HF - 01 - Caribee (32 page)

'By God,' Edward said. But of course Tony was right. One could not steal paradise. One entered it boldly, with a clear conscience and the blessings of church and man.

Or one seized it, sword in hand. Had any man ever succeeded in doing that?

Hilton was on his knees beside him. 'As we are now speaking openly, Ned, let me say more. You have been the subject of much discussion between your father, and Jefferson, and Mailing, and Ashton. They know you are the obvious rallying point for the discontented. But you are Tom's son, and he would have nothing done against you while he was here. Ashton, now, has been left with instructions to proceed against all wrong-doers in the colony with much severity, being assured of Tom's support when he returns. You'd do well to bear that in mind. Those he has imprisoned are those he would estimate to be your supporters, should it come to a confrontation. It will not be long before you join them. In fact, I would estimate that you are safe only so long as you remain here on Windward.'

Edward chewed his lip. Certainly there had been no love between himself and his father for too long now. He could not help but blame Tom for Mama's death. And the open flaunting of Yarico was more than his belly could bear. Or had that been nothing more than jealousy? Was he too eager to blame himself and excuse Father? Christ, to know what to do. But he had not needed a glass of wine for several weeks now. Not since coming here to stay. Not since knowing Susan again. Not since being included in the wild dreams of Tony Hilton.

Dreams? Then where was the reality? But the step was irrevocable. Once taken. How easy, then, not to take it. But then, as Tony pointed out, this opportunity, once passed, would not be regained. There would be no room for rebellion once Father returned. Rebellion. Because that was what it would be.

He watched Susan returning up the beach towards them. She strode the sand like the naked goddess she was. Drops of water sparkled at neck and breast and groin, and her hair lay in a dark crimson mat on her back and shoulders. To lose all that, why, it was impossible.

What rubbish. Did he possess all that? It was part of a scheme, a gigantic conspiracy which lurked in Hilton's mind. When had the idea been born? When he had marched away into the forest, five years ago, to brood on his own, and develop plans on his own? And now he saw the opportunity to put those plans into practice. Tom away, and his son discontented and unpopular with the established government.

But suppose he was right? There could be no denying his ambition, but might it not have been brought to a point by the looming disaster he foresaw?

Susan came up to them. 'Ye've solved the problems of the world, I've no doubt.' She dropped to her knees between them, put an arm around each of their shoulders. 'Now, ye've had enough serious ma
tt
ers. Ye could devote a li
tt
le time to a poor shipwrecked waif. Ye know what being rolled up in the surf does to me. And for me.'

Her mouth was loose, and her eyes were liquid. And they were looking at Edward.

'We'll se
tt
le this ma
tt
er first,' Hilton said.
‘It
affects us all'

A threat, allied to a promise. The girl still gazed at Edward. Oh, they were conspirators, all right.
‘I
'll have no bloodshed,' he mu
tt
ered.

‘I
'm all for
that
. But you'll not avoid it by being half
-
hearted in the ma
tt
er. We've twenty wild Irishmen over there, and enough arms for every man. There's a force to be reckoned with.'

'And the arms were given you by my father,' Edward said. 'You've planned this a long time.'

'Let's say I've seen it coming a long time,' Hilton said.

They left Windward at noon, and made their way through the forest, Hilton, Edward and Susan in the van, the Irishmen bringing up the rear. They reached the high woods overlooking Sandy Point at dusk, and waited there the night. Hilton stood in the midst of his men and glared at them, huge mouth wide, but not smiling tonight. 'You'll mark my words,' he said. 'There'll be no drinking, and no singing. And no playing on the flute, Brian Connor. Paddy O'Reilly, I'm pu
tt
ing you in charge, and you'll answer to me for any breach of discipline.'

‘I
'll do that, Mr Hilton, sir,' O'Reilly agreed.
‘I
'll break the jaw of the first man who pipes up.'

'Aye. Now as to tomorrow. You'd do well to listen. We aim to make this colony a free place, and to restore Mr Warner to his just rights as the Governor's son, confident that when he has those powers and responsibilities, he will take care of them who supported him. And all other Irishmen in the colony. But not one of us must in any way prejudice his position. There's to be no firing, not even a raised sword, without the express orders of either Mr Warner or myself. I want no bloodshed if we can avoid it. As for rape or robbery, by God, the first man who lays a hand on anything which is not his, be it woman or piece of cloth, I'll hang him from the clock tower within the hour, and leave him there to rot. You understand me, O'Reilly?'

'Oh, yes, sir, Mr Hilton. I'll keep me lads in order.'

'See to it. Now eat your food and get some rest.' He returned through the trees to where Edward gazed down at Sandy Point, so quiet in the gathering darkness. The breeze was off the land, as usual at dusk, and no sound came up from the town. Nor was any movement to be discerned. But lights were starting to wink in the windows, and on the ships riding at their moorings in the roadstead.

'Satisfied?' Hilton demanded.

"You're a born
leader of men, Tony. I wish I had your confidence. Yes, friend, I am satisfied. But yet disturbed. You say you have word that the main part will support us when we make our play?'

‘I
have Jarring's assurance, certainly. And he knows his people, as they do their drinking in his tavern.'

'He knows we are here, now?' Edward asked in alarm.

‘I
'm not that stupid. He'll know we're her
e, like everyone else in the tow
n, when we choose to let them know. And then it will be too late to do otherwise than acquiesce.'

'There are points I doubt you've considered. Not everyone will join.'

‘I
expect no more than half. But these will be sufficient.' 'And the others? Mailing and Hal Ashton?'
‘I
've no mind to harm them, or anyone, Ned. Providing they are sensible about it. They can take one of the ships.' 'And return with an army?
’

‘I
doubt that. We'll make this colony so strong it would take an army to reduce us. And if King Charles is that in need he is reduced to taxing colonies at a distance of three thousand miles, where will he afford an army to send against us? 'Tis certain he'll not be able to promise them plunder.'

'You've an answer for anything. So tell me what do we do with our Irishmen when the victory is won? Twenty fighting men, with arms in their hands.'

Hilton laid his finger on his nose. 'There's the point. Jarring claims to favour you, Ned, but who knows how deep that favour lies? He'll have no choice, tomorrow. He must favour you, and he must rally every man he can, and every woman, too, by God. It's that or being ruled by Paddy O'Reilly. They'll not accept that.' 'By God, but we gamble, Tony.'

'All life is a gamble, Ned. And I for one would not have it otherwise. Look on this gambler, Ned, and say I have not done too badly.'

'Y
ou have not hitherto aimed so h
igh,' Edward pointed out.

'You'd not backslide now, boy? Those men back there would tear you limb from limb.'

‘I
'll not backslide,' Edward promised.

'So come and get some sleep. There'll be none for the next day or two.'

‘I
'll sleep,' Edward said.
‘In
time. Just leave me here.'

Hilton hesitated, and then nodded, and withdrew into the bushes. But, as Edward had supposed he might, he soon sent a replacement. Tony Hilton might be a gambler, bu
t he believed in
controlling the odds where it was possible.

She lay on the grass beside him, looking down on the village.
‘I
can never do that without a shi
ver.'

He nodded. 'You above all of us have cause to hate, for wishing a change maybe.'

She rolled on her back, lay pillowed on her hair, looking up at him. 'Ye'll be a good governor, Ted. Ye've compassion.'

‘I
'd not been aware
that
was a requisite. A governor must govern, and sometimes that is hard.'

' Tis still easier to lead than to drive. I've a mind
this
colony has been fortunate, because of the state of affairs in Europe. Should England and Spain come to war again, and it could happen any day, then it might be necessary to make these people fight, and then ye would count yourself happy had ye not to look over your shoulder.'

'Schemes, intrigues,' he said. 'Even from you. Tell me straight, Susan; were you no more than the bait of Tony's trap?'

She gazed up at him, and past him, at the darkening sky.
‘I
know nothing of Tony's plans, Ted. I plan
nothing
. Whatever

I do, I do from my heart. I have always done that. But now I am happy. I think I need ye both. And ye will have to share me now. My belly is full.'

'You ... does Tony know this?
’

‘I
have not told him, yet.'

'And who is the father?
’

She smiled. 'Now, there is a problem, would ye not say? Will it not bind us closer together?
’

Edward looked down at the village; only the lights were visible. 'Or drive us irretrievably apart. And how can you be sure?'

‘I
no longer bleed.'

‘It
cannot have been more than once. That can be caused by too many things.'

'Yet a woman knows, Ted. I have life, within me. I would have ye know this.'

'Tricks,' he said. 'Plans. What would you have me do?'

‘I
would have ye love me, tonight. I wish that more than anything else in the world.'

'And when I tell you I cannot? I am the possessor of the limpest rag in the Caribbean Sea. Or maybe the world.'

"Then I must remain chaste.' She put her arms around his neck, and pulled his head down to hers. Her lips were as inviting as ever, but not even their touch could awaken him. As she very rapidly realized. She sighed, and sat up. 'And sorry. Why are ye this way? Because I am pregnant, or because of tomorrow?"

'Tomorrow,' he said. 'All things wait on tomorrow.'

It came at last, the first glow of light rising around Mount Misery in their rear, and stretching long pink fingers over the sky towards the dark western horizon. It brought a crow from the cock, walking his empire in Jarring's backyard, and a responding bark from one of the dogs. The waiting was at an end.

Edward had not slept, although he had scarce moved, had remained watching the winking lanterns slowly the, except where they rode by the anchor watches on the ships. Beside him the girl had slept, breathing slowly and deeply. No girl, if indeed she was pregnant. No girl, anyway. But Hilton had not come, looking for his bride. He had let her remain close by Edward. There was always intrigue here, surrounding him like a morning mist, and no less thick and clammy.

But this morning there was no mist. The air was as clear as ever in this climate, the skies were also empty. Once before he had watched the dawn coming up while crouching in the bushes. The memory of
that
day, of the screams and the smells, and above all of the bestiality which had overtaken the white men, haunted him, and would haunt him to his dying day. And these men at his back were not even civilized, by the standards he would set. Wild Irish, clutching sword and pistol and musket like the pirates they would rather be.

'Time,' Hilton said. 'Now then, Paddy O'Reilly, Mr Warner and I, and ten of your people, will make straight for the Governor's House, and there we will seize Mr Ashton, and Mr Philip Warner, and place them under restraint. You will take the chapel, and place Mr Mailing under arrest. And remember what I said about violence. But you will need no more than half a dozen men for that. Send your remainder around the houses, waking up your compatriots, and summoning them to met in the street before the church. No noise, now, and all quiet. When we are ready
, I will fire a pistol into the
air, and you will then toll the bell. Understand me, Paddy, I'll cut down the first man who disobeys even the thoughts in my head.'

'You have me word, sir,' O'Reilly said with considerable dignity. 'Me boys will be quieter than the grave.'

'But what happens when the ships learn there is something amiss on the shore, sir?' Connor asked. 'Will
they
not fire into us?'