Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (51 page)

             
"
I
see,
sir,
"
Harry
replied
and
now
that
it
was
pointed
out
to
him,
he
certainly
could.
By
now
they
were
crossing
the
short
bridge
to
the
outer
barbican
which
protected
the
approach
to
the
main
gate.
Even
with
the
market
laid
out
on
this
front
of
the
castle,
it
was
plain
that
any
assault
would
be
under
the
considerable
fire
from
the
defenders
for
a
period
far
too
long
to
be
sensible.
In
the
barbican
the
roadway
turned
through
ninety
degrees
and
they
crossed
the
bridge
into
the
solid
main
gate
itself
to
find
themselves
inside
the
large
ward,
divided
almost
in
two
by
the
governor
'
s
residence
which
ran
from
the
landward
side
to
the
seaward
wall,
although
there
was
a
large
gap
between
that
and
the
residence.

             
They
were
ceremoniously
ushered
up
the
steps
to
the
main
entrance
where
a
uniformed
official
greeted
them
and
assumed
the
escort
to
where
the
Governor
was
in
conversation
with
several
officers
and
officials.

             
"
Kaptein
Blackwood,
"
the
Governor
greeted
them
in
the
grand
reception
room
of
the
castle,
"
Welcome
to
the
Cape.
"
His
eyes
twinkled
as
he
added,
"
I
trust
you
are
not
come
to
tell
us
that
you
intend
to
make
an
attempt
to
seize
our
colony
once
more.
"

             
Captain
Blackwood
bowed.
"
Not
on
this
occasion,
your
Excellency.
As
I
am
sure
you
are
already
aware
I
have
a
number
of
transports
to
escort
to
our
colony
in
Botany
Bay.
Some
are
in
need
of
minor
repair
before
we
embark
on
the
next
stage
of
the
voyage.
In
addition
we
need
some
fresh
fruit
and
vegetables
for
our
people
and
water
of
course.
"

             
"
Naturlijk.
"
The
Governor
smiled
and
signaled
a
liveried
servant.
"
You
will
take
wine
with
me?
Some
of
our
own
local
wine
–
from
the
vineyards
at
Stellenbosch.
"

             
"
You
are
most
kind,
Excellency,
"
replied
the
Captain
accepting
a
glass
of
cool
white
wine.
The
discussions
now
focused
on
the
needs
of
the
convoy
and
the
availability
of
resources
to
meet
them.
During
this
time
Harry
listened
and
watched,
fascinated
by
his
surroundings,
familiar
and
yet
so
different.
The
wine,
the
heat
and
closeness
of
the
room
began
to
work
on
his
senses
and
he
found
himself
drowsing
as
he
waited,
seated
in
a
window
overlooking
the
gate
approaches.
Laughter
drew
his
attention
and
he
watched
as
a
group
of
children
ran
laughing
and
playing
toward
the
accommodation
to
the
landward
side,
escorted
by
a
pair
of
attractive
young
women
and
attended
by
a
servant
of
a
race
he
had
not
before
encountered.

             
He
jerked
back
to
the
present
as
he
heard
Captain
Blackwood,
"
Come,
Mister
Heron,
we
must
take
our
leave.
"

             
Guiltily
he
leapt
to
his
feet
and
said,
"
Aye,
aye,
sir,
"
slightly
bemused
by
the
smiles
this
provoked
among
the
assembled
officers.

             
At
the
beach
their
escort
left
them
and
the
Captain
said,
"
We
have
much
to
do
now.
What
did
you
think
of
our
hosts,
Mister
Heron?
"

             
"
They
seemed
very
hospitable,
sir,
and
the
militia
seem
to
be
well
turned
out.
"
He
hesitated,
"
The
servants,
sir,
are
they
from
the
Indies?
I
do
not
believe
I
have
seen
people
like
them
before.
"

             
"
They
name
them
Malay,
though
they
come
from
Java
I
believe.
Slaves
of
course,
as
the
natives
here
are
too
savage
and
too
backward
to
be
trained
as
servants
and
labourers
on
the
farms
I
am
told.
"
The
Captain
moved
toward
the
newly
launched
boat
as
it
drew
alongside
the
landing
stage
stretching
into
the
sea
and
said,
"
Into
the
boat
then,
young
man,
I
wish
to
get
everything
in
hand
as
soon
as
possible.
"

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