After a moment of staring, the captain uncrossed his arms, spoke to the inspector, then made for the gangplank. He swung down to the wharf and strode toward Charles.
Charles didnt straighten from his slouch.
The captain halted in front of him. Babington, am I right?
Charles inclined his head. You have the advantage of meI dont believe weve been introduced.
The captain showed his teeth. Im the captain of the ship youre holding up. He glanced back at the activity on his deck, then looked out over the harbor. Not sure Ill get out in time now. He brought his gaze back to Charless face. So whats this search in aid of?
Charless smile was thin. He met the mans gaze with every evidence of boredom. Its just routine. Macauley sometimes gets bees in his bonnet, and nothing will do but that we have to go out and catch whatever beggars he imagines are violating our license. The Macauley and Babington Company held the exclusive license to ship goods to England from Freetown.
The captain humphed. Bloody nuisance is what it is. He looked toward his ship.
Charles followed the mans gaze and saw the inspector and the customs officer walking to the gangplank, the excise men falling in at their heels.
Finally! The captain glanced back at Charles. So with your permission, Ill be on my way.
Charles hid a grimace and nodded. Fair weather and good winds.
The captain tipped him a cynical salute and tramped back to his ship.
Charles watched him go and wondered, not for the first time over the past month hed been authorizing such searches, whether Frobishers information had been accurate. Whether there was an illicit diamond mine in operation, or if there was, whether it might be in a very different location and not shipping its stones out of Freetown at all. Thus far, not a single search had found even a whiff of contraband.
On the deck, the captain started calling orders. Sailors jumped to the wharf and cast off the ropes. Charles saw one of the crew approach the captain, but there was nothing more to be seen or done. Pushing away from the bales, Charles straightened. Staring at the worn planking, but not really seeing itseeing instead Marys sweet facehe followed the inspector from the wharf and headed back to his office.
On the deck of The Dutch Princess, now a-flurry with preparations to set sail, the captain glanced over his shoulder. He watched Babington leave the wharf, then turned with a snort.
His first mate halted beside him. So what was that about? Anything we need to be concerned over?
The captain hesitated, then said, Babington made out it was just routine, but Im not sure I buy that, not with himself being here to watch.
The mate rocked on his heels. Do you think they know?
Nope. If they did, wed be in more trouble. The captain glanced around, but there appeared to be no one watching them. Not that hard to send a cutter to keep an eye on us, but I doubt they will. Keep an eye peeled, just in case.
Aye, aye. The first mate debated, then asked, So were still going for the pickup?
We most certainly are. Well take her out and across to the north shore. Give it a few hours for the tide to swing, and to make certain no ones got their eye on us, then well head down the estuary.
The first mate nodded and pulled on his long nose. Always wondered why they set it up for us to pick up the goods on our way out, given we have to turn to do it. The mate grinned. Guess I understand now.
The captain grunted and headed for his wheel.
Minutes later, The Dutch Princess eased from her moorings and sailed out of Freetown harbor.
CHAPTER 3
Caleb paused to pull the neckerchief from about his throat and wipe the sweat from his brow. This was the second day of their trek along the path leadingoriginally, at leastnorth from Kales camp. Theyd followed the well-trodden path more or less north for most of yesterday, but in the last hours before theyd halted for the night, the track had veered to the east.
Today, the path had started to climb while angling more definitely eastward. And theyd started to come upon crude traps. Phillipe had been in the lead when theyd approached the first; hed spotted ita simple pitand theyd tramped around it without disturbing the concealing covering. From then on, theyd kept their eyes peeled and found three more traps, all of varying design, clearly intended to discourage the unwary, but it had been easy enough to avoid each one.
If theyd needed further confirmation that they were on the correct path, the traps had provided it. But there hadnt been another for several miles.
Caleb glanced around and saw nothing but more jungle. His internal clock informed him it was nearing noon. He couldnt see the sky; the damned canopy was too thick. Accustomed to the wide expanses of the open sea, he was getting distinctly tired of the closeness of the jungle and the dearth of light. And the lack of crisp fresh air.
Phillipe had been walking with Reynaud in the rear; he came forward to halt beside Caleb. Time to take a break. Phillipe pointed through the trees. Theres a clearing over there.
Caleb fell in behind his friend, and their men fell in behind him. They trudged ten yards farther along; the track remained well marked by the tramp of many feet. The clearing Phillipe had noted opened to the left of the path. Their company shuffled into it. After divesting themselves of seabags, packs, and weapons, they sprawled on the leaves or sat on fallen logs, stretching out their legs before hauling out water skins and drinking.
Luckily, water was one necessity the jungle provided in abundance. Theyd also found edible fruits and nuts and carried enough dried meat in their packs to last for more than a week. If not for the stifling atmosphere, the trek would have been pleasant enough.
Phillipe lowered himself to sit beside Caleb on a fallen log. With a tip of his head, he indicated the jungle on the other side of the path. Weve been angling along the side of these foothills for the last hour. The paths still climbing. Ive been thinking that, following the inestimable Miss Hopkinss reasoning, the mine cant be much farther. The children who were takencertainly the younger oneswould be dragging their feet by now.
Caleb swallowed a mouthful of water, then nodded. I keep wondering if weve missed a concealed turn-off, but the traffic on the path is as heavy as ever, and its still going in the same direction.
Theyd been speaking quietly, and their men had, too, but Phillipe glanced around and murmured, I think, perhaps, that when we go on, we should keep talking to a minimum.
Caleb restoppered his water skin. At least until weve found the mine. The jungles so much thicker here, we could turn a corner and find ourselves there. We dont want to advertise our presence, and we definitely dont want to engage.
Phillipes long lips quirked wryly. No matter how much we might wish otherwise.
Caleb grunted and pushed to his feet. Phillipe followed suit, and three minutes later, their party set off again, tramping rather more quietly through the increasingly dense jungle.
Fifteen minutes later, their caution proved critical. Caleb caught a fleeting glimpse of something pale flitting about a clearing ahead and off the path to their right. Phillipe was in the lead. His eyes glued to the shifting gleam, Caleb seized his friends arm and halted. Their men noticed and froze.
Fifteen minutes later, their caution proved critical. Caleb caught a fleeting glimpse of something pale flitting about a clearing ahead and off the path to their right. Phillipe was in the lead. His eyes glued to the shifting gleam, Caleb seized his friends arm and halted. Their men noticed and froze.
Phillipe shifted to stand alongside Caleb, the better to follow his gaze. The intervening boles and large-leafed palms made following anyones line of sight difficult.
Caleb couldnt work out what he was seeinga gleam of gold, a flash of...what?
Then the object of his gaze moved, and Caleb finally had a clear view. Its a boy, he breathed. A golden-haired, fair-skinned boy in ragged clothes.
Hes picking those berries, Phillipe whispered. After a moment, he added, What do you want to do?
Caleb scanned the area. As far as I can tell, hes alone. I cant see anyone else, can you?
No. And I cant hear anyone else, either.
If we all appear, hell take fright and run. Caleb considered, then shrugged off the pack hed been carrying and handed it to Phillipe. Keep everyone here until I signal.
Accepting the pack, Phillipe nodded.
Caleb made his way quietly toward the boy, dodging around trees and taking care not to alert his quarry. The lad looked to be about eight, but woefully thinall knees and elbows. He was wearing a tattered pair of dun-colored shorts and a loose tunic of the same coarse material. It had been the bright cap of his fair hair, gleaming as the boy passed through the stray sunbeams that struck through the thick canopy, that had attracted Calebs attention.
The boy was circling a vine that had grown into a clump, almost filling one of the small clearings created when a large tree had fallen. The bushy vine bore plump, dark-red berries that Caleb and his company had already discovered were edible and sweet. His attention fixed on his task, the boy steadily plucked berries and dropped them into a woven basket.
Despite the boys bare feet, the basket suggested he hailed from a group of some kind; from the features Caleb glimpsed as the boy moved about the bush, the lad was almost certainly English.
He had to be from the mine.
Caleb reached the edge of the clearing. He hesitated, then said, Dont be afraidplease dont run away.
The boy jerked and whipped around. He grabbed up the basket, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the handle.
His blue eyes wide, the boy stared at Caleb.
Caleb didnt move other than to slowly display his hands, palms open and clearly empty, out to either side.
The boy was poised to flee.
If he did, Caleb doubted he could catch him, not in this terrain. Ive been sent to look for peopleEnglish people kidnapped from Freetown. He spoke slowly, clearly, evenly. We think theyre being used as labor for a mine. Were searching for the mine. He paused, then asked, Do you know where the mine is?
When the boy didnt respond, Caleb remembered that the mine was conjecture and rephrased, Do you know where the people are?
The boy moistened his lips. Who are you?
He wasnt going to runat least, not yet. Caleb was usually relaxed with children, happy to play with them, to join in their games. When convincing children of anything, he knew the literal truth was usually advisable; they always seemed to sense prevarication. Ive come from London. People have been searching for those kidnapped, but weve had to do it bit by bitcarefully. To make sure the bad people who are behind the kidnapping dont get wind of us coming to help. And kill all the kidnapees. He stopped short of voicing that truth.
The boy was still staring at him, but now he was studying him, his gaze flitting from Calebs face over his clothes, his sword, his boots.
Im going to crouch down. Moving slowly, Caleb did. If hed stepped closer to the boy, he would have towered over himtoo intimidating. And laying hands on the lad from a crouch would be that much harder.
Sure enough, as Caleb settled on his haunches, the boy noticeably relaxed. But his gaze remained sharp; although he constantly glanced back at Caleb, watching for any threat, he started scanning the shadows behind Caleb. There are more of you, arent there?
Yes. I asked them to stay back so we didnt frighten you. Caleb paused, then offered, There are twenty-four more men back on the path.
The boy blinked at him. So theres twenty-five of you all together. All armed?
Caleb nodded.
The boy frowned; he seemed to have lost his fear of Caleb. After a long moment of calculation, the boy shook his head. Thats not going to be enough. He met Calebs gaze. Theres more mercenaries than that at the mine, and theyre all fearsome fighters.
So there is a mine. And it is nearby. Caleb tamped down his elation. Were not the rescue party. Were the advance scouts. Our missionand he could almost hear his eldest brother, Royd, groaning over him telling a boy, a young boy he didnt know anything about, such detailsis to locate the mining camp and send word of it back to London. Then the rescue party will be dispatched, and they will have the numbers to put paid to the mercenaries.
The boy studied Calebs face, searching his eyes as if to determine whether he spoke the truththen the lad smiled gloriously. Cortheyre never going to believe me when I tell em, but the others are going to be in alt! Weve been waiting ever so long for anyone to come.
The excitement in his voice was infectious, but... Caleb waved both hands in a keep it quiet gesture. Before you tell anyone, you need to remember that our mission must remain secret. The mercenaries at the mine must not learn that were here. Caleb locked his gaze on the boys eyes. If the mercenaries realize rescue is coming, it could be very dangerous for all the people kidnapped.
The boys delight faded, but after a second, he nodded. All right. He looked at Caleb, then glanced out into the jungle again. So whatre you going to do now youve found us?
Im hoping you can take us closer to the mineto some place from where we can see it but not be seen ourselves. Can you do that?
Course!
But before we get to that, I want to hear what you can tell meusabout the mine and the encampment. Caleb swiveled and glanced behind him, then looked at the boy. Whats your name?
Diccon.
Im Caleb. And if its all right with you, Diccon, Id like to call my men closer, so we can all hear what you say.
Diccon nodded.
Caleb roseslowlyand beckoned his men to join them. They tramped through the jungle following the route hed taken, leaving as little evidence of their passing as possible. Each man nodded at Diccon as they reached the clearing. They all sidled in, trying not to crowd Diccon despite the limited space. Several hunkered down, including Phillipe.
Caleb did, too, again bringing his face more level with Diccons. Right, then. This minedoes it have a fence around it?
That was all he had to ask to have Diccon launch into a remarkably clear and detailed description of the campmore like a compoundthat surrounded the entrance to the mine. Crude but effective outer walls, with huts for various purposes. Mention of a medical hut had Caleb and Phillipe exchanging surprised glances.