~~
With all the preparations that needed doing, simultaneously, the procurement of a "goat" was me first order of business. Me plan was simplicity, itself: from among the droves of "lobster-backs" scouting near the settlement, identify and isolate one of the more innocent, ignorant looking young bucks. Using Annalea as bait, and Orke as huntsman, we'd soon bag our prey. Of course, it concerned me that I must not only allow Annalea to be placed in jeopardy, but that I must be the agent of that peril. However, those were the most perilous times. And we stood to lose everything. Any, and every, risk must be taken, if we would save the day. It was, therefore, a necessity to risk Annalea in order to save Annalea!
But I would not expose her to danger, prematurely. I sent out Higgins, with a small company of lads, to roust a few likely pigeons for me game. Having found such a squad, relatively close-to-hand, he set the thing in motion. The first component of this plan was to separate individuals out from that unit. This, Higgins accomplished by scattering members of our group throughout the overgrown brush. Then–at intervals–each man would make noises or expose hisself, briefly, to the enemy: always moving away from them at oblique angles, and always feigning ignorance of the "lobster-backs'" presence. This strategy of multiple decoys caused the enemy to split ranks, quietly, and split again and yet again–each time, believing they'd be able to sneak up on their quarry and fire a good, clean, mortal shot.
Having culled a suitable prospect, Higgins delivered the signal. Shielding Annalea 'twixt our bodies–for fear of covert snipers–Orke and I moved her to a small grove of trees, direct in the path of our "goat." Annalea hid behind the largest tree, acting like a girl trying nervously–desperately–to hide herself away, yet "carelessly" exposing an arm or leg or her long, blonde hair, 'twixt limbs and the bough of that tree. 'Course she was never full exposed to someone who might take a shot. To get at her, that someone would have to approach her!
'Twas a simple, sweet little trap. With Orke perched in hiding, higher up in the branches of Annalea's tree, ready to pounce, and me concealed but at the ready with a double-barrelled pistol–in case me plan somehow went awry and Annalea was in real danger–we'd only to let the "goat" invite hisself to our party. And that he did!
Doubtless, he'd heard of the bounty on blonde-haired women, for he seemed to grow more and more excited as he crept closer and could readily glimpse strands of blonde hair amongst a sinew of tree leaves. As he came into full view, I could see his eyes brightening. He was grinning, and near drooling in anticipation. No doubt, he could already fancy those guineas jingling in his pocket. And he tried so desperately–so clumsily–to sneak up on her quickly and quietly. 'Twas as watching a farce enacted on a stage. It took me entire unemotional wherewithal to retain me composure and not laugh out loud. For certain, Higgins had selected a most likely candidate for our purposes.
As the moment came right, I gave Annalea a sign. This indicated that the time, the advantage and the "goat" were nigh. She maneuvered herself 'round that tree in such a manner as to cause the dolt to think he'd but to reach out and grab her. And so he tried. And when he did, Annalea reached out and grabbed him, so's to occupy his arms. The stunned look on that boy's face, when his quarry reached out and captured him, was most amusing to see–'though fleeting. Orke immediately fell upon him–from out of his perch in the tree–stunning the boy most completely.
The young soldier did not regain consciousness for near an hour after we'd dragged him back to the common house. He was tied, sitting up in a chair, bound 'round the shoulders to the chair. He could not depart! The other members of our little hunting party had all returned long afore, having despatched the remaining members of that British squad. As the captain had pointed out, earlier on, time was not our ally. So I was most anxious for our "goat" to quickly regain his senses. As I impatiently paced about, I wondered as why it was taking so long–as he had so little to regain, to start with!
As he finally, fully came to, the play was begun. The captain was standing within a few feet of him, leaning over a table with a large, crude map upon it, and babbling some nonsense to Higgins to ensure he had the boy's attention. This was confirmed for the captain by the way the boy avoided looking their way.
The captain beckoned me to join him at the table. "Now this is final, Crockett! We act, tonight, and there can be no further changes to this plan."
I spake up, "The bloody Brits think they have us backed against a wall. This'll be one damned big surprise for them, 'eh Cap'n?"
"Aye, Crockett. And they are thinking and doing just as I want them to–'til it is too late! Now, look to the map, while I review the details with you."
So I stared, fixedly, at that piece of parchment, while the captain spun his yarn. "Now, I'll divide me troops in half: one half under me command and the other half under your command. Each on our own ship, with a full complement of buccaneers, we'll move out and up the lee side of the island."
"And slip out to sea, Cap'n?" I feigned a question.
"Not hardly!" he responded. "We shall attack the invaders. Our invasion shall be unsuspected, quick and bloody and merciless!"
"But why? For what? Revenge?" I thought meself quite convincing.
"Be no fool, Crockett. I care not for revenge. But I will not leave me wealth!"
"What? Where?" I asked, with as much sincerity as I could muster.
"All our prizes, acquired over all these years, have been safely stowed away, Crockett. Gold, silver, gems, coins, jewelry and trinkets–riches beyond belief!"
"Where, Cap'n, where?" I knew I was becoming monotonous.
With a revelatory tone to his voice, the captain said, "Beneath me quarters–several feet under the ground–lies buried a tremendous vault, overflowing with unimaginable wealth. Would you set to sea without that?"
Not expecting a question at that moment, and with me wandering mind having taken residence elsewhere, I had quickly to snap me attention back to that mock conversation. "Uh... um... oh no, Cap'n! Ab... absolutely not!"
The captain shot me a stern look for not attending to me part, and then continued, "South of the harbour–well beyond the view of their fleet–we shall put down our landing parties: one on each flank of the compound. With the element of total surprise on our side, we'll make short work of the defenders. Once the grounds are cleared, every man'll be put to work loading treasure on the ships. Then we head north and go into the harbour. By that time of night, they should most all be sleeping. We'll make a bit of chaos there, me lad! I intend to set many of their ships ablaze and, mayhaps, sink a few. For certain, they'll be disabled from making chase any too soon. Then, Crockett, out to sea and on toward Kingston!"
Speaking out suddenly–though, actually, right on cue–Higgins shouted, "Cap'n! That young bastard soldier's been hearing every word we've said!"
Ushering in the culminating act in our impromptu performance, the captain said, "Ah, worry not about that one! He shan't long survive his interrogation. But if his presence annoys you, untie him and set him over there, on the bench by the door. Just stand guard over him. I'll finish with Crockett in a bit, and you and I shall take him outside and have a nice, friendly chat."
I piped in with me closing line, "And he'll not be coming back in, eh, Cap'n?"
Then we all forced a loud, nasty laugh–for the boy's benefit–and Higgins began untying. The lad was dragged 'cross the room and set on the bench. Higgins stood next to him–in front of the closed door–to "guard" him. At that moment, I doffed me cap to Mam' Tiére, standing by an open window. She returned me salute with a wave of her hand. This was actually a signal which initiated the following events.
The door burst open, suddenly, pushing Higgins aside in the thrust of two men urgently carrying a screaming woman. They rushed her onto a vacant table, in the far corner. We all moved over to her.
Mam' looked across to Higgins and shouted, "She be yo' wife! An' she be bad
, shot!"
Higgins ran to her side, leaving his post–and leaving that door wide open. The young soldier just sat there for several moments, gazing about and attempting to assimilate everything. That damned dolt! I'd begun to think I'd have to lift him off that bench and throw him out the door!
Finally, he leapt to his feet and scrambled out the door! From outside–in his wake–you could hear the popping of several firearms being discharged, simultaneously. Naturally, it was all powder and no ball, 'lest someone accidentally shoot the boy afore he could deliver our "message." It was all for effect, and–I heard–it made the boy move much faster.
"Oh, to God!" Higgins' "wife" shouted, pushing him away from her. "A dog's breath is fragrant compared to that stench that spews from you!"
'Twixt the comical exit of that moronic soldier, and Sarah's outburst (you remember the sisters), we mere mortals could not contain our laughter.
It did nothing for our composure when Sarah proclaimed, "I damned well sooner mate Crockett's dead horse, afore I'd wife this Higgins!"
The captain's plan was working like a charm. Now, God save the dolt from tripping and breaking his own neck, the way he was running like a man set afire. Short of any such mishap occurring, we knew he'd sow the seeds of greed, dissension, fear and chaos, as he screamed out his "discoveries" all the way from the settlement's edge to the harbour. Gold-lust would soon grip those regimentals, and panic–stoked by obsessive suspicion–should seize their leaders. And we would seize the moment!
The captain had everything organized–to the smallest detail. And soon our spies returned–in very quick order–with word that the "lobster-backs'" lines had begun to disintegrate: foot soldiers were deserting and running back towards the captain's compound, artillery pieces were left abandoned and a cavalry unit that had recently arrived, milled about–unsupported and confused–and then turned tail and galloped back towards the harbour.
The captain gave the command, "We shall evacuate Nemusmar, now!"
There was no mad scramble–no hysterical mob of people moving pall-mall, fearfully trying to escape. There was no repeat of that flight in desperation I'd encountered when first I crossed the island in search of Annalea. There was no need. There was only calm, deliberate activity. Now, the captain was in charge–and our enemies were disoriented.
All went quickly and smoothly, in full accordance with the captain's instructions. Once our people were all safely removed from the common house and the surrounding structures, those assigned made gun powder trails across the floors, leading to kegs of powder. Long-burning candles were set to tip into, and ignite, the powder, when someone attempted to open a door or shudder. The captain said that would be our parting shot–our final injury to, and denigration of, the enemy's ambitions. And since such a blast should be audible and visible, way out at sea, we'd know when they'd recouped and discovered our absence–and how soon they might come after us!
The captain entrusted Higgins–and a few assistants–with the task of assigning passengers to the loaded, waiting vessels (such as they were). I would have preferred to perform that chore, meself, but the captain insisted I accompany him back to the "tomb."
As we arrived, he turned to me and said, "Well, old matey, this is it. All we can take with us has been removed and secured. What remains–and it is considerable–you and I shall move and pack in the trench prepared under that slab. And when we reduce this building to a pile of rubble, only you and I shall know of its existence and location."
I had to comment, "So we are down to it: the final act in this tragedy."
"No tragedy, Crockett! A drama—aye! But no tragedy! This is a new beginning for us: the opening act of a great new adventure! And I depend on you to support me in this, and reinforce our people's morale with this message–with this new mission! If their emotions are bankrupt, and their hearts are anchored to Nemusmar, we shall perish. Our survival depends on optimism and uncommon zeal." I understood, completely, and concurred, wholeheartedly. Our duty soon done, we ran hard for the cove as the "tomb" exploded into the sky.
When the captain and I arrived at water's edge, all were boarded and anxious to depart. However, the captain noticed what he considered to be a flaw in the passenger arrangements. Higgins had–with the best of intentions–packed all the blackies together on one float, accompanied by Mam' Tiére, for guidance, and Orke, for protection. But the captain would not have it. He knew that with one single, lucky capture, the British bastards would have all our black people–and have them all, soon, back in slavery! In the event of confusion and possible escape of at least some of our vessels, he felt their vessel would be targeted for first capture by the mercenary bastards. 'Though time was still not our ally, the captain would take the time to make this right. He went 'round to each vessel, commanding everyone he pointed out, to disembark. Then, he mixed a parcel of blackies onto each vessel, with instructions to the whites to cover them if discovered by a ship: any ship–British navy or otherwise.
Arrangements thus fixed to solve this problem and suit the captain's purposes, we addressed another concern of his: to avoid clumping all the leadership together. Therefore, he would travel in one vessel; I, in a different one; Higgins, in yet another, and so on. For survival's sake, he wanted the leaders divided amongst our people; but–at once–he wanted the leadership of black and white united and continuing. Thus, Mam' Tiére would accompany me, in the ketch; Orke would be with the captain, in a longboat; Leona with Higgins, on me yawl; and the like.
Some separations would not be tolerated–if considered. Obviously, Annalea was with Mam' and me. Reena must go with Orke. I did engage in a minor dispute with the captain, as regards including the sisters on me already cramped vessel; I did not prevail. The captain, as usual, was correct. Mine was the largest and most seaworthy vessel available to us. And his first consideration was for the young children, who needed the security of more wood 'twixt them and the deep waters. Also, to the degree possible, he would keep families together. The only alteration I could make to this company–without shaming meself–was to insist on taking more buccaneers, to protect this seagoing colony: even if I had to perch them on the masts!
In this process of disembarking, reembarking, discussing and switching 'round, time was being lost; and many were becoming anxious. But–afore we could leave–the captain had to make one final speech. Striding up and down that beach, sometimes knee-deep in the waters, he shouted to be heard by all assembled. He strove, eloquently, to imbue our people with a sense of mission: to consummate our original compact–those plans and purposes he'd espoused all these years. He thought to inspire them to undertake this bold, new adventure with the same passionate self-confidence that motivated and determined every activity in his own life. Out of deference–not inspiration, nor zeal–came a rather anemic, "Hurrah," from our tired, beleaguered group. Still-and-all, the captain seemed satisfied with the response, and gave the order to cast off.
As our fragile fleet of disparate vessels–swollen, if you would, with desperate people–pressed into the waves, I looked about me, somberly. I saw no missionaries. I saw, rather, a gloomy–chastened–band of outcasts: pitiful refugees with no home, no prospects and, likely, no future. From that moment–as I remember it–I stood and looked to the sea. I would not–could not–look back.
But Annalea sat there, next to me, her eyes affixed on that diminishing isle, sobbing continuously, "Me people... me family... me island... me world... Nemusmar...."
Chapter XVII
A Princess in Exile