Kemosha of the Caribbean by Alex Wheatle

Author:Alex Wheatle
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Akashic Books
Published: 2021-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 15

Land Ahoy

Five days had passed, and I had yet to see anything green apart from what sickness came out of my mouth. When I rose from my rest, I would immediately run to the gangway only to be met by an endless blue. No breaking waves. No land. No tree. No bush. Just the wide, wide blue that stretched out to meet the bright skies. Some waves frothed white here and there. Others swelled higher. It felt like the crew of the Satisfaction and the mateys of the three other ships were the only living beings in the world. We must be near de end. Where de waters finish. Where we drop off.

Three times I had hard words with Edward Caspian, but he would smile away my curses and thank me for his recent meal. He was the politest white man I had ever heard.

Me must give thanks to Asase Ya for keeping me good self alive, and stopping mon like Callaghan visiting me at nighttime.

I spent my mealtimes with Tenoka Sinclair. He told me he had two older sisters and a younger brother. His mama was still alive. Her name was Moneka. Like me, he didn’t know where his papa was.

“Me getting me share of de booty for de first time after this mission,” he reminded me. “After this voyage, me want to go back to Old Harbour and buy de big house. And me want me family to live in it. Yes, Kemosha. That’s why me want to go to de Spanish Main. To mek me pieces of eight.”

On the sixth night, Edward Caspian ordered Tenoka to the crow’s nest. The stars were plenty and the moon had ate well. I sat on a canoe and peered out to the dark seas. They were very calm. The night was warm. Sweat covered my forehead and dripped from my armpits, but my belly had grown used to the rise and dip of the waves.

Captain Morgan and his top crew had retired to their cabins. Men had finished their work for the day. Some ate their meals and others sipped their ale. I spotted two of them sharpening their swords as the man beside them slept. I had asked Ravenhide to keep a watch on the kitchen. I was about to retire when I heard Tenoka cry, “Land ahoy! Land ahoy!”

Tenoka must have eyes like night birds becah me couldn’t sight ah damn ting.

Everyone assembled below the poop deck. I passed Callaghan on the way. For a short moment he paused. He said nothing but his eyes promised to violate me. I ignored him and moved on.

Lamps were put out. It was a strange sensation being at sea in near total darkness. The moon shed a pale light. Our three sister ships looked like long shadows. I heard distant voices on the sea breezes. Captain Morgan appeared with Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Caspian, and Mr. Powell on the poop deck. The crew fell silent.

“Drop anchor,” Captain Morgan ordered.

The anchor was released.

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