“Damn him to a bloody hell,” James swore. He glanced at a white-faced Lacy beside him. “He’s right. He’s got us.” The Silkie had passed the cliffs by now and was about eighty feet off the beach. The depth of the water was approximately thirty feet and dropping off fast as they neared the bend ahead. The sandy shoreline had been undercut by recent storms, and the trees ran down to the water, their naked roots exposed even at high tide.
“Take her into shore,” Lacy urged. “We’ll hide in the jungle.”
“I can’t,” he answered. He didn’t have time to explain that there were limestone formations all along the water’s edge. The natural fingers of rock would rip out the Silkie’s bottom. As it was, the breakers were making it difficult to steer the small boat.
“Trim the sails,” he ordered Lacy after a few minutes. “We’ll have to see if we can talk our way out of this.” It was hard to keep the disappointment from his voice. Surrender would mean giving up at least a share of the treasure, but there didn’t seem to be any other way out.
“I won’t!” she answered hotly. “Ye can still beat him to—”
The cannon cracked again, and as James watched in horror, the ball came straight for the Silkie. “Jump!” he screamed at Lacy. Throwing his arms around her, he leaped for the railing. At that instant the cannonball struck the forward cabin. There was a terrible sound of splintering wood and James felt a hammerlike blow to his back. A fiery pain radiated through his body, and he blacked out as the salt water closed over his head.
When James opened his eyes again, he was in a ship’s cabin. He groaned and tried to sit up, then fell back as sweat broke out on his forehead and the fires of hell raged in his back.
“Lie still,” a familiar voice said. A man’s hand touched James’s face. “Try not to move. You’ll tear loose your stitches.”
James forced his eyes open. His lids were gritty and felt as though they weighed ten pounds each. For a few seconds, the cabin spun around and around. Slowly, Matthew Kay’s concerned face came into focus. “Matt?” James croaked. His lips were cracked and dry. His throat felt as if he’d swallowed a bushel of sand. “Water.” Matthew held a cup to his lips and he swallowed awkwardly.
James drew in a ragged breath and tried to get his bearings. A brass ship’s lantern hung overhead, and the yellow flame flickered against paneled walls. He realized he must be in Matthew’s cabin on the square-rigger. “It’s night,” he rasped. “Have I been unconscious all day?”
“You’ve had a fever,” the captain answered. His lined features seemed to have aged ten years since James had last seen him on Jamaica. “It’s been three days.”
“Three—” An icy fist tightened in James’s chest. “Lacy? Where’s Lacy?”
Matthew caught his shoulders and forced him back against the bunk. It wasn’t a struggle. James felt as weak as a milk-fed infant.
“The woman’s all right. It’s you who’s given us a fright. You took a broken plank between the shoulder blades. You bled enough to drown a dwarf.”
“Where is she? I want to see her.”
“Ashore. She was hysterical when she saw how bad you were hurt. I thought it best if—”
“You’re lying to me,” James flung black. “Lacy’s never been hysterical in her life. Where is she? If you’ve harmed—”
“Sinking your boat was an accident, James,” Matthew said with obvious regret. “My orders were to frighten you. The gunner who’s responsible is hanging from a yardarm. I never meant harm to any of you.”
“But you want the treasure.”
“Aye.” Matthew nodded. “I’ve given up enough for it. I’ve a right to it, boy. Or at least to a captain’s share. Who brought it from Panama?” He poured three fingers of rum and offered it to James. “A lot of good men died for that gold ... in the jungle and here, off this island. Men who sailed under me for ten years and more. I’ll not be gainsaid, James. You’ll cut me in, or I’ll cut you out.”
“You betrayed Morgan. You’re as much a pirate as they named you.”
Matthew laughed. “Betrayed him? Hell, yes, I betrayed Henry Morgan. And he betrayed us—and England. We’re all pirates, every man jack of us. What matters is what we take with a sword and what we hold in our hands. You’re no different than me. All your fancy words and fancy manners can’t change it.”
“You’re wrong,” James protested. “We held letters of marque. We sailed as privateers, not pirates. What we did, we did under English law.”
The older man laughed. “Lie to other men, James, but don’t lie to yourself. Didn’t I teach you better than that? Privateer ... boucanier ... Ha!” He made a sound of derision. “The line between them is as thin as smoke, and we crossed it long ago.”
“You did, not me.” James shook his head, ignoring the agony in his back, which intensified with the slightest movement. “I’ve fought the Spanish and the French, but I’ve never fired on an English ship.”
Matthew fixed him with an unwavering gaze. “You fought when that British man-of-war attacked the Miranda, didn’t you?”
“That was different. That was self-defense.”
“You fired on his majesty’s flag. That makes you a pirate, James. And what does a word matter? I want you back with me. I have plans, boy. I’ll be a royal governor before I’m through—and you can be part of it.”
“All I have to do is hand over the treasure, and go back to taking orders from you.”
“Was it so bad—those years we were together?”
“Hell, no.” James gritted his teeth against the pain and tried to concentrate on what Matthew was saying. He felt sick to his stomach, and his head was aching something fierce. “They were good years,” he admitted, “and I always—”
“You were the son I never had. There, it’s said. Plain as ship’s biscuit. You’ve reason enough to know that I’m a man for the women, but I’ve loved you, boy. I still love you. But not even our friendship will keep me from having what’s rightfully mine. I’ll have it from you willingly, or I’ll have it hard. But I’ll have it.”
“We’ll talk about the gold after I see Lacy.”
“There’s the rub of it.” Matthew spread his hands helplessly. “I don’t know where she is.”
The sick feeling in James’s middle turned to an icy numbness. “What do you mean—you don’t know where she is? If she drowned ...”
“I didn’t want you to fret over her. She’s not dead. I’m sure of that. The Indian pulled her out of the water and carried her into the jungle.”
“Three days ago?” James asked. “You’ve seen nothing of Lacy for three days?”
“Not for the lack of looking. I’ve had my crew searching from dawn to dusk. That Indian walked into those trees with her and vanished. If he took the trouble to save her, it’s not likely he’ll kill her. I’ve given orders to shoot him on sight.”
“No ... don’t shoot Kutii. He’s a good man. He wouldn’t harm Lacy.”
“No?” Matthew raised a thick eyebrow in disbelief. “Well, I suppose tumbling never hurt a sturdy wench, but—”
“Kutii wouldn’t hurt her,” James repeated stubbornly. “If anything’s happened to her, it’s your fault. I’ll hold you responsible.”
“No doubt you will.”
James’s voice dropped to a harsh whisper. “I’ll have Lacy back safe and alive,” he promised, “or I’ll kill you. I swear, I will.”
“Save the brash talk, boy. You’re not fit to kill a flea.” His hand fell on James’s shoulder. “Never mind that. You save your strength. We’ll get your woman back. But I warn you, I like the cut of her jib, and I always did favor redheads.” Matthew smiled. “I’ll steal her away from you if I get half a chance.”
The last thing Lacy remembered was James’s arms around her as they leaped over the side of the Silkie. When she regained consciousness, Kutii was carrying her through the jungle. Her head hurt terribly. She reached up and touched the aching place, and her fingers came away bloody. “Where’s
James?” she whispered hoarsely.
“No talk,” Kutii replied.
She was aware of ferns brushing her face and body. Kutii’s stride was quick and smooth, but each movement jarred her head. She wanted to ask about James again, to be certain he was safe ... but she was so tired. So tired ... She laid her cheek against Kutii’s bare chest. She’d rest ... just a little ...
For an instant the Indian’s scent filled her nostrils. He smelled faintly woodsy with a hint of musk. It was a strangely comforting smell. Lacy’s tensed muscles relaxed and she drifted into a dream-filled sleep.
She came fully awake when the first ribbons of dawn spilled into the mossy hollow. The sound of tumbling water and birdcalls eased her fears. Carefully, remembering the awful pain, she sat upright. Kutii was beside her.
“Drink,” he said, offering her a cupped leaf full of sparkling water.
The taste was sweet and clear, and it washed the bitter salt and blood from her tongue. She put her hand up to her hair and found a crude bandage of leaves.
“You hurt. I make better,” Kutii said in his deep, musical voice.
Her eyes dilated with apprehension. “James?”
“He draws breath. He no die.”
“Where is he?” She looked around, then smiled foolishly. Of course James wasn’t here. If he were, she would have known it at once. “He’s all right? You’re sure, Kutii?”
“He have hurt. No die. Jamesblack strong man. Strong man to guard star woman—guard treasure. He warrior. No die.”
“Where is he?” she demanded, grasping Kutii’s hand. No longer alien to her, Kutii was as dear as a brother. His touch was reassuring, his devil-black eyes shone with compassion, and his barbaric tattoos seemed almost beautiful against his copper-gold skin. “I love him, Kutii,” she admitted. “I think ... I know I carry his child.”
The Incan squeezed her hand. “So. It is as I have seen. You are the one. You will save my people.”
“Me?” Her lips parted in bewilderment. “I don’t understand. I was talking about James. Ye must tell me where James is. Does the captain ... Did the men from the big ship capture him?”
“So. Jamesblack be on big barco of Ma’hewkay. Big ship of El Capitan.”
Lacy covered her mouth with her hands. “I’ve got to go to him,” she said. “Captain Kay wants the treasure. He’ll won’t hurt James if I—”
“El Capitan ...” Kutii hesitated, searching for the right English words. His scarred hand moved gracefully in the air. “Like snake.” He tapped his forehead. “Smart.” Then he brought one brown thumb back to graze the skin above his own heart. “Empty here. Like snake, he think only of self. No have love. No have heart.”
“I don’t intend to marry the man, just bargain with him.”
“No trust.”
“I don’t trust him, but I do have to—Ohhh.” She put a hand to her head. “Oh, mother of God, but this thing hurts. What did I do to it?”
“Little boat ...” His hand gestures plainly showed the Silkie flying apart. “Head catch part of little boat. Kutii bring star woman from water. Save. Now, Kutii ask favor.”
“Anything. But ye must help me to get James free.”
“No. No say that. You hear.” The Indian’s eyes clouded with emotion. “Kutii all time guard to treasure ... guard to Inca royal house.”
“Yes,” she said, “I know that. You were captured by the Spanish in your own land ... in Peru.”
“Spanish come. Kill men, kill women, kill baby. Take treasure. Kutii fight. Have great shame to live when others die. But no take life. Wait for star woman. You come. Save Kutii. Save mother, wife, daughter.”
“But ... I don’t understand. Are they ... your family ... are they prisoners of the Spanish? Slaves, as you were?”
Kutii stiffened the fingers of his right hand and brought his arm sharply out from his body. “Dead. All dead.”
“Then how can I save them?”
Slowly, bit by bit, he managed to convey to her that it was not the bodies of his loved ones he expected her to save, but their immortal souls. Tears filled Lacy’s eyes and rolled down her cheeks as she listened to his anguished plea.
“You daughter of my spirit. Must be daughter of my blood,” he said. “Star woman’s blood, Kutii’s blood, all same. Treasure belong you. Wait for you. So long as you remember—” Again, he tapped his forehead. “Remember Kutii, he never die. So long as blood of star woman live, Kutii’s people live. Spirits never die, so long as be remember. You make royal child of Inca with Jamesblack. You tell story of Kutii, Kutii people. That child remember. That child tell. Always Kutii spirit live.”
“How?” She took both of his hands in hers. “Your ways are not mine, dear friend. I don’t understand ye, or half what ye say. But for love of you, I will do whatever ye ask me. And I will always remember you in my prayers.”
“So.” He smiled, and the night-black eyes glistened with moisture. Tenderly, he took her left hand and raised it to meet his right one. Their fingertips touched, and he began to chant in a language that was totally foreign to Lacy.
She crouched in silence as Kutii wrapped a vine around her joined wrists and then wove it between their fingers. With his free hand, he pulled a long thorn from a bush and used it to prick his right index finger. Then he did the same with her left one and let the fine trickles of blood mingle.
“From this day I swear to protect you,” he whispered fervently. “Until the sun ceases to rise over Machu Picchu, and the moon ceases to shine on the sea, I take you as my daughter. Now ...” He looked deep into her eyes. “You must say, but say father.”
“Until the sun ceases to rise over ...”
“Machu Picchu,” he urged.
“Machu Picchu, and the moon ceases to shine on the sea, I take you, Kutii, as my father.”
“And I will never forget,” he said.
“And I will never forget,” she murmured. “And I will tell my children of Kutii and his people, I so swear.”
He leaned forward and brushed her brow with his lips. “It is done,” he pronounced. “We are bound for time out of time. I will keep my promise to protect you and all of our blood.”
“And James,” she reminded him. “You’ve got to help me get James loose.”
“He belongs to you. Kutii protects his own—in this world and the next.” Slowly, he untied the vine that held their hands together. “I help. But . . .” He raised a finger in warning. “First, you sleep. Lose much blood. You heal.”
“I can’t let him think that I’ve abandoned him,” she protested. She tried to stand up, but her knees betrayed her. She swayed and sank back down on the thick moss.
“Star woman think of child,” Kutii said sternly. “El Capitan no have gold. He want gold. No hurt Jamesblack. You sleep now. Head heal.” His features hardened. “Gold belong star woman. Belong baby. No belong Ma’hewkay.”
“And little the whoreson will get of it, if I have my way,” she assured him. “But if I have to bribe him, I will. I can find what we threw over the side of the Silkie. I’m sure I can. I’ve some treasure hidden in the cave, and I’ll add that to it. I’ll go down to the wreck for Captain Kay, if I have to. He’ll be hard put to find anyone else who could go so deep. I—”
She broke off suddenly as overwhelming dizziness swept over her. “Kutii ... I ...” she began. “No!” She seized his hand. “No. I don’t want to ...”
In the blink of an eye, she slipped from reality into a vivid seeing.
She was standing on the beach with the jungle behind her. When she looked down, she saw that she was wearing a blue silk dress with full skirts. James and Matthew Kay were walking toward her. Matthew had his arm around James’s shoulders, and they were laughing and talking.
When James caught sight of her, he held out a handful of gold coins. “Lacy,” he called excitedly. “We’re going home—back to England. I—”
Time slowed as Matthew stepped away from James and drew a flintlock pistol from his coa
t. Lacy opened her mouth to scream, but her throat was paralyzed. No sound came out, and she watched in horror as Matthew aimed the weapon at James’s back and pulled the trigger.
She heard a loud crack, and then James was crumpling facedown into the sand. She ran to catch him, and as he fell, blood from the terrible wound in his chest stained her blue silk gown.
And when she looked up, Matthew was smiling at her.
She screamed.
She was still screaming when Kutii muffled her cries with his hands. He rocked her against him as she sobbed out what she had seen. “Matthew’s going to kill James,” she said. “He is.”
“Shhh,” Kutii soothed. “The time be not yet, daughter. Jamesblack lives. Sleep now. Heal. Together we stop Ma’hewkay. I, Kutii, promise. You shall have Jamesblack. You shall have the treasure.”
“No.” She wept harder. “Ye don’t understand. Even if I save him, he’s going back to England. I can never go back. I will stay here in the New World with my child. I can’t have James. I won’t let him die ... but ... but I can never have him.”
“You will have Jamesblack,” the Incan repeated again as he stroked her hair. “I, Kutii, will give him to you.”
Chapter 19
On the third night after the Silkie was destroyed by the cannonball, Lacy and Kutii dived by moonlight to the mouth of the underwater cave. Before they’d left the beach, she’d tied a cord of twisted vine to the Incan’s wrist and fastened the other end to her own wrist so that they wouldn’t become separated in the black water.
Using the tether, Lacy led Kutii though the narrow rock opening to the underground river. After a short swim, they surfaced inside the cavern, above the waterline. They gulped fresh air in the near Stygian darkness, then Lacy took Kutii to the ledge on the north wall where she’d left her hoard of treasure.
Fortune Trilogy 1 - Fortune's Mistress Page 23