Cavendish's hand dropped from the latch. Then he looked thoughtful. There had been a trace of laughter in the voice that had answered him. He would wager any amount of gold she was standing on the other side of the door, fully dressed. He started to open the door. Then he stopped, for he couldn't be sure. And he couldn't help smiling.
"Hurry, then, señora," he said. "I am anxious to see you with your face washed."
"I hurry," she said, in English, with an upward inflection.
"I sent you your boxes," Cavendish said.
"I know. It is most kind of you." She opened the door then, and
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he saw she was dressed in white. Her hair was brushed and gleaming, and fastened on top of her head. She was perfectly groomed, and had opened the door quickly enough to let him know she had been teasing him a moment before.
She spoke demurely. "Cosmos brought us food and water. I thank you very much."
Cavendish smiled. There were footsteps on the companionway, and he said, "Pitt, will you come here?"
"Aye, aye, sir," said an English voice. Catherine de Montoro looked at the newcomer.
"This is Pitt, señora," Cavendish said. "He is from the Desire. He will be on guard here now, and if you wish something, he will be happy to oblige you."
"Aye, madam," Pitt said. He shot a look at Cavendish; then he moved away.
"And this will be your cabin, señora, while you are still aboard the Santa Anna."
"While I am still aboard?" Her eyes were suddenly questioning.
His face was guarded. "Your officers and crew are being disembarked," he said. "To the beaches. We are anchored at San Lucas. Aguada Segura."
"Aguada Segura?"
"Safe watering place. An apt name," he said. "You and the other women will remain aboard. For a while. The man on guard at the companionway will be relieved, at each watch. But he will always do whatever you wish. You understand, señora?"
"I do," she said. Her voice was more distant. "Then you take Cosmos with you?"
"Aye, madam."
They had been speaking English. Now she lapsed into Spanish, her face intent and serious. "Cosmos is seventeen," she said quickly. "He is—señor, he can read and write his own language. He is capable of intense devotion—he will be faithful always, if—"
Cavendish said, "I shall leave him here to wait on you "
"No!"
"Why not, señora?" He looked down at her steadily.
"Because he belongs to you now," she said. "I do not need him. Soon I leave this, too." She motioned to the cabin. "You said."
"Señora," he said, and there was a look in his blue eyes that was asking for understanding. It was there briefly, and then it was gone. But she had seen it plainly.
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"I must go now," he said.
"Will you bid Cosmos adios for me?"
"I shall," he said. It did not occur to him to let Cosmos say his own good-bye.
"Gracias," she said.
"Good-bye, then, señora," he answered. He turned abruptly and she heard his steps ascending the ladder unhurriedly. He was gone.
On deck, there were no seamen except the English. The disembarkation of the Spanish crew was complete. The sun was shining; the waters of the bay were blue. At anchor rode the Desire and the Content and the great Santa Anna. The white beach was near. On it, drawn up neatly, were the ship's boats from the galleon; from the narrow belt of pine forests that stretched back from the sand, came the sound of axes as the Spaniards felled small trees, and made clearings for the tents they were putting up. They were using extra sail from the Santa Anna for tents.
Cavendish's boat was ready for him. He slid down into it, and the men pulled for the Desire. Cosmos watched the ship draw nearer; his small chest containing all his worldly belongings was under his feet; he looked down at his folded hands to conceal the tears in his eyes.
The Captain's brother was watching him. The Captain's brother seemed to understand; he smiled and patted Cosmos on the shoulder as Cosmos climbed aboard the Desire. The seamen stared at him.
"They've never seen your like before," David said.
Cosmos grinned happily.
"You're a vain monkey," Cavendish said, and Cosmos nodded.
"Aye, aye, sir," he said, and the men laughed at him.
Cosmos picked up his chest and followed his Captain aft. He felt much better. Cosmos was introduced to Captain Havers. He listened for a moment while the two men talked, quickly; there was a pause in their conversation, and Cosmos put in worriedly, "You eat now, sir?" His brown eyes were on Cavendish.
"Aye, aye, Cosmos," Cavendish said, mimicking him and smiling as Cosmos hastened out. "In gold alone, Havers, there are one hundred and twenty thousand pieces." He was stripping off his clothes.
"Lord God," said Havers, puffing on his pipe. He thought that over for a minute. He blew out a cloud of smoke. He rose to his feet. "I'll summon the Spanish Captain and de Ersola now, Tom."
"I'll be ready in fifteen minutes," Cavendish said. "I'm famished. Havers."
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"Fifteen minutes, then," Havers said.
"I want David present," Cavendish added.
"Aye, Tom," Havers started out and bumped into Cosmos coming in the door. Cosmos carried a tray of food.
"You're quick," Havers said approvingly.
"I told the cook, hurry," Cosmos said. He set down the tray and took the razor from Cavendish's hand. "Eat first," he said. "I sharpen this."
He moved about the cabin, laying out fresh clothes. Surreptitiously he watched Cavendish eat. The Captain had a wonderful appetite. Cosmos was pleased with the amount he ate. When Cavendish was dressed and shaved, Cosmos looked at him critically.
He handed Cavendish a gold-hilted dagger as a finishing touch. Absently Cavendish thrust it through his belt.
"You may come with me, Cosmos," he said.
Pleased, Cosmos trotted after him. He was five feet tall and he came just to Cavendish's shoulder. Cosmos opened the door for his Captain and followed him into the Desire's great cabin. Cosmos looked about appreciatively.
There were four men in the cabin and Cosmos knew them all. Señor de Ersola, standing tall and graceful, greeted him with a speculative smile. Cosmos was one of the first signs of victory; he belonged to the English Captain now.
"Good morning, sirs," Cavendish said, seating himself. "If you will sit, we may be comfortable while we talk."
Cosmos stood behind Cavendish's chair and watched the other men sit. Cavendish asked him to pour some wine, and he did. He filled the silver goblets.
"Now," said Cavendish, "the terms of your surrender were simple and easy. I pledged your lives and good usage—" he stressed the two words—"and you gave over to me all your goods, weapons, merchandise and food. All of that now belongs to us."
David looked from Cavendish to Flores. David was unsurprised by Cavendish's opening words; he was employing his usual tactics, driving forward to something he wanted by emphasizing the strength of his own position.
The Spanish Captain Flores, his plump face white, said, "That is quite true, sir."
De Ersola took a sip of his wine. His dark face betrayed nothing of what went on in his mind. Cavendish resumed. "Thus, the Santa Anna belongs to us. Your company, including your officers,
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has already been disembarked. I have given them permission, instruction rather, to build tents ashore, in clearings under the pine trees back from the beach. Those tents are to house your passengers." He looked about at Cosmos. "Will you serve us some fruit, Cosmos?" He was frowning a little; he picked the dagger out of his belt, and held it lightly in his palm, as if he were wondering if he had explained enough. He wasn't used to explaining. "It's impossible, of course, sirs, to have women aboard while we unload the Santa Anna and transfer her goods to the Desire and the Content."