by D. K. Wilson
‘This is utterly futile,’ I said. ‘Can’t you see what he’s doing? He intends to keep us on the move until ’tis dark and we are miles from anywhere.’
The captain agreed. ‘We don’t have provisions for an overnight camp. If we don’t get to wherever it is we’re supposed to be going in the next half-hour or so, we’ll have to turn back. This fellow’s simply making fools of us – or perhaps he’s hoping to escape somehow under cover of darkness.’
Morice scowled, and I could well imagine the question that was going through his mind: how was he going to explain this fiasco when he returned to Croydon? ‘I’m afraid you’re right,’ he said. ‘Turn the column round, Captain, and we’ll retrace our steps as fast as we can.’
The captain called halt and rode back past the ranks of his men.
When Black Harry realised what was happening he called out, ‘Stop! What are you doing?’
‘We’ve had enough of your game, Master Walden,’ Morice replied. ‘We’re heading for home and, by the saints, I’d make you walk, if that wouldn’t hold us up.’
‘You can’t do that now,’ Black Harry cried. ‘We’re nearly there.’
‘Save your breath,’ I called out. ‘We’ve had enough of your lies.’
‘No! No!’ the prisoner shouted. ‘I’m telling the truth! See those trees up ahead? Just beyond, the road slopes down to the creek where Brooke’s ship lies.’ For the first time, he seemed genuinely agitated. The braggadocio had gone. He was almost pleading.
I found this sudden change more worrying than his former arrogance. What was he planning now? I wondered.
Morice, however, was still eager to be convinced. He stopped by the wagon. ‘The other side of that copse, you say?’
‘Yes, that’s right. You’ll see.’
‘Very well, we’ll ride as far as the trees – and no further.’
As- Morice trotted after the captain to have his order countermanded, I caught him up. ‘Just a moment, I don’t like this,’ I said. ‘I know this fellow. He’s up to something.’
‘Well, we’ll soon see. Three or four minutes and we’ll look for this ship of his.’
‘Might it not be better,’ I suggested, ‘to send a couple of scouts ahead to look for Brooke’s vessel?’
‘I don’t want to keep everyone standing still in this wind. Another quarter of a mile and we can shelter among the trees, rest the horses and then start back.’
I had to admit there was a certain amount of sense in that. The clump of leaning, wind-blown oaks was the only visible cover to be seen. It would be good to dismount for a few minutes and stretch our limbs. When we turned round we would, at least, have the wind at our backs.
Morice told the captain what he had decided and the captain passed on to his men the. welcome news that they could have a short break.
While the column reorganised itself, I scrutinised the figure in the wagon. He was standing and closely watching what was going on. Was he calculating something? Perhaps he was concocting yet another story to keep us on the move and to maintain the illusion that it was he who was in command.
I edged Golding up to the side of the wagon. I looked at the prisoner and satisfied myself that his bonds were tight. ‘Keep a close watch on this fellow,’ I said to his guards. ‘Whatever he says to you, don’t believe him. Better still, make sure he keeps his mouth shut.’
The wagon jolted as we resumed our march.
The clump of trees lay to the left of the road and was obviously thicker than it looked at a distance. It was circular in shape and the ground within rose up to form a large mound. It was obviously a prominent and ancient landmark. In time past, I guessed, it had been a sacred grove where our pagan ancestors had once worshipped their fearsome deities. Please God, no such malign spirits still haunted this windswept terrain.
We turned aside from the road and the order was given to dismount. The men stretched and stamped or sprawled on the ground, while their horses thankfully cropped the sparse grass. I did not immediately join my resting companions. I was anxious to test Black Harry’s assertion that we were near journey’s end. I rode on and emerged from the trees. After a few more paces the ground began to slope away before me. I found myself looking down on a wide creek. In the middle of it was a narrow eyot. Moored in its lee was a sleek, two-masted ship.
So the villain was telling the truth, I thought to myself.
No sooner had I thought it than I was aware of shouts and screams behind me. I turned Golding’s head and cantered back along the track. The copse was now alive with struggling men and the sound of clashing steel. Instantly, Black Harry’s plan became obvious. He had led us into an ambush.
Chapter 31
The scene was one of total confusion. It was obvious that our men had been surprised by attackers rushing down the wooded slope. Some were fighting on foot. Others were desperately trying to remount. My immediate impression was that there were not many assailants – probably fewer than half our number. But they had the temporary advantage of surprise. There was no time to consider how I might help. I simply rushed into the melee, wildly slashing with my sword from side to side. Before me the guard captain had his back against a tree and was feverishly defending himself against two of the raiders. I thrust the point of my rapier into the neck of one man and saw him drop to the ground, howling with pain. The captain made short work of the other.
‘The wagon!’ he shouted. ‘Get to the wagon!’
I wheeled Golding around and pushed my way past groups of struggling men to the edge of the copse, where we had left our prisoner. One of the guards was slumped over the rail. Another lay on the floor of the wagon in an ominous pool of blood. One of the attackers was bent over Black Harry, sawing at his bonds with a knife. My blade caught him a blow in the upper arm and he dropped his weapon. Cursing loudly, Black Harry kept on struggling with the ropes.
The captain emerged from among the trees, having regained his horse. He leaned from the saddle and grasped the rein of the draught horse. He pulled on it and the animal ambled forward, the wagon lurching behind it. Some thirty yards further on, he released his hold. ‘Guard that son of a she-devil!’ he shouted. ‘I’ll be damned if he’s going to escape us!’ He turned back towards the fighting.
I prodded Black Harry’s would-be liberator with my rapier.
‘Get down!’I shouted.
He turned to face me, his swarthy face glaring hate. ‘Heretic pig!’ he yelled, and stooped to regain his knife.
I was filled with passion of an intensity I had never felt before. It was a mixture of anger and elation. I think that, at that moment, I felt invincible. With all my force I thrust the weapon into his upper chest and felt it jar on bone. The man staggered and fell backwards out of the cart. He struggled to his feet and limped awkwardly away.
I jumped up and checked the prisoner’s bonds. As I did so, I said, ‘You’ve really sealed your fate now.’
He sneered. ‘It was sealed already. Better to die fighting than on a gallows.’
I turned my attention to the two guardsmen. The one on the wagon floor made no sound as I turned him on to his back. The reason was immediately obvious. His clothes were soaked in blood issuing from a dagger thrust to the heart that had penetrated cloak, jerkin and shirt.
‘All you have achieved today,’ I said to Black Harry, ‘is the waste of yet more lives.’
‘Heretic lives are worthless. As for my people, they die as martyrs.’
I turned my attention to the other trooper, carefully lifting him from the rail and placing him on the wagon bench. There was no obvious sign of blood and he groaned as I moved him. He blinked his eyes open and put a hand to his head.
‘Here, drink this,’ I said, putting a flask of ale to his lips.
‘Oh, something hit me,’ he murmured.
I picked up his helmet. ‘I reckon this saved you.’
He stared blearily down at the body. ‘Is that Jake? Is he dead?’
‘I’m afraid so.’<
br />
‘Poor Jake. His wife’s just had her first bearn,’ he said, his speech still slightly slurred. He rubbed his eyes. ‘We were ambushed.’
‘That’s right. And it was planned by our friend here.’ ‘Whoreson churl.’ He drew his dagger. ‘Let’s slit his poxy throat now and have done with it.’
I laid a restraining hand on his wrist. ‘Few things would give me greater pleasure, but one of them would be seeing him writhing on the gallows. Let’s tidy up here a bit.’
Between us we moved Jake’s body to one side and covered it as decently as we could with his cloak.
By now the sounds of the skirmish were dying down. Looking back along the road I saw the captain’s men emerging from the trees pushing prisoners before them or helping wounded colleagues to walk.
I jumped down from the wagon as Morice and the captain rode up. ‘What are our losses?’ I asked.
‘Could be worse,’ the captain replied. ‘Two dead, three badly wounded. One of them probably won’t survive unless we can get him to a surgeon.’
‘Three dead,’ I said, indicating the body in the wagon. ‘What about the attackers?’
‘Four back there, dead or dying. The crows and foxes can have them for all I care. And we have six prisoners.’
‘Did any of them get away?’ I asked.
Morice said, ‘I spotted a couple limping off in that direction.’ He pointed towards the creek.
‘Then may I suggest we find them?’
‘Devil take them!’ the captain scoffed, ‘I’ll not waste any more time on them.’
‘The reason I suggest it is that Black Harry was telling the truth about the ship. It’s in an inlet about a mile along there. That probably means Brooke is on board. We might be able to take him. That would give us something to show for all our effort – and sacrifice. If some of his men have escaped us we ought to try to stop them giving the warning.’
‘I agree,’ Morice said. ‘Captain, could you spare a few men for a search party? It should be easy to spot any escapees. There’s very little cover in this bleak landscape.’
The captain muttered something under his breath but rode off to organise the search.
Morice turned to me. ‘Show me this ship.’
I noticed that he had tucked his left hand inside his doublet.
‘You’re hurt,’ I said, as I mounted the grey.
‘Broken arm, I think,’ he replied. ‘Some barbarian wielding a heavy staff. It gives me yet another reason for catching Brooke.’
We rode to the vantage point. The light was fading but it was easy to spot the barque, because lamps had been lit aboard.
‘Brooke is there. I’m sure of it,’ Morice said. ‘But how do we get to him? We have to stop him. We can’t just sit here and watch his ship slip away to sea.’
‘How long to full tide?’ I asked.
‘About an hour. He won’t wait beyond that, whether his accomplice reaches the ship or not, Oh, Jesu, this has. all been devilishly well planned.’
‘But how?’
‘Letters smuggled in and out of prison. Easy if you have money.’
‘Well, I’m damned if I’ll let them get away with it. I think there might be a way for us to capture the ship. Do you speak Spanish?’
‘A little,’he replied.
‘That’s all we would need. Let’s find the captain.’
When we had rejoined the remnants of our little army, I explained my makeshift plan. ‘It would need half a dozen of your fit men and we’d have to take Black Harry along to support our illusion.’
At that moment the silence of the marsh was split by the roar of a ship’s cannon.
‘That must be the signal that they’re about to leave,’ Morice said. ‘Hurry.’
The captain detailed six of his men and I quickly briefed them. They removed their helmets and wrapped cloaks round them to conceal their breastplates. We collected Black Harry from the wagon and untied his legs but not his hands. Pushing him ahead of us, we moved quickly in the direction of the creek.
When we reached the water’s edge, I said to Morice, ‘Time for your best Spanish.’
Cupping his hands round his mouth he called out, ‘Este es Harry. ¡Vengo pronto!’
The response from the ship was immediate. ‘¡Llegando!’
Moments later we heard the sound of creaking oars as the ship’s boat crossed the short expanse of water.
‘You’d better wait here, Ralph,’ I said. ‘This is no job for a one-armed man. We’ll signal as soon as we’ve got control of the barque.’
‘Is there nothing else I can do?’he asked.
‘Yes,’ I said. ‘Pray.’
The boat nosed up to the bank. We could see that it held two oarsmen. One of them called out. I pushed Black Harry forward, so that they could recognise him. My dagger was pressed firmly against his neck.
‘One word and it will be your last,’ I whispered.
‘Te tomaste tu tiempo,’ one of the boatmen called as he swung the craft broadside on to the land.
In the next instant hands grabbed him and his companion, yanked them out and silenced them.
We took our places in the boat and rowed towards the ship. I held my blade tight against Black Harry’s windpipe.
Someone was holding a lamp over the side to show us where the boarding net was hanging down. My men scrambled up, two at a time. I pushed Black Harry and sent him sprawling in the bottom of the boat. ‘Don’t go away,’ I said, as I reached for the net and hauled myself up.
On the deck it was apparent that we had achieved almost complete surprise. Two of Brooke’s men were grappling with my guards but three others were being securely held.
‘What do we do with them?’ someone asked.
I thought quickly. ‘Oh, put them in the boat!’
‘Suppose they try to escape?’
‘Bring the oars up. They’ll not get far without them.’ I turned away to give other orders. ‘Search the ship. Round up everyone you can find. I’m going to look for Brooke.’
I strode across to the aft cabin. I was about to push the door when it opened. Ferdinand Brooke, alarmed by the commotion, stood there, sword in hand. Lamplight glinted on his gold chain and heringed fingers. It even caught glints from the gilt thread of his stylish doublet.
I drew my own weapon. ‘It’s finished, Brooke,’ I said. ‘We have command of your ship. Drop your weapon.’
He remained motionless. ‘I think not.’ He smiled, revealing gleaming teeth. ‘I’ve yet to meet a mere merchant who knew one end of a fine blade from the other.’ He made three or four rapid and professional-looking passes.
I backed away, fending off his blade with my own. ‘Don’t be a fool,’ I shouted. ‘You can’t escape.’
‘Then I’ll send one more heretic to hell first.’ He glared at me and I knew I was facing not a man, not even an expert swordsman. The gloating creature before me embodied hatred and fanaticism.
I retreated, trying to keep my wits sharp and not dulled by fear. Occasionally, my weapon made contact with his, deflecting the advancing point from my body. But more often he avoided contact and lunged at me. I felt a stab of pain in my left shoulder. Then, another in my right thigh. I could do nothing but continue stepping backwards, keeping my eye fixed on the needle-sharp point of his rapier. I came to a sudden halt, my back against the mainmast. With a wide grin, Brooke thrust at my chest. Only a quick sidestep enabled me to avoid a blow that must have been fatal. His point buried itself in the wood. With an inept lunge I managed to pierce his upper sword arm.
He winced. Then laughed. ‘A lucky strike, master merchant. En garde.’
He came at me again and I felt a searing pain in my abdomen. The shock of it made me drop my sword. I staggered back, clutching a hand to the wound. Brooke closed in for the kill.
‘Don’t ... match ... yourself ... against ... your ... betters,’ he recited, emphasising each word with a prod of his sword. He was playing with me, like a barn cat with a cornered m
ouse.
Mistake. One of my men came behind him and felled him with a single dagger thrust.
I staggered to the mast and managed to remain upright by propping myself against it.
‘Are you hurt bad, Master Treviot?’ my deliverer asked anxiously.
I shook my head. ‘How are the others?’
‘No problems. We have the crew safe – all shut up below, save for three we’ve put in the boat. Best let me look at that wound of yours.’
He helped me to the cabin and sat me in a chair. With difficulty, I pulled off my outer clothes and shirt. I looked down. There was a lot of blood trickling from a gash just below my ribs. My attendant made a bundle of the shirt and pressed it hard against the wound. ‘That’ll staunch the flow till we get you ashore and have it properly bound.’
At that moment I was aware of movement. I heard the faint creaking of timbers. There was shouting out on the deck. Another guard burst in.
‘We’re under way!’ he cried. ‘Drifting on the ebb tide!’
Chapter 32
Still holding the cloth to my wound, I hobbled out on deck. The ship was, indeed, moving, and at what seemed alarming speed. From what could be seen in the gloom, we were drifting, slightly sideways on, down a narrow channel between mud flats and marsh.
‘Fetch the ship’s captain,’ I ordered. ‘He’s the only one who can help. Make him understand that he’s in command of the barque and can use whatever men he needs. But watch them all like hawks.’
I returned to my chair in the cabin, my body throbbing with pain. I heard the clamour outside as the prisoners were released. Orders were shouted in Spanish and running feet hastened to carry out the captain’s instructions.