John Locke - Now & Then Страница 21

“I do, if an eight’ll buy her and her tits be fair.”

Philip Winter licked his lips and looked at his wife. Hester shook her head no. Philip, proving he knew how to work a crowd, said, “Who else here wants to see her tits?”

The crowd went wild and Philip approached his wife.

Before he got there, a shot rang out. Everyone froze for a split-second, then ducked for cover. The man who’d shot his pistol into the dirt looked like a crazed drunk. His fiery red hair was matted with manure and he had enormous red muttonchops that were caked with dried vomit. When he spoke, his voice was gravely but firm.

Charlie Fine’s face went white. He approached Pim and whispered, “What the hell’re you doin’ here?”

“Back off, Charlie,” Pim said. “I ain’t in the business no more, so I’m free to be here.” To the auctioneer, Pim said, “I’ll give you a solid gold Spanish doubloon.”

The crowd jumped to their feet as one, oohing and aahing. Hester searched Pim’s face for guile and his eyes for sanity.

Philip Winter said, “That’s very funny, Mister…what’s your name?”

“My surname’s Pim, and that’s how I’m called. I’ll buy this beautiful woman and treat her like the lady I know she be.”

“Well now, no offense intended, Pim, but you appear to be a common drunk, with no resources, other than a pocket pistol you had no legal right to discharge. Someone haul him out of here.”

Pim held a doubloon high over his head and walked to the edge of the auction block. He held it where Philip could get a good look at the coin. The doubloon was a staggering sum of money, worth sixteen pieces of eight, or sixteen months’ wages for a working man.

“Sold!” Philip said, grabbing the doubloon. “I’d stay and have a drink to celebrate your purchase, but I’ve pressing business back at my house.” He walked behind Hester and pushed her fanny so hard she fairly flew off the platform and into Pim’s arms.

Somewhere above the crowd a girl screamed “No!”

Chapter 13

Jack and Abby Winter had ridden into town on his horse so she could watch her mother be sold. While Jack spoke to Pim, Abby made her way to the lodging house. Now they watched the humiliating spectacle while standing at an open window on the second floor there. When Pim bought Hester, Abby screamed again. Jack tried to calm her down before someone decided to summon the authorities.

“She’s been bought by a homeless drunk!” Abby wailed. “Now what will become of my Mum?”

“She’ll be fine,” Jack said.

“What? Fine? Can you possibly be this stupid? Just look at him down there, trying to talk to her. She must be terrified. See how she turns her face away from his rancid breath.”

Jack was far more concerned about why Charlie Fine was in town. As Abby watched her mother, Jack’s eyes tracked Charlie walking through the crowd, saw him grab the arm of Mayor Shrewsbury’s aide, Barton Pike. When Jack saw Charlie pointing at Pim, he started running.

“Where are you going? Come back!” Abby yelled.

“Don’t move! I’ll be right back,” Jack called over his shoulder.

He hit the stairs running, and made it to the courtyard in seconds. As he passed Pim, he pretended to wave at someone in the square, but said, “Pim, Hester, go to the lodging house. Second Floor. Run!”

Pim grabbed Hester by the arm and said, “Sorry, darlin’, but trouble’s afoot. Run!” They ran across the courtyard with Hester still in the halter with her hands tied. As the gawkers in the crowd watched them run, Jack doubled around the town square and came up behind Charlie and Barton Pike. He followed them as they went around the corner and approached the alley Jack knew would take them to the back entrance of Commander Dowling’s quarters.

Jack followed the men into the alley and called their names. By the time they turned, he was upon them. He plunged a knife into Pike’s rib and raked it sideways. Pike went down quietly, and when he hit the street, he was there to stay. One-Eyed Charlie Fine, by nature a nervous man, began shaking with fear. He fell to his knees and begged for mercy. Jack pulled him behind an empty water barrel.

“I’ll have some information from you,” Jack said, “and quickly.”

“Anything!”

“What are you doing in town? Wait—don’t lie to me.”

Charlie had been about to do just that. Now it didn’t seem sensible.

“The garrison up at Amelia has snuck down and surrounded the pirates.”

“How could pirates get surrounded?”

“They’re drunk and drugged.”

“By the whores?”

Charlie nodded. “The pirates, once gathered, will be held.”

“Where?”

“Top floor of my pub, the Blue Lagoon.”

“Can’t they jump out the window?”

“Window’s too small. Even if they could get out, it’s pretty high. And anyway, they’re guardin’ the back.”

“By how many men?”

“I don’t know.”

“To what purpose are they being held there?”

“They’re going to be hung in my tavern one by one.”

“On the first floor?”

Charlie nodded again.

“When?”

“It’s already started. The rounding up part anyway.”

“What about the pirate ship?”

“They’re sending The Viceroy to attack her.”

“When?”

“At dawn.”

As far as last words go, Charlie could have done worse. Jack made his way to the lodging house and found Abby and her mother whispering to each other. Both seemed dazed and distraught. Pim had gotten the halter off Hester and was working at the binding on her wrists.

Abby said, “Where did you go?”

Catching Pim’s eye, Jack said, “I saw a man I know, and he meant to harm me and Mr. Pim, and some of our friends.”

“Who’s Mr. Pim?”

Pim smiled and gave a half bow.

Abby backed up a step and shuddered. She looked at Jack.

“You actually know this…this person?”

“I do. And he’s a close friend of mine.”

“A friend? How can this be possible?”

Hester abruptly stopped crying and looked at Jack.

“Who are you?” she said. To Abby she said, “And how do you know him?”

“He’s the father of my child,” Abby said.

“He’s what?” Hester’s eyes dropped to Abby’s chest a long moment, then she slapped Jack full force across the cheek. Then she turned and slapped Abby nearly as hard.

When Pim said, “Jack’s a good man,” Hester slapped him as well.

Then Abby said, “Who the hell is Jack?”

Pim looked at Jack and shrugged his shoulders as if apologizing for blowing his cover.

“Look,” Jack said. “There’ll be plenty of time for explanations later on. Right now all you need to know is our lives are in danger, as are the lives of our friends. Hester, Mr. Pim is a bit raggedy now, but he cleans up right proper and he’s wealthy and will make you a fine husband.”

She looked at Pim and said, “I’m sorry I slapped you. It’s been a vexing day.”

“And getting worse by the moment,” Jack said. He took Pim far enough aside that the women couldn’t hear, and hurriedly repeated what Charlie had said. “I won’t ask you to give up your land legs, but our mates are ambushed and need our help. Are you with me?”

“Aye, a course I am.”

“Good. Now listen. I’ve only got the one horse, so I’ve got to warn the ship. You’ll have to walk to Sinner’s Row and scout things out.”

“What about the ladies? Leave ’em here?”

Jack looked at the women a moment, and sighed. “They’ll slow us down, but you better take them.”

“We could get ’em a room here.”

Jack shook his head. “If her father comes, it won’t go well for her and the baby.”

“You truly be the one got her with child?”

“Let’s just move along with our planning.”

Pim smiled. “How much should I tell them?”

“Tell them everything.”

“Hester might not want me if she knows my past.”

Jack took a moment to survey his friend’s appearance. “You think you could sink lower in her eyes?”

Pim shrugged.

Jack said, “Tell them what you like. But make sure they’re safe.”

“You got a plan?”

Jack nodded. “I’m working on it.”

Pim nodded and said, “Okay then. I guess we’ll go together and listen for your whistle.”

Jack walked over to Abby and cupped her chin in his hand. They kissed quickly, and when he broke away he looked her in the eyes. “I must warn my friends,” he said.

“I’m coming with you.”

“You can’t. I’ll have to ride hard. Also, I expect to pass your step-father on the road, searching for you. So look sharp and stay with Mr. Pim.”

Abby’s face went white. “If Philip finds me he’ll kill me.”

“Mr. Pim won’t allow it.”

“You don’t know Philip.”

“And he don’t know Pim. Okay, I’m off.”

Chapter 14

Jack galloped out of town and had gone about a mile when he ran into Philip Winter. Philip angled his horse across the path and held his musket across his chest, bidding Jack to stop.

“Who might you be?”

“Henry Ames. And you?”

“Philip Winter.”

“You the man sold his wife an hour ago?”

“The same. Now I’m looking for my daughter.”

“You planning to sell her too?”

Philip Winter sized Henry up. “Who knows you around here, Mr. Ames?”

“You do, for one.”

Philip aimed his musket at Jack’s face and pulled back the action.

“I’ll have your horse, Henry, and you on the ground, face down until I decide what to do with you.”

“I don’t think so.”

Jack jerked hard on his reign while kicking his horse’s ribs. His horse slammed into Winter and Jack ducked below the gunshot. By then, Jack had his flintlock out and cocked in one hand, and Winter’s reigns in the other.

“I don’t know why you’d wish to shoot a fellow traveler, or steal his horse, but it concerns me enough to ask you to dismount.”

Winter reluctantly stepped down from his horse.

“What do you intend, sir?”

Jack wasn’t sure. His first instinct was to kill Winter. But what would he do with the body? He didn’t have time to deal with this right now.

“I’ll take your horse with me,” Jack said. “You’ll find it at the river crossing, tied to a tree.”

“I have urgent business. My daughter is missing.”

“You’ll have to delay the search. I’m sorry.”

Winters nodded. “If I see you again, I’ll kill you.”

“In that case, I hope not to see you again. But since I’m bound for Georgia, I doubt our paths will cross.”

“You’re heading the wrong way for Georgia, sir.”

“I’m making a detour. I’m a scout for The Viceroy, and have pirates to kill along the way.”

“Wait! Why didn’t you say this earlier? I’m part of the plot.”

“What part is yours?”

“Why, creating the diversion so all the locals would be in town during the roundup.”

Jack nodded. “But you intended all along to sell your wife, did you not?”

“Yes, of course. But the timing added some silver to my pocket.”

“Mayor Shrewsbury?”

“The same. So, can I have my horse back?”

“One thing about being a scout. We don’t trust anyone. You’ll find your horse tethered to a tree by the clearing. You know the place?”

“Ought to, I live not a hundred yards from the spot.”

“Very well. In the meantime, if I come across a young lady I’ll assume she’s your daughter. What shall I tell her?”

“Tell her to get her ass home.”

“Done, sir. Good luck to you.”

“And you, sir.”

Chapter 15

As Jack approached George and Marie’s home, he stopped his horse and whistled loudly. Within seconds he received a welcome whistle in return. The family gathered round. Johanna wore an angry expression on her face even as she cradled Rugby in her arms. The boys were chattering away about something, and George and Marie seemed puzzled. Jack looked at Rose.

“Can you really fly?”

All eyes had turned to Rose. She curled her lips into a humorless smile and said, “Is it the end of days, Henry?”

The way she said it sent a chill down Jack’s spine.

Marie grabbed the boys by their shirts and dragged them to the house, kicking and screaming.

“Henry,” said George. “She’s our daughter. We’ve brought you in and trusted you. What are your intentions?”

Jack said, “You know nothing of the ambush at Sinner’s Row?”

“What ambush?”

“You’ve heard no word of The Viceroy attacking The Fortress?”

“Of course not. Where have you gotten your information?”

“From the lips of a dying man.”

Johanna, less angry now, said, “Henry, what is this about?”

“My men are being hung one by one at Sinner’s Row. My ship is about to be attacked.”

“Your men? Your ship?” Johanna said.

George looked at the two girls.

“Henry’s a privateer,” he said.

Rose’s face grew animated. “I knew it! And no ordinary pirate, are you Henry? I’ll tell you who he is, Johanna. He’s Jack Hawley!”

George’s face went white. “Could that possibly be true?”

Johanna had a different reaction. She seemed to be putting something together in her head. After a moment she said, “Gentleman Jack Hawley? Well that makes sense, now, doesn’t it!”

Rose said, “Do you wish to ravish us, Jack Hawley?”

“Of course not!” Jack said. “Why would someone your age even think to say such a thing?”

“I’m an old soul, Henry. I’m sure George has told you that.”

Indeed, George, who’d been known to exaggerate, had told Jack that Rose didn’t appear to age like their other children. She looked the same four years ago when he found her as she did today.

“What are your intentions, Henry?” George said. “I mean, Mr. Hawley.”

“George, we go way back. I like to think we’re friends. I can see you might not have heard the news since the soldiers came from the north. But you’re either with us or against us, and I’ll respect which it is. But you need to cast your lot now, for time is running out on my men.”

“I’m with you Henry,” Johanna said.

“My family stands at your service,” George said.

“And you, miss,” Jack said to Rose. “Tell me truly. Can you fly?”

Chapter 16

Jack started a smoke fire while George gathered all his weapons into saddlebags and tied them to four horses. Johanna put Rugby in a basket and tied it to her saddle.

Jack said, “Where’s Rose?”

They looked around the yard. And when their eyes returned to the place they’d started, Rose was standing there, a scant four feet away.