AND SO THEY WENT and rounded up all their buried pigs and loaded them on board and rounded up all their buried pigs and loaded them on board Minerva, Minerva, and stowed them alongside silver from Peru and gold from Brazil. Of course van Hoek's books were loaded aboard first of all. He complained of the miserable job Jack had done re-caulking the lid, and threatened to make him pay the devil, but when the box was set down on the deck of his cabin the Dutchman looked as close to happy as Jack had seen him in years. and stowed them alongside silver from Peru and gold from Brazil. Of course van Hoek's books were loaded aboard first of all. He complained of the miserable job Jack had done re-caulking the lid, and threatened to make him pay the devil, but when the box was set down on the deck of his cabin the Dutchman looked as close to happy as Jack had seen him in years.

There was no time even to pry the lid off, though. Getting the pigs and loading them aboard only took four days, but it seemed longer to Jack than all the time he'd spent in New Spain before. He avoided going ash.o.r.e, and could not set foot on dry land without entertaining a moment's phant'sy that Minerva Minerva would sail away and leave him stranded in that town, where anything that moved was pursued by a cloud of mosquitoes, and anything that didn't was shortly buried in wind-blown sand. would sail away and leave him stranded in that town, where anything that moved was pursued by a cloud of mosquitoes, and anything that didn't was shortly buried in wind-blown sand.

THEY DID NOT OPEN the crate and read the letter until they had cleared Bermuda, a month after departing Vera Cruz. Dappa pa.s.sed it around the table first so that Jack, Vrej, and van Hoek could inspect the seal. Pressed into a daub of red wax was a coat of arms too detailed to be made out: Jack imagined he saw a fragment of fleur-de-lis in one corner and a seagull in another. But the other men were all smirking. the crate and read the letter until they had cleared Bermuda, a month after departing Vera Cruz. Dappa pa.s.sed it around the table first so that Jack, Vrej, and van Hoek could inspect the seal. Pressed into a daub of red wax was a coat of arms too detailed to be made out: Jack imagined he saw a fragment of fleur-de-lis in one corner and a seagull in another. But the other men were all smirking.

"Who the h.e.l.l is it from?" he demanded.

"It claims claims to be from the d.u.c.h.ess of Arcachon-Qwghlm," said Dappa. to be from the d.u.c.h.ess of Arcachon-Qwghlm," said Dappa.

This bit of news. .h.i.t Jack like a yard-arm across the brow, and shut him up long enough for Dappa to break the seal and smooth the page out on the table. "It is in English," he announced, and took a swallow of chocolate to whet his whistle. " 'To Jack Shaftoe, esq. The inexorable tides ebb and flow 'neath the battlements of the Castle as I pen these lines, reminding me that what is submerged and seemingly drown'd forever in fatal Seas may yet rise forth from Neptune Neptune's wat'ry Dungeon if one hath only Patience to await the natural Wheeling of the Heavens. I am put in mind of a certain Man who when I last spied him seem'd to've been dragged down by the Moral Undertow which sweepeth away even strong souls who stand long in it, and to have fallen into a condition of Degradation worse than Death; and whose Body Body was scarcely more fit than his was scarcely more fit than his Spirit, Spirit, as he was far gone with the French Pox and afflicted with divers Wounds and Amputations to boot-' " as he was far gone with the French Pox and afflicted with divers Wounds and Amputations to boot-' "

"The most of notable of which was inflicted by her, her," Jack said with a gigantic wink, "but she omits that-she's too much the Lady now."

"She writes writes like one," van Hoek said, none too admiringly. like one," van Hoek said, none too admiringly.

Dappa cleared his throat irritably and continued, " 'thus did this Man, whom many styl'd a Vagabond, Vagabond, vanish from Christendom's ken, swamped by Mortality's Tide; and if rumors echoed up from vanish from Christendom's ken, swamped by Mortality's Tide; and if rumors echoed up from Barbary, Barbary, years later, to the effect that a Man answering to his Description had been witness'd there, it signified Nothing more than when a Sparend or Mast-head breaketh the Surface of some stagnant Cove at low Tide and reminds us that, once, a Ship was wrack'd in that Place. But all that was rumor'd concerning this Man was in an Instant over-turn'd when tidings were delivered to years later, to the effect that a Man answering to his Description had been witness'd there, it signified Nothing more than when a Sparend or Mast-head breaketh the Surface of some stagnant Cove at low Tide and reminds us that, once, a Ship was wrack'd in that Place. But all that was rumor'd concerning this Man was in an Instant over-turn'd when tidings were delivered to France France of a of a bataille rangee bataille rangee in the streets of in the streets of Grand Caire, Grand Caire, whose Reverberations seem'd to echo back and forth 'tween the rugged Pyramids and the whose Reverberations seem'd to echo back and forth 'tween the rugged Pyramids and the Barock Barock Monuments of Versailles, as when a Thunderbolt splits the Air 'tween two very Mountains. For the Tides of Fortune had turn'd, even as those of us, who should've known better, had turn'd our backs to advert on Monuments of Versailles, as when a Thunderbolt splits the Air 'tween two very Mountains. For the Tides of Fortune had turn'd, even as those of us, who should've known better, had turn'd our backs to advert on inward inward and and inland inland Matters. Nor was this the only such occasion, for in later Years came news of a Battle won through Matters. Nor was this the only such occasion, for in later Years came news of a Battle won through Alchemical Alchemical cozening in Hindoostan, and other Ebbings and Flowings I'll not tediously cozening in Hindoostan, and other Ebbings and Flowings I'll not tediously enumerate, enumerate, as you are their Author.' " as you are their Author.' "

"Thank G.o.d, I was afraid she was going to relate the whole story again," Jack said.

" 'In recent years, Tidings of your Adventures have, from time to time, stirr'd Admiration and Envy in the Courts of Europe. Tho' my Situation in this Castle is exceeding remote remote from such grand Places, yet it has been my Privilege to conduct a frequent Correspondence with certain rare Persons who inhabit them, and they have not been slow to inform me of all that is from such grand Places, yet it has been my Privilege to conduct a frequent Correspondence with certain rare Persons who inhabit them, and they have not been slow to inform me of all that is claimed, claimed, or or rumored, rumored, concerning your concerning your Asiatick Asiatick wand'rings. Indeed, my icy Castle hath proved a better Vantage than wand'rings. Indeed, my icy Castle hath proved a better Vantage than Versailles Versailles itself, for some of the Letters that come to me here originate in Hanover, and were written by a certain Lady whom you, sir, and I once looked upon there, from a respectful Distance. And lest these words seem to itself, for some of the Letters that come to me here originate in Hanover, and were written by a certain Lady whom you, sir, and I once looked upon there, from a respectful Distance. And lest these words seem to demean demean that same Lady by implying too great familiarity with me, who am so mean by comparison, I say to you, sir, that as a Paragon of Wisdom and Beauty she is as distant and remote to me, as she was on that Day we spied 'pon her from a that same Lady by implying too great familiarity with me, who am so mean by comparison, I say to you, sir, that as a Paragon of Wisdom and Beauty she is as distant and remote to me, as she was on that Day we spied 'pon her from a Germanick Germanick church.' " church.' "

This paragraph was enough to make Jack's eyes cross, and van Hoek knead his temples, but after Dappa had read it a second time, Jack attempted the following translation: "All right, she's cozy with Sophie, who provided us with our cannons and owns part of this ship, and Sophie knows where we are better than the gossips of Versailles."

"We sent Sophie a letter from Rio de Janeiro," van Hoek said.

Dappa continued, " 'That incomparable Lady hath given me to believe that you may be in New Spain. I pray that this Letter hath found you in good Health there, and that you have found a trustworthy trustworthy person to read it to you. If it is your Intention to sail for Europe with metal goods, then I wish you G.o.dspeed, and I beg you to consider making land-fall at Qwghlm; for all your Sins have long since been forgiven.' " Dappa slowed as he read this, and there was much awkward shifting about as heads turned toward the poleaxed Jack. Seeing that he was no longer really a part of the conversation, Dappa rushed through the last bit: " 'I pray you will take this as a fair Prospect, but I know it is of no especial Value to your Partners. To them I say that, if Britain is one day to be the realm of the Lady before mentioned, that the first speck of it to owe its love and loyalty to her will be Qwghlm; and if it is to be overwhelm'd by the person to read it to you. If it is your Intention to sail for Europe with metal goods, then I wish you G.o.dspeed, and I beg you to consider making land-fall at Qwghlm; for all your Sins have long since been forgiven.' " Dappa slowed as he read this, and there was much awkward shifting about as heads turned toward the poleaxed Jack. Seeing that he was no longer really a part of the conversation, Dappa rushed through the last bit: " 'I pray you will take this as a fair Prospect, but I know it is of no especial Value to your Partners. To them I say that, if Britain is one day to be the realm of the Lady before mentioned, that the first speck of it to owe its love and loyalty to her will be Qwghlm; and if it is to be overwhelm'd by the Popish Popish legions, the last bit of soil to surrender her colors will be that on which this Castle is pil'd. London may sway to and fro 'tween Whigs and Torys, Jacobites and Hanoverians, but Qwghlm is a rock, ever loyal, and nowhere in the World will legions, the last bit of soil to surrender her colors will be that on which this Castle is pil'd. London may sway to and fro 'tween Whigs and Torys, Jacobites and Hanoverians, but Qwghlm is a rock, ever loyal, and nowhere in the World will Minerva Minerva find a safer harbor.' What the h.e.l.l is she on about there?" find a safer harbor.' What the h.e.l.l is she on about there?"

Vrej said, "If the last news we had from London is true, Queen Anne will never produce an heir to the throne, which means that the next next Queen of England will be our co-owner, the Electress Sophie of Hanover-who has apparently become some sort of patroness to Jack's fair Eliza." Queen of England will be our co-owner, the Electress Sophie of Hanover-who has apparently become some sort of patroness to Jack's fair Eliza."

Van Hoek said, "The harbor harbor beneath her castle may be safe. The beneath her castle may be safe. The approach approach is anything but-we've no way of actually is anything but-we've no way of actually getting getting there." there."

"Eliza-or I should say, the d.u.c.h.ess-addresses that matter in a final paragraph, here," Dappa said. "She instructs us to make for Derry, or as she styles it, Londonderry, on the north of Ireland, and there to find a certain pilot, name of James Hh. He'll bring us safely into the harbor beneath Qwghlm Castle."

"As Captain of this vessel, I see no commanding reason to do this when perfectly safe and well-known harbors are available at London and Amsterdam," van Hoek said, "but as a share-holder in our Enterprise I am obligated to entertain discussions."

"Sophie is a greater share-holder than any of us us, and Eliza would appear to speak for her, her," Jack said.

"But she did not say so explicitly. Until we see a letter with the arms of Hanover on it, we can't know Sophie's mind," said Vrej.

"So you vote for London?" Dappa asked.

Vrej shrugged. "That would bring us directly to the Mint at the Tower of London. We could hardly improve on that that. What is your vote, Dappa?"

Dappa's eyes strayed momentarily toward his cabin. "I vote for Qwghlm."

"Are you voting as a share-holder in this venture, or a chronicler of the slave-trade?" van Hoek asked. For as Minerva Minerva had worked her way up the long coast of Brazil, Dappa had patiently collected and written down the personal accounts of numerous African slaves, and it was no secret that he would see them in print. had worked her way up the long coast of Brazil, Dappa had patiently collected and written down the personal accounts of numerous African slaves, and it was no secret that he would see them in print.

"True, it's a foregone conclusion that Eliza-who according to Jack is an ex-slave like us, and a pa.s.sionate hater of that Inst.i.tution-would gladly be the patroness of my book, and support its publication," Dappa admitted. "But I have reasons besides that for preferring Qwghlm. To reach London or Amsterdam we'd have to sail up the Channel, practically under the guns of St.-Malo and Dunkerque and diverse other French privateer-havens. This were unwise even if France and England were not not involved in a great war." involved in a great war."

"We could go north round Britain, conceivably," Vrej muttered, "and approach through the North Sea, which ought to be a Dutch-English lake."

"But if we are going that route anyway, anyway, we may as well go to Qwghlm." we may as well go to Qwghlm."

"I am coming about to your view," Vrej said, after a moment.

"I don't like it," van Hoek said.

Qwghlm AUGUST 1702.

The Seamen returned enriched with the Plunder, not of Ships, but of Fleets, Loaden with Silver; they went out Beggars, and came home Gentlemen; nay, the Wealth they brought Home, not only enrich'd themselves, but the whole Nation.-DANIEL DEFOE, A Plan of the English Commerce TWO MONTHS LATER, while while Minerva Minerva was lost in fog off of Outer Qwghlm, a loud noise came up from her hold, and she stopped moving. was lost in fog off of Outer Qwghlm, a loud noise came up from her hold, and she stopped moving.

Van Hoek drew his cutla.s.s and went after the pilot, James Hh, and at length tracked him down at the head. He was perched on the bowsprit. "Welcome to Qwghlm," he announced, "you are hard aground on the rock that we call the Dutch-hammer." Then he jumped.

By this point van Hoek had been joined by several other men with pistols, and all of them rushed forward in the hope of getting a shot off at Hh. But they did not see him in that icy water (which soon would have killed him anyway); all they saw was a faint impression in the fog, like a woodcut pressed with diluted ink, of a longboat rowing away. That longboat fired a signal from its swivel-gun, and when the boom had finished echoing among the Three Sghrs, the men on Minerva Minerva could hear the distant shouting of men on other ships-a whole squadron, arrayed all around them, riding safely at anchor, well clear of the stony reef. All of these voices were speaking in French except for one or two, shouting through speaking-trumpets: "Welcome home, Jaaack!" could hear the distant shouting of men on other ships-a whole squadron, arrayed all around them, riding safely at anchor, well clear of the stony reef. All of these voices were speaking in French except for one or two, shouting through speaking-trumpets: "Welcome home, Jaaack!"

The men on Minerva Minerva remained perfectly still. It was not that they were trying to be stealthy-there was little point in hiding now. This was a ceremonial silence, as at a funeral. Too, there was a process of mental rearrangement taking place in the minds of the ship's officers, as they sorted through the memories of everything that had occurred in the last few months, and began to understand it all as an elaborate deception, a trap laid by the French. remained perfectly still. It was not that they were trying to be stealthy-there was little point in hiding now. This was a ceremonial silence, as at a funeral. Too, there was a process of mental rearrangement taking place in the minds of the ship's officers, as they sorted through the memories of everything that had occurred in the last few months, and began to understand it all as an elaborate deception, a trap laid by the French.

As the fog began to lift, and the outlines of French frigates started to resolve and solidify all around them. Van Hoek ambled back to the p.o.o.p deck, laid his right arm out carefully on the rail, and brought his cutla.s.s down on it, a few inches above the wrist. The blade caught in his bones and he had to worry it out and chop several more times. Finally the hand-already mangled and truncated from diverse mishaps-made a splash in the water below. Van Hoek lay down on the deck and turned white. He probably would have died if he had not been aboard a ship where treating amputations was a routine affair. This at least gave the sailors something to do while the French longboats converged on them.

At some point Dappa got a distracted look on his face, excused himself from van Hoek's side, and began to walk briskly in the direction of Vrej Esphahnian.

Vrej drew one of several pistols from his waist-band and aimed it at Dappa. A whirring blade flew into his arm, like a steel hummingbird, and spoiled his aim. It was a hunting yo-yo and it had been flung by a Filipino crewman standing off to Vrej's side.

Vrej dropped the weapon and flung himself overboard. He was wearing a scarlet cape that billowed up as he fell, like a sail, and formed a bubble on the water below, an island of satin that kept him afloat until a Frenchman on a longboat flung a rope to him.

"Say the word, Dad," said Jimmy, who was manning a loaded swivel-gun, and holding a lighted torch above its touch-hole.

"It's me they want," Jack said, matter-of-factly, as if he were captured by the French Navy every day.

"It's us us they they have, have," Danny answered, pointedly, bringing another swivel-gun to bear on another longboat, "and we'll soon make 'em wish they didn't."

Jack shook his head. "This is not to be another Cairo."

QWGHLM C CASTLE WAS a Dark Ages citadel that had all too obviously failed its essential purpose. Indeed, most of it was not even competent to keep out sleet and rats. Its lee corner, where it gripped the living rock of the Sghr, had, however, at least put up a struggle against gravity. It supported a row of stark crenels that finger-combed the tangled winds above the crunchy wilderness of smithereens and guano that accounted for the rest of the Castle. a Dark Ages citadel that had all too obviously failed its essential purpose. Indeed, most of it was not even competent to keep out sleet and rats. Its lee corner, where it gripped the living rock of the Sghr, had, however, at least put up a struggle against gravity. It supported a row of stark crenels that finger-combed the tangled winds above the crunchy wilderness of smithereens and guano that accounted for the rest of the Castle.

To re-roof such a thing was to waste money; but to embed a whole brand-new Barock chateau in it, as the duc d'Arcachon had recently finished doing, was to make some sort of ringing proclamation. In the visual language of architects and decorators, the proclamation said something about whatever glorious principles were personified by all its swooping, robed, wreathed, winged demiG.o.ds. Translated into English it said, "I am rich and powerful, and you are not."

Jack got the message. They put him under house-arrest in a grand bedchamber with a high Barock window through which the Duke and d.u.c.h.ess, presumably, could watch the comings and goings of ships in the harbor. The room's back wall, facing these windows, consisted mostly of mirrors-which as even Jack knew was an homage to the Galerie des Glaces at Versailles.

Jack lay in bed for several days, unable to bring himself to look into any mirrors, or or to go near that window and see to go near that window and see Minerva Minerva stuck on the Dutch-hammer. Sometimes he would get out of bed and hug the cannonball that was attached to his neck-collar by a four-foot length of chain and carry it into the stuck on the Dutch-hammer. Sometimes he would get out of bed and hug the cannonball that was attached to his neck-collar by a four-foot length of chain and carry it into the en suite en suite garderobe: a closet with a wooden bench decorated with a hole. Being ever so careful not to let the cannonball fall into that hole-for he'd not quite decided to kill himself yet-he'd sit down and void himself into a chute that spilled out onto the stone cliff-side far below. garderobe: a closet with a wooden bench decorated with a hole. Being ever so careful not to let the cannonball fall into that hole-for he'd not quite decided to kill himself yet-he'd sit down and void himself into a chute that spilled out onto the stone cliff-side far below.

Years ago-the last last time a collar of iron had been locked around his neck by an Arcachon-John Churchill had warned him that angry Frenchmen were bound to come after him with pliers sooner or later. Jack could only a.s.sume that this was still true, and that in the meantime he was being kept in luxurious surroundings as part of some highly refined campaign of sarcasm. time a collar of iron had been locked around his neck by an Arcachon-John Churchill had warned him that angry Frenchmen were bound to come after him with pliers sooner or later. Jack could only a.s.sume that this was still true, and that in the meantime he was being kept in luxurious surroundings as part of some highly refined campaign of sarcasm.

After a week they moved him to a stone chamber. The windows were crossbow-embrasures that had recently been chocked up with pigs of gla.s.s. But they did afford him a view of the Dutch-hammer and its latest victim. Minerva Minerva had languished there, an object of ridicule, as gold and silver were extracted from her hold, and replaced with rocks to keep her ballasted. had languished there, an object of ridicule, as gold and silver were extracted from her hold, and replaced with rocks to keep her ballasted.

"Did Vrej survive the fall, and the water?" was Jack's first question when Edmund de Ath-who had revealed himself to be, in fact, one edouard de Gex, a Jesuit, and a hater of the Jansenists and of the Enlightenment both-came around to taunt him.

edouard de Gex looked surprised. "Why do you ask? Surely you're not naive enough to think you'll have an opportunity to kill him."

"Oh no, I was just wondering how it came out in the end."

"How what what came out?" came out?"

"The story. You see, all along I've been supposing that this was my my story, but now I see it has really been story, but now I see it has really been Vrej's Vrej's."

edouard de Gex shrugged. "He lives. He has a bit of a catarrh. When he's feeling better he'll probably come around and explain matters to you."

"That should be a lively conversation...but pray tell, why the h.e.l.l are should be a lively conversation...but pray tell, why the h.e.l.l are you you here?" here?"

"I am here to look after your immortal soul."

De Gex had traded his former garb for a Jesuit's black robes, and even his language had changed. Formerly he had spoken Sabir, but now it was English. "It is my intention to convert all of Britain to the true faith," he remarked, "and so I have made a study of your language."

"And you're going to begin with me me? Weren't you paying attention in Mexico City?"

"The Inquisition there has grown lax. You said you were a Catholic and they took you at your word.... I prefer a more rigorous approach." De Gex produced a letter from his sleeve. "Does this look familiar?"

"It looks like the one Eliza sent me in New Spain..." Jack blinked and shook his head. "The one we opened and read on the ship...which was obviously a fake fake...but that that one hasn't even been opened." one hasn't even been opened."

"Poor Jack. This is the true true letter that was delivered to you in New Spain, and that you sealed up inside van Hoek's book-chest. But it was letter that was delivered to you in New Spain, and that you sealed up inside van Hoek's book-chest. But it was not not sent by Eliza. It was sent by Elizabeth de Obregon. That fickle b.i.t.c.h smuggled it out of the convent where she was being held in Mexico City. Then later, when we were in Vera Cruz-" sent by Eliza. It was sent by Elizabeth de Obregon. That fickle b.i.t.c.h smuggled it out of the convent where she was being held in Mexico City. Then later, when we were in Vera Cruz-"

"You took it out of the crate where I'd stored it, and subst.i.tuted a fake one you'd written. Van Hoek complained that the caulking was badly done.... I should've suspected tampering."

"I am a better forger than a caulker, it would seem," de Gex said.

"The forgery worked," Jack allowed.

"Monsieur Esphahnian listened to your talk of Eliza for years, and knew every detail of the story by heart...without his his information, I could never have composed that letter." information, I could never have composed that letter."

De Gex broke the seal on the letter of Elizabeth de Obregon. "It would weigh on my conscience, Jack, if I did not read you your mail. This is written in florid Spanish.... I will translate it into English. She begins with the usual complicated salutation and apology...then complains of persistent nightmares that have plagued her ever since she arrived in New Spain, and prevented her from getting a single good night's sleep. In these nightmares, she is on the Manila Galleon, in the middle of the Pacific, when it falls into the hands of the Inquisition. There is no mutiny and no violence...one day the Captain is simply gone, as if he had fallen overboard when no one was looking, and the officers are in irons, confined to their cabins, but none of them knows it yet because they are all in a drugged sleep. A man in a black robe has seized control of the ship...like any other Inquisitor, he has a staff of familiars, familiars, who until now have been disguised as merchants' servants. They have been gathering information about their employers' blasphemies and heresies. And, too, he has bailiffs, who until now have been disguised as merchants' servants. They have been gathering information about their employers' blasphemies and heresies. And, too, he has bailiffs, alguaciles, alguaciles, who've been disguised as ordinary seamen but who are now armed with pistols, whips, and blunderbusses, and are not slow to use them against anyone who challenges the authority of the man in the black robe.... She goes on, Jack, to narrate this nightmare ( who've been disguised as ordinary seamen but who are now armed with pistols, whips, and blunderbusses, and are not slow to use them against anyone who challenges the authority of the man in the black robe.... She goes on, Jack, to narrate this nightmare (she calls it a nightmare) in considerable detail, but much of it is well-known to you, who have such an intimate knowledge of the workings of the Inquisition. Suffice it to say that the Holy Office carried out its duties exactingly on that ship, and many of the merchants aboard were discovered to be Jews. Really, the entire Galleon was a nest of vipers, a ship of infamous degradation..." calls it a nightmare) in considerable detail, but much of it is well-known to you, who have such an intimate knowledge of the workings of the Inquisition. Suffice it to say that the Holy Office carried out its duties exactingly on that ship, and many of the merchants aboard were discovered to be Jews. Really, the entire Galleon was a nest of vipers, a ship of infamous degradation..."

"Is that what she wrote, or are you 'translating' a bit freely?"

"But even as he was decorating the yard-arms with dangling merchants, giving them the strappado strappado so that they would unburden themselves of their sins, this black-robe was keeping lookouts posted for any sign of so that they would unburden themselves of their sins, this black-robe was keeping lookouts posted for any sign of Minerva Minerva."

"Does she explain the firing of the signal-cannon?"

"The hereticks mutinied. They fired the cannon in an attempt to summon help. There was general warfare-the black-robe was driven belowdecks..."

"Where he kindled a fire, to make an auto da fe auto da fe of the entire ship." of the entire ship."

"When Elizabeth de Obregon woke aboard Minerva, Minerva, the first thing she saw was that same black-robe staring her in the face. With opium and with clever arguments he induced her to believe that the burning of the Galleon had been an accident, and that now, on the first thing she saw was that same black-robe staring her in the face. With opium and with clever arguments he induced her to believe that the burning of the Galleon had been an accident, and that now, on Minerva, Minerva, they were prisoners of the hereticks, who would kill the black-robe if they knew him to be a Jesuit. After that they would make her their wh.o.r.e. So she played the role that the black-robe devised for her...but after recuperating in Mexico City, and suffering diverse tortures from want of opium, and coming out from the influence of the black-robe, these nightmares had begun. She decided that they were not nightmares but true memories, and that all the black-robe's doings must have been part of a plan having something to do with they were prisoners of the hereticks, who would kill the black-robe if they knew him to be a Jesuit. After that they would make her their wh.o.r.e. So she played the role that the black-robe devised for her...but after recuperating in Mexico City, and suffering diverse tortures from want of opium, and coming out from the influence of the black-robe, these nightmares had begun. She decided that they were not nightmares but true memories, and that all the black-robe's doings must have been part of a plan having something to do with Minerva, Minerva, and something to do with the gold of Solomon, which and something to do with the gold of Solomon, which Minerva Minerva's owners had stolen from the ex-Viceroy."

"And she wrote to warn us of this? That was a n.o.ble act on the lady's part," Jack mused, "but I cannot imagine why she cared whether we lived or died."

"She was of a converso converso family," de Gex said. "She was a Jewess." family," de Gex said. "She was a Jewess."

"I cannot help but notice you are using the past tense."

"She lies in a pauper's grave outside Mexico City. The Inquisition there, so corrupt and pusillanimous, gave her nothing more than routine treatment. She died of some pestilence that was sweeping through the prison. But one day I will see her burned in effigy in a great auto da fe auto da fe in St. James's Park, Jack. You'll be there, too-you'll put the torch to her pyre and pray the rosary while her effigy burns." in St. James's Park, Jack. You'll be there, too-you'll put the torch to her pyre and pray the rosary while her effigy burns."

"If you can arrange an auto da fe auto da fe in Westminster, I'll do that," Jack promised. in Westminster, I'll do that," Jack promised.

JACK HAD a.s.sUMED during the first days in Qwghlm that everyone aboard during the first days in Qwghlm that everyone aboard Minerva Minerva would be put to the sword, or at least sent to the galleys in Ma.r.s.eille. But as days had gone by it had become clear that only Jack and Vrej would be getting off at this stop-the ship and her crew, and van Hoek, Dappa, Jimmy, and Danny, were free to go, albeit without their gold. Jack liked to believe that this was because he had given himself up willingly. Later he came to suspect that it was because Electress Sophie was a part-owner of the ship. She was being shown a Professional Courtesy by whatever n.o.ble Frenchman was behind all of this-the duc d'Arcachon, or Leroy himself. would be put to the sword, or at least sent to the galleys in Ma.r.s.eille. But as days had gone by it had become clear that only Jack and Vrej would be getting off at this stop-the ship and her crew, and van Hoek, Dappa, Jimmy, and Danny, were free to go, albeit without their gold. Jack liked to believe that this was because he had given himself up willingly. Later he came to suspect that it was because Electress Sophie was a part-owner of the ship. She was being shown a Professional Courtesy by whatever n.o.ble Frenchman was behind all of this-the duc d'Arcachon, or Leroy himself.

After Minerva Minerva's holds and lockers had been stripped to the bare wood, they waited for a high tide and began throwing ballast-rocks overboard, trying to float her off the reef. Jack watched this operation from a battlement of the Castle, where he was allowed to carry his cannonball to and fro sometimes, under guard. After a while de Gex joined him, greeting him with: "I remind you, Jack, that suicide is a mortal sin."

Jack was baffled by this non sequitur non sequitur until he followed de Gex's gaze over the mossy crenellations and down a hundred feet of sheer stone to icy surf flailing away at rocks. Then he laughed. "I've been expecting some Arcachon to come up here and put me to a slow death-d'you really think I'd do the deed until he followed de Gex's gaze over the mossy crenellations and down a hundred feet of sheer stone to icy surf flailing away at rocks. Then he laughed. "I've been expecting some Arcachon to come up here and put me to a slow death-d'you really think I'd do the deed for for him, and spare him such a pleasant journey?" him, and spare him such a pleasant journey?"

"Perhaps you would wish to avoid being tortured."

"Oh no, edouard, I'm inspired by your example."

"You are referring to the Inquisition in Mexico?"

"I was wondering: Did the Inquisitor know you were a fellow-Jesuit? Did he go easy on you?"

"If he had given me light treatment, you and Moseh would have detected it-and you would not have decided to trust me. No, I fooled the Inquisitor as thoroughly as I fooled you."

"That is the most bizarre thing I have heard in my entire circuit of the world."

"It is not so strange," said de Gex, "if only you knew more. For, contrary to what you suppose, I do not consider myself some kind of saint. Nay, I have secrets so dark that I myself do not know them! I phant'sied the Inquisitor might somehow wrest out of me through torture what I could not discover by prayer and meditation."

"That is more bizarre yet yet. I preferred the first first version." version."

"Really, it was not so bad as the Jews are always claiming. There are any number of ways it could be made far more painful. When the Holy Office is reestablished in London, I'll inst.i.tute some improvements-we'll have a lot of hereticks to prosecute in a short time, and this desultory Mexican style simply will not do."

"I had not considered suicide when I came up here," Jack muttered, "but you are bringing me around smartly." He stuck his head out through a gap between crenels and leaned over the edge of the wall to see what the final few seconds of his life might look like. "Pity the tide is so unusually high-I'd hit water instead of rocks."

"Pity we are abjured to deliver you in one piece," de Gex said, gazing at Jack almost lovingly. "I would love to put what I learned in Mexico City to use, here and now, against your person, and get a full accounting of what you did with King Solomon's gold."

"Oh, is that all you wanted to know? We took it to Surat, excepting some trivial expenditures in Mocha and Bandar, and there Queen Kottakkal took it from us. If it's that particular gold you want, get thee to Malabar!"