‘What you ask of me isn’t an easy feat to accomplish, darling. Well, not just me, but anybody else for that matter,’ said Cuthbert thoughtfully.
‘I know, sir. Before I came here, I remembered Captain Cutcliffe saying that you were a very successful merchant in London, one who was well-connected with people from all walks of life. The Old Man said, “Cuthbert knows a lot of people, from the lowliest of artisans to the highest of aristocrats, or in sailor’s terms, from the piss-poor paupers to the filthy rich.“ Surely you still have contacts back home, ones who would know and be sympathetic to the fate and suffering of those slaves heading to the New World.’
‘Well, if Francis said that, then it must be true, I guess.’ Cuthbert could not prevent the smug grin that formed, partially because he could see his old friend speaking those exact words. His brief dwell on what could have been said quickly disappeared and he scrutinised the young man in front of him, searching for any hint of doubt. ‘Darling, you do know that if we start down this road, there’s absolutely no turning back, for letters cannot be unwritten?’
‘I do, Mr Cuthbert, as does my crew. Do you know someone who would be willing to sponsor an endeavour that would put a stop to these atrocities? Imagine, Mr Cuthbert, a chance to make history.’
There was a slightly nervous tinge to Cuthbert’s laughter. ‘Not all of us desire to be known throughout the world, never mind history, darling. Some of us would just be happy with a quiet existence, tucked away in a dark corner of the world. And I’m sure one good deed would not compensate for the amount of sin I’ve raked up in my lifetime.’
‘On the contrary, Mr Cuthbert, I’ve been taught that one great deed can define a man’s legacy, so much so that people would be willing to look past the bad and remember only the good. I hear the same can be said for God.’
Cuthbert frowned. The young man made a good point, but then he had also brought up a subject which the old man did not wish to discuss, so he quickly returned to Tristan’s question. ‘There’s only one man in London brave enough to take on a venture such as yours, and that would be Sir Christopher Whyte. I’ve heard only good things about the man.’
‘And I’ve never heard of him,’ said Tristan.
‘Several years ago, after a spate of murders, or rather disappearances of some justice officials, which included one or two justices of the peace, all hell broke loose. Soon after it had happened, several keepers of the peace, fearing for their own lives, turned on each other and exposed a justice system rotten to the core, one that was easily corruptible for the right amount of coin.’
‘It vaguely rings a bell, but how can this Sir Whyte help us?’
‘My darling, it’s abundantly, yet refreshingly clear that you know little about London’s gentry and nobles, and their interworking. I’m not sure whether to pity or applaud your ignorance, for it’s a subject that can sometimes cumber the mind.’ Cuthbert shuffled in his chair to make himself comfortable. ‘You see, darling, King William commandeered Sir Whyte from his then-role as Attorney General to dismantle the depraved lot and assemble a new office. When the king’s reign came to an end, Queen Anne kept him in office, and our Sir Whyte is currently the Lord Chief Justice. And here is the part that favours us. His lordship has long since been an outspoken critic of the slave trade, with some even considering him a pro-abolitionist. If you consider that, and also the fact that he’s the most powerful jurist, not just in London, but in all of Britain, then it’s easy to see that you have the perfect person to approach for such a venture. Whether he would be either sentient or ambitious enough to take on your cause, now that, of course, is an entirely different matter.’
‘So do you know him?’
Cuthbert smiled at the young man’s eagerness that bordered on impatience. ‘No, darling, not personally. But one of his barristers owes me a rather large favour for reasons I’d rather not disclose. He would be the best person to put forward such a proposal to Sir Whyte.’
‘Mr Cuthbert, you are indeed a saviour in times of need, and I count myself a lucky man that our bows have crossed. This Sir Whyte sounds like the type of man who would definitely consider such a request,’ said Tristan excitedly.
‘Indeed, he does, but as you know, it’s all a matter of wording. A man of his stature cannot be implicated in anything unlawful, and that would have to be explained, very carefully in fact. As you’ve already mentioned, targeting ships other than those of British origin is a grand idea, and in the letter, we’ll have to inform him as such to make our cause more palatable. Great care needs to be taken with exactly what it is that we’re asking of him. You see, darling, ultimately the decision would not be his to make, for he’ll need to seek approval from Her Majesty, Queen Anne.’
‘We?’
‘Of course, darling, you didn’t think I was going to write that all-important letter by myself now, did you?’
‘No, but—’
‘Perhaps over that proposed dinner of yours, we can go over the details and come up with a plan that would convince a man of Sir Whyte’s standing to sponsor you, an ambitious, spirited and honest young man, a righteous fighter against all that’s evil in the world. A courageous sailor trained under the well-respected eye of Captain Francis Cutcliffe, who is willing to sacrifice all for Her Majesty to expand British trade and influence in the far corners of the world. Do you get my drift, darling?’
Tristan nodded surprisingly. The old merchant suddenly had strange vigour about him, like a dying ember which had received a fresh gust of air. His old rheumy eyes were alert and his face less pale.
Just then, Tristan realised how much of the decision-making would be out of their hands. ‘Thank you, Mr Cuthbert. Your willingness to help us is truly appreciated, no matter the outcome.’
‘A good helping of optimism is what you need, darling. You have a long wait ahead, so you’d better keep yourselves busy. Idle minds in a place like this will breed all sorts of nastiness. Right now, I suggest you and your men unload the ship. Mr Silveira’s warehouse can serve as a temporary base and accommodation for the new men in your crew. And you’ll need this.’ Cuthbert searched inside his pocket.
Tristan grasped the key from the puffy palm that reached out to him from across the desk. Cuthbert stood up, groaning as he did, and muttered something about a pain in his back as he reached for his cane.
‘Perhaps my doctor can check that out for you.’
‘That would be very kind, darling. Now, where was I? The Silveiras’ house has been under lock since you’ve left. You can use that as a residence or perhaps see Mrs Beeckman. I’m sure she would welcome you back with open arms. Unfortunately, my old cottage already has new dwellers. Otherwise, you could’ve stayed there.’
‘Thank you, Mr Cuthbert. I’ll see Mrs Beeckman. For now, I think we’ll steer clear of the Silveiras’ place.’
‘I’d imagine that. The poor girl – it can’t be easy for her.’ When Tristan said nothing and just nodded, the merchant carried on. ‘The new tavern – The Friendly Pheasant – is under new management, namely moi, and I can assure you the food is splendid, and as for the tipple, as you rightly know, one would struggle to find such an assortment anywhere else. I shall introduce you to the new taverner later on today.’
‘A new taverner?’
‘There’s so much to talk about, darling. When the garrison’s exodus loomed, and townspeople learned of the Silveiras’ fate, Isabella’s uncle became entirely isolated. Many of the people here believe that he has had a hand in his brother’s disappearance. The proof was, of course, lacking, but the punishment was swift and fitted the crime because locals avoided the old tavern like the plague. Then one morning, Miguel told me the tavern’s door had stayed open throughout the night. We investigated, expecting to find a body, but there was no one there. I believe he left with the man whom you had the fight with.’
Tristan frowned, wondering if Percival was looking for him, but he managed to control his curiosity well. ‘Isabella would be disapp
ointed. She had a score to settle with her uncle, and was somehow looking forward to it.’
‘Her uncle will get what’s coming to him, lad.’ Then as an afterthought, Cuthbert said, ‘Don’t we all?’ He reached for the bottle and poured them another drink, a pleasant comfort and always within reach to dull a guilty conscience. On a more cheerful tone, he continued. ‘Nevertheless, most people supported and contributed to the construction in some way, and the new tavern that you see up the road is the result of all of our handiwork, a reflection of the new Embomma. Of course, most of your men would feel like they’ve returned home, and they would not be wrong. They’re most welcome to enjoy everything Embomma has to offer. And as for tonight, you and Miss Silveira are cordially invited to attend dinner at my new residence, where Morgan’s old house used to be, completely rebuilt and redecorated.’
‘That’s very kind of you, sir. Would you object if I invited doctor Purvis along? I promise you’ll find him very adept in the art of conversation. He might even have some interesting thoughts on the matter we’ve discussed earlier and will probably insist on taking a look at that troubling back of yours.’
‘Of course not, darling. Dinner for four it is. Splendid!’ The old merchant was genuinely excited.
Standing there, Tristan could imagine that this place might well starve one’s mind if left alone for too long. No wonder the merchant could not hide his enthusiasm. He finished his drink in one large gulp, thanked the elderly gentleman for his hospitality and left the warehouse. On the deck of the Deliverance, his crew waited patiently to receive their captain’s orders. No one knew that he had a plan brewing and idle they would not.
There was a gentle nip in the air as the three made their way to Cuthbert’s cottage, and once inside, they were all pleasantly surprised by the lavish interior which did not match the ordinary outside. It was not just the decor but also the dinner itself which astounded them. The spectacular feast, which reflected the coming of the new season, could have transported them to the finest eating places in Europe, such was the quality. Their host explained that with Morgan no longer controlling the marketplace, it was open to all, and more fresh and exotic new produce than ever was flooding in before making its way down to the coast. The increased trade brought with it exciting new tastes from the inner recesses of the tropical forests that surrounded Embomma, some of which they were sampling tonight.
Cuthbert’s years of merchantry made him an exemplary host and his tales of decades gone by entertained Tristan, Isabella and Purvis throughout a very pleasant evening in which they could relax, let their guard down and be ordinary folk – no longer a captain, a victim or a doctor. White soup was followed by roasted pheasant with plantain and venison with spring vegetables, and for dessert, a rich milky drink, laced with sweet honey and enough chocolate to make any womb fertile was served. A platter that contained fruit of various shapes and sizes rounded off the splendid meal, and all the while copious amounts of wine and spiced rum accompanied every dish.
When the tipsy foursome finally retired to the study, the conversation took on a more serious note with Cuthbert informing Tristan of Percival’s visit.
‘He’s a man hell-bent on vengeance, darling. I could see it in his eyes. He almost looked insane.’ From the comfort of his seat, Cuthbert used a rather long poker to shuffle the coals in the fireplace. The lit fire created a relaxed ambience, more so than it was required for heat. ‘Forgive and forget don’t form part of his vocabulary. I’m afraid that thrashing you handed the man has stuck, and he would pursue you to the ends of the earth to get his revenge.’
‘I’ll be ready.’
‘Well, take care not to misjudge his intentions, Mr Conway.’ The older gentleman scratched his head. ‘It’s strange your paths haven’t crossed already, for I told him to head north and therefore, I’m almost certain he would’ve headed south, as north was where he’d come from.’
‘We sailed in a wide arch out west, Mr Cuthbert, in case we had ships from Loanda on the lookout, and the new men needed the training too. But I’ll be ready when the time comes.’
‘Mmm. Unfortunately, it’s not only his ego you’ve hurt, lad, but his pocket too, which for some men is even harder to accept. See, Percival escorted some of Morgan’s slave ships from these troubled waters to the open sea, all for a small slice of the pie of course, and now that the pie is gone, hatred replaced it. Still, watch yourself, darling, because fists wouldn’t be enough the next time your paths cross.’
‘I’ll be ready.’ This time Tristan made sure Cuthbert heard his answer loud and clear.
In a comfortable silence, they sipped their ports, listening to the light crackling as the flames lapped at the wood.
‘Do you still see slavers go past?’
‘We do, darling. In these parts, the drums do most of the talking, and a group of Frenchmen in two boats sailed past about two weeks ago. They weren’t of the trading type. They followed a group of Portuguese men, who’d been upriver for more than a month now. Word of the changes in our town must’ve spread because none of them had dared set foot on Embomma’s soil.’
‘You have no idea where they were heading?’
‘Upriver, darling. There’s still a lot of naive natives running wild, willing to trade their family and friends for the useless trinkets or the magic that a musket brings. But why all the questions? Your business lies elsewhere, targeting the larger vessels departing from the coast, isn’t that so?’
Isabella looked at Tristan. She had known something was brewing. Now the realisation dawned, and it did so quickly. ‘Tristan…no,’ she said, placing a hand on his arm.
‘Lad, I’m not sure the men would be up for that. It’s the wilderness we’re talking about here, not life at sea, which is the only life that most of your sailors are accustomed to,’ chimed Purvis.
‘Wait! All three of you. Just hear me out,’ said Tristan, slightly annoyed that they had all rallied against him so quickly. ‘For many weeks now we’ve trained these men, but will they actually take up arms against slavers? For years they’ve protected their goods from enemy ships, pirates and the like. But do we know if they’ll fight and kill other men to free slaves? If anyone of you can answer that question with an unequivocal yes, then I commend you, but I can’t place my trust in opinions alone.
‘Yes, I’ve seen these men prove their mettle in battle, and I can vouch for their ability, but they’ve done so to revenge the death of their beloved captain, an act for which any man worth his salt would easily unsheathe his sword. But raising your sword or pistol to kill one man to free another, whom you’ve never laid eyes on, and therefore committing the act purely out of principle…that takes a person of a different calibre. And then there are the ones who have just joined our cause.’
Tristan found himself standing and sat back down, looking at two bowed heads and another one staring into the flickering flames of the fireplace. No one said anything. ‘I have to be dead sure. You can’t be in the middle of the ocean, surrounded by even the smallest handful of doubters. It would be certain death.’
‘You’re right, lad,’ agreed Purvis, his speech slurred.
Tristan acknowledged the support from his old friend. ‘We have two skiffs. We load them up with half of the men, go search for those slavers and set the natives free. The remaining men intercept any would-be slavers from passing beyond this point. I know they can’t cast a net across the river, but perhaps the Deliverance’s guns can persuade the poachers to turn around. Look, I know the mighty Zaire River isn’t going to give up her human cargo so easily – there are dangers and circumstances beyond our control – but I think ‘tis in the best interest of all.’ He turned to Cuthbert. ‘Mr Cuthbert, if we don’t do this, if my sailors stay here for three months, those idle minds you had mentioned earlier would not just be up to no good, they would tear this place and each other apart. You know that as well as I do.’
Cuthbert looked at him, his dejected face sharing his thoughts on the matter
, but it was Isabella, seated next to him, who spoke up next. ‘There must be another way.’ She got the attention of the men, and all three of them were intrigued to hear her thoughts. ‘Why can’t you sail east, like my father did for so many years? Mr Cuthbert can sponsor you. He has all the wares in the world, valuable stuff that you can trade to your heart’s content and make some good money for everyone. It’s better to wait until you have the queen’s blessing.’ Cuthbert certainly agreed, for now, the man was sitting up straight and endorsed every word that came from her mouth. Then Isabella added cheekily. ‘But if you were to cross paths with any slavers, nothing would prevent you from making your thoughts known on the matter.’
‘That’s a great plan. Let’s do what the lass says.’ Purvis was three sheets to the wind and Tristan knew he could no longer rely on his friend’s objective opinion for it seemed to sway as much as the wind. Seeing his friend in this euphoric state was a strange sight as if the man was deliberately numbing his senses and caring less if he appeared like a fool.
‘I agree with Miss Silveira, darling, and I understand the need to go after those men, but should you do so without the queen’s sponsorship, or more so, her authority, you might end up confined to these waters as just another freebooter,’ said Cuthbert. ‘But with her blessing, hell, you could probably call on the Royal Navy’s assistance if you had to. All I can say is, you don’t want to come across as a renegade, darling, because right now we need to paint you a righteous picture and can’t afford any blunders. However, when you’re in the East, I’d say slavers from countries that are enemies to the British Empire are fair game, and moreover, any news of your escapades would take months to trickle to English shores and shouldn’t harm our cause.’
Tristan pondered on the suggestion. It was certainly not what he had in mind, and it was hard for him to acknowledge that Isabella had indeed come up with an interesting alternative. Counting out Purvis, it was two against one, and for the first time in Tristan’s life, he resigned. ‘Alright then, we’ll leave in one week, Mr Cuthbert. Let’s make it worth our while and load the Deliverance with the best your warehouse can offer for this one-time voyage.’
The Fire Within Page 60