Edward and the crew left the harbour and rushed up a small hill to the village of Calabar. What they saw as they topped the rise stopped them in their tracks. Edward's mouth opened wide from the sight of the devastation.
Calabar used to be a thriving African community full of life and promise, but now the village appeared like the remains of a war zone. The ashes of homes made of wood and straw were burnt to the ground. The dwindling populace moved about in a trance, many of them children, women, or the elderly. The grave site was clearly visible from the hill Edward and his crew were on, and larger since last time they visited.
At the sight of Edward and his crew, the few villagers shuffling around shouted something and ran into their homes. "No, wait! We're not here to hurt you!" he yelled, but none listened.
Soon after the villagers ran to their homes, men ran out with spears and muskets. Twenty men ran to Edward and his crew, threatening them back to the ship.
"Return to your ship and leave," one of the men in front warned. He wore a set of tattered and worn trousers made by English hands. He didn't wear a shirt, and his raw and powerful chest muscles were exposed. He was tall and his face looked familiar to Edward.
"Please listen to me. We are not here to harm you." Edward stepped forward.
The man in the lead shot his musket at Edward's feet. "Not another step, unless it is back where you came. We have had enough of the white man taking our people."
Edward motioned for his crew to stay back and not draw their weapons. "We are searching for a friend of ours, Nassir. If you can tell us what has happened to him we will leave with no further discussion."
The leader of the aggressors glanced briefly at his men. "What is your name?"
"Edward Thatch."
The leader lowered his weapon "Nassir has told me of you. You can rest assured, as far as I know he is alive." He turned to his men, speaking in their native tongue, and the men lowered their weapons.
"Thank you. Might I have your name?" Edward asked.
"My name is Dumaka. I am Nassir's brother."
"His brother? Well, you do look similar, but he never mentioned anything about you."
"Well, considering he believed me dead, that is unsurprising. Let us talk by a fire, you must be cold and tired."
"Yes, some rest would be nice."
Dumaka took Edward, Henry, Anne, and William to an open area behind one of the remaining homes. While the fire was started, Christina brought blankets for the crew to help ward off the cold air. She laid one over Anne's back and sat down beside her.
"The ship appeared out of nowhere at dawn about four months ago."
"Four months? That couldn't have been very long after we landed," Anne surmised. She held hands with Edward and sat close to him for more warmth.
"No, only about a month. I did not have much of a chance to reunite with him before he was taken. He was still grieving for his son, but he had fond things to say about you all."
The crew's eyes turned downwards as they thought of their friend and what was happening to him now. "So what happened?" Christina asked. Her eyes held anger hidden deep within them, and she gripped the wooden rose at her neck.
"They took over one hundred villagers as slaves. Nassir and some of the men fought, but were not able stand against their numbers. The fighting enabled us to help the less able villagers to escape into the woods. We are all that remains of our warriors. When I returned, Nassir was gone and his body was nowhere to be found. I assumed he was captured."
"Do you have any idea where they were taking the slaves?" Edward asked.
"One of the villagers who escaped overheard the white men say they were travelling to Boston."
Anne turned to Edward. "That lines up with the location of the American Chestnut tree Alexandre mentioned."
Edward nodded. "Your brother took his possessions with him when he left the crew, and I know his papers of freedom were amongst them. If you have his bag, those papers will help us at least free him."
Dumaka shook his head, his eyes betraying his disappointment. "No, his belongings were in the house over there." Dumaka pointed to the remains of a house burned to the ground in the attack.
Edward nodded. "No matter, we will still head for Boston in the morning. Not having those papers makes things more difficult, but we've been in worse situations. We'll get your brother back."
"I thank you for your concern over my brother, and I have no doubts you will succeed in saving him, but I have another request. I wish for you to save the villagers too."
Edward took a drink of some water as he considered what Dumaka requested. "I hope you realise the difficulty of what you are asking?"
"Yes, but I want you to understand what is happening to our people in America. Nassir, and others who were able to make their way home, have told us the horrors. We have dealt with slavery throughout all of history, but at least here we had some chance of reward for our families. In America, death is preferable to how our people are being treated. My brother helped you to be free, and according to him this is something close to your heart. If you truly are a vessel for freedom, then you cannot stand by as my people die for nothing."
"All I can say is I will try. If the risk is too great for my men…"
"I understand. That you will try is enough for me."
Edward turned to his crewmen gathered around the fire, all the senior officers of the Freedom, and Christina. "So we are all in agreement then? We leave for Boston tomorrow, and try to save Nassir and the villagers?"
"Agreed," the crew replied.
Their course was set, and soon the fox-hunt for the elusive Daniel Richardson would end.
20. Bonds in Boston
The trip to Boston would take over two months, so the crew stocked up as much as possible in Calabar before leaving. The people in Calabar were generous in their patronage and provided all they could in the hopes Edward and his crew would be able to bring back their family.
Along the way the crew continued training with Anne and William. The new members Freedom had gained from Bodden Town were becoming better at working as a team in battle and out. The crew functioned more as a team, making up for each other's weaknesses and aiding in their strengths.
Jack also participated in the training, having an adeptness in fist fighting and fencing. Anne practiced her martial arts with him to hone his hand-to-hand combat, and, as Alexandre was the best fencer, he helped Jack fence. At first Alexandre lamented Jack's lack of skill, but Jack learned quickly and impressed the Frenchman.
Christina and her pet wolf were nigh on inseparable since their fight in the woods of Mexico. Christina trained Tala some commands in French to assist aboard the ship and in fights as well. The only two who could issue Tala orders were Christina and Edward. If anyone else commanded Tala, she merely gawked at them.
Edward and Christina grew closer as well. They continued their training and created some impressive moves. With Edward's strength he was able to swing Christina around by the hands, allowing them to attack while being surrounded, and at the end Edward vaulted her feet-first at the enemy.
"You two are quite the pair," Anne said as she walked up to the poop deck where Edward was.
Edward scratched his chin through the beard. "You mean Christina?" Anne nodded. "Yes, she and I work well together," Edward pulled Anne in close, gazing deep into her green eyes, "but I think we work better." Edward kissed Anne passionately, and she gladly accepted.
Anne patted Edward on the chest. "I want to talk to you about something."
Edward leaned on the railing of the poop deck, allowing him to overlook the whole of the ship. "I am listening."
"What do you plan to do in Boston?" Anne asked, joining him on the railing.
"I haven't decided. I haven't been to Boston, so I don't know how best to secure Nassir and the villagers, let alone the key."
"Well, doing nothing and letting someone else assess the situation would be a prudent first step."
Edwa
rd cocked his brow. "Why would I do that?"
"As I am sure you are aware, England is at war, my mother's war, and the American colonies are at the forefront of the conflict. Boston is an English territory." Anne paused for a moment.
Edward picked up on what Anne was saying, grasping where she was headed. "And so, information on our escape would be popular news. What about the ship itself, wouldn't the Freedom be well known as well?"
"There are many ships, and Freedom is a common name, I don't believe we have to worry about us being ousted," Anne speculated while she patted the railing.
Edward ran his fingers through Anne's curly red hair. "So I won't be able to leave the ship, but what about you?"
Anne sighed and leaned on Edward's chest. "I resemble my mother, so I too will be confined to the ship."
"We'll have each other to keep company, so I'm not complaining." Edward kissed the back of Anne's head. "But I suppose William will be here too."
Anne turned around and stretched out along the railing, laying her head in Edward's lap. She played with his beard. "I could always send William on some errand so we can be alone." Anne smirked.
Edward laughed. "You're so devious, I love it." He leaned down and kissed her once more. Edward noticed Henry on the quarterdeck, talking with Herbert. "Oh, Henry! We need to discuss something."
Henry strolled up the stairs to the poop deck. "Yes?" he inquired.
"I'll need you to act as my proxy in Boston. Apparently, Boston is British territory, which doesn't allow Anne or me to step ashore for fear of being noticed. Isn't it nice to have people in the crew that know about these things?" Edward asked with a smile.
Henry ignored the question. "So you'll need me to find Daniel Richardson for you?"
"Yes, when you find Richardson we'll need to do an assessment of the best course of action to retrieve the key and free Nassir and the villagers. If you present the letter he left, you'll no doubt be let into his home, and while inside you can see what kind of security he has."
"Sounds simple enough. I can pose as someone who wishes to buy the key."
"Something tells me he won't part with the key easily, judging from the trouble he went through, but that's the best option at the moment."
"Might I interject?" a voice asked from behind.
Edward noticed Alexandre listening to the conversation. Alexandre sauntered forward to the three of them. Back hunched, eyes dark, and appearance dishevelled as usual, he presented the air of one too busy for sleep or personal hygiene, but the glint in his eyes bespoke his greater faculties of the mind. "I wish to join this expédition."
"Not that I'm saying no, but why?"
Alexandre shrugged his shoulders while shaking his head like the answer was obvious. "You need someone who is capable of seeing things the ordinary cannot. I am the only one compétent."
"Are you saying Henry isn't qualified for this?"
"Non, I am saying lesser minds will miss the big picture. Anne and William are not fit to leave, so I am forced to step in."
Henry glared at Alexandre. "I can understand you being smarter, but your arrogance is groundless. I'm up to the task."
"Mon ami, arrogance has nothing to do with this. I possess a dexterity of mind greater than others, this is fact. If you are still in doubt of this even after my pouvoirs de déduction have been tested thus far, then we will play a game: we will see who is able to extrapolate the most useful information from Richardson."
"You're on!" Henry said, extending his hand to shake on the deal, which Alexandre accepted.
"This will be interesting," Edward whispered to Anne.
"Mmm, but I have a funny feeling Alexandre might have been trying to bait Henry for some reason."
Edward stroked his beard. "Seeing how this plays out will be fun."
…
When the Freedom sailed into the port of Boston, the crew expected to see a few ships, but the harbour was filled with fifty or more ships of all shapes and sizes. More than a few of those ships were outfitted for battle and some were even the same size as the Freedom.
As the Freedom navigated the few small islands in the crescent-shaped port, they passed by many ships docking and leaving Boston. The noise from the travellers rose in the spaces between the land and sea. Colourful sailors and merchants travelled to and fro across the decks of the full-sailed ships.
The noonday sun, the sea air, and the smell of nature from the land could not calm Edward's mind from this sight. He believed a raid could be a fall-back plan if they had issues rescuing the villagers from Richardson's grasp, but the amount of military ships was insurmountable for the Freedom. Edward held little hope they would be able to achieve the goal of even saving Nassir.
We must play our cards right if we are to secure the key and Nassir.
Edward and Anne descended below deck before the ship was docked. Edward told the crew to act as if Henry were the captain for the duration of their stay.
Henry and Alexandre, dressed in more elegant clothes than usual, left the ship immediately after docking. Henry paid the harbour master and set out to find Daniel Richardson. Richardson was a famous Bostonian, so he wasn't hard to find.
"Old Richardson lives on the west end of town. Head west and ye can't miss 'is cotton fields," a local businessman suggested.
Henry and Alexandre took a ride in a coach to Richardson's residence. The dirt road was bumpy, but straightforward. "So, Henry, have you pondered on our game? How will you compete with my genius?"
"Worry about yourself," Henry barked, pulling at the decorative silk bow tying his fine brown hair in a ponytail.
"I am not worried," Alexandre said with a hollow smile, slapping Henry's hands away from the bow.
Henry glowered at Alexandre. "You should be. One of our crewmates' lives is at stake."
Alexandre feigned shock and placed his hand over his chest. "Mon dieu! You do not think I care?"
"Hard to tell with you, sometimes."
"I very much care. You are all of you so… interesting. Without you for amusement whatever would I do?"
Henry rolled his eyes and folded his arms. "Of course. Wouldn't want the good doctor to die of boredom."
Alexandre grinned. "I also recall you did not approve of a négre aboard the ship, so are you trying to act holier than thou, or have you had a change of heart?"
Henry's mouth opened in shock by Alexandre's clairvoyance at knowing exactly how to rattle someone. Henry knew he couldn't lie to Alexandre to save face. "I was raised differently from Edward. Negros aren't my favourite company, but Nassir is part of the family. He's different."
"And the villagers?"
"They aren't my concern. Edward can try to figure out how to save them if he wants, but that already appears impossible."
Alexandre laughed. "Yes, well, le Capitaine delights in making the impossible possible."
"You have a point," Henry agreed.
"So, while on the subject of making the impossible possible, how do you plan on convincing our marque to part with the key?"
Henry cocked his brow. "You're letting me do the talking?" Alexandre answered with a smile and a nod, and Henry sighed. "I suppose I'll play it straight. Tell him it's needed for our ship and see what he's willing to take for it."
Alexandre appeared bored. "Are you sure it is wise to tell him the truth?"
"I don't see any other way of going about it. He knows the key has some story behind it. Whatever we tell him, there's no way we can downplay its importance. The only thing we can do is remove the key's importance for him."
Henry's last comment seemed to pique Alexandre's interest. "And how does telling him the truth remove the importance of the key?"
Henry couldn't help but grin a bit at evoking more than a passing interest from Alexandre. "Assuming he still has the key, he's no doubt been wondering for years what the key was for. In the letter he left he mentioned something about a hunt, and you said he might be of southern descent. So, he's a hunter. Not that
much of a stretch." Alexandre nodded. "So, he's been hunting passively, or actively, for the lock that the key belongs to. After so many years, it's not about the key anymore, it's about the door, about the hunt. If we tell him exactly what the key is for, then the hunt is over, and in the most disappointing way possible. I'm also not the best liar, so we'll be more convincing if he can't tell we're lying."
"Remove the prey, and the hunter is left with no more use for the gun," Alexandre posed.
"Exactly. At least, that's the hope. If we can't get the key or Nassir back from Richardson then we'll have to rely on Edward to get everything."
Alexandre chuckled. "You know, perhaps you are not as dull as I first thought."
"Thank you, I think."
Alexandre and Henry finished their exchange a moment before the coach lurched to a stop in front of a white mansion.
The coachman jumped down and opened the door to help Henry and Alexandre down. Henry paid the man as Alexandre surveyed the property.
To the left and right of the mansion a large field of cotton was primed for harvest. In the field, black slaves by the dozens picked cotton from the small plants in the hot sun. The back-breaking work was made worse by the many guards with whips to punish slackers, or to flex muscle. For every five slaves one guard walked up and down the field.
The mansion itself was two storeys, but, while impressive, rather plain. Each window was either shuttered with black wood panels or covered with lace drapes, making it difficult to see inside.
Some of the slaves were entering and leaving an annex building on the right side of the mansion.
More muscle were stationed at the double doors at the front entrance. When Henry and Alexandre approached, the guards stepped forward. "What business do you have here?" one of them asked, then he spat chewing tobacco onto the ground.
"Is this the residence of Daniel Richardson?" Henry asked.
"Yes, and what brings you to Mr Richardson's residence?"
Henry took out the letter Richardson left. "If you take this to your boss, he will understand."
One of the guards took the letter, and the two glanced at each other and shrugged. "Wait here," the first said, then he entered the building.
Blackbeard's Revenge (Voyages Of Queen Anne's Revenge Book 2) Page 22
