Sackett's Land

not. Would I have her offer slop to pigs and bake eels?

            I loved a lady, and a lady must live as a lady deserves.

            Well, what was it Jublain had said? I had a sword. Indeed I had, and with a sword a man might win a kingdom, might hold that kingdom against all who came—and might also lose his head for trying.

            Suddenly something bumped the hull ... bumped again. I lifted the sword. I heard the slap of bare feet on the deck, then more feet.

            A voice spoke. 'There be naught aboard, Cap'n. She's still as death she is, and nobody's taken the hatches off her. What was there is still there.'

            'Get off that ladder!' It was Nick Bardle's voice. 'I am coming aboard.'

            There was a solid dark cluster of them where the rope ladder hung, and I turned the swivel on them with great good cheer.

            'Here's a bit of something for yourself, Cap'n!' I shouted, and fired the swivel.

            She belched a solid blast of flame and I heard the thud of the shot as it struck, and a scream. Then I upped with a pistol and let go at a shadow that separated itself from the others, and then another blast from my second pistol and suddenly a third, and this from the cabin door.

            Abigail, bless her!

            Then with a wild yell from my throat, I went along the deck and at them. I knew not how many they were, nor they how many were here. My swinging blade cut this way and that, a scream, a cry, a clang of metal on metal, and then they were all about me and I was fighting for my life.

            Suddenly from below there was a rush of feet, and another cry, and somebody yelled out, 'Who's that? Who is that, damn them to hell?'

            Somebody was also attacking from below, so I was not alone. Not yet, at least. I parried a blade, thrust, stepped back and with a toe kicked a block in the way of my opponent who spilled over it to hands and knees. If he came up from that—I flicked my blade sidewise and down in a quick gesture—up from that he'd have to fasten his head on again.

            Somebody leaped the rail to escape, and another gun flamed beside me. There was Abigail, hair wild about her shoulders in that fleeting glimpse, but aiming with another pistol, and God knows where she found them or how she had charged them.

            A man loomed at the head of the ladder and my thrust took him at the base of the throat and lifted. If he lived, that one, he'd truly have a cleft chin.

            There was another sound of running feet, a blast or two from below, and then a jumble of voices among which I detected Brian Tempany's.

            'Welcome aboard, Cap'n,' I said cheerfully, 'but do you step carefully. I think they've left some'at behind.'

            'Is it you, Sackett?'

            'Aye, and pleased to see you, and at my side is a lady who shoots uncommon well.'

            She was there, close against my elbow, her head just a jot above my shoulder. 'And how did you come to be awake?'

            'I never slept,' she said, 'for I could see you were heavy with sleep, and was hopeful you'd sleep, for well you should have.'

            'And I stayed awake for you,' I said.

            Tempany came over the rail. Dim his face was, in the vague light of a dawn not far away. 'I thought you two were dead,' he spoke quietly, 'I thought Bardle had killed you.'

            Jublain was at my elbow. 'Are you well, then? You've not taken a cutting?'

            'Well, aye,' I said, 'but you shall find some about who are not.'

            'Four dead on the deck,' Corvino said with satisfaction, 'and one who fell overside. And there were three done in by us when we closed, and before they broke. I've a feeling there's a few who will carry scars, if they live.'

            'Sakim?'

            'I am here, my friend. A little used, but here.'

            'Come,' Tempany said, 'we'll go below. Courtney, you and Fitzpatrick stay on deck. I'll send a tot of rum for each. The rest of you below for what is coming to you.

            'Sackett,' he turned to me, 'come to the cabin. We've much to talk about.'

            I sheathed my sword, and turned, staggering a little from the onset of weariness now that it was over, or seemed to be. A hand steadied me. 'I am beside you, Barnabas, but not strong enough to hold you if you fall, so please stand up!'

            Abigail went into her cubbyhole of a cabin.

            Tempany had lighted a lantern. We stepped into the cabin. He took up a bottle and two glasses, and then he looked at me under his brows. 'Rum? Or no rum? You refused it before.'

            'This once,' I said, 'to revive the spirit.'

            'Ah, we won't talk of that. Your spirit seems in excellent shape, man. And there're a few things for us to discuss, even tonight.'

            He paused, tasted his rum, then tossed it off, neat and quick. He swallowed, looked at me and put his glass down. 'Have you looked at her?'

            'At Abigail?' I said.

            'No, damn it, at the ship. Have you seen her by day?'

            'I have.'

            'Do you think she'll float again?'

            'I do, but if I am wrong there's the Jack.'

            'The what?'

            'We can take the Jolly Jack. She's a good sailer and well-armed, and she deserves better than that lot aboard her now.'

            'That would be difficult and dangerous,' he said, after awhile. 'Let us have a look at the Tiger.'

            Yet it was sleep I needed, and I said as much. Reluctantly, he agreed, and when I had stretched out on a settee in the cabin, he went on deck. Obviously if the Tiger could be saved, he intended to save it.

            I slept, and dreamed of the purple mountains I'd glimpsed far off in the distance when up the river. Those mountains haunted me, and why I knew not. When my eyes opened next, the day was well along and I could smell ham being cooked, and a sound of rustling around in the galley.

            For a few minutes I lay still. My mind was filled with the substance of the dream. Somehow, come what may, I must see those mountains. I must walk their trails, know them. Somehow all that was England had faded until it was difficult to even recognize faces I used to know, I could not bring them to memory. I sat up and pulled on my boots, buckled on my sword, then stood for a moment, peering through the parted curtain of the stern lights.

            The water was choppy, but not rough. The sky was overcast. I went out on deck, and the first to greet me was Jublain.

            'Tempany says you have some idea of taking the Jack?'

            'If we need her.' I glanced toward the beach and the trees and sandhills beyond. Nothing moved.

            'It's a bad lot aboard there. A bad, bad lot, but they can fight.'

            'We'd have to get most of them ashore,' I suggested.

            Tempany came over the rail. 'We can float her,' he said, 'and the holes can be patched well enough, though there's a deal of work to be done.'

            He brushed salt from his hands. 'What's it like inland, Sackett? Is there land worth having?'

            'Some of the fairest I've seen. There's game in plenty, and cattle would thrive here, or pigs or sheep. Tempany,' I looked around at him, across my shoulder, 'a man could become wealthy here.'

            'What of the Indians?'

            'They war much with each other, so one could not be friends with all, and a man must step carefully