by L. A. Meyer
After several months with us, Alfonso didn't want to be ransomed, but, alas, it had to be so. His sister, however, was another story—she fell in love with one of my crew, Sean Mc-Murphy, and they were married in San Juan and are now in Ireland. She preferred the man she knew to the one she did not, and who am I to stand in the way of true love? Flaco was angry with me over the loss of the ransom, but he soon got over it.
"So, Captain Jimenez," says Higgins, beginning the sparring that I know is coming. "How do you come to be here in the heart of the Spanish Empire? Why do you take the chance?"
"Ha!" laughs Flaco. "I am here at Ric's, and Señor Ricardo Mendoza very much appreciates the goods that I bring to him from my various ... uh ... forays. The rum, the spices, the women..."
"But where is El Diablo Rojo, Flaco?" I ask from my perch. "Are you not afraid the San Cristobal might take you?"
"Pah! That fat hog of a boat cannot sail out of its own way. I spit on the name ofSan Cristobal."
"Still, she carries a lot of iron."
"Well, no matter. Our ship is up the coast at Bahia Honda."
"But still, we wonder at your presence here," persists Higgins.
"And we, in turn, wonder at yours," says Flaco. He picks up a shrimp from the platter in front of him and places it between my lips.
I chew it, then swallow, and say, "I am no longer a pirate, Flaco. I am now a simple sponge diver. We are here in Havana merely to sell our catch."
Flaco laughs out loud. "You. Jacky Faber. A simple sponge diver. Ha! That shall never be!"
"It is true, my friend. We also have a naturalist aboard and are doing scientific research," I say, running my finger down the side of his face and smiling upon him with my best open-mouthed grin.
"Jacky, you were always the greatest liar," says Flaco, suddenly standing up and pitching me to the floor. "We know you are after gold, and we want to know what will be our cut."
What?
"We have absolutely no idea what you are talking about," says Higgins.
"Oh, please, Señor Higgins," says Flaco, reseating himself without me. "Do you see that man over there? Yes? Well, he was onboard a ship called the Dolphin in Boston and he overheard some very interesting things. And when that vessel docked in Savannah, he jumped ship and got on a fast mail cutter and came straight to me. So, what do you say to that?"
Damn! I warned Captain Hudson about that! And here we are in deep trouble ... and if Flaco knows, who else knows?
I pick myself up off the floor and poke my finger in Flaco's face.
"There is no gold. None that you're gonna get your hands on, anyway, Flaco!"
"We shall see, Jacky. Bahia Honda is not very far from Cayo Hueso."
"Right, Flaco," hiss I. "And in the future, be careful just who you throw on the floor. Come on, mates, let's get out of this place."
I leave to the sound of laughing pirates.
I'm seething on the way back to the Nancy B. The whole thing is blown wide open!
"Were those really pirates?" asks Joannie, tugging at my sleeve.
"Yes, dear, they were. Now hush," says I, irritated.
"Coo," she says in wonder.
"You have interesting friends, Jacky," comments Davy, his view not asked for but offered, anyway.
"What you saw back there was not necessarily the truth, Davy, so button your lip."
"Hey." He shrugs. "You're Jaimy's problem, not mine. I've got a good girl."
Grrrrrrrr...
Chapter 28
The next day we ready ourselves for departure. All the stores and supplies are in, and we are due to rendezvous with the Dolphin within a few days. Everybody is back, including John Thomas and Smasher McGee, who return leaning on each other, both of them stone broke. I suppose it has always been thus with sailors, all the way back to Jason and the Argonauts. In fact, I bet ol' Jason had to comb the bars for an errant Argonaut or two when it came time for him to sail from the Isle of Lemnos or Colchis, Golden Fleece in hand or not.
Yes, 'tis time to leave the charms of Havana behind, which the Nancy B. will do—right after the noon cockfights, that is.
Dr. Sebastian, too, has returned from his pursuits ashore, so he escorts me to the arena. On the way, I fill him in on the events of the past two days, little of which pleases him.
"So, it seems the entire Hispanic world knows of our intentions. That is not good, not good at all," he grumbles, lost in thought.
"I did warn our good Captain Hudson of the ears that wag on a ship," I say.
I've got El Gringo in a little canvas pouch held at my side, his head sticking out of the top of it, peering avidly about. I figure this is better than a chicken cage—better for his machismo.
The Doctor sighs. "Captain Hannibal Hudson is my dearest friend, and he has no equal as to bravery in battle or in knowledge of things nautical. But I am afraid that he is a complete fool when it comes to intelligence. Ah, well, we shall deal with this when we rendezvous. Ah, here we are."
We stand before the great hall of cockfighting and take in the flags whipping about, along with the colorful posters advertising the gladiatorial combat that will soon take place inside. The crowd pours in. Dr. Sebastian takes his leave of me and goes in the front entrance, while I am directed to a side door where the combatants enter. Inside I find a room filled with caged cocks and their handlers. At the other end of the room are the big doors that I know open out into the ring, through which Gringo and I will go when it is time. Meanwhile, back here there is a great deal of cackling and crowing, with challenges thrown back and forth between the birds. I can feel Gringo quivering with rage beneath my hand. He works himself up into a mighty crow and delivers it with a certain kiss-my-feathered-ass-and-stay-away-from-my-hens-all-you-pretenders-to-my-throne sort of quality. Be patient, mi amigo, you'll get your chance.
The man in the red sash is there and I go up to him to register as well as to pay my entrance fee—the prize money for the winners has to come from somewhere, doesn't it? He writes Gringo's name on a slip of paper and drops it into a basket. I am the only female in the place, but that's nothing new to me. The men don't seem to mind, either. Here, it's all about the fighters and everyone pays very little attention to me.
Eventually the ringmaster goes to the doors that open on to the ring and announces, "The first contest, El Demonio against El Gordo." Two men stand up, take their birds from out of their cages, and hold them to their chests. "The second will be El Asesino versus El Rey." More preparations are made. "The third match shall be El Matador"—and here he pauses to snicker—"in mortal combat with ... El Gringo Furioso!"
There is laughter all around.
I puff up and say, "But El Matador is the champion and this is El Gringo's first battle! That cannot be fair!"
Red Sash shrugs and says, "The luck of the draw, Señorita. Either your fighter goes through those doors in honor"—here he points to doors leading to the ring—"or out those, in disgrace." He points again, this time to the back doors. "And there will be no return of the entrance fee. Comprende?"
Grrrr...
We sit back to wait our turn.
There is a roar as the doors are opened and Red Sash makes his announcements and El Demonio and El Gordo, along with their handlers, advance to the center.
The battle is joined and soon El Gordo lies dead in the dust. Then it is El Asesino and El Rey's turn.
As I sit and wait for the outcome of that battle, I think back to last night and wonder how Cisneros knew that Eduardo and the others had been keeping company with me—probably the lads were bragging about it back on their ship. Stupid men, I swear...
I am jolted out of my reverie by the announcement, "And now El Matador versus El Gringo Furioso!"
I remove Gringo from his bag and head out into the ring. There is a roar, but I know it is not for me and my bird—it is for the champion, El Matador. For us there is laughter.
El Gringo Furioso? No, El Gringo Lamentable! Ha! Ha!
Look at
that! Just the kind of bird a stupid girl would bring to the ring!
El Gringo Loco! El Gringo Soon-to-Be-Dead!
I flush and try to keep my mind on the business at hand. I see the reason for their laughter—El Matador is half again the size of Gringo, and a good two pounds heavier. El Matador's handler gazes upon me and my bird with great contempt—This will not take long, I know he is thinking.
"Engage!" shouts Red Sash and we shove our cocks together to get them in fighting spirit.
The neck feathers of both birds stand straight out as they struggle to get at each other. Gringo fixes his eye straight on El Matador and he flips his cockscomb back and forth as if to say, Where is your comb, maricón, where are your wattles? Did they cut off your cojones as well?
"Ready!" cries Red Sash, and I crouch down with Gringo quivering in my grasp. Both birds are insane with rage.
"Fight!"
The hourglass at the judges' table is turned upside down, so I release Gringo and step back to the rail as the birds fly at each other, wings beating, spurs up, each beak seeking out the eyes of the other.
After the initial contact, they step back and seemingly size up their opponent, then they are at it again. This time Gringo manages to flap his wings enough to rise above El Matador so that he can bring down his spurs upon the other fighter's back, but they cause little effect. The other bird is just too big, I am coming to realize with a sinking feeling. Just hang on, Gringo. He is bigger, but you are faster. Hang on. Live to fight another day.
The birds separate again, and once more appear to be looking for signs of weakness in each other. I lean against the rail and a very familiar head covered with beaded braids appears next to me.
"Buenos días, my sweet little English cupcake."
"Bese mi culo, Flaco," I say. "I am mad at you, and besides, I am busy. Go away."
"I would gladly kiss your perfect bottom, Jacky," he says, grinning his avaricious grin. "But you cannot be mad at your Flaco, as we are going to be very rich together, no? Shall we not bathe together in silver tubs full of golden doubloons? Shall we not—"
"No. I don't know what you are talking about, Flaco. Leave me alone." Flaco's crew is gathered about him, and I spot El Feo, his ugly First Mate. He has his eye upon me, and I don't like the way he looks at me.
The birds are at it again, and I leave the rail. Streaks of blood have appeared on the wings of both gladiators. The audience is appreciative.
The little one, he is small. But he fights well, no?
Si, he is fast. There is no disgrace here.
But El Matador, he is so much stronger. The end must be near for El Gringo Furioso.
I look over at the hourglass—there are many grains of sand left. The birds engage again and El Matador, with his superior strength, forces Gringo up against the rail, and though Gringo tries with all his might, he cannot get away. El Matador raises his left spur and brings it down on Gringo's breast, and then he does it again. Blood appears, and Gringo staggers. El Matador steps away and then heads in for the kill.
"Time! Fight over!" cries the judge, and I leap over to pick up my fallen fighter and cradle him in my arms. He tries to raise his head, but he cannot.
"Hang on, Gringo," I say, "hang on."
As I leave the ring, there is applause, but I am sure Gringo does not hear it. There is also Flaco calling after me, "Soon, heart of my heart, we shall meet again."
Back at the Nancy B., I lay Gringo on a bed of soft straw. I have put healing salve on all his wounds, and I hope for the best.
As I leave him there, I hear Jemimah wrapping up her last Brother Rabbit tale with Daniel and Joannie in rapt attendance. The rest of my crew is topside, preparing to get under way.
"...so Brother Fox, mad as hell at Brother Rabbit for foulin' up the stew in which he was the main ingredient, pulls him out of the pot, but Brother Rabbit's big fat ol' rabbit foot catches on the edge of the pot and pulls it over so that the broth runs over the feet of Brother Fox and Brother Bear and they howls with the pain of it and it snuffs out the fire, and Brother Rabbit hops away, singin' a song. End of story."
I go to the stove and pick up a bit of bacon that's grilling off to the side and stick it in my mouth. Then I ask, "How come Brother Rabbit always ends up in that pot, him being so fast and all?"
Jemimah considers and then says, "Well, there are lot o' traps in the world, child, not all of 'em made outta wire and wood and other hardware."
Jemimah is involved in baking bread, and she's kneading dough and has flour up to her elbows. Then she starts...
"Now there was this one bunny, she bein' called Sister Rabbit, and she was of a mind to marry up with Brother Rabbit, and she was a pretty little thing wi' a nice fluffy chest, carried high, and her little white cottontail sittin' up all fine on top o' her behind. Brother Rabbit like her a lot, but he fancy himself a free-travelin' man and didn't want to mess with any of that marryin' stuff, no, he didn't. He want his lovin' fun for free like all the men do. You mind that, Sister Joan," she says, waving a floury finger in Joannie's face.
"That's true. I've met many like Brother Rabbit," I say, putting my two cents in and thinking rather fondly of that rogue Randall ... and Captain Lord Richard Allen ... and Joseph Jared ... and maybe a couple dozen others.
"You hush. You a bad influence on this girl. She want to be just like you, and as far as I can see, that cain't be any good."
I cast eyes heavenward and hush up, as she goes on.
"Now Brother Fox and Brother Bear know that they can't get Brother Rabbit on the level, he bein' much too fast with his two big back feet, so they gets to thinkin' as to how they can ketch 'im.
"'Hmmmm ... we cain't catch him,' says Brother Fox, 'but we can get him to come to us. Look over dere, Brother Bear.'
"Brother Bear looks out t'rough the bushes and sees the churchyard, where Sister Rabbit is holdin' Sunday school—Raccoon Child and Possum Boy and Muskrat Girl is sittin' there in front o' her on little benches, holdin' on to their prayer books.
"'We cain't grab her in church, Brother Fox,' says Brother Bear. 'We go to Hell for dat.'
"Brother Fox cuts his eyes over to Brother Bear, think-in' maybe Brother Bear ain't quite as bright as he need to be.
"'We wait till she done, fool.'
"An' Sister Rabbit teaches 'em the Parable of the Ten Talents, and then she say, 'Now chil'ren, 'fore we all go away and spread the word of the Lord, we goin't' sing a fine ol' gospel song.'"
And Jemimah lifts her voice and sings.
O Come along, Moses, you'll not get lost,
Let my people go,
Stretch out your rod and come across,
Let my people go.
Then she swings into the chorus:
Go down, Moses,
Way down in Egypt's land.
Tell oV Pharoah,
Let my people go.
I speak up and say, "For a little bitty bunny, Sister Rabbit sure got a fine, deep voice." I am once again shushed and Jemimah goes on.
"So then the meetin' breaks up and all the chil'ren run off, and Sister Rabbit is collectin' the hymn books when the fox and the bear come up and grab that poor sister and take her back to their lair and get ready for some fun.
"By and by, Brother Rabbit come hoppin' along the road, whistlin' a tune, and Brother Fox call out to him, 'Hey, Brother Rabbit, look what we got chere!' And he lift Sister Rabbit up by her ears and holds her over the boilin' oil. 'We about to have us a snack! Hee-hee!'
"Sister Rabbit, she got her front paws put t'gether, her eyes on Heaven, mumblin' a prayer and gettin' ready to meet her Lord, and Brother Rabbit see her there and say, 'Brother Fox, now you know that ain't nice. You let her go now, y'hear?'
"But Brother Fox, he shake his head and say, 'I'll be lettin' her go, Brother Rabbit, when you come over chere and take her place.'
"And Sister Rabbit, she wail, 'Oh, don't do it, Brother Rabbit! Run, and save yo'self! I done made my peace with the Lord!'
"But Brother Rabbit, he got a noble streak in him, and so he go over to Brother Fox and lets him grab him by the ears, and the fox say, 'Ha! Got you now, you slipp'ry rascal!' Brother Fox flip Sister Rabbit away and she run off cryin'."
Jemimah pauses to shape the loaf on the breadboard, which gives Daniel a chance to jump in with a question. "Why didn't they just eat Sister Rabbit and forget about Brother Rabbit?" asks Daniel. "I figure a rabbit in the hand is worth—"
"Because Brother Rabbit got a lot more meat on him, is why, Brother Boy. Plus they got a lot of scores to settle with him. And don't interrup' your Aunt Jemimah when she in a story."
Daniel clams up, and she continues.
"So Brother Fox picks up Brother Rabbit and holds him over the bubblin' pot. And Brother Bear ties his napkin round his neck and picks up his knife and fo'k as Fox slowly lowers Rabbit down—"
Just then Davy pops his head in the hatchway and says, "Sorry to break up story hour, Jacky, but we're ready to get under way. Danny, get up on lookout. Joannie, to the land lines."
The story will have to wait for another time as we all go to our stations.
I blink in the bright light on the quarterdeck. When my eyes adjust I see that all is well. We have the tide and the breeze behind us and will not have to tow ourselves out.
"All right," I call. "Raise the Main, Fore, and Spanker. We'll go with those on the port tack till we clear the harbor. Throw off the lines." Joannie removes the land lines, and they are hauled aboard as she scampers onboard after them.
