Birds of Prey

by Wilbur Smith

  ‘And now, your excellency, if you please, I should like to call my first witness.’ Van de Velde nodded, and Schreuder turned and looked across the floor. ‘Call Captain Limberger.’

  The captain of the galleon left his comfortable chair in the railed-off enclosure, crossed to the platform and stepped up onto it. The witness’s chair stood beside the judge’s table and Limberger seated himself.

  ‘Do you understand the gravity of this matter and swear in the name of Almighty God to tell the truth before this court?’ van de Velde asked him.

  ‘I do, your excellency.’

  ‘Very well, Colonel, you may question your witness.’

  Swiftly Schreuder led Limberger through a recital of his name, rank and his duties for the Company. He then asked for a description of the Standvastigheid, her passengers and her cargo. Limberger read his replies from the list he had prepared. When he had finished Schreuder asked, ‘Who was the owner of this ship and of the cargo she was carrying?’

  ‘The honourable Dutch East India Company.’

  ‘Now, Captain Limberger, on the fourth of September of this year was your ship voyaging in about latitude thirty-four degrees south and longitude four degrees east – that is approximately fifty leagues south of the Agulhas Cape?’

  ‘It was.’

  ‘That is some time after the cessation of hostilities between Holland and England?’

  ‘Yes, it was.’

  Schreuder picked up a leather-bound log-book from the table in front of him and passed it up to Limberger. ‘Is this the log-book that you were keeping on board your ship during that voyage?’

  Limberger examined it briefly, ‘Yes, Colonel, this is my log.’

  Schreuder looked at van de Velde. ‘Your excellency, I think I should inform you that the log-book was found in the possession of the pirate Courtney after his capture by Company troops.’ Van de Velde nodded, and Schreuder looked at Limberger. ‘Will you please read to us the last entry in your log?’

  Limberger turned the pages and then read aloud, ‘“Fourth September sixteen sixty-seven. Two bells in the morning watch. Position by dead reckoning four degrees twenty-three minutes south latitude thirty-four degrees, forty-five minutes east longitude. Strange sail in sight bearing south-south-east. Flying friendly colours.”’ Limberger closed the log and looked up. ‘The entry ends there,’ he said.

  ‘Was that strange sail noted in your log the caravel the Lady Edwina, and was she flying the colours of the Republic and the Company?’

  ‘Yes, to both questions.’

  ‘Will you recount the events that took place after you sighted the Lady Edwina, please.’

  Limberger gave a clear description of the capture of his ship, with Schreuder making him emphasize Sir Francis’s use of false colours to get within striking distance. After Limberger had told of the boarding and fighting on board the galleon, Schreuder asked for a detailed account of the numbers of Dutch sailors wounded and killed. Limberger had a written list prepared and handed this to the court.

  ‘Thank you, Captain. Can you tell us what happened to you, your crew and your passengers once the pirates had taken control of your ship?’

  Limberger went on to describe how they had sailed east in company with the Lady Edwina, the transfer of cargo and gear from the caravel into the galleon, and the dispatch of the Lady Edwina in command of Schreuder to the Cape with letters of demand for ransom, the onward voyage aboard the captured galleon to Elephant Lagoon and the captivity of himself and his eminent passengers there until their salvation by the expeditionary force from the Cape, led by Schreuder and Lord Cumbrae.

  When Schreuder had finished questioning him, van de Velde looked at Hop. ‘Do you have any questions, Mijnheer?’

  With both hands full of papers Hop stood up, blushed furiously, then took a deep, gulping breath and let out a long, unbroken stammer. Everybody in the hall watched his agony with interest, and at last van de Velde spoke. ‘Captain Limberger intends sailing for Holland in two weeks’ time. Do you think you will have asked your question by then, Hop?’

  Hop shook his head. ‘No questions,’ he said at last, and sat down heavily.

  ‘Who is your next witness, Colonel?’ van de Velde asked, as soon as Limberger had left the witness chair and was seated back in the enclosure.

  ‘I would like to call the Governor’s wife, Mevrouw Katinka van de Velde. That is, if it does not inconvenience her.’

  There was a masculine hum of approval as Katinka rustled her silk and her laces to the witness’s chair. Sir Francis felt Hal stiffen beside him, but did not turn to look at his face. Only days before their capture, when Hal had been absent from the camp for long periods and had begun to neglect his duties, he had realized that his son had fallen into the golden whore’s snare. By then it had been far too late to intervene, and in any case, he remembered what it was like to be young and in love, even with an utterly unsuitable woman, and had understood the futility of trying to prevent what had already happened. He had been waiting for the correct moment and the right means to end the liaison when Schreuder and the Buzzard had attacked the camp.

  With great deference, Schreuder led Katinka gently through the recital of her name and position and then asked her to describe her voyage aboard the Standvastigheid, and how she had been taken prisoner. She answered in a sweet, clear voice that throbbed with emotion, and Schreuder went on, ‘Please tell us, madam, how you were treated by your captors.’

  Katinka began to sob softly. ‘I have tried to put the memory from my mind, for it was too painful to bear thinking upon. But I will never be able to forget. I was treated like a caged animal, cursed and spat upon, kept locked up in a grass hut.’ Even van de Velde looked amazed by the testimony, but realized that it would look impressive in the report that went to Amsterdam. After reading it Katinka’s father and the other members of the Seventeen would have no other option but to approve even the harshest retribution visited on the prisoners.

  Sir Francis was aware of the turmoil of emotion that Hal was suffering as he listened to the woman in whom he had placed so much trust pouring out her lies. He felt his son sag physically as she destroyed his faith in her.

  ‘Be of good heart, my boy,’ he said softly, from the corner of his mouth, and felt Hal sit up straighter on the hard bench.

  ‘My dear lady, we know that you have suffered a terrible ordeal at the hands of these inhuman monsters.’ By this time Schreuder was trembling with anger to hear of her ordeal. Katinka nodded and dabbed daintily at her eyes with a lace handkerchief. ‘Do you believe that animals such as these should be shown mercy, or should they be subjected to the full force and majesty of the law?’

  ‘Sweet Jesus knows that I am only a poor female, with a soft and loving heart for all God’s creation.’ Katinka’s voice broke pitifully. ‘But I know that everybody in this assembly will agree with me that a simple hanging is too good for these unspeakable wretches.’ A murmur of agreement spread slowly along the benches of spectators, then turned into a deep growl. Like a pit full of bears at feeding time, they wanted blood.

  ‘Burn them!’ a woman screamed. ‘They are not fit to be called men.’

  Katinka lifted her head and, for the first time since entering the hall, she looked directly at Hal, staring through her tears straight into his eyes.

  Hal lifted his chin and stared back. He felt the love and awe he had cherished for her withering, like a tender vine struck with the black mould. Sir Francis felt it too, and turned to look at him. He saw the ice in his son’s eyes and could almost feel the heat of the flames in his heart.

  ‘She was never worthy of you,’ Sir Francis said softly. ‘Now that you have renounced her, you have taken another mighty leap into manhood.’

  Did his father really understand, Hal wondered. Did he know what had taken place? Did he know of Hal’s feelings? If that were so, surely he would long ago have rejected him. He turned and looked into Sir Francis’s eyes, fearing to see them filled with sc
orn and revulsion. But his father’s gaze was mellow with understanding. Hal realized that he knew everything, and had probably known all along. Far from rejecting him, his father was offering him strength and redemption.

  ‘I have committed adultery, and I have disgraced my Knighthood,’ Hal whispered. ‘I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

  The manacle on his wrist clinked as Sir Francis laid his hand on the boy’s knee. ‘’Twas this harlot that led you astray. The blame is not yours. You will always be my son and I shall always be proud of you,’ he whispered.

  Van de Velde frowned down upon Sir Francis. ‘Silence! No more of your muttering! Is it another touch of the cane you are seeking?’ He turned back to his wife. ‘Mevrouw, you have been very brave. I am sure Mijnheer Hop will not wish to trouble you further.’ He transferred his gaze to the unfortunate clerk, who scrambled to his feet.

  ‘Mevrouw!’ The single word came out sharp and clear as a pistol shot, surprising Hop as much as everyone else in court. ‘We thank you for your testimony, and we have no questions.’ There was only one catch, on the word ‘testimony’, and Hop sat down again triumphantly.

  ‘Well said, Hop.’ Van de Velde beamed at him in avuncular fashion, and then turned a doting smile on his wife. ‘You may return to your seat, Mevrouw.’ There was a lust-laden hush and every man in the hall let his gaze drop as Katinka lifted her skirts just high enough to expose her perfect little ankles clad in white silk and stepped down from the platform.

  As soon as she was seated, Schreuder said, ‘Now, Lord Cumbrae, may we trouble you?’

  In his full regalia the Buzzard mounted the platform, and as he took the oath placed one hand on the flashing yellow cairngorm in the hilt of his dagger. Once Schreuder had established who and what he was, he asked the Buzzard, ‘Do you know the pirate captain, Courtney?’

  ‘Like a brother.’ Cumbrae smiled down on Sir Francis. ‘Once we were close.’

  ‘Not any more?’ Schreuder asked sharply.

  ‘Alas, it pains me but when my old friend began to change there was a parting of our ways, although I still feel great affection for him.’

  ‘How did he change?’

  ‘Well, he was always a braw laddie, was Franky. We sailed in company on many a day, through storm and the balmy days. There was no man I loved better, fair he was and honest, brave and generous to his friends—’ Cumbrae broke off and an expression of deep sorrow knitted his brow.

  ‘You speak in the past tense, my lord, what changed?’

  ‘’Twas Francis who changed. At first it was in little things – he was cruel to his captives and hard on his crew, flogging and hanging when it weren’t called for. Then he changed towards his old friends, lying and cheating them out of their share of the prize. He became a hard man and bitter.’

  ‘Thank you for this honesty,’ Schreuder said, ‘I can see it gives you no pleasure to reveal these truths.’

  ‘No pleasure at all,’ Cumbrae confirmed with sadness. ‘I hate to see my old friend in chains, though God Almighty knows well he deserves no mercy for his murderous behaviour towards honest Dutch seamen, and innocent women.’

  ‘When did you last sail in company with Courtney?’

  ‘It was not too long ago, in April of this year. Our two ships were on patrol together off Agulhas, waiting to waylay the Company galleons as they rounded the Cape to call in here at Table Bay.’ There was a murmur of patriotic anger from the spectators, which van de Velde ignored.

  ‘Were you, then, also a corsair?’ Schreuder glared at him. ‘Were you also preying on Dutch shipping?’

  ‘No, Colonel Schreuder, I was not a pirate or a corsair. During the recent war between our two countries, I was a commissioned privateer.’

  ‘Pray, my lord, tell us the difference between a pirate and a privateer?’

  ‘’Tis simply that a privateer sails under Letters of Marque issued by his sovereign in times of war, and so is a legitimate man-of-war. A pirate is a robber and an outlaw, carrying out his depredations without any sanction, but that of the Lord of Darkness, Satan himself.’

  ‘I see. So you had a Letter of Marque when you were raiding Dutch shipping?’

  ‘Yes, Colonel. I did.’

  ‘Are you able to show this document to us?’

  ‘Naturally!’ Cumbrae reached into his sleeve and drew out a roll of parchment. He leaned down and handed it to Schreuder.

  ‘Thank you.’ Schreuder unrolled it and held it up for all to see, heavy with scarlet ribbons and wax seals. He read aloud, ‘Know you by these presents that our dearly beloved Angus Cochran, Earl of Cumbrae—’

  ‘Very well, Colonel,’ van de Velde interrupted testily. ‘No need to read us the whole thing. Let me have it here, if you please.’

  Schreuder bowed. ‘As your excellency pleases.’ He handed up the document. Van de Velde glanced at it then set it aside. ‘Please go on with your questions.’

  ‘My lord, did Courtney, the prisoner, also have one of these Letters of Marque?’

  ‘Well, now, if he did I was not aware of it.’ The Buzzard grinned openly at Sir Francis.

  ‘Would you have expected to be aware of it, if the letter had, in fact, existed?’

  ‘Sir Francis and I were very close. No secrets between us.Yes, he would have told me.’

  ‘He never discussed the letter with you?’ Schreuder looked annoyed, like a pedagogue whose pupil has forgotten his lines. ‘Never?’

  ‘Oh, yes. Now I do recall one occasion. I asked him if he had a royal commission.’

  ‘And what was his reply?’

  ‘He said, “It ain’t nothing but a bit of paper anyway. I don’t trouble meself with rubbish like that!”’

  ‘So you knew he had no letter and yet you sailed in his company?’

  Cumbrae shrugged. ‘It was wartime, and it was none of my business.’

  ‘So you were off Cape Agulhas with the prisoner after the peace had been signed, and you were still raiding Dutch shipping. Can you explain that to us?’

  ‘It was simple, Colonel. We did not know about peace, that is until I fell in with a Portuguese caravel outward bound from Lisbon for Goa. I hailed her and her captain told me that peace had been signed.’

  ‘What was the name of this Portuguese ship?’

  ‘She was the El Dragão.’

  ‘Was the prisoner Courtney present at this meeting with her?’

  ‘No, his patrol station was north of mine. He was over the horizon and out of sight at the time.’

  Schreuder nodded. ‘Where is this ship now?’

  ‘I have here a copy of a news-sheet from London, only three months old. It arrived three days ago on the Company ship lying in the bay at this moment.’ The Buzzard produced the sheet from his sleeve with a magician’s flourish. ‘El Dragão was lost with all hands in a storm in the Bay of Biscay while on her homeward voyage.’

  ‘So, it would seem, then, that we will never have any way of disproving your meeting with her off Agulhas?’

  ‘You’ll just have to take my word for it, Colonel.’ Cumbrae stroked his great red beard.

  ‘What did you do when you heard of the peace between England and Holland?’

  ‘As an honest man, there was only one thing I could do. I broke off my patrol, and went in search of the Lady Edwina.’

  ‘To warn her that the war was over?’ Schreuder suggested.

  ‘Of course, and to tell Franky that my Letter of Marque was no longer valid and that I was going home.’

  ‘Did you find Courtney? Did you give him that message?’

  ‘I found him within a few hours’ sailing. He was due north of my position, about twenty leagues distant.’

  ‘What did he say when you told him the war was over?’

  ‘He said, “It may be over for you, but it ain’t over for me. Rain or shine, wind or calm, war or peace, I am going to catch myself a fat cheese-head.”’

  There was a ferocious clanking of chains and Big Daniel sprang to his f
eet, dragging the diminutive figure of Ned Tyler off the bench with him. ‘There ain’t a word of truth in it, you lying Scots bastard!’ he thundered.

  Van de Velde jumped up and wagged his finger at Daniel. ‘Sit down, you English animal, or I’ll have you thrashed, and not just with the light cane.’

  Sir Francis turned and reached back to grab Daniel’s arm. ‘Calm yourself, Master Daniel,’ he said quietly. ‘Don’t give the Buzzard the pleasure of watching us ache.’ Big Daniel sank down, muttering furiously to himself, but he would not disobey his captain.

  ‘I am sure Governor van de Velde will take notice of the unruly and desperate nature of these villains,’ Schreuder said, then turned his attention back to the Buzzard. ‘Did you ever see Courtney again before today?’

  ‘Yes, I did. When I heard that, despite my warning, he had seized a Company galleon, I went to find him and remonstrate with him. To ask him to free the ship and its cargo, and to release the hostages he was holding to ransom.’

  ‘How did he respond to your pleas?’

  ‘He turned his guns upon my ship, killing twelve of my seamen, and he attacked me with fireships.’ The Buzzard shook his head at the memory of this perfidious treatment by an old friend and shipmate. ‘That was when I came here to Table Bay to inform Governor Kleinhans of the galleon’s whereabouts and to offer to lead an expedition to recapture the ship and her cargo from the pirates.’

  ‘As a soldier myself, I can only commend you, my lord, on your exemplary conduct. I have no further questions, your excellency.’ Schreuder bowed at van de Velde.

  ‘Hop, do you have any questions?’ van de Velde demanded.

  Hop looked confused, and glanced in appeal at Sir Francis.

  ‘Your excellency,’ he stuttered, ‘might I speak to Sir Francis alone, if only for a minute?’

  For a while it seemed that van de Velde might refuse the request, but he clasped his brow wearily. ‘If you insist on holding up these proceedings all the time, Hop, we will be here all week. Very well, man, you may talk to the prisoner, but do try to be quick.’