“She’ll be here before nightfall.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“And you promise me you will not tell her of your intentions.”
“You have my word. Believe me, sir, you have no idea how it pains me to die, when happiness was within my grasp.”
“I believe you.”
“You would have done me a greater service had you sunk my prahu with all hands aboard. At least I would have gone to my grave with my fiancée in my arms.”
“Where were you headed when our ships attacked?”
“Far, far away, perhaps India or some island in the great ocean. But that’s all over now. May fate unfold as it will…”
“Goodbye, Tiger of Malaysia,” said the lieutenant.
“I hope you’ll keep your word.”
“Lady Marianna will be here within the hour.”
The lieutenant summoned the soldiers that had gone to remove Juioko’s chains then slowly walked back up to the deck. His eyes fixed on the officer, Sandokan did not move; a strange smile had spread across his lips.
“Good news?” asked Juioko, coming to his side.
“We’ll execute my plan tonight,” replied Sandokan.
“And if it fails?”
“Then we’ll smash a hole through the sides and sink this ship; if we have to die, we’ll take them all with us. Let’s hope Marianna can help us.”
Chapter 30
The Escape
AFTER THE LIEUTENANT had left, Sandokan sat down on the bottom step, rested his head in the palms of his hands, and immersed himself in thought. His face was wracked with pain. Had he been capable of crying, more than a few tears would have rolled down his cheeks.
Juioko sat near his captain, studying him anxiously but not daring to disturb him. Fifteen or twenty minutes had passed when the hatch was raised once again. A flash of light shone through the opening; Sandokan shot to his feet and turned his gaze towards the top of the stairs.
Someone was rapidly descending the steps. It was the young woman with the hair of gold, deathly pale, eyes welled with tears. The lieutenant accompanied her, his right hand resting on the butt of a pistol tucked in his belt.
Sandokan let out a cry of joy, rushed to Marianna and embraced her passionately.
“My love!” he exclaimed, leading her to the opposite end of the hold, as the commander sat down on a middle step. “At last.”
“Sandokan,” she whispered through her sobs, “I thought I’d never see you again!”
“Be strong, Marianna! Don’t cry! Stop, I beg you! Your tears are torturing me.”
“My heart is broken, my brave friend. I don’t want you to die; I don’t want them to take you from me! I’ll defend you against everyone. I’ll free you. I want to be with you always.”
“To be with me…” he sighed. “Yes, I’ll be with you again, but when?”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t you know? They’re taking me to Labuan to be executed.”
“I’ll find a way to free you.”
“You can, if you help me.”
“Help you? Help you how?” she exclaimed, almost delirious with joy.
He cast a look at the lieutenant, the man had not moved but the Tiger still drew back a few more steps.
“I’m planning to escape,” he whispered “there’s a good chance we’ll succeed, but you cannot come with me.”
“Why not, Sandokan? I have the strength to follow and I’m not afraid of danger. At a word from you, I’ll stab your guards, even blow up the ship and her crew if need be.”
“Marianna, I’d give half my blood to take you with me, but I can’t. I need you here; you’re the only one that can execute my plan. I promise to return for you as soon as I can. If I have to, I’ll raise an army and lead it against Labuan.”
Marianna buried her face in her hands as large tears began to roll down her cheeks.
“To remain here, without you…” she said sadly.
“Only for a while, my sweet. Now listen.”
He drew a tiny box from beneath his shirt, opened it, and showed Marianna several ginger-coloured pills.
“Do you see these?” he said. “They contain a strong poison, it’s not lethal, but it has the ability to suspend life in a healthy man for six hours. It’s a sleep that resembles death so perfectly it can fool even the most expert physicians. Juioko and I will each take one; they’ll think we’ve committed suicide and throw our bodies to the fish. We’ll awaken on the open sea, free men.”
“Won’t you drown?”
“No, I’m counting on you to keep that from happening.”
“I’ll do anything to restore your freedom.”
“It’s six o’clock now,” said the pirate, pulling out his watch. “Within an hour, Juioko and I will take a pill and let out a sharp cry. When you hear it, make a note of the exact time then count six hours before you let them drop us into the sea. Make sure they do not wrap us in hammocks or fasten cannonballs to our legs. Try and toss a life preserver into the water to aid our swim, and, if possible, hide a knife or dagger among our clothes.”
“Your words have been burned into my memory, Sandokan. But once you’ve escaped, where will you go?”
“I’m certain Yanez is following this ship. We’ll find him, gather more men then set off to rescue you. We won’t rest until you’re by my side, even if we have to slaughter every person in Labuan.”
He fell silent, digging his fingernails into his arms.
“Cursed be the day I took the name Tiger of Malaysia and began to pirate the sea. By avenging my family, I’ve drawn the hatred of all those living upon these shores! Now where does the dreaded leader of the Tigers of Mompracem find himself? Imprisoned in the hold of a ship, being taken to his execution, separated from the woman he loves.”
“Sandokan! Don’t talk like that!”
“Yes, you’re right. Let me look at you one last time, Pearl of Labuan,” he said, spying the lieutenant moving towards them.
He raised Marianna’s blonde head one last time and kissed her passionately. “How much I love you, my darling…” he exclaimed, verging on delirium. “Who knows when we’ll see each other again…”
He stifled a sigh and quickly wiped away a tear.
“Go now, Marianna,” he said abruptly. “If you remain, I’ll start crying like a school boy!”
“Sandokan…”
The pirate brought his hands to his face and took two steps back.
“Ah! Sandokan!” Marianna exclaimed in agony.
She wanted to rush towards him, but her strength gave way and she fell back into the lieutenant’s arms, just as he arrived at her side.
“Leave me!” shouted the Tiger of Malaysia, turning to hide his face. When he raised his head, the hatch had already been closed.
“There, it’s done!” he exclaimed sadly. “All that remains is to take the pill and awaken amongst the waves. If only I could be certain of seeing her again…”
He dropped to the foot of the stairs, buried his face in his hands once again and remained that way for almost an hour, until Juioko finally tore him from his silent despair.
“Captain,” he said, “be brave, we still have much to do.”
Sandokan sprang to his feet.
“Time to escape!”
“Yes, sir.”
The Tiger pulled out a tiny box, extracted two pills and offered one to the Dyak.
“Take one when I give the signal,” he said.
“I’m ready.”
He pulled out his watch and looked at it.
“It’s two minutes to seven,” continued Sandokan. “In six hours we’ll awaken on the open sea.”
The pirates closed their eyes and swallowed the pills. Within seconds they began to writhe and shake, their bodies convulsing violently. They cried out in agony then crashed heavily to the ground, their lifeless faces contorted in pain.
Despite the chug of the engine and the roar of the waves churning beneath the mighty
wheels, all on deck had heard those cries.
The lieutenant rushed into the hold followed by several officers and the ship’s doctor. When he reached the foot of the stairs he almost tripped over the bodies.
“They’re dead,” he said. “I feared as much.”
The doctor examined them but could do nothing more than confirm their deaths. As the officers prepared to carry up the bodies, the lieutenant returned on deck and approached Marianna, who was leaning against the port bulwark. She had been anxiously awaiting the cries, struggling to stifle the pain inside her.
“Milady,” he said, “something terrible has befallen the Tiger of Malaysia and his friend.”
“I heard the cry. Did they kill themselves?”
“Yes, Milady.”
“Sir,” she said, her voice trembling slightly, “Alive, they were your prisoners, but now that they’re dead, they belong to me.”
“You’re free to do with them as you wish, but please allow me to offer a suggestion.”
“Yes?”
“Have them buried at sea before the cruiser reaches Labuan. It would not be beyond your uncle to hang Sandokan’s body.”
“You’re right. I’ll do as you suggest. Have the bodies brought to the stern. I wish to be alone with them.”
The lieutenant bowed and gave the necessary orders, wanting to immediately fulfill the lady’s wishes. A minute later, the pirates were placed on two slats of wood and brought to the stern, ready for burial. Marianna knelt down beside Sandokan’s rigid body and silently studied his face. Though his features had been contorted by those powerful convulsions, he still maintained an air of pride. She waited until nightfall. Then, once assured no one was watching, she extracted two knives from her corset and hid them among the folds of the pirates’ clothing.
“At least you’ll be able to defend yourselves, my brave ones,” she whispered softly.
She sat down at their feet, pulled out her watch and patiently began to count the hours, minutes, and seconds. When it was two minutes to one, she stood up, a little pale but determined. She walked calmly to the port bulwark and unseen by anyone, removed two life preservers and tossed them into the water. Then she made her way towards the bow and came to a halt before the lieutenant. He appeared to have been waiting for her.
“Sir, let the Tiger of Malaysia’s last wish be fulfilled.”
At the lieutenant’s command four men picked up the planks that bore the two bodies and carried them to the gunwale.
“Not yet,” said Marianna, beginning to cry.
She approached Sandokan and placed her lips on his. She felt a gentle warmth and a slight tremble. A moment’s hesitation and all would be lost. She quickly stepped back and whispered, “Let them go.”
The two planks were raised and the pirates slid into the sea, plunging beneath the dark waves as the ship continued on her course, carrying the poor young woman towards the shores of Labuan.
Chapter 31
The Shark, Toward the Three Islands
AS SANDOKAN HAD said, suspended animation was to last for exactly six hours, and in fact, the two pirates came to within seconds of hitting the water. With a few powerful kicks they returned to the surface and quickly looked about. They spotted the cruiser less than a cable length away, and watched as she slowly headed off towards the east. Sandokan’s first instinct was to follow her, while Juioko, still stunned by that strange, inexplicable resurrection, began to swim cautiously in the opposite direction.
After a few quick strokes the Tiger came to a halt, his eyes fixed on the ship sailing off with his beloved. A cry formed in his chest but did not escape his lips.
“Gone!” he whispered.
Barely containing his agony, he swam after it for a short distance, fighting furiously against the waves, but soon stopped and watched the vessel slowly fade into the night.
“You escape me now wretched ship, but I’ll have my vengeance!”
He watched her disappear, sailing off with Marianna, then slowly turned about and swam towards Juioko; the pirate had been quietly treading water, anxiously awaiting him.
“Time to go,” he said, stifling his rage. “There’s nothing more we can do.”
“We’ll save her, Captain, perhaps even sooner than you think. Now we should try to find Señor Yanez.”
“Yes, he’s the only one who can save us now.”
The sea stretched out before them, a blanket of waves whipped about by the evening wind. The heavens were clear and the moon was bright, but the pirates were unable to spot a single island on which to land, nor a sail or light to signal the presence of a ship.
To preserve their strength, the two swimmers advanced slowly, keeping close to one another, carefully scanning the surface of the water, trying to spot a sail. From time to time, Sandokan stopped and looked to the east, as if trying to spot the cruiser’s lanterns, then continued on his way with a heavy sigh. They had already swum a mile and were beginning to shed their clothes to free their movements, when Juioko’s arm struck something floating atop the water’s surface.
“A shark!” he exclaimed with a shudder as he quickly drew his knife.
“Where?” asked Sandokan.
“Wait… it’s not a shark,” replied the Dyak. “It’s… it’s a lifebuoy.”
“Marianna threw us a life preserver!” exclaimed Sandokan. “What a woman!”
“Let’s hope it’s not the only one.”
“Let’s look for another one, my friend.”
They began to swim about, and after a few minutes found the second lifebuoy a short distance from the first.
“Here’s a bit of unexpected good fortune,” said Juioko happily. “Where shall we go now?”
“The curvet was sailing from the northwest, if we swim in that direction, we’ll have a good chance of finding Yanez.”
“It’ll take several hours. The wind isn’t very strong, and Señor Yanez’ prahu can’t be moving very quickly.”
“What does it matter? I’d happily remain in the water for twenty-four hours if it ensures we find him,” said Sandokan.
“Have you forgotten about the sharks, Captain? You know the sea is full of them.”
Sandokan shuddered and looked about with unease.
“I haven’t spotted any fins nearby,” he said. “Let’s hope they leave us be. Time to swim. If we don’t find Yanez, we may be able to reach Mompracem or one of its reefs.”
They drew closer to better guard against any sudden danger and began to swim towards the northwest, trying as best they could to conserve their strength, both men well aware that land was still far off. Though they were ready for anything, the fear of a shark attack was slowly beginning to take its toll.
The Dyak, in particular, was growing more terrified. From time to time he would stop and cast a look over his shoulder, believing he had heard heavy breathing or the sound of a tail smashing against the water coming from behind him. He drew in his legs with every stroke, fearing they would be snapped off by one of those formidable tigers of the sea.
“I’ve never known fear,” he said. “I’ve fought in more than fifty boardings, killed several men with my bare hands, even measured myself against the great apes and jungle cats of Borneo, yet now I’m trembling like a child. Just the thought of seeing a shark is making my blood run cold. Captain, do you see anything?”
“No,” Sandokan replied calmly.
“I could have sworn I heard something breathing behind us just now.”
“Your fears are playing tricks on you. I didn’t hear anything.”
“And that splash?”
“My legs.”
“My teeth are chattering.”
“Steady your nerves. There’s no need to worry, Juioko. We’re both armed with knives.”
“What if a shark sneaks up on us from underwater?”
“We’ll dive to meet it and attack.”
“Still no sign of Señor Yanez!”
“He’s probably still far off.”
/> “Do you really think we’ll find him, Captain?”
“Absolutely… Yanez loves me too much to abandon me to such a sad fate. He’s following the curvet; I can feel it in my heart.”
“However, there’s no sign of them yet.”
“Patience, Juioko. It won’t be long before we spot them; the wind appears to be picking up.”
“So are the waves, Captain.”
“Nothing to worry about.”
They swam on for another hour, carefully scanning the horizon, eyes nervously sweeping the waters for signs of a shark. An unexpected sound brought them to a halt.
“Did you hear that?” asked Sandokan.
“Yes,” replied the Dyak, turning to face his captain.
“A steamship whistle?”
“Yes, Captain.”
“Don’t move!”
He put his hands on the Dyak’s shoulders and leaned forward, drawing himself up until his waist had cleared the water. Casting his gaze northward, he spotted two bright specks sailing across the sea two or three miles from them.
“The ship’s coming towards us,” he said anxiously.
“They’ll rescue us,” Juioko said hopefully.
“We don’t know where she’s from or whether she’s a warship or a merchant vessel.”
“Where’s she sailing from?”
“The north.”
“That doesn’t bode well, Captain.”
“I agree. One of the ships that attacked Mompracem may be searching for Yanez’ prahu.”
“So we’re not going to signal her?”
“We can’t risk it, Juioko. If they recognize us, we’ll be imprisoned, and this time there’d be no chance of escape. I’d lose any hope of ever seeing my Marianna again.”
“But it could be a merchant vessel,” replied Juioko.
“We haven’t reached the shipping lanes yet. Let’s see if we can get a better look.”
The moon still bright he leaned against Juioko’s shoulders, drew himself up and fixed his eyes upon the oncoming ship and watched her advance for several minutes.
“Don’t make a sound, Juioko!” he said, suddenly sliding back into the water. “It’s a warship, I’m sure of it.”
“How big?”
“Most likely a cruiser.”
Sandokan: The Tigers of Mompracem (The Sandokan Series Book 1) Page 26
