Seaflower: A Kydd Novel Page 10

  ‘Why, that’s Zachary Caird, yer master shipwright come ter survey,’ said a local craftsman. ‘Second only ter the commissioner in the dockyard, is ’e.’

  One of the party reappeared on deck, his working clothes marking him as a shipwright. He brushed aside questions, slipping over the side and into the dockyard. He returned with a long, cylindrical section auger, and vanished below.

  Darkness was drawing in by the time the party came on deck again. From their grave expressions Kydd guessed that the repair would be a lengthy one. ‘Any word, sir?’ he asked the young lieutenant, after he had shepherded the survey team over the bulwarks.

  ‘Yes,’ said the officer offhandedly, ‘and we are to be condemned, I believe.’

  Kydd stared. ‘We . . .’

  ‘We are strained and leaking in the hull, and it is outside the powers of this dockyard to get us seaworthy enough to make passage back to England.’ He removed his cocked hat and wiped his forehead. ‘As they have no dry dock here for a great repair, we are finished. It was being at anchor in a hurricane, the strain and working at the bow, too much for the ironsick old vessel.’ He gazed away.

  ‘But––’

  ‘It’s subject to confirmation by others, but, well, you now know as much as I.’

  Stirk had no doubts about their future. ‘The Trajans are no more, cully! We’se goin’ ter be sent quicksmart t’ Barbados an’ the Loo’ard Island fleet, or it’s the Jamaica Squadron. Either way we gets no say a-tall which barky we’re goin’ ter ship out on.’

  Kydd’s spirits sank. It was hard to take. Renzi would probably not even know which ship he had been assigned to, all his friends would be scattered and he would not see them again. There was one other thing to add to his dejection. He was now a quartermaster’s mate, a petty officer: in a strange ship he would have to work his way up all over again. Captain Bomford’s promise of advancement meant nothing.

  The next day, Trajan was warped deeper into the harbour, well clear of other vessels, and prepared for de-storing. After the formality of a second opinion her guns would be removed and the process of hulking her would begin.

  A large detachment of seamen was soon taken off for immediate passage to Barbados. A brig-sloop took another six, an armed schooner three. A last-minute call from a passing 64-gun vessel took the majority of the remainder to Jamaica, leaving a silent, echoing ship and a handful of men.

  ‘Kydd!’ the lieutenant called. ‘Mr Caird has asked if I can spare a good hand to work with him ashore. I told him we can. Get your gear, the dockyard boat will be calling for you at six bells.’

  The dockyard? Kydd’s thoughts jostled and his first instinct was to object – but, then, perhaps it would be interesting, learning the internal secrets of so many different kinds of vessel. He found himself responding positively.

  But there was one left aboard to whom he must say farewell. Luke was stricken at the news. ‘B-but, Mr Kydd – you . . .’

  Touched by his grief Kydd fumbled for words, knowing the dockyard boat would be alongside soon. ‘Shall miss ye too, skinker,’ he said, ruffling the lad’s hair, ‘but we does our duty, an’ without gripin’.’ Luke stared at him but didn’t move as Kydd turned and left.

  The dockyard hoy was taking advantage of the trip by loading mounds of sails, awnings, cordage and other materials from Trajan for return to stores. Kydd found himself wedged in with these as he settled down for the short trip.

  The boat hoisted sail. As they made their way to the dockyard landing place, Kydd looked back on Trajan, his ship: her age-darkened sides, the ugly truncation of topmasts, the secrets of twenty years and the unknown thousands who had sailed in her. He felt a lump build in his throat as she fell astern. She slowly transfigured into yet another feature of the harbour, an anonymous vessel in the distance with all reality of having been his home now faded. He wrenched away his gaze. A different kind of life was starting for him now.

  The boat nosed in to the coral-rock quay, ending up neatly under a stout wooden crane where the single sail was dowsed. ‘Where’s Mr Caird?’ Kydd asked the crew. It seemed that he could be found at the boat-house. Kydd heaved out his sea-bag and started to head in the direction they had indicated.

  Then incredulous shouts came from the hoy. He looked back and saw Luke clambering out from under old sails. ‘Be damned! You’re a wicked rascal, to think on desertin’ y’r ship like this,’ Kydd said hotly. ‘Y’r goin’ straight back aboard.’

  ‘Not wi’ us, he ain’t – we got other work t’do,’ came a swift rejoinder from one of the hoy’s crew.

  ‘Well, how c’n he . . .’

  ‘Not our problem, mate.’

  Kydd swore, but saw the appeal in Luke’s big eyes, his little bundle of belongings over his shoulder, and knew that, if he insisted, he would be condemning the lad. He swore again. ‘Follow me, y’ ill-lookin’ swab,’ he growled, and set out for the boat-house. Obediently Luke fell into step behind.

  The boat-house consisted of an extensive loft rested on lines of tall stone pillars. Below, boats were floated inside, then hoisted to the workshop floor. The resinous aroma of timber lay strongly on the breeze that played through the pillars, a clean, welcome scent in the overall reek of a harbour. Mr Caird stepped out from the store-room at the back. Kydd recognised him at once as the master shipwright who had surveyed Trajan.

  ‘Thomas Kydd, who’s been sent fr’m Trajan for service ashore.’

  Caird looked at him keenly. ‘What was your rate aboard?’

  Again Kydd was struck by the calm gaze, the certainty in his manner. ‘Quartermaster’s mate, sir.’

  Caird nodded. ‘If I may observe, you’re young for the rate, are you not?’ A series of flat thumps with a mallet sounded to one side.

  Kydd returned his look defiantly.

  ‘But, of course, you will have earned it,’ Caird added quickly. ‘You may need it. Have you had experience of men of colour?’

  Taken aback by the question Kydd paused. There were no slaves in England, and the only black men he had seen at sea were all free, as he was. ‘Not as y’ might say,’ he said cautiously.

  ‘I have it in mind to employ you as a Master of the King’s Negroes – to take my shipwright’s sidesmen in charge.’

  ‘Aye, sir,’ Kydd said carefully.

  ‘To see they’re mustered at work each morning, that they’re not in want of what they need – but ye need to know, I’ll not have them abused, sir.’

  Thoughts racing, Kydd murmured assent. This was utterly beyond his expectations. Caird regarded him thoughtfully, then his gaze slipped to Luke, who smiled up at him uncertainly.

  ‘And this is – your servant?’ Caird said. ‘You are entitled, of course, as a master, but we have our own, you know.’

  Caught off-balance, Kydd stuttered an acknowledgement.

  Caird’s eyebrows rose. ‘Well, if you insist – but he will have to share servants’ quarters.’

  ‘Th-thank you,’ Kydd said, not daring to look at Luke.

  ‘Hercules will show you to your lodgings. I will see you at my office at four o’clock, if you please.’

  Kydd followed the black man along the road, past workshops and sawpits, Luke walking silently behind with his bundle. They went through the dockyard gate and stopped at one of a row of small but neat two-storey houses. ‘In dis house – youse in de top floor, massa.’

  Kydd opened the little wicket gate and stepped inside: there was an external flight of stairs to the top storey. The man looked once more at him, then touched his forehead and left.

  At the top of the stairs the door held a key: Kydd turned it and entered. The small room smelt stuffy and unused. There was a low bed, a side dresser with a jug, and little else. Kydd crossed the room and opened one of two doors to a tiny sitting room with armchair and table. The other led to a snug veranda overlooking the hills beyond. ‘Hey, now,’ Kydd said, with satisfaction. ‘So I’m t’ be a master, an’ live in a house.’

  By late afte
rnoon Kydd had the place in order. On the lower floor, it seemed, was the chief caulker, now absent. He would pay his respects later.

  ‘Where do I go, Mr Kydd?’ said Luke, overawed by events.

  ‘Why, with th’ other servants, o’ course.’ Kydd chuckled. Luke’s face fell. Kydd couldn’t keep it up. ‘But then again, I c’d have ye close at hand, see t’ my wants at any time. Oh, yes! So I decides I want you to doss down here, younker, but mark you, mind y’ has proper respect f’r yer master.’

  ‘Yes, an’ I will, Mr Kydd,’ said Luke, seriously.

  The office of the master shipwright was with the master attendant and commissioner, right at the far end, but the dockyard was compact and well laid out. Kydd was shown into the airy office. Caird sat at his desk, his quill scratching busily. He glanced up as Kydd approached. ‘A minute, if you please.’

  The room was extremely clean, furniture well polished, and ornamented only with a series of charts and half-breadth shipyard models. A Christian devotional etching hung in the centre of one wall.

  Caird swivelled round. ‘Please be seated, Mr Kydd,’ he said, motioning to a cane chair on one side. ‘I am the master shipwright here, as you know, and my responsibilities are extensive. It would be gratifying if I could rely on those the good Lord sees fit to set under me.’ He paused, looking intently at Kydd. ‘This is not always the case, I am grieved to say.’

  The interview continued with a clear and unequivocal setting-out of Kydd’s new duties, which were also carefully written down for him. It concluded with a stern warning on conduct. ‘Do you mark my words, Mr Kydd, I will suffer no man in my charge to corrupt himself by yielding up his body to drink and carnality. Should he so dishonour me, I shall cast him out without mercy.’

  Kydd was by no means a tippler: he disliked the surrender of will involved in drunkenness, and as to carnality, he had not seen a female of any age anywhere. ‘Aye, sir, ye need have no fears of me,’ he said positively.

  ‘Ah, that is good. Your predecessor did grievously disappoint in this. I wish you well for the future, and we may expect your presence on the morrow at the boat-house.’

  Later, in the privacy of his room, Kydd studied the paper containing full details of his duties. The King’s Negroes were slaves, but superior slaves, it seemed, for not only did they have considerable skills but, to Kydd’s surprise, some even had slaves of their own. He would have a driver, a foreman, who would be responsible to him for the others, and a line of responsibility to the yard boatswain.

  ‘Y’r pardon, Mr Kydd,’ said Luke anxiously. He stood at the door respectfully. ‘I c’n have yer scran alongside, should yer want it now.’

  Kydd felt abashed: he had not really meant it when he told Luke he was a servant. Now the lad was taking him at his word. On reflection, however, he realised that, given the circumstances, it might be the best thing. ‘Thank ye, Luke, I will.’

  Kydd returned to his paper. The King’s Negroes’ chief employment was as a skilled crew to assist shipwrights and riggers in major operations, such as in heaving down ships for underwater repairs or replacing whole masts. His would be the first party to board men-o’-war entering harbour having been wounded in battle or savaged by a hurricane.

  Luke spread a small tablecloth on the sitting-room table. Without looking up, he carefully laid a single place with pewter plate and knife, and withdrew.

  Kydd finished the paper, smiling to himself at the strictures on keeping his men sober and diligent.

  The cool of the morning showed Antigua in its best light: delicate tints, clarity of air, and everywhere the sparkling translucence of the sea.

  On the flat grassy area next to the boat-house Kydd surveyed the King’s Negroes. They returned his contemplation with stony indifference, or looked away with disinterest. Big, well-muscled and hard-looking, they were dressed in canvas trousers and buttoned waistcoat over naked skin. Some wore old-fashioned three-cornered cocked hats, others a bandanna. Unusually for slaves, all carried a sheathed seaman’s knife.

  ‘An’ who’s the driver?’ Kydd asked, in even tones. The men kept silent, staring back at him. Kydd tried to sense their feelings, but there was a barrier.

  ‘The driver!’ he snapped. If it was going to be this way, so be it, but then the hardest-looking of them pulled himself up slowly and confronted Kydd. ‘I’se driver,’ he said, his voice deep and strong. He regarded Kydd impassively from under hooded black eyes, his arms folded.

  Kydd looked at the others. There was no feeling in their expressions. They existed in stasis, much like beasts of the field, it appeared. ‘I’m Kydd, and I’m th’ new master,’ he said. There was no response, no interest. ‘What’s y’r name?’ he demanded of the driver.

  ‘Juba,’ he said.

  ‘What are their names?’ said Kydd. ‘They are t’ tell me themselves,’ he added.

  A flicker of curiosity showed in their faces. ‘Nero,’ grunted an older one. Kydd nodded, and prompted the man next to him.

  ‘Quamino.’

  ‘An’ you?’ Kydd went on.

  ‘Ben Bobstay.’

  One by one, he had a name from each. He hesitated over whether to make a strict speech of introduction, but thought better of it. ‘If ye does y’r duty, ye’ll have nothing t’ fear fr’m me,’ he said firmly, and turned to greet Caird, who had just arrived.

  ‘I see you have mustered your crew already,’ Caird said. ‘Fort Shirley has signalled that Rose frigate will be here this morning – she has a sprung foremast, which we shall in course replace.’ He stopped to take a sheaf of lists from a waiting shipwright and scanned them quickly. ‘Where are your roves, sir?’ he asked impatiently. ‘Were you thinking to secure with nails?’ His forehead creased, and the shipwright cringed. Caird turned to Kydd again. ‘We shall not need the sheer hulk – the boatswain of the yard will rig sheers on her foredeck.’

  Kydd had no experience of such skilled work, and if he was expected to take charge . . .

  ‘The boatswain will be overseer,’ said Caird, as if sensing Kydd’s thoughts. ‘It only requires that you tell your driver the task – he has done this work, and you may feel sure that he knows what to do.’

  The 28-gun frigate Rose sailed in without warping, even with minimal sail at the fore, a fine piece of seamanship in the exuberant late-summer breezes. She had suffered at the hands of the hurricane – sea-whitened timbers and ropes leached of their tar, stoppers seized at places in her rigging, the patchy wooden paleness of new repairs showing here and there. But she rounded to, and her sails came in smartly, as if her company were conscious of their fortune in being spared by the fates.

  The boatswain of the yard, sitting in the stern-sheets of the dockyard boat with Kydd, stared idly ahead. The rowers pulled heavily, towing two massive sheer-legs in the water.

  To Kydd, it was strangely affecting to step over the bulwarks and be in a sea world belonging to others. While the boatswain talked to the Captain, his eyes strayed to little things that would be embedded in the consciousness of the ship’s company – the dog-vane to point the direction of the wind and fashioned into a red-petalled rose, the binnacle finished with a varnished bolt-rope, the smart black japanned speaking trumpet also with a painted rose – all these would be the familiar images of daily life at sea.

  Rose’s seamen looked at him curiously, his small band of black men at his back. ‘What cheer, mate?’ said one. ‘Where’s to go on th’ ran-tan?’

  Spared from having to answer by the boatswain’s hail from forward, Kydd reported himself and his men. ‘You, Kydd, get y’r men out o’ the way fer now, but I’ll want ’em on the cross spar afore we cants the sheers,’ the boatswain said, and turned to his own crew.

  Kydd stared at the scene with some anxiety. The fo’c’sle was a maze of ropes and blocks laid out along the deck each side from when the topmast had been struck. How it was possible to pluck the feet-thick foremast, like a tooth, straight out from where it ended morticed into its step on the keel he had
no idea. Juba did not volunteer a word. He stood aside, watching with a patience that seemed limitless and at the same time detached.

  The boatswain’s men ranged mighty three-fold purchases. The sheaved blocks were each nearly double the size of a man’s head, the falls coiled in fakes yards long. Lesser tackles were made fast to knightheads and kevels, and all was ready to bring aboard the sheers. But then the boatswain stepped back, his arms folded. Kydd saw why: in a nice division of responsibilities, it was men of the Rose who manned the jeer capstan to take the weight, then lower the heavy seventy-five-foot width of the foreyard, indecently shorn of its usual complexity of buntlines and halliards.

  The foremast now stood alone, its wound clearly visible as a long bone-coloured fracture under the capstan bars, which had been splinted around it. ‘Kydd, y’r cross spar!’ the boatswain called impatiently.

  Kydd had been too interested in the proceedings and was caught unawares but he swiftly rounded on Juba. ‘Cross spar!’ he snapped, stepping towards the sheers. He looked fearlessly at the man, who hesitated just a moment, looking into Kydd’s eyes, then moved into action. In low tones he called to the other negroes, in words incomprehensible to Kydd. The men split into two parties and slid the fore topgallant yard athwartships, then up against the splayed end of the sheers. They stopped and Juba looked up slowly. Kydd turned to the men at the cross-piece of the sheers and told them to pass the seizing.

  ‘Like a throat-seizing an’ not too taut,’ the boatswain suggested.

  ‘Aye,’ said Kydd, happy with a new-found realisation: no matter how complex and technical the task, it could be rendered down to a series of known seamanlike evolutions.

  The sheers were duly canted, tilted up so the guys could get an angle to sway the sheer-legs aloft. At the same time tackles at their feet held them firmly in place. It was almost an anti-climax, knocking aside the mast wedges, freeing the partners and hearing the massive tackle creak as it strained in a vertical pull up on the mast, which gave in a sudden and alarming jerk upwards.

  There was suddenly nothing to do as the freed mast was angled and slowly lowered over the ship’s side to be floated ashore, a fearsome thing that could spear the heart out of the frigate if it was accidentally let go. Kydd glanced at the motionless Juba, intrigued by the man’s self-possession. Unexpectedly Juba allowed a brief smile to appear. Kydd smiled back, and pretended to follow the progress of the mast over the side.