Birds of Prey - Smith Wilbur (полная версия книги .TXT) 📗

He stated down at his papers, breathing like a pearl diver about to plunge out of his canoe into twenty fathoms of water. Finally he looked up and shouted at Cumbrae, "The first you knew of the end of the war was when you tried to cut out the Swallow from under the fortress here in Table Bay and were told about it by Colonel Schreuder."

It came out in a single rush, without check or pause, but it was a long speech and Hop reeled back, gasping from the exertion.

"Have you lost your wits, Hop?" van de Velde bellowed. "Are you accusing a nobleman of lying, you little turd?"

Hop drew another full breath, took his fragile courage in both hands, and shouted again, "You held Captain Courtney's Letter of Marque in your own two hands, then brandished it in his face while you burned it to ashes." Again it came out fluently, but Hop was spent. He stood there gulping for air.

Van de Velde was on his feet now. "If you are looking for advancement in the Company, Hop, you are going about it in a very strange way. You stand there hurling crazy accusations at a man of high rank. Don't you know your place, you worthless guttersnipe? How dare you behave like this? Sit down before I have you taken out and flogged." Hop dropped into his seat as though he had received a musket ball in the head. Breathing heavily, van de Velde bowed towards the Buzzard. "I must apologize, my lord. Every person here knows that you were instrumental in rescuing the hostages and saving the Standvastigheid from the clutches of these villains. Please ignore those insulting statements and return to your seat. We are grateful for your help in this matter."

As Cumbrae crossed the floor, van de Velde suddenly became aware of the writer scribbling away busily beside him. "Don't write that down, you fool. It was not part of the court proceedings. Here, let me see your journal." He snatched it from the clerk, and as he read his face darkened. He leaned across and took the quill from the writer's hand. With a series of broad strokes he expurgated those parts of the text that offended him. Then he pushed the book back towards the writer. "Use your intelligence. Paper is an expensive commodity. Don't waste it by writing down unimportant rubbish." Then he transferred his attention to the two advocates. "Gentlemen, I should like this matter settled today. I do not want to put the Company to unnecessary expense by wasting any more time. Colonel Schreuder, I think you have made a thoroughly convincing presentation of the case against the pirates. I hope that you do not intend to gild the lily by calling any more witnesses, do you?"

"As your excellency pleases. I had intended calling ten more-, "Sweet heavens!" Van de Velde looked appalled. "That will not be necessary at all."

Schreuder bowed deeply and sat down. Van de Velde lowered his head like a bull about to charge and looked at the defence advocate. "Hop!" he growled. "You have just seen how reasonable Colonel Schreuder has been, and what an excellent example in the economy of words and time he has set for this court. What are your intentions?"

"May I call Sir Francis Courtney to give evidence?" Hop stuttered.

"I strongly advise against it," van de Velde told him ominously. "Certainly it will do your case little good."

"I want to -show that he did not know the war had ended and that he was sailing under a commission from the English King," Hop ploughed on obstinately, and van de Velde flushed crimson.

"Damn you, Hop. Haven't you listened to a word I said? We know all about that line of defence, and I will take it into consideration when I ponder my verdict. You don't have to regurgitate those lies again."

"I would like to have the prisoner say it, just for the court records." Hop was close to tears, and his words limped painfully over his crippled tongue.

"You are trying my patience, Hop. Continue in this fashion, and you will be on the- next ship back to Amsterdam. I cannot have a disloyal Company servant spreading dissension and sedition throughout the colony."

Hop looked alarmed to hear himself described in such terms, and he capitulated with alacrity. "I apologize for delaying the business of this honourable court. I rest the case for the defence."

"Good man! You have done a fine job of work, Hop. I will make a notation to that effect in my next despatch to the Seventeen." Van de Velde's face resumed its natural colour and he beamed jovially about the hall. "We will adjourn for the midday meal and for the court to consider its verdict. We will reconvene at four o'clock this afternoon. Take the prisoners back to the dungeons."

To avoid having to remove their shackles Manseer, the gaoler, bundled Hal who was still chained to his father into the solitary cell near the top of the spiral staircase, while the rest went below.

Hal and Sir Francis sat side by side on the stone shelf that served as a bed. As soon as they were alone Hal blurted out, "Father, I want to explain to you about Katinka - I mean about the Governor's wife."

Sir Francis embraced him awkwardly, hampered by the chains. "Unlikely as it -now seems, I was young once. You do not have to speak about that harlot again. She is not worthy of your consideration."

"I will never love another woman, not as long as I live," Hal said bitterly.

"What you felt for that woman was not love, my son." Sir Francis shook his head. "Your love is a precious currency. Spend it only in the market where you will not be cheated again."

At that there was a tapping on the iron bars of the next cell, and Althuda called, "How goes the trial, Captain Courtney? Have they given you a good taste of Company justice?"

Sir Francis raised his voice to answer. "It goes as you said it would, Althuda. It is obvious that you also have experienced it."

"The Governor is the only god in this little heaven called Good Hope. Here, justice is that which pays a profit to the Dutch East India Company or a bribe to its servants. Has the judge pronounced your guilt yet?"