Part 53 (2/2)

”You'll not have the sea at your back, the way you do now, should we find need for a tactical retreat.”

”Aye, but we'll have little else, either.” Morris looked back at Calvert. ”I'd have us off-load some of the s.h.i.+p ordnance as soon as possible. We're apt to need it to hold our position here, especially since I'll wager they'll have at least twice the cavalry mustered that these Windwards have got.”

”You'll not hold this island from the sh.o.r.es of Oistins Bay, sir, much as you might wish.” Anthony felt his frustration rising. ”We've got to move upland as soon as we can.”

”I'd have us camp here, for tonight.” Morris tried to signal his disquiet to Calvert. ”Those will be my orders.”

”Very well, sir,” Walrond continued, squinting toward the Windward Regiment's cavalry, their horses prancing as they stood at attention.

”And don't forget the other consideration in our agreement. The a.s.sembly is to be given one more opportunity to accept the terms. You are obliged to draft one final communication for Bedford, beseeching him to show himself an Englishman and persuade the a.s.sembly to let us reach an accord.”

”As you will, sir.” Calvert turned away, biting his tongue before he said more.

Keep an even keel, he told himself. There'll be time and plenty to reduce this island, Sir Anthony Walrond with it. The work's already half done. Now to the rest. After we've brought

them to heel, we'll have time enough to show them how the Commonwealth means to rule the Americas.

Time and plenty, may G.o.d help them all.

”Shango, can you hear me?” She knelt beside her mat, her voice pleading. How, she wondered, did you pray to a Yoruba G.o.d? Really pray?

Was it the same as the Christian G.o.d?

But Shango was more.

He was more than just a G.o.d. He was also part of her, she knew that now. But must he always wait to be called, evoked? Must he first seize your body for his own, before he could declare his presence, work his will?

Then the hard staccato sounds came again, the drums, their Yoruba words drifting up over the rooftop from somewhere in the distance and flooding her with dread, wrenching her heart.

Tonight, they proclaimed, the island will be set to the torch. And the _branco _will be consumed in the fires.

The men of the Yoruba, on plantations the length of the island, were ready. This was the day consecrated to Ogun, the day the fields of cane would be turned to flame. Even now Atiba was dictating final orders, words that would be repeated again and again by the drums.

After the fires began, while the _branco _were still disorganized and frightened, they would attack and burn the plantation houses. No man who owned a _preto_ slave would be left alive. With all the powerful _branco_ slaveholders dead, the drums proclaimed, the white indentures would rise up and join with the Yoruba. Together they would seize the island.

Oh Shango, please. She gripped the sides of the thin mattress. Make him understand. No white will aid them. To the _branco_ the proud Yoruba warriors are merely more _preto_, black and despised. Make him understand it will be the end of his dream. To rise up now will mean the slaughter of his people. And ensure slavery forever.

In truth, the only one she cared about was Atiba. To know

with perfect certainty that she would see him hanged, probably his body then quartered to frighten the others, was more than she could endure.

His rebellion had no chance. What could he hope to do? Not even Ogun, the powerful G.o.d of war, could overcome the _branco's_ weapons and cunning. Or his contempt for any human with a trace of African blood.

Atiba had hinted that he and his men would somehow find muskets. But where?

This afternoon, only hours ago, she had heard another signal cross the island, the musket shots the _branco _had devised to sound an invasion alert. Following that, many groups of cavalry had ridden past, headed south. The sight of them had made her reflect sadly that Atiba and his Yoruba warriors had no horses.

Afterward she had learned from the white servants that the soldiers of the Ingles fleet had again invaded the island, this time on the southern coast. This meant that all the Barbados militiamen surely must be mobilized now. Every musket on the island would be in the hands of a white. There would be no cache of guns to steal. Moreover, after the battle--regardless of who won--the soldiers of the fleet would probably help the militiamen hunt down Atiba and his men. No branco wanted the island seized by African slaves.

Shango, stop them. Ogun has made them drunk for the taste of blood. But the blood on their lips will soon be their own.

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