Corsair (12 page)

“Anyway, you think the Spanish have forgotten that by now?”

“It’s one of the few victories they’ve ever had,” Ned said caustically, “so perhaps they still celebrate it.”

Two hours later the
Griffin
, a large flag of truce streaming out at each yardarm, and closely followed by the
Peleus
, bore away and began to reach into the anchorage of Santo Domingo, both Lobb and Ned anxiously eyeing the muddy waters of the River Ozama.

The harbour was easier than Ned had expected: the entrance to the river was wide and where it narrowed the city was built on each bank. The chart showed deep water close in to the land, and Ned took the
Griffin
in to the east bank and anchored to leeward of a square fort. The
Peleus
followed and anchored to windward of her.

Through the perspective glass Ned had already seen that the fort had a small jetty, with a couple of boats secured to it. Further inshore there was a beach with twenty or more open fishing boats pulled up out of the water, each boat painted in bright colours, in contrast to the drab grey of the stone fort and the sun-bleached wood of a small shed from which were strung nets.

With the anchor down and holding in six fathoms of water, Ned said to Aurelia, who was examining the coast curiously, “Now we have to wait.”

“Will the Spanish come out to us, or do we send in a boat?”

“Well, I deliberately anchored close to the fort. If the Spanish don’t come out soon, I imagine Thomas will send in a boat.”

They waited an hour and nothing happened. Through the glass Ned could see Spaniards on the parapet of the fort, obviously curious about the two ships that had come in with white flags and anchored.

“The trouble is that no Spaniard likes to do anything without orders,” Ned commented. “I expect they’ve sent a man on horseback to report to the governor and ask what to do.”

Then Ned saw that Thomas’ patience had obviously given out: both boats were hoisted out in the
Peleus
, and oars were lashed vertically at bow and stern so that the white flags secured to them were unmistakable.

The first boat left the
Peleus
, rowing for the fort, with four men sitting in it, among the rowers. “The translator, the two ADCs and his secretary,” Ned commented after inspecting it with the glass. “Heffer isn’t taking any chances.”

It took ten minutes for the boat to get alongside the jetty, and by the time it arrived twenty or more Spanish soldiers were there to meet it, armed with muskets and pikes, and wearing helmets and breastplates. They stood back while the four men clambered out of the boat, and Ned watched them obviously listening while the translator made some sort of explanation. Then they escorted the four men into the fort.

“Looks friendly enough so far,” Ned commented to Aurelia. “I suspect they arrived before the horseman has returned from the governor. Now they’ll have to send a second horseman!”

He continued watching the fort and discovered a track leading from the fort and going towards the city. Fifteen minutes after the four men had gone into the fort he saw a man on horseback galloping up to the fort from the direction of the city.

“Ah, here comes the messenger from the governor. Either the fort will open fire on us and toss the bodies of our four men over the parapet, or our fellows will come out and fetch Heffer.”

An anxious Ned had to wait half an hour before soldiers streamed out of the fort and marched down the jetty again. Ned could just make out Heffer’s four men, who climbed back into the waiting boat and were soon being rowed back to the
Peleus
.

“You worry too much,” Aurelia said. “I knew everything would be all right.”

Ned grunted doubtfully. “You felt it in your bones, no doubt. You have the most sensitive bones in the whole Caribbee!”

The boat reached the
Peleus
, and ten minutes later the second boat left her and started pulling towards the
Griffin
. Ned recognized Thomas’ bulky shape sitting in the stern.

He climbed on board the
Griffin
and greeted Ned. “I thought I’d come over and tell you what’s happening. The translator’s just come back and Heffer is to go to the fort at noon tomorrow to be taken into the city to see the governor. At least, I presume it’ll be the governor. He’s to take a translator with him, but the Spaniards say only two people.”

“What does Heffer think about it?”

Thomas laughed and waved towards the land. “Heffer hates being at sea so much he can’t wait to get his feet on dry land again, even if the land is Spanish!”

“What sort of voyage did you have with him?”

“Oh, he was sick for a couple of days, but once he’d recovered we couldn’t stop him talking. He had to tell his fellows all about meeting us when we first arrived in Jamaica, then the raid on Santiago to get him guns…the man’s a bore; even Diana was losing patience at the tenth telling of every story.”

“The poor man,” Aurelia said unexpectedly. “This is the first time for years that he’s been able to talk freely and he’s been thoroughly enjoying himself.”

“He’ll soon be able to talk his head off with the Spanish,” Ned said sourly. “Let’s hope the governor of Santo Domingo has as much patience as Diana. Maybe he’s like Heffer – has no one to talk to.”

“By the way,” Thomas said. “I thought you anchored rather close to the fort – if they get cross with us, we’re well within range of their guns.”

“I did that deliberately,” Ned said. “The fact that we’re right under their guns should persuade the Spanish that we’re not planning any tricks. Anyway, the fort is to windward so if we cut our anchor cables we’ll soon drift out of range.”

Thomas nodded. “Yes, and there’s quite a strong current, too. I reckon a couple of knots, so even if it was windless we’d soon be clear.”

“Has old Heffer with all his gossip indicated he’s prepared what he’s going to say to the Dons?” Ned asked.

“No. That meeting is about the only thing he’s not talked about – at length! But presumably Luce told him what to say.”

“I wouldn’t rely on that,” Ned said. “My impression was that Luce is very anxious to carry out his instructions but hasn’t much idea how to do it.”

“All that energy,” Thomas said. “It’s a pity we can’t point him in the right direction; he might then turn into a good governor.”

“The brothels are going to be the death of him,” Ned said soberly. “I think we’ll get back to find the first of the buccaneers have already left for Tortuga, taking some ladies with them. Luce will find his kingdom comprises a row of closed-down bordellos.”

“Although I’m sure that his wife was behind the bordellos affair,” Thomas said, “one mustn’t forget that Luce was a Puritan. He probably still prays to my sainted uncle; closing down some brothels in memory of Oliver Cromwell is just the sort of thing one would expect from a reformed Roundhead.”

Thomas pulled out his watch. “I told Diana I wouldn’t stay long, because she wanted to come over. By the way, one of Heffer’s party was so seasick all the way that we had to throw a bucket of water over him after we anchored.”

“Who was that?” Ned asked.

“One of his ADCs, a Captain Irons. He looked like a rusty ghost – hasn’t eaten for five days…”

Next morning Ned watched as Heffer and the translator left the
Peleus
and were rowed to the fort. Later he saw four horsemen, two of whom were Spaniards, the sun glinting on their helmets, and one was certainly Heffer, who sat a horse better than Ned expected.

Watching the horsemen ride along the track stirring up a cloud of dust, Ned found himself looking at the fishing boats drawn up on the beach. They had pronounced sheers and high bows, and as he looked through the perspective glass he noticed that the nets were not still draped over the small shed he had seen the previous day. Not only that, he realized, there were many more boats now drawn up on the beach: they extended well beyond the shed. Another dozen? More, probably. Yet, apart from two or three men walking along the beach, there was no sign of fishermen. When did the extra boats arrive? They must have come during the night because he had not seen any fishing boats being rowed about during daylight.

Aurelia called to him to say the midday meal was ready, and after they had eaten, an hour after Heffer had gone to the fort, Ned decided he would go over to see Thomas. Aurelia said she was bored with staying on board alone and decided to go over to see Diana.

They found Thomas in a cheerful mood. “You don’t know what a relief it is not to have Heffer’s sheeplike face around the ship,” he said. “He’s a good sort but he tries my patience. Those teeth – I’ve never met a man before whose teeth bothered me so much. They’re so big and yellow, and they protrude so far they keep drying. He says three words and then has to lick his teeth, otherwise his lips stick to them.”

“Thomas!” Diana said sternly. “Stop being so nasty about the poor man. It’s not his fault.”

“No,” Thomas agreed, with mock penitence, “it’s not his fault that Nature made him look like a sheep and gave him a laugh like the braying of an ass. But it’s not my fault either!”

They talked of the view from the ship, the distant mountains fading into a faint blueness. “That’s a well-built fort,” Thomas commented. “Nicely placed to cover the harbour entrance.”

Ned picked up Thomas’ perspective glass, adjusted it and looked at the fort. “Eight guns covering us this side, and eight more facing southwards.” His eye caught the row of fishing boats. “Did you hear or see any fishing boats come in during the night?”

“No. Why do you ask?”

“There are now nearly twice as many drawn up on that beach as there were yesterday. I counted them yesterday out of curiosity. Twenty-one. Now there are–” he began counting, “now there are thirty-seven.”

“Well, most fishermen go out at night,” Thomas said. “Perhaps they gave us a wide berth as we were strange ships.”

“Perhaps,” Ned said, “but it’s odd that none of them fish during the day: they do at every other island…”

Thomas pulled out his watch. “Old Heffer’s been gone a couple of hours. I wonder if he’s seeing the governor or some functionary.”

“You’ll look silly if your ‘old sheep’ comes back having signed an agreement allowing trade,” Diana said.

“I’d quite happily look silly,” Thomas said evenly, “but let’s wait and see…”

They had to wait another hour before they saw four horsemen approach the fort and then a party of soldiers escorting the two men down the jetty to the waiting boat.

When Heffer came back on board the
Peleus
he greeted the four people waiting for him with a stiff bow and said, by way of explanation, “I have to go back again tomorrow, at the same time.”

“Did you see the governor?” Ned asked.

Heffer nodded. “Yes, and I gave him the message from Sir Harold. It was translated for him.”

“How did he take it?”

Heffer thought for a moment. “Hard to tell. He’s a fat little man whose face gives nothing away. He said he would consider the proposal and give me an answer tomorrow.”

“He didn’t say anything about having to ask Spain?”

“No. I asked him first about permitting a trade, and then told him we would otherwise force it.”

“What did he do then – laugh?” Ned inquired.

“No, he gave no reaction. He’s got to consider it, obviously, and he may have a legislative council to consult.”

“Perhaps,” Ned said doubtfully. “Anyway, no more news until noon tomorrow?”

“No,” Heffer agreed. “I’m surprised he agreed to give an answer so quickly.”

“So am I,” Ned said. “That’s why I don’t think he has a legislative council to consult; it’d take a day or two to call them together.”

“We’ll see,” Heffer said philosophically, and went below to change into cooler clothes.

Ned resumed his examination of the fishing boats and counted them again. “How far to that beach?” he asked Thomas.

“Something over half a mile. I’d say it’s almost exactly half a mile to the fort.”

“That’s what I reckon,” Ned said. “I wish I knew why those fishermen don’t fish during the day.”

“It’s too hot for them,” Thomas said. “Why row round in the heat of the sun when fishing at night is so much cooler.”

“True, but where have all those extra boats come from?”

“I’m damned if I know,” Thomas said, beginning to lose interest. “Perhaps they were already out when we arrived, and came in after dark.”

“Why weren’t the first lot of boats we saw out fishing as well, then?” Ned asked, still looking through the perspective glass.

“My dear Ned, I don’t know and I must say my interest in Spanish fishing boats is very slight.”

Ned put down the perspective glass. “Mine, too,” he agreed. “Are we going to be offered something to drink? It’s so hot.”

Back on board the
Griffin
, Ned took out his perspective glass and inspected the fishing boats yet again. Yes, there were thirty-seven of them, and not a man on the beach now. They were lucky fishermen if not one out of thirty-seven boats needed some sort of repair. Then he realized that the oars were in the boats, lying along the thwarts.

The fishermen of Santo Domingo must be an honest crowd, he decided; everywhere else he had seen fishermen, they carried their oars home with them. In Santo Domingo they so trusted each other that they left oars on board…

He found he wished he had been present at the meeting between Heffer and the governor. Heffer was not the shrewdest of men, and unless the governor stood on his head, Heffer was unlikely to notice anything unusual.

Heffer had been taken to see the governor. Good, no problem there. He had then handed over a letter from Luce, which was written in English and which had to be translated. Did the translator write down the translation? Then the governor had told Heffer to come back at the same time tomorrow. Not nine o’clock in the morning, when it was still comparatively cool, and not at four in the afternoon, after siesta; no, at the same time, at noon, when the sun was right overhead and it was the hottest part of the day.