Flood of Fire (84 page)

After hearing him out Captain Mee shrugged: ‘Well I'm sure I don't need to tell you, havildar,' he said, ‘that in situations like these it's always easier to blame sepoys.'

Ji, Kaptán-sah'b.

‘And in this instance it's a Madras havildar's word against an English corporal's.'

There was no need to say any more.

*

The
Ibis
was still a long way from Hong Kong when a bank of dark cloud hove into view on the horizon. The sight came as no surprise to Zachary: in the week that he had spent at Whampoa, waiting for the convoy of merchant ships to leave, he had seen plenty of signs of bad weather ahead. And the barometer, which had fallen steadily as the
Ibis
was sailing down the estuary, had removed all doubt about what lay in store.

But Zachary guessed that it would be a while yet before the storm hit the coast – probably not till early the next day, which meant that with any luck there would be enough daylight left for him to call on Mrs Burnham, in the
Anahita
, when the
Ibis
reached Hong Kong.

But when the convoy drew abreast of the island the
Anahita
did not immediately come into view, even though the bay was unusually thin of vessels. Evidently many skippers had decided to move their ships elsewhere, in anticipation of a storm. This was for the best, of course, since it reduced the possibility of collisions – but that was small consolation for Zachary, who had been looking forward to seeing Mrs Burnham.

But it turned out that the
Anahita
had not left Hong Kong Bay after all, she was merely hidden behind the
Druid
. She was anchored at the eastern end of the bay, abreast of Mr Burnham's recently built godown, at East Point.

Zachary took the
Ibis
in the same direction and hove to within two fathoms of the
Anahita
. As soon as the schooner was properly anchored he called for the longboat to be lowered.

Within fifteen minutes Zachary was within hailing distance of the
Anahita
. Scanning the decks he spotted a familiar daub of saffron bobbing about on the maindeck. ‘Is that you, Baboo?' he shouted, through cupped hands.

‘Yes, Master Zikri. And how are you? Hale and hearty I hope?'

‘Yes, Baboo, never better. Is Mrs Burnham aboard?'

‘Correct, Master Zikri – Burra Memsah'b is here.'

‘I have a message for her, from Mr Burnham. Please tell her I'm coming aboard right now.'

‘Yes, Master Zikri; ekdum jaldee.'

By the time Zachary had climbed up the
Anahita
's side-ladder Baboo Nob Kissin was back on the maindeck, waiting to greet him.

‘Baboo, you know there's a storm coming, don't you?' said Zachary.

‘Yes, Master Zikri – I will go ashore this evening, for safekeeping. Burra Memsah'b will also go. We will sit in Mr Burnham's godown – a room has been specially prepared for Burra Memsah'b. Only sailors will remain on
Anahita
.'

‘I'm glad to hear that,' said Zachary. ‘And where is Mrs Burnham now? Did you give her my message?'

‘Yes, Master Zikri – Burra Memsah'b is waiting you on the quarter-deck.'

‘Thank you, Baboo.'

Zachary stepped up the companion-ladder to find Mrs Burnham standing alone by the bulwark, watching the sunset: her white carriage-dress had taken on the rosy sheen of the sky and her hair was glowing in the fading light.

Zachary came to a sudden stop: her allure had never been greater and something began to ache inside him – it was like the soreness of an old wound, a reminder not just of the injury itself but also of its cause. When Mrs Burnham greeted him by saying, ‘I am very happy to see you, Mr Reid,' it was as if a scab had come off. He told himself that if she was pleased to see him it was only because she was impatient for news of Captain Mee – and in the wake of this the jealousy that was seething inside him bubbled up and brimmed over, spilling salt upon old wounds.

‘I am glad to see you too, Mrs Burnham,' he said stiffly, struggling to keep his composure. ‘I came because your husband had asked me to convey a message to you.'

‘What is it?'

‘He has been detained in Canton. He will be back as soon as things are more settled there, perhaps in a fortnight or so.'

Mrs Burnham's smile died away and a look of concern descended on her face. ‘I believe there has been much trouble in Canton of late,' she said. ‘I was very worried – about Mr Burnham, and you … and all our other friends.'

Zachary could not restrain the sardonic laugh that now burst from his throat. ‘Oh come, Mrs Burnham! There is no need to be coy, with me least of all; if you were worried I am sure it was not on behalf of either your husband or myself.'

‘But you are wrong, Mr Reid!' she protested. ‘You are never far from my thoughts, I assure you.'

‘But nor am I so close, I'll wager' – his bitterness was so powerful now that he could no longer disguise it – ‘as Captain Mee. Come, admit it, Mrs Burnham, it was for him that you were worried, weren't you?'

‘Amongst others, yes, certainly, I will not deny it.'

‘Then I am sure you will be happy to know,' said Zachary, ‘that the last time I spoke to him he was in the best of health.'

‘Oh?'

He had wanted to catch her unawares and was pleased to see that he had succeeded.

‘I did not know,' said Mrs Burnham, ‘that you were acquainted with Captain Mee.'

‘I certainly am, Mrs Burnham. I made his acquaintance at your husband's suggestion.'

This too took her by surprise, exactly as Zachary had intended. ‘But what,' said Mrs Burnham, ‘did my husband want with Captain Mee?'

‘Surely, Mrs Burnham,' said Zachary, ‘that question needs no answer? I think you know as well as I do why your husband likes to keep a few soldiers in his pocket – you've told me so yourself. It is a lucrative business and your husband has been showing me the ropes. That was why he suggested that I make overtures to Captain Mee.'

Mrs Burnham's eyes widened. ‘Are you saying you tried to offer him a dustoorie?'

‘Exactly.'

‘And what did he say?'

‘Oh he spurned me in no uncertain terms,' said Zachary. ‘He even threatened to report me to his superiors.'

She had evidently been holding her breath for she let it out now in a long sigh.

‘I would have expected no less of him,' she said with quiet pride. ‘He cares nothing for money or worldly advancement.'

Zachary allowed her to feast on this thought for a few seconds. Then he flashed her a smile: ‘Well, Mrs Burnham, I trust you will not be too disappointed then to learn that I was able to bring Captain Mee around.'

She turned to him in shock, her knuckles whitening on the gunwale. ‘What do you mean “bring him around”?'

‘Only that I succeeded in changing his mind.'

‘But how?'

‘I told him,' said Zachary, ‘that if he carried tales about me, he would run the risk of being exposed as an adulterer.'

Mrs Burnham gasped and clapped a hand on her mouth. ‘No! You did not dare!'

‘You're wrong there, Mrs Burnham,' said Zachary. ‘Not only did I dare, I informed him also that he was not the only one to enjoy your favours.'

‘No!' she cried. ‘I do not believe it!'

‘Well you should,' said Zachary, ‘because it is true.'

‘And what was his answer?'

Zachary laughed. ‘He is, as you know, an impetuous man, so you will not be surprised to hear that he was beside himself with rage – I think he might even have killed me. But once again I was able to get the better of him.'

‘How on earth?'

‘I told him that I had kept all your letters and in the event of my death they would be found among my effects – in other words, that you would be ruined. This had a rather touching effect – you could even say that it was a tribute to his attachment to you.'

Mrs Burnham brushed a hand across her eyes. ‘Why? What happened?'

‘Oh, the bluster leaked out of him like air from a puffed-up bladder. He was evidently quite stricken at the thought that you might suffer harm. I saw then that it would be easy to take him in hand. I told him that it was in order to protect you that he should accept my offer; that he should think of it as a small sacrifice on the altar of love.'

‘And then?' The sunlight had faded now and her face had turned an ashen grey.

‘I gave him a few weeks to think the matter over – since his brain is scarcely his swiftest organ I thought he would need the time. I will not conceal from you that I rather doubted that he would come to a sensible decision. But I must confess that he surprised me; the last time I saw him he was perfectly amenable, quite docile in fact. His words, as I remember them, were “What do you require of me?”‘

‘Oh no!' Mrs Burnham's hands flew to her cheeks. ‘Mr Reid, I cannot believe that you would be so ruthless, so cruel.'

‘Oh but it is you who deserves all the credit, Mrs Burnham,' he shot back. ‘It was you who taught me cruelty – and as you know I am a quick learner.'

She put a hand on the gunwale, to steady herself, and looked at him with imploring eyes. ‘Please, Mr Reid,' she said, ‘you must release him from this dreadful bargain.'

‘I am sorry, Mrs Burnham,' said Zachary. ‘I am afraid the matter is not in my hands any more. It is your husband who is dealing with Captain Mee now. My part was only to reel him in.'

Mrs Burnham bit back a sob. ‘Poor, poor Neville,' she said. ‘He prizes his honour above all things. For him there could be no worse fate.'

‘Oh but there could, Mrs Burnham,' said Zachary. ‘I think his fate – and yours too – would be far worse if your husband were to twig on to the history of your little dalliance.' He paused to scratch his cheek. ‘And all it would take, you know, is a brief chat with the captain's havildar – that is how I myself found out. I'm sure it would not be difficult to arrange for your husband to meet him too.'

‘But you wouldn't!'

‘Well, Mrs Burnham, that depends,' said Zachary, studying his fingernails. ‘It depends on you really.'

‘What do you mean?'

‘I expect,' said Zachary softly, ‘that you have forgotten a promise you once made to me – that when it came time for us to part, we would have one last night together. I think the time has come for you to redeem your pledge.'

‘But Mr Reid' – she whispered the syllables slowly, as though his name belonged to someone she did not know – ‘how can you possibly ask that of me now? After everything you have said? It is unthinkable, unimaginable. I cannot do it.'

‘Oh but you can, Mrs Burnham! And you shall. If Captain Mee can make a small sacrifice on the altar of love, why shouldn't you?'

Mrs Burnham was now clutching the gunwale with both hands, as if to prevent herself from falling over. ‘Oh Mr Reid,' she whispered. ‘What has become of you? What have you become?'

He was not slow to retort. ‘I have become what you wanted, Mrs Burnham,' he said. ‘You wanted me to be a man of the times, did you not? And that is what I am now; I am a man who wants more and more and more; a man who does not know the meaning of “enough”. Anyone who tries to thwart my desires is the enemy of my liberty and must expect to be treated as such.'

Mrs Burnham began to sob, quietly. ‘Mr Reid – Zachary – you cannot do this. What you're asking of me is utterly inhuman. Only a monster or demon could contemplate such a thing. I cannot believe that you are those things.'

‘It is yourself you have to thank, Mrs Burnham,' said Zachary. ‘It was all your own doing, wasn't it? It was you who decided that I needed to be re-made in a more enlightened mould. It might have been better for both of us if you had left me to languish where you found me. But you chose instead to rescue me from that dark, unnameable continent – and now it is too late.'

Zachary broke off to look up at the darkening sky; it was still cloudless but the wind had strengthened a little.

‘There is a storm coming, as you probably know. I will arrange our rendezvous once it blows over. And you need not worry, Mrs Burnham; everything will be done with the utmost discretion. But
until then I'd advise you to be careful – it looks as though we're in for quite a blow. I'm glad you're going ashore. A ship is no place for landlubbers during a storm: you'll be safer in the godown.'

‘You need not concern yourself with my safety, Mr Reid,' she said, turning her back on him. ‘As I'm sure you know, I am perfectly capable of looking after myself.'

*

That night, word was received that six million silver dollars had finally been handed over by the Chinese authorities; the money had been transferred to the
Blenheim
for safekeeping.

In the four fortresses there was great relief: for the first time in many days, Kesri fell into a deep sleep.

But all too soon someone was shouting into his ears: Havildar-sah'b,
utho!
Wake up!

It was a little after daybreak and an orderly had brought an urgent message: Kesri was wanted by Captain Mee, up in the turret of the fortress.

Kesri dressed quickly, putting on a freshly washed vest before pulling on his red koortee. But once again the weather was hot and steamy: sweat poured off him as he climbed up the turret's stairs and by the time he reached Captain Mee the vest was plastered clammily against his skin.

Captain Mee was sweating too. ‘It's going to be another teakettle day,' he said, mopping his face – but to Kesri it seemed that there was something different about the heat of that morning. The air was so still and heavy that even the birds and insects had fallen silent. And along the southern horizon there was a broad smudge of blue-black cloud. Kesri looked at it with foreboding: ‘I think today the storm will come, sir.'