slightly and then turned his full attention to the packet of documents that Mungo St. John had ready for his inspection on the chart table.
He stooped over the table, working swiftly through the pile until with a shock of discovery he straightened. Damn me, Mungo St. John, your reputation precedes you, sir. ' The Englishman's expression was strained with strong emotion. 'And what a noble one it is, too. ' There was a bitter sting in his voice. 'The first trader ever to carry more than three thousand souls across the middle passage in a single, twelve-month period, small wonder you can afford such a magnificent vessel. 'You are on dangerous ground, sir, Mungo St. John warned him with that lazy, taunting grin. 'I am fully aware of the lengths to which the officers of your service will go for a few guineas of prize money. 'Where are you going to pick up your next cargo of human misery, Captain St. John? ' the Englishman cut in brusquely. 'On such a fine ship you should be able to pack in two thousand. ' He had gone pale with unfeigned anger, actually trembling slightly with the force of it. If you have finished your investigation-' St. John's smile did not slip, but the naval officer went on speaking. We have made the west coast a little too hot for you now, have we? Even when you hide behind that pretty piece of silk, the naval officer glanced up at the flag on the mainyard, 'so you are going to work the east coast now, are you, sir? They tell me you can get a prime slave for two dollars, two for a io-shilling musket. 'I must ask you to leave now. ' St. John took the document from his hand, and when their fingers touched, the Englishman wiped his hand on his own thigh as though to cleanse it of the contact. I'd give five years' pay to have the hatches off your holds, he said bitterly, leaning forward to stare at Mungo St. John with those pale fierce eyes. Captain Codrington! ' Zouga Ballantyne stepped s the group. 'I am a British subject and an officer toward in Her Majesty's army. I can assure you that there are no slaves aboard this vessel. ' He spoke sharply. If you are an Englishman, then you should be ashamed to travel in such company. ' Codrington glanced beyond Zouga. 'And that applies equally to you, madamV You overreach yourself, sir, Zouga told him grimly. I have already given you my assurance.'
Codrington's gaze had flicked back to Robyn Ballantyne's face. Her distress was evident. . . ie accusation had shattered her, that as, the daughter of Fuller Ballantyne, the great champion of freedom and sworn adversary of slavery, she, the accredited agent of the Society for the Extinction of the Slave Trade should be travelling aboard a notorious slaver.
She was pale, the green eyes huge and liquid with the shock of it. Captain Codrington, her voice was husky and low, my brother is right, I also assure you that there are no slaves aboard this ship.'
The Englishman's expression softened, she was not a beautiful woman, but there was a freshness and wholesomeness about her which was difficult to resist. I will accept your word, madam.'
He inclined his head. 'Indeed, only a madman would carry black ivory towards Africa, but, and his voice hardened again, if only I were able to enter her holds, I'd find enough down there to run her into Table Bay under a prize crew and have her condemned out of hand at the next session of the Court of Mixed Commission.'
Codrington swung on his heel to face Mungo St. John again. Oh yes, I know that your slave decks will be struck to make way for your trade cargo, but the spare planks are aboard and it won't take you a day to set them up again, Codrington almost snarled, 'and I'll wager there are open gratings under those hatch covers, he pointed down at the maindeck, but without taking his eyes from Mungo St. John's face, 'that there are shackles in the lower decks to take the chains and leg irons-, Captain Codrington, I find your company wearying Mungo St. John drawled softly. 'You have sixty seconds to leave this ship, before I have my mate assist you over the side.'
Tippoo stepped forward, hairless as an enormous toad, and stood a foot behind Codrington's left shoulder.
With a visible effort, the English captain retained his temper, as he inclined his head towards Mungo St. John. May God grant we meet again, sir. ' He turned back to Robyn and saluted her briefly. May I wish you a pleasant continuation of your voyage, madam. 'Captain Codrington, I think you are mistaken, she almost pleaded with him. He did not reply but stared at her for a moment longer, the pale eyes were direct and disturbing, the eyes of a prophet or a fanatic, then he turned and went with a gangling boyish stride to Huron's entry port.
Tippoo had stripped off the high-necked tunic and oiled his upper body so it gleamed in the sunlight with the metallic lustre of the skin of some exotic reptile.
He stood stolidly on flat bare feet, balancing effortlessly to the Huron's roll, his thick arms hanging at his side and the lash of the whip coiled on the deck at his feet.
There was a grating fixed at the ship's side and the sailor who had been at the masthead lookout when they had raised the African coast, was spread-eagled upon it like a stranded starfish on a rock exposed at low tide.
He twisted his head awkwardly to look back over his shoulder at the mate, and his face was white with terror.
You were excused witnessing punishment, Doctor Ballantyne, ' Mungo St. John told her quietly. I feel it my duty to suffer this barbaric-'As you wish, he cut her short with a nod, and turned away. 'Twenty, Mr. Tippoo. 'Twenty it is, Cap'n.'
With no expression at all Tippoo stepped up behind the man, hooked his finger into the back of his collar and ripped the shirt down to the belt. The man's back was pale as suet pudding, but studded with fat purple carbuncles, the sailor's affliction, caused by salty, wet clothing and the unhealthy diet.
Tippoo stepped back and flicked out the lash so that it extended to its full length along the seamed oak planking. Ship's company! ' Mungo St. John called. 'The charge is inattention to duty, and endangering the ship's safety.'
They shuffled their bare feet, but not one of them looked up at him. 'The sentence is twenty lashes.'
On the grating the man turned his face away and closed his eyes tightly, hunching his shoulders. Lay on, Mr. Tippoo, Mungo St. John said, and Tippoo squinted carefully at the bare, white skin, through which the knuckles of the spine showed clearly. He reared back, one thickly muscled arm thrown high above his head, and the lash snaked higher, hissing like an angry cobra, then he stepped forward into the stroke, pivoting the full weight and force of his shoulders into it.
The man on the grating shrieked, and his body convulsed in a spasm that smeared the skin from his wrists against the coarse hemp bonds.
The white skin opened in a thin bright scarlet line, from one side of his ribs to the other, and one of the angry purple carbuncles between his shoulder blades erupted in a spurt of yellow matter that ran down the pale skin and soaked into the waistband of his breeches. One, ' said Mungo St. John, and the man on the grating began to sob quietly.
Tippoo stepped back, shook out the lash carefully, squinted at the bloody line across the white shuddering flesh, reared back and grunted as he stepped forward into the next stroke. Two, said Mungo St. John. Robyn felt her gorge rise to choke her. She fought it down, and forced herself to watch. She could not allow him to see her weakness.
