment Rackham stared at the words, then he wheeled round. ‘A black gave you this? Where is he?' He took two quick steps and caught the drawer by the shoulder. ‘How long since?'

‘But a moment.' The drawer grimaced under his grip. ‘He – he went. I never saw—'

With an oath Rackham sent him staggering towards the door, where he nearly collided with Penner, who loomed suddenly behind him. The Major took in the situation and jerked his thumb in a gesture of dismissal.

‘Out, my lad,' he said, and the drawer made his escape. Penner turned to Rackham.

‘What's amiss?'

Rackham held out the letter in silence. He was blazing with rage inwardly. That this should have happened, and at the most vital hour. Anne Bonney should have been in the room with him at this moment, and Penner should be preparing to take her aboard his sloop. Instead, she was locked up in her house, a mile from town, and their whole enterprise was in jeopardy.

Penner, having scanned the note, was considering that very point, but he was not the kind to waste his breath in senseless recrimination.

‘It's devilish inconvenient,' he said, watching Rackham.

‘Inconvenient!' Rackham swore savagely. ‘That prying little bastard Bonney has poxed us nicely, rot his soul! You and she should be on the sloop, and I should be on my way to the
Kingston
by this. What the devil's to be done?'

Penner scratched his lip. ‘The sloop stands ready. Ben's below, and nodded to me as I came up, so I judge he has your men to hand. It might be best to go to work as though nothing had happened.'

‘And leave her behind?' Rackham put out one hand to take hold of the Major's lapels, and there was something like madness in his hot, glittering eyes. ‘Look you, Penner, we made a bargain. We'll keep it. I'm no buccaneer, but by God, I'll stick to my articles and so will you. She sails with us if I have to burn that bastard's plantation about his ears. He thinks because I'm a pardoned man he has me fast; that all he has to do is roll down in his carriage to Rogers in the morning and have me set in irons for tumbling his wife.' He laughed harshly. ‘He thinks I'm asleep, likely. Jesus, we'll see
who's sleeping.' He strode over to his bed. From beneath the mattress he drew out his broadsword and baldric, and slung them over his shoulder. Then from the chest beside the bed he took out a pistol, and examined the priming while Penner watched him bleakly.

‘What d'ye intend?' asked the Major.

‘What d'ye think? I'm taking those men of mine out to his house and have her out of there. Then we'll see to the
Kingston
.' He thrust the pistol inside his shirt. ‘You can get aboard your sloop. It may take us an hour longer, but I'll have the satisfaction of paying her score with Master Bonney.'

Penner moved his great bulk into Rackham's path and held out the note. ‘Tell me first, how came you by this?'

‘Some nigra brought it. I didn't see him; he gave it to the drawer.'

‘Just so,' Penner nodded grimly. ‘And ye can swear it's in her hand?'

Rackham had been about to push past, but this checked him. He took the note and looked at it again.

‘I never saw her writing,' he admitted slowly. ‘You think it may be forged?'

Penner shrugged. ‘Were I Bonney I'd take good care my erring wife got no chance to send such a note as that. But I might easy write one myself, if I hated her lover and I knew it would bring him running.' He paused. ‘You see the implication. Whoever wrote the note, it's obvious Bonney has found out she was to meet you here to-night. And it's odd, too, that he should choose to wait till morning before bearing his tale to Rogers. If he ever does intend to bear it. I think myself he'd take more satisfaction in dealing with you – and her – in his own way. And that's what you'll be giving him
the chance of doing if you go blundering out to his plantation in the middle of the night.' He planted his hands on his hips and rocked gently on his booted heels. ‘A pretty plot, faith. I'll go a strong wager there's blacks heating irons in his cellars now, for it's not the mercy of a bullet you'd get from Master Bonney once he had you under his foot. It's a lonely spot, and there's not so many would be asking questions about you afterwards.'

Rackham shredded the note to pieces between his fingers. ‘You may be right. I believe you are. Still, it makes no difference. He can know nothing of our plans for the
Star
and the
Kingston.
He doesn't know I have thirty rogues at my call. He expects to catch me out there alone. He'll find more than he bargained for.'

‘Wait.' Penner was beginning to feel really concerned. ‘For God's sake, man, d'ye think ye can start a war and no one take notice? Ye'll have the militia on the back of your neck within five minutes. What chance have ye got of taking the
Kingston
once ye've roused the whole island?'

‘Penner,' said Rackham, ‘you talk like a soldier. Leave piracy to me. By the time the island's roused – which I doubt it will be, knowing how much your pot-bellied militia dislike activity – I'll have Anne out of there and be down to the shore where our longboats are lying. Let the Governor and his lobster-coats go sweating out to Bonney's place. It'll make the taking of the
Kingston
all the easier.'

He pulled open the door and shouted for the drawer. When that individual appeared, keeping a respectful distance, Rackham dispatched him in search of Ben. Penner sighed and shook his head.

‘If we come through this alive we'll have had more than our share of luck,' he said heavily. ‘D'ye love the girl, then?'

‘You'ld best be away to your sloop,' said Rackham pointedly. ‘There's nothing to keep you here. We've trouble enough without having you late at Salt Cay.'

‘By your leave,' said Penner, ‘I'd rather come with you. I've no wish to be biting my nails aboard wondering whether you're coming or not. Time enough to get aboard the sloop when you set off for the
Kingston.
And I can take Mistress Bonney with me. She'll be safer so.'

The truth was that he was concerned for the safety of the rescue party. Rackham in a raging temper might commit some rashness which would imperil the whole expedition, and Penner's thoughts were with that cargo of silver speeding south to the Windward Passage. With himself to counsel and restrain in what lay immediately ahead they might still be sailing in its wake before dawn.

Ten minutes later Rackham and Penner with their followers were assembling in a hollow by the east road a stone's throw from the edge of town. It was too dark to see more than a few yards, and Ben made his roll-call by moving from man to man as they lay or squatted among the bushes. Those who had pistols were ordered to draw their charges, for Rackham would take no chances of an accidental shot which might announce their arrival at Bonney's plantation and so rob them of the element of surprise.

Presently Ben muttered that all was ready, and a moment later Rackham was leading his little force in single file away from the roadside towards the shore. He counted a hundred paces and then turned eastwards, following the line of the road but keeping a safe distance from it. Here they were moving through light scrub which dotted the sandy ground, but only a little distance ahead the undergrowth thickened into larger bushes and small trees. To their left lay more woods, shutting
out the sea, but above the incessant drone of the tropic night they could just make out the sound of the distant breakers. All about them were the shadows, and above the dark Caribbean evening sky, with the tiny star-flecks glinting.

They came on the first sign of ambush about quarter of a mile from Bonney's plantation. They were filing through a small grove when Rackham caught the sound of movement somewhere to their right, in the direction of the road. Signing to the others to be still, he beckoned Ben, and together they stole cautiously through the trees until they were on the edge of the low scrub bordering the road. There they heard the noise again – the soft scuffling of a foot on the sandy earth. It was only a few yards from them, and after a moment Rackham detected its origin.