Wilbur Smith - C09 Birds Of Prey

by C09 Birds Of Prey(Lit)

  The three Knights had set up the Lodge on the slope of the hills above the lagoon, at the foot of a small waterfall that dropped into a basin of dark water surrounded by tall trees hung with lichens and lianas.

  The altar stood within the circle of stones, the fire burning before it. Thus all the ancient elements were represented. The moon was in its first quarter, signifying rebirth and resurrection.

  Hal waited alone in the forest while the three Knights of the Order opened the Lodge in the first degree. Then his father, his bared sword in his hand, came striding through the darkness to fetch him, and led him back along the path.

  The other two Knights were waiting beside the fire in the sacred circle. Their swords were drawn, the blades gleaming in the reflection of the flames. Lying upon the stone altar under a velvet cloth, he saw the shape of his great-grandfather's Neptune sword. They paused outside the circle of stones and Sir Francis begged entrance to the Lodge.

  "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost!"

  "Who would enter the Lodge of the Temple of the Order of St. George and the Holy Grail?" Lord Cumbrae thundered, in a voice that tang against the hills, his long two-edged claymore glinting in his hairy red fist.

  "A novice who presents himself for initiation into the mysteries of the Temple," Hal replied, "Enter on peril of your eternal life," Cumbrae warned him, and Hal stepped into the circle. Suddenly the air seemed colder and he shivered, even as he knelt in the radiance of the watch fire

  "Who sponsors this novice?" the Buzzard demanded again.

  "I do." Sir Francis stepped forward and Cumbrae turned back to Hal.

  "Who are you?" "Henry Courtney, son of Francis and Edwina." The long catechism began as the starry wheel of the firmament turned slowly overhead and the flames of the watch fire sank lower.

  It was after midnight when, at last, Sir Francis lifted the velvet covering from the Neptune sword. The sapphire on the hilt reflected a pate blue beam of moonlight into Hal's eyes as his father placed the hilt in his hands.

  "Upon this blade you will confirm the tenets of your faith."

  "These things I believe," Hal began, "and I will defend them with my life. I believe there is but one God in Trinity, the Father eternal, the Son eternal and the Holy Ghost eternal."

  "Amen!" chorused the three Nautonnier Knights.

  "I believe in the communion of the Church of England, and the divine right of its representative on earth, Charles, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith."

  "Amen!" Once Hal had recited his beliefs, Cumbrae called upon him to make his knightly vows.

  "I will uphold the Church of England. I will confront the enemies of my sovereign lord, Charles." Hal's voice quivered with conviction and sincerity. "I renounce Satan and all his works. I eschew all false doctrines and heresies and schisms. I turn my face away from all other gods and their false prophets."

  "I will protect the weak. I will defend the pilgrim. I will succour the needy and those in need of justice. I will take up the sword against the tyrant and the oppressor."

  "I will defend the holy places. I will search out and protect the precious relics of Christ Jesus and his Saints. I will never cease my quest for the Holy Grail that contained his sacred blood."

  The Nautonnier Knights crossed themselves as he made this vow, for the Grail quest stood at the centre of their belief. It was the granite column that held aloft the roof of their Temple.

  "I pledge myself to the Strict Observance. I will obey the code of my Knighthood. I will abstain from debauchery and fornication," Hal's tongue tripped on the word, but he recovered swiftly, "and I will honour my fellow Knights. Above all else, I will keep secret all the proceedings of my Lodge."

  "And may the Lord have mercy on your soul!" the three Nautonnier Knights intoned in unison. Then they stepped forward and formed a ring around the kneeling novice. Each laid one hand on his bowed head and the other on the hilt of his sword, their hands overlapping each other.

  "Henry Courtney, we welcome you into the Grail company, and we accept you as brother Knight of the Temple of the Order of St. George and the Holy Grail."

  Richard Lister spoke first, in his sonorous Welsh voice, almost singing his blessing. "I welcome you into the Temple. May you always follow the Strict Observance."

  Cumbrae spoke next. "I welcome you into the Temple. May the waters of far oceans open wide before the bows of your ship," and may the force of the wind drive you on."

  Then Sir Francis Courtney spoke with his hand firmly set on Hal's brow. "I welcome you into the Temple. May you always be true to your vows, to your God and to yourself " Then between them the Nautonnier Knights lifted him to his feet and, one after another, embraced him. Lord Cumbrae's whiskers were stiff and pricking as a garland of thorns from the traitor's bush. have a hold filled with my share of the spices that you and I took from Heerlycke Nacht, enough to buy me a castle and five thousand acres of the finest land in Wales," said Richard Lister, as he clasped Sir Francis's right hand in his, using the secret grip of the Nautonniers. "And I have a young wife and two stout sons upon whom I have not laid eyes for three years. A little rest in green and pleasant places with those I love, and then, I know, the wind will summon. Perhaps we will meet again on far waters, Francis."

  "Take the tide of your heart, then, Richard. I thank You for your friendship, and for what you have done for my son." Sir Francis returned his grip. "I hope one day to welcome both your boys into the Temple."

  Richard turned away towards his waiting longboat, but hesitated and came back. He placed one arm around Sir Francis's shoulders and his brow was grave, his voice low, as he said, "Cumbrae had a proposition for me concerning you, but I liked it not at all and told him so to his face. Watch your back, Fran kY and sleep with one eye open when he is around you."

  "You are a good friend," Sir Francis said, and watched Richard walk to his longboat and cross to the Goddess- As soon as he went up the ladder to the quarterdeck his crew weighed the anchor. All her sails filled and she moved down the channel, dipping her pennant in farewell as she disappeared out through the heads into the open sea.

  "Now we have only the Buzzard to keep us company.-" Hal looked across at the Gull of MoraY where she lay in the centre of the channel, her boats clustered around her discharging water casks, bundles of firewood and dried fish into her holds.

  "Make your preparations to beach the ship, please, Mister Courtney," Sir Francis replied, and Hal straightened his spine. He was unaccustomed to his father addressing him thus. It was strange to be treated as a Knight and a full officer, instead of as a lowly ensign. Even his mode of dress had changed with his new status. His father had provided the shirt of fine white Madras cotton on his back, as well as his new moleskin breeches, which felt soft as silk against his skin after the rags of rough canvas he had worn before today.

  He was even more surprised when his father deigned to explain his order. "We must go about our business as if we suspect no treachery. Besides which the Resolution will be safer upon the beach if it comes to a fight."

  "I understand, sir." Hal looked up at the sun to judge the time. "The tide will be fair for us to take her aground at two bells in tomorrow's morning watch. We will be prepared."

  All the rest of that morning the crew of the Gull behaved like that of any other ship preparing for sea, and though Daniel and his gun crews with cannon loaded and aimed, and with slow-match burning, watched the Gull from their hidden emplacements dug into the sandy soil along the edge of the forest, she gave them no hint of treachery.

  A little before noon Lord Cumbrae had himself rowed ashore and came to find Sir Francis where he stood by the fire upon which the cauldron of pitch was bubbling, ready to begin caulking the Resolution's hull when she was careened.

  "It's farewell, then." He embraced Sir Francis, throwing a thick red arm around his shoulders. "Richard was right. There's no prize to be won if we sit here upon the beach and scratch our backsides."


  "So you're ready to sail?" Sir Francis kept his tone level, not betraying his astonishment.

  "With tomorrow morning's tide, I'll be away. But how I hate to leave you, Franky. Will you not take a last dram aboard the Gull with me now? I would fain discuss with you my share of the prize money from the Standvastigheid."

  "My lord, your share is nothing. That ends our discussion, and I wish you a fair wind."

  Cumbrae let fly a great blast of laughter. "I've always loved your sense of fun, Franky. I know you only wish to spare me the labour of carrying that heavy cargo of spice back to the Firth of Forth." He turned and pointed with his curling beard at the spice store under the forest trees. "So I shall let you do it for me. But, in the meantime, I trust you to keep a fair accounting of my share, and to deliver it to me when next we meet plus the usual interest, of course."

  "I trust you as dearly, my lord." Sir Francis lifted his Hat and swept the sand with the plume as he bowed.

  Cumbrae returned the bow and, still rumbling with laughter, went down to the longboat and had himself rowed to the Gull.

  During the course of the morning the Dutch hostages had been brought ashore and installed in their new lodgings, which Hal and his gang had built for them. These were set well back from the lagoon and separated from the compound in which the Resolution's crew were housed.

  Now the ship was empty and ready for beaching. As the tide pushed in through the heads the crew, under the direction of Ned Tyler and Hal, began warping it in towards the beach. They had secured the strongest sheaves and blocks to the largest of the trees. Heavy hawsers were fastened to the Resolution's bows and stern, and with fifty men straining on the lines, the ship came in parallel to the beach.

  When her bottom touched the white sand they secured her there, As the tide receded they hove her down with tackle attached to her mizzen and foremasts, which were still stepped. The ship heeled over steeply until her mastheads touched the tree-tops. The whole of the starboard side of her hull, down as far as the keel, was exposed, and Sir Francis and Hal waded out to inspect it. They were delighted to find little sign of shipworm infestation.

  A few sections of planking had to be replaced and the work began immediately. When darkness fell the torches were lit, for the work on the hull would continue until the return of the tide put a halt to it. When this happened Sir Francis went off to dine in his new quarters, while Hal gave orders to secure the hull for the night. The torches were doused and Ned led away the men to find their own belated dinner.

  Hal was not hungry for food. His appetites were of a different order, but it would be at least another hour before he could satisfy them. Left alone on the beach, he studied the Gull across the narrow strip of water. It seemed that she was settled in quietly enough for the night. Her small boats still lay alongside, but it would not take long to lift them on board and batten down her hatches ready for sea.

  He turned away and moved back into the trees. He went down the line of gun emplacements, speaking softly to the men on watch behind the culver ins He checked once more the laying of each, making sure that they were truly aimed at the dark shape of the Gull, as she lay in a spangle of star reflections on the surface of the still, dark lagoon.

  For a while he sat next to Big Daniel, dangling his legs into the gun pit

  "Don't worry, Mister Henry." Even Daniel used the new and more respectful form of address naturally enough. We're keeping a weather eye on that red-bearded bastard, You can go off and get your supper."

  "When did you last sleep, Daniel?" Hal asked.

  "Don't worry about me. The watch changes pretty soon now. I'll be handing over to Timothy." outside his hut Hal found Aboli sitting as quietly as a shadow by the fire, waiting for him with a bowl that contained roasted duck and hunks of bread, and a jug of small beer.

  "I'm not hungry, Aboli," Hal protested.

  "Eat." Aboli thrust the bowl into his hands. you will need your strength for the task that lies ahead tonight." Hal accepted the bowl, but he tried to determine Aboli's expression and to read from it the deeper meaning of his admonition. The firelight danced on his dark enigmatic features, like those of a pagan idol, highlighting the tattoos on his cheeks, but his eyes were inscrutable.

  Hal used his dirk to split the carcass of the duck in half and offered one portion to Aboli. "What task is this that I have to perform?" he asked carefully.

  Aboli tore a piece off the duck's breast and shrugged as he chewed. "You must be careful not to scratch the tender est parts of yourself on a thorn as you go through the hole in the stockade to do your duty."

  Hal's jaw stopped moving and the duck in his mouth lost its taste.

  Aboli must have discovered the narrow passage through the thorn fence behind Katinka's hut that Hal had so secretly left open.

  "How long have you known?" he asked, through his mouthful.

  "Was I supposed not to know?" Aboli asked. "Your eyes are like the full moon when you look in a certain direction, and I have heard your roars like those of a wounded buffalo coming from the stern at midnight."

  Hal was stunned. He had been so careful and cunning. "Do you think my father knows?" he asked with trepidation.

  "You are still alive," Aboli pointed out. "If he knew, that would not be so."

  "You would tell no one?" he whispered. "Especially not him?" "Especially not him," Aboli agreed. "But take a care that you do not dig your own grave with that spade between your legs."

  "I love her, Aboli," Hal whispered. "I cannot sleep for the thought of her."

  "I have heard you not sleeping. I thought you might wake the entire ship's company with your sleeplessness."

  "Do not mock me, Aboli. I will die for lack of her." "Then I must save your life by taking you to her."

  "You would come with me?" Hal was shocked by the offer.

  "I will wait at your hole in the stockade. To guard you. You might need my help if the husband finds you where he would like to be."

  "That fat animal!" Hal said furiously, hating the man with all his heart.

  "Fat, perhaps. Sly, almost certainly. Powerful, without doubt. Do not underrate him, Gundwane. "Aboli stood up. "I will go first to make sure the way is clear."

  The two slipped quietly through the darkness, and paused at the rear of the stockade.

  "You don't have to wait for me, Aboli," Hal whispered, "I might be a little while."

  "If you were not, I would be disappointed in you," Aboli told Hal in his own language. "Remember this advice always, Gundwane, for it will stand you in good stead all the days of your life. A man's passion is like a fire in tall, dry grass, hot and furious but soon spent. A woman is like a magician's cauldron that must simmer long upon the coals before it can bring forth its spell. Be swift in all things but love."

  Hal sighed in the darkness. "Why must women be so different from us, Aboli?"

  "Thank all your Gods, and mine also, that they are." Aboli's teeth gleamed in the darkness as he grinned. He pushed Hal gently towards the opening. "If you call I will be here."

  The lamp still burned in her hut. The slivers of yellow light shone through the weak places in the thatch. Hal listened softly at the wall, but heard no voices. He crept to the door, which stood open a crack. He peered through it, at the huge four-poster bed that his men had carried from her cabin in the Resolution. The curtains were closed to keep out the insects, so he could not be certain that there was only one person behind them.

  Soundlessly he slipped through the door and crept to the bed. As he touched the curtains, a small white hand reached through the folds, seized his outstretched hand and dragged him in. "Do not speak." she hissed at him. "Say not a word!" Her fingers flew nimbly down the buttons of his shirt front, opening it to the waist, then her nails dug painfully into his breast'.

  At the same time her mouth covered his. She had never kissed him before and the heat and softness of her lips astonished him. He tried to grasp her breasts but she seized his wrists and held them at his sid
es as her tongue slipped into his mouth and twined with his, slithering and twisting like a live eel, goading and teasing him slowly, higher than he had ever been before.

  Then still holding his hands at his side she forced him over backwards. Her swift fingers opened the fastening of his moleskin breeches, and then in a flurry of silks and laces she bestrode his hips and pinned him to the satin coverlet. Without using her hands she searched with her pelvis until she found him and sucked him into her secret heat.

  Much later, Hal fell into a sleep so deep that it was like a little death.

  An insistent hand on his bare arm woke him, and he started up in alarm. "What-" he began, but the hand whipped over his mouth and gagged his next word.

  "Gundwane! Make no noise. Find your clothes and come with me. Quickly!"

  Hal rolled gently off the bed, careful not to disturb the woman beside him, and found his breeches where she had thrown them.