Authors: Lynelle Clark
are all dead.'
'Who says she didn't talk already?' The situation
was critical.
'Then the ship would have returned. We are not that
far from the
Heerengardt
that it cannot catch up with us.
We will have to follow and devise a plan to reclaim her
without them noticing it. It is a good thing that the moon is
not shining tonight.'
'Roberto! You are mad to suggest this. We will be
going into the heart of the D.E.I.C and if they catch us, we
would be immediately hanged.'
'I will go alone,' Roberto said. This undertaking was
of the highest risk.
With the order given they turned, following the ship
with speed and in absolute dark silence. All the pirates
were on the lookout for any sudden movement, eyes darting
over the black calm waters, searching for the
Heerengardt.
It took them six hours to intercept the
Heerengardt.
By then the sun was already dawning in rich amber colours
and Roberto realized they could not get closer without
being noticed. They fell back, keeping their distance with
the crow master giving feedback every hour.
†††
June 11, 1624
Kayla came for a short visit. She really looked well
considering she was five months pregnant. Derek was
overwhelmed, keeping a tight hold on her hands.
She in turn could not get enough of little Manuel.
Not that I could blame her. He was growing strong and
healthy. Every day he looked more and more like me with
the exception that he had his mother's dark brooding eyes.
He was big for his two months but it was normal, the
medicine woman assured me.
Today we relived many of the moments we shared
with them in the wilderness of Africa. Kayla remembered
the time that one of the chiefs hunted us and we had to hide.
He wanted Qonchita as his woman and I was not willing to
let her go; under no circumstances. We had to flee late at
night. The rest of the group scattered in a different
direction.
Then when we finally came back to the group, I was
accused of abandoning the group and punished
accordingly. Both Qonchita and Kayla were angry at the
captain. But I took my punishment and made the best of it.
Qonchita forgot all about propriety and rebuked me
because I was so calm about it. I explained to her that the
Captain had rules, and it did look as if I was running away.
For days she did not speak to me and today I can
admit that it brought my heart much happiness. I knew she
loved me but she never showed it openly. That only
revealed her real feelings. Faro of course was angry with
her for openly choosing me over him and he shunned her
for a few days.
Then came the event that changed everything
between Qonchita and Kayla. Two weeks later we were
again facing a stubborn chief who helped as at first but in
the end demanded to have the women for himself. I never
had to think so quickly as on that day. I stripped Qonchita
and Kayla before him and showed their state. Since all four
his women were overweight, I pointed out how skinny
Qonchita and Kayla were. This displeased him greatly.
Two slave woman that still had enough fat on them
said they would stay and this pleased the chief. In Africa
you learn to think on your feet and use the tools you have.
All finesse and veneer is stripped away and all that is left is
survival. You don't think, you just act and hope it was the
best thing. Sometimes all you have left is your instincts to
act on.
That means live or die. For Qonchita and Rosa-Lee
I would do anything as long as it meant they were safe.
7
August 22, 1624
Today was exceptionally warm day. The humid air
caused our clothes to cling to our sweat-drenched bodies.
Manuel was uncomfortable with the heat until Cisco took
him to the river and dipped him in. For the first time in
days he was happy, laughing as his father dragged him
through the water playfully. Rosa-Lee also joined them in
the water and I sat safely at the side with my feet in the
stream.
It was a glorious summer day and Cisco relaxed
with the children. He was extremely busy this time of the
year. The responsibilities of a land owner weighed heavily
on him. There was trouble with other land owners and they
had held meetings the week before. It irritated him greatly
since it took him away from his home and family. Also there
were problems with the villagers he had to sort out.
Tomorrow he must leave for Lisbon to see to the loading of
the shipment he is sending to India.
Alfonso arrived a week ago and is helping him. The
two friends were happy to see each other again for the first
time since we arrived eight months ago.
Alfonso is captain of the new ship Cisco received
from the D.E.I.C. in tribute for his bravery during the two
years we struggled through the wilderness. If it was not for
him we would not made it and would have perished with
the rest of the crew and slaves. Alfonso had no qualms
about resigning from his old ship. He took the job Cisco
offered since he receives part of the profits as payment.
Alfonso met a young woman in India that he
brought with him. It was easy to see the sailor was smitten
with her. He is talking about marriage before he leaves in
another two weeks.
Akanksha is a raven-haired beauty with big, wide,
smouldering eyes in such a youthful face. She loves Alfonse
as much as he does her, which we are thankful for.
Previously another woman just wanted his name for
her unborn child. He thought was his until the baby was
born. Cisco said that Alfonso was shocked and turned his
attentions away from any woman. It was really a pity since
he is a fine man.
Now he has met Akanksha after all these years and
it seems he finally has his own joy. I wish them all the
happiness in the world. Since he would be at sea often, she
will stay in India, where he has already purchased a house
for her. She is very shy but I did manage to speak to her
and help her buy her trousseau with the aid of Alfonso,
since she could only speak Portuguese with great difficulty.
We all deserved happiness in our lives, finally
putting the last two years out of our minds. Nightmares still
woke me during the night. The sounds and smells of people
dying were impressed in our minds.
Thank fully Rosa-Lee adjusted well and her
nightmares become fewer and fewer.
†††
It was a clear day with brilliant sunlight. They could
see the
Heerengardt
through the binoculars as they kept
pace with the larger vessel through the vast deep blue
Atlantic. The ocean was calm as small waves broke against
the bow and a light breeze in the sails pushing them
forward, closer to the
Heerengardt
.
Roberto was seething as he looked in the direction
of the horizon where he knew the ship with Rosa-Lee was.
With not much to do but hope that she would not betray
them.
How could she do this?
He thought the last four days had changed things. Fool that he was, he had trusted her.
What could she do on the ship, surrounded by ocean?
He never thought she was capable of doing this.
'Never underestimate your enemy or a woman,'
Falcon always said. 'Sly foxes,' he called them.
Thorns.
Roberto gritted his teeth.
Thorns.
Pierre tried to talk to him but Roberto was not in a
conversational mood. Pierre let him be. They went through
the tasks of running the ship in silence.
It seemed that they were headed for the islands of
Cape Verde, islands Roberto knew very well. He had
raided them a few times himself. His bet was that they
would anchor at the island of Santiago, a place he would
investigate. But why would a ship from the D.E.I.C stop
there? It did not make sense. Normally they just left the
islanders to themselves, and, again, a nagging feeling
settled in his gut. But for now, all he could do was wait
patiently for night-time, when they would be able to get
close enough.
By the time lunch was served, clouds had begun to
accumulate in the clear sky. The shoreline would not be the
safest place to be with such unpromising-looking clouds.
Nevertheless, the
Heerengardt
continued on its course and they were forced to follow.
With dangerously low clouds hanging over the
waters, by sunset Roberto knew they had trouble. But he
could not take the risk of being discovered, and he had to
get Rosa-Lee back.
She will pay for this foolishness he
thought once again.
'Roberto, don't you think we must turn away?'
Pierre asked during supper. 'We are entering dangerous
waters. The señorita has had enough time to tell them about
us. We need to get away while there is still time.'
Roberto sat and ate his meal, tasting nothing of the
delicious food. He listened to every argument his lieutenant
had, and they made sense. But he could not leave her, even
if she did betray them. He knew their lives were in danger.
The D.E.I.C was an organization that had no tolerance for
pirates; and then there was the brewing storm.
Would she be okay?
The past four days, while she told him more stories,
he knew the sea disaster twenty years ago still lingered in
the back of her mind. It did not matter how brave or strong
she was, the upcoming storm would devastate her. He knew
that much. He had begun to care about her, to be protective
of her, fearful for her safety.
Would she be all right among the sailors? He asked
himself once again, would they treat her like the lady she
is?
If they touched her…he clenched his fists. He did
not want to think about it. He knew what he would do but
also knew the consequences of such a brutal act. The pain
and loss was unbearable at times. He wanted her back on
the
Contra O Vento
, back with him.
These were the thoughts that he struggled with. He
was also in a place where he made decisions for them all.
His men were his responsibility.
'I hear you Pierre, but we need to get her back. My
father will kill me if I lose her.'
'He will understand.'
'No, Pierre, you know he will not. It's his laws,
remember?'
And Pierre sighed, shaking his head. 'Are we still
getting her from the ship?'
'Yes.'
'And the storm?'
'We better hope it will give us enough time to bring
her back safely before it hits.'
'I will go and ready the longboat. Who will go with
us?'
'Just us. I don't want anyone else in danger.' Pierre
nodded. No point in arguing. Physically both he and
Roberto were capable of doing this. Because of the storm, it
would help to have some extra muscle, but he was the