Birds of Prey - Smith Wilbur (версия книг TXT) 📗

"Have you sent for the new slave?" she asked with a purr in her voice.

"Aboli is being bathed and fitted with a uniform, as you ordered, mistress," Sukeena answered softly, as if unaware of the other woman's touch. However, Schreuder had seen it, and it amused Katinka to watch him frown with jealousy.

She raised her glass to him and smiled over the rim. "Shall we drink to a swift voyage for Lord Cumbrae?" "Indeed." He lifted his glass. "A short swift voyage to the bottom of the ocean for him and all his countrymen."

"My dear Colonel," she smiled, "how droll. But, softly now, here comes my latest plaything."

Two green-jackets from the castle escorted Aboli onto the terrace.

He was dressed in a pair of tight-fitting black trousers and a white cotton shirt cut full to encompass his broad chest and massive arms. He stood silently before her.

Katinka switched into English. "In future you will bow when you enter my presence and you will address me as mistress, and if you forget I will ask Slow John to remind you. Do you know who Slow John is?"

"Yes, mistress," Aboli rumbled, without looking at her. "Oh, good! I thought you might be tiresome, and that I would have to have you broken and tamed. This makes things easier for both of us." She took a sip of the wine, then looked him over slowly with her head on one side. "I bought you on a whim, and I have not decided what I shall do with you. However, Governor Kleinhans is taking his coachman home with him when he sails. I will need a new coachman." She turned to Colonel Schreuder. "I have heard these Negroes are good with animals. Is that your experience also, Colonel?"

"Indeed, Mevrouw. Being animals themselves they seem to have a rapport with all wild and domestic beasts." Schreuder nodded, and studied Aboli unhurriedly. "He is a fine physical specimen but, of course, one does not look for intelligence in them. I congratulate you on your purchase."

"Later, I may breed him with Sukeena," Katinka. mused. The slave girl went still, but her back was turned so that they could not see her face. "It might be diverting to see how the black blood mingles with the gold."

"A most interesting mixture." Schreuder nodded. "But are you not worried that he may escape? I saw him fight on the deck of the Standvastigheid and he is a truculent savage. A leg iron might be suitable costume for him, at least until he has been broken in."

"I do not think I need go to such pains," Katinka said. "I was able to observe him at length during my captivity. Like a faithful dog, he is devoted to the pirate Courtney and even more so to his brat.

I believe he would never try to escape while either of them is alive in the castle dungeons. Of course, he will be locked in the slave quarters at night with the others, but during working hours he will be allowed to move around freely to attend to his duties."

"I am sure you know best, Mevrouw. But I for one would never trust such a creature," Schreuder warned her.

Katinka turned back to Sukeena. "I have arranged with Governor Kleinhans that Fredricus is to teach Aboli his duties as coachman and driver. The Standvastigheid will not sail for another ten days. That should be ample time. See to it immediately."

Sukeena made the gracious oriental obeisance. "As Mistress commands, she said, and beckoned for Aboli to follow her.

She walked ahead of him down the pathway to the stables where Fredricus had drawn up the coach and Aboli was reminded of the posture and carriage of the young virgins of his own tribe. As little girls they were trained by their mothers, carrying the water gourds balanced on their heads. Their backs grew straight and they seemed to glide over the ground, as this girl did.

"Your brother, Althuda, sends you his heart. He says that you are his tiger orchid still."

Sukeena stopped so abruptly that, walking behind her, Aboli almost collided with her. She seemed like a startled sugar bird perched on a pro tea bloom on the point of flight. When she moved on again he saw that she was trembling.

"You have seen my brother?" she asked, without turning her head to look at him.

"I never saw his face, but we spoke through the door of his cell. He said that your mother's name was Ashreth and that the jade brooch you wear was given to your mother by your father on the day of your birth. He said that if I told you these things, you would know that I was his friend."

"If he trusted you, then I also trust you. I, too, shall be your friend, Aboli," she agreed.

"And I shall be yours,"Aboli said softly.

"Oh, do tell me, how is Althuda? Is he well?" she pleaded. "Have they hurt him badly? Have they given him to Slow John?"

"Althuda is puzzled. They have not yet condemned him. He has been in the dungeon four long months and they have not hurt him."

"I give all thanks to Allah!" Sukeena turned and smiled at him, her face lovely as the tiger orchid to which Althuda had likened her. "I had some influence with Governor Kleinhans. I was able to persuade him to delay judgement on my brother. But now that he is going I do not know what will happen with the new one. My poor Althuda, so young and brave. If they give him to Slow John my heart will die with him, as slowly and as painfully."

"There is one I love as you love your brother," Aboli rumbled softly. "The two share the same dungeon."

"I think I know the one of whom you speak. Did I not see him on the day they brought all of you ashore in chains and marched you across the Parade? Is he straight and proud as a young prince?"