Chapter Three #2
We rounded the tiny island, which looked to be barely a league across.
“Whenever you’re ready, Hillier,” Captain Martin said to his quartermaster.
Hillier turned to the men gathered on deck.
“Clear the lines! Prepare to drop anchor!”
Several men sprang into action, making sure that the rope attached to the huge metal anchor was clear of obstruction.
“Stream the buoy!” Hillier ordered. “Stand clear!”
Captain Martin put an arm round my waist and pulled me in close.
“Are you excited to land?” he asked, gazing at me as we leaned on the rail, facing the shore.
I shrugged. “I suppose. Not sure what to expect, really.”
He squeezed me. “Francis is a lovely fellow, and his wife and her people are very friendly and welcoming.”
“You haven’t visited in so long. What if everything is different than you remember?”
“Well, I had the letter…”
“Aye, mailed to you six months ago. Much can change in that time.”
“I agree that we should be prepared for anything. However, I remain ever the optimist, and I’m looking forward to seeing my friend and enjoying a week or two off the ship.”
“All right, then. I shall try to be less gloomy,” I said.
I was excited, but I was also anxious about going to a place I’d never been and being with people I didn’t know. At least there were others on our crew who had never been to Talamanca before.
Chains rattled as the anchor was lowered by the fellows working the capstan. We stopped speaking and simply gazed across the water at the beach where we could see a group of huts and some slight movement.
Dinesh was holding his folded spyglass in one hand. Now he extended the scope and raised the implement to get a good look at the beach.
“Looks like men from Jimena’s village. I can’t see…
it’s a fishing outpost so I have no idea who will be there.
At least there are—wait a moment. Yes. Yes, there’s Francis.
My God, but he’s tanned! And rather plump.
” Dinesh laughed and lowered the glass. He glowed with excitement at the sight of his friend.
“You see? Everything’s fine. They’re laying out some fish fillets on the racks.
Fancy some fried ocean fish for supper?”
I couldn’t help but be infected with his joy and grinned. “Aye. Will be nice for a change.” I frowned. “Wait a moment. Why don’t any of the men throw a line over and catch us fresh fish? There are plenty of times they’ve got naught else to do…”
He smiled. “I’ll let you in on a little secret.” He nodded at the busy crew moving about on deck. “Most of these fellows are terrified of the water and the things that lurk beneath the waves. They want nothing to do with any beasts from the sea. A good many of them can’t swim.”
“Can’t swim? Are you joking?”
He shook his head. “I swear to you, I’m not. You can ask them if you don’t believe me.”
“Can you swim?”
“Yes, I was taught as a boy. You?”
“Oh, aye, quite well, actually. I grew up on an island, after all.”
“The men are right to be cautious about the beasts in the sea. I’ve seen sharks and whales and bloody great squid.” He held his hands apart as far as he could. “The dolphins are fine, but some of the whales grow as big as a castle.”
“Good God.”
“Anchor is set, Captain. Shall we prepare the skiffs?”
“Yes, thank you, Hillier.” He winked at me. “Come along. Let’s get our place aboard the first one to go out.”
The entire crew fit into four skiffs, and once they were lowered to the water, we rowed to shore.
The gulls became even more agitated and squawked their displeasure at such a great disturbance.
I hadn’t been this close to the surface of the sea in ages, and I hung a hand over and trailed my fingers through the pull of the cool water.
As we got closer, I could see a group of canoe-like vessels attached to a wood jetty near the beach, where netting was spread out to dry.
I heard shouting, and swivelled in my seat to see a man running on the beach. He was dressed only in a pair of cloth pants with the hems rolled, and followed by several dark-skinned men in similar clothing.
Captain Martin lurched to his feet, causing our skiff to wobble as he shouted and waved with abandon. “Heyo! Hello there!”
“Is that Francis?” I asked, taking hold of Dinesh’s trouser leg to keep him from falling in, although the waters here looked shallow and clear.
He turned to me, a wide smile. “Yes, that’s him! Come on, row faster you bloody laggards!”
The crew at the oars did their best and when we were within a few yards of the man, Captain Martin leapt over the side and lunged through the water to meet him.
They embraced with an enthusiasm not commonly seen among Englishmen, patted each other on the back, and turned in the water as they kissed each other’s cheeks and gazed at each other’s faces with obvious joy.
Dinesh said something in Francis’s ear and nodded in my direction. Francis’s eyebrows shot up and he looked me over, grinning with affection and nodding in greeting. I returned the gesture, as he gazed around at the men in the boats. We were close enough now to hear their conversation.
“But where is Donatello?” Francis asked of Captain Martin.
“Not here, I’m afraid. There was an incident, and he perished.” Dinesh said, his voice tight.
“Oh no. I’m so sorry. What happened?”
Dinesh glanced my way and then turned back to his friend. “I’m afraid that’s not a conversation to be had in knee-deep water. Perhaps later?”
“Yes, of course,” Francis said.
“And Jimena? Is she here?” Dinesh asked, scanning the beach.
“No, no. She’s back at the village with the children. But I’ll send a runner and she’ll come. She’ll want to see you, for certain, and hear all the news!”
We set the skiffs in the shallow sand and debarked. The water soaked into my shoes and trousers but felt refreshing in the close and warm heat of the day.
“Francis, my good fellow,” Hillier said. “You’ve been awfully busy.”
“Hillier! Yes, and I have my hands full with two boys and a clever wife!”
Hillier laughed. Francis slapped a hand on my back. “Simon, I hear? Or is your name Rooster?”
“A nickname of sorts.”
He laughed and stared at my rusty-coloured locks. “I can see why the pet name suits. I’m thrilled to hear that Dinesh has found a companion.”
“Not only that, but a houseboy besides.”
“Lucky Dinesh!”
“Yes, I tell him that each and every day.”
Francis threw back his head and laughed. “I can tell we’re going to get on well, Simon.”
“Aye, I hope so. He’s told me how fond he is of you.”
“Well!” Francis looked pleased. “The feeling is mutual, I assure you. My decision to leave the ship permanently was not taken lightly, let me tell you. And, well, I have missed you all,” he said, gazing about him at the crew and Captain Martin, as if he couldn’t believe we were real.
“Come on, now! Come and see our little fishing outpost,” Francis said with good feeling, leading us toward several small grass huts on platforms, surrounding a central hearth at the edge of the jungle.
“Sit! Sit!” Francis said to the crew who had followed us.
“We’ll bring something to drink and eat. What a day! What a glorious day!”
It was a glorious day. Never mind the sun shining and glinting off the tranquil blue waters, the lap of the waves on the shore, the soft white sand of the endless beach, or the gentle ocean breeze that kept us cool.
The welcome we’d received was beyond even my humble imaginings and I felt immediately among friends.
The crew and Captain Martin looked to be at home here already, and I expected to feel the same in a short while.
***
The fishing outpost consisted of a number of wooden huts built on platforms, with roofs of massive tree fronds, a bigger communal shelter of the same materials, and several shade-bearing structures on the sand, where the water at high tide wouldn’t reach.
There was also a substantial hearth circled by logs and boulders arranged as seating.
By the time evening fell and the sun went down over the verdant mountains to the west, we had eaten, imbibed the non-alcoholic refreshments we were offered, made merry, and had gotten to know our hosts a little.
The locals spoke Spanish due to the influence of the colonizers who had, thankfully, abandoned them.
Many of the crew, including Domingo, could speak the language and were able to translate for those of us who couldn’t.
This included myself, Dinesh, who knew some words in the language, and Squid.
Two of the local men, Mauricio and José, were brothers to Jimena, and one of them offered to head into the jungle in the morning to inform her of our arrival and bring her and the children to the outpost. Francis said that would be easier than leading us through the dense bush to the village and besides, the people wanted to keep the location of the village a secret so the Spanish wouldn’t be able to find the encampment if they returned to the region.
They were discouraged from bringing visitors, but we were welcome to stay at the outpost as long as we needed.
There was plenty to eat and drink, and José would bring more supplies with him, from the village, on the return trip.
Most of the crew had gathered on the beach, with another fire going, talking amongst themselves and passing a bottle around.
Squid and Domingo were engaged in animated conversation on a log farther down the beach, near the empty nets and canoes.
The two of them, being the latest to join our crew, had developed something of a friendship.