A Pirate’s Wife (10 page)

times, we went under into the cold depths, and just barely

in time, emerged again. Father saved us that day without

wavering. Back then he was only a sailor who owed us

nothing but his care for us. He was unselfish and we felt

safe with him.

'From the first moment I saw him, I accepted him as

my father and to him I was the daughter he never had. He

was always gentle and kind to me. He and my mother are

inseparable, even to this day.'

A soft sob left her mouth and she stopped talking

the emotions very intense in her.

Roberto waited next to her. His hands clasped

behind his back, he could hear her struggling for control.

His own control broke and without thinking, he placed an

arm around the soft, delicate shoulders. She stiffened and

stood still under his touch, his arm warm and soft on her

bare skin, giving her a feeling of safety.

She looked at him. This time he was closer to her

and she could see tenderness and understanding in his face.

This was a contrast to everything she knew about this man.

The stern and menacing look from the last three days had

vanished. For a brief moment, she enjoyed the closeness

they shared before she stepped away and he dropped his

arm.

'He sounds like a great man and I would love to

really meet him one day,' he said softly, the sternness gone

from his voice. He had a beautiful, calming voice: strong

and steady.

'He is a great man and father, and a great husband to

my mother. I miss him awfully. I miss both my parents.'

'Maybe one day you will meet a man like that as

well.'

'You confuse me, Captain.'

'My name is Roberto, not Captain,' he said with a

chuckle.

'You confuse me Roberto,' she said, but with a grim

smile.

'I have heard that many times.' He removed a strand

of hair from her face, at the same moment she moved to put

it behind her ear. Their hands met and he folded hers into

his warm grasp, bringing it to his lips.

'Good night Rosa-Lee. Thanks for the story.'

Stunned by the intimate gesture, shivers went up her

spine, but she could only watch him.

I must hate him! He is a pirate! She reminded

herself. S
he removed her hand and abruptly said, 'Good

night Roberto.'

I will have to find a way to get free and help my

brother.
She thought as she watched his retreating back.

†††

April 18, 1624

Today I held my son in my arms for the first time.

Manuel Francisco Almaida. I am a father now. My heart is

too big for my chest. I, Cisco Almaida, once an ordinary

sailor, am now the father of a beautiful daughter and a son.

How fortunate I am to have my family. My dreams have

changed into reality and I can love and enjoy them every

day.

Qonchita was in labour for ten hours, ten agonizing

hours, but it was worth it. She is even more beautiful than

before. Once again she has blessed me beyond measure.

How fortunate and happy I am.

Rosa-Lee is ecstatic about her new brother. She

wants to help with everything. What a sweet, strong-willed

child. She is everything I wanted in a daughter and more. I

can hardly wait to teach them all I know, about the sea, the

land, about people.

My family.

6

May 6, 1624

Manuel had a bit of a fever today and we were

really frightened, but the medicine woman assured us not to

worry and gave us some powder to feed him. He is a strong

boy, already opening his eyes and watching the world go

by.

Cisco is a joy to watch as he carries the infant from

room to room. Rosa-Lee is always close by to see when she

can have the opportunity to hold her brother. I normally

have to fight for time between the two. But it does not

bother me at the least. To see Cisco this happy is more than

worth it.

I remember other babies we buried in the heart of

Africa, along with their parents, due to fever, babies that

never had the chance to grow and experience life. This is

what make Manuel so special, to experience life through

him in a greater measure.

We remember those frightful days as if it was

yesterday. The heat, the insect-infested time, coupled with

the fever and constant rains. I felt it would never stop.

Through it all we had to hope that help would come or that

we would find a safe haven. But it took us some time to

come to that place.

Help never came and we were on our own. We

wandered through that wilderness in a daze. I can barely

remember the sights around me. All I remember was the

continued effort to survive in an unkind and untamed

wilderness.

No more. I would never return to that place.

†††

'Sails ahoy!' the call from the crow master

resounded from the main mast four days later. Sails

appeared on the horizon, coming closer with each passing

hour.

Rosa-Lee was excited about the prospect of seeing

another ship. Maybe she could send a word or get some

help. When she ran onto the deck, the ship, named the

Heerengardt
was closer, and she saw the ensign of the

D.E.I.C. fluttering in the soft wind. The
Heerengardt
was much larger in build carrying two hundred soldiers and

crew, canons, merchandise and coins than the
Contra O

Vento
, a frigate build for speed and manoeuvrability with

only eighty crew members.

Roberto and his men's faces were tense as they

scurried around to change the flags from pirate to her

father's crest ensign.

'They want permission to come on board,' the crow

master yelled down.

'They can come,' Roberto yelled back and he

signalled back with the burgee.

The
Contra O Vento
was prepared to accept the

visit, making sure all signs of piracy were gone. All the

men knew what was expected from them, to act like regular

sailors on a ship of this size. When the long boat came

closer, an idea filled Rosa-Lee and she descended to her

cabin below, unnoticed.

A while later, the captain of the D.E.I.C vessel, a

man of impressive frame, stepped on deck. His fierce look

pierced through everyone and everything. However

Roberto was not intimidated by the man and met his fierce

gaze only with a slight of humbleness. Both men accessing

each other as both bowed in chivalry.

A young sailor moved closer to the captain and his

men. With his hat pulled low over his face, he moved

forward unnoticed until he mingled with the strangers. It

seemed that he was a part of the crew, staring at his shoes.

He made no sound and no eye contact.

'Captain Peek du Toit at your service.' The deep

voice of the captain filled the air. He looked around him

with piercing grey eyes, missing nothing

'Where are you going?' he demanded

'Captain Roberto of the
Contra O Vento.
We are

going to India to meet one of our ships and escort it back to

Portugal,' Roberto replied in a confident voice.

'Can I see the papers?'

'Yes.' Roberto handed him their manifesto. The tall

man took the papers and inspected them, fingering the

names listed.

'All seems in order. May I walk around?'

'Yes, please do. We always welcome the D.E.I.C

visits.'

'How is Almaida?'

'At home and well.'

'What is wrong with the ship you plan to escort?'

'It ran into trouble after a storm. We are on our way

to help.'

Roberto only answered the necessary questions and

did not offer any further details. From a distance, his crew

watched everything in silence. They were alert, their gaze

fixed on the ship in front of them.

When the inspection was completed, the men

exchanged a few words and then walked back to where

Roberto was standing.

'Is everything in order?' Roberto asked.

'Everything seems fine. We have received numerous

reports of piracy in these waters so we must be careful to

inspect each one.'

'I understand. We will be on the lookout for any

pirates. Thanks for warning us.'

'Good, then. We will be off so that you can continue

with your voyage.'

'Thank you, Sir, and goodbye.' They watched the

men very carefully as they descended the Jacob's ladder,

entered their long boat, and rowed back to their ship. His

men were highly alert, looking for any trouble.

However, he could swear that there were six men on

the rowboat before, and now there were seven.
'How did I

miss one?'
Everything seemed in order. All his men were

accounted for. Slowly he relaxed and Pierre gave the signal

that they could continue.

As he walked to his grand cabin Roberto was deep

in thought. Something was not right. He could feel it, but

he could not put his finger on it yet. Sitting at his

mahogany desk, he pored over the charts, making sure they

were still on course. With the manifest open before him, he

wrote down the time and date of Captain Peek du Toit's

visit.

At suppertime Rosa-Lee did not come. He sent

word to Enrico.

'Where is Señorita Almaida?'

'Not in her cabin, Captain,' Enrico replied

cautiously. 'I have looked everywhere but I cannot find her.'

He tried to appease Roberto. Enrico was clearly distracted

and fearful fidgeting with his pants, his eyes down cast.

The man in front of him was not easily fooled. Enrico had

warned the señorita, after he had found her in her cabin

dressed in men's clothing, of the foolishness of she was

about to do. But she would not listen to him and he could

not lie to this man.

'Did you look on every deck?'

'Yes, Captain.' Sweat formed on the boy's forehead

and upper lip.

'What are you not telling me, Enrico?' Roberto

barked; all his usual brusque sternness back. Then it

dawned on Roberto who the seventh person was. He cursed

as he turned to Pierre with a quick move causing the chair

to be unbalanced for a brief moment.

'She is on the other ship!' He slammed his fist down

on the table. The plates and glasses rattled and a bottle of

wine toppled over. Pierre caught it just in time.

'We will have to go and get her. For this she will

pay,' he said, seething and pacing the floor. 'She was

disguised as one of the men. She has put us all in danger

with her game. We will have to get her back'

'That will be a daring feat,' Pierre said.

'I realize that, but we have no choice. If she talks we