Adams, Robert - Castaways 2 - The Seven Magical Jewels of Ireland

8/13/2019 Adams, Robert - Castaways 2 - The Seven Magical Jewels of Ireland

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S ca nned by H ighr ol le r. P roof ed m or e or l es s by H ighr ol le r.

PROLOGUE

W hy ff le r H al l, i t h ad o nc e b ee n c al le d, t he s ta rk , r ec ta ng ul ar t ow er b ui lt o f b ig b lo ck s o f g ra y n at iv e

s tone , i n c enturi es l ong pas t mott e, s tr onghol d, r es idence of t he gener at ions w ho had hel d t hi s s tr et ch of

t he b lo od -s oa ke d S co tt is h M ar ch es f or k in g a ft er k in g o f E ng la nd a nd W al es . B ut w he n f ir st B as s F os te r

s aw t ha t t ow er , i t h ad b ec om e o nl y a r ea r w in g o f t he e nl ar ge d W hy ff le r H al l, a r am bl in g, g ra ci ou sR enai ss ance r es idence , i ts w ide w indows gla ze d w it h dia mond-s ha pe d panes s et i n l ea d, i ts i nner bai le y

t ra ns form ed i nt o a f or ma l gar de n.

Fr om t he f ir st mo me nt h e s et e ye s u po n i t, B as s F os te r h ad f el t a s tr an ge c om pu ls io n t o a pp ro ac h, t o

e nt er t ha t a nc ie nt t ow er , t ha t b ro od in g s to ne e di fi ce , b ut i t w as n ot u nt il s om e y ea rs l at er t ha t h e w as

m ad e p ri vy t o t he k no wl ed ge t ha t t he v er y i ns tr um en t w hi ch h ad d ra wn h im a nd a ll t he o th er p eo pl e a nd

obj ec ts * f rom t we nt ie th-c entury N or th A me ri ca t o E ngla nd of t he s evente enth c entury ( though a n

E ng la nd o f a m uc h- al te re d h is to ry f ro m h is o wn w or ld o f t ha t p er io d) w as i mm ur ed wi th in t he d an k c el la r

o f t he t ow er .

* Se e C as ta wa ys i n T im e b y R ob er t A da ms ( Si gn et B oo ks , 1 98 2) .

I t w as a s av ag e, p ri mi ti ve w or ld o f w ar a nd d ea th a nd s ee mi ng ly s en se le ss b ru ta li ti es i nt o w hi ch B as s

a nd t he n in e o th er m od er ns w er e p lu ng ed , b ut h e a nd mo st o f t he o th er s w er e a bl e t o a da pt . A w oma n

d ie d, o ne m an wa s k il le d, a no th er we nt ma d, a nd a t hi rd wa s ma ime d i n b at tl e, b ut t he o th er s ix me n a ndw om en m an ag ed t o c ar ve n ew l iv es a nd c ar ee rs f or t he ms el ve s o ut o f t hi s v er y s tr an ge w or ld i nt o w hi ch

t he y had bee n i ne xt ri ca bl y c as t.

T he a rc ane devic e s pa wned of f ar -f ut ur e t ec hnol ogy s ti ll s quat te d i n t he c el la r of t ha t a nc ie nt t ow er , i ts

gre enis h glow provi di ng t he onl y l ight t ha t had penet ra te d t he c ha mber f or t he t wo a nd m or e gener at ions

s ince i ts s ingl e e nt ry had bee n f inal ly w al le d up a nd s ea le d by t he a ut hori ty of t he t he n- re igni ng king.

O nl y a b ar e h an df ul o f l iv in g m en a nd a s in gl e w om an k ne w t he t ru th o f w ha t l ay b ey on d t ho se m or ta re d

s to ne s i mp re ss ed wi th t he r oy al s ea l o f t he H ou se o f T ud or . . . t he y, a nd u nc ou nt ab le g en er at io ns o f

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s cutt li ng ver mi n t o w hi ch t he c el la r had bee n hom e.

A lt hough t he y w el come d t he dim l ight c as t by t he c hunky, r ec ta ngul ar , s il ve r- gr ay devic e i n w ha t

o th er wi se w ou ld h av e b ee n u tt er , s ty gi an d ar kn es s, t he v er mi n o th er wi se t en de d t o a vo id i t, f or i t o ft en

e mi tt ed s ounds w hi ch hur t t he ir s ensi ti ve e ar s.

B ut o f a d ay , a w il d s to at c am e f ro m o ut t he p ar k a nd o ve r th e wa ll s ur ro un di ng t he o ut er b ai le y o f

W hyff le r H al l. T he s le nder , s uppl e, gra y- br ow n bea st had no s li ghte st t rouble i n m oving uns ee n by m an

u p t hro ug h t he f orm al g ar de ns t o t he e nv ir on s o f t he H al l i tse lf , f or he w as a h un te r, a n a mb us he r, a b or n

k il le r, a nd h ad i ng es te d t he a rt s o f s te al th w it h h is m ot he r' s m il k.

Near to the Hall, his keen nose detected the scent of rat, and he doggedly followed that scent a

r ou nd ab ou t c ou rs e t o a b ur ro w e nt ry d ug h ar d a ga in st a m os sy , c yc lo pe an s to ne . I n a f ra ct io n o f a n

e ye bl in k, t he f ur ry , s na ky b od y h ad p lu ng ed i nt o t he e ar th i n p ur su it o f h is c ho se n p re y.

After exploring numerous chamberssail, alas, empty of rodentsand equally numerous intersecting

t un ne ls , t he s to at f ou nd t ha t t he l ar ge r, o ld er , m os t h ea vi ly t ra ve le d m ai n b ur ro w, w hi ch h ad d es ce nd ed t o

s om e d ep th , b eg an t o i nc li ne u pw ar d o nc e m or e, a nd w as s oo n f il le d w it h t he s tr on g s ce nt o f m an y

r od en ts a he ad a nd a w an , s tr an ge l ig ht .

Th e q ue st in g h ea d t he b ig h ob s to at t hr us t o ut o f t he b ur ro w h ol e i n t he p ac ke d- ea rt h f lo or o f t he t owe r

c el la r c ha nc ed t o c om e n os e t o q ui ve ri ng n os e w ith a r at t ha t h ad b ee n o n th e v er y p oi nt o f e nt er in g t ha t

h ol e. T he r at l ea pe d a f ul l b od y l en gt h b ac kw ar d a nd s hr il le d a t er ri fi ed s cr ea m. T ha t s cr ea m a nd t he

s ud de n s te nc h o f t he s to at 's m us k i ni ti at ed a f ew c ha ot ic m om en ts o f r od en t p an de mo ni um , w it h r at s o f

a ll s iz es a nd a ge s a nd o f b ot h s ex es s tr ea ki ng i n a ll d ir ec ti on s a nd s hr ie ki ng a c ho ru s o f t er ro r.

Bu t fa st as we re th e rat s, the sto at h ob was f ast er, an d he had emerg ed int o th e mi ds t of th e p ani c an d

s la in s ev era l s ma ll er o ne s b ef or e m os t o f t he r es t h ad f ou nd a nd f le d d own o th er h ol es . N ow t he o nl y

f ul l- gr ow n r at s l ef t i n a ll t he h ug e, o pe n c el la r w er e t hr ee w hi ch h ad t ak en s an ct ua ry a to p t he g lo wi ng

devi ce , c rouching a nd pa nt ing a mongs t t he dust -c oat ed knobs a nd l e ve rs a nd c al ibr at ed dia l f ac es .

No stoat ever had really good eyesight, but their other keen senses more than compensated for this lack,

s o t hi s p ar ti cu la r m us te li d k ne w j us t w he re t ho se r at s w er e, h ow m an y t he y n um be re d, t he ir s iz es , a ge s,

s ex , a nd d eg re e o f t er ro r. He a ls o k ne w, a ft er a h ur ri ed c ir cu it o f t he b as e o f t he ir g lo wi ng a er ie , t ha t

t he re wa s n o w ay h e c ou ld g et t o a nd a t t he m wh il st t he y r ema in ed u p t he re . Fo ur f ee t s tr ai gh t u p wa s

simply beyond his somewhat limited jumping abilities, and the unrelievedly smooth, hard surfaces would

prevent him from climbing up to his prey.



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c um be rs om e gal le ons l ike s o m any w at er bugs , dis char gi ng t he ir bre ec hl oa de rs a ga in a nd a ga in t o

f ea rs om e e ff ec t i nt o t he ir unm is sa bl e t ar ge ts , w hi le t he r et ur n f ir e how le d a nd hum me d use le ss ly high ove r

their heads.

A ft er w at ch in g h is c om pa ni on g al le on s ho t a lm os t t o s pl in te rs , b ef or e e it he r a l uc ky s he ll o r o ne o f t hes ev er al b la zi ng f ir es r ea ch ed h er m ag az in e a nd s he f ir st e xp lo de d, t he n s an k l ik e a s to ne , W ai i d D ah ub

P as ha s aw h is o wn g al le on 's r ud de r b lo wn a wa y b y o ne o f t he d ev il is h s he ll s. A t t ha t p oi nt , h e o rd er ed

m os t o f h is m en u p f ro m t he g un de ck s, t o b e p ut t o b et te r u se i n f ig ht in g f ir es , m an ni ng t he p um ps , a nd

t en di ng t he m an y wo un de d; t he re wa s n o wa y o f wh ic h h e k ne w t o fi gh t wit h a s hip y ou c ou ld no t s tee r.

He a ls o h ad a so un din g ma de , a nd , p al e wi th t he th ou gh t o f l ess t ha n a f ul l f ath om o f wa ter b en ea th h is

kee l, w it h t he f lowi ng t ide pus hi ng him f ar ther a nd f ar ther up t he unf am il ia r r iver , he had t he f or e a nc hor

dropped.

A s t he a nc ho r c ha in r at tl ed o ut i nt o t he r iv er , W al id D ah ub P as ha s aw t he d oz en g al le ys b ac k o ff f ro m

h is n ow h el pl es s s hi p, h ol d a b ri ef , s ho ut ed , c ou nc il o f w ar , t he n s et o ff t ow ar d t he k no t o f m er ch an te rs

a nd t he r ema in in g g al le on s. Af te r t ha t, h e a nd t ho se o f h is m en s ti ll h al e w er e a ll t oo b us y s av in g t he ir s hi p

a nd s to re s a nd c om ra de s t o p ay a ny a tt en ti on t o a ug ht t ha t b ef el l t he r es t o f t he Pa pa l f le et .

W hi le he hac ke d a t a t angl e of r iggi ng a nd s pl inte re d yar ds f or W al id pri de d him se lf on never f or ge tt ing

h is a nt ec ed en ts n or a sk in g h is s ea me n t o d o a ug ht t ha t h e w ou ld n ot h im se lf d o he r ef le ct ed t ha t o nl y

t he wo rs t p os si bl e s tr in g o f i ll l uc k h ad g ot te n h im a nd h is f in e s hi p i nv ol ve d i n t hi s R om an m es s t o b eg in .

T he B is ho p o f t he E as t a t C on st an ti no pl e h ad n ot hi ng t o d o w it h t he R om an C ru sa de , t ho ug h h e h adg iv en l ea ve f or a ny o f h is a s h ad t he d es ir e t o j oi n i n i t. W al id c er ta in ly h ad n ev er f or a m in ut e e nt er ta in ed

a ny s uc h d es ir e, y et n ow h e wo ul d i n a ll l ik el ih oo d l os e h is s hi p i f n ot h is l if e t hr ou gh b ei ng c au gh t u p i n

t he R om an s tu pi di ty . T he s ul ta n i n A ng ha ra w ou ld b e i n n o w ay p le as ed , e it he r, wh en a nd i f W al id

r et ur ne d t o r ep or t t he l os s o f s hi p, g un s a nd a ll . A c hi ll c ou rs ed t hr ou gh W al id 's p ow er fu l b od y d es pi te

t he h ea t e ng en de re d b y h is e xe rt io ns , f or h e h ad s ee n s tr on g m en l iv e f or l on g h ou rs a ft er b ei ng

i mpal eds cr ea mi ng, ple ading, babbl ing, dyi ng by bar e i nc he s, w hi le t he r em or se le ss w oode n s ta ke t or e

u p t hr ou gh t he ir b od ie s. H e s hu dd er ed . T ha t w as n o w ay f or a d ec en t T ri po li ta n s ea ma n t o d ie !

M uc h l at er , h e w as o n t he m ai n g un de ck , s up er vi si ng t he d ra wi ng o f t he c ha rg es f ro m s ev er al o f h is

battery of bronze culverins, when Fahrooq al-Ahmar, a captain and the sole remaining officer of Walid's

contingent of fighting men, found him with a message.

A rr iv ed o n h is q ua rt er de ck , o ne l oo k t hr ou gh h is l on g- gl as s w as e no ug h t o t el l t he t al e. T he r em ai nd er o f

t he P ap al f le et w as o nc e m or e s ai li ng u pr iv er , b ut n o l on ge r u nd er P ap al e ns ig ns ; e ac h a nd e ve ry o ne o f

t he s hi ps a nd g al le on s n ow b or e t he p er so na l b an ne r o f A rt hu r I II T ud or , K in g o f E ng la nd a nd W al es .

T he f le et w as bei ng s he pher de d by s om e E ngli sh gal le ons a nd f ri ga te s, w hi le t he s quadron of gal le ys

s ee me d t o be bea ti ng i n t he gener al dir ec ti on of W al id's c ri pple d gal le on. T he t hought f li tt ed t hr ough his

mi nd t hat p er ha ps th ey m ea nt t o g iv e h im an d hi s n o q ua rte r, i n wh ic h c as e h e h ad u nl oa de d th os e

culverins too soon.



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H e t ur ne d t o a q ua rt er ma st er . H au l d ow n t ha t R om an r ag a nd h oi st S ul ta n O ma r' s b an ne r i n i ts p ro pe r

place." Then, "Fahrooq, send a man down to tell them to get those culverins reloaded immediately, load

t he s wi ve ls , g et y ou rs el f a nd y ou r m en a rm ed f or c lo se c om ba t, o pe n t he m ai n a rm s c he st s f or t he

seamen, and send a man to my cabin to help me get into my armor. They may kill us all in the end, butt hi s p ar ti cu la r b at ch o f F ra nk s w il l k no w t he y' ve c om e u p a ga in st r ea l m en , b y t he b ea rd o f t he P ro ph et

a nd t he t ai l o f Ch ri st 's h ol y a ss !"

A s t he s ea me n a nd s ol di er s s et t o t he ir t as ks a bo ar d t he i mm ob il iz ed g al le on , t he r ow g al le ys c re pt

a cr os s t he i nt er ve ni ng w at er . C lo se r t he y c am e, e ve r c lo se r. W he n t he y w er e j us t b ey on d t he e ff ec ti ve

r ange of a l ong e ight ee n- pounde r c ul ve ri n s hot, t he y divided, hal f of t he m pas si ng a cr os s t he gal le on's

s te rn q ua rt er t o f or m a l in e o n h er p or t s id e, t he o th er s s im il ar ly p os it io ne d t o m en ac e h er s ta rb oa rd s id e.

W at ching t he dea dl y ves se ls t hr ough his f ine l ong- gl as s, W al id c ould dis ce rn t he r ai se d pla tf or ms f or t he

s in gl e g un t ha t e ac h g al le y m ou nt ed . A bs en tl y, h e n ot ed t ha t t he y l oo ke d t o b e n in e- o r m ay be

twelve-pounders.

W it h b ot h h is s id es m en ac ed p ro pe rl y, e le ve n o f t he g al le ys h el d t he ir p la ce s, u si ng t he ir o ar s o nl y

e no ug h t o k ee p t he m i n t ho se p la ce s, w hi le a s in gl e g al le y b eg an t o s tr ok e s lo wl y t ow ar d t he g al le on . N o

gunne rs s tood on t he pla tf or m; t he re w as but a s ingl e m anhel me tl es s, but w ea ri ng hal f- ar mor, s word,d ag ge r, a nd p is to ls a nd h ol di ng t he h af t o f a b la de le ss b oa rd in g p ik e t o w hi ch a g ra yi sh -w hi te s qu ar e o f

c loth had bee n a ff ixed.

" Lo ok s t o b e a h er al d o f s ome k in d, " r ema rk ed W al id , t he n h e o rd er ed , " No o ne 's t o f ir e o n t he m u nt il

a nd u nl es s I s ay t o d o s o. Bu t k ee p y ou r e ye s o n t he o th er g al le ys , mo st e sp ec ia ll y o n t ho se o ff t he p or t

bow. We can lose nothing by hearing what this Frank bastard has to say to us."

A s t he s ma ll g al le y n ea re d, W al id t ho ug ht t o h im se lf t ha t s om e o f t he o ar me n w er e e as il y t he m os t

v il la in ou s- lo ok in g h um an s h e h ad e ve r s et e ye s t o i n a l if et im e s pe nt a t s ea a nd i n s om e o f t he r ou gh es t

ports in all the wide world. The herald, on the other hand, though his face was well scarred and his nose

wa s c an te d a nd a b it c ro ok ed a nd t ho ug h h e mi gh t h av e l oo ke d f ea rs ome i f v ie we d a lo ne , s ee me d t o

r epre se nt a n unc om mon degre e of genti li ty w he n c om pa re d t o t he s at anic -l ooki ng c re w w hose e ff or ts

propelled the galley.

T he n t he r ow cr af t t ur ne d t o s ta rb oa rd a nd c am e d ir ec tl y t ow ar d t he g al le on , a nd a ll t ha t W al id c ou ld s ee

w er e t he b ac ks o f t he r ow er s, t he s up po se d h er al d, t he s te er sm an , a nd a no th er h e a ss um ed t o b e t he

m as te r o n t he m in us cu le s te er in g d ec k a t t he s te rn .



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A nd o n t ha t s ma ll s te er in g d ec k, S qu ir e J oh n S ta ke le y f el t f ar m or e e xp os ed t o i mm in en t d ea th o r

m ai mi ng t ha n e ve r h e h ad e ve n wh en s pu rr in g o n a t t he v er y f or ef ro nt o f a c av al ry c ha rg e. T ho ug h h e wa s

n o t ru e s ea ma n a nd ma de n o s uc h p re te ns io ns , h e we ll k ne w j us t h ow f ra il wa s t hi s g all ey a nd h er c re w

w he n o ne c on te mp la te d a h it b y e ve n a s in gl e b al l f ro m a n e ig ht ee n- po un de r c ul ve ri n, a nd t he y w er e n oww it hi n p er fe ct r an ge i f t ha t R om an b as ta rd e le ct ed t o p ul l h is b ro ad si de o r a ny p ar t t he re of .

Of c ou rs e, i f h e d id t ha t fi re d o n a h er al d th e r es t o f t he s qu ad ro n w ou ld p ro ce ed t o p ou nd t he

g al le on t o p ie ce s, b ef or e b oa rd in g t he h ul k a nd b ut ch er in g e ve ry m an a bo ar d

h er . Bu t t ha t wo ul d b e o f n o h el p t o Sq ui re J oh n a nd t he n ob le h er al d a nd t he g al lo wg la ss es wh o we re

r ow in g c lo se r t o t he a nc ho re d w ar sh ip w it h e ve ry s tr ok e o f t he l on g, h ea vy s we ep s.

H ai li ng f rom a n i nl and c ount y a nd bei ng t hus c onve rs ant w it h dam n- al l of s hi ps i n gener al , S quir e J ohn

f ai le d t o r ec og ni ze t he n ew , g au dy s ta nd ar d t ha t h ad b ee n r un u p t o r ep la ce t he e ve n g au di er P ap ;. l o ne .

Bu t t he h era ld sa w i t f or wh at i t w as, a nd , a s t he g al le y c ame al on gs id e th e g all eo n, wi th a b ra ce o f

brawny Irishmen contriving to keep her there against the tug of the current with boathooks and main

s tr en gt h, t he h er al d s ho ut ed u p a t a s wa rt hy , b ea rd ed m an w ho s to od b y t he r ai l w it h a g lo wi ng l en gt h o f

m at ch co rd i n o ne t ar -s ta in ed h an d a nd t he o th er g ra sp in g t he a im in g r od o f a s wi ve l g un a t hr ee -i nc h

dra ke , m ounte d i n t he r ai l s pe ci fi ca ll y t o r epel boa rder s.

I n p ur es t A ra bi c, h e d em an de d a nd t hr ea te ne d a nd i ns ul te d s o m et ic ul ou sl y t ha t W al id a nd e ve ry m an o f

his within the hearing immediately recognized a kindred ethnic spirit.

" Th ro w m e d ow n a l ad de r a t o nc e, y ou s or ry b y- bl ow o ut co me o f a d is ea se d s ow a nd a s pa vi ne d

c am el 's p er ve rs io ns , e ls e I 'l l s ee y ou g iv en t ha t s wi ve l g un a nd a ll w it hi n i t a s t he h ot te st c ly st er t ha t y ou r

foul fundament ever has known!"

A t W al id's c ur t nod of a pprova l, t he gunne r l ai d a si de his s low- ma tc h a nd, gri nning his own a ppre ci at ion

o f t he h er al d' s a dm ir ab ly c ou ch ed w or ds , h ea ve d d ow n a r op e l ad de r f ro m t he g al le on 's w ai st r ai l t o t he

bobbing galley below.

L ea vi ng t he w hi te f la g l ea ni ng a ga inst t he gun c ar ri age, t he her al d s te pped ont o t he gunwa le of t he gal le y

a nd a sc en de d t he s wa yi ng , j er ki ng l ad de r a s n im bl y a s a ny b ar ef oo t s ea ma n, d es pi te h is h ea vy b oo ts ,

armor, long-skirted buffcoat, and dangling weapons.



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As Fa hr oo q u sh er ed t he n ewc om er u p o nt o t he q ua rt er de ck , W al id n ot ed t ha t t he h er al d m ov ed w it h a

pantherish grace and so was most likely an exceeding deadly swordsman. Otherwise, he looked to be

much akin to Walid himself.

B ot h w er e o f a ve ra ge h ei gh t so me f iv e a nd o ne -h al f f ee t f ro m s ol es t o p at e wi th b la ck h ai r a nd e ye s,

s wa rt s ki n, a nd f in e, p ro mi ne nt n os es , h ea ds , h an ds , a nd f ee t a b it o n t he s ma ll s id e, f in ge rs l on g a nd

s le nd er . B ot h m en w er e p os se ss ed o f s li m w ai st s a nd t hi ck s ho ul de rs , b ut t he h er al d a ls o s ho we d t he f ia t

t hi gh s o f a h or se ma n a nd c on si de ra bl e f ac ia l s ca rr in g, m or e t ha n W al id h ad m an ag ed t o c ol le ct i n h is o wn

lifetime.

"Sahlahmoo aleikoom, Ohbtdhn. I am Sir Ali ibn Hussain." "Aleikoomah sahlahm." Walid intoned the

r it ua l g re et in g, b ut t he n d em an de d, " By t he f la me s o f G eh en na , n ow , h ow i s i t t ha t a n A ra bi an k ni gh t i sserving an excommunicated Prankish king who is making warrather successful war, but still

w ar u po n t he H ol y A po st ol ic C hu rc h? M an , y ou r is k y ou r s ou l i n t he h er ea ft er , n ot t o c on te mp la te

w ha t w il l b e d on e t o y ou r b od y i f y ou f in d y ou rs el f t ak en a nd b ro ug ht b ef or e a n e cc le si as ti ca l c ou rt ."

" Oh , I s er ve n ot Ki ng Ar th ur ," wa s t he r ep ly . " At l ea st , n ot d ir ec tl y. N o, I h av e t he g re at h on or t o b e t he

h er al d o f h is g ra ce , S ir S eb as ti an , D uk e o f N or fo lk , E ar l o f R ut la nd , M ar kg ra f v on V el eg ra d, B ar on o f

S tr at ht yn e, K ni gh t o f t he G ar te r o f t he K in gd om o f E ng la nd a nd W al es , N ob le F el lo w o f t he O rd er o f

t he Re d Ea gl e o f t he Ho ly Ro ma n Em pir e, a nd L or d C omma nd er o f Ho rs e in th e A rm ie s o f A rt hu r I II

T udor , K ing of E ngla nd a nd W al es ."

W al id s ho ok h is h ea d. " Ho w d o y ou m an ag e t o r em em be r a ll o f t ha t P ra nk is h g ib be ri sh i n i ts p ro pe r

o rd er . S ir A li ? N ev er m in d, h er e' s t he k ah va y le t' s h av e a c up s o we c an a t l ea st t ru st e ac h o th er h er e,

o n b oa rd m y s hi p. "

W he n o ne s ea ma n h ad s et u p t he e la bo ra te ly c ha se d s il ve r t ra y- ta bl e o n i ts c ar ve n e bo ny l eg s, w he na no th er h ad s et it wi th a a t ri o o f t in y g old -w as he d a nd b ej ewe le d s il ve r c up s, t he n a b ra ss b ra zi er f ul l o f

g lo wi ng c oa ls w as p as se d u p f ro m t he f ir eb ox i n t he w ai st a nd a h id eo us ly s ca rr ed a nd p oc km ar ke d m an

o f l at e m id dl e y ea rs s et a bo ut t he p re pa ra ti on o f t he c er em on ia l f oo d a nd d ri nk .

I n t he c en te r o f t he t ab le w as s et a s ma ll er s il ve r t ra y o n w hi ch r es te d a f ew s oa ke d a nd s of te ne d s hi p' s

biscuits and a bowl of coarse, brownish salt. First Walid, then Fahrooq took up a bit of biscuit between

t he f or e a nd m id dl e f in ge rs o f t he ir r ig ht h an ds , d ip pe d t he m i n t he s al t, a nd p ro ff er ed t he m t o S ir A li . T he

h er al d, f or h is p ar t, a cc ep te d a nd s lo wl y a te t he o ff er in gs , t he n d id t he s ame t o W al id a nd Fa hr oo q, i n

turn.



8/187

M ea nt im e, t he m an a t t he b ra zi er h ad d ro pp ed a g en er ou s h an df ul o f d ri ed c of fe e b ea ns i nt o a s ma ll ,

preheated iron skillet, wherein he had thoroughly roasted them, then dumped the almost scorched beans

i nt o a m ar bl e m or ta r a nd r ap id ly r ed uc ed t he m t o c oa rs e p owd er . Th e p ow de r h e h ad p ou re d i nt o a

brass pot with a long wooden handle, adding some pint or so of water and a piece of a sugarloaf. When

h e h ad n es tl ed t he p ot i nt o a n i ro n t ri ve t a bo ve t he b ed o f c oa ls , h e b eg an t o a lt er na te ly b lo w u po n t he

c oa ls a nd c ar ef ul ly w at ch t he c on te nt s o f t he p ot .

A s t he c of fe e c ame t o i ts i ni ti al b oi l, t he ma n a dr oi tl y t oo k i t f ro m t he h ea t, a dd ed t hr ee c ar da mo m p od s,

t he n r ep la ce d i t o ve r t he c oa ls . As t he m ix tu re b oi le d u p th e s ec on d t ime , h e a ga in t oo k i t u p a nd t hi s t ime

s po on ed a g en er ou s m ea su re o f t he r ic h b ro wn f ro th i nt o e ac h o f t he t hr ee w ai ti ng s il ve r c up s.

O n t he t hi rd b oi li ng , t he m an r em ov ed t he p ot f ro m t he h ea t, d as he d i nt o i t a l ar ge s po on fu l o f u nh ea te dw at er , t he n f il le d t he t hr ee c ups w it h t he f ra gr antl y s te am ing, t hi ck, s yr upy, s tygi an-bla ck bre w.

" It i s m any yea rs s ince I have s avor ed dhw ah i n t he T ur ki c s tyle ," t he her al d c om me nt ed pol it el y, s ti ll

speaking Arabic.

W al id s hr ug ge d. " Th an k y ou f or t he c om pl im en t, S ir A li , b ut I u nd er st an d, b el ie ve m e, \ m or e t ha n

u nd er st an d. Y ou w il l h av e n ot ic ed t ha t 1 d id n ot d ig ni fy i t b y c al li ng i t d hw ah . I s hi pp ed t hi s s or ry Tu rk a bo ar d i n I zmi r, a ft er m y o wn c oo k wa s k il le d i n a d oc ks id e b ra wl . An d d hwa h o r e ve n a s im pl e k us ku s

simply baffles him.

" Bu t n ow, I a m a b lu nt s ea ma n, Si r A li , s o l et u s g et d own t o b us in es s, e h? F or w ha t p ur po se d id t hi s

B ey S eb as ti an s en d y ou t o m e? T hi s g al le on i s h is f or t he t ak in g, a lr ea dy ; e ve n a l an ds ma n c ou ld s ee t ha t

s he c an no t b e s te er ed . Th e b re ad o f s la ve ry i s b it te r a t b es t, b ut f or ce d t o i t, I i ma gi ne t ha t t he m os t o f

m y c re w w ou ld p re fe r b ec om in g s la ve s t o b ec om in g c or ps es , t od ay . A s f or m e, a ft er t he l os s o f t hi s

v es se l a nd t he g un s, I 'd a s l ie f r em ai n a s f ar a s p os si bl e f ro m S ul ta n Om ar 's d oma in s .. . f or r ea so ns o f bodily health, you understand." Sir All grinned briefly. "Yes, I've heard that he's possessed of a foul

t em pe r, t ho ug h e xc ee di ng g en er ou s t o t ho se w ho c an p le as e h im . B ut t el l m e t hi s ho w i s i t t ha t o ne o f

S ul ta n O ma r' s f in e w ar g al le on s i s e sc or ti ng s hi ps s en t b y t he P op e o f t he W es t? I s a ll t he C hu rc h a ll ie d

against England, then?"

W al id s no rt ed s co rn fu ll y. * *N ot h ar dl y, S ir A li ! O ur P op e' s l as t w or d o n t he m at te r w as t ha t a ny on e

s im pl em in de d e no ug h t o g o we st a nd r is k h is f or tu ne a nd /o r n ec k t o t ry t o h el p p ut a b as ta rd -s pa wn

u su rp er o nt o t he t hr on e o f En gl an d a t t he b eh es t o f o ld Po pe A bd ul wo ul d p ro ba bl y h av e b ee n k il le d b y

h is o wn s tu pi di ty s oo ne r o r l at er a ny ho w, w he re ve r h e c ha nc ed t o b e.



9/187

" No , b ad l uc k a nd i ll eg al c oe rc io n b ro ug ht m e a nd mi ne h er e t o t hi s s or ry p as s. No r h av e t ha t M oo ri sh

d og w ho s ty le s h im se lf P op e o f t he W es t a nd h is c ri mi na l R om an c oh or ts h ea rd t he e nd o f t he c oe rc io n

business, either, not if 1 ever get the ship back to Turkey, they haven't.

" The T ur ki sh a mbas sa dor t o t he c ourt of K ing G iova nni, i n N apol i, having die d he a nd a ll his f am il y, of

a s um me r p es ti le nc e I h ad c on ve ye d t he n ew a mb as sa do r a nd h is h ou se ho ld t o N ap ol i a nd w as a se a

e nr ou te t o t he P or t o f M ar sa la t o t ak e a bo ar d c er ta in c ar go c on si gn ed t o S ul ta n O ma r' s c ha mb er la in

w he n, o f a l at e, d ar k n ig ht , a f re ak , u ns ea so na l t em pe st a ll b ut s wa mp ed t he g al le on , k il le d o r i nj ur ed

s ev er al o f m y c re wm en , a nd s er io us ly d am ag ed m y r ig gi ng . W he n a ll w as d on e, I f ou nd m y p os it io n t o b e

f ar n or '- no r' we st o f w he re I 'd b ee n a t t he s ta rt , a nd s om eh ow I m an ag ed t o g et t he v es se l i nt o t he P or t o f

G ae ta , a s ma ll p or t o n t he m ai nl an d . . . a nd s qu ar el y i nt o t he c la ws o f P op e A bd ul , t he b la ck he ar te d

bastard sibling of those noisome canine creatures that subsist on thrice-vomited camels' dung.

" No w u nd er st an d, S ir A li , a ll t ha t I r eq ui re d w as a f ew s co re f at ho ms o f d ec en t r op e, s om e s ma ll i te ms

o f h ar dwa re , s om e g oo d, s ea so ne d h ar dw oo d l um be r, a nd a f ew p in ewo od s pa rs , f or a ll o f wh ic h I w as

prepared to pay fair value in new, undipped golden omars. And for all of my first day in that port it

s ee me d t ha t I w ou ld s oo n b e a cc om mo da te d a t a b et te r t ha n g oo d p ri ce ; i nd ee d, I w as r ec ei ve d a nd

f et ed i n t he m an ne r o f s om e v is it in g b ey . B ut o ne U na vo id ab le ' d el ay f ol lo we d o n t he h ee ls o f a no th er f or

m or e t ha n a w ee k. F in al ly , I w as i nf or me d t ha t m at er ia ls o f t he q ua li ty a nd i n t he q ua nt it y I r eq ui re d

s im pl y w er e not a va il able a nywher e i n t he e nvir ons of G ae ta -por t.

" At t ha t j un ct ur e, I o ff er ed t o h ir e a f ew o f t he l ar ge r c oa st er s a nd c re ws t o t ow my g al le on s ou th t o

Napoli, which port I knew was well enough stocked to effect my repairs and which lay less than sixty sea

m il es d is ta nt . B ut , S ir A li , n ot o ne c oa st er c ap ta in o r f is hi ng -b oa t m as te r w ou ld l oo k a t m y g ol d, t ho ug h I

off er ed e nough t o a ll but buy t he ir w al lowi ng l it tl e t ubs out ri ght.

" Th en , wh en I wa s m ak in g r ea dy t o s ail o ut u nd er a j ur yri g a nd f ol low t he c oa st li ne d ow n t o Na po li a s

best I could, the damned two-faced Dago harbormaster, claiming most piously to be in fear for the safety

o f m e, my c re w, a nd t he s ul ta n' s s hi p, s ea le d my mo or in gs wi th a rme d g ua rd s o n t he d oc k, a nd mo sts ad ly i nf or me d me t ha t i f I s ho ul d t ry t o l ea ve t he p or t wi th ou t h is s ay -s o, t he f or t g un ne rs h acj o rd er s t o

hul l m e w it h t he ir dem ic annon! C an you c re di t i t? "

" It s ou nd s n ot l ik e a f ri en dl y a ct ," S ir A li c om me nt ed d ry ly . " So , w ha t h ap pe ne d t he n? "

Wi th a s tr on g t in ge o f s ar ca sm, Wa li d s ai d, " Lo a nd b eh ol d, t wo d ay s l at er , a R om an Pa pa l

g al le on t ha t s am e o ne t ha t y ou r g al le ys b le w u p a nd s an k e ar li er t od ay , f or w hi ch m ay G od a lw ay s l ov e

y ou a ll ! ca me b ow li ng i nt o G ae ta -p or t a nd I w as s ho rt ly g iv en t o u nd er st an d t ha t t he o nl y w ay I w ou ld

g et o ut o f t ha t o ve rg ro wn f is hi ng h am le t w it h my s hi p a nd c re w i nt ac t a nd b ef or e w e a ll g re w* l on g, w hi te



10/187

beards was to allow the Roman to take us under tow and convey us thus to the Port of Livorno, some

days' s ai li ng t o t he nor th."

T he A ra bi an kni ght nodde d, brusque ly. " And you a gr ee d. "

" Wh at e ls e c ou ld I d o? " Wa li d s hr ug ge d a nd s ho ok h is h ea d. " On t he w ay n or th , I m us t a dmi t, I t oy ed

w it h t he t hought of pos si bl y c ontr iving a broke n t ow c able , t he n m aneuve ri ng m y ' be ne fa ct or ' i nt o

position to hull him with my main-deck battery. Then I could cripple his rigging and sweep his decks with

my n in es a nd s wi ve ls , a nd p os si bl y s er ve h im u p a f ew r ed -h ot s ho t f or g oo d me as ur e, b ef or e I t ri ed t o

m ak e i t d own t o N ap ol i a lo ne . B ut t he n, t he s ec on d d ay o ut o f G ae ta , a b ra ce o f b ig g al le as es b ea t d ow n

f ro m t he n or th a nd I r ea li ze d t ha t a t t he se n ew o dd s, r es is ta nc e w ou ld b e s ui ci da l. "

T he s ea ma n p ad de d o ve r o n h is b ar e, d ir ty f ee t a nd r ef il le d t he t in y c up s w it h m or e o f t he s tr on g T ur ki sh

k ah va y, w hi le a no th er m an r em ov ed t he c er em on ia l t ra y o f b re ad a nd s al t t o r ep la ce i t w it h a no th er s ma ll

t ra y of bla ck, w ri nkle d, s un-dri ed oli ve s, dri ed I zm ir f igs, r ai si ns , a nd s im il ar oddme nt s. W al id s ippe d

d el ic at el y a t t he b oi li ng -h ot l iq ui d, t he n w en t o n w it h h is t al e. " Th e h ar bo r b as in a t L iv or no w as p ac ke d

w it h V es se ls l ik e s to ck fi sh i n a c as k, S ir A li . T he re w as a t l ea st o ne v es se l m oo re d a t e ve ry s li p, w it h

o th er s m oo re d t o t he s ta rb oa rd o f t ho se , w he re t he re wa s r oo m. Ev er y t yp e a nd s iz e o f v es se l i n a ll t he

M id dl e S ea w as t he re t o b e s ee n c og s, c ar av el s, c ar ra ck s, g al le ys a nd g al le as es , c oa st er s o f e ve ry

conceivable shape and rig, all engaged in lading, preparing, arming, victualing, and manning yonder fleet

your a rm s have j us t c apture d. T he y "

"Pardon," interjected the herald, his eyebrows raised quizzically, "how many principalities would you say

w er e t he re r ep re se nt ed i n t he p re pa ra ti on o f t ha t f le et ? W hi ch o ne s w er e t he y, d o y ou r ec al l? "

T ic ki ng off his f inge rs , W al id a ns we re d s lowl y, j oggi ng his m em or y. " We ll , l et 's s ee , S ir A li . T he P apal

S ta te , o f c ou rs e, a nd G en oa L iv or no 's o wn ed b y G en oa , t ho ug h i t' s b ee n o n l on g- te rm l ea se t o t he

Roma n See f or a s lo ng as I can re ca llb ot h th e Nor th a nd th e Sou th Fra nk s h ad s hi ps the re , a s d id t heS pa ni sh , t he A ra go ne se , t he E mi ra te o f G ra na da , t he S ul ta n o f M or oc co , t he H af si d c al ip h, t he G ra nd

D uc hy o f S ar di ni a, t he K in g o f S ic il y, t he P ri nc e o f S er bi a, t he A rc hc ou nt o f C or fu , a nd t he K in g o f

H un ga ry . I w as t ol d, b ut d id n ot m ys el f s ee , t ha t s up pl ie s h ad a rr iv ed f ro m i sk an de ri a; i f t ru e, t he y m us t

have bee n pri va te m er chants , t hough, f or I c annot i ma gi ne S ul ta n M ehem et get ti ng a ny of his f le et

i nvol ve d i n a c le ar ly R om an dis pute , not w it h t he bul k of his a rm y a wa y dow n s outh f ight ing t he A et hi ops

and their allies."

" No P or tu ge es ?" p ro be d t he h er al d. " No G er ma ns , V en et ia ns , o r N ea po li ta ns ? N o G re ek s o r

Levantines?"



11/187

" No !" W al id a tt es te d e mp ha ti ca ll y. " No t o ne P or tu ge e t he re , n or w he n t hi s f le et c al le d a t L is bo a o n t he

v oy ag e n or th wa rd w ou ld t he P or tu ge e k in g c on tr ib ut e a ny th in g s av e a f ew s co re p ip es o f w in e, r at he r a

poor vintage, too, I was later told. While there were a few German ships in Livorno, they took pains to

k ee p a d is ta nc e f ro m t he P ap al f le et a nd i ts s up pl ie rs . A s f or G re ek s, L ev an ti ne s, a nd V en et ia ns , t ho ug h

the re had b een more th an a few o f t hem a ll in the h arbo r a t Nap oli, n ot a on e was to b e s een in th e basi n

of Livorno.

" Th er e w as , h ow ev er , a c oa st er f ly in g t he N ea po li ta n e ns ig n. F ah ro oq h er e w as a bl e t o g et t o h er

c ap ta in a nd e nt ru st t o h im a me ss ag e t o b e d el iv er ed t o Su lt an O ma r' s a mb as sa do r a t t he c ou rt o f K in g

G io va nn i, a t Na po li , t el li ng o f t he v ir tu al a rme d i mp re ss me nt o f m y s hi p a nd c re w b y t he m in io ns o f P op e

Abdul."

" So, it wa s e it he r s ai l in c omp any w it h t he f lee t o r d ie , e h? " a sk ed Sir Al i, wit h a n ote o f s ymp at hy .

B ut W al id s ho ok h is h ea d s lo wl y. " No t e xa ct ly , m y f ri en d, n ot e xa ct ly . Y ou t hi nk l ik e t he w ar ri or y ou

a re , w it h a ll t hi ng s i n p ur e b la ck o r p ur e w hi te , b ut s ta te sm en a nd , e sp ec ia ll y, c hu rc hm en n ev er d ea l i n

s uc h pur it ie s, t ra ff ic ki ng r at he r i n i nnum er able s ha di ngs of gra y. S o did t he y dea l w it h m e.

" Up on a rr iv al i n L iv or no , m y v es se l w as a nc ho re d i n t he b as in u nt il a s li p c ou ld b e c le ar ed i n t he n av yy ar d, t he n w e w er e w ar pe d i n a nd m oo re d f as t. I mm ed ia te ly w e w er e f as t, a n a rr og an t R om an o ff ic er

a nd h is w el l- ar me d e sc or t b oa rd ed m y s hi p a nd I wa s o rd er ed t o c ol le ct m y s hi p' s p ap er s a nd

a cc om pa ny h im t o h is s up er io rs . I d id . I c ou ld j us t t he n d o n o o th er , l ik e i t o r n ot . Wi th my d am ag es , t he

o ld es t a nd m os t i ll -k ep t c og c ou ld h av e s ai le d r in gs a ro un d m e, n ot t o e ve n t hi nk o f w ha t t he f ul l c an no n

m ou nt ed b y t ha t f or tr es s a t L iv or no c ou ld h av e d on e t o m e.

" Bu t w e h ad n ot p ro ce ed ed f ar t hr ou gh t he n av y y ar d w he n a n o ld er m an , m os t d is ti ng ui sh ed o f

a pp ea ra nc e, w it h t he w al k o f a s ea ma n a nd t he h on or ab le s ca rs o f a v et er an w ar ri or n ei th er o f w hi chha d be en e vide nc e d by t he s upe rc i li ous , pe ac ock- pr e tt y, R om an puppy! confr ont e d us a nd a nnounc ed

t hat a s se ni or c ap ta in o f th e n avy y ar d, h e ha d f ir st cl ai m o n my p er so n an d t ime . Th e R om an f irs t

s pl ut te re d, t he n a rg ue d, t he n m ad e t o b lu st er , l ay in g h an d t o h il t a nd c al li ng u p h is p ik em en . Bu t w he n t he

older m an w hi st le d onc e a nd a double s quad of m at chlock-a rm ed m ar ines , t he m at ches s moki ng-r ea dy i n

t he c oc ks , c am e t ro tt in g i nt o v ie w, t he R om an b ac ke d o ff w it h t he w hi ni ng s o f a k ic ke d c ur , w hi ls t h is

own pikem en l aughed behind t he ir hands a t his c ow ar di ce a nd dis comf it ur e.

" An d s o i t w as t ha t o n t ha t a us pi ci ou s d ay , I m ad e t he a cq ua in ta nc e f ir st o f t he r en ow ne d Co nd e E va ld o

di Monteorso."



12/187

CHAPTER

T HE F IR ST

W it h h is c ri pp le d g al le on u nd er t ow t ow ar d a d es ti na ti on k no wn t o n on e a bo ar d s av e t he h er al d, S ir A li

i bn H us se in , W al id D ah ub P as ha s to od h is q ua rt er de ck a t t he s id e o f t he e ne my 's e mi ss ar y. W al id s ti ll

w or e h is b es t a rm or a nd b or e c ur si ve s wo rd , b ig b at tl e d ag ge r, a nd s li mm er b oo t d ag ge r a s w el l a s

s eve ra l w el l -hidden e dge w ea pons of va rying s i ze s, s hapes , a nd pur pos es .

B el ow , i n t he w ai st , W al id's one -e ye d boa ts wa in, T ur gut a l- Ayn, a nd his m at es c lose ly s uper vi se d t her ep ai r a nd /o r r ep la ce me nt o f b ot h c la ss es o f r ig gi ng , n ow a nd a ga in l ow er in g t o t he d ec k a s ho t- sh re dd ed

r em na nt o f c an va s o r a s pl in te re d s pa r.

S ti ll l ow er , o ut o f W al id 's s ig ht o n t he g un de ck s, C ap ta in F ah ro oq h ad s ee n t he l as t o f t he b ro ad si de

g un s u nl oa de d, p ow de r a nd s ho t a nd w ad s s to we d i n t he ir r es pe ct iv e p la ce s. T he g un po wd er w as

s to we d b ac k i nt o c op pe r- ho op ed c as ks . T he c as ks t he n w er e c ar ef ul ly l ai d b ac k i n t he s ec ur it y o f t he

t hi ck -w al le d, f el t- li ne d m ag az in e; t he w ad s w er e, o ne b y o ne , w as he d, s qu ee ze d d ry , t he n s ta ck ed b ac k

i n t he w ad c he st s; s ho t w en t i nt o r ea dy r ac ks a ff ix ed t o t he h ul l a bo ve e ac h g un po rt .

W hi le a c ar pe nt er a nd h is s in gl e s ur vi vi ng m at e w en t a bo ut t he p at ch in g o f b at tl e d am ag e o n t he m ai n

g un de ck , F ah ro oq o rd er ed t he g un c ap ta in s t o s et t he ir c re ws t o c le an in g a nd p ol is hi ng t he s ec ur ed g un s

a nd t he m ount s a nd a nc il la ry e quipme nt bef or e onc e m or e s hr oudi ng t he m f rom dam p a nd dus t.

H is i mm ed ia te o rd er s f ul ly d is ch ar ge d, t he o ff ic er m ad e h is w ay a ba ft t o t he s po t w he re on t he s ur ge on

a nd his m at es had e st abli shed t he ms el ve s a nd t he ir a ppar at us a t t he c om me nc em ent* of t hi s m os t c os tl yc onfl ic t. D es pi te t he l ong hours w hi ch had pas se d s ince c es sa ti on of hos ti li ti es , t he s we at ing,

blood-soaked practitioners still were hard at work with knives, saws, pincers, probes, and needles upon

t he l at es t o cc up an t o f t he ir m ak es hi ft t ab le , w hi ch d ri pp ed c lo tt in g g or e a t a il f ou r c or ne rs a nd a ll a lo ng

e ac h e dg e.

A s h e w ai te d f or t he s en io r s ur ge on , M as te r J ib ra l, t o f in is h h is c ur re nt u nd er ta ki ng , F ah ro oq t oo k d ow n

o ne o f t he l an te rn s a nd b eg an t o c ar ef ul ly p ic k h is w ay a mo ng t he r ec um be nt f or ms l yi ng c lo se -p ac ke d

o n t he b lo tc he d a nd s ha do wy d ec k. H is b oo ts ol es g ra te d o n t he s an d w hi ch h ad b ee n l ib er al ly s ca tt er ed

o ve r b lo od p oo ls t o p ro vi de s ec ur e f oo ti ng t o M as te r J ib ra l a nd t he r es t.



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H e f ou nd t wo o f h is s ol di er s a lm os t a t o nc e. O ne l ay d ea d, c ol d, b eg in ni ng t o s ti ff en a lr ea dy . T he o th er

l ay e qu al ly s til l, b ut h e st ill l iv ed . . . mo st o f h im, at l ea st. His l ef t le g n ow en de d ju st a b it b elo w t he kn ee ,

but the stump was neatly done up in almost-clean bandages. Although the man's eyes were open, they

d id n ot f oc us ; F ah ro oq c or re ct ly s ur mi se d t ha t t he c ri pp le h ad b ee n w el l d os ed w it h p op py , p ro ba bl y

before they took off his foot and leg.

F ur th er s ea rc h r ev ea le d y et a no th er w ou nd ed s ol di er , a ls o p op py -d ru gg ed a nd b an da ge d, b ut n o t ra ce

of t he young off ic er he s ought, his nephe w, S ul im an i bn Z em al .

W hi le h is a ss is ta nt s m an ha nd le d t he l as t p at ie nt o ff t he g or y t ab le t o a p la ce o n t he d ec k, M as te r J ib ra l

w ip ed h is r ed -d ri pp in g h an ds o n h is b lo od -s og gy k af ta n. T ak in g a w at er sk in d ow n f ro m a p eg , h e p la ye d

t he t hi n s tr ea m i nt o h is o pe n m ou th f or a m om en t, s wi sh ed t he l uk ewa rm l iq ui d a bo ut t on gu e a nd t ee th ,t he n l ea ne d a nd s pa t i t i nt o a h al f- ba rr el f il le d w it h s ev er ed l im bs b ef or e a ga in t hr ow in g b ac k h is h ea d a nd

s wa ll ow in g a p in t o r s o o f t he t ep id wa te r. Wh en h e h ad r eh un g th e wa te rs ki n, h e s ig he d o nc e, t he n

t ur ne d t ow ar d F ahrooq, s mi li ng t ir edly. T he w ai ti ng c apta in s hudder ed i nvol unta ri ly, f or i n t he dim a nd

f la ri ng l an te rn l ig ht , i n t he c lo se , n oi so me a tm os ph er e o f t hi s p la ce o f s ti nk s a nd b lo od a nd d ea th , t he

s ur ge on 's f ac e w it h p re ci ou s l it tl e s ki n v is ib le u nd er t he l ay er s o f o ld a nd n ew b lo od , s pa de b ea rd a nd

mustaches stiff with cloned gore, the just-rinsed teeth shining startlingly whitebore an uncanny

r es em bl an ce t o h ow F ah ro oq a ss um ed a m an -e at in g M ar ee d f ro m o ut t he v er y d ep th s o f G eh en na m us t

look.

B ut C ap ta in F ah ro oq w as b as ic al ly a r at io na l m an , n or d id h e l ac k o f c ou ra ge , F ir ml y s et ti ng a si de h is

fleeting, superstitious fancy, he spoke formally. "Good Master Jibral, I seek young Lieutenant Suliman.

Hi s s er ge an t i nf or me d m e t ha t h e wa s b ro ug ht to y ou , w ou nd ed , e ar ly o n in t he b at tl e. Wh er e wi ll h e b e

found?"

T he s ur ge on r ai se d o ne b us hy , c lo t- ma tt ed e ye br ow . " Li eu te na nt S ul im an . . . ? O h, t ha t m us t' ve b ee n

t he o ne i n t he f an cy l am el la r d ja ws ha n, h eh ? I n t ha t p il e o f c or ps es i n t he o ut er s pa ce , t he re , p ro ba bl y o n

the bottom o f the pile, o r nea r to it."

Fa hr oo q s ig he d. " Yo u . . . y ou d id y ou r b es t f or h im , M as te r? "

Th e s ur ge on s ho ok h is h ea d. " I h ad a no th er f ee d h im p op py p as te , C ap ta in . As id e f ro m t ha t, t he re wa s

n au gh t a ny m an c ou ld h av e d on e s av e t o h av e g iv en h im a f as te r d ea th , p er ha ps . W he n t ha t b al l h it t hi s

s hi p, i t d ro ve a s ha rp o ak en s pl in te r m or e t ha n a c ub it l on g a nd n ea r a h an ds br ea dt h w id e i nt o t he s pa ce

between the lower edge of his djawshan and his private parts. Men with punctured bowels don't live,

C ap ta in , n o m at te r w ha t i s d on e t o o r f or t he m. H is b ow el s a ss ur ed ly w er e p un ct ur ed s ev er al t im es o ve r,

a nd I wo ul d h av e b een r em iss in my r es po ns ib il it y t o o th er me n wh os e wo un ds we re l es s g ra ve h ad I



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waste d time on a man wh o cou ld no t be sav ed in a ny ca se.

" I t el l y ou , h is u nc le , t hi s, j us t a s I wo ul d s ay i t t o W al id Pa sh a . .. o r t o t he d ead ma n' s fa th er h im se lf ,

sh ould I b e ca lle d u po n t o so do ."

" Y ou t he n a re a cq ua in te d w it h t he f at he r o f t he l at e L ie ut en an t S ul im an , M as te r? " T he c ap ta in 's t on e

w as r el a xe d, c onve rs at i ona l, but a bar e ly pe rc e pt ibl e a ur a of t ens ene ss

s ur ro un de d h im , r ad ia te d f ro m h im , a nd h is r ig ht h an d h ov er ed n ea r t he a cc es s s li t t o a w el l- hi dd en

e nv en om ed d ag ge r. H s a ns we r wa s a t ir ed s mi le . " Ca pt ai n, t ha t s ec re t wa s i ll k ep t. I k no w w ho t he

y ou ng ma n wa s, a nd s o t oo d o t he mo st o f t he o rig in al c re wm en o f th is s hi p, t ho ug h n o o ne o f t he

W es te rn er s e ve r l ea rn ed a ug ht o f i t, y ou m ay b e s ur e. I k no w j us t wh o a nd w ha t y ou t ru ly a re , t oo ,

Capta in, but th at sec ret is no l ess sa fe tha n was t he oth er. Wh y you a re ab oard i n suc h gui se I hav e noi de a, b ut t he n t he d oi ng s a nd s ch emi ng s o f s uc h p er so ns a s y ou rs el f a re n ot a nd s ho ul d n ot b e a nd h av e

n ev er b ee n t he a ff ai r o f t hi s l ow ly o ne .

" Yo u h av e my s wo rn wo rd th at I wi ll n ev er b et ray y ou . I f t hat i s n ot su ff ic ie nt t o y ou , u se t ha t we ap on

beneath your hand. Otherwise, please grant me your leave to get back to my patients yonder."

" We 'r e a t l ea st a s s af e h er e a s w e c ou ld b e a t R ut la nd o r a ny wh er e e ls e, B as s, " b eg an t he t hi rd p ag e o f K ryst aJ F os te r' s l et te r. " Both K ing A rt hur a nd K ing J am es a re m ai nt ai ni ng gar ri sons r ound a bout

W hyff le r H al l w hi le t he negot ia ti ons dra g on, s om e of H al 's e pi sc opal gua rds a re usual ly i n r es idence ,

G eo ff h as s om eh ow r ai se d a nd a rm ed a nd m ou nt ed a nd i s n ow t ra in in g ( he c la im s) a r ag ta g b un ch o f

r og ue s f ro m b ot h s id es o f t he b or de r. H e s ee ms a lm ig ht y p ro ud o f t he m, t ho ug h t he y l oo k t o me to b e

just another pack of savage, deadly border bandits. But both Sir Liam and dear Uri assure me that Geoff

s v au nt ed ' Wh yf fl er L au nc es ' a re b ra ve , s to ut , r el ia bl e, f ir st -c la ss t ro op s, a nd a s t he y b ot h a nd M el ch or o,

t oo , o ft en r id e o ut w it h t he m, t he y' re p ro ba bl y r ig ht a bo ut t he m. " I d on 't b la me y ou a bo ut t ha t R ut la nd

business, Bass. You only saw it briefly and in good, warm weather. Honey, believe me, winter residence

w as j us t i mp os si bl e. W e c ou ld h av e b ur ne d e ve ry t re e f or m il es a ro un d i n t ho se f ir ep la ce s ( an d s om e o f

t he m l oo ke d a s i f t he y c ou ld h av e e as il y a cc om mo da te d w ho le t re es , t oo ) w it ho ut g et ti ng m uc h o f t hebone-deep chill out of those high, drafty rooms. Most of that pile was built in the thirteenth century, Bass,

f or e as y d ef en se , n ot f or c om fo rt .

" Wh en I f ou nd c hi lb la in s o n l it tl e J oe 's h an ds a nd f ee t, I t al ke d i t o ve r w it h M el ch or o a nd U ri , t he n w it h

Sir Li am, an d we de cid ed to come b ack up h ere t o Whyf fle r Ha ll as s oon as we co uld . If , as y ou

i nd ic at ed , R ut la nd s ee me d t o o ff er m or e i n t he w ay o f c re at ur e c om fo rt s t ha n d oe s y ou r r es id en ce i n

Norfolk, then I can only pity you, poor dear, and hope that you soon will be free to join me, your son,

a nd y ou r f ri en ds h er e, i n t he n or th .



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" I l ov e y ou , B as s F os te r, s o t ak e g oo d c ar e o f y ou rs el f. No e xc us es , y ou a re n ow a v er y i mp or ta nt m an

t o t he k in gd om, s o l et s ome on e e ls e t ak e t he c ha nc es a nd r un t he d ea dl y r is ks ; j us t r ec al l wh at o ld E ar l

H ow el l t ol d y ou T he L or d C om ma nd er o f t he H or se i s n ot e xp ec te d t o l ea d c av al ry c ha rg es a ny m or e

t ha n i s t he k in g; b oth a re t oo i mp or ta nt t o t he a rm y a nd t he k in gd om t o r is k i n o pe n b at tle ."

" I s o w is h t ha t d ea r, j ol ly B ar 6n M el ch or o w ou ld s ta y u p h er e w it h u s, b ut h e i s i ns is te nt o n j oi ni ng y ou

d own t he re i n t he s ou th , s o h e a nd h is r et in ue a nd s om e s co re a nd a h al f o f n ow r ec up er at ed

gal lowgla ss es w il l r ide out i n t he m or ni ng a nd bea r t hi s l et te r t o you f rom your l oving w if e. ( Sounds c or ny,

huh? B ut i t' s t rue. )"

T he D uke of N or folk's " Ri ve r C aval ry" the f le et le t of s ma ll gal le ys , e ac h m ount ing one of P et e F ai rl ey's

new , pow er ful, f as t- fi ri ng t en-pounder r if le d c annon ha d bee n t he i de a bor n of a w ee ke nd of dri nking

a nd s chem ing a mong B as s, P et e, N ugai , S ir A li , S ir C al um M ac Le di d, C apta in S ir L uc ai s M ac antS aoir ,a nd D av e A tk in s, w ho h ad r id de n d ow n f ro m Y or k w it h Pe te .

D ave' s f ir st f ew m onths i n t hi s new , s tr ange , pri mi ti ve w or ld had bee n unr em it ti ngly har d on him a nd his

c om pa ni on, S us an S unshine, m os tl y bec ause t he y had bee n s udde nl y a nd i rr ever si bl y c ut off f rom t he

plethora of drugs that had sustained them in twentieth-century America. But they had survived the ordeal,

a nd D av e n ow w as o ne o f P et e' s a ss is ta nt s i n t he h ug e R oy al M an uf ac to ry a t Y or k, w hi ch t ur ne d o ut

new a nd i nnovat ive f ir ea rm s a nd s tr onge r ble nds of gunpowder f or t he R oyal A rm y, del ight ing K ing

Arthur and utterly confounding the machinations of his enemies.

" Th e b ot to ms a re a va il ab le , y 'r g ra ce ," S ir C al um h ad s ai d. " Th er e b e m or e t ha n a s co re o f t he m, m os tl y

o f a s iz e. Fi tte d f or t we lv e o ar s, a s te er in g s we ep , a nd a s ma ll lu gs ai l, t he y a re . Sma ll l ab or wo ul d i t b e t o

a dd t ho le p in s a lo ng t he g un wa le s, r ew or k t he f oo ti ng s f or q ui ck s te pp in g o r u ns te p- pi ng o f t he m as t,

t he n l ig ht en t he m a b it t o g iv e m or e s pe ed a nd e as e o f h an dl in g.

" Y' r g ra ce , i t a in 't b ut t he o ne w ay t he t hr ic e- da mn ed P ap al f or ce s c an r es up pl y t he C it y o f L un nu n,i nv es te d a nd a ll l ik e s he b e, a nd t ha t b e b y t he r iv er u p f ro m t he s ea . Y es , t he y' ve t ri ed i t b ef or e a nd

f ai le d, b ut s ur e a s S t. P et er 's h ol y b al ls , t he y m us t t ry a ga in , a nd w it h a s tr on ge r f or ce .

" Th ic k a s th e mi st l ie s o n t ha t r iv er o f ti me s, a s co re o r s o o f l ow, ma st le ss r ow v es se ls c ou ld r ig ht e as y

c om e u p s o c lo se ' ne at h t he h ul ks t ha t p re ci ou s f ew o f t he ir g un s c ou ld a va il t he m a ug ht . A nd b ef or e t he y

har dl y kne w, y'r gra ce 's f ine, f ie rc e gal logl ai ches w ould be s wa rm ing ove r t he s hi p l ike s o m any r at s,

w ou ld h av e p ri ze d h er t o y 'r g lo ry a nd r en ow n. "

B as s h ad s ha ke n h is h ea d. " A b ra ve , d ar in g p la n. Si r C al um , b ut f ar a nd a wa y t oo r is ky . W hy , m an ,



16/187

y ou 'd a ll b e s it ti ng d uc ks o ut t he re o n t ha t r iv er , h os ta ge t o t he s li gh te st b re ez e t ha t m ig ht w hi sk t he f og

a wa y a nd e xp os e y ou t o t he s ha rp -e ye d g un ne rs . K in g A rt hu r a nd I p ri ze y ou a nd t he g al lo wg la ss es f ar

t oo mu ch t o t ak e su ch a c ha nc e f or s o li tt le g ai n. Big od a nd h is f le et h av e d on e g oo d wo rk i n h al ti ng t he

P ap al f le et s t hu s f ar ; n o d ou bt t he y' ll d o e qu al ly w el l w he n c al le d u po n a ga in . I k no w t ha t y ou a nd t he

me n a re b or ed . So a m I , b ut t he re 's n au gh t t ha t c an b e d on e f or i t. As id e f ro m t he f ew r ema in in g

brigands scattered hither and yon, there's just no one left in England for cavalry to fight. But . . . perhaps I

c ou ld p re va il u po n h is m aj es ty t o l oa n y ou g al lo wg la ss es t o K in g J am es f or a w hi le , e h? H is S co tc hm aj es ty i s s ti ll having t rouble w it h c er ta in of his L ow la nder l ai rds, t he y s ay. . .. "

S ir C al um s ig he d. " Un le ss y 'r G ra ce g o t ae S co tl an d, h is R oy al G al lo wg la ss es g o n ot t ae S co tl an d. "

B as s s ig he d. T he y h ad b ee n o ve r t hi s g ro un d b ef or e, m an y t im es .

Bu t the n Pete s pok e up . "Bas s, Sir Cal um, h e had him a go od i dee r, f ar as i t we nt, bu t I thi nk I c an ta ke

i t f ur th er . L is se n, I g ot m e u p t o Y or k s om e t en - a nd t we lv e- po un de r r if le s, b re ec hl oa de rs a ll o f ' em a nd

f it te d w it h t he f ri ct ion- spri ng pri me rs t ha t C ar ey a nd D an S mi th dre am ed up, t oo. T he y a in't hea vy, B as s,

n ot p ut u p ' ga in st r eg 'l ar g un s t he y a in 't , a nd t he y g ot r ea l r an ge m or e r an ge t ha n a ny g un a ny s hi p' ll b e

l ik el y t o b e m ou nt in g, a nd b et te r a cc ur ac y t ha n t he se f ol ks h as e ve r s ee n a fo re , I b et ch a.

" Ba ss , b oy , y ou mo un t o ne o f t he se he re r if les i n t he mi dd le o f e ve r o ne o f y ou r r owb oa ts , r un i n c lo se t ot he m b ig s ai lb oa ts , s ee . Y ou 'v e s ee d t he k in da g un s b oa ts u se c ai n' t h ar dl y n on e o f t he b ig g un s b e

t ra ve rs ed n on e, a nd i f t he y t ri es t o d ep re ss ' em t oo m uc h, t he f ri gg in ' c ha rg es c om e a -r ol li n' o ut t he

muzzles, most times.

" So i f y aw l g et t oo c lo se f or t he ir b ig g un s t o b ea r o n y ou , b ut t oo fa r fo r th e s li ng pi ec es a nd s uc h l ik e,

y ou c an p er li te ly s ho ot t he m m ut ha s t o p ie ce s w it h m y t en - a nd t we lv e- po un de r r if le s, t he n c lo se w it h ' em

w he n t he y g ot m or e t o w or ry ' bo ut t ha n b oa rd er s. "

A dm ir al B ig od h ad n ot b ee n r ec ep ti ve i n t he l ea st t o t he i de a o r t he d iv er si on o f t he b re ec h- lo ad in g

riflesoriginally intended as chasers for his small but pugnacious fleetuntil Bass had managed to

persuade the seaman to observe the flotilla of galleys on maneuvers on the river. Then the admiral's

s up po rt b ec am e m or e t ha n e nt hu si as ti c, a nd h e h ad r id de n r ou gh sh od o ve r t he o bj ec ti on s o f t he m or e

conservative-minded of his captains.

Now of one mind in the matter, neither the Lord Admiral nor the Lord Commander of the Royal Horse

c ou ld s ee a ny r ea so n t o b ro ac h t he p la n t o t he k in g, s o t he y c on ce nt ra te d o n p re pa ra ti on s a nd p ra ct ic e

a nd m an eu ve rs u p t o t he v er y d ay t ha t a c oa st er s po tt ed t he P ap al f le et b ea ti ng f or T ha me s- mo ut h.



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B a$s, w he n f inal ly t he new s c aught up t o him , w as nonpl us ed by S ir A ll 's a cc om pl is hm ent a nd

a cq ui si ti on i n h is B as s' s na me . H e h ad a ss um ed w he n h e s ai le d o ff w it h B ig od a nd t he m ai n f le et t ha t

t he c ri pp le d a nd c le ar ly h or s d e c om ba t P ap al g al le on w ou ld b e t ow ed t o B ig od 's f le et a nc ho ra ge i f h er

m as te r c ho se t o s tr ik e o r c he er fu ll y p ou nd ed t o p ie ce s i f h e d id n ot s o c ho os e.

" Sir Al i, wh y in Go d' s na me d id y ou s ee f it t o to w a k in g' s p riz e i nt o o ne o f my p or ts? Bi go d wil l b e mo st

wr oth, a nd I'll not bla me him one bit. You su rely had to pa ss by his Es sex base to g et to y our pres ent

anchorage."

B ar on M el ch or o l oo ke d u p f ro m t he c ha ir i n w hi ch h e h ad s pr aw le d h is r ot un d b od y. " Se ba st ia n, o ldf ri en d, c oo l y ou d ow n. I n t hi s i ns ta nc e y ou r f in e k ni gh t, S ir A li , i s o f a m uc h l ig ht ne ss . T hi nk y ou , n ow ,

' tw as y ou r c on do tt a f ir st f ou gh t a nd c ri pp le d, t he n p ri ze d t ha t s hi p, n ot t he R oy al E ng li sh F le et n or e ke

t he R oy al E ng li sh H or se . D 'y ou f ol lo w? Y ou a re a c av al ry c om ma nd er a nd y on w as a p ur el y n av al

a ct io n, w hi ch y ou a nd y ou rs f ou gh t a s f re e s wo rd s w it ho ut y ou r k in g' s o rd er s o r, l ik el y, k no wl ed ge ;

t he re fo re , a ny p ro ce ed s o f s uc h a ct io n a re a nd s ho ul d r ig ht ly b e y ou rs t o d is pe rs e t o y ou r o ff ic er s,

g en tl em en , a nd o th er r an ks a s y ou a nd y ou a lo ne s ee f it ."

" But his m aj es ty" B as s began, onl y t o be pol it el y i nt er rupt ed by his P or tuge se f ri end.

" h as t he r es t o f t he Pa pa l fl ee t a nd c ar go es , my d uc al c omp an io n, wh ic h i s ri ch e no ug h o f a p riz e, o r

s o o ne h ea rs a bo ut t he c am ps a nd c ou rt . I t w ou ld a pp ea r t ha t h is s up po se d h ol in es s, o ld Ab du l, p ac ke d

a ll t hat he c ou ld b eg, b or ro w, i mp re ss , o r o ut ri gh t s te al i nt o t hi s s in gl e e ff or t . . . a nd n ow Ki ng A rt hu r h as

i t a ll . No t o ne c ru st o f b re ad , o ne g ra in o f p ow de r g ot t hr ou gh t o Lo nd on . T ha t c it y c an no t l as t l on g, a ft er

this."

"A nd j us t w ha t a m I s up po se d t o d o w it h a h ug e, o ce an go in g w ar sh ip , ma nn ed b y a c re w o f T ur ks ,

E gy pt ia ns , M oo rs , a nd G od a lo ne k no ws w ha t o th er s? I 'm n o s ea ma n, G od k no ws ."

M el chor o s mi le d l anguidly a nd s hr ugge d. " And no nee d f or you t o be, m eu a mi go. S ea me n a nd s ai li ng

m as te rs c an b e h ir ed o n, j us t l ik e s ol di er s, a nd m os t I h av e e nc ou nt er ed h ol d g ol d i n m uc h h ig he r e st ee m

t ha n t he l an d o f t he ir b ir th . C er ta in t hi s o ne i s t ha t t he m us ic o f a f ew g ol de n o nz as w ou ld s pe ed il y

c on ve rt t he m os t o f t ha t s hi p' s c re w t o t he l oy al ty y ou m ig ht e xp ec t f ro m m os t c on do tt as ."

" Bu t t o w ha t p os si bl e p ur po se , M el ch or o? " d em an de d B as s, a b it e xa sp er at ed ly n ow . " Th er e' ll b e



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dam n- al l t ra de unt il t hi s bus ines s of i nt er di ct ions a nd e xc om muni ca ti ons a nd C rusa di ngs i s ove r a nd done

fo r go od an d al l. An d th at s hi p is jus t to o bi g, dr aws to o muc h wat er, to use he r as a coa st er. How big is

she, Sir Ali?"

" So me o ne t ho us an d t on s b ur th en . .. o r s o s ta te s h er p re se nt m as te r, W al id P as ha , y ou r g ra ce ," t he s li mArab replied.

" How m any guns i s her broadsi de , S ir A li ?" que st ione d B ar on M el chor o. " What other a rm am ents has

she?"

The knight began to tick off his calloused fingers. "Eight demicannon, four cannon-perriers, twenty finebronze culverins, these being arranged on the lower gundecks. Above, twelve brass demiculverins, ten

s aker s, one m inion, f our por tpie ce s, f ive f ow le rs , e ight bas ie s on t he f or ec as tl e, s ix f al cons , a nd nine

f al co ne ts . N ot a ll o f t he se s ma ll er o rd na nc e a re p re se nt ly m ou nt ed , y ou u nd er st an d, m y l or ds ; s om e w er e

d am ag ed i n t he a ct io n a nd s om e o th er s w er e d is mo un te d t ha t o th er d am ag es m ig ht b e e as ie r r ep ai re d. "

T he b ar dn t ur ne d t ow ar d h is h os t, s mi li ng . " So , m eu a mi go , y ou h av e h er e a s ai li ng s hi p o f s om e

t ho us an d t on s b ur th en , m ou nt in g a b ro ad si de o f a t l ea st s ix te en h ea vy g un s. Y ou h av e a n e xp er ie nc ed

c re w w ho m y ou c ou ld p ro ba bl y h ir e f or s ha re s a lo ne , n ot t o m en ti on a n u ne mp lo ye d c on do tt a w ho

w ou ld p ro ba bl y m ak e t he f in es t s ea -s ol di er s t hi s s id e o f t he G at es o f H el l.

" No w, t ru e, y ou m ig ht h av e t ro ub le i n s om e p or ts , s om e p la ce s, u nd er a n E ng li sh e ns ig n, b ut a s

M ar kg ra f v on V el eg ra d, y ou c an l eg al ly s ai l u nd er t he e ns ig n o f t he E mp ir e, a nd t ha t' s r es pe ct ed ,

honor ed e ver ywhe re , t hes e da ys .

" Ma n, y ou r f or tu ne i s m ad e! C an 't y ou s ee i t? W it hi n f iv e

y ea rs , w it h a ny k in d o f l uc k, y ou 'l l b e p la ti ng y ou r s ol id -g ol d p is sp ot s w it h t in a nd b ra ss t o d is co ur ag e

burglars!"

" I' m c er ta in t ha t y ou t hi nk y ou k no w j us t w ha t y ou 'r e t al ki ng a bo ut , M el ch or o, " s ai d B as s g en tl y, " bu t I

a ss ur edly do not ."



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T he b ar dn v en te d a no th er j ol ly l au gh . " Am ig o, a mi go , I a m b ut s ug ge st in g t ha t y ou a nd y ou r c on do tt a

t ake out t hi s f ine, s tr ong, w el l- ar me d s hi p a nd s om ew ha t dis rupt t he m er chant t ra de of your s over ei gn's

m ul ti tu di no us e ne mi es , w hi le a t o ne a nd t he s ame t im e l in in g y ou r o wn p ur se a b it . La rg e a s i s y ou r s hi p

a nd t he c om pl em en t s he i s c ap ab le o f c ar ry in g, y ou m ig ht e ve n r ai d a f ew c oa st al t ow ns f or v ar ie ty . I ,

personally, can think of at least two ill-defended places on the northern coast of Spain that would be well

worth the intaking. ..."

S ud de nl y, i t a ll c am e c le ar t o B as s. " Pi ra cy 1? Y ou 'r e s ug ge st in g t ha t I t ak e t hi s s hi p a nd t ur n p ir at e,

Melchoro?"

" It 's a n o ld a nd m os t h on or ab le p ro fe ss io n, " t he b ar dn s ai d, a dd in g, " I m ig ht e ve n s hi p a lo ng w it h y ou f or

a wh ile . . . jus t u nt il y ou ge t th e h an g o f th in gs , a mig o. I ha ve ha d s ome s mall ex pe rie nc e i n th e f iel d."

F ee li ng h im se lf i n p oo r p os it io n t o o ff en d t he se m en w ho w er e b y n ow b ec om e h is c lo se st f ri en ds a nd

t rust ie st a dvis er s i n t hi s new , s tr ange , s avage w or ld i nt o w hi ch he had bee n t hr ow n, B as s nonet he le ss

r ef us ed t o a ns we r d ir ec tl y y es o r n o, s ay in g o nl y t ha t h e w ou ld c on si de r a nd m us e u po n t he p os si bl e u se s

of t he w ar ship. B ut s ec re tl y, w it hi n him se lf , he w as s hocked t ha t his boon c om pa ni ons Ba ron

M el chor o, S ir A li , S ir C al um , C apta in S ir L uc ai s, S ir R ic ha rd C romw el l, R ei chsher zog W ol fgang, e ve n

his bodyguar d-s er va nt , N ugai t he K al myk, a nd P et e F ai rl eya ll s ee me d s o pl ea se d a nd dow nr ight

e nt husi as ti c a bout s hovi ng him i nt o, of j oi ni ng him i n, a l if e of high- se as pir ac y a nd c oa st al r ai di ng.

H e w ai te d unt il a ff ai rs a ga in c al le d him t o t he vic init y of S ir P aul B igod's hea dqua rt er s, t he n a rr ange d a

d in ne r i nv it at io n. Wh en a t l on g l ast h e wa s a bl e to g et a f ew wo rd s al on e wi th th e Lo rd Ad mi ral , h e

t ou ch ed f ir st u po n t he m at te r o f t he s hi p s ei ze d b y S ir Al i a nd t he r es t.

B ig od b ea me d o ve r t he r im o f h is g il de d- si lv er w in e g ob le t. " A r ar e s tr ok e o f l uc k f or y ou , t ha t o ne , y ou r

g ra ce . A cc or di ng t o P ap al f le et r ec or ds , s he 's a n i mp re ss ed T ur ki sh v es se l. S ul ta n O ma r m ig ht w el l b e

wil lin g to p ay a mo st h an ds ome s um to t he En gl is h n ob lema n wh o . . . sh all we s ay, fr ee d h er fr om h er o di ou s b on da ge t o R om e.

" But negot ia ti ons w it h A nqahra w il l s ur el y t ake a good bit of t im e, w ha t w it h t he dis ta nc es i nvol ve d a nd

t he s ti ll -uns et tl ed c ondi ti ons her ea bout s. Y our gra ce s houl d have ple nt y of t im e f or s om e profi ta bl e

voyages out a ga inst t he m er chant s hi pping of t he dam ne d F re nc hi es , S pa ni sher s, a nd s uc hl ike. "

H e l ow er ed h is t on e a nd l ea ne d f or wa rd c on sp ir at or il y. " I c an l oa n y ou a f ew s ma ll s up po rt b ot to ms a nd

c re ws , y ou r g ra ce , c an we t wo c om e t o a r ea so na bl e a gr ee me nt o n s ha re s. An d s ho ul d l an d o pe ra ti on s

be contemplated, I might even take a few ships out in company with yours . . . under my private ensign,



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of course."

B ut , Si r Pa ul .. . t he k in g, w on 't h e o bj ec t t o h is s hi ps b ei ng u se d f or a ct s o f p ir ac y a nd p er so na l g ai n? "

" Wh y n o, y ou r g ra ce . W it h t he e xc ep ti on s o f t ho se t hr ee S pa ni sh er s y ou r b ri ga de o f h or se p ri ze d, n on e

o f t he s hi ps b el on g t o h is m aj es ty . A ll a re e it he r c om ma nd ee re d o r o n l on g- te rm l ea se t o t he C ro wn ."

" An d wh at o f t he s hi ps o f t hi s f le et a nd t he e ar li er Pa pa l f le et s y ou a nd y ou r f or ce c ap tu re da re n on e o f

them the king's either?" demanded Bass puzzledly.

" Wh y n o, y ou r g ra ce ," B ig od r ep li ed . " I h ad t ho ug ht t ha t y ou r g ra ce u nd er st oo d t he se m at te rs . T he y a ll

belong to whatever knight or nobleman first raised his ensign over them after their capitulation, just as you

c am e i nt o owner ship of your T ur ki c gal le on, your gra ce .

" Spea ki ng of w hi ch, t hat ga ll eon probably s hould be c ar ee ne d, c le ane d of f, r ec aul ke d, a nd, a ft er t he

a ct io n, r ep ai re d i n s un dr y w ay s b ef or e s he s et s o ut a ga in st t ar ge ts o f o pp or tu ni ty . T he b as in h er e i s

a de qu at e t o a ny a nd a ll o f t ho se u se s, y ou r g ra ce , a nd w e w il l b e m or e t ha n p le as ed a nd h on or ed t o

a cc om moda te t ha t f ine pri ze w he ne ve r your gra ce f inds t he t im e f it ti ng."

* * *

M as te r W al id D ahub P as ha , i t devel oped, pos se ss ed a f ai r, i f ver y hea vi ly a cc ente d, a mount of E ngli sh,

but Captain Fahrooq's few utterances required translation by Sir Ali or Baron Melchoro.

Th e t wo h ad b ee n s ur pr is ed wh en a ll ow ed t o w al k, f ac e f or wa rd , i nt o t he p re se nc e o f t he ir c ap to r.

B ef or e h im , h ow ev er , t he y b ot h f el l t o t he ir k ne es a nd t hu mp ed t he ir f or eh ea ds o n t he c ar pe t a nd s ta ye d

t hus unt il S ir A li c om ma nded t he m t o a ri se .

F ro m h is c an op ie d a rm ch ai r, B as s s tu di ed h is c ap ti ve s. W al id P as ha l oo ke d m or e G re ek t ha n A ra b o r

M oo r; h is s ki n t on es w er e d ar k e no ug h, a lmo st a s d ar k a s S ir A li 's , b ut h is e ye s w er e a d ar k g re en , a nd

a b it of c he st nu t h ue t in ge d h is b ea rd ; h e wa lk ed wi th t he r oll in g g ait o f a s ea ma n, a nd wh at Ba ss c ou ld

s ee o f h is b od y a nd l im bs d en ot ed b ig b on es , r ol li ng m us cl es , a nd h ir su te s ki n.



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T he o th er m an w as m uc h y ou ng er , n o m or e t ha n t we nt y- fi ve , B as s t ho ug ht , a nd n o A ra b, e it he r. I nd ee d,

he w as r ac ia ll y dis si mi la r f rom e ve ry other m an i n t he r oom. H is s pi ke bea rd a nd penci l- thin, drooping

mu st ac hi os w er e a s b la ck a s s in , b ut w he re n ot we at he re d h is s ki n wa s f ai r a nd t he c or ne rs o f h is b lu e

e ye s h ad a s li gh t e pi ca nt hi c f ol d. He w as a s t al l a s W al id Pa sh a o r Si r Al ia bo ut f iv e f ee t s ev en a nd

h is m ov em en ts w er e c at li ke , g ra ce fu l. L ik e S ir A li , h e h ad a s ma ll h ea d a nd f la t e ar s, b ut h e l ac ke d t heh ug e, b ea kl ik e n os e o f t he A ra b.

M or eo ve r, b ot h m en l oo ke d a nd s me ll ed c le an , a nd t ha t r ai se d t he ir p er so na l s to ck s a pp re ci ab ly i n t he

r ec koning of t he ir c apt or .

" Wa li d P as ha ," b eg an B as s, " I a m i nf or me d t ha t y ou a nd y ou r s hi p w er e f or ce d t o s ai l a ga in st En gl an dby the minions of Pope Abdul, that you consider yourself to be a neutral and most ill used by Rome.

H ow ev er t ha t m ay b e, y ou a nd y ou r s hi p w er e f ou gh t b y a nd c ap tu re d b y m y g al le ys w hi ls t y ou s ai le d i n

c om pa ny w it h t he s wo rn e ne mi es o f h is m aj es ty , A rt hu r I II T ud or , K in g o f E ng la nd a nd W al es .

" I a lr ea dy h av e b ee n a pp ro ac he d b y a Bu rg un di an d ea le r i n s la ve s wh o h as m ad e a n o ff er f or t he l ot o f

youyou a nd a ll your c re w. A ls o, I a m r el ia bl y i nf or me d t ha t S ul ta n O ma r w il l l ikel y r ansom t he s hi p

and guns most handsomely, given time."

T he o ld er m an g ul pe d o nc e a nd s et h is j aw . T he e xp re ss io n o f t he y ou ng er , h ow ev er , d id n ot c ha ng e.

" Bu t I d o n ot b el ie ve i n s la ve ry . No ne o f y ou wi ll b e s ol d i nt o b on da ge /' Ba ss r ea ss ur ed t he t wo . " At t he

v er y mo st , t ho se o f y ou r c re w wh o a re a me na ble ma y b e s ig ne d o n b y v ar io us o f t he s hi ps n ow

c om pr is in g t he R oy al F le et f or t he d ur at io n o f t hi s w ar . A t i ts c on cl us io n, t he y c an l ik el y w or k t he ir

passages back to the Eastern Mediterranean on board merchanters."

" Wh at o f t ho se , S eb as ti an B ey , w ho f or r ea so ns o f h ea lt h m ig ht d ec id e a r et ur n t o T ur ki sh d om in io ns

unw is e? W il l t he y, t oo, be s ent a wa y? " W al id P as ha a sked dif fi de nt ly.

B as s s mi le d. " Si r A li h as e xp la in ed s om et hi ng o f y ou r d ea dl y d if fi cu lt y t o m e, W al id Pa sh a. N o, y ou a re

mo re t han wel co me t o r ema in in En gla nd , if yo u wi sh . Per ha ps I c an f in d a pl ac e f or yo u in my

h ou se ho ld , b ut we 'l l c ro ss t ha t b ri dg e w he n w e c ome t o i t. J us t n ow , I h av e a n a lt er na te p la n t o b ro ac h,

o ne wh ic h ma y we ll b e o f i mm en se b en ef it t o a ll i n t hi s r oo m a nd ma ny a no th er a s we ll ."



22/187

T he d us ty m es se ng er f ou nd t he f am ou s ( so me s ai d i nf am ou s) D uc e d i B ol gi a i n a s ha dy s po t o n a h il ls id e

just beyond the shattered town his condotta had just conquered and were now despoiling in the savage,

t im e- honore d f as hi on known a s i nt aking. S hout s, t he r ing of s te el , s cr ea ms of e ve ry des cr ipti on a nd

i nt en si ty , t hu ds a nd c ra sh es a nd t he c ra ck li ng o f n ew -s et f ir es s er ve d a s d in ne r m us ic f or t he b ig , b ee fy

c ap ta in a nd c er ta in o f h is o ff ic er s a s t he y b ro ke b re ad o n t he s to ny s wa rd b en ea th t he t re es .

T he m es se ng er h im se lf w as n ot a ll ow ed t o a pp ro ac h t he g re at c ap ta in , o f c ou rs e. H e a nd h is e sc or t

perforte waited under heavy guard at the foot of the hill while the beribboned, wax-sealed vellum roll was

c ar ri ed u p t o i ts i nt en de d r ec ip ie nt b y a s qu at , h id eo us ly s ca rr ed , a nd f ul ly a rm ed h ea vy h or se ma n.

T ho se s ol di er s s et t o g ua rd t he m es se ng er a nd h is e sc or t e ye d t he f in e, i f d us ty a nd t ra ve l- st ai ne d,

clothing and effects of their charges with unconcealed avarice, all the while fingering the well-honedblades of their battle-axes or hefting the short-hafted weapons where they lay, ready to hand, across their

s addl e pom me ls , s ni gger ing a nd e xc ha nging gla nc es a nd t er se c om me nt s i n U mbri an or s om e s uc h

unc ul ture d dia le ct . T he m es se nger r ef le ct ed s il entl y t ha t s worn s er vi ce t o t he house hold of a P apal l egat e

c ould t ake a n uns us pe ct ing gentl em an t o s om e s tr ange a nd e xc ee di ngly dange rous pla ce s. A ft er a nother

w ar y l oo k a ro un d a t t he m ur de ro us p ac k s ur ro un di ng h im a nd h is e sc or t, h e s il en tl y c on si gn ed h is s ou l t o

h ea ve n, a lt ho ug h h e k ep t h is f ac e t ot al ly b la nk l es t t he i ll -b or n p ea sa nt d og s d er iv e p le as ur e f ro m t he

belief that they had frightened a Roman nobleman.

" Hm mph! " t he m es se nger t hought t o him se lf a s he w at ched t he c ondott ie re on t he hil ls ide. " He c an r ea d.M ay be t he re 's s om et hi ng t o t ho se t al es o f h im b ei ng g en tl eb or n a ft er a ll . A lt ho ug h 1 f or o ne h av e n ev er

c on si de re d i t a ll t ha t h ei no us t ha t h e mi gh t h av e h ac ke d o ut h is p at en ts o f n ob il it y b y t he s tr en gt h o f h is

a rm a nd t he w ei gh t o f h is s te el h el l, p ut t o i t, i t' s p ro ba bl e t ha t e ve ry n ob le h ou se i n t he k no wn w or ld

began just that way, a strong, ruthless man with a sharp sword and enough followers to consolidate his

v ic to ri es . Pe rh ap s h is o wn h ou se . . . "

B ut t he b ur ly f ig ur e o f D uc e Ti mo te o h ad a ri se n. O ne b ig h an d s ti ll c lu tc hi ng t he m es sa ge , h e w av ed t he

o th er i mp er io us ly . " Ho , s er ge nt e, e sc or t t he s ig no re u p h er e t o m e. A nd t he r es t o f y ou , t ho se p ea co ck sa nd t he ir h or se s b elo ng to h im wh o ma y b e o ur n ex t e mp lo ye r; b e y e a ll wa rn ed ."

T he m es se ng er d is mo un te d, t hr ew h is t ra ve l c lo ak o ve r h is s we at y s ad dl e, a nd f ol lo we d i t w it h h is d us t

v ei l. W it h s om e s lo w d el ib er at io n, h e t oo k h is s wo rd f ro m t he t ra ve l s ca bb ar d b uc kl ed t o t he s ad dl e s ki rt

a nd i ns ert ed t he s he at he d we ap on s nu gl y i nto h is b ald ri c. On ly t he n d id h e tu rn a nd s et h is f ee t t o t he

pathway that led up the hillside to the knot of men who sat or squatted under the silver-leaved olive trees.

W he n a f ew f ee t s ep ar at ed t he m, t he d uc e g ro wl ed i n a

t on e t ha t c ou ld h av e b ee n f ri en dl y o r n ot , " An d w ho m ig ht y ou b e, b oy ? Yo u' re n o c le rk , b y th e c ut o f



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y ou , n o d am ne d Mo or , e it he r. Y ou s ee m t o h av e a m ea su re o f g ut s. Ca n' t y ou f in d a b et te r e mp lo ye r

t ha n a p ac k o f a cc ur se d A fr ic an s? Or d o y ou s im pl y l ik e o ld A bd ul 's b ra nd o f s od om y? E h? "

Gritting his teeth against an intemperate replyafter all, his battle rapier would avail him little against

t he s e m os t ly a r mor ed profe s si ona l s oldie r s a nd t he ir broa ds words, w he e ll oc k pis t ol s, a nd other w ea po ns t he m es se ng er s we pt o ff h is s we at -s og gy h at a nd t hr us t a l eg f or wa rd i n a b ow .

" Yo ur g ra ce , I h av e t he h on or to b e Si r U go D' Or si ni , a k ni gh t o f t he h ou se ho ld o f h is e mi ne nc e,

Cardinal Bartolomeo D'Este, Archbishop of Palermo."

B ef or e a ny m or e w or ds m ig ht b e e xc ha ng ed , t he re c am e t he c la tt er o f h oo ve s o n c ob bl es to ne s a nd ac ho ru s o f d ee p- vo ic ed s ho ut s f ro m w it hi n t he t ow n. T he n, f ro m o ut t he s ha tt er ed g at e, b ur st a b ig w hi te

m ul e a t a f ul l, j ar ri ng gal lop. B es tr iding his s addl el es s bac k, bar e t hi ghs a nd kne es gri pping t he m us cula r

barrel while small, unshod heels kicked at the flanks to encourage greater speed, was a naked red-haired

w om an. W ai st -l engt h hai r bil lowe d out behind her , a nd t hi s hai r w as her undoi ng.

T he ba re he ade d, hal f- ar more d hor se ma n purs ui ng her s purr ed his w ar hor se c los e e nough behind t o

g ra sp a b ig h an df ul o f t ha t b il lo wi ng h ai r a nd d ra gg ed h er f ro m h er i ns ec ur e s ea t. T he n, w hi le s ti ll s he w as

a b it s tu nn ed , h e s ec ur ed h er w ri st s wi th a l en gt h o f t ho ng a nd d ep os it ed h is c at ch , b el ly d ow n, a cr os s t he

n ec k o f h is m ou nt . L au gh in g, t ha t b la ck -b ea rd ed m an r ei ne d a bo ut a nd h ea de d b ac k t ow ar d t he t ow n a ta f as t w al k, h an dl in g h is r ei ns h ig h w hi le t he b us y f in ge rs o f h is f re e h an d e xp lo re d t he j un ct ur e o f t he

w om an 's n ow -t hr as hi ng l eg s a nd h is e ar s w er e a ss ai le d b y h er s cr ea ms o f o ut ra ge a nd t he v il e c ur se s s he

g as pe d u p a t h im.

" Be tt er n ot t ry t o k is s h er , G il be rt o, " s ho ut ed o ne o f t he o ff ic er s o n t he h il ls id e. " A w om an l ik e t ha t b it

my cousin's tongue off!"

" Wi th G il be rt o' s l uc k, " put i n a nother , " it 'l l be s om et hi ng f ar m or e i mpor ta nt t ha n a t ongue t he s tr um pe t' s

teeth meet in!"

" Be s ur e t o k ee p t he b ag ga ge 's h an ds t ie d t ig ht ," y et a no th er o ff ic er a dv is ed . " Sh e s tr ik es m e a s t he

s tr ip e o f a n e ye -g ou ge r wi th t ho se c la ws s he h as o n t he e nd s o f h er f in ge rs ."

" I j us t h op e h e' s c ar ef ul i n t he re ," s ti ll a no th er o f t he g at he re d o ff ic er s m ut te re d t o n o o ne i n p ar ti cu la r.

" Spanis h bugge r owe s m e e le ve n duc at s. "



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" Ne ve r y ou f ea r a bo ut o ur G il be rt o, A nd re a, " c hu ck le d a n ea rb y m an . " I' ve s ol di er ed w it h h im f or m an y

a y ea r a nd I' m h er e t o t el l y ou t ha t h e c an g en tle a ny d ox y, h ig hb orn o r l ow, a nd i n d amn -a ll t ime , t oo .

T he y s oo n l ea rn j us t w ho t he ir m as te r i s! W hy , I r ec al l t hi s wo ma n i n "

B ut j us t t he n t he d uc e c le ar ed h is t hr oa t a nd s il en ce f el l.

" Ge nt le me n, h er e' s t he c ha nc e w e' ve a ll b ee n c ha mp in g a t o ur b it s t o s ee ." H e f lo ur is he d t he b er ib bo ne d

parchment once and continued, "With any sort of luck, we have sacked our last, piss-poor Sicilian town

f or his par si moni ous highnes s of N aple s. T hi s hints a t a n off er of e mploym ent s om ew he re out si de I ta ly.

Now, while it's signed by the Archbishop of Palermo, we all know that he alone could never afford myh ir e o r y ou rs , s o w it ho ut d ou bt b ig ge r f is h a re i nv ol ve d c ov er tl y, a nd n o t hi nk in g m an w ou ld n ee d t o

o ve rl y t ax h is b ra in t o d et er mi ne o ne p ow er fu l e no ug h t o u se a c ar di na l, a n ob le -b or n p ri nc e o f t he

church, for his stalking-horse.

" My b ro th er , R ob er to , w il l b e i n c om ma nd o f t he c om pa ny i n m y a bs en ce . G iv e t he m en n o m or e t ha n

t wo m or e d ay s i n t ha t t own , t he n d ra g e ve ry s wi ng in g d ic k b ac k i nt o c am p a nd t ak e a s mu ch a s a no th er

d ay to s tra ig ht en t he m u p, b ut I wa nt y ou a nd t he m u nd er t he wal ls of Pa ler mo i n e ig ht d ay s' t ime .

" Gi ov an ni , i f a ny d am ag e c om es t o t he se d am ne d o li ve t re es o r t o t ho se v in ey ar ds , i t w il l b e o n y ou r

hea d. T he y' re t he r ea son f or t hi s s o- ca ll ed c am pa ign, a ft e r a ll .

" Ar pa d, a ny d ec en t r id in g o r d ra ft a ni ma ls t ha t f al l t o h an d a re t he p ro pe rt y o f m y c om pa ny . L et t he m en

k ee p w ha te ve r o th er p or ta bl e l oo t t he y f in d i n t he re . N o p ri so ne rs ,

t ho ug h; I p re fe r r an so ms i n s om et hi ng m or e s ub st an ti al t ha n o li ve o il a nd c as ks o f s ou r w in e. A nd y ou

know what to do if any of them try to drag any women along.

" Ot tori no, i n a ddit ion t o m y a xm en, I 'l l be w anti ng t we nt y dra goons. L ie ut enant P andolf o w il l c om ma nd

t he m, t he s um pt er s, a nd t he r em ou nt s. T ak e m y s ma ll er t en t, a nd f oo d a nd g ra in f or a ll t he m en a nd

beasts for four days. See my man, Pietro, back at camp for my chest of better clothing. He'll be coming,

to o; s ee to i t."



25/187

R ob er to d i B ol gi a, t ho ug ht t he m es se ng er , m ig ht h av e b ee n a lm os t a t wi n o f h is f am ou s b ro th er , s o

s im il ar w er e t he ir f ac es , t he s et o f t he ir b lu e e ye s, t he w av y r ip pl es o f t he ir d ar k- br ow n h ai r, t he ir b ri st li ng

m us ta ch es a nd s tr ai gh t- br id ge d n os es , a nd t he d ar k b lu en es s o f t he ir s ha ve n c he ek s a nd c hi ns . B ut t he

y ou ng er w as a c ou pl e o f f in ge rs s ho rt er t ha n t he e ld er , o wn ed a p hy si qu e n ot q ui te a s m as si ve , a nd

l ac ke d t he u pp er h al f o f h is l ef t e ar .

A s t he d uc e f in is he d h is i ns tr uc ti on s t o O tt or in o, R ob er to a sk ed , " Bu t w ha t o f t he r oy al g ar ri so n, l or d

brother? If we leave the town unoccupied, they might have to retake it whenever they get here."

D uc e Ti mo te o l au gh ed c ol dl y. "D o t he b as ta rd s g oo d t o d o a b it o f r ea l f ig ht in g fo r a c ha ng e. Th ey w er e

s up po se d t o h av e b ee n h er e t wo w ee ks a go ne , w er en 't t he y? W el l, t he n, w e' ve d on e t he j ob f or wh ic h

w e s up po se dl y a re g oi ng t o b e p ai d . . . s ome da y, i n s om e c oi n o r o th er . I f t he y d ra g t he ir o ve rs iz ed f ee t

f or s o l on g a t im e t ha t t he se f ei st y Si ci li an s h av e t im e t o r ep ai r t he ir w al ls a nd g at es a nd r ea rm s uf fi ci en tl yto stand the m off, then so be it!

" No , y ou a ll a dh er e t o t he s ch ed ul e I 'v e h er e o ut li ne d. L et h is N ea po li ta n m aj es ty o ve rt ax s om e f ol k

s om ew he re w ho a re n' t a s g oo d a t d ef en di ng t he ms el ve s, s ay I ."

Ta kin g a b ra ss ew er a nd a n e mp ty c up f ro m th e g ro un d n ea r h is f ee t, t he d uc e f il le d t he o ne f ro m t he

o th er a nd t hr us t t he m ea su re o f w in e t ow ar d t he m es se ng er . " Be st d ri nk w hi ls t y ou c an , S ir U go . F ou r d ay s h enc e, I mea n t o b e i n Pa ler mo , wh ich i s go in g t o me an h ard r idi ng fo r us a ll, wi th p re ci ous f ew

s to ps a nd d am ne d s ho rt o ne s, e ve n t he n. W e' ll s ee i f y ou r h or se ma ns hi p a nd e nd ur an ce m at ch es y ou r

courage, sirrah."

T he S we di sh c ar avel S johdst , M as te r L ar s von A snen c om ma nding, hea vy-l aden w it h a hol d f ul l of pig

i ro n, c op pe r i ng ot s, c as ks o f s to ck fi sh , a nd a f ew c as ks o f p ri es ts ' p ow de r a nd a d ec k c ar go o f t im be r

a nd r es in , c ha nc ed a cr os s t he s tr an ge s hi p o nl y a d ay 's e as y s ai li ng o ut o f t he S ei ne 's m ou th .

W hi ls t t he m as te r, h as ti ly s um mo ne d o nt o t he q

Adams, Robert - Castaways 2 - The Seven Magical Jewels of Ireland

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