This certainly caught Fortune’s attention. “What did he do?”
“Not much really. He said sorry but only captain and crew were allowed to go below the passenger level. Not even the preacher could go there. So I left it at that. But it doesn’t sit well with me. You know there must be at least another two levels below in a hull that big!”
“Carl, you need to think about this for a minute. Where do you think they’re keeping foodstuffs and supplies? And where do you think the crew sleeps?”
“Remember Fortune, I worked on ships for years. I took all that into account, but there’s still plenty of room. Oh well, I imagine they haul a lot of goods for trade. Anyway, I'm gonna take a peak another time. I need to know what Preacher Simmons’s got that’s gonna make us right in Hopeville. And I better see lots of tools and materials for buildings!”
Fortune shot a furrowed brow towards Carl. “What’s your bother anyway? It seems you’re always trying to ruin a good thing! They’ve not done one thing wrong. And they’re treating us like regular folk, serving us, feeding us. Yet all you want to do is act the spoiled child and stir up trouble. It goes beyond selfishness if you jeopardize the future lives of one hundred and two other people.”
Carl was taken aback by Fortune’s powerful rebuke. “Now look here Fortune. I wish I had your blind faith in hopeful tomorrows. But see this?” He pinched the skin of his right arm. “All the rules of fair play were lost the moment they seen our color. It’s the first thing White folk remember about us and the last thing they trust.
“I’ve kept alive as long as I have because I don’t take a fool’s chance. But there’s a first time for everything, and just this once I did. You can bet I'm going to satisfy my suspicions that this is all well and good.”
“To what end are you going to carry out this witch hunt?” countered Fortune.
“It’s not a question of looking for trouble. I’m not simple. But you should know I had only one fear my whole life until this voyage. And that was living all my earthly years in bondage.”
“And now?” queried Fortune.
“That after we reach the west coast of Africa, the dear preacher drops our asses on a deserted beach with the clothes on our back. In his mind he would have paid back the deed he owed his benefactor. Don't worry about me Fortune. I will leave you in peace from now on.” Upon finishing, Carl went towards his quarters, leaving Fortune with mouth agape.
Later that evening Fortune spoke about the day’s events with Dainty. While relating his story, both noted the serene calm Cody exhibited. It was as if the sea swells soothed his tender body with blissful lullabies. Then Fortune brought up his latest encounter with Carl.
“I tell you Dainty. Carl’s got it in him to serve up some trouble! Remember the happy man we all knew when everyone first boarded Isabella? I’ve got to wonder if it was all an act. How else can someone turn like that?”
Dainty sat down beside her husband while resting a gentle arm over his shoulder. “Even in a normal life it’s difficult to guess the workings of one’s mind. Never forget Fortune the mental scars we all harbor after what we came through. Our bodies appear fine, but the brain’s delicate. Who knows what awful memory will trigger a change in any of us?”
“As always, my wife speaks words of true reason. Did I ever tell you how much I love you and Cody?”
Dainty smiled. “Once in a while, though that’s one question I never have to ask.” On that warm moment they soon retired to rest.
Perhaps because of a hearty meal and good night’s sleep, morning seemed to call earlier than usual for Fortune. He felt a slight push to get the day started. Though until they reached dry land on Africa’s west coast, where he could go was limited to this ship. Nevertheless, he softly awoke from bed and exited their quarters.
Moments later, a contented Dainty turned over to give her husband a kiss on the cheek. Realizing he was not there, she quickly put on some clothes to see where he went off to. She felt an urgency to let Fortune know they would work together through any obstacles in Hopeville, despite their disagreement in Resting Arms.
Meantime, Fortune eagerly paced upstairs to Isabella’s deck. It was early enough to enjoy the striking sea views alone. Yet when he emerged, Fortune was confronted with a sight of sheer amazement.
Perhaps twenty five feet ahead of him, Fortune looked upon the familiar figure of Carl. Appearing on either side of him were two burly crew members, while Carl’s hands appeared to be cuffed. Presiding over this startling scene was an angry Captain Brannigan. They immediately took notice of Fortune’s sudden presence.
“Well good morning to you,” shouted the captain, his facial expression changing in an instant. “You must be Fortune. My memory rarely fails to recognize a face. I remember everyone who came on board while I recorded them in the passenger log.” He noted the surprised expression on Fortune’s face before continuing.
“I can see you’re stunned by the sight of all this. Well, let me tell you how events have come to this point. I awoke today with the morning’s early light creeping ever so softly across my cabin. As its airy golden fingers pulled back my covers, I felt invigorated at the beautiful promise that lay ahead. Are you not excited as well Fortune?”
“Of course I am captain. My family would not be here otherwise.”
“I’m glad to hear that Fortune. Oh yes, there was a small noise I heard this morning that I was not familiar with. As I prepared for the day ahead it grew louder, though I still knew not its nature. When ten minutes later these men came to my cabin about a most urgent matter, I still knew not the sound, even though it was getting louder.
“It was when one of these men told me about a serious transgression that I finally recognized that sound. Do you know what it was Fortune?”
Fortune by now was very confused. “I can’t say that I do.”
Captain Brannigan came closer, wearing a perverse grin. “I was hearing drums my dear Fortune! They were beating in deceptive cover, hidden from my very view. They were beating the drums of revolt! After all the generosity our society has shown, my betrayer was not satisfied in the least.” He cast a dramatic finger in Carl’s direction.
“We have but few rules on this voyage. And Carl here searched high and low to find the few he could break. My choices in such instances are few. I have to protect the passengers and crew in our better interests.”
By this time Dainty had already spotted Fortune ascending the stairs onto deck. Though when she heard he was not alone, she disappointedly stopped in her tracks. Dainty prepared to return to their quarters until she heard the substance of his conversation. Now she was compelled to listen further, standing out of sight just below deck.
Up above, Fortune was desperate to know exactly what had transpired.
“Captain Brannigan, you haven’t mentioned why Carl has been apprehended. Was it a serious offence?”
“Oh yes it was,” the captain replied promptly. “Anything that would interfere with the safe passage of this ship is grave indeed. Carl here was found in an off limits area, save for me and my crew. He was caught exiting Isabella’s storehouse on the lower level, below passengers’ quarters.”
Fortune knew there were not many restrictions to their activities. As Carl also knew, passengers were only allowed on deck and the level where their quarters were contained. They were never to go below that level. Quite frankly, they had no need to.
“Was anything taken from the storehouse?” queried Fortune.
“That’s not the point!” screamed an exasperated Brannigan, breaking his calm exterior. “He did not obey the simplest of rules like everyone else. He will be punished, as I have to set an example. This unbeliever could not leave well enough alone!
“Another of my crew members told me he was recently questioning our sailing abilities! This man is rotten. Who else would believe a fool’s suspicions after all the goodness w
e have shown?”
Fortune could see the captain’s words had merit. Yet the sight of any passenger being restrained manifested terrible memories from a past of oppression. These images remained hard to reconcile, in spite of the logical sequence of events explained by Brannigan.
“Captain Brannigan, if you would allow me to say a few words on Carl’s behalf. In my brief time knowing him aboard Isabella, he has been nothing but a happy and amusing individual. Granted, his curiosity sometimes gets the better of him, but he means no harm. As a good captain, you must know how hard it is for any man to walk the straight and narrow.”
Brannigan stroked his chin in deep contemplation. He turned to the capturers and addressed them.
“Did this man take anything from the storehouse?” They both shook their heads sideways. Captain Brannigan turned towards Fortune.
“Your words show strong character Fortune Smith. You speak and act like an educated, thoughtful man. One would have thought it convincing enough for every passenger to make this voyage happen, though the society’s work is never done.
“I’m willing to show compassion Carl, if you apologize for your actions. Since only you and Fortune know of this transgression, no other passenger will be the wiser. We will all henceforth keep silent, but I need to hear an apology!”
Carl looked at his capturers and then transfixed Fortune with the oddest gaze. Finally he looked at Captain Brannigan.
“There’s no way I will be apologizing to the likes of you or any other!” he shouted at him. Everyone was completely surprised by Carl’s indignant response. Fortune could not help but appeal for reason.
“Have you finally lost your senses? There will be no harm done if you just apologize for your guilt. Let’s get this over with now!”
Carl’s face turned to overwhelming sadness when he looked back at Fortune. “I’m so sorry that I have to do this. But its better you know the truth than be sorry later.”
Fortune was perplexed by Carl’s riddle. “Tell me, what’s wrong? Say it man so we can move on with the day!”
Carl arched his chest forward in a defiant puff. “They caught me around the storehouse, but I had been down a level below that. The door on that level was unlocked, so I took a peek inside. There were chains Fortune, chains aplenty! I knew too well what they’re for. This Isabella is nothing more than a glorified slave ship! And I bet they’ve been fattening us up for buyers!”
Fortune’s heart leapt into his mouth. His mind was racing as he feverishly digested what Carl had just said. Was it true? Or was this another of Carl’s preposterous insinuations? What was really happening here? An anxious Fortune looked back at the accuser.
“Listen Carl, and listen carefully. What you’ve spoken is a very serious thing. There are one hundred and two other lives at stake here, so what are you trying to say!”
Carl never gave Fortune another look. Instead, the deepest of reproachful scowls was aimed squarely at Captain Brannigan.
“Heaven must be ready to give me a whole lot of joy, since devils on earth have made me pay dearly for it! Tell him it’s a lie Captain Brannigan. And that devil Preacher Simmons will rot in hell for taking the Lord’s name in wickedness. We’ve been set up Fortune. We’ve been caught again!”
Fortune looked towards the captain to bring order about. Though where he expected to hear reassuring words, a pistol was pointed in his direction. In quick succession, two more crew members suddenly appeared to apprehend and handcuff him.
Suddenly Fortune’s memory jolted back to a distant time. How much crueler this moment now felt. Here striding towards him was the same burly pale man from his past, who, on the west coast of Africa, dragged his resisting body away from the traitorous Sangwa and his native land. There was no mistaking his mind’s eye, as the horrific experience was forever seared into his conscious.
Yet as the hired brute restrained him with his partner, there was not the slightest hint of recognition shown. To him, Fortune was just another piece of chattel in this dirty commerce from which he derived a living.
There would be no remembrance of pushing Fortune into a fetid cargo hold writhing with sweating, feverish bodies. Fate was truly unforgiving, for if Fortune had spotted this face on boarding Isabella, there would have been no second encounter.
It would be impossible to describe the feeling of ultimate betrayal he now felt. An overwhelming sickness nauseated his body, rendering him powerless to respond. In the end, Carl’s cries of wolf were on the mark. In his blind ambition to believe, Fortune had unintentionally bequeathed the welfare of his family to a nightmarish future.
“Sorry it has come to this Fortune,” smirked the captain. “Everything was going according to plan until this buffoon pried his nose in! We’re too near our destination for risking any troubles. Now you will all have your freedoms suspended. I can leave nothing further to chance.
“Carter, Stan, alert our crew members that the original plan has been discovered! Go below and assemble everyone on deck and under pistol. We may as well stop this charade.”
A listening Dainty was mortified by this sudden turn of events. Here was a nightmare beyond any passenger’s comprehension. Fortune had been captured, and they would all soon share subjugation in chains.
There and then her motherly instincts took hold. Perhaps the adults were destined for a life of servitude. But this would not suffice for their son, not their only child. Not if she could help it.
Rushing downstairs to their quarters, Dainty grabbed Cody and bundled him. She fed him the fullest she could before thinking of where he could be hidden. But there was nowhere to run on a ship in the ocean’s broad expanse, and no way to leave it.
Moments later, Dainty heard screams coming from the far end of the passenger level. Those wailings could only mean one thing; the crew was gathering up passengers for capture. Rushing out of the cabin with Cody, she had to stow him away before he too was rounded up. Being a child, they would not care as much if he were missing. A consuming infant had little value to them.
Scrambling to a secondary set of steps away from the scene above, she went on deck to get away from the roundup. While preparing to turn a corner on deck, Dainty spotted two crew members by the safety boats. Immediately she hid herself, straining to pick up their heated conversation.
“We have to take off before the night crew begins duty!” shouted the taller man in a strange accent. “Captain Brannigan does not check his safe box until midnight each day. We have all the advance monies and passengers’ valuables. We can’t trust that bastard Brannigan, you know that! Out here, each man is for themselves.”
“Okay Simon, I agree. Let’s place our supplies in safety boat five. I fancy that number. As soon as darkness comes, we will set off for shore.”
After putting their load into the boat, they looked about to see if they had been watched. Satisfied they were on their own, the two men walked away.
A resourceful Dainty now saw the solution to her dilemma. Yes, there was nowhere to run off Isabella, though a life boat could get away. And it seemed number five would be leaving in a matter of hours.
Facing two heart wrenching options, she chose the chance of possible freedom for Cody over a lifetime of brutal slavery. And perhaps, if the Lord was willing, they would be able to right this grave injustice in time for her to take him back before nightfall. Hiding his bundled figure in a carrying basket, she pulled the boat’s supplies tarp over him, leaving slight room for air to circulate.
Feeling unbearable pain, she scrambled back to her quarters. As Dainty descended the stairs, two crew members grabbed her arms, dragging her exhausted body away. She had been that close to being discovered.
On deck, Fortune was spitting out his anger in venomous speech. “What manner of creature are you? Holding yourself out as a man of good intentions; you are nothing more than a profiteer of human souls! So I guess Carl was right
about not sailing to Africa. Where the hell are you taking us?”
“It’s nothing personal Fortune,” Captain Brannigan coolly replied. “It’s all about business. I had to be careful, since slavery is not legal in Nova Scotia. You must know there are still great sums to be made for selling healthy workers back into bondage?”
Fortune was not yet done with this treachery. He was going to continue his verbal assault.
“Preacher Simmons stood on that dock in Halifax and held himself out as a clergyman. He spoke with a serpent’s tongue about divine freedom for all that wanted it. His hell will be doubly intense, since he made a devil’s deal to take the Lord’s word for worldly profit!
“Whatever happens from hereon in, we are all still miles above all of you. You’re a demon; nothing more. And mark my words; you will never prosper from this horrid gain!”
Captain Brannigan stared back at Fortune, snarling in a vicious tone. “You must mean the religion that put you all in chains and made a mockery of your trust! Let me tell you a little about religion boy. Look the world over and see how the most pious are usually the most abject, weak and poor.
“It’s a cruel business, religion that is. So it should come as no surprise that I used it to carry out my plan. Worked perfectly don’t you think? Sort of like how they keep promising you all a better life in heaven while they rob your dignity on earth today. One wicked game for the other and nothing more. Understand?”
In single file the doomed procession of captured marched into a heartbreaking scene. Both Fortune and Carl were shocked to see Preacher Simmons amongst the vanquished. Fortune was even more surprised to see Dainty without Cody, but his better instinct told him to remain silent.
“What’s this?” spoke out a confused Fortune as the preacher marched by. “Did they turn on you as well? I guess there’s no limit to Brannigan’s treachery!”
The Watchman's Grace Page 21