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.”
