Courtney #09 - Birds of Prey by Wilbur Smith

Author:Wilbur Smith [Smith, Wilbur]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Historical, Action & Adventure, War & Military
ISBN: 9780312963811
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Published: 1997-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

Birds Of Prey

“What can I do to ease you? Tell me, what can I do?” Hal pleaded.

“There is only one thing you can do now. Let me take with me the knowledge of your strength and your fortitude. If you fail me now, it will all have been in vain.”

Hal bit into the knuckles of his own clenched fist, drawing blood in the vain attempt to stifle his sobs. His father’s voice came again.

“Daniel, are you there?”

“Yes, Captain.”

“Help him. Help my son to be a man.” “I give you my promise, Captain.”

Hal raised his head, and his voice was stronger. “I do not need anybody to help me. I will keep my faith with you, Father. I will not betray your trust.”

“Farewell, Hal.” Sir Francis’s voice began to fade, as though he were falling into an infinite pit. “You are my blood and my promise of eternal life. Goodbye, my life.”

The following morning when they carried Sir Francis up from the dungeon Hop and Doctor AT Soar walked on either side of the litter. They were both worried men, for there was no sign of life in the broken figure that lay between them. Even when Hal defied Barnard’s whip, and called down to him from the walls, Sir Francis did not raise his head. They took him down the stairs to where Slow John already waited, but within a few minutes all three came out into the sunlight, Soar, Hop and Slow John, and stood talking quietly for a short while. Then they walked together across to the Governor’s suite and mounted the stairs.

Van de Velde was standing by the stained-glass window, peering out at the shipping that lay anchored off the foreshore. Late the previous evening, another Company galleon had come into Table Bay and he was expecting the ship’s captain to call upon him to pay his respects and to present an order for provisions and stores. Van de Velde turned impatiently from the window to face the three men as they filed into his chamber.

“Ja, Hop?” He looked at his favourite victim. “You have remembered my orders, for once, hey? You have brought the state executioner to speak to me.” He turned to Slow John. “So, has the pirate told you where he has hidden the treasure? Come on, fellow, speak up.”

Slow John’s expression did not change as he said softly, “I have worked carefully not to damage the respondent beyond usefulness. But I am nearing the end. Soon he will no longer hear my voice, nor be sensible to any further persuasion.”

“You have failed?” van de Velde’s voice trembled with anger.

“No, not yet,” said Slow John. “He is strong. I would never have believed how strong. But there is still the rack. I do not believe that he will be able to withstand the rack. No man can weather the rack.”

“You have not used it yet?” van de Velde demanded. “Why not?”

“To me it is the last resort. Once they have been racked, there is nothing left.

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