by Anne B. Cole
“You have what you want. Now leave,” Lorenzo announced.
The pirate laughed as he patted the pocket that contained the black book. “Ah, yes, I now possess everything I need.” He gave an order to the other pirate who quickly released Daniel from the mast then bound his hands together before slapping his face to wake him.
“Everyone I need.” Lubber leaned close. Hideous, tea-laced breath trailed across Anya’s face. “The sacrifice has yet to be made.” A filthy hand touched her cheek, making her skin crawl. Lorenzo crumpled to the deck from a blow to the back of his head. The Ottoman snickered as Lubber yanked Anya to his side.
“Don’t despair, my dear,” the pirate cooed. “I will spare his life.”
“Enzo!” Anya screamed.
The Ottoman took off a short sash and wrapped it around her neck. The barbarian pulled tight. The more she fought, the tighter it became until everything went black.
Anya felt a hand gently rub her cheek. She found herself face down across someone’s lap. When she stirred, the hand pressed a warning to stop. She felt movement and realized she was in the bottom of a small boat with her hands tied. Shifting slightly, she watched Daniel’s bound hands ease off her face.
Lubber’s voice sounded an order. The boat they were in was moving away from the Kalliste and toward the pirate ship. Anya struggled, tipping the boat hard to the left. The sash instantly tightened around her throat. Lubber barked angrily.
The Ottoman lowered the sash and stroked her face with the back of his hairy hand. Anya pulled away, but the pirate persisted in his petting. She spat into his face. His eyes narrowed and his filthy hand struck her cheek.
“Enough!” Lubber roared as he fired a gun into the air. The Ottoman backed off.
“Berk will behave from now on. It has been a long time since we have been in the presence of a maiden.” He slid several ringed fingers slowly over her burning cheek. As she tried to push him away, he noticed the odd position of her hand and took hold. He cursed at the Ottoman. Taking a knife, he cut her binds then studied her broken wrist. “I apologize in advance,” he warned sweetly before crunching the broken bone into place. She collapsed against Daniel, dizzy with pain. “Not bad,” he complimented himself as he bound her wrist with a crimson sash. “What’s this?” Anya’s wedding band glistened in the sunlight. “Married?”
Berk sniggered. Anya felt his hand slide down her back. Lubber growled, rolling his eyes in exasperation. “I must find another for the sacrifice.”
Anya focused on the Kalliste. Matthew continued struggling at the mast, no sign of Lorenzo.
“Such a waste,” Lubber sneered. “Perhaps I shall keep you for myself?”
“You disgust me.” Anya swallowed hard as his fingers trailed down her cheek.
Lubber smirked. “You will change your mind.” He removed a metal ball from his coat pocket. Berk leaned closer, attempting to conceal his excitement.
“You will grow to like me since I will provide for you.” Lubber struck a small stick against the side of the boat, creating a spark. He lit the thin rope that was stuck in the center of the ball. “Anya, dear, you are now mine.” He heaved it at the Kalliste. It landed on the deck near the stern. Daniel struggled as Anya screamed. Lubber placed his hands over her ears as a horrific explosion sounded.
“Enzo!” A sash gagged Anya as fire broke out.
“My dear, I could not have you if you were married. That would be wrong.” He sighed then faced the Kalliste. “Goodbye, American.”
Anya thrashed, but Lubber held fast, forcing her to watch. The Kalliste, now fully engulfed in flames, started to sink, slowly at first, and then it crumbled beneath the water. All that remained was steam, smoke, and floating debris.
Gone. Lorenzo was gone. Mama was never wrong.
Chapter 20
A Stranger
Waves gently washed over Lorenzo’s body. Something nudged him in the side. ‘Get up,’ his mind demanded. ‘Get up!’ This time the voice inside his head screamed. Lorenzo opened one eye. The other eye was buried in the sand. A goat began nibbling on his shirt. Another wave rolled over his body, choking him with sea water.
Lorenzo attempted to lift his throbbing head. Memories of cutting Matthew’s binds and jumping into the sea before the explosion blurred together. Anya’s cries remained vividly etched in his mind.
“Get up.” This time the voice was not in his head. English spoken with an Italian accent snapped him to attention.
Hovering over him was the stranger with the curly black hair. Lorenzo’s head fell back to the sand, knowing he was too weak to fight. The next time he opened his eyes he was by the fire he had built for Anya. The man had placed something soft under Lorenzo’s head. The scent of Anya’s wedding dress brought him around.
He rolled to his side, forcing himself onto his hands and knees. The shore wavered then steadied. The dark haired man sat binding Matthew’s arm with strips of white cloth.
“Water?” The man pointed at the cup that Anya had used for tea hours earlier. Smoke from the sunken Kalliste stung his nose and throat. Coughing, Lorenzo scanned the sea. “Gone, headed southeast,” the stranger answered his thoughts. Lorenzo studied him, trying to figure out who he was and what he wanted. “I’m Theodore DeMascala,” he announced, offering his hand.
“Lorenzo Taylor.”
“The smoke from your ship drew my attention. Any others?”
Lorenzo looked at Matthew, who shook his head. “No. The pirates took my wife.”
“My brother, they took him, too,” Matthew added.
“We’ll find them.” Lorenzo grimaced.
Theodore scanned the empty sea. “How many pirates were there?”
Lorenzo tried to recall but failed.
Matthew said, “Three, one called Lubber and two Ottoman. They took Mrs. Taylor and Daniel.”
“What about the African?” Lorenzo asked.
Matthew shook his head. “He disappeared below deck.”
Lorenzo pressed his lips firmly together and realized that Anya must have taken care of the African. He stood quickly, staggered, then fell awkwardly back to the sand.
“Lubber burned your ship?” Theodore demanded.
Lorenzo nodded but needed answers, too. “You were following us on Milos. What do you want, Theodore?”
“Please, call me Theo. I was after the pirate that was chasing you and your wife. I lost him in pursuit. I did not wish to reveal myself in front of the American sailors. They do not look kindly on my sort.” Theo studied the ground, digging the heel of his boot into the sand.
“Exactly what are you, a corsair?” Lorenzo accused.
Theo picked his head up and studied Lorenzo before answering. “I belong to the Knights of Malto. Few remain. I have dedicated my life to rid the Mediterranean of Barbary pirates, one in particular.”
“Lubber.” Hatred laced Lorenzo’s voice.
“Some call him that. His name is Kadir Hatay,” Theo replied with equal malice.
“He has killed my friend and holds my wife and Matthew’s brother against their will.” Lorenzo again stood, steadied himself, and turned to Matthew, who was already on his feet.
Theo sighed. “Kadir is smart, unpredictable but smart.” He stayed seated beside the fire.
“He has everything he needs,” Lorenzo thought out loud.
“What?” Theo took interest.
“A book that pirates have written codes into. These codes, when deciphered correctly, are said to reveal secrets that are far more valued than any treasure.” Lorenzo rubbed the back of his head. Blood smeared his fingers.
Theo looked thoughtful. “I’ve heard about that book. Kadir has it?”
“Yes.” Lorenzo grew fearful. “A worthy sacrifice. Anya, Daniel. He plans on killing them as a sac
rifice.” He searched the sea and saw Theo’s small ship anchored off shore.
“Do you know where this sacrifice will take place?” Theo asked.
Lorenzo’s eyes darted back to Theo in defeat. “No.”
“It would most likely be on an isolated island. People don’t take kindly to human sacrifices,” Theo mused.
Lorenzo began to pace the shore. He knew he would never be able to predict where Kadir took Anya. Then it occurred to him. “Tatiana. We must go to Milos and speak with her.”
Theo viewed Lorenzo skeptically. “You know Tatiana?”
“She is my wife’s mother.” Lorenzo again rubbed the back of his head.
“Can you swim?” At this comment, Lorenzo gave Theo an exasperated look. “Your head, are you well enough to swim to my ship?”
Lorenzo calculated the distance to Theo’s ship then scanned shore. There was no rowboat. “I’ll manage,” he replied, stumbling into the water.
Theo shook his head and finally stood. “I’ll take Matthew then come back for you.”
Theo and Matthew slowly made their way to the ship. Lorenzo, who was on board when they reached the side, readied the sails and pulled anchor. Theo appeared impressed.
“United States Navy. For now, I’m under your command.” Lorenzo offered his hand.
Theo raised an eyebrow, sighed, and then shook his hand. He took the wheel and headed toward Milos. A strong west wind made the trip to the harbor difficult and time consuming, time neither man wanted to waste.
Lorenzo began to second guess his decision to seek out Tatiana rather than sail in the same direction as Kadir. He scanned the sea’s vast open water as questions plagued him. Will I be too late? Will Tatiana be well enough to perform a reading? Will Kadir harm Anya? Lorenzo gripped the sail ropes tightly as hatred filled him. Twice he had had a chance to kill Kadir. Tatiana had warned him not to let compassion become a weakness. Because of his weakness, Anya was gone.
Theo broke the silence as he maneuvered the vessel to the harbor entrance. “I know of some islands we can try.”
Lorenzo turned to Theo. It irked him the way Theo seemed to be able to read his thoughts, his fears. “Tatiana’s powers are great.” He realized he was screaming at Theo over the wind. “She will know.” His voice dissipated into doubt. What if she doesn’t? What if I never find her? He placed his hands on his head, trying to push the doubt away.
A firm hand touched his shoulder. “I know your pain, your hatred. I live with it every day.”
They were silent as Theo steered the boat toward shore. Within minutes, Lorenzo dropped anchor, kicked off his boots, and shed his shirt. Theo grabbed his arm before Lorenzo could dive overboard, pointing toward the shore. Lorenzo spun around expecting to see pirates. He gasped in wonder as he watched a rowboat coming toward Theo’s ship. In it, Tatiana sat across from Henry, looking directly at Lorenzo.
“Henry,” Lorenzo cried.
Theo tossed a rope to them.
“Lorenzo? Back so soon?” Henry appeared surprised.
“Henry, please help me board,” Tatiana stated politely.
Henry carefully lifted Tatiana to Lorenzo’s arms. Once on deck Tatiana gripped Lorenzo’s shoulders and closed her eyes.
“Rhodes. The pirate is bidding. You are bidding.” Tatiana opened her eyes, which were full of fear. “Hurry, two o’clock tomorrow.” She took out his sack of gold and jewels from the folds of her dress and pressed it into his hands. Lorenzo stood in shock. “Hurry. Anya is strong. For now, she is strong.”
The sound of her name snapped Lorenzo into action. Tatiana kissed his cheek then allowed him to gently lower her back into Henry’s boat.
Despite the severity of Matthew’s wound, the boy wanted to help rescue his brother. Before Lorenzo could argue, Theo snorted and loaded Matthew into the boat next to Tatiana. Henry picked up the oars and waved. Lorenzo nodded once and turned to face Theo.
“Rhodes. We must hurry.”
Theo had already raised anchor. “It’s a great distance. We’re lucky to have the wind in our favor.”
Lorenzo watched Henry row Tatiana and Matthew to shore. Theo’s ship quickly reached open water. “Why would Kadir bid against me?” he mused out loud.
Theo shook his head. “Kadir often buys and sells slaves in Rhodes. You said Anya and Daniel are to be sacrificed, not sold.” Lorenzo gripped the rail in anguish. “Tatiana knew we were coming, what we needed.” Theo shook his head in admiration then looked at his watch. “Three hours behind. With this wind, we may catch them.”
Day passed into night. Lorenzo and Theo took turns at the wheel. Theo checked his bearings with the stars. After hours of silence, Lorenzo asked, “Why do you seek to rid the world of the mighty Kadir Hatay?”
“My pain is deep, fueled by hatred and revenge, not glory.” Theo answered in a sad, even tone and then turned to Lorenzo with a terrible fierceness in his eyes. “Kadir must be stopped. Kill him. It’s not wrong to kill one so evil.”
Lorenzo’s heart raced. At that moment, he knew he could trust Theo. “I will not hesitate to kill Kadir or anyone else to get Anya back.” The men sailed into the night, each keeping their thoughts, hopes, and fears to themselves.
Dawn approached as they reached Rhodes. Several ships were anchored in the harbor. Lorenzo paid to dock Theo’s ship. It was Theo who spotted Kadir’s ship anchored off shore.
“The moment Kadir hits land he goes to town to drink,” Theo stated, peering into the darkness toward the village. He snickered before continuing, “Some say he gets seasick, cannot hold his liquor sailing, drinks only on land.”
“That could be to our advantage.” Lorenzo remembered the tea.
Theo nodded. “We have an advantage. They think you’re dead. Problem is not many Americans attend slave sales. Go to town, get dirty. Buy a hat, different clothes. You need to blend in with the others. Do you know another language?”
“A little Greek.”
Theo frowned. “Don’t speak unless you absolutely have to. I’ll go with you.”
They made their way to town where several people were milling around after what seemed to be quite a festive evening. Empty wine bottles and hungover sailors lined the street. Lorenzo followed Theo into a store where they purchased two guns, bullets, clothing, and some food. As they left, Lorenzo hit the ground, landing hard on his shoulder.
“Get dirty,” Theo grunted. “It would help if you smelled.”
Lorenzo rubbed dirt on his arms and face. Theo stood guard as Lorenzo changed clothing and rolled in the dusty street.
“Sale begins at two, inspections at noon.” Theo scrutinized Lorenzo.
“How do I look? Would I pass for a pirate?” Lorenzo asked, giving his best impression.
In response, Theo leveled a hard left to his eye. Lorenzo returned with a right, which Theo nimbly deflected.
“What the hell?”
“For your own good. Your face, too pretty for a pirate.” He grabbed Lorenzo by the chin. “Will bruise up quite nice.” Theo raised his brow, proudly assessing his handiwork. Lorenzo glared but knew he was right. “I shall find Kadir. You go to the inspections,” Theo hesitated. “If they choose to sell Anya or Daniel, you must bid low. You will draw attention if you bid high. Don’t speak to them. If they recognize you, appear disinterested. Owners raise the price if they know a slave is wanted. Once you have them back, treat them like slaves. I know it will be difficult, but you must. Watch others and learn. Men are sold first, then the children. Women are sold last. Meet me at the ship no later than half past five. If you are not there, I will search for you.”
Lorenzo shook Theo’s hand, grateful for the information. “Good luck.”
“May God be with you,” Theo responded as he wiped the dirt off his hand onto Lorenzo’s shirt.
Lorenzo placed a crumpled hat on his head and began walking to the slave sale. Looking over his shoulder, he watched Theo slip back into the crowd, lighting a smoke as he passed a fire.
As the sun rose, people began to swarm the once calm streets. Men, women, and children of all races were for sale. Merciless owners dragged them to inspection. Lorenzo noted many of the slaves were bound, gagged, or chained. Others were blindfolded or hooded. The majority of the men had little to no clothing. The women wore outfits varying from simple shifts to fancy gowns. Signs hung around the necks of a few. Lorenzo could not read the words, but the loops and curves hinted Arabic.
Prospective buyers approached those for sale, assessing their physical strengths and weaknesses. Most male slaves were compliant. The few that resisted were whipped severely into obedience. Many of the women appeared drugged.
A small crowd gathered ahead. Three young girls, sisters perhaps, huddled together in a single cage. A large sign hung on the outside of the bars. Lorenzo retched as he saw a single word written in three languages, one of them English. ‘Virgins.’ His mind fled to his family, to his own sisters. Unable to move on, he stared at the girls. Fear gripped them. The youngest one pointed to him, whimpering softly.
“How much?” Lorenzo grunted in Greek.
The owner smirked, “You must bid.”
Lorenzo instantly regretted his mistake. He attempted to look disinterested. The child’s sobs haunted him despite his pressing need to continue searching for Anya and Daniel.
He made his way through all of the slaves. Neither Anya nor Daniel was present. He began to wonder if Tatiana may have been mistaken. Kadir’s ship was here, in Rhodes. Lorenzo tensed. Tatiana had to be correct. He passed several male slaves being lined up when one struggled frantically.
