Chapter 35
It was agreed that the Arawak would send out a message first thing in the
morning. Henri, at first, had been quite against what Liza had proposed, but he
agreed to leave the details until later. John convinced him instead to prepare
for what was sure to be an exciting battle.
“Aren’t you nervous John?” Mary said as they sat down on the deck to eat
dinner. This time it was fish with lime sauce and, again, lots of fruits,
ground fruit and vegetables.
“Well, this time we do get to prepare…”
“Oh, yes, I forgot last time.”
“You were asleep after all Mary’ Liza said with a smile.
“I will leave before dawn to go with the Dyab, we will coordinate our
attack so that we have a greater effect.”
“It should be fine Mary. I suspect it will be quick and Will, John, Moto
and I will all proect you, if need be.”
John began to laugh but then caught himself. “Oh, Liza, I do not think
you need to come.”
“I would not miss it!” Liza said sternly.
“Well, yes, of course, but Mary, surely-“
“I will be fine too John.” Mary said. “After all I am the one here who
has already been shot.”
“True, but this time there may be many of the devils, and they will need
to defend themselves to the death.”
“Well then, what better time to demonstrate our seriousness and loyalty?”
Liza asked.
John sighed and shrugged. “I hope you are right Liza.”
“We’re all going!” The General bellowed. “I’ve just had a chat with Henri
and he says we can all go in his balloon-“
“I don’t think-“ John began.
“He promises us lots of action right up front!” The general would not be
deterred.
“This will not be a picnic people!” John said, standing up.
The General became serious. “This I do know young man. I have seen too
many battles, but if it means a chance to show that son of a botch Ingellsdin
off, then I do not want to miss it. But John is right, you girls need to stay
back.”
“Grandfather I will do no such thing. The Chinese call it saving face and
I must be there to save my face!”
“The Koreans mostly, I think Liza, but I agree. And if Liza is going, so
am I!” Mary added.
“Well, your Uncle will have the last say.” The General harrumphed.
“I’ve already told him I am going and he said yes.” Mary said. The
general sighed and got up and said good night.
“Did you really tell him?” Liza asked, a look of disbelief on her face.
“Well, not in so many words, but he is well enough into the rum tonight
that he will not recall at any rate!” Mary said laughing.
The next day dawned bright and clear above the clouds. As the sun crept
over the east, a flotilla of balloons was already on its way to the Arawak
cloud. Liza looked out over the bow of the ship she was on. This ship was
smaller than many others, it only held about a dozen people, but I had several
cannons. It was, John assured her, agile and fast, perfect for feinting. From
it she could see the Navassa fleet in front of her. She counted five larger
galleons, including the largest flagship she had been staying on. Accompanying
the galleons was the rest of the fleet, from attack ships like hers to bulky
cargo ships.
Although the galleons mostly stayed true to the 18th century
style of ship building, the other ships had a variety of styles. The one she
was on was sleek, featureless and in her mind quite future looking, with a
minimal of fussy detail. The ship next to them, also a fighter, was much
gaudier, outlined in gilt and flourishes carved into the wood it resembled some
sort of Italian wedding cake. The cargo ships tended to be plainer and more
functional, less decoration and less style.
On board with her on her ship was John, Will and Mary as well as a band
of Navassains armed to the teeth. Liza had convinced John to let her have the
elephant gun, Mary had demurred when offered a choice of weapons, saying she
would rather help in the back, supplying bullets or whatever else was needed.
On the ship next to them, the gaudier one was Henri, the General, Moto
and the Colonel. The Colonel had been very upset upon hearing that Mary was
under the impression she could go on the raid, but after venting a while and
being completely ignored by both Mary and the General, he had settled down and
been resigned to letting Mary go.
So the ships gently, peacefully, sailed through the sky as the first rays
of the rising sun streaked through the atmosphere in vivid streaks of pink and
red.
“Isn’t it glorious?” Liza said as they spied the Arawak city in the
distance. “the sky is on fire!” She said to John, who smiled and nodded.
“It reminds me of blood” Mary said softly from behind Mary.
“Either way, we will soon be there.” John said, pointing out a large
cluster of smaller Arawak ship, almost all of them baskets holding 2-3
warriors. But unlike the Navassain fleet, there seemed to be hundreds upon
hundreds of them floating, waiting.
“There are so many…” Liza remarked.
“Yes” John said, “I doubt any able bodied Dyab would miss this battle for
anything. It is a chance to win honor and avenge themselves.”
“I still wish we could have done it my way completely..” Liza said,
sounding more annoyed than angry. “I find this all very savage.”
“Perhaps” John said “Perhaps, but you must place yourself into another’s
shoes. From birth they have been told to be fierce, as have our people, to
fight and give no quarter, while the English have been taught, from birth, to
be polite and avoid confrontation. Both ways have good and bad points, but to
those born into one or the other, the opposite is simply wrong.”
“I know, but it is difficult to remove myself from being English!” Liza
answered.
“No need to remove yourself Liza, simply use what works and disregard the
rest. One must ask oneself, am I doing something because it will result in a
good end, for myself or others, or I am simply doing it because it is how it
has always been done.” John said.
Liza truned to say something smart, but as she reflected on what he had
said she realized he was right.
“Be careful John” Mary said with a laugh in her voice. ”If you best Liza
you will pay for it at some point.”
“Oh shut up Mary, honestly!” Liza said, chuckling. “I am not all that bad
am I?”
Mary did not answer, instead making a motion as to lock her lips and
throw away the key. Liza lightly punched Mary’s arm and the tow began to laugh.
“Hush!” John said. “We are there, now we will descend.”
“Descend? Go down? Why?” Liza asked.
“To Navassa itself, where the white devil is. No fighting in the clouds
today, after all they have no airships!”
With a lurched the airship began to fall down at a rapid speed. Liza and
the others gripped the railing and watched as the clouds beneath them parted
and the dull rocky shores of Navassa seemed to rise up to meet them.
Suddenly there was a loud whistle, and then several more.
“Away from the sides!” John yelled as he pulled Liza back. “It has
started! We must fire back!”
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