Part 79 (1/2)

”Ah.” Arrow could imagine the baccha.n.a.l that was probably in progress. He hoped that he'd be able to rea.s.semble his crew when the time came. ”Nothin like one of our heathens loose in the world with his pockets full of gold. Nothin's safe, Bill. Not a farthing or a silk slip.”

”Aye, that's for sure.” He paused, Arrow could feel him trying to decide whether or not to say something. And then, before Arrow could command him to do so, Dirty Bill continued. ”Ah . . . Cap'n, there's some men that's a little worried about what you said last night before we got our shares. . . . about going to St. Domingo to help those nig . . . ah. . . . to . . . well . . . just about going there.”

Arrow was motionless. He'd known when he'd told them of his intentions there might be disagreement. He held his rigid pose for a bit, then leaned his chair back against the wall. Most of what it meant to be captain of a pirate s.h.i.+p was the ability to keep the crew together. They did nearly everything by majority decision. He was captain when there was a battle. He was captain when it came time to chose leeward or windward approach or when it came to the decision to spare someone's life or not. But for the decisions concerning the actual business of the s.h.i.+p, everyone wanted to have their say. It was his ch.o.r.e to listen and make his case. The proof that he had their ears and their hearts was in the fact that they always agreed to do what he wanted. Now he wanted to go to Haiti to help the black people there in their fight for freedom. He wanted to go because he could see the beginning of the end of slavery there. There, in Santo Domingo, was a powerful force just coming together under the leaders.h.i.+p of Jean Jacques Desalines. There were stories floating about that black sailors were making their way there, especially runaways, because a liberated Haiti would probably provide legal relief from slavery.

”So, they's worried are they?” Arrow asked finally.

”We are white men, Cap'n. What in the world we want to go there for? We're out for the loot. If we wanted to fight for the sake of fightin' we'd have stayed in Her Majesty's Royal Navy, prison though it is. No we come out for ourselves. For the gold and the chance to get some fortune in this paradise.”

Arrow looked up at him. ”Sit down, Bill.” He watched the hulking man as he labored into the chair. ”Now you know I'd cut off my arms for my men. You know that.”

”I do, Cap'n. I know that. But . . .”

”And I ain't white, Bill.”

”Aye, that's a fact.”

”But I am the captain, unless something's happened I don't know about.”

”No Cap'n, you still Captain.”

”That's good Bill. That's real good. Because when we weigh anchor I'm bound for Haiti.”

”But Cap'n, it's just gonna make . . .”

”Worried? Scared?”

”Not scared, Cap'n. Not scared. We ain't scared of nothin'. It's just . . . well . . . as you said, you as sure as G.o.d is black and they don't hold that against you because you served our former captain well and you've shown your true colors to us on many occasions. But that don't make us blind. These islands is full of blacks. You the only one I ever met on the open water.

”You know yourself, Bill, that there are many black pilots.”

”Port pilots, yes, but s.h.i.+p captains?” He sucked his teeth. ”I been all over the Caribbean and I ain't never seen no other black man but you at the helm of a s.h.i.+p.”

”Well, seein' as how I have this great distinction, Bill, as your captain I order you to tell me what the devil this is all about.”

”You see, Cap'n, up to now, the fact that you're a . . . ah . . . black wasn't a concern. You did good by us and you're one of the best sailors I know. Able. Very able. But now, you're askin' us to give comfort to those n.i.g.g.e.rs in Haiti and that don't sit well.” He paused again, relieved to have said it. ”It don't sit well at all. Where's the profit in that?”

”When we took the Drury, loaded with slaves, and I say let them go or let them join us . . .”

”We ain't slavers, Cap'n. We didn't want nothin' to do with that. That was fine by us. Let 'em go. Some white man would kill or claim them, anyway. That's just the way the world is. That's not our business. We're”-again he paused, searching for a word when he knew all the time what he had to say-”we're pirates.”

”Mind you.” Arrow put an edge in voice.

”But we are, Cap'n. I know you don't like that word, but that's what we are. We're pirates, not mercenaries. Besides our fellow brothers are starting to laugh at us. There were two fights over at the Flyin' Fish before I left.”

”Laughing? Why?”

”They say we're being led by a monkey. 'Captain Monkey' they called you, and the one who said it paid dearly. But the laughter was still there.”

”I see.” Arrow sighed. ”And the crew is affected by this talk?”

”Aye.”

”Bill, that s.h.i.+p out there is mine. Those men are mine. You,” he righted his chair and now leaned into Dirty Bill's face, ”You are mine.” Their eyes locked. In Bill's he saw, for the first time a fear. At first he wasn't sure what the fear was, but as he stared into those eyes, Arrow could feel the meaning. Dirty Bill was afraid that they were approaching a parting of the way. And then the fear loosened and Dirty Bill smiled.

”I am Cap'n Arrow. I am yours for the time. And I don't want that to change.”

Arrow slowly brought his strong right arm up to Dirty Bill's neck, his charcoal fingers encircling the thick throated man. ”I can squeeze the life right out of your empty head.” Dirty Bill tried to say something, but Arrow, swiftly brought his other hand up and put in it in front of Dirty Bill's mouth. ”You needn't utter one more word, Bill. Not one more or you won't ever say momma. Or Jesus or anything. I have not killed and plundered this small world, nor served our fine Captain Threatcher 'til his untimely death with every breath I had to be bullied by you or any man. White or whatever. Now, I love you Bill, like a brother. And I will die for you. But I demand the same. Or I'll kill you right here. Right now. Do we see eye to eye?”

Dirty Bill, trying to keep from gasping, nodded his head. Arrow loosened his grip. ”I weren't talkin mutiny Cap'n. I am yours . . .”

At that moment a crowd of men burst through the doors bringing, it seemed, a thundercloud of noise and tension with them. It was then that Arrow realized that many in the room had been watching him and Bill the entire time. They'd seen his black hands around Bill's white throat. But before he could fully consider the meaning in all this, Dockson stood before him with many of his crew and some sundry others crowding up behind.

”Cap'n, we ain't interested in goin to Haiti. That's not our fight.”

Arrow leaned back again. He waited a moment and then asked very softly, ”Am I your captain?”

Dockson was taken off guard. The talk at the Flyin' Fish had pumped him and he'd forgotten who Arrow really was. ”Yes, you are my captain. But we . . .”

”Don't want to follow a n.i.g.g.e.r? Do you mean to say that you will not be led by a n.i.g.g.e.r? A black man?”

”No! Cap'n . . . I mean yes. . . . I ahhh . . . I . . . We have followed you this far. But . . .”

”This Captain Monkey has gotten too far ahead of himself, taking us into the grip of more monkeys who have forgotten their place? Is this what you mean to say?”

Dockson had broken out in a profuse sweat. He looked around. The red faces behind him flashed all manner of expressions. Some, obviously up for the fight. Some, in full retreat. Seeing this unhinged Dockson even more. He fell silent.

”Monkey talk.” Someone in the back shouted. ”It ain't right. No white man should take that from that animal.” All eyes went in that direction. Standing at the bar were four from the notorious pirate Captain Flagg's crew. To the side of them, maybe ten more of their crew.

”This is private crew business,” Dockson shouted to him.

”Aye. I'd believe you if I didn't see a monkey at the helm.” Dockson moved in the man's direction. Arrow remained motionless. Dirty Bill stood. It was as if a bell had rung, immediately cutla.s.ses were openly displayed.

”You owe me an apology, brother,” Dockson said approaching the man.

”There will be none, my brother. You have lost my respect and someone must put these things aright.” He advanced on Dockson. Their steel clashed. Everyone around them located their closest adversary and prepared their defense or offense as the case warranted.

In truth there were two Arrows. One was the Black Arrow, who in a moment or two would kill two men in an instant. The other was the man who was filled with dismay. His struggles were meaningless in a world where other men had to fight for his own right to be a man. And yet, that was precisely why he was bound for Haiti. To fight for other men to be free. At this moment he even loved Dockson. But he was also intensely sad. This was his fight. It was about him. Simply because he was.

Dockson and his opponent had only touched cutla.s.s a few times before Arrow stood and, let fly three knives, felling two of the original four men, including the one who was about to take advantage of Dockson's slow reflexes. They stumbled once and hit the floor. The third knife lodged in another man's thigh. Everyone stopped and looked at Arrow.

”If I had known a name like Captain Monkey, would excite you so I might have taken such a name. Especially if it caused you to fear me. For fear me you should. But, alas, I was limited by my experience. I could only contrive this name, Arrow. So I am Captain Arrow, and if you are lucky and will live to tell of what you've seen and you may say to the lucky hearer of your tale that you once saw the Black Arrow stick this man or that. And that then you saw him sail off under the black flag that is his true color. Off into the horizon with his crew of men who will take no quarter and who will do to their advantage without regard to this primate's heritage.”

And with that he walked slowly toward the door, his men forming a wall at his back. ”To h.e.l.l with this,” he shouted, ”To Haiti or to h.e.l.l!”

Mirror Image.