Rapture of the Deep: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, Soldier, Sailor, Mermaid, Spy (35 page)

Right,
I say to my ever-doubtful self, watching the play twixt the two.
Real shy. Huh! I'll bet she scoped out Tink last time we were in and made sure she was assigned to this table. But, what the hell, she's a neat little piece, and Tink needs some female attention, so let's see what happens.

We eat, we drink, we sing, and, yes, we dance, too. Davy and I are up doing a spirited hornpipe to a tune expertly strummed and drummed by the house band when Lieutenant Cisneros and a small group of Spanish junior officers come in and take a table close to ours. He does not take his eyes off mine.

Davy and I finish up with a flourish, take a bow, accept the applause, and head back to our table. Tink has gone off with the girl—I see that they are hand in hand and deep in conversation in an alcove across the room—and as we settle back in at our table, I am not surprised to see Cisneros on his feet and heading for me.

"Steady, Davy," I say, putting my hand on his arm. "Why don't you go have a drink at the bar during this? It'd be best, trust me."

He doesn't look convinced, but he gets up, casts a cold look in Cisneros's direction, and leaves.

The Spanish Lieutenant comes up and stands next to me, looking down.

"Lieutenant," I say. "You are here for
la mordida,
and here it is. Now go away." I fling the little bag of coins against his chest, and it falls back onto the table. "Go give it to your Captain. Perhaps he will pat your head."

As I suspected, he does not go away, but instead sits down and snarls,
"Cierre su boca, puta.
Shut up and listen. We know you were diving off Cayo Hueso. We also know that there was a British warship anchored next to you for the past few weeks. What is going on?"

"I am but a sponge diver. You have your 'little bite' from the profits of my labors. Take it and go away."

"What business did the
buque de guerra inglés
have with you there?"

"Why did you not go out and ask them? Are you afraid? You have twice as many guns as the
Dolphin.
The English and the Spanish are enemies, I think."

His face darkens. "Believe me, if I were captain of the
San Cristobal,
that British boat would lie right now at the bottom of the sea, and I would spit on the graves of all who went down with it."

"You are such a sweet man, Cisneros," I say. "However, you might find it not so easy to sink a British frigate. They do, after all, have British sailors, and
very
expert British gunners. During an engagement, a lucky shot might even find your own fine
hidalgo
hide and lay it out flat."

"You haven't answered my question,
puta.
Why was that ship lying next to you?"

I give my head a toss. "The Captain of that ship and I have a ... friendship."

He looks incredulous. He points his finger at my forehead.

"The captain of a British frigate makes his ship wait at anchor while he takes a whore-of-a-sponge-diver? I do not think so."

"Men take their pleasure where they find it. Surely you know that, being something of a man yourself. Not much of a man, but something. And I can do other things than merely diving for sponges.
Many
other things. And I am told I am very good at those things."

His face turns a pleasing shade of purple, and I fear for the glass that he clutches in his hand.

"So. If you did those things for him, you will now do those things for me. There are rooms here, and I will take you there."

"No, you will not."

"And why not?"

" 'Cause I said so is why. And because you hurt those poor sailor boys just for talking to me and made me watch."

"Poor boys, pah! They needed a lesson and I gave it to them." His gaze grows hotter. "And I gave a lesson for you, too,
muchacha."

"I can only hope that you, also, receive such a lesson someday. Although I do not take pleasure in such things, I will rejoice in watching."

It is too much for him. He reaches out and grabs me by the neck.

"You will do what I say, you—"

Then he looks up into the hard eyes of Davy, Tink, and Señor Ric, all of whom have been watching the proceedings. It is Señor Ric who says, "You know the rules, Señor. Patrons must not mishandle the señoritas. You must now leave my place."

Cisneros, furious, flings me back in my chair, releasing my neck.

"Do not think that this is over, girl," he says as he collects his men and stalks off. "No, it is not."

Davy and I head back to the
Nancy
to check on the reprovi-sioning and to rest up for the night's revels. Tink, however, stays at Ric's.

I pick up El Gringo Furioso and take off his vest and stroke and smooth down his feathers. I put my hand around his neck and look into his beady little eyes and ask, "Are you ready, Gringo? You don't have to go if you don't want to."

He struggles in my grip and his eyes seem to say, "Yes. I want to go. Put me down. There's no one to fight here. Here's a peck for you and I hope it hurts. Now let's get on with it."

All right, Gringo, we will do that. But soon ... Not right now.

Daniel and Joannie are bustling around, neatening up things, and I think they're doing it 'cause they think Jemimah might be finishing up her latest Rabbit Tale. I got to admire how she manages to stretch these things out and get the most work out of the kids because of it.

"Pleeeease, Jemimah, we got everything put away—all the wood, all the food, all the—"

"All right, chil'ren, you can sit and listen," she says, casting a warning eye on the pair. "But you be good now, y'hear?" She clears her throat. "Now, you'll recall, when we left the Big Woods, Fox and Bear was down in the hole, lookin' at certain destruction, and Brother Rabbit had sent for his church-lady wife to come up and say some words over the two doomed Brothers.

"By and by, Sister Rabbit, her Bible under her arm, come hoppin' up the road, her rabbit child by her side.

"'Husband,' she says, when she sees Brother Rabbit. 'Just
what
is goin' on here?'

"'Jes' look over the side dere, Sister Wife,' says Brother Rabbit, pointin' down. 'What you see?'

"She look down the hole at the fox and the bear, who look back up at her. 'Look like two unrepentant sinners to me,' says Sister Rabbit, wrinklin' up her bunny nose and re-memberin' when these two particular sinners had her by the ears and were danglin' her over their pot of boilin' oil.

"'Dat's right,' says Brother Rabbit. 'And they's about to go off to dere reward, so's I suspects they be repentin' real fast, and we'uns was thinkin' dat it'd be good iffen you could say some Scripture over dem 'fore the mens come up and shoots 'em.'

"'Hmmm...,' says Sister Rabbit, and she open her Bible. 'Daniel in the lions' den would be good. Or how 'bout Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace?'

"'They be good, but do the one about walkin' through de valley o' de shadow o' death,' says Brother Rabbit,' 'cause that be where dese ol' boys be strollin' real soon.'

"So, while the fox he growl and the bear he wail, Sister Rabbit reads out that Psalm.

"'Dere. I hope dat makes y'all feel better,' say the rabbit, grinnin' all over his face. He cock up one of his ears. 'Is dat the mens I hear comin'? Best get ready, Brothers. Best git right wit' God.'

"'Oh, please, Brother Rabbit, please get us outta here 'fore the mens come,' bawls the bear, tears rollin' out of his eyes, his front paws clasped together in supplication. 'I ain't yet ready to meet the Lord!'

"'Brother Bear,' growls the fox, glarin' hard at the rabbit, 'shut yo' mouth and save yo' breath. Dat damn rabbit couldn't get us out of here, anyhow.'

"'Oh, yes, I could get you out, Brothers,' say the rabbit. 'But I ain't gonna. I gots me a whole fam'ly o' little bunnies now, which you ain't never gonna get a chance to chomp on 'cause o' the fix you in. I gotta look out for dem. Got responsibilities. Myself, I'll prolly miss outrunnin' you two and alla time making you look like the fools you surely be.'

"'What if we promises to never lay tooth nor claw on no rabbit ever again?' asks the fox. 'Will you get us out den?'

"Rabbit think hard on this. 'Hmmm ... What you think, Sister Wife?'

"'If they swears on this here Bible, Brother Husband.
And
if they promises to come to church on Sunday mornin's and meetin' on Wednesday evenin's from now on. Reverend W. Crane was just sayin' yesterday that he was mighty concerned about these boys' spiritual growth.' Sister Rabbit sure enjoyin' the fun, too.

"'Oh, pleeeease!' wails Brother Bear.

"'All right,' agrees the rabbit. 'Pass 'em down the Good Book, Sister, but be careful.'

"Brother Fox gets on Brother Bear's shoulders and reaches up, and Sister Rabbit leans way over the edge with Brother Rabbit holdin' on tight to her little white cottontail so's she don't fall down in the pit, and so the Bible is passed.

"'All right, boys! Now testify!' crows the rabbit.

"And the fox and the bear put their paws on the Book and makes the promises.

"'Now, you brothers know if y'all break yore promises,' says Sister Rabbit, 'you'll roast in Hell fo'ever and ever? Good. Now throw me back my Bible, and my good man will get you out o' dere, won't you, honey?'

"'Right,' says Brother Rabbit, turnin' to Rabbit Child, who's been hangin' about watchin' all this. 'Run on down to the pond and ask Sister Beaver to come on up here and maybe bring a few o' her brethren along wit' her.'

"'What he doin'?' ask Brother Bear. 'How dat gonna help?'

"'Shut up, Bear,' says Brother Fox.

"I'm gonna shut up, too, right here," says Jemimah. "Time to get ready for dinner. These men be gettin' hungry."

Me, too.

Lieutenant James Emerson Fletcher

Onboard HMS
Dolphin

En route to rendezvous off Key West

And not a moment too soon

Jacky Faber

At once my greatest joy and my greatest trial
Onboard her schooner the
Nancy B. Alsop
off Key West
Or, at least, I think she is—one never knows

Jacky,

I do not know what I have done in this life to deserve the things that happen to me in regard to you. What should have been the simplest of love stories—I take your hand and you take mine—turns out to be the most tangled of knots.

We arrived in Kingston in good order—the ship in full dress, gun salutes and all that. There was great joy upon the ship, for good Captain Hudson has granted daytime shore leave for all trustable sailors aboard, the liberty to be accomplished in three rotating watch sections. As you well know, it is rare for a commander to let his men off his ship in these times of war, fearing that they will desert, so they love the captain all the more for it. Some pay was issued and the joyful anticipation was palpable.

Upon mooring, we piped the Governor aboard, and I am reminded that the pirate Henry Morgan was once made governor of this island by our own government. After all the bowing and scraping was done, this present Governor, General Sir Eyre Coote, invited Captain Hudson and Lieutenant Bennett to dine at his residence. We junior officers were invited to the Officers' Club on the base, an invitation we gratefully accepted. Several of the lads and I made preparations and, seeing the ship well-secured, set off in a state of high spirits.

We went by coach and we passed by the very tavern you and I dined in all those years ago. I must pronounce myself moved to see the place. And when I saw the wall, the wall upon which you stood that day, your dress blowing about you, I closed my eyes and saw you standing there yet, so young and wild and free, and so very, very beautiful.

At the club—an elegant palace built in the Spanish style, all high ceilings and swooping arches—we were graciously received and introductions were made. I cast my eyes over the crowd and saw that, while there were a number of blue naval uniforms, there were many more of army scarlet. I was being introduced to several of them when I received a jolt.

"Gentlemen, may I present Captain Lord Richard Allen, Sixteenth Dragoons?"

I stiffened because I recognized the name—and the face—instantly, for I well remember when I came upon you and him together in the Mississippi River. That scene has been forever burned into my mind.

There were bows and murmurs of introduction all around.

"Mr. Fletcher. So good to see you again," said Allen, extending his hand and waving me to his table. "A glass of wine with you, Sir?" The wretched man was unable to keep a sheepish grin from his face. I gritted my teeth and sat down.

Wine was poured and dinner served, and a great spread it was—a fine treat after shipboard fare. I enjoyed it thoroughly, in spite of the awkward situation.

"May I hope that our mutual friend is safe and well?" Allen came right out and inquired.

"She is."

"It gladdens me to hear that. And do you know just where might she be?"

"She is on a scientific expedition."

He regarded me and my distinct lack of enthusiasm in answering his questions concerning you.

"If you require satisfaction, Fletcher," he said, "I am willing to give it."

I, of course, did wish to kill him for having laid his hands upon your person. But if I were to manage to slay all those who have similarly done so, I would have racked up quite a lengthy Butcher's Bill. So what I said was, "My Captain, whom I respect, has forbidden his junior officers to duel. Besides, I do not perceive that you forced your attentions on Miss Faber. She is her own person, and she has an open and affectionate nature as you might well have observed."

"Oh, yes," he said, a little too heartily for my taste. "And you must excuse me for being very fond of her. And furthermore we must be friends, you and I." He extended his hand to me.

I took his hand and said, "Very well, my Lord."

"Good, and you must drop that 'my Lord' stuff. I am not much of a Lord and we are similar in rank. I answer to both Richard and Dick," he said, grinning broadly.