Captain in Calico (12 page)

Once there she sat straight down in a chair, but the colour was returning to her cheeks, and her spirit with it. Her first inquiry was about Bonney, and when Rackham told her that he was wounded, she tightened her lips.

‘I've a word to say to that dear husband of mine. He'll be more wounded presently.'

Bidding him turn his back, she rose and began to search out her clothing. While she dressed she explained, so far as she knew, what had happened that afternoon.

She had been in her room when Kane and a negro had entered and forcibly taken her down to the cellar. There, under Kane's supervision, the negro had torn off her clothes, and left her only the blanket. She had been locked in, and although she had screamed and hammered on the door, no
one had paid any attention. Guessing that Bonney had discovered her visits to Rackham, she reached the terrifying conclusion that he intended to let her starve slowly to death underground, but that fear, at least, was calmed when food was brought to her a few hours later. Shortly afterwards Bonney himself had come down, with Kane and the negro in attendance. He knew, he said, of her visits to the Cinque Ports, and was expecting her lover later in the evening. He had then explained, in nauseating detail, what he intended to do to Rackham, and had turned her physically ill. With the promise that she should witness the performance he had left her, and the negro had been set as guard outside her door.

How many hours had passed before she fell into an uneasy doze she did not know, but she had awoken to find the negro in the cell with her. He had flung her down, gagging her with his hand, and threatening to kill her if she moved or spoke. Then she had heard Rackham's voice, had managed to break free, and the sound of the scuffle had reached Rackham in the outer cellar.

‘And God knows I've heard no sweeter sound than you roaring beyond that door,' she added. ‘It's a fine, strong voice you have, John.'

‘How the devil did he know of your visits to the inn?' asked Rackham. He told her of the note, and how Penner had detected the trap.

‘Nicodemus told him. I had that from Bonney himself. They flogged the poor little mite's grandfather to death before his eyes. That was Kane's work, rot his soul.' Anne Bonney spat out an oath. ‘There's another hound whose account's to settle.'

‘It's settled already,' said Rackham, turning round. She was fully dressed now, in her black shirt and breeches and long
boots, and was tying up her hair in a red scarf. ‘One of my lads put a knife through him in the passage yonder.'

‘Too easy an end for him,' she said viciously. ‘And for that greasy nigger that stripped me in the cellar. I'd have seen them roasting over a slow fire, by God! They served enough of Bonney's poor devils of slaves the same way, although the Governor never heard tell of it.' She wheeled round, her eyes hard. ‘And so I'll serve the little swine himself. Where is he?' She started forward, but Rackham laid a hand on her arm. ‘What is it you do?' she demanded, pulling free. ‘D'you think you'll keep me from him? You try, and I'll—'

‘Wait.' He placed himself between her and the door. ‘Whatever you intend by him, we've little time left. The town may be afoot by now, and the militia on their way. Penner's to take you aboard his sloop, while I've to attend to the
Kingston
.' He laughed sharply. ‘God, woman, d'ye know what it means to take a ship and clear her out of harbour? I came here to cut Bonney's heart out, aye; but I'll waste no time over what I have to do.'

Plainly Anne Bonney had different ideas. She faced him in genuine astonishment at first; then she laughed, an ugly, harsh sound, and put her hands on her hips.

‘And you'll cut his heart out, will you? Faith, what a fine, bloodthirsty babe it is!' She stepped closer to him. Under the line of the scarf round her forehead her brows were wrinkled, and she wore an expression of cruelty he had never seen on her before.

‘Look you, Calico Jack Rackham, he's my affair and I'll attend to him in my own way. You can take your
Kingston
, well enough, and leave me here with Penner. We'll be aboard his sloop in good time, never fear. But first I'll settle with that poisonous rat through yonder.'

Rackham was not a soft man, but there was something here that filled him with disgust. He was remembering how he had face La Bouche, unarmed, and that deep, husky voice had called out: ‘Make an end, Pierre. It's over warm for such excitement.'

And yet in this very room he had loved her violently and passionately. She had seemed soft and languorous, then, and yet strong and vibrant, like no other woman he had ever known, and he had been intoxicated by her. What he was looking at now was either a mask, or else a mask had slipped from its place, revealing the sadistic, feral nature beneath. It was like an ugly dream, and in that moment the
Kingston
, the Spanish silver, the knowledge that the King's troops might soon be upon them, were all forgotten. He felt tired and sick, and something of his feelings must have shown in his face, for her eyes brightened.

‘You'll let me past, then?' The plea, from lips that had been coldly promising to torture Bonney to death, was incongruous and revolting. Abruptly he stood aside, and she was past him in a flash.

He stood, listening to the sound of her boots striding down the passage, and then he remembered that the alarm might be sounding in the town, and that there was much to do, whether he felt sick and weary or not. He went out into the hall, and found Ben waiting to speak to him. The burly lieutenant came forward, wiping his lips with the back of his hand.

‘Only a wet, cap'n,' he explained apologetically, indicating the mug he held. ‘I kept the lads to about the same; enough to rinse their throats out, like. They're outside and ready now, but for them that wi' the Major and the prisoners.'

‘Good.' Rackham forced himself to think what must be
done next. He passed a hand acorss his face, and Ben noticed the movement.

‘Ye all right, cap'n?' There was genuine concern in his voice. ‘None o' them blacks nicked ye, did they?'

Rackham shook his head. ‘No, no. It's nothing. Nothing at all. Wait for me outside with the men. I'll be with you presently.'

He watched Ben go through the front door, and then walked slowly to the dining-room.

Bonney was still seated in his chair, his right arm roughly bound with a rag at the elbow, where the sleeve of his fine taffeta coat had been ripped away. But far from having recovered, the planter was in a state of terror far greater than when he had faced Penner's rapier, or even when Rackham had had his hands about his throat. He was huddled back as though trying to hide, his face grey with fear, and for once his eyes had lost their shiftiness. They were fixed in a terrified stare on Anne Bonney, who stood looking down at him.

Penner stood frowning, while the mulatto girl peeped out anxiously from the corner behind him. On either side of Bonney's chair stood the two grinning pirates who had been appointed his guards. Baker had been driven out of the house, having been stripped of his valuables.

Anne Bonney had possessed herself of a rapier and was holding it levelled at Bonney's face. She was speaking in a strained, harsh voice, as Rackham entered the room.

‘“Down on your knees,” you said. Have you forgotten, then?' The rapier flicked out and Bonney shrieked and flung himself vainly aside. Fearfully, he put up a hand to his cheek, and brought it down smeared with blood.

‘Many a hundred times you said it, and I obeyed, while you sat there grinning like the foul beast you are.' Her voice
rose with passion. ‘And do you remember calling for Kane – aye, and for your black scum of overseers, too – to come and gape at me and share the joke? A fine joke, eh, James?' And again she slashed at his face.

Bonney screwed his head round in an effort to shield himself from that razor edge, and pawed feebly with his left hand in an attempt to ward it away. Anne Bonney caught at his coat and jerked him round.

‘Aye, you scream and cower, as I did, but when did you ever spare me, or any other poor soul?' She shook him fiercely. ‘“Down on your knees,” you would say, and call me every filthy name you knew. Well, down on your own knees now, James Bonney! Quick, or I'll cut your tongue out!'

She stepped back, pointing to the floor at her feet, but Bonney clung to his chair until one of the pirates heaved him bodily up and forced him down on all fours. The planter shrieked with the pain of his wounded arm, but the pirate, setting a foot behind either knee to keep him kneeling, put a hand in his collar and jerked his body upright. He was held there, helpless in the grip of the grinning ruffian, while Anne Bonney looked malignantly down at him.

At last Bonney found his tongue. ‘Anne', he croaked, ‘Anne, lass. A jest – only a jest, girl. I meant no offence …'

She leaned down until her face, evil and mocking, was close to his own. ‘Of course, James. Only a jest. You were always a great joker. We'll share another jest together, now, and I promise it'll set you in a roar, my love. You mind that little black mistress you were so fond of – one of many – and how you caught her with a boy of her own colour who worked in the cane-fields? You remember what happened to them? Kane would tell you, if he still had a tongue to tell with. That was a good joke, James. You told me about it, you
remember, and reminded me of it no later than to-night, down in the cellar, when you promised we should play it over again, with myself and another as the butts.'

Bonney struggled wildly in the grip of the pirate who held him, and Penner came forward to Anne Bonney's side.

‘There's been enough of this, mistress. Had you set in to cut his throat without these frolics, it's like enough you wouldn't have been hindered, or if your man, John Rackham, there, had called him out and planted his iron in him, I'd have stood by and thought no wrong. But I don't like this eye-scratching devilishness. It looks ill from a woman,' he added, oddly solemn, as though he were reproving a child.

She spat at him in reply. ‘You! You great ninny, to tell me what looks ill!' She flung out a hand to point at Bonney. ‘That swine has made life hell for me these two years past; he's polluted the very ground he has walked on. You and that clout-pole Rackham, who've been sea-rovers and done God knows how much bloody murder and more, to tell me that I mustn't have the carbonadoing of a scoundrel who's done worse to me than I could ever do to him! Go and chase your ships if you've a mind to, and leave me here. By the time the troops arrive Bonney'll be past speech, and I'll swear it was you lot that killed him.' She stopped, glaring at Penner.

The Major looked at Rackham. ‘The woman's mad. For God's sake, John, let's do as she says, and leave her here. The militia may be about our ears at any minute. What does she care for the silver, anyway? Look at her, man – it's blood she's after.'

‘She's coming with us,' said Rackham. However much his feelings had been revolted he knew he could not leave her behind.

‘Anne,' he said gently, ‘let him be, lass. It does no good to take his life, any more than it does to tramp on a slug. Come away.' He put out a hand, but she ignored it. Her fury had subsided, but her voice was still hard and determined.

‘I'll come when I've finished with him,' she said, and Bonney whimpered in terror.

‘There isn't time,' snarled the Major, losing his temper. ‘Rot it, you bloody-minded hussy, there's the
Kingston
to see to, and a tide to catch.'

‘Then the sooner you let me at him, the better,' Anne Bonney shot back. ‘I'll not take long, I promise you – although it may seem long to James.'

Bonney, still held by his guard, caught at Penner's coat. ‘Major, for mercy's sake,' – he was literally crying – ‘don't leave me! Don't, for Christ's sake! She has gone mad, she'll tear me!'

‘It's no more than you deserve,' snapped Penner. ‘Holy Mother!' He jerked round, and every head in the room turned towards the windows. From somewhere not far off, in the direction of the town road, the report of a musket shot echoed in the sudden silence.

For a few seconds they stood motionless, listening. Then Rackham broke the silence.

‘The militia! We waited too long, by God!' He strode to the windows and shouted for Ben.

‘Get the men into the woods! Get well into cover and keep quiet if you value your hides. Away with you; we'll follow.'

Penner cursed and shook himself free of Bonney's clutch at his coat-tails. ‘Pray heaven it's the militia and not Harkness's soldiers, or we'll be trapped nicely.'

Rackham pointed to Anne Bonney. ‘Get her out of this, Harry.' She was opening her mouth to interrupt, but he
silenced her with a roar of fury. ‘D'ye want Harkness to find you here, then, with a dead man in the passage and Bonney to tell his story?'

His anger permitted of no retort, but if she was baulked of her main purpose she was still determined to do her worst by her husband. The rapier was still in her hand, and without warning she whipped up her point and lunged at the kneeling wretch with all her strength.

The merest accident saved Bonney's life. The buccaneer who was holding him was in the act of jerking his captive roughly to his feet as Anne Bonney's lunge was launched, and the sudden movement marred her aim. The point passed within an inch of Bonney's face, and before she could regain her balance Penner's heavy hands were on her shoulders, dragging her away.

‘Take her out,' said Rackham to the two pirates who stood by Bonney. ‘Never mind him; he'll give no trouble,' he snapped as they hesitated. ‘Hold her outside until the Major comes.'

They obeyed him with an efficiency that gave Anne Bonney no chance of protest. She was swept away neatly and speedily and bundled unceremoniously on to the verandah, her curses stifled by hairy fingers clapped over her mouth.