Birds of Prey

by Wilbur Smith

  Silently he cursed Kleinhans for his long-winded speech of welcome, of which he heard barely a word. All his attention was on the array of silver dishes and chargers that were laid before him, one after another.

  There were little sucking pigs in crisp suits of golden crackling; barons of beef running with their own rich juices set around with steaming ramparts of roasted potatoes; heaps of tender young pullets and pigeons and ducks and fat geese; five different types of fresh fish from the Atlantic, cooked five different ways, fragrant with the curries and spices of Java and Kandy and Further India; tall pyramids of the huge clawless crimson lobsters that abounded in this southern ocean; a vast array of fruits and succulent vegetables from the Company gardens; and sherbets and custards and sugar dumplings and cakes and trifles and confitures and every sweet delight that the slave chefs in the kitchens could conceive. All this was backed by stalwart ranks of cheese brought by Company ships from Holland, and jars of pickled North-Sea herring, and smoked sides of wild boar and salmon.

  In contrast to this superabundance, the service was all of delicate blue and white pattern. Behind each chair stood a house slave in the green uniform of the Company, ready to recharge glass and plate with nimble white-gloved hands. Would the man never stop talking and let them at the food, van de Velde wondered, and smiled and nodded at Kleinhans’ inanities.

  At last, with a bow to the new Governor and a much deeper one to his wife, Kleinhans sank back into his chair, and everyone looked expectantly at van de Velde. He gazed around at their asinine faces, and then with a sigh rose to his feet to reply. Two minutes will do it, he told himself, and gave them what they expected to hear, ending jovially, ‘In conclusion, I want only to wish Governor Kleinhans a safe return to the old country, and a long and happy retirement.’

  He sat down with alacrity and reached for his spoon. This was the first time the burghers had been privileged to witness the new Governor at table, and an amazed and respectful silence fell upon the company as they watched the level in his soup bowl fall like the outgoing tide across the mud-flats of the Zuider Zee. Then, suddenly realizing that when the guest of honour finished one course, the plates would be changed and the next course served, they fell to in a frenzied effort to catch up. There were many stout trenchermen among them, but none to match the Governor, especially when he had had a head start.

  As his soup bowl emptied, every bowl was whisked away and replaced with a plate piled high with thick cuts of sucking pig. The first two courses were completed in virtual silence, broken only by slurping and gulping.

  During the third course Kleinhans rallied and, as host, made a valiant attempt to revive the conversation. He leaned forward to distract van de Velde’s attention from his plate. ‘I expect that you will wish to deal with the matter of the English pirates before any other business,’ he asked, and van de Velde nodded vigorously, although his mouth was too full of succulent lobster to permit a verbal reply.

  ‘Have you decided yet how you will go about their trial and sentencing?’ Kleinhans enquired lugubriously. Van de Velde swallowed noisily, before he replied, ‘They will be executed, of course, but not before their captain, this notorious corsair Francis Courtney, reveals the hiding place of the missing Company cargo. I would like to convene a tribunal immediately for this purpose.’

  Colonel Schreuder coughed politely, and van de Velde glanced at him impatiently. ‘Yes? You wanted to say something? Out with it, then!’

  ‘Today I had opportunity to inspect the work proceeding on the kasteel fortifications, sir. The good Lord alone knows when we will be at war with England again, but it may be soon. The English are thieves by nature, and pirates by vocation. It is for these reasons, sir, that the Seventeen in Amsterdam have placed the highest priority on the completion of our fortifications. That fact is spelt out very clearly in my orders and my letter of appointment to the command of the kasteel.’

  Every man at the table looked grave and attentive at the mention of the sacred Seventeen, as though the name of a deity had been invoked. Schreuder let the silence run on for a while to make good his point, then said, ‘The work is very much behind what their excellencies have decreed.’

  Major Loten, the outgoing garrison commander, interjected, ‘It is true that the work is somewhat behindhand, but there are good reasons for this.’ The construction was his prime responsibility, and Governor van de Velde’s eyes switched to his face. He placed another forkful of lobster in his mouth. The sauce was truly delicious, and he sighed with pleasure as he contemplated another five years of meals of this order. He must certainly buy the chef from Kleinhans before he sailed. He formed his features into a more solemn pattern as he listened to Loten making his excuses. ‘I have been hampered by a shortage of labour. This most regrettable revolt among the slaves has left us severely undermanned,’ he said lamely, and van de Velde frowned.

  ‘Precisely the point I was about to make,’ Schreuder picked up smoothly. ‘If we are so short of men to meet the expectations of the Seventeen, would we be wise to execute twenty-four strong and able-bodied English pirates, instead of employing them in the workings?’

  Every eye at the table turned to van de Velde to judge his reaction, waiting for him to give them a lead. The new Governor swallowed, then used his forefinger to free a shred of lobster leg caught in his back teeth before he spoke. ‘Courtney cannot be spared,’ he said at last. ‘Not even to work on the fortifications. According to Lord Cumbrae, whose opinion I respect,’ he gave the Buzzard a seated bow, ‘the Englishman knows where the missing cargo is hidden, besides which my wife and I,’ he nodded towards Katinka, who sat between Kleinhans and Schreuder, ‘have been forced to suffer many indignities at his hands.’

  ‘I quite agree,’ said Schreuder. ‘He must be made to tell all he knows of the missing bullion. But the others? Such a waste to execute them when they are needed on the walls, don’t you think, sir. They are, after all, dull-witted cattle, with little understanding of the gravity of their offence but with strong backs to pay for it.’

  Van de Velde grunted noncommittally. ‘I would like to hear the opinion of Governor Kleinhans on this matter,’ he said, and filled his mouth again, his head lowered on his shoulders and his small eyes focused on his predecessor. Sagely, he passed on the responsibility of making the decision. Later, if there were repercussions, he could always unload a share of the blame.

  ‘Of course,’ said Governor Kleinhans, with an airy wave of the hand, ‘prime slaves are selling for almost a thousand guilders a head at the moment. Such a large addition to the Company purse would commend itself highly to their excellencies. The Seventeen are determined that the colony must pay for itself and not become a drain on the Company exchequer.’

  All present gave this their solemn consideration. In the silence Katinka said, in ringing crystal tones, ‘I, for one, will need slaves for my household. I would welcome the opportunity to acquire good workers even at those exorbitant prices.’

  ‘By international accord and protocol it is forbidden to sell Christians into slavery,’ Schreuder pointed out, as he saw the prospects of procuring labour for his fortifications beginning to recede. ‘Even Englishmen.’

  ‘Not all the captured pirates are Christians,’ Kleinhans persisted. ‘I saw a number of black faces among them. Negro slaves are much in demand in the colony. They are good workers and breeders. Would it not be a most desirable compromise to sell them for guilders to please the Seventeen? We could then condemn the English pirates to lifelong hard labour. They could be used to hasten the completion of the works, also to please the Seventeen.’

  Van de Velde grunted again, and scraped his plate noisily to draw attention to the fact that he was ready to sample the beef. He pondered these conflicting arguments while a freshly loaded plate was placed in front of him. There was another consideration to take into account of which no one else was aware: his bitter hatred of Colonel Schreuder. He did not want to ease his lot in life and, truth to tell, he would be
delighted if the Colonel failed dismally in his new command and was ordered home in disgrace – just as long as that failure did not redound to his own discredit.

  He stared hard at Schreuder as he toyed with the idea of refusing him. He knew, all too well, what that one had in mind, and he turned his attention from the Colonel to his wife. Katinka looked radiant this evening. Within a few days of arriving at the Cape and moving into their temporary quarters in the castle, she was fully recovered from the long voyage and from the captivity forced upon them by Sir Francis Courtney. She was, of course, young and resilient, not yet twenty-four years of age, but that alone did not account for her gaiety and vivacity this evening. Whenever the bumptious Schreuder spoke, which was too often, she turned those huge, innocent eyes upon him, with full attention. When she spoke directly to him, which was also too often, she touched him, laying one of her delicate white hands on his sleeve, and once, to van de Velde’s intense mortification, actually placing her fingers on Schreuder’s bony paw, letting them linger there for all the company to see and smirk at.

  It almost, but not quite, spoiled his appetite to have this blatant courtship ritual take place not only under his nose but under the collective noses of the entire colony. It would have been bad enough if, in private, he had been forced to face the fact that the valiant Colonel would soon be rummaging around under those rustling petticoats. It was insufferable that he must share this knowledge with all his underlings. How could he demand respect and sycophantic obedience from them while his wife was set on publicly placing horns upon his head? When I packed him off to Amsterdam to negotiate my ransom, I thought we had seen the last of Colonel Schreuder, he thought sullenly. It seems I will have to take sterner measures in the future. And as he ploughed his way through all sixteen courses, he turned over in his mind the various alternatives.

  Van de Velde was so stuffed with good food that the short walk from the great hall of the castle to the council chamber was only accomplished with much heavy breathing and the occasional pause, ostensibly to admire the paintings and other works of art that decorated the walls, but in reality to recover his resources.

  In the chamber he settled with a vast sigh into the cushions of one of the high-backed chairs, and accepted a glass of brandy and a pipe of tobacco.

  ‘I will convene the court to try the pirates this coming week, that is immediately after I formally take over the governorship from Mijnheer Kleinhans,’ he announced. ‘No point in wasting any more time on this riff-raff. I appoint Colonel Schreuder to act as attorney-general and to prosecute the case. I will take on the duties of judge.’ He looked across the table at his host. ‘Will you have your officers make the necessary arrangements please, Mijnheer Kleinhans.’

  ‘Certainly, Mijnheer van de Velde. Have you given any thought to appointing an advocate to defend the accused pirates?’

  It was clear from van de Velde’s expression that he had not, but now he waved a pudgy paw and said airily, ‘See to that, will you? I am sure one of your clerks has sufficient knowledge of the law to perform the duty adequately. After all, what is there to defend?’ he asked, and chuckled throatily.

  ‘A name comes to mind.’ Kleinhans nodded. ‘I will appoint him and arrange for him to have access to the prisoners to receive their statements.’

  ‘Dear God!’ Van de Velde looked scandalized. ‘Why would you do that? I don’t want that English rogue Courtney putting all sorts of ideas into the man’s head. I will set out the facts for him. He need only recite them to the court.’

  ‘I understand,’ Kleinhans agreed. ‘It will all be ready to hand over to you before I step down next week.’ He looked across at Katinka. ‘My dear lady, you, of course, will wish to move out of your temporary quarters here in the castle, and into the much more commodious and comfortable Governor’s residence as soon as possible. I thought that we could arrange an inspection of your new home after the church service on Sunday. I would be honoured to personally conduct you on a tour of the establishment.’

  ‘That is kind, sir.’ Katinka smiled at him, glad to be the focus of attention once more. For a moment Kleinhans basked in the warmth of her approval, then went on diffidently, ‘As you can well imagine, I have acquired a considerable household during my term of office in the colony. Coincidentally, the cooks who prepared the humble little meal of which we partook this evening are part of my own span of slaves.’ He glanced at van de Velde. ‘I hope that their efforts met with your approval?’ When the Governor nodded comfortably, he turned back to Katinka. ‘As you know, very soon I shall return to the old country, and into retirement on my small country estate. Twenty slaves will be far in excess of my future requirements. You, Mevrouw, voiced your interest in purchasing quality slaves. I would like to take the opportunity of your visit to the residence to show you those creatures that I have for sale. They have all been hand-picked, and I think you will find it more convenient and cheaper to make a private acquisition than to bid at public auction. The trouble with buying slaves is that those who look good value on the auction block can have serious hidden defects. It is always comforting to know that the seller has sound and sufficient reasons for selling, is it not?’

  Hal set a constant lookout at the high window of the cell. There was always one man standing on another’s shoulders, clinging to the bars, to keep a watch on the castle courtyard. The lookout called down all sightings to Hal, who in turn relayed these up the stairwell to his father.

  Within the first few days they were able to work out the timetable of the garrison, and to note the routine comings and goings of the Company officials, and of the free burghers who visited the castle regularly.

  Hal called a description of each of these persons to the unseen leader of the slave rebellion in the Skellum’s Den. Althuda knew the personal details of every person in the settlement and passed on all this accumulated knowledge, so that within the first few days Hal came to know not only the appearance but also the personality and character of each one.

  He started a calendar, marking the passage of each day with a scratch on a slab of sandstone in one corner of the cell and registering the more important events beside it. He was not certain that anything was to be gained from these records, but at least it gave the men something to talk about, and fostered the illusion that he had a plan of action for their release or, failing that, for their escape.

  ‘Governor’s carriage at the staircase!’ the lookout warned, and Hal jumped up from where he was sitting between Aboli and Daniel against the far wall.

  ‘Come down,’ he ordered. ‘Let me up.’

  Through the bars he saw the state carriage parked at the foot of the broad staircase that led up to the Company offices and the Governor’s suite. The coachman’s name was Fredricus, an elderly Javanese slave who belonged to Governor Kleinhans. According to Althuda, he was no friend. For thirty years he had been Kleinhans’ dog, and he could not be trusted. Althuda suspected that he was the one who had betrayed him, and had reported his return from the mountains to Major Loten. ‘We will probably be rid of him when Kleinhans leaves the colony. He is sure to take Fredricus back with him to Holland,’ Althuda told them.

  There was a sudden stir as a detachment of soldiers hurried across the courtyard from the armoury and formed up at the foot of the staircase.

  ‘Kleinhans going out,’ Hal called, recognizing these preparations, and as he spoke the double doors swung open and a small party emerged into the sunlight and descended towards the waiting carriage.

  The tall, stooped figure of Kleinhans, with his sour dyspeptic face, contrasted sharply with the lovely young woman on his arm. Hal’s heart tripped as he recognized Katinka but his feelings were no longer as intense as once they had been. Instead, his eyes narrowed as he saw that the Neptune sword hung in its chased and gold-encrusted scabbard at Schreuder’s side as the colonel followed Katinka down the stairs. Each time he saw Schreuder wearing it his anger was rekindled.

  Fredricus climbed stiffly from his h
igh seat, folded down the steps, opened the carriage door, then stood aside to allow the two gentlemen to hand Katinka up and settle her comfortably.

  ‘What is happening down there?’ his father called and, with a guilty start, Hal realized that he had not spoken since he had laid eyes on the woman he loved. By now, though, she had been carried out of his sight. The carriage rolled out smoothly through the castle gates, and the sentries saluted as Fredricus shook the horses into a trot across the parade.

  It was a sparkling autumn day, and the constant sou’-easter of summer had dropped. Katinka sat beside Governor Kleinhans, facing forward. Cornelius Schreuder sat opposite her. She had left her husband in his office in the castle, labouring over his reports for the Seventeen, and now she felt the devil in her. She flounced out her skirts and the rustling crinolines covered the Colonel’s soft leather boots.

  While still chatting animatedly to Kleinhans, she reached out one slippered foot under cover of her skirts and found Schreuder’s toe. She pressed it coquettishly, and felt him start. She pressed again, and felt him respond sheepishly. Then she turned from Kleinhans and addressed Schreuder directly. ‘Don’t you agree, Colonel, that an avenue of oaks leading up to the residence would look splendid? I can imagine their thick hard trunks standing up vigorously. How beautiful that would be.’ She opened her violet eyes wide to give the remark significance, and pressed his foot again.

  ‘Indeed, Mevrouw.’ Schreuder’s voice was husky with double meaning. ‘I agree with you entirely. In fact the image you paint is so vivid that you should be able to see the stem growing before your very eyes.’

  At this invitation she glanced down at his lap and, to her amusement, saw the effect that she was having upon him. He is putting up a tent in his breeches for my sake!

  Almost a mile beyond the forbidding pile of the castle, the Governor’s residence stood at the mountain end of the Company gardens. It was a graceful building, with dark thatched roof and whitewashed walls, surrounded by wide shady verandas. Laid out in the shape of a cross, the gables at each of the four ends of the house were decorated with plaster friezes depicting the seasons. The gardens were well established; a succession of Company gardeners had lavished love and care upon them.