As Tom looked on, his eyes glued to the proceedings, he became aware of someone standing close at his elbow. He glanced up to find Andrew staring at him, a strange expression on his face. Tom moved away slightly and returned to studying the men making their careful notes. Andrew moved with him. Thats right, pretty boy. Make sure you dont miss anything. The whisper in his ear was so quiet it was lost in the sound of the rustling palms and the cry of the birds. Are you planning to add Astronomer Royal to your list of titles?
Tom did not reply. He was busy memorising everything going on between the astronomers, planning already the letter he was going to write to David.
The ship proceeded to cruise between the Windward Islands and up as far as the coast of Florida where they would anchor off Pensacola. As before, the men maintained the ship, scrubbed the decks, watched for distant sails and the midshipmen went about their duties, interspersed with lessons in seamanship and navigation. Once or twice an American privateer was spotted and they gave chase, but to their intense disappointment the ships were too far away to catch and slipped out of sight beyond the horizon.
There was plenty of time for Tom to write his letters and his own diary and to practise drawing, and now there were more frequent opportunities to put the letters in the mailbag to be taken aboard an eastbound ship or a mail packet, and to collect plants on their trips ashore. He discovered too that the ships officers were invited to the great plantation houses for dinners or sometimes for parties. It was on one of those trips, accompanying Sir John as his personal servant, that, having been sternly reminded of the need for discretion as part of the duties of an officer and a gentleman, he met the captains woman.
The party was to spend several nights ashore as guests of the plantation owner and Tom gazed as usual in awe at the splendours of yet another great house. He was given a small room adjoining the captains and it was before the dinner on the first night when there was a knock at the door. Automatically he went to answer it and stopped abruptly at a sharp command from Sir John. Leave it! You may go, Tom. You may take the rest of the evening off. I shall not need you again tonight.
He gestured towards the door which led to the adjoining dressing room. As Tom went obediently towards it Sir John himself went to answer the knock. Tom glanced back and was astonished to see one of the slave women at the door and even more astonished to see his captain seize the woman in his arms, swing her off her feet and kiss her. He caught sight of Tom standing open-mouthed, his hand on the doorknob. I said, you can go! he shouted.
Yes, sir, sorry, sir. Tom hastened out of the room.
He sat down on the bed wondering what to do next. He knew some of the officers availed themselves of the services of the women ashore; white women and slaves both seemed equally willing and indeed eager to seek the company of the men from every ship that dropped anchor as they sailed from island to island. That the captain should do the same was not surprising in itself, but the strength of feeling between the two in that short glimpse had been undeniable. The woman was beautiful, he had seen enough of her to notice that, and they obviously knew each other well. With a sigh he levered himself off the low divan and let himself out into the corridor. Suddenly he had hours of free time to himself and he wasnt sure where to start.
Thomas
Black faces I had seen aplenty when I was back in Scotland and in England. Most, though not all, appeared to be servants. I dont think I considered the matter of slavery then. I heard my parents talk about it, and my sisters, but not in any way that engaged me, with my own boyish interests paramount. When I reached the Caribbean I was all at once in a world of men and women and children who had been brought there on the slave ships from Africa. The ships themselves were notorious some lay at anchor in Bridgetown Bay when we first arrived, redolent of the horrors that went on below decks but on the plantations we visited, in the houses of the owners and administrators who were our hosts, the slaves seemed content with their lot. I did not then understand the concept of freedom or self-determination. Had my lot been any worse than theirs, conscripted as I was, in my own eyes anyway, into the navy and taken away across the ocean against my will? Their quarters were pleasant, their food better by far than any they could have been used to in their native land, or so I supposed, and better than that on many a ship of His Majestys navy, their clothing neat and clean. I saw them dancing and I heard them sing. My captain loved one of them, and as I discovered later had a child with her whom he adored. He saw nothing wrong with their situation, so nor did I, then.
And one of them saved my life.
18
Tom could not believe he had been so careless. His sea chest was unlocked, the lid open when he came down off his watch and went automatically to collect his sketchbook. He scanned his belongings. Had anything been stolen? He did not believe it of his shipmates, but occasionally things went missing from someones gear, probably lost, or put down in the darkness of the gunroom and kicked by mistake into a corner, but there was always the possibility that one of the seamen could have slipped into the midshipmens mess on the rare occasion when there was no one there.
He knelt before the chest. His writing case was there, the box that contained his pens and inks, his clothes, his precious ring-dial, all his carefully packed and sorted belongings. He wrinkled his nose. An unusually foul smell rose from his body linen as he fumbled beneath it for the packet of letters he had received from home, carried on a sloop from Portsmouth. He recoiled then he reached for the glim, the small candle on the mess table, and held it down over the sea chest to see more closely. A bundle of filthy rags had been tucked in amongst his clothes. In the flickering light of the flame he could see the moist stinking brown stains and was in no doubt what this was. He grabbed the corner of the bundle and ran with it up the companionway to the deck where he threw the offending rags over the side. He saw the querying look on the faces of the men on watch up there but none that he could see looked especially concerned or interested. It didnt matter. He could guess who had done it. He did not immediately guess how truly malicious the act had been.
He found the first sores on his body three weeks later. They looked like raspberries as they swelled and crusted over. Frantic scrubbing did not remove them and at last he confided in Jamie. His friend stared at him, his eyes wide. Tom! How could you be so stupid? Who was it? One of the slaves?
Tom felt himself blush to his ears. No! No, I havent! he blustered. I havent ever! He knew where he had got the infection but he could see his friend did not believe him.
He hid the lesions as best he could. He could go to the gunners wife but he was too ashamed, or he could go to the purser who was acting surgeon in the absence of anyone more qualified and was in charge of the medicine chest with its phials of mercury ointment. He knew that if Jamie didnt believe how he had got the disease then no one else would. Mortified, he scrubbed his body raw with sea water.
He found the first sores on his body three weeks later. They looked like raspberries as they swelled and crusted over. Frantic scrubbing did not remove them and at last he confided in Jamie. His friend stared at him, his eyes wide. Tom! How could you be so stupid? Who was it? One of the slaves?
Tom felt himself blush to his ears. No! No, I havent! he blustered. I havent ever! He knew where he had got the infection but he could see his friend did not believe him.
He hid the lesions as best he could. He could go to the gunners wife but he was too ashamed, or he could go to the purser who was acting surgeon in the absence of anyone more qualified and was in charge of the medicine chest with its phials of mercury ointment. He knew that if Jamie didnt believe how he had got the disease then no one else would. Mortified, he scrubbed his body raw with sea water.
It was Andrew who, as Tom walked past, crowingly asked him why he was so obsessed with cleanliness and what he was hiding, and it was Andrew who spread the word that young Tom Erskine had contracted the great pox by sleeping with a slave on a trip ashore. It wasnt long before he found himself being given an evil-smelling ointment by the gunners wife; he was accused of lewd behaviour and informed a fine would be taken from his pay and then he was summoned by Lieutenant Murray.
To his surprise, however, the officer appeared to believe the story poured out by the humiliated and frightened boy and at once guessed the source of Toms misery. Seaman Farquhar, I suppose, he said heavily. Ive seen him watching you; hes had it in for you ever since that affair with the hammock.
That affair with the hammock! Tom bit his tongue. Did the lieutenant not even remember Robbies name?
Yes, sir, he acquiesced miserably.
Murray arranged for him to go with the next shore party and to Toms astonishment escorted him personally to the slave quarters behind the governors house. Dont look so worried, Tom, he said. All is not lost. I am taking you to see the best doctor in the Islands. He removed his hat as they ducked into one of the small houses behind the governors mansion and Tom followed suit.
The huge black woman who greeted them smiled at Tom as the lieutenant explained the circumstances. So, boy, let me see whats wrong with you, she said, her voice soft and lilting as she held out her hand. You go wait outside, she added to the lieutenant. This thing is bad enough for the child without having an officer leering down his trousers.
Tom was almost in tears as he undressed, reluctantly removing his shirt and then his breeches, thankful for the dim light of the small house with its palm-leaf roof. He could hear the wind rustling the leaves as the woman pulled him closer to the daylight in the doorway, holding him in front of her with two firm hands.
She gave a crow of laughter. Youve got the yaya disease, boy. You dont have to panic now I seen you. You not got the great pox. I can fix this, no problem. She leaned closer, inspecting his wounds. You been scrubbing these sores?
Tom nodded miserably.
Thats good. She let him go and studied his face. Back where I come from, that is how we cure this disease. We scratch our childrens skin and rub in the illness, then they get it, but not very badly, and they never get it again. But older people, who havent had that chance, we scrub the berries! she chuckled. Just like you did. All the dirt and the disease comes away and your own good blood washes it out of you. I will give you medicine and I will give you ointment I make it myself from herbs and from ground seashells and you will be as good as new, boy. And you wont get it again. Youre a strong child, yes? She had a wonderful warm smile, he realised, her heavy black face lit with kindness.
Thank you, maam.
But her face had sharpened. Once again she drew him into the thin ray of sunshine that was finding its way through the doorway so that it shone on his face. You one of us, boy?
He hesitated, confused. I dont understand.
Yes, you one of us, she murmured, half to herself. You see the dead folk; you feel their loneliness and their pain. Thats a hard path for you. I not surprised you go make enemies; people sense you a bit special. Her mouth widened into a broad smile. You can help people I dont think you go be a doctor like me, but you not made for your kings navy. Why you want to be an officer?
Tom glanced out of the doorway towards the figure of George Murray, who was leaning against a palm tree, smoking his pipe, seemingly lost in thought. My father arranged it, he replied reluctantly. I didnt want to be in the navy, but I quite like it now? He looked at her anxiously, his answer framed as a question as if he did not know if he was speaking the truth. It seemed important that this woman understood.
She smiled at him. It will do for now. When you grow into a man you make decisions for yourself. Now you too open, too much trusting. You must learn to be safe from people, people who are alive and people who no longer here. She dropped his hand and moved back into the shadows of her house. Go tuck your shirt in, boy, make yourself respectable for your officer. Ill give you medicine to make you better and Im going to give you something special that will protect you from evil which works in shadows. You know prayers, boy? You good Christian?
Yes, he whispered.
Then I put Christian God and Blessed Virgin in my magic with my own special gods from my homeland who protect me and mine. Thatll give you much good and safety. She smiled again as she fumbled with the baskets on the shelf above her table. What I give you, you put in the bottom of your belongings and you keep it safe and you leave it there with you all of your life, and then you give it to your children. You understand me, boy?
As Tom trotted back to the harbour at George Murrays side he was clutching a bag which contained a bottle of black, strong-smelling tincture, a pot of brown ointment and a carefully wrapped bundle. He had seen Lieutenant Murray dig into his own pocket for some coins with which he had paid the woman, who had swiftly squirrelled them away into the folds of her skirts before turning back to Tom and reaching out to make the sign of the cross on his forehead with her thumb. He had forced himself not to flinch away from her as he made his stammered thanks. He could feel some kind of strange power coming from her which left him scared and awed and, he knew it already, strengthened.
Thank you for bringing me here, sir, he ventured shyly.
Ive done it before, Murray replied easily. Youve been lucky. It could have been the great pox, which can never be cured. He stopped suddenly. Are we sure it was Farquhar who put the infected rags into your sea chest?
Tom looked down at the dusty track and shuffled his feet. I cant be sure, sir. But he was the one who drew attention to it, who seemed to know about it, who hates me enough to do something like this. His voice faded.
We cannot punish him for something that is a mere suspicion, Tom.
I know, sir.
So, what do you suggest we do?
Nothing, sir. Its up to me to be more careful.
We can move him to another watch.
No, sir. Tom took a deep breath. No, thank you, sir. Its for me to learn to be careful and to learn to make a friend of him, if I can. He knew he sounded doubtful and he tried to straighten his back and firm his shoulders as he had seen the officers do.