LC 04 - Skeleton Crew (39 page)

The origin of the argument began with the boatswain reprimanding Sancho for not carrying out his tasks. Sancho answered
by striking the boatswain across the face. The boatswain hauled
him for lashes, which was a light punishment in my opinion, but I
believe the boatswain was allowing for the frustration of our present circumstances. I was on deck and saw them as they came up
to the poop deck, the boatswain grasping Sancho tightly so he
would not bolt for the prow. The boatswain was relating to the
captain Sancho's offenses when Sancho accused the boatswain of
blasphemy. The boatswain turned red and sputtered and denied
the accusation. The captain scowled at the boatswain, forgetting
Sancho and ready to punish the boatswain for this most serious offence. The boatswain did not deny yelling at Sancho but
emphatically denied committing blasphemy.

Surprisingly, it was Lopez who came to the boatswain's defense.
"I was in the hold, inspecting some supplies," he said, startling
everyone with his sudden proclamation. "The boatswain did not
blaspheme. The man lies." I saw the sneer disappear from Sancho's
face and terror come into his eyes. After Lopez's declaration, the
punishment was swift. Now Sancho stands with his left hand
nailed to the mast.

Adding to our misfortunes, Valerian's servant, Jen, suffered a
strange accident. He broke his arm near the shoulder. He was with
the men in the boats rowing when, by the accounts of the men
around him as well as his own, he pulled the oars and felt a sharp
and sudden pain and couldn't use his arm. They took him to the
surgeon who diagnosed the break. Jen confessed to Valerian that
he had been having pains in his limbs, and indeed had started to
limp, but he thought nothing of it. Valerian related all this to me
over a game of chess. "For a bone to break with normal movement
is vexing," he said. However, one of the most surprising things
about this event is the concern shown by Lopez and the captain to
the poor Jen. These are not men who sympathize with men of Jen's
station in life, but their concern is genuine.

On two occasions I have heard both Lopez and the captain ask
Valerian what they are going to do. An odd question to ask
Valerian. It has something to do with Jen's illness, I believe.

This evening Valerian came to me. His eyes flashed with anger,
a state in which I have never before seen Valerian. "I have a favor
to ask of you, my friend," he said.

"What?" I asked.

"Will you change cabins with Lopez? I want to bring my good
servant Jen to our cabin so that he might have a chance of recuperating. Lopez, the swine, is against it. He will not share his quarters with a servant."

"But Lopez seems so sympathetic," I said.

"It is not sympathy, but selfishness," he said. "Look, my friend,
you have the protection of your title and your wealth. I have only
wealth. Jen has nothing. The two of us are in need of your goodwill and protection. Will you give it?"

"Of course," I said, though I was puzzled. "But will Lopez
mind?"

Valerian grinned. "No," he said simply.

So this evening we changed cabins, and Valerian brought Jen
and gave him his cot. Valerian is a kind man, more kind than my
father accused me of being. Jen has considerable discomfort.
Valerian has a red-lacquered ornate box in his chest. I have seen
others like it from China. It contains vials with various powders and
herbs. He chose one, mixed it with water, and gave it to Jen to
drink. It wasn't long before the poor man fell into a deep sleep.

Valerian thanked me for my kindness, sat back, and pulled a
flask and glasses from his trunk. He handed me a glass after pouring into it some very strong spirits. When we had settled, I asked,
"Now you can do something for me, my friend. Tell me what we
are doing out here off course and away from the fleet."

"Of course," he said. "I owe you an explanation." He took a
drink and began this story.

"About a year ago, a Terra Firma fleet loaded its cargo at
Cartagena as usual. However, a prodigious amount was loaded
into the Espada de Nuestra Senora de la Limpia Concepcion. She was
a large ship, sixteen hundred toneladas, and she was overloaded.
Early in the voyage during a storm, she disappeared from the fleet.
Actually, the pilot took her off course, up the coast of La Florida,
heading to Puerto de la Serpiente del Mar."

"I have not heard of this port," I said.

Valerian waved his hand as if dismissing the statement. "It is a
secret port. You would not have heard of it. It is an inlet where the
ship was to be hidden while unloading its cargo to smaller ships."
He told me that these smaller ships are of the type that sail among
the islands in search of corsairs who attack the treasure fleets. "No
one would suspect these ships to be loaded with treasure. The
Concepcion was to be scuttled. The new ships were to return to
Havanah to be off loaded."

"In Havana? But-" I began, but Valerian interrupted me.

"Spain and the House of Trade are not the whole world. Many
men are making their empires here in this new one."

I wondered if my brother knew about this. Valerian continued
his story, taking my silence to mean that I had no more questions.
"The Concepcion was crippled in a storm and was dangerously
overloaded. Although she was almost to her destination, the crew,
along with the master and the pilot, allowed her to sink in shallow
water instead of trying to save her. The pilot recorded her exact location. They rowed the ship's boats to shore and made their way
to the port, from which they were transported back to Havana."

I thought about what he had told me. It seemed to me that he
must not have known about my mission, but I was wrong and very
surprised at what he told me next.

"My friend, I like you. You have been good to me and my servant and I see that you have compassion for those who do not
have your good fortune. This is why I tell you these things."

I felt I had to be honest with him and blurted my mission. "I am
bound to tell Perez what you tell me," I said.

Valerian only smiled. "Perez knows. These are his machinations."

I could not believe my ears. "No, he sent me to ..

"Dear friend, why do you think Perez sent you-you who know
nothing of the sea, nothing of the fleets, nothing of the new
world, nothing of politics?"

I was stunned. "Are-you- saying he wants me to fail?"

"He knows you will fail. The House of Trade has tried many
things-sending investigating committees, judges. They might as
well have sent cats to ferret out all the rats on all the ships. You see,
the problem with so much wealth is that if you do find a way to
kill the rats, then you have to contend with all the cats."

"Why send me at all?"

"All this wealth flows through Spain. Spain is a country that has
to buy everything it needs, as it produces nothing. In addition to
that, your King Philip II is a man who spends much and therefore
needs much. Perez was placating the king with the brilliant idea of
planting a spy among the smugglers."

"Do Lopez and the captain know what I'm doing here?"

Valerian shook his head. "They suspect," he said.

"How did you know about me?"

"Perez told me."

I felt foolish and angry. I believe him. I remember Bellisaro's surprise at being allowed to leave Spain on time when fleets are notoriously late in departing. Only the House of Trade could have seen
to that. Valerian sensed my gloom, for he laid a hand on my shoulder.

"Why are we here?" I asked. "To look for the sunken ship?"

Valerian nodded. "Yes, that is why I am here and why the captain and Lopez are so upset over the illness of Jen. He is-was-to be the diver. He was a pearl diver when I met him. Together we
found a small fortune in pearls by diving in deeper waters. So lucky
were we with our diving successes that we began diving in old
wrecks when we could find their location. I knew the pilot of the
Concepcion. When he penned the location of his ill-fated ship, he
did so in a code that only he and I could decipher. That is how I
came to be on this mission."

I had a sudden thought. "Was Bellisaro the pilot of the
Concepcion?"

"No. Bellisaro knew nothing of the real purpose of our ship in
this fleet. Garcia, my pilot friend, met a mysterious death. I suspect
it was in connection with the Concepcion. But Garcia had passed
the document containing the location of the wreck to his captain,
who took it to Perez. Tricky missions require good pilots. That's
why Bellisaro was chosen. But he was not told about it until we
were well under way."

"Why do the captain and Lopez not know about me?" I asked.

"Perez doesn't tell everyone everything."

"And my brother?" I asked. "Does he know?"

"No, but the governor of Havana does."

"How do you know so much?"

Valerian smiled at me. "I have many friends in high, middle,
and low places. I make it my business-to-find- things out."

I have grown weary. Despite all the fantastic information
Valerian has enlightened me with, I shall retire to bed.

Today started out worse. Not only were the crew in low spirits, but
I as well since Valerian confided in me.

The surgeon wants to cut off Sancho's hand. He says it's getting
infected and he will lose it anyway. Sancho will not let him.

We found a breeze. It has lifted all our spirits along with the
sails. It did not take long to leave the strange sea behind. Back in
the familiar ocean, Bellisaro found a good wind and we made
good speed.

I saw a bird. I assume this means we are near land. What a
grand thought.

Quite suddenly, Bellisaro ordered the ship stopped and
anchored. I assume this means we have come to the location of the Concepcion. The boatswain gave orders to hoist Valerian's
crates out of the hold. I noticed that the captain and Lopez
watched eagerly as they were unpacked. The thing I thought was
a bell was placed near the railing on the port side of the ship and
another contraption with cranks and wheels constructed beside it
under Valerian's guidance. That done, Valerian unloaded other
mysterious things. I helped him, unenlightened as to what they
were. Valerian called them a pneumatic contrivance. I still had no
idea what they were, but I have since learned their function.

The captain explained to the crew that he needed a volunteer
from among the men who could swim. He said they were looking
for something on the bottom of the ocean. He didn't tell them
what. I believe he should have. They will know soon enough
when it is found, and I think they would be more eager if they
knew.

Valerian explained that with the mechanisms he had brought
with him, they would be able to breathe underwater. I was not surprised when no one stepped forward. He told them that Jen has
done it many times. They murmured among themselves but did
not volunteer.

"I will go," I said. They looked at me as though I'd gone mad.
The crew stood back, glad that an idiot was on board. I was an
idiot, but as Valerian spoke I became aware of an overwhelming
desire to know what is on the bottom of the ocean. No, I want not
only to know, but to see with my own eyes. Land where the air is
water, inhabited by creatures that I have barely glimpsed near the
surface. Will there be monsters, cities of lost souls, derelict ships
piloted by the bones of the dead? That is why I came, I realized
then, not for my king or any sense of justice, but for a burning
curiosity I possess and only now acknowledge. Had Valerian said
he had a giant crossbow and wanted to strap a man to the bolt
and shoot him to the moon, I would have stepped forward. I want
to see all those things that God has created and hidden away.

Valerian was as surprised as anyone else. "Do you know how to
swim?" he asked. I replied that I do. I was not raised in the city but
on my father's estate where my brothers and I swam frequently in
the lake. Lopez and the captain nodded their heads in approval.
The relieved crew went about their tasks while Valerian explained
to me about his pneumatic device.

There are actually two devices. The bell is a small compartment with a glass window whereby a man can sit and be lowered down
to the sea floor. A long leather conduit supplies the compartment
with air. The other is a device to be worn. It looks like an armor helmet with neck guards and pauldrons of leather and a visor of glass.
This, too, has a leather conduit attached to the skull plate. Valerian
explained, as he fitted yet another contraption together, that from
the deck of the ship at intervals he has worked out and by means
of a bellows, he can send air to each of the pneumatic devices,
assuring that I will not drown. "Jen has done this many times, as
have I," he told me. Valerian is truly an ingenious man.

Valerian himself donned a leather mask with a glass face plate,
stripped himself of his outer garments, and jumped over the side
of the ship. He disappeared under the water for a short time before
surfacing and climbing aboard with the help of some sailors who
must have thought him a madman. "The water," he said, "is not
as clear as I had hoped. I think the pneumatic helmet would be
best. You will have more freedom of movement."