After a few moments of contemplation alone in my cabin, I sought out Andrei to tell him of my discovery. I found him on the Chaesar’s main deck, leaning on the gunwales and looking out to sea. As I recounted my meeting with Eirene to him, he gave me an amused smirk. To my surprise, he was less surprised than I thought he would be.
“Do you remember, monsieur, when we took that great trek together from the Crimea all the way to Hamburg?” he said. “I do. I still have the saddle sores from it. What you might not know is that whenever you were away from us, she would ask me about you. She asked what things you liked, how you felt about certain matters, personal questions of that nature. Unfortunately, since you and I have known each other not much longer than you and her, I could tell her scarcely anything. I believe she’s very fond of you, monsieur, but she’s keen not to show it.”
The idea that she could be pining for me as much as I desired her made me blush like a little boy. Andrei burst into laughter when he noticed, but stopped himself when I gave him a stern scowl.
My thoughts went to Eirene. What would I tell the captain when he returned? How would he react to having another woman on board the Chaesar that was not his wife? On the one hand, I could not betray Captain Glass’s trust by withholding my knowledge of Eirene masquerading as one of his crew. On the other hand, I could not betray Eirene. She was a dear friend to me and the idea of acting as Judas to her would trouble me forever.
A sailor blowing his whistle made us turn our attention to the opposite side of the vessel. Captain Glass and Lady Rebecca were being helped on board as they climbed up onto the Chaesar from the ship’s ladder. Both were beaming with triumphal joy, no doubt thinking of the lives they had saved with their actions. In the water behind them, several boats full of our newly purchased “slaves” were rowing towards the Chaesar as well. Lady Glass called for a crewman to come with a chisel and hammer to strike off their chains as they came aboard the vessel.
It was quite the emotional sight to see these people being treated with dignity for what seemed to be the first time in months. The Glasses embraced the sweaty, bloody freedmen with genuine compassion, a sensation that some were not sure how to reciprocate. Once Captain Glass had told the newly freed people of their plan to repatriate them back to their homes, they were all overjoyed, but were warned not to cheer as to not alert the Cape Coast garrison watching from the shore. Once the Glasses had made sure that the freedmen understood all that was happening to them, they were escorted below decks and given food and provisions for the return trip home.
I was sure that if I related my meeting with Lord Garlington to them, they would be stirred to anger – anger which would be directed towards a plan to free more of Garlington’s unfortunate victims. There was also the matter of Eirene to discuss.
“Good news, friends!” said Captain Glass, as he approached Andrei and myself, vigorously shaking our hands. “Our mission here has come to its conclusion, and we are to set sail for the southern coast – and freedom – at first light tomorrow! I thank you both for playing your parts, and I extend my cordial invitation to you to continue aiding us on our quest to break every chain and see every man free, if you feel so inclined.”
Andrei let out a nervous laugh, which I interrupted.
“I congratulate you on good doing, Kapitan Glass, but we have problem.”
Glass’s face turned serious. “What sort of problem?”
“Governor wants party on boat… your boat.”
“What? Why?”
“Ya nye znayu, I do not know. But we must prepare.”
Rebecca put her arm around Captain Glass’s shoulder and said, “I tink a lil bashment wit good rum’ll no do us no harm, love. Jes smile an’ listen to de man, and den we go.”
“All right then love, if you think it’s best.”
“There is also other problem. We speak private, yes? I will bring Andrei, he will speak better words.”
Glass furrowed his brow, intrigued, and took Rebecca, who was equally curious, to follow Andrei and myself belowdecks. Once we found a place where we were alone, I sat on a barrel and gave Andrei a nod.
“Tell them. They need to know.”
Andrei swallowed and related our shared account of Garlington and his reception, and how we were gifted Ogonna and the other slave as toys to pleasure ourselves with, while Garlington “broke” a man in the next room. Captain Glass listened with a somber glare, but I could see the veins pulsating in Rebecca’s forehead and her jaws clenching beneath the skin of her cheeks.
“It was horrifying,” said Andrei. “There was a creeping feeling in my skin, as if I…”
“It’s settled then,” interrupted Captain Glass.
“What?”
“We kill him at dinner.”
His wife nodded in affirmation. Andrei stared at them with his mouth agape, while I found myself at a loss of words.
“The bastard wants to have dinner on board my ship? Fine. We let him have dinner here, and afterwards he can sleep with the fish at the bottom of the sea, while we sail off.”
“Forgive me for saying, monsieur, since I am but a lowly servant but – do you not think that the plan is a tad… rash?”
“What be rash ‘bout puttin’ de devil in he place down below?” said Rebecca.
Andrei swallowed again, “It is only that we risk bringing the entire colonial garrison down on us if we simply er… dispatch the governor and leave.”
“It will be done at night, and I will have all the ship’s lights put out. We will be as invisible as a raincloud against the night sky.”
“Andrei is coward,” I interjected. “Do not listen to him.” Andrei scoffed but I continued. “You will host party for Garlington, I will rescue slaves.”
Captain Glass nodded. “After which we shall abscond with them before their ‘rightful masters’ realize what has happened to them. Brilliant.”
“And how do you plan to do that, monsieur?” Andrei said, his eye twitching. “You will be at dinner with Lord Garlington. Performing a rescue while at dinner is a physical impossibility, unless you are capable of bilocation.”
“Bilokatsiya? What is?”
“It is the supposed ability to be in two cases at once but that is not important. You… we are further exposing ourselves to unnecessary risk, when all we have to do to ensure our mission’s success is to leave this place!”
“Andrei, you are a serf, are you not?” I said to him in an.
“Well, yes, but what does that have to do with anything?”
“How much would you give to be free?”
“Well, I admit, freedom from the whims of the nobility would be quite nice.”
“Answer the question, Andrei Vasilyevich.”
“I… suppose you’re right. Fine,” he sighed. “Not that you needed my approval anyway, but I suppose you no longer have my opposition.”
“So, good.” I said, reverting back to English. “What is plan?”
For hours thereafter, we discussed amongst ourselves, switching between English, French, and Russian with varying degrees of confusion as to what we might do to kill Lord Garlington. Lady Rebecca sent for some of the crew to help set the captain’s cabin for Garlington’s arrival. It was no coincidence that a particular cabin boy kept coming back to us, asking if “there would be anything else” or updating us on the goings-on in the galley and the captain’s cabin. Of course, the cabin boy was one “Renny Morse,” and Eirene always made eye contact with me as she passed by in her disguise, knowing that I could say nothing to expose her.
After much discussion, the plan we agreed on was to be executed thusly: to rescue the slaves still being held inside Cape Coast Castle, I would get written permission from Garlington to bring them over to the party for the sort of “amusement” he liked, after which he would be killed with some sort of fish. Apparently, Captain Glass knew of some highly toxic fish that could make his liver explode, and thus it would not be obvious that we committed the murder, but I did not quite understand Andrei’s garbled translation, and Eirene could obviously not afford to break character to engage with me. However, at the time we thought the plan to be sound. After Garlington died, we were to sail south to deposit the slaves off the coast as free men.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
“Un moment, s’il vous plait, did you just confess that you were involved in a plot to murder the governor?”
Captain Rochat sat forward in his chair and looked the bearded foreigner straight in the eye, looking for signs of deception.
“Yes.”
“Sir, that is conspiracy to murder.”
“But yet look at where our good governor is now. If you want to arrest me for murder, you may try, but my argument for innocence lies in the living body of Lord Garlington himself, and that will hold up in a court of law. I can also rightfully say that at the time, I had very little idea of what was being said and done, since my knowledge of your language was miniscule and my English was likewise very poor.”
“I admit, sir, that your story is mildly fascinating, and I will let you finish it to satisfy my curiosity, then I shall have the final verdict.”
“I am still not guilty of piracy.”
“We shall see.”
As I was saying, we had finished preparations a few hours after sunset, the captain’s cabin looked fit to host the czarina herself. With Lady Rebecca’s meticulous attention to detail and a few of “Mister Morse’s” suggestions here and there, the crew had completely transformed the room. What was once a drab, brown, spartan living space where rats would feast below Captain Glass’s feet now had a freshly mopped and scoured floor. Immaculately clean tables that were once bare now had new tablecloths made from repurposed hammocks. Candles, with blatant disregard to fire protocol, were placed on the tables for extra illumination, and some of the ship’s fishing nets were stretched over the walls to look like a sort of nautical bunting that was completely “Mister Morse’s” idea.
As Captain Glass entered his cabin, he put on the sourest of faces but immediately reverted to a smile before he gave his wife a tender kiss on the cheek.
“It looks marvelous, my love. Such a shame we are to murder a man in it.”
“Tank you, darlin dearest,” said Rebecca. “Now, we gine go over de plan once more, so’s we don’t get it wrong.”
I crackled my knuckles, imagining the satisfaction of seeing Garlington writhing about on the floor of the cabin as he died slowly from whatever odd bowel movements the fish would give him.
“Ladna, we wait him to board, I excuse self to get Ogonna from castle, I leave, then you kill with fish, and we leave before sun-up.”
“Fish?” asked Captain Glass with a chuckle. “What fish?”
I gave Andrei a deep scowl and muttered to him in Russian. “You said they were going to kill him with a fish.”
“Yes! That’s what they said! Unless…” switching to French, Andrei asked Captain Glass to clarify that portion of the plan.
“No, heavens no – I said we were going to poison his drink. It is imperative that no one touches the wine.”
Andrei paused to think for a moment. “Poison… poison… poisson… fish… boisson… drink. Oh dear. I may have made a slight mistake. Will there be no fish then?”
“You are truly a wonderful translator, Andrei Vasilyevich,” I said, shaking my head.
“I wholeheartedly apologize monsieur.”
In this midst of this confusion, I was struck by a realization that could potentially destroy our plot.
“Friends, Garlington does not drink alcohol of any sort,” I muttered. “Would be better if I put shashka in him myself.”
“For a man not to drink is the highest form of blasphemy,” said Captain Glass. “For if our Lord touched a cup to His divine lips, then should not all men follow his example? Also, what make you think such an important man as the governor of this colony would come without a bodyguard, Mister Rooshian? If they hear the rasp of a blade then we will all be fighting for our lives.”
Before I could think of a counter argument, we heard the cry of “jolly boat off the starboard beam!”
As the captain and his wife rushed outside, I grabbed Andrei and chased after them, swearing under my breath. Outside, the moon shone its rays over the gentle, shimmering waves that caressed Cape Coast’s shoreline. The only other light came from inside the windows of the castle, illuminated by many lanterns that no doubt also cast their light upon the unsavory activities of the castle’s red-coated denizens.
In the distance, I saw what the ship’s lookout had called out moments ago. A small jolly boat filled with British soldiers cut through the waves as it made its way towards us.
Garlington.
My heart began to race, knowing that we had no contingency plan. Perhaps we would have to call off the murder and treat his visit for what it was. Unless someone else had a better idea.
“I need a shift of clothes,” said Rebecca. “I want to present myself all proper for de devil before I rip he heart out.”
This was clearly not a better idea. I thought better of suggesting prudence and simply resigned myself to the idea that we would have to play this by ear, come what may.
We watched and waited as Garlington’s craft docked at our own. I had to stop myself from taking one of the ship’s small guns and sinking him then and there, for I knew that would be the spark that would ignite a powder keg of disaster.
The rope ladder was lowered, and Garlington himself was the first to board our ship. When he set foot on deck, as if on cue, a thunder cloud lit up the night sky. Several of his bodyguards, many carrying chests also climbed on board after him. This would not make things as easy as we had hoped.
“I say,” said Garlington as he dusted himself off. “It looks like we shall be in for a spot of rain this evening.” He turned to Captain Glass and removed his hat, making an ostentatious, flourishing bow with the twirling of the hand and silly extra movements that I thought made him look like an odd sort of bird.
“I am Lord Chester Garlington, First Baron Garlington, and it is my pleasure to make your acquaintance, my good sir.”
Captain Glass reciprocated Garlington’s flamboyant gesture with a curt nod.
“I am Captain Johnny Tarr, and this is my ship the Chaesar. It is an honor to have you aboard, milord. Shall we adjourn to my cabin?”
Moments later, when we were situated in the captain’s cabin, I saw those two men – the slaver and the liberator – who should, by all logic, be hated enemies, engaging in the most genuine jovial conversation about the weather of all things. I believed the banality of the conversation was all that was saving both men from engaging in a bloodbath.
I reasoned that this was the perfect opportunity to proceed with my portion of the plan. If I was to rescue Ogonna, it would have to be now.
“Please excuse, Lord Garlington, but I will like to bring back slave from afternoon last, for entertainment. She was very good at pleasing.”
Garlington raised his eyebrow at me.
“You enjoyed her? That is quite unfortunate. Her purchaser has most likely already brought her aboard his own guineaman along with several hundred others. They set sail at first light. But then again, it’s impossible for me to tell one darkie strumpet from another, especially with so many to process. Besides, what is the company of some loathsome African harlot compared to time spent between fellow gentlemen?”
I winced. Even though her fate seemed to be out of my hands, I needed to at least try and save her. I thought that perhaps there might be some opportunity during the party where I could simply excuse myself and slip away undetected to bring her back.
Lord Garlington tapped on his empty glass and caught our attention, distracting me from thoughts of escape.
“Well, as promised,” said Garlington, “I have not been so unkind a guest as to burden you with the issue of supplying all the food for this feast. My men have brought the finest cuts of pork and veal for us to dine on tonight, and they have informed your cook that they are to make use of your ship’s galley on the governor’s special order. Do not mind the cost of the coal for the cooking fires, gentlemen, I have taken your long voyage into consideration and have brought my own.”
I gritted my teeth. Another thorn in our plan. Captain Glass looked at me with a twitching eye.
“My good sir,” said Glass, raising his empty cup to me. “We should fetch drinks from the galley. Can you send your man Andrei down to the cook so we can bring up the good sherry?”
He mouthed the poison before giving me a fake smile.
Captain Glass was right – the poison the cook was to use was no doubt exposed somewhere in the kitchen, and there was no way the cook could use it if Garlington’s own men were watching over his shoulder the entire time or possibly preparing the meal themselves. It seemed that our plan to murder the governor was falling to shambles very quickly.
I grabbed Andrei by the shoulder, and he whimpered when he felt the strength of my grip. I gave him a big grin and said to him in Russian,
“Head down below, try to slip some poison into Garlington’s meal, and make sure that his people suspect nothing. It will be our heads if you fail.”
Andrei gave a frantic nod and excused himself from our presence, leaving in a hurry.
“The wine, sir? You shouldn’t worry,” said Garlington. “I brought some of my sobolo for all of you to try.”
With a clap of the governor’s hands, a soldier produced from a chest a green, unlabeled bottle. Garlington poured some of the dark red stuff into each of our glasses, and I began to wonder if he was trying to poison us instead.
“The savages may not have the trappings of civilization, but they do make the most interesting beverages, would you not agree, Captain Glass?”
“Oh, this is not the first time I have partook of such a drink, your lordship. I have been to the dark continent many times and I have sampled many of the gifts that its shores have had to offer.”
At that moment, the door swung open, and Rebecca entered the room. She wore a white evening gown with a rich gold brocade. On her head sat a small cocked hat adorned with a paper rose. Captain Glass’s face lit up with a grin, and Garlington raised an eyebrow.
“Is this one of those gifts, Captain Glass?”
The captain’s smile quickly disappeared.
“No sir, this is my wife, Rebecca.”
“Good day to yuh lordship.”
“Interesting, a marriage alliance. What tribe is she from, captain? Ga? Fante? Ashanti?”
“I right here, yuh lordship,” Rebecca said flatly. “Yuh can speak to me direct.”
“That accent is quite odd. She sounds nothing like the other tribes. Also, she seems quite ill-mannered. Typical.”
Rebecca’s smile contorted into a scowl, and Captain Glass rose up from his seat.
“Sir, I would thank you for treating my wife with the dignity that she deserves.”
Garlington paused for a moment and winced. “Oh, do not tell me that you married this one for love.”
“I most certainly did sir, and I ask you again to refrain from speaking about my wife as if she were not here!”
Captain Glass was speaking through gritted teeth now, and I saw that I had to intervene somehow.
“Friends!” I said as I threw my arms around the captain and his wife, “We are here for celebrate, not argue. Can we celebrate?”
“Lord Krym speaks true,” said Garlington. “We should all measure our responses and celebrate the good fortune that has brought us together.”
“Here, here,” Captain Glass muttered, dryly.
“We should toast, then – nothing to lighten our spirits like a good toast, I say. Captain, what shall we toast to?”
“Ah – to the empire and King George, may they be ever sustained.”
“Yes, indeed,” winked Garlington. “And to the African beasts that sustain them!”
Before Garlington could touch his glass to his lips, Rebecca, in one swift motion, grasped the paper rose on her hat and drew a pin the length of a dagger, which she used to stab Garlington in the neck.
The pin struck against the lord’s brass gorget, deflecting it. Garlington, equally quick, kicked her away and drew his pistol.
The poison plan was now definitely out of the question. I drew my shashka from her sheath to join the fight, but before I could take a swing, a musket butt hit me square between the eyes. After that, my vision fell into darkness.