Haitian Gold Read online

  I called to Shayla to hold on and slid down the outside lines of the ladder. My hands screamed in pain from the ropes, but I reached the deck in no time. Mason had already crossed from the pirate ship and was immediately by my side, staring up at Shayla and the mess above, shaking his head.

  “We could rig a bosun’s chair and send someone up. With a bit of luck, she could be cut out like that,” he said.

  I looked up and did not see how it would be possible to send a man in a chair into such a tangle of lines and wood, but there was no better idea and I trusted Mason’s knowledge of ships. My train of thought was broken by a scream from the other deck, followed by a splash from something being thrown in the water. I looked for its source and saw that Rhames was demonstrating his own leadership style. It was nothing I could deal with for the moment. My focus was on Shayla.

  Thunder rolled and, when I turned to look for its source, I saw that out of nowhere an anvil-shaped cloud with a black base had formed not a hundred feet from the water, reaching high into the sky. I had no doubt we were in for an intense storm and, unable to maneuver in our condition, we had to reach shelter before it swamped us. The storm could put us beam to the seas, where we were in danger of capsizing. It would mean working to get Shayla free while we were underway.

  “Cut the ships loose,” I commanded. “Phillip, have Rhames and Swift split the crew. They can take the pirate ship and follow us.”

  Phillip relayed my orders to Rhames and Swift, who set about splitting the freedmen into two equal groups. Rhames left the captives under guard with a threat that they would follow their friend over the rail if they caused any trouble. Then he started barking orders to the men to rig whatever canvas could hold wind.

  Just as Phillip rejoined Mason and me at the helm, thunder boomed. Amidst the low rolling, there was a blinding flash of lightning, followed immediately by a sharp crash, and the storm was nearly upon us. We had been drifting and rolling with our beam to the gentle swells, but I knew that wind would come with the storm and the seas would increase. I had to get Shayla down before that. I left the navigation to Mason. He needed no orders and I could trust him to get the ships to the lee of the island before the storm hit.

  I heard two lines snap and the ships separated. The hulls slammed together, but then separated. I left Rhames and Mason to their respective helms and focused my attention on the rigging.

  “William, order the men to bring a pulley and line up from the hold and get the best climber to fasten it to the top of the mast.” From that line I would follow Mason’s advice and use a bosun’s chair to go aloft. “We’ll need some wood as well to fashion a boom,” I added before I went to the hold to find our chair.

  When I got back on deck, the motion of the ship had changed. We had the wind to our stern and a following sea, good conditions for now, but I suspected that would change. Over the port rail, I saw it closing; the leading edge bringing the wind would be on us in minutes.

  Chair in hand, I climbed the rigging with abandon. Above me, men worked with the pulley and line, using what was left of a spar to extend the gear above where Shayla hung. I reached them and attached the canvas sling to the end of the line. Thunder boomed again and the men steadied me in the chair. We timed the swell and they pushed me free.

  As comfortable as I was with heights, it was terrifying. Swinging freely a hundred feet above the deck, the slightest motion of the ship sent me flying several feet in either direction. Gradually, though, the men were able to lower me to the mess that held Shayla, and I was able to grab onto the twisted lines for support. With my dagger in my teeth, I sorted through the lines, judging which were critical to the ship, and went to work cutting the others.

  The clouds were close enough to block the sun and I shivered when the first drops of rain hit my skin. Lightning flashed around me, but I forced myself to concentrate on the task at hand. It was tedious work, but one line at a time fell away, allowing me to get closer. A gust rocked the ship and I used its momentum to finally reach her. I grabbed ahold of Shayla and pulled her to me. We were face to face and I thought I saw a smile when the wall of water hit.

  I was instantly blinded as the force of the waterspout plowed through us. Shayla dug her nails into my back, clinging for life, as we swung out over the ship until, with a loud snap that sounded like a musket shot, the chair broke free and we fell for what felt like an eternity and smacked into the sea.

  The force of the fall along with our combined weight drove us deep below the surface. I felt Shayla slash at me as she tried to free herself and I suddenly realized I had no idea if she could swim. I was close to panic. The canvas seat was wrapped around me, its line binding my legs. Shayla hit me again and I had no choice but to push her away. Neither of us had a chance if I drowned. With both feet still bound together I kicked like a dolphin toward the surface. My eyes stung from the salt, but I refused to close them; the sunlight filtering through the water provided my only hope. The weight of the rigging did its best to counter my efforts and soon my lungs were empty. I focused on the light above and I could see the ripples of water on the top. With renewed hope I kicked harder. The surface looked only feet away. Feeling the gag reflex that would end me, I kicked again, and suddenly my head broke through.

  I tried to tread water until I could regain my strength, but our struggle was not yet over. The chair and line were still tight around me, pulling me onto my side and forcing seawater into my mouth. I was facedown and helpless when I felt a hand pull the line away and I was finally able to roll onto my back and breathe. Shayla surfaced beside me and we looked at each other as only two people who have faced death together can.

  Once we caught our breath and were both free of the line, I spun in a circle looking for the ships. The storm had skirted past, but the seas were still white-capped from the wind. We crested a wave and I saw the masts. They had survived the storm and were limping under whatever sail they could muster toward the bluff rising from the island in the distance. There was no point in yelling, but we tried anyway, our smiles fading to worried looks as we realized we were on our own.

  Chapter Four

  Thankfully Shayla was a strong swimmer. We held hands and kicked on our backs, looking back every few minutes to check our course against the bluff—the only feature still visible over the waves. But despite our efforts we were drifting away from land.

  “We’re not going to make it, are we?” Shayla asked, spitting seawater from her mouth between words.

  I tried not to show my concern. “Just hold on. The winds should die soon,” I said, hoping it was true. The tail of the storm had just passed and the sky was now a brilliant blue. I would have liked to say more and reassure her, but the waves forced water into my mouth as well.

  With each kick, I felt our energy wane, and I knew if something didn’t happen soon we would succumb to the sea. I gritted my teeth and closed my eyes. When I opened them, I saw birds overhead. A flock of white seagulls swarmed the surface, crashing bait nearby while several larger frigate birds circled high overhead. It was the latter that caused me alarm for they were scouting the larger predators below the baitfish.

  I wasn’t sure if Shayla knew the significance of the birds. I said nothing. One of the frigates dove and crashed the surface not twenty feet from us, scattering the smaller birds working the surface. The large bird resurfaced and fluttered its wings, hovering inches over the cresting waves. I watched while it ate the small fish, expecting a fin to break the surface. I thought the bird would head skyward and join the flock, using the high winds to locate more baitfish. Instead, it settled on the surface. That’s when I knew something was odd and kicked toward it.

  The board was fresh in the water, and I guessed was from one of our ships. Shayla must have seen it too because we were both now kicking with everything we had left. Every so often a larger wave came along and pushed the board further out of reach, but finally we grabbed ahold of it, scaring off the bird, and pulled our upper bodies out of the water.


  It was a long time before we talked. When my breath finally returned, I lifted myself higher out of the water and scanned our surroundings. The bluff, thankfully, didn’t appear further off. In fact, we appeared to be floating toward it. In the time we had taken to reach the board, the storm winds had passed and the currents had changed.

  Shayla recovered and saw the land, too. Together we lifted ourselves all the way onto the board, lay side by side and began kicking toward the bluff. Aided by the current, we gradually closed the gap.

  We both yelled for the longboat ahead of us, but my throat burned from the salt water and my voice didn’t carry. Even though we weren’t sure they had seen us, we changed direction and headed toward the small craft. The current had other ideas, though, and started to pull us away. Just as we were about to give up and turn back, a man yelled and we saw the boat turn. Minutes later we were hauled aboard and collapsed exhausted against the gunwale.

  “Thought we lost you there. That damn waterspout almost capsized us,” Swift said in between barking orders to the half dozen freemen at the oars.

  All I could do was nod while I caught my breath. I could feel Shayla shivering next to me and realized I was doing the same. We huddled together as the skiff cleared the bluff and entered a small anchorage in the lee of the island. Out of the wind, the seas settled and I took the opportunity to ask the questions I needed answered before we reached the ships.

  “And what of the pirate ship?”

  “She took some damage, but it was the Panther that took the brunt. She’s going to need a new mainmast,” he said.

  “The pirates?” I asked.

  “Still bound on the deck. A bit wetter than they would like,” he laughed.

  Shayla shivered again, and I pulled her closer. It was good news that Rhames had done nothing rash while I was gone. The pirate crew was a burden, but I would not have their blood on my hands.

  “Looks like a battle-hardened lot. Maybe we can have them join,” he said.

  I had thought the same but had discarded the notion quickly. The last thing we needed was a dozen more pirates aboard. It was hard enough to control the three we already had. No, I thought. Better to put them ashore and leave them to fend for themselves.

  We reached the Panther and Swift skillfully guided the longboat to the stern. Several heads appeared over the rail, each shouting encouragement to us as we climbed the rope ladder. Just behind Shayla, I reached the deck, where Mason embraced us. A cheer went up from the crew, followed a minute later by a similar chorus from our men on the pirate ship.

  “Something’s a bit odd with those two,” Mason said.

  I followed his glance to the pirate ship and saw Rhames and Red standing off to the side of the other cheering men. “We could use some dry clothes and food,” I said, trying to downplay his concern. “Then we can talk.” I turned and led Shayla past the crew and toward my cabin.

  Mason followed us below and waited until Shayla had entered the cabin and closed the door before he spoke up. “Rhames and Red are strutting around like pirates over there. They might be up to something, Nick.”

  “It’s just the thrill of the fight that’s got into them,” I said. He gave me one of his looks that said he knew more than I did and went back on deck.

  Once I was inside with Shayla, we stripped off our wet clothes, and despite what we had just been through I couldn’t help but be aroused by her naked body, though I knew my duties lay elsewhere.

  I did not share Mason’s fears, but I knew his judgment to be sound. Wanting to see for myself, I left Shayla and went topside. It was getting dark and there was little activity. In fact, the deck of the Panther was near empty. I found Mason by the helm, smoking a pipe and staring across the water at the pirate ship anchored a hundred feet away. The ship was lit and the drunken banter carried across the water.

  “Sounds like they found some rum aboard,” Mason said. “Quite the party. Maybe we ought to put an end to it.”

  I looked up at our shattered mast and even in the dim light I could see the damage to the rigging. “Maybe not a good idea right now. Let them drink their fill and they’ll be easier to deal with tomorrow,” I said.

  A pistol fired, followed by a splash as cheers went up from the men. “Reckon that’s the captain,” Mason said, drawing on his pipe again, “and from the sound of it, they’ve already cut the men loose.”

  I suspected he was right and went to the rail to look at the ship. The pirate crew had me worried. If Rhames and the others wanted to return to their old ways, they now had the numbers.

  “What do you make of it?” I asked him.

  “Not sure, but I’ll keep watch tonight. Still thinkin’ we should put an end to it. Make sure the prisoners are safe,” Mason said.

  “Not till the liquor’s gone. Let them drink their fill. Tomorrow is soon enough.” Despite my worry, I had been through a lot with Rhames and his men, and Mason’s concerns could keep for one night.

  Tired of the conversation, I went to the rail. My eyes adjusted to the darkness and I could see the other ship’s outline against the water. I studied her rigging, trying to evaluate the damage and plan for the repairs. Our broadside had crippled her as well. It would take many days to make both boats seaworthy again.

  Just as I was about to turn away, a bright red light flashed in the sky. I turned and saw Rhames at the rail waving a pistol in the air. Two rockets exploded high in the sky. What was he doing? I did not want a confrontation now, but the flares could reveal our position.

  “Stop with the rockets!” I shouted across the water. “You’ll give away our position!” I regretted I couldn’t do much to enforce discipline that night. Anything could happen when rum was involved, which explained the next rocket being pointed at me, but Rhames must have seen my reasoning. He turned the pistol away and I heard him shout to the men. When he disappeared, I could hear him leading the men in one of their pirate songs.

  Mason was by my side now, staring at the other ship. “I’m not trusting of that lot,” he said.

  “Mason,” I said, not taking my eyes off the other ship, “have you checked the hold?”

  Chapter Five

  Mason’s fears were starting to register with me. I took a lantern and climbed down the ladder to the hold. Before I rested, I needed to set eyes on our treasure. The small light cast long flickering shadows against the walls as I made my way into the creaking darkness.

  The chests were where we’d left them and looked untouched. I moved past them, crawled through the small passage to the fore compartment and lifted the hatch to the bilge. On my belly, I lowered the lantern into the dark space. The silver ballast was there as well. I breathed a sigh of relief and replaced the hatch when a noise startled me and I saw a figure huddled in the corner.

  Unarmed, I approached cautiously. The figure was in the fetal position and as I got closer, I heard it moaning softly. I moved closer, holding the lantern in front of me.

  It was Pott. He looked at me through bloodshot eyes, his face a mask of pain.

  “What’s wrong with you?” I asked.

  He tried to lean forward but collapsed back onto the deck. In a moment of panic, I thought he was dead, but before I could reach out and touch him, he moved.

  “I’m going to find Lucy. Maybe she can help you,” I said and went for the ladder. I climbed to the deck and again heard the roar of the pirates across the water. With that new uncertainty, I could not afford to lose Pott and his testimony.

  I had no idea where Lucy got her healing powers, but I knew firsthand from when the panther had attacked me in the backwoods of Florida that they were formidable. It had been hours now since I’d found Pott collapsed on the deck of the hold, and I could do nothing but sit back and watch while the pigmy healer worked feverishly to revive him. Under her breath, she chanted and cursed, both in languages that I couldn’t understand, and I had a pang of anxiety every time she shook her head. Shayla came to her side, kneeling down, holding the lante
rn and helping whenever she could. For now, her earlier revulsion toward Pott was hidden.

  From the height of the moon, I guessed it was well after midnight when I climbed onto the deck to fetch Lucy some water. It was quiet now. The only sound was the waves caressing the hull. I had been right not to stop the party. The silence told me I had at least until morning to figure things out. If Lucy could work her magic on Pott, I would have to call it a good night.

  “Lucy says he will live,” Shayla said, coming up beside me. “She pulled the most peculiar thing from his mouth I have ever seen.”

  “Good. We need his testimony,” I said dismissively and went back to my thoughts.

  She remained by me and we watched the other ship in silence. I was grateful for her company and thought of Rory, who would be questioning me about my intentions rather than offering me comfort. But my mind was still working, wondering what I would do on the morrow.

  Mason’s fears were not unfounded—they were, after all, pirates—but he had mistrusted Rhames, Red and Swift from the beginning. He seemed to ignore that Rhames had backed me as captain and had remained loyal to me, and I had rewarded that loyalty, our hold full of treasure and our ballast solid silver. Still, they were pirates and unpredictable. I would have to keep a weather eye.

  I left Shayla at the rail, scooped a bucket of fresh water from the barrel by the mast and took it back to the hold. To my surprise, Pott was upright, leaning against the bulkhead. Lucy looked exhausted and was about to climb the ladder to the deck when I noticed something in her hand.

  “What’s that?” I asked, wincing at the smell as she moved toward me.

  “Is the bad, Mr. Nick. He be better now. The evil is removed.”

  I leaned toward the rag she held open for my inspection and saw what looked like a mass surrounding a black tooth. Thankfully, she covered it up and climbed the ladder before I could gag. If that was what was causing him discomfort, I couldn’t blame his foul mood.