Artemis k-2

by Julian Stockwin

  ‘I — we must plan,’ she said, in a small voice.

  Kydd made no move, taking refuge in silence.

  ‘Macao is a small place, people will know,’ she said.

  ‘Only if Ah Lee tells ‘em,’ Kydd said stoutly. He saw no reason to panic.

  She thought. ‘She is discreet - she likes me. But Honrar Nunez, he would never lie.’

  ‘And how would he know?’ Kydd retorted.

  ‘I - I could not lie to him, Thomas.’

  There was no answer to that. They huddled stiffly together.

  ‘There is a way — to save — my reputation,’ Sarah said carefully. Kydd waited. ‘Thomas, you shall marry me,’ she announced. Thunderstruck, he stared at her. She was not looking at him but staring away dreamily into the distance. Her voice strengthened. ‘I will leave Mr Tsoi’s employ and you shall leave the sea, and we will set up house together, here in Macao.’

  ‘Leave the sea?’ Kydd couldn’t keep the incredulity from his voice.

  ‘Of course, Thomas dear, you wouldn’t want me married to a common sailor, now, would you?’ He was shocked as much by the prim possessiveness in her tone as the content of what she was saying.

  ‘But—’

  ‘You will get used to being on the land again soon, dear.’ There was now a hint of asperity. ‘Tomorrow you shall see the Captain and tell him you are leaving the ship to settle down.’

  ‘Sarah, we are at war. My duty—’

  ‘Fiddlesticks! Young men go to war to protect those on the land, and now you are on the land. Leave it to the others to be heroes/ she said crossly.

  There could be no reply to that at this time. He urgently needed to get away to think it through, to weigh the consequences of his act. ‘Yes, Sarah/ he uttered, unable to muster a term of endearment. She looked at him doubtfully, but snuggled closer, her fingers twitching at his waistcoat.

  In a dream-like state he made his way back to the boats. Half of his being exulted, sang with joy - the other half recoiled. When he had gone to the residencia to reclaim his sea-clothes Nunez had come to the door in a dressing-robe and had seen his state.

  ‘Had an accident, fell down/ he had mumbled. The honrar had not said a word, but the atmosphere had been grim and reproving.

  The sky in the east was just lightening when the last boat pulled listlessly for the Artemis. He was lucky: any later and he would have been put down as a straggler, his leave stopped. He went to his sea-chest to shift into his working clothes, heedless of the lewd comments from the others. They had spent their small means quickly, had little chance of further frolics, and were curious about Kydd. He didn’t enlighten them.

  Pulling his striped shirt down over his head he emerged to see Renzi the other side of the chest. His face was savage, but he said nothing.

  That forenoon they were paired on the painting stage hanging over the ship’s side. They were to scrape back the broad yellow stripe that ran along the line of the gunports. Kydd wanted badly to talk with his friend, to let him work his logic on the situation, to resolve the skeins of worry and to come to a sound conclusion. Renzi worked next to him, his triangular iron rasping at the paintwork in vicious strokes.

  ‘I saw Sarah last night,’ he tried.

  ‘And so?’ Renzi replied acidly.

  ‘We - we came to an understanding.’

  Renzi’s strokes ceased.

  ‘Well, that is to say, she, er …’ he mumbled. ‘So you didn’t have an understanding,’ Renzi said sarcastically.

  Kydd flushed, but persevered: ‘It’s not yet settled,’ he said lamely.

  ‘And you want it settled. Am I to understand you wish me to advise you how best to entrap Miss Bullivant?’

  A dull resentment rose in Kydd. This was his particular friend with whom he had shared so much, and who when needed was proving an obstinate enemy.

  ‘Last night Sarah and I — coupled. She wants t’ marry me.’

  Renzi’s scraper tinkled once on the ship’s side and splashed daintily into the muddy water below. His face went white, and he stared at Kydd.

  ‘You careless lubbers!’ shouted an angry figure at the deckline above. ‘Show a bit o’ life an’ get a move on!’

  Kydd resumed his scrapes half-heartedly, unwilling to look at Renzi.

  ‘I — can only tender my felicitations.’ Renzi’s voice was distant, controlled.

  Kydd said nothing, but scraped on. After a while he heard Renzi catch a replacement scraper before he, too, resumed the work.

  ‘Thing is, I’m not sure o’ the tightness of it all,’ Kydd continued.

  The strokes ceased again. ‘Surely it’s simple enough,’

  Renzi replied; his voice was tightly controlled, but no longer venomous.

  ‘No, Nicholas, she wants me to swallow th’ anchor and go ashore - for good ‘n’ all,’ Kydd said warmly. ‘Well, why not, pray?’

  Kydd thought and could not come up with other than the truth. ‘I’ve found m’self since I’ve been t’ sea, and don’t hanker after the longshore life.’

  Renzi bit his lip. “The nub of it, I believe,’ he began, with a slight tremor to his words, ‘is whether you love her enough.’

  For long moments Kydd hesitated. ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘You must know.’

  Kydd faced his friend. ‘That is th’ point, d’ye see?’ His earnest expression made Renzi drop his eyes. ‘I lay with the woman, I must own, but I cannot in all truth say before you - that I love her.’

  The stage swung with a small movement of the ship. Renzi sat motionless.

  ‘So where does m’ duty lie?’ Kydd asked.

  For a long time Renzi mechanically picked at the sea-faded paintwork. The problem was not of a class that could yield readily to logic. And without the confidence and comfort of solid reasoning at his back he felt diminished. ‘Duty,’ he admitted finally, ‘is a stern mistress.’ He was uncomfortably aware that he had been overborne by emotion in the last few days, and now he was failing his friend. There was such an entanglement of ramifications in this problem, rooted in society, personal feelings, obligation — and his own reactions.

  He pulled himself together. ‘My dear friend, in this matter, alas, I cannot help. It distresses me, but I would rather not betray your trust with glib emollients or superficial observations. I am sorry, but …’

  Kydd nodded once and turned back to his work.

  Instead of hurrying ashore at noon, Kydd slowly climbed to the bare foretop. He could be sure of being undisturbed there, and the clean, seamanlike expanse spoke to him of other things. He sat with his back against the foremast and gazed unseeingly across the anchorage.

  He had lain with Sarah: that was the solid fact at issue. The question was, did he therefore owe her a moral obligation? She was a warm, passionate woman who in marriage would see to his needs and more — that was clear. But marriage, he intuitively realised, might involve more than that. A woman needed security and stability; his mind shied at the images of domesticity that this idea generated, the dreary round of politeness, social calls, suffocating conformity. And love. For some reason she had been attracted to him. But he sensed the emotional power that ruled her actions and was instinctively repelled. He himself could never relinquish control like that. He sighed, deeply. In all this, he knew that he must do what was right for Sarah, not himself. His sense of personal honour and moral duty ran deep and true — he would not be able to live with it for the rest of his life should he make a selfish choice.

  On deck Cundall stared upwards, trying to make out what Kydd was doing. ‘Foretop ahoy!’ he shouted.

  There was no reply. Cundall took another pull at his bottle. ‘Kydd, yer sad lobcock, you mopin’ after some syebuck biddy? You—’

  From the other side of the bitts, Renzi appeared, his eyes murderous. ‘Stow it!’ he snapped. Rowley emerged aft on to the quarterdeck. The drunken shouts had been audible over the whole deck.

  Cundall squared up to Renzi. ‘An’ what’s it te
r you?’

  Renzi’s fist took Cundall in the stomach, doubling him up. The second, a moment later, hammered the chin, straightening Cundall before he crumpled to the deck. Renzi stood over him, his chest heaving, then moved back to the forebitts and resumed his vigil. Rowley deliberately turned and gazed out over the stern.

  In the foretop, Kydd pondered on, oblivious. So what was his duty? To Sarah, that was now obvious. So he should marry her and give up the sea? If that was what she wanted. But was this decision the best one for her? What if he could not give her love, security, stability? He knew, too, from his previous experience of exile from the sea that he could never counterfeit happiness in a land-based existence, and he would end up the poorest of companions for her.

  No, this was impossible, she deserved better than that. She deserved a lover who would be able to provide her with the solid, respectable marriage she needed. He felt a strange pang at the thought of another kissing her, possessing her, but the conclusion was inescapable. He felt the lifting of a dreadful cloud. In her best interests, he must be strong for both of them and refuse her. It would be hard, but any day the frigate could be released to take up her mission of war and they would part. Kydd tested the decision every way he could, suspicious that it was based on hidden motives, but it held firm. Therefore he would implement it, see it through without flinching.

  Renzi saw Kydd rise, look once at the shore then descend the shrouds briskly. He busied himself at the bitts until Kydd reached the deck. ‘Do I take it that you are in possession of a decision?’ Renzi enquired.

  ‘I am,’ Kydd said, his chin lifting slightly. ‘May I know?’

  ‘I am to refuse her, I believe.’

  Renzi looked at the deck, doubting his ability to control his emotions. His own recent reflections had led him to place their friendship out of reach of baser human urges, and he would have suffered much pain were he now to lose it.

  Kydd approached the residencia with heavy but resolute steps. He was unsure what he would say to Sarah, but he was certain of his decision, and was prepared to bear any consequences arising from it.

  Nunez frowned and smoothed his robe. ‘My child …’ he began.

  ‘Where is Sarah?’

  ‘She has a message for you. She is at present indisposed, but begs leave of a visit from you at her home.’ ‘Then I shall go t’ her.’

  The priest stood silently, watching, but Kydd did not change into shore breeches and buckled shoes. Wearing the familiar short blue jacket and white trousers of a naval seaman he made his way to the mansion. Ah Lee answered his knock and looked in astonishment at his appearance. Behind her, Sarah appeared and seemed taken aback also.

  ‘Thank you, Ah Lee, I will receive Mr Kydd in the drawing room.’

  She had dark rings around her eyes, and was dressed simply. The drawing room was large and forbidding, its dusty stillness at odds with Kydd’s lively sea rig.

  ‘Thomas, why do you not dress with more circumspection?’ she asked.

  Kydd said nothing, holding his sailor’s hat before him and gazing at her seriously.

  She seemed to pick up something of the gravity of his visit and straightened in her chair. ‘Nevertheless, it was kind in you to visit.’

  ‘Sarah, I don’t believe it would be a good thing were we t’ marry,’ Kydd said, looking at her directly.

  Only the slightest tremble of her hand betrayed her feelings. ‘Stuff and nonsense, Thomas dear. You will soon get used to the land, you’ll see,’ she said, in a feminine way going straight to the heart of the matter.

  ‘I’ve tried the longshore life, Sarah, and it don’t agree with me—’

  ‘Doesn’t agree with you? Then consider me. Do you propose to take me out on the sea to live?’ Her voice had an edge to it.

  Kydd looked dogged. ‘I would be a poor shab of a husband were I t’ give up the sea and take up land ways.’

  Her eyes grew hard. ‘This is all a nonsense, Thomas. Other men can find it in them to settle down properly, why can’t you?’

  He didn’t reply at first, wishing he had Renzi’s powers to render with precision thoughts into words. ‘It wouldn’t be fair to you, Sarah. You deserve better ‘n me.’

  Her eyes filled. ‘You simpleton, Thomas. It’s you I want - need! You’re a man, a strong and wonderful man, the only real man I’ve ever known.’ She hurried across and knelt by his chair, imploring with her eyes. ‘My love! We could be so happy together, you and I. Think of it.’

  Kydd felt his own eyes pricking with tears, but he sat rigid. ‘No, Sarah. It wouldn’t be right, not fair for you.’

  Leaping to her feet she screamed down at him, ‘Not fair?

  Not fair for me? What about me? Why don’t you ask me what I think is fair?’ She stood over him, the urgency of her passion beating at him.

  He looked at her sadly. Her emotion broke and she sank to the floor in a paroxysm of tears. Kydd made no move to go to her, letting waves of sorrow course through him, choking him with their burden of grief. He stood up. There was no point in prolonging the moment — the sooner it was past the better.

  She heard the movement, stopped weeping and glared at him. ‘You’ve ruined me. Do you hear that? Ruined me.’

  Kydd looked at her wordlessly, tenderly. The tears burned and stung. She glowered. He hesitated, then turned for the door.

  ‘If you go through that door, I — I shall never see you again.’ He paused but did not look back. ‘Never!’

  He stumbled forward. ‘Thomas!’ she screamed.

  He opened the door and floundered out on to the street. He could still hear her despairing cries inside as he lurched away, lost in the most acute desolation it was possible to bear.

  His shipmates left him well alone. Renzi squeezed his shoulder, once, then dropped his hand, unable to find a word to say about what was in his heart.

  The first messages came, pleading, begging, pitiful. Kydd read each one with a set face and steadfastly remained aboard. Renzi did what he could: he went ashore, but Nunez was ‘indisposed’ and the door of the residencia would not open for him.

  Later a small figure could be seen at the boat landing, but the Captain had strong views about women aboard. The figure remained staring out and was still there when the cold night drew in.

  For Kydd time hung heavy and bleak, but he had resolved to take the consequences of his decision without complaint. The story of his time of trial spread, and in their warm, generous manner the sailors found little services they could do for him, rough expressions of sympathy and comradeship.

  Next morning, the Captain arrived aboard in a tearing hurry and almost instantiy a fo’c’sle gun banged out and the Blue Peter broke at the fore topmast head. Smiles were to be seen everywhere. They were under sailing orders.

  Kydd couldn’t take his eyes off the lonely figure still on the quay. What agonies of mind would she endure when she learnt that the ship and he would soon be a memory in an empty anchorage? At least it was now over.

  ‘Haaaaands to unmoor ship! Haaands to make sail!’ The pealing of boatswain’s calls cut into the cool morning air, and the ship burst into life. All the well-remembered duties of a ship outward bound, the tang of sea air, the blessed imperatives of good seamanship.

  At the larboard cathead Kydd found the strop and ranged the fish tackle ready for the big bower anchor. When he looked again at the landing place, the figure was no longer there. The anchor was won from the pale mud of the Pearl river, and Stirk clapped on to the tackle with him. Far above, Renzi and others cast loose the gaskets of the topsails.

  ‘Tom, what’s this, mate?’ Doud, from his position astride the cathead, pointed aft. A sampan with two passengers in it was overhauling them from their quarter. There was no mistaking the occupants - Sarah and Ah Lee.

  Kydd didn’t know whether to cry or urge them on. Every so often one of the figures stood, swaying dangerously in the little craft and waving furiously. They were coming up fast, but the topsails on the ship tumble
d down from their yards and were sheeted home with a will. The frigate bowed slightly under the bellying sails and immediately the ripple of a bow wave started.

  For a time, the sampan kept with them, but as the trim frigate caught the wind, the ripple in the bows turned to a chuckle and the little boat fell frantically astern. The ship now set courses: the big driving sails flapped and banged as they dropped, but when they were set Artemis showed her true breeding. She lay to the winds and foamed ahead.

  Kydd took one last look at the tiny figure in the sampan and sank into dumb misery. The lump in his throat was choking him, and he could hardly see.

  Artemis gathered speed for the open sea.

  Chapter 9

  ‘I allow that it was my decision, but it was th’ right one, - and I’m man enough I can stand the consequences,’ Kydd said firmly. His eyes were dark-rimmed but there was an air of tenacious resolve about him.

  With the coast of China a diminishing grey blur astern, Renzi noted that Kydd had his eyes set ahead, to seaward. He deeply admired his friend’s strength of mind, but he knew there would remain a sorrow that would take a long time to pass.

  ‘But I beg you will not talk any more of it,’ Kydd added. Renzi nodded, and looked out ahead also. ‘It seems that we are on our way home, shipmate,’ he said regretfully. ‘Yes.’

  ‘Back to the war.’ ‘Yes,’ Kydd said again.

  ‘Some would say that this means prize money once more, and liberty ashore in England to spend it.’

  Kydd turned to Renzi, who saw with relief a very small smile. ‘Aye, Nicholas, and you will not see y’r Peking.’

  Renzi laughed. ‘True enough. I had my heart set on meeting at least one si fu at the Ching court.’ But he had learnt there was no chance at all of that. Barbarians would always be held at arm’s length by the narrow, suspicious Chinese.

  ‘We’re to touch at Manila on our way back, I believe.’

  ‘It would appear to be a motion to take advantage of our presence in these waters, to show the Spanish that we have the means to defend our interests if need be.’