Mir Pacifica

Published: 29 Aug 2019

It was almost a pleasure to Thomas to feel the fresh wind in his face as the three ships, now line astern; pushed their bows into the light waves and the loud voices of the sailors could be heard with a new energy in them. Had Thomas been able to stand off to the side as the ships pushed ahead he was sure he would have been proud of the small flotilla with all their sails filled and white water pushed aside by their sharp bows.

There was still activity on the deck as the last of the heavy barrels and wooden crates from their stop in Cape Town were manhandled below decks; it was a relief to have everything now stored and secured below decks.

For the next few weeks the ships were fortunate enough to have continuing good weather and made good time towards their next port of call. Only once was there a slight hitch in their plans as they once again hit the doldrums and the ships slowed to a crawl but this time there was just barely enough wind to keep them moving forward at a steady 5 knots and so did not be-calm them completely.

It was in the early morning when the long awaited call came from high in the tops where a daily lookout was positioned for just such a case. Like and unearthly echo from afar the call was heard down below on the quarter deck.

“Land Ho.”

“Where away?” called Roger Scully.

“Five points on the port bow.” Came the distant reply.

There was an immediate flurry of action as those who could, unsnapped their telescopes and looked forward and off to the port side ahead. Through his own telescope Thomas could make out a dark smudge on the horizon; they were now in sight of Madagascar and their next stop to re-victual the ships for the long haul to Goa on the Indus Continent, their next port of call.

The following morning saw all three of the ships lying at anchor just off the small port of a town called Maroantsetra; although they were not to find this out until after landing a small party ashore to find the needed supplies. While the people looked too far different from those of the African continent, they were still of a darker hue than first expected and their features were of a different shape and kind to those they had left behind.

The small port town was a hustle and bustle of business where they were able to obtain a large quantity of fresh fruits and vegetables along with meats that they decided not to ask where they came from but instead sent back to the ships for salting and preservation for the voyage ahead.

Roger Scully knew the large island was controlled by a King but they were never approached by any officials to meet with any of the governing bodies and so assumed the port was well visited by other foreign ships for supplies.

Roger had given orders for the revictualling to be completed as soon as possible so that they could continue on their way towards the Indus Continent as quickly as they possible could; he did not want to be delayed by trivia and so ordered the crew to stay aboard except for those being used to transport the goods out to the ships in the long boats.

Three days later and they were ready for the next long leg of the journey; saying farewell to the small port took little effort as the sails filled with the early morning breeze and the ships left the confines of the port and the protection of the deep cove to make their way out to sea and turn north by east towards their destination and the port of Goa.

They had been fortunate to have Captain Du Maurier as the language on the Island was mainly French and his assistance helped in the trading and garnering a good price for the goods purchased which were all paid for with some of the gold they carried from their stop in Africa.

With the island now falling further and further behind them, the routine of ship board life returned much the same as before. As had been his habit, George and his dark shadow were seen once again on top of one of the hatches in practice of their arms skills. Thomas stood on the quarter deck in his shirt sleeves as was his want in those torridly hot days and nights as they drew closer to the equator; and watched the two figures performing their exercises and combat.

Thomas had marvelled at how the once thin and undernourished young boy had seemed to grow and fill out under the tutorledge of George’s fatherly hands and gentle care. Thomas marvelled at George’s patience and the small boy’s dedication as he watched them. The two had a routine of practice that would have made some grown men flinch. For two hours every morning and two hours every evening the pair could be seen at their labours.

Thomas now saw that the small lad whom George called “Boy” had lost the distended belly of the starved and was now flat bellied and even looked to be taller as his body developed muscles due to his practice sessions. His young skin glowed with health and his devotion to George was apparent in everything he did with the older man, even showing in the determined look on his young fresh face as he worked like a full grown man on his practice regime.

Only a few weeks ago George had deemed it time for the boy to learn more about combat against others and, to this end had enlisted the help of some of Master Gunner Morgans men and a few of the marines to be practice partners for the lad. The marines would take up long handles much like those used on brooms; perhaps that was exactly where they came from. Next the marines would stand around the lad and make use of the long handles as though they were bayonet tipped muskets while the lad worked on learning to avoid or attack them with his own much shorter hand spear.

When Thomas first saw this happening he had become concerned for the lads heath as the Marines made strikes on him which were quite firm but the lad seem to be prepared to accept the hard hits and continued with his practice regardless of the damage he must have sustained. George was ever present but only interfered when he wanted to show Boy where he had gone wrong or how to make certain adjustments.

Thomas was truly amazed at the lad’s persistence even though he must have felt every hit that got through his defence but he never wavered in his earnest endeavour. The sailors were different in that George had given them stout canes which they used much like a cutlass would have been and Thomas often saw welts on the lad’s skin where the canes had got through his defence as he was then only armed with the flat small wooden club.

Over the last few weeks Thomas had spent a lot of time watching the practice and even went as far as learning a few things himself from watching. Boy had improved so much over the weeks that now the forces arrayed against him found it difficult to even get a single strike on his slender body. However George had other ideas and once he saw how proficient Boy had become he increased the number of attackers; once again Boy took it stoically as he tried even harder, ignoring the bruises and welts as he perfected his talents.

This morning Thomas was surprised to see no sailors or Marines at the practice, instead there was only George and he was once again stripped almost naked as he held his much longer hand spear at the ready; in the belt and behind his back was the heavy green stone club. It appeared that George thought that the much smaller lad was ready to take on the master of his weapons.

Boy was dressed much the same as George; that is to say almost naked except for the leather belt around his waist and the small cloth that went between his legs to cover his boyhood; also his smaller club was positioned in his belt at the back and his shorter hand spear was at the ready in his hands.

What was to happen next would bring the crew of the ship to a standstill to watch in awe of the two unequally matched people; one, George was large and even though he was well into his years still looked as competent and dangerous as any younger man. He was countered by a small slim dark skinned boy who could have been just a snack for the larger man had it been an eating contest.

The pair stood about six feet apart and both stared unwaveringly into the others eyes as they both held their fighting spears at what Thomas assumed was the ready position but turned to be what Thomas though was more of a salute as they both spun the spears rapidly and with a quick flick of their hands were holding them by the dull carved point with the flat blade resting on the canvas of the hatch covers to their right hand side as though opening their breasts for a free strike.

The two stood like that for what must have been a full minute before Boy whipped up his spear and was quickly followed by George into what Thomas thought of as the guard position with the hands held at the centre of the spear shaft with the carved point facing down and the wide blade now in front of the face but turned sidewise towards the opponent. What took place next was to confuse the many watchers as they could see no rhyme or reason for such actions but it evidently meant something to the two participants.

Firstly the two faced off with a separation of about six feet, next George took a stance with his right leg slightly behind the left with his knees slightly bent and brought his spear to the front in a double handed grip as though to indicate he was ready for an attack or to defend himself.

Boy watched George carefully until he saw the older man was in his ready stance, what occurred next was in some way rather comical for those watching but, at the same time it seemed to carry a fearsome message that only the two knew of.

Boy’s voice, although young sounding; began to make something of a chant but it was no ordinary chant; this one also went along with facial grimaces and the stamping of his feet on the hatch cover. While the strange words of an unknown language were shouted out, Boy was also twirling his spear and making false attacks and all the while his eyes would open wide like small round orbs and his tongue would be poked out at certain times.

George’s reply to these strange antics were to make his own gestures in the direction of the lad and although he no longer had his voice his fearsome facial expressions left little doubt in the minds of the silent watchers that George was also answering the now obvious challenge from his small opponent. It appeared that at a certain time during this strange performance there was an unknown signal sent to Boy.

George suddenly stopped his posturing and flicked his spear over so the wide blade was facing the ground and with what appeared to be a defiant gesture, made a half circle on the hatch in front of him with the tip of the blade; even Thomas could interpret the gesture as saying “You will not pass this point”.

As George finished the half circle with his spear, Boy attacked with such venom that those watching truly thought he had a death wish. What then took place left all those watching not only totally silent but also holding their breaths as the two went into what could have been construed as a dance of death.

Thomas watched closely and saw that in fact the few strikes that hit were done with a very small amount of power behind them but the two would have put fear into the bravest of men had they had the misfortune to face either one in a battle. The loud clashing of the hard wooden spears could be heard throughout the ship as the two combatants advanced or retreated with jumps and leaps that defied logic or gravity.

The fight went on for almost fifteen minutes in which time; much to the onlooker’s dismay Boy managed to strike George at least three times but he did pay for his other errors and while George obviously was not using his full strength with his strikes, Boy would have a few bruises for his troubles.

It was George who suddenly called a halt to what appeared to be an all out melee by suddenly taking a step back and taking the same stance as before the fight started and holding his spear upright before his body. Boy immediately stopped his attack and with something that may have been viewed by those who did not know an insult to George; Boy, as he turned his back poked his tongue out again and opened his eyes wide and at the same time slapped his thin buttocks as he moved back to his original starting position.

George seemed unfazed by the actions. Once Boy was standing at the ready like before; George spun his spear around in a complicated pattern and then, keeping his eyes on Boy; bent at the knees and placed the spear on the hatch top and rose to an upright position as he put his right hand behind his back. George’s hand did not reappear but stayed hidden as he watched while Boy then followed his example.

When Boy had risen again and his hand still behind his back just like Georges, he started to once again use the strange language, stamping his feet and making more strange facial expressions as his small hand came forward holding the flat oval wooden club. Thomas had time to note that a long string was wrapped around Boy’s wrist and tied to the handle of the club.

As Boy made his gestures along with stamping feet and leaps while at the same time spinning in the air and landing with a heavy thump of his small feet; George had also removed his hand from behind his back to display the larger and much heavier green stone club; also with an attached thong to hold it to his wrist.

When the two person melee started after the posturing and chants, it was obvious to all that Boy was not as proficient as he was with the spear and yet he gave it all his best efforts. It would have been a great mistake for anyone to think George’s advanced years had slowed or weakened him; as fast as Boy was he was no match for the vastly more experienced older man.

Three time in as many minutes Boy was stopped with the thin blade of the stone club resting against his young neck and in the next minute George had tapped him on top of the head with the flat of the blade none too gently. Boy had had to shake the stars out of his eyes and step back after the last tap but he did not flinch or retreat but turned back to his work until finally he had managed to get one light but swift blow on George’s thigh.

It was as though it was the signal for the practice to end as both stepped back in the same manner as they had before even to the extent of the facial grimaces and Boy slapping his own buttocks as he went back to stand beside his spear while George did the same. There was a stunned silence throughout the ship at such a display of primal yet controlled savagery was brought to an end; Thomas assumed that there was not a man in the crew that would have dared take either of the two combatants to task after such a display.

The end of the practice was signalled by George as he bent down and recovered his spear followed by Boy doing the same; all the indication Boy got was a tight lipped smile and a half nod from the older man but Boy must have known how pleased his mentor was with him as his face lit up with the widest smile Thomas had ever seen on a boy in his life.

Boy quickly joined George as they stepped down from the hatch top and without a glance at those watching, walked towards where they both slept and lived in their cabin below. The expulsion of air that came from Thomas’s mouth made him wonder how long he had been holding his breath, he also made a mental note to ask George as best he could with their sign language; what the ritual was all about. He did not have long to wait.

Twenty minutes later Thomas made his way back to his cabin where he hoped Fairley would have a cold drink waiting for him; it still amazed Thomas how Fairley was able to make his drinks so cold in this hot climate aboard ship. As Thomas entered the gangway to his cabin, he saw George standing as though waiting for him; just in front of George was the figure of Boy.

Boy was now dressed in neat and clean linen shirt and white pants that came down to his knees and he stood with what Thomas could only interpret as a slight case of nerves. As Thomas approached the pair he saw George give Boy the slightest of nudges as though saying to step forward which a very nervous Boy did.

Thomas saw that the young lad would have liked to drop his eyes and it was taking a lot of strength to keep his head up and look Thomas in the eye; Boy was the first to speak and it was obvious to Thomas that the lad had been trying hard to practice his small speech. While his speech was a little broken and he had to pause now and again to recollect his thoughts, the message was clear enough for Thomas to have little difficulty in understanding him even though the strange African accented English was new to Thomas.

“Good afternoon Sir…ah…My Father would …ah…like to…ah…ask for your help in my…ah…cere…mony for my…ah…marking.”

After he had said his small speech, Boy turned back to look at George and once he got a small nod from the older man he continued with a little more confidence.

“The cere…mony will be this day…ah…before night time and it…ah…would be…ah…honour me great…ah…greatly, thank you Sir”

Thomas had ignored the beads of sweat on the lad’s forehead and had remained standing silently to indicate he was willing to hear the lad out before saying anything. Taking his time to show respect for the lads efforts and to give the occasion its proper due and consideration, Thomas looked the young lad in the eye as he spoke as though they were both grown men and George was not standing there listening.

“Good afternoon Boy, It would be my great pleasure to be witness to your ceremony and I thank you for your kind invitation. If when the time is due you could send word to me and I will come immediately.”

Boy once again glanced back at George before he turned back to Thomas and said.

“Thank you Sir…ah…we will send word at the right time.”

Boy gave a small very whiteman’s bow before he turned back and with great effort to not run, went back to stand beside George, the older man gently rested one hand on the lad’s shoulder and gave it a light squeeze to indicate his pride in what the lad had just done while Thomas gave a nod to George in recognition for all he had done for the lost waif and onetime slave boy.

Thomas had taken a nap during the heat of the day and was just getting to his feet when a light knock on the door signalled a visitor. Fairley as usual was already there and opened the door to the cabin to be greeted by the sight of Boy waiting a little nervously beyond.

Thomas made his way to the door and spoke to Boy.

“Is it time Boy?”

“Yes Sir…I wait…yes?”

“I will be right with you.”

Turning to Fairley, Thomas asked for his boots and, once they were donned he left with Boy to wherever George was waiting. What was to happen Thomas had no idea but he assumed it must be very important for the young lad if George had made him go through the previous long speech of invitation.

Boy led Thomas along the passageway to the steps leading up to the deck; as he stepped out onto the deck Thomas took note that it was about two hours to sundown and that the wind had risen a little and now the ships were moving at a respectable speed of about twelve knots and there was hardly a flap from any of the tight sails far above.

Boy led Thomas towards the forecastle where Thomas saw George waiting for them; just in front of George was a low box affair much like a wooden cot and on that there were a number of rough blankets spread out to soften the makeshift bed for whoever was lying on it. Beside the bed was an upturned box with some implements that were covered with a cloth.

When the two arrived at the strange bed, George removed the cloth to reveal and assortment of primitive tools along with a small wooden cup and in one of the two bowls was a dark brown powder. George signalled for Boy to sit on the bed and then added some of the dark powder to the wooden cup and stirred it for a minute or so before giving it to Boy. Thomas immediately recognised the distinctive smell of rum but was sure George would have watered it down for the young lad.

Boy drank the liquid in the cup which caused him to screw up his face a little but then, at a signal from George lay down flat on his back on the bed while George got back to work with the other items on the box. Using their sign language, Thomas enquired as to what George was doing. George stopped his preparations and began to sign back to Thomas explaining what he was doing and why Thomas had been asked to be there.

Taking time to listen to George, Thomas deduced that by George’s peoples laws of combat, Boy had earned the right to his first facial tattoo; the drink he had given Boy was to ease the pain while George worked on making the tattoo and that Thomas was there to help ease the pain for Boy by holding his hand and talking to him to take his mind off what George was doing.

In a bowl George had the black soot from the lamps on the ship and then was in the process of adding an oil to make a fine paste; on the box was a thin strip of wood in the shape of a handle and at its tip was another piece of wood that had been carved into a fine comb like blade, there was another wooden stick which was thicker and much heavier; Thomas assumed rightly, that this would be used as a type of hammer to tap the other stick to pierce the skin.

When his preparations were complete, George turned to the bed where Boy looked to be quite relaxed; perhaps it was the small tot of watered rum or perhaps it was his trust in George. George signalled for Thomas to sit on the other side of the bed so he could comfort Boy but out of the way where George would be working.

Once all was ready, George took up a thin reed from the box and dipped it into the black paste; next he turned to Boy and with great care began to draw a pattern above the lads eyebrows which then went into two curved lines along the bridge of Boy’s nose and to end in a swirling pattern around the nostrils.

The lines were quite fine and done with great care. George paused to look at the lad lying on the bed and once he got a small nod from Boy he replaced the reed with the two strange tools. George gave one of his very rare grunts as he smiled at Boy and then began to work of making the tattoo.

Thomas watched as George worked and was surprised by the stoic look on Boy’s face as the tap, tap, tapping continued in a rhythmic fashion as the larger wooden stick hit the back of the serrated tool which was against Boy’s skin. The strikes were just enough to draw a small amount of blood as George followed the lines he had made on the smooth skin. At certain periods George would wipe away any extra blood to stop the black paste from running.

It was at these times that Thomas could make out the real shape of the tattoo being revealed under George’s expert hands. An hour later and all was complete; even against the much darker skin of Boy the clear cut lines of the tattoo could be seen and even though the lad may have been in some pain the look of pride on his young features pushed aside any doubts Thomas may have had concerning the rightness of what George had done.

The design was the same as that worn by George except there was only the single line and not the double line George wore along with the rest of the pattern but Thomas could see the obvious joy of accomplishment on Boy’s face. Had Thomas known that the symbolism of the tattoo was much the same as Boy would have got had he been in his own tribe when he attained manhood, Thomas would have been even more at ease about the whole event.

It was now almost dusk and time to prepare for the evening meal and so Thomas congratulated Boy and then left to return to his cabin as George, along with Boy’s help; cleaned up and began to put away the implements George had used.

Dinner that evening was much like all the others in that the meat was well cooked and there was an abundant amount of fresh fruit for the off duty officers; above the ship sailed onward into the unknown; its sails filled with the fresh breeze and the sound of water swishing past the bows was a welcoming sound.

Everyone on board knew that all would not be the same as it was this day but they would meet those challenges when they arose but for now all was well with their small shipboard world. Had those aboard ship known what was to lay before them, they may not have felt so comfortable with their lot but; for the moment the world and the sea was a good place to be.

TBC

You are reading Book 3 of Thomas Markings incredible journey. Let Arthur know what you think of this latest chapter. Arthur at CastleRoland dot Net

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