Read Online Seaflower by Julian Stockwin - Free Book Online Page B

they attack?'
    'Yeah,
don't worry.'
    'An'
don't ye worry y'rself,' Kydd said stoudy. 'Navy'll be sendin' their fleet
soon, an' that'll settle their account.' Trajan and the others would make short work of whatever
ships the French had — if they were alerted and could make it back in time.
    The
new day developed into its usual tropical grandeur. The royalist force marched
out with English soldiers to meet the revolutionaries, and that night the
Vernou family sat up late, debating events. Kydd lay awake for a long time,
haunted by an image of Louise strapped to a guillotine, looking up at the
blade.
    He
was awoken in the dark early hours by sounds from below. There was a scuffle
outside followed by a furious hammering on the door. He leaped from bed and
hurried below, aware that he and Renzi were the only men in the house.
Cautiously he unbarred the door.
    'Que
Dieu nous aide, nous sommes condamnes; a
middle-aged lady in mob cap cried as she pushed inside. Renzi, close behind
Kydd, tried to pacify her. She thrust a paper at him.
    Renzi
took a candle from Louise, who had just appeared, and read. The flickering
light lit up his face from below. 'The worst!' he said, his expression as grave
as Kydd had seen. 'The political leader of these revolutionaries, whose name is
Victor Hugues, has made a proclamation, which he has secretly posted throughout
the town under cover of night' Kydd felt his bowels tighten.
    'He
has stated, in effect, that the glorious revolution promised liberty, equality
and fraternity, which applies to the slaves of this island. All slaves are now
free and owe no obedience to any béké from this moment on.'
    'C'est
la fin de noire societe telle que nous la connaissons? the woman moaned. Louise stood stock still, pale and
staring.
    'What
does it mean?' Kydd said, but he knew the answer already. He had no specific
feelings about slavery - he hadn't any experience of it — but the effect of
uncontrolled freedom on those who had been enslaved would have the situation
spinning out of control.
    Renzi
spoke quietly. 'It means that with a single move of diabolical genius, this
Victor Hugues has turned the tables on us. A large slave population now loose
and in disorder is something no military commander can have in his rear. We are
finished.'
    There
was a horrified silence.
    'As
far as we know—'
    From
the shop came the sudden sound of splintering glass and low animal growls. Kydd
pushed open the door, and in the breaking dawn saw figures clambering through
the wreckage of the front window.
    'Get
back! It's not safe!' Kydd called, slammed the door and shot the bolt. The
terrified ladies hurried up the stairs while Renzi searched for arms.
    There
were more sounds of breaking glass, then quiet.
    Kydd
eased open the door and saw that the shopfront was in ruins. He crossed to the
door and looked out into the street. It was deserted — but a plume of smoke
billowed skyward a street away. Irregular, sinister sounds broke the peace.
    'We'd
better stay with the ladies, Nicholas,' Kydd called.
    Renzi
joined him. 'Hark!' he said sharply, holding up his hand.
    Kydd
couldn't be sure, but he thought he heard a sharp squeal against the silence. It
chilled his blood. 'I thought—'
    'Shut
up!'
    Then,
from the top of the street, came a boatswain's call.
    'Hands
to muster!' exclaimed Kydd. He ran into the middle of the street and waved his
arms.
    The
boatswain's mate looked him over with a lopsided smile. 'You, Kydd, get yer men
'n' their gear over to th' town square. We needs ev'ry man c'n carry a musket.'
    At
Kydd's reluctance, he snapped, 'Sharpish like! Lootenant ain't waitin' fer any
wants ter dally.' He glared at Kydd and left.
    Kydd
looked back at the old shop, the front sad and threatening. How could he
abandon the women at this time? He stole a glance at Renzi. His friend was
looking steadily at him, his arms folded. He looked away. Perhaps there was
time to get Louise and Madame Vernou away - but the schooner was still