"Calm down. I'm here with you." Whispered Smith as Pocahontas flew into his arms. "Northing's going to take us apart now."
"John." He heard shaking voice of the girl.
"It's alright. Don't cry." John tried to cheer Pocahontas up, but suddenly he heard angry Radcliffe ordering to start fight with Indians. The captain looked around and when he saw what is going to happen, he ran through whole big rock to save chief Powhatan from the shot.
Radcliffe didn't pay any attention to who is standing on a line of a shot, and the ball for Powhatan reached Smith's left side.
The captain fell down on the ground overthrew with pain. Last thing he saw before loosing consistences, was Pocahontas' face.
Next morning Smith had to return to England, because his wound was too strong to recover without professional medical help.
Just before John's departure Pocahontas came to say good-bye.
"Come with me?" He asked with faith.
The girl looked at her father.
"You know your own path, daughter."
Again she looked at John.
"My place is here." She cried.
"Than, I will stay with you."
"No, you have to go back." Smith saw tears rolling down her face.
"But, I can't leave you."
"You never will. No matter what happens, I will always be with you. Forever."
They kissed each other passionately, for the very last time.
Later on Pocahontas was watching the sail ship bringing John Smith to his home land.
Time passed very fast, especially for Pocahontas, who even didn't notice when her son grew up and turned to be seven. He was named by his grandfather Pepsicanough, however nobody ever explained this name to the boy.
Other kids were talking about their names and meaning of each of them.
"Hey, what your name means, Pepsicanough?" Asked one of his best friends.
"I don't know. My mum told me that I'll get know it in its time."
"But why?!"
"Listen, if she says so, I will respect this." With that the boy left the village and narrowed to Jamestown.
He loved the colony, even didn't knowing why, he felt like he belonged more to English than to Algonquian people.
Pepsicanough wasn't a typical Indian boy. He had different color of eyes, the were blue instead of brown or black, and his skin wasn't like his mother's. Sometimes the boy wondered why he looks so different. Once he asked Pocahontas about his father, but she said that he's too young to understand. Everybody treated him like almost adult man, besides his mother, who always avoided difficult problems. He also knew that everybody are hiding something about him.
The boy entered the small church in Jamestown. The priest saw him, and gave a sign to come closer.
"Welcome, my boy. How are you?"
"Good morning. I'm good, but a bit upset..."
"May I help you?"
"Yes, but my mum can't know about it, sir."
"Of course, it will be your confession. Only God, you and me will know what we'll talk about."
They sat down on one of church benches, and started talking.
"Why my mum never baptized me, even if she should?" Asked the boy.
"Maybe because she's not either. But why you're asking? You are only seven, and you ask so adult question?"
"Because I don't feel like I belonged here. I'm much different. Look at me, sir. My eyes are blue, my skin is more bright than other's in my village. I wonder... Was my father English?" The pastor was shocked. "Was he?!"
"Why do you think so?"
"Because of how am I look like, because I feel much better with English people than in my village, and my mother never told me who is, or was, my father."
"I'm afraid that I'm not the one to tell you, my boy." Said the man calmly.
"Mr. Hunt, you know the truth, am I right?"
"I'm sorry, I can't tell you. I promised this to your mother."
Pepsicanough ran off from the colony crying. When he was in half way to his village, he noticed a raccoon sitting on a branch.
"Wingapo, Meeko!" Called the boy.
The animal jumped on boy's shoulder.
"Why nobody wants to tell me the truth of who I really am? I'm sure that if you could speak, you would tell me if my father was English, wouldn't you?" Asked Pepsicanough sadly.
Meeko came back on the tree and in few seconds he was near the boy again with something golden in his mouth, and he gave it to the kid.
'John Smith' was written on this round object. The native turned thing over and recognized it as a compass, that kids in Jamestown played with when they were bored.
"Who is John Smith?" Asked Pepsicanough, but he was alone.
The boy started to walk to the village, but he heard the voice of Pocahontas' friend, Nakoma.
"Pepsicanough!"
"Oh, wingapo, auntie."
"Why you're walking so slow and sadly? You're always so playful, and now... What's going on?"
"Do you know who is John Smith?"
"Well... he is your mother's friend. He left Virginia couple years ago."
"If you know him, probably you know something about meaning of my name and who is my father."
"Will you keep the secret?"
"I will."
"Pocahontas will kill me for that... but I think you should know. John Smith is the name of your father. This compass, you're holding, belonged to John. But, Pepsicanough, please don't tell anybody, not now."
"Why?"
"Nobody's to tell you, only your mother when she will decide it's time for that. Probably because your father is English, and you noticed that our tribe rather don't like people from Jamestown."
"Yeah... Alright, I won't tell anybody. La-tee-nah for telling me the truth."
"You are almost adult, you should know it, even if your mother says something different." Said Nakoma as they reached the gate of Comoco.
The boy was sleeping very hardly that night, he dreamed about unknown country and father who was a stranger for him. Pocahontas was watching her son, and she noticed something shining in kid's hands. After few minutes the woman recognized John Smith's compass.
'Oh Ahone! Who told him and who gave him that?" She suddenly stood up and ran to Nakoma's wigwam. "Come one, Nakoma, we have to talk!"
"What happened?" Asked the friend.
"Why you gave John's compass to Pepsicanough?!"
"I didn't. He already had it when I met him in the woods. So, if it's clear, let me go and sleep. Good night."
"Does he know about John?" Pocahontas grabbed he friend's arm.
"What if he does?"
"How could you?! What will he think about us now?"
"That you lied to him for all his life. That his own mother hide everything about his father, and maybe even you forgot John! I would agree with him. You weren't fair with Pepsicanough! Everybody else knows both parents, at least from stories! Yes, I did tell him that John Smith is his father."
"Even if I told you to never tell him! John is a past, he won't come back here, probably he has big family and even doesn't want to remember about romance with Indian girl! Now Pepsicanough will think that his father hates him, because Smith will never come to Chesapeake again!"
"Maybe the boy should go to England and find John Smith!?"
"Funny, seven years ago you weren't happy that I have affair with English, and now?"
"I changed my mind after couple events. I think you should at least write a letter to John Smith!"
Arguing of two women wake Pepsicanough up.
'That's my chance to escape from here!' Thought the boy. He packed couple belongings and sprang through the village to dark woods and narrowed to Jamestown. He knew that in couple of hours the ship to England sails from the fort, and boy wanted to go there, even if he had to hide in hold of the ship for all four months. When he reached the fort, he entered governor's office and left short message for Pocahontas, that he escapes from Virginia, and to not look for him.
"So, what you're going to do now?" Asked the officer.
"Well, dunno. I will just what my heart will tell me to do." Answered Pepsicanough and left the office.
Near the ship he noticed big boxes and decided to jump into one of them.
Couple hours later he felt that somebody's taking the box on deck. Pepsicanough almost jumped in act of joy. At last he will meet his father! Suddenly he heard captain calling all crew on upper deck. The two men holding the box just threw it on the floor, the boy fell down, but nobody was seem to notice, 'till evening when somebody from crew came to take some wine.
"Hey, boy, who are you?"
"I..." He cleaned his throat and said: "My name is Pepsicanough, and I'm going to meet my father."
"Oh no, kid. You're going to see my captain now." Laughed the man.
"Alright." the boy said bravely. "Let's go than."
They went up on the main deck.
"Captain, we have unexpected passenger, sir."
A tall fat man with black hair, wore expensive clothes came closer to Pepsicanough.
"What are you doing here, kid?"
From the behind of captain came another man, tall but very thin with a big smile on his face.
"Pepsicanough, how did you get here?"
"Mr. Wiggins! I jumped into one of boxes."
Wiggins smiled, and turned to the officer.
"Captain, now I'm responsible for this boy, for all our way to London. I know him, he's my friend's son."
"Alright, but if he slip up just once!"
"Don't worry, he won't, if he will, you can throw me to the water." Again Wiggins looked at native. "Come with me."
They sat down on some woods on lower deck, and started talking.
"Does your mother know about your trip?"
"No, I escaped, sir. She lied to me for all my life."
"What do you mean?"
"She never told me that John Smith is my father."
"Captain John Smith?!"
"Do you know him?"
"Of course! He is a hero, a living legend! I thought that I know all gossips about him, but I never heard that Captain Smith has a son."
"At least, I'm not the only one who didn't know. So he really is a friend of my mother?"
"Well... yeah, I would use even much stronger word, but you are a kid, so I won't."
"I'm not a stupid kid, Mr. Wiggins. In my mother's trip in three years I will be adult. So you can use word lover, O.K.?"
They talked for couple hours that night, as they used to for the rest of the journey.
As soon as Pepsicanough stood on the land, he started to walk through crowded streets of London. He was looking around and enjoying this completely new world. The boy saw his reflection in one of big windows of a shop. At last he felt like he belonged somewhere. He wore British shirt, trousers and shoes, which gave him Wiggins.
As he reached the market square, he noticed tall handsome, fair man, standing on the corner, who seemed to know everything about everyone in this city.
"Excuse me, sir, I'm looking for captain John Smith."
"You're talking to him, kid."
"Could we speak somewhere, in privacy?" Asked seven-year-old boy, what was surprise to John, that a kid can behave so adult.
"Where are your parents?"
"Well, that's why I'm here."
"Am I to believe, you're alone?"
"In England? Yes, I am."
"Okay, come with me, we can talk in my workshop."
After a quarter they entered to small flat, full of maps, pencils, and old books. John Smith asked Pepsicanough to have a sit, when he was making fire on fireside.
"Do you remember Pocahontas?" Asked Pepsicanough.
Smith was still back to his guest, but now he turned to him, and looked carefully at the boy.
"I do. Why you're asking?"
"She's my mother."
Now Smith sat in front of the native.
"How is she? Did she find husband who is kind for her? I mean is your father good for her?"
"Well, actually... you are my father. My mum never got married. How about you? Do you have wife and kids?"
John was silent. He just couldn't believe that he has a son. But at last he forced himself to speak.
"No, I'm still alone. My only family, I thought, is my sister." Captain came closer to Pepsicanough. "I have a son, and I even didn't know about you." He looked at the kid. "Yes, you have similar fairness to your mother... but your eyes are blue, like mine. When mum told you about me?"
"She didn't. Meeko gave me your compass, there was written the name. I asked untie Nakoma, and she told me that you are my father."
"Oh, God! I'm talking to my son, and I even don't know his name..." The boy noticed father's shining eyes.
"I'm Pepsicanoug."
"What about the last name?"
"Just this, just Pepsicanough"
"Why your mother didn't give you English name going with Smith?"
"I have no idea, she's a bit strange. She never told me about you, and she wasn't very happy when I was going to Jamestown. Mum knew that I belong more to English than to Algonquians. She looks like she doesn't want me to have anything common with British. Even this I'm half English."
"Pocahontas has changed..." Smith whispered sadly.
"Dad?"
Captain smiled.
"I never thought I would hear somebody call me in this way..."
"Just like me, that I could have a father."
John grabbed the boy.
"Will you allow me to be your father? I know that I wasn't with you for first seven years, but now I can take care of you."
"I can stay here?" Asked surprised Pepsicanough.
"Of course, you can, my boy. Of course."
Next morning Pepsicanough slept very long. His father was watching the boy and thinking about those all years spent in loneliness, without knowing about his son, and without Pocahontas.
'Why I never came back to Virginia? Why I did agree with king, and stayed here for so long?' He felt guilty, really guilty.
John exited the room, where the boy was sleeping, and went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. When he was looking for an extra cup, from the cupboard fall down a small wallet. Captain remembered it very well. He got it from Pocahontas. Again Smith's thoughts came back to that time spent with his beloved woman.
'Will she allow me to became her husband and Pepsicanough's father?' Captain's head was full of thoughts.
"Good morning, dad." Son's voice surprised John.
He turned to the boy.
"Hi, did you sleep well?"
"I did. Where are my clothes?" Asked boy wore his father's long shirt as pajamas.
"On the chair in your room."
"I thought they're yours..."
"They were. I just fixed them to suit you."
"Thanks, dad! At last I will look like British... well... besides my long hair..."
John Smith smiled.
"You speak English very well. Who thought you? Pocahontas?"
"Oh no, I learned in Jamestown, mum only thought me Algonquin."
"Jesus! She really wants to have an Indian son, like you hadn't British father!"
"This is the reason why I escaped. I want to be in between both cultures, even closer to English."
"I'll try to do everything to make you happy, my boy." He hold the boy. "We will talk about your needs during breakfast, okay?"
"Sure!"
The rest of the morning they spent on getting know each other better and better. John went with his son to do shopping and later they took a long walk along the Thames river.
"So, do you really like England more than Chesapeake?"
"Yeah! Here somethings happen all the time, here are so many people! Virginia is boring."
"Funny, I would say 'boring' about England." Laughed the captain.
"May I ask you something?"
"I'm your father, you can ask me whatever you want." Said Smith smiling.
"Why you didn't come back to Jamestown, and why you ever left?"
"I had to go to London, because I was wounded, and it was too serious to stay. Of course, I asked your mother if she'll go with me, but she decided to stay in Virginia. And why I never came back...? I don't know how to explain this to a kid, and I don't want you to think that I don't care about you and your mum. Probably the simplest way to say it is that the king ordered me to stay in London and work for him."
"But if you could, would you come back?"
"At any time. Last night I was thinking for very long about it. Would you like to go to Chesapeake?"
"No! I want to stay with you!"
"I meant that we could go together, you and me. And what do you think about me asking your mother to marry me?"
Pepsicanough just put his arms around his father's neck. He's going to have complete family, with both parents!
Father and son were walking till early afternoon, when John Smith said that they have to go to the workshop, because his sister will come for Saturday dinner.
"Will she be angry that I'm here?" Asked Pepsicanough. "Am I to stay in room during her visit?"
"Of course, not! She'll be happy that she has nephew. My sister loves kids. But you have to be patient, your aunt may have some trouble with pronunciation of Pepsicanough, she never met anybody from Algonquian nation before."
"Can't I just get normal name? I feel stupid when I hear laughter of kids in fort. I'm not Indian, not only."
"I'm not sure what your mother would say about this. It's a very serious decision, I can't make it on my own. Only what I can do is just call you with English name, but you won't be baptized, do you know what I mean?"
"But still, could you really just give me a name?"
"I can, but it won't like you were baptized, alright?"
"Okay."
In a way back to the flat, John Smith started to mention English names, and when he said 'Thomas', Pepsicanough looked more carefully at his father.
"You like it? Is it a name, you would like to have?"
"It's nice one, and sounds good with Smith." John was very glad to hear Pepsicanough saying that his surname is Smith.
"Oh, that's what I will do without your mother's knowledge, I will give you the last name, the same as I have. Tomorrow morning I will go and settle it at the king's court."
Pepsicanough was sitting on kitchen chair, observing his father, who was preparing dinner. Nice surprise for the boy was that even his father was busy, he still talked with his son.
"Thomas, if you're bored, take a book and read, or take some sheets of paper and draw, you don't have to sit at one place for all the time." Said John when he noticed the boy still on the same chair.
"I can't read." said the boy silently with embrace. "Nobody ever taught me..."
"Don't worry, you still have time to learn."
"So, you won't think I'm stupid, because I have no idea about reading?"
"No, more important is that you can speak English fluently. As I guess your mum doesn't use my language, only hers."
"Right. All I know about English, I have learned in Jamestown."
"You can always ask me. We have lots of time, next month sails the ship to Virginia, and the voyage takes about four more, so we have five months, during this time you'll learn how to read. Of course, I won't force you to do this."
"Great!"
"Oh, by the way. What caused you to find me?"
Pepsicanough told John about kids in village, Pocahontas's mastery, captain's compass given to the boy by Meeko, and finally Nakoma, who told him the truth abut John Smith.
"So, if I understood you correctly, your mother asked everybody to never tell you that you have an English father. Did she avoid English for all the time?"
"Since I can remember."
"Well, whatever, now you're here, and I can take care of you.
It was an hour before John Smith's sister visit, when Pepsicanough asked his father to do one more favor.
"Dad, could you cut my hair? I don't want to look like a savage."
"You're not a savage, nobody is. But yeah, sure, if you only want to have it shorter, no problem."
Few minutes later, the boy was watching hie reflection. If his skin was more bright, he would look like every English boy, because of what Pepsicanough was very glad.
"La-tee-nah... I mean, thank you, dad."
"Don't worry, I know Algonquian, your mother taught me some time ago."
"So she knows English, but she never use it? Or does she know it so bad?"
"No, not really. As far as I can remember, she speaks English quite well."
"I never heard her using it."
They had to finish their conversation, because somebody knocked to the door.
To the hall entered young woman with long blond hair, wearing long light-pink dress.
"Hello, John! How are you?"
"Hi, Juliet! I never felt better. How are you?" Asked Smith holding his sister.
"I'm fine, thanks. You seem to be very happy, I haven't see you like this since you were about to go to the New World."
"You're going to meet the cause of my happiness." He said with a big smile. "Thomas!" John called and to the hall went small boy with short black hair, dressed blue shirt, and indigo pants.
"This is my son." Smith was very proud to say it. "He came here from Virginia to find me."
The young woman was really surprised but she was glad as well, that her brother won't be alone, anymore.
"Hello, I'm Juliet, your father's younger sister." She said.
"Good afternoon, I'm Thomas." The boy used his new name to not shock his aunt.
"As I can see you speak English very well." Smiled Juliet.
"Thank you, madam."
The woman started to laugh.
"I'm your aunt, you don't have to call me 'madam'."
John smiled to his son.
"See? I told you, she'll like you."
Two weeks before trip to Virginia, John Smith took Pepsicanough to the court for meeting with the king and the Queen.
"Your Majesty, this is my son, Thomas." Said Smith with a big bow in front of the royal family.
"Very well, Smith." The king said with small smile. "So, you will leave us, captain. Well, it's your decision, you have done the job for me and now you are free, but I would like you to become a main governor of Virginia."
"Your Majesty, I'm really honored by this, however, I have to deny, I'm going to be real father for this boy and good husband for his mother."
"You know, Smith, that I will not agree for such marriage. No Englishman is allow to have Indian wife, not now. If you will marry this girl, you will not have any possibility of coming back to Brittan. Yes, your son will have your last name as you asked, but he is not British citizen."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Said John and with a bow, he left the room.
As Smith and Pepsicanough reached the street and already had the Tower Hill behind, the boy asked his father why the king was angry with John.
"Well, because I didn't agree with him. I tried to be polite, but still, the king just can't understand that someone can say 'no'. Some people just can't understand that family is most important in the world."
"Dad, what meant the king by that I'll have your last name, but I won't be English citizen?"
John Smith sighed hardly.
"It means that according to law, you are my son, but you don't have any possibility of living here, like I can now."
"Is it that I'm not British?"
"In some way, you're right, but remember, Jamestown has its own rules, so you can be a Jamestown citizen."
"I can't understand English world." The boy was upset.
"Don't worry. In couple months we'll be home, and everything will be clear for us."
They were close to captain's workshop, when John stopped in front of jewelery store.
"Come on. I need your help." Said Smith and entered the shop.
"What do you want me to do?"
"Chose a ring for your mother."
"Why?"
"I will explain it when we'll be home." Smiled John. "So, are you going?"
Pepsicanough followed his father and began to turning around in amaze. He have never seen such things. Rings, necklaces, earrings and many other beautiful jewelery were everywhere! Room was shining with sunlight mirrored in diamonds and thousandths of expensive stones. The boy was really amazed with the store.
"You see something like this for the first time, eh?"
"Yes. But dad, why we're here?"
"As I told you, to buy a ring for your mother. It is an old tradition, that the man when he wants to ask his beloved woman to marry him, he buys a ring for her."
"So, you really will...?"
"Yeah, I promise." Smith smiled a bit sadly now. "I'm not sure if Pocahontas will agree, but I feel I gotta try. And even if she won't, I'll stay in Virginia, don't worry. You'll have me whenever you will need help."
John saw tears in Pepsicanough's eyes.
"What? Did I say something wrong?"
"No, it's because... I'd never even dreamed you'll accept me."
The captain held the boy.
"Of course, I did. If I knew about you earlier, I would leave everything and go to Chesapeake."
"What if mum won't allow me to be with you? What if she'll be angry cause I came here to find you?"
"She can't forbid you to meet me. I am your father, and he won't change it, Pocahontas just must accept the fact that now you have both parents!"
In the late afternoon to Smith's flat came Juliet, and brought some news.
"John, do you remember that next week the contract between us and this family who lives in our parents' house will be ended? I think, it's time, ... to sell it."
"Are you serious?!? I thought you wanted to move there, as soon, as it's possible." Captain was surprised by his sister's words.
"Yes, I did, but now..., you're leaving to Virginia, probably you'll stay there for rest of your life..., Hope you won't sell this flat... I could live here. Really, I have enough of this old clerk and his crazy kids, well actually, they're almost adult. I hate to teach them! Especially the youngest son, he's so stupid! He even can't make a correct sentence!"
"Like me." Said Thomas, who just entered the room.
"No, my dear. You can do this, and even if you make some mistakes, you're only seven, and you lived in Indian village for all your life long. It's normal. This boy, who is my stupidest student I ever had, is eleven! And since he was born, he was among English people." Smiled Juliet, and grabbed the boy.
"If we're talking about Virginia... I'm not sure if I can leave you here. I think you're right, I won't come back here, and I would like to be sure, you're safe and sound."
"I can take care of myself." Said the young woman with a big grin.
John sighed and looked at his sister.
"Listen, you will do whatever you want, but I think it would be good, if you went with us to Chesapeake. Of course, I don't want to force you, it'll be your decision."
"I'm not sure. You know Virginian reality, but I don't. You've been there, people there know and like you. And thanks to this wonderful boy, you belong to Virginia."
"Just like you. I'm your brother, if I belong somewhere, you do as well."
"Oh, untie, please, go with us!" Said Pepsicanough with a faith in his voice.
Juliet sat on the armchair and focused her gaze on the fireplace.
"Come on, she needs a while to think." Said John and with his son, moved to second room.
"Dad, why untie, doesn't want to go? Am I the reason?" Asked the boy, when he sat sadly on his bed.
"No, my boy. Juliet is sad because she began to think about our parents again. I mean, because this house she was talking about, and because she have to decide, if she stays here alone, or if she's going to Virginia, leaving everything she knows behind her."
"May I ask you something? I know it's not my business, but..."
"I told you, feel free. Ask anything you want."
"Why untie is sad because of thinking about your parents?"
John sat down on the bed, near Thomas.
"It's a long story... They died, very long ago."
"Sorry, I... didn't want to hurt you or be rude, or something."
John smiled, and hugged the boy.
"You didn't. Your aunt is so sad, because this end of contract means that we have to go to Willoughby, the village, where we were born, next week. So, we'll meet our past. For me it isn't hard, I already learned to live with it, but Juliet still can't bring together for so many years... Well, never mind. I'm not going to bore you."
"You don't!"
"That's good. Okay, I'll go now and cheer your aunt up. You can check those old boxes in wardrobe, maybe you'll fine some toys in them. I think there should be model of a ship, or something like that. Or, do whatever you want. I'll be back soon." Said the father and left the son, who was still sitting on the bed.
Thomas started to play with the compass, which he had in his pocket, and started to think how it'll be when his father and mother will be together. Will his mother be angry with him for escaping from Virginia? And suddenly horrible thought came through his mind. Grandfather said something about a warrior who wanted to marry Pocahontas! Oh God, what if she'll accept him?!? For Pepsicanough was only one good answer – staying with John Smith, his father, who will never lie to him!
Meanwhile in living room John Smith was talking with his sister.
"Juliet, I know it's hard for you, but we have to go and meet Petersons, even if it means going to our old home. We don't have to sell the house, we can rent it."
"And go to Virginia? How do you think it is possible? We have to control the people who live in home of our parents. Did you forget what they asked us to do?"
"To take care of our home, yes, I remember. But I'm sure that if they could see us, they would agree." Admitted John. "I propose to rent the house to Petersons for next decade, by this time, Thomas will be adult and maybe he'll come back here, so he would have a place to stay.
"It would be great, if they agree."
"I'm sure they will. Okay, maybe I'll go with Thomas, and you'll stay here?"
"No, John. I have to go to Willoughby. We've got to see if every thing's alright with parents' grave."
Smith smiled.
"Suit yourself." Quickly he changed the topic. "Coming back to our talking about Virginia..."
"I'm not sure, probably I'll stay in London." Juliet answered like she was reading in captain's thoughts.
"I know, you'll do what is the best for yourself. My only argument is that if you'll stay, you'll be alone here. Of course, this flat will be yours."
The next week Smith went with Pepsicanough and Juliet to Willoughby, to meet the family who was living on old farm of John's parents.
"Here we are." Said captain with a smile. "Now, you see the place where we were born. I spent here first seventeen years of my life."
"Dad, why we're here?"
"Because your aunt and I have to talk to family who lives here. We want them to stay here next couple years, they really do care about this house."
"Oh, I understand."
The captain asked his sister to take the boy for a walk in the town, and he entered the house to talk.
"Juliet, could you come back in an hour? I think it'll be enough, and we'll sign new contract."
"Fine, but, where to take him?"
"Wherever. The market square, streets, where we were playing as kids, think of something."
"Alright." Juliet and Pepsicanough went off.
Aunt and nephew reached the market square, and started to explore booths with fruits and vegetables. On one of them Pepsicanough noticed something familiar to him.
"Untie, do people plant corn in England?" Asked surprised boy.
"Well, they begun since Jamestown was settled down."
"So, is it a corn like we have in Virginia?"
"It is." Answered Juliet with a big smile. "Wanna me to buy it?"
After four months of voyage Pepsicanough reached Jamestown with his father and aunt. The boy noticed a smile on John Smith's face. Juliet also seemed to be happy.
"I haven't seen this place for over seven years... I can't believe my eyes, how the fort had changed."
"How did it look like, when you've been here, dad?"
"Well, it was triangular like now, but instead of houses there were tents, and our only food were gruel and hard biscuits."
"Those Meeko loves so much?"
"Yep. Does he still love that awful thing?" Laughed Smith.
"He does. Did you notice he understands more than we think he does?"
"Yeah. And remembers everything very well. You said that Meeko gave you my old compass, didn't you?"
"Yes, thanks to him I know you."
John smiled and grabbed his son. Than Juliet started to ask questions, and in ten minutes later they were about to leave on land. Immediately after making only several steps the captain noticed young Native woman, wearing deer-skin dress, she had long black hair, but it was grabbed in a pony tail. She seemed to be looking for somebody.
'Oh, God, she hadn't change at all! So many years...' Thought the man. Now he turned to Pepsicanough. "Thomas, I think your mum is looking for you. Go to her, I'm sure she missed you."
"I'll wait for you, dad."
"No, go to see your mother, I'll come to your village later."
The boy, not happy of having to leave his father for a moment at least, he went towards the young woman.
"Wingapo, mum!" He said when he was close to Pocahontas.
"At last you're home! What did you want to show by this escape, eh?"
"I came here with dad and untie, they're going to live here, and later on dad will come to our village!" Thomas seemed to pay no attention to what his mother says.
"And probably you think that I will wait for him with opened arms?"
"No, not really." He lied. "But he wants to talk with you."
"Pepsicanough, I know you like John Smith, but everything had changed... and I won't be like I was seven years ago. Now I'm going to have a good husband from my people, and we'll live in our own village."
The boy got mad as he had never been before. He had tears in his eyes.
"So, dad pays big money for coming here, convinces untie Juliet to come with us, because he wants to live in Jamestown to be close to you and me, probably he'll spend his last pounds for a house in the fort, and you even don't want to talk with him?!?"
"Listen, I will tell you something about your father. He left Virginia, his mates and me..." She couldn't finish, because familiar voice interrupted her.
"I never left you, Pocahontas." It was John Smith, himself! "Thomas, could you go to help your aunt? I need to speak with your mum."
"Have I?"
"Yes, you have, my boy." John said with a smile. "Don't worry, everything will be alright."
"Hey! You can't order him anything! Go home, Pepsicanough, please."
"Okay, sorry dad. I'll go to Comoco. I feel I have to speak to my grandfather."
"Alright, go, I'm sure you missed your home. Yeah, it's a good idea, my boy."
Thomas ran to the village, and John went for a walk with Pocahontas.
Werowocomoco didn't change for last nine months, well maybe there were couple houses more. Pepsicanough went straight to the Long House.
"Grandpa? Are you here? Grandpa!" He called when he entered the wigwam.
"Wingapo, Pepsicanough! Did you enjoy your voyage?" Asked the chief happy to see his grandson save and sound.
"I did! My dad is great! He even came here with me!"
Powhatan smiled.
"I'm glad to see you happy. You did the right thing by going for this voyage through the Salty Water. The child should know both parents, even if one of them is English."
"You knew the truth for all the time, didn't you?"
"Of course, I did. But your mother didn't allow anybody to tell you who's your father. I didn't like it, but I had to respect her decision. Oh, and Pocahontas told me that you asked about the meaning of your name. I think it's time to explain it to you."
They took a walk to the forest. Powhatan seemed to be glad of walking with his youngest grandchild. The chief told Pepsicanough how Pocahontas stopped the war between Algonquians and Englishmen.
"Your father saved my life, and now he's treated like a hero by our people."
"So, you won't be angry because dad will live in Jamestown, will you?"
"John Smith is a free man, he can live wherever he wishes to." Serious face of grandfather made Pepsicanough sad. Does everyone hate his father?
'Mum seems to unhappy because dad's here, grandpa is speaking with a strange cold voice when he mentions dad, why? Why on Earth?!?' He couldn't understand the world of adult people. "You sound like you've been not happy about fact that my father came here..." The boy said sadly.
"I'm just worried of your mother. I don't want her to be hurt like seven years ago."
Thomas was silent and tried not to cry, but it was extremely difficult.
"As far as I know, dad asked mum to go with him, but she refused." The boy began to almost argue with the old chief. "So, who did hurt? My dad or mum?!? It's obvious that it was mum's fault!"
"Pepsicanough you have no rights to judge your mother! She did everything to make you happy, even without your father, who left you!"
"She lied to me for all my life! Now I'm on my father's side!" Thomas ran off to Jamestown, leaving his grandfather alone in the forest. The boy found out his aunt in a small wooden house in the corner of the fort, she was preparing dinner.
"Untie!" He called.
"Oh, hello, Thomas." The woman noticed her nephew's shining eyes. "My, what happened?"
"Do you think dad will be angry if I'll stay with you?"
"Of course, not! But what about your mother?"
"I'll be at hers everyday, but I want to live here, with you and dad."
Meanwhile, far in the woods, John Smith had very serious conversation with Pocahontas.
"I understand your arguments, sure, you're right I should come back here much earlier, but I really couldn't. But now, I am here, and please, give us one more chance. I came to Virginia for you and our son."
"Do you expect me to fly into your arms now?" She asked, and tears rolled down her face. "Too much time had passed. It's difficult. I missed you so much, and now when you are here, with me, I just can't..." Pocahontas was silent, she couldn't say anything since John held her like he used to so long ago.
"It's alright. Both of us need time, but if you would give us a chance, we can be together again." The captain said kindly. In answer he only heard Pocahontas whispering his name.
"I'm so sorry..." She said after next few minutes of silence.
"For what? This? It's nothing, just let us try."
"How much time it'll take? I will never be like I used to be when we met for the first time."
"I even don't expect it. Everything I'm asking you for is to can try again. Yes, we are much older now, and what's more, we have a son. Even if not for ourselves, please let's try for him. Pepsicanough is really wonderful kid, he went for so dangerous voyage, alone, just to find me, because he wants to have both parents."
Pocahontas caused John to let her off, and now when she could look straight into his blue eyes, she asked:
"Now I need to ask you several questions. Why you gave him English name without asking me? Because of what you treated him like he was English? And..."
"Okay, let me answer those questions, before you ask more of them. At first, Pepsicanough asked me to give him European name, but don't worry, I didn't agree to baptize him without asking you first, I just call him Thomas, as he asked me to. Secondly, I grew up in British culture, so it's the only way I can take care of my son, moreover, any time I tried to ask him about Algonquian ways of taking care of kids, he was asking to not treat him like he was just an Indian boy. I just did what he wanted, of course if it was accurate and safe for him."
"Oh great! Now I understand why he was so excited about having you here! You did everything to turn him over me!"
"Don't say such stupid things! If it would be like you're saying, I would never come here with him! We rather would stay in London. Think at first, and than say, alright? Thanks to this less people will be hurt." John Smith was really angry now. "Fine, if this is clear, let me go. I'll see you in couple of days. I think both of us have much to think about." He started to walk towards the fort, when Pocahontas stopped him.
"John, wait! We didn't establish how we will take care of Pepsicanough. If you came here, I can't forbid you to see him whenever you want to. He's also your son." She admitted.
"I know." He said calmly. "Maybe we could let him make the choice. I propose to talk to him, together. The boy must know the situation."
"Alright, so when you wanna talk?"
"Tomorrow morning, I'll come to see you and Thomas, okay?"
John Smith entered the small wooden house, which he bought only several hours ago. He looked around. It was much bigger than the flat he lived in for last ten years, here were three bedrooms on first floor, and kitchen with living room on the ground-floor. Luckily for John and Juliet the house had everything what is needed to live, so they didn't have any trouble with starting a new life in Virginia. The captain saw his sister in the kitchen.
"Hey, how do you like our new home?" He asked with a smile.
"It's great! I really like it. Oh, John, somebody's waiting for you upstairs."
"Who?" Smith was surprised.
"Me." Said Pepsicanough, when he reached the bottom of stairs.
"What are you doing here? Didn't you go to Comoco?"
"I did, but after talking with grandpa, I decided to stay here, not in the village."
John sat on a chair, and gave a sign to his son to do the same.
"Why? You wanted to see your grandfather. What's wrong?"
"Dad, I know you have never hurt mum! I'm sure of it!"
"Actually, I did." Admitted the captain. "For over seven years I even didn't write a single letter to your mother. I could come here six years ago, but I was too afraid of the king that time, because I was treated like a traitor. Your grandfather is right."
"No! Mum has to understand that England has much different reality than Chesapeake and her world!"
John hugged the boy.
"It's alright. It doesn't matter for now. Your mum and I wanted to talk with you about it tomorrow morning. The situation isn't easy. Right now you'll have me here, and mum in your village. And the rest we have to talk to you when both of us will be here."
"I will never live in the village again!" The boy was upset.
"Thomas, it's alright. Tonight you'll stay with Juliet and me, okay?"
A smile came across kid's face.
"Thanks, dad."
That night John was sitting silently in living room, the only light was small candle on tea-table. All events from his first voyage to Virginia began to flow through his memory, how he met Pocahontas near the waterfall, their moments together in the forest... And one more creature, who showed them that, as she said, 'the right path isn't always the easiest one', Grandmother Willow. Smith smiled on that memory, he never thought that the tree can make advices! He closed his eyes. Now the picture of Pocahontas sitting near him occurred. How he dreamed of her for all those years. And now when they met again, she was just like he remembered her, and very different in the same time. She looked like back than, however, she acted very different. The captain sighed, and lied down on a sofa. He didn't want to wake his sister and Thomas up, so he decided to sleep in living room. Maybe an hour later he heard somebody's knocking the door, John stood up and came to open it.
"Pocahontas? What are you doin' here so late?"
"I need to speak with you." She answered seriously.
"Come in." Smith let her in. Pocahontas sat down on a sofa, and John on armchair in front of her, to make a distance between them. "So, what is that important problem?"
"At first, is Pepsicanough here?"
"He is, upstairs. I thought he told you that he'll be here."
"No, he escaped after talking with my father. I expected our son here, but I had to check if I'm right."
"So, why you came so late? He's here since down."
"I know, it took me ages, but I had to talk to my father. He told everything, and as soon as I could I came here."
"Alright, so we have one thing clear. But I suppose you're here not only because our son's escape, aren't you?"
"You're right. After our talking in the woods, I was thinking about what you told me about Pepsicanough. I have to let him get baptized since he has English father. I'm sure you want him to so, too..."
"I'm Anglican, it's obvious that I would like him to, but as I told you, let him make that decision. As far I remember you told me that at age of ten, a boy becomes adult, right?"
"Yes, but.."
"We'll talk to him about it in the morning, and now, what would you say if I proposed a walk to the forest?"
"Alright." She said, and the two went to the woods.
They stopped near the waterfall, John smiled as he saw that this place didn't change at all. The same tree on a big rock, same reeds on the bank, all those things brought many memories. Now he looked at Pocahontas, she seemed to think about exactly the same as Smith.
"Do you think what I do?" He asked silently.
"I guess so. We met here for the first time. Is this what you thought?"
"It is. Tell me, why we argued in the morning and now we can talk like years ago?"
It was kinda rhetorical, but Pocahontas answered:
"I don't know, maybe because we forgot how we've been for each other? I'm not sure..."
"I'm afraid you're right. But I'll try to be more kind for you now, I'm getting angry too fast, don't I?"
Pocahontas laughed. Oh, how he dreamed of hearing her doing this! So many times he tried to imagine this woman by his side... And now, at last she's near him!
"John, shell we go to another place?"
"Sure, where?" Captain's smile reminded her how she loved that man. And now, what she feels for him? Maybe it's still love?
"You know this place quite well, it's where we had most serious talking..."
"The glade?" He asked surprised.
"Yes, of course if you rather go somewhere else, it's fine."
"It's alright, let's go."
John Smith sat next to Pocahontas on a large stump in front of the tree, standing in water. The glade was in light of a full moon, and it was the brightest place in all forest. When he had been here last time, seven years ago, the place was in the very same light.
"Hope you remember what happened here..." Pocahontas whispered, but she didn't finish.
"I remember... Too bad, those times can't come back..." Now John was speaking so silent that the Native couldn't even hear him.
"Did you say something, John?"
"Yeah, that I remember this place very well."
Now Pocahontas did something he didn't expected after their arguing in the morning – she she put her hand in his like she used to many years ago. It made him more convinced that one day they can be together again.
"So, what's so important that you wanted to come here?" Asked captain with a smile.
"We. I mean you and me. You told me that we need time, but there's something you have to know." She took deeper breath. "My father wants me to marry a warrior from one of his strongest villages, and make me the medicine woman and a chief in one person. It's three months since now."
"So you have three month to make a decision, right?"
"No, my father decided for me. This time is when I'll be married."
Smith got angry, hearing that Pocahontas was forced for marriage.
"And there's no way to deny?"
"Only one, if in three months I'll find another husband..."
"Alright, let's sum everything up. Your father wants you to marry a man from another village, and move to it to become a chief. Sorry, I'll be really rude now. Did he at least thought about your feelings and our son?!?"
"I think so. Pepsicanough must have a father, and he'll have him. And my feelings have nothing in common with this."
"Again you're in the same situation as..., you know when. And you allow to manipulate with you?"
"John, I'm 24-year-old woman with a child, but I don't have a husband, I just can't live like this, I'm chief's daughter."
"Pocahontas, listen, I have a proposition. Give me three months to convince you that I can take care of you and our son. Actually, that's the reason of my coming here."
"Really?!? You came here, just to be with me and Pepsicanough?!?" She asked with tears in her eyes.
"Yeah. Now you know the truth, I still love you, and I will never let hurt you. Nobody can do anything against your will!"
Pocahontas threw her arms around his neck, and put her head on his shoulder.
"John..." She whispered. "You... you really will do this?"
"Of course, I will. I promised this to Pepsicanough when we were still in London, and now I promise this to you."
When they came back to Smith's it was aster sunrise. He looked at their hands put together and smiled.
"Thomas... sorry, Pepsicanough will be happy to see us together."
"Yes, he dreamed of having us together, didn't he?"
The couple entered the house, and Pocahontas was shocked by seeing young woman, about her age, sitting at the table with Pepsicanough.
"How dare you!?!? You told me you want to be with me, but you already have a wife?!?"
"Pocahontas, she... she's my younger sister."
"If she would really be your sister, you would told me about her at the beginning!"
"I thought Thomas already did it."
"No, he didn't!" She turned on her heel and ran into the woods.
"Damn it!" John followed the Native, and caught her at a river, when she was entering the canoe.
"Let me go, you liar!" She cried.
"No, I'm not letting you leave, until you listen what I have to say." Holding her. "Why you can't believe me? I did, when you were making love to me years ago, didn't you?"
"Let go!"
"Pocahontas, please, trust me. Juliet is my younger sister, you can ask her or our son, if my word isn't enough. Alright, I have a idea. I'll let you leave now, but promise me that you'll talk with my sister. We'll come to your village today, okay?"
"No, if it can't wait, let's go now. And I will talk to Juliet at your's or on the beach." She said drying her eyes.
"Thanks Heaven! I promise that if Juliet won't convince you, I will never come into your life again."
Juliet was reading a book with Thomas when Smith and Pocahontas joined them.
"You have an extra job today, you have to convince Pocahontas that you aren't my wife. Could you do me this favor?"
"Any time! It's the easiest job you ever gave me." Laughed Juliet. "So, Pocahontas, would you like to talk here or we'll go somewhere?"
As the two women left, the boy looked at his father.
"Why mum seemed to be angry, dad?"
"Well, because she didn't know about your aunt, and she thought that Juliet is my wife."
"But I told mum that I came here with you and untie." Admitted Thomas. "But... Oh no, it's all my fault! I didn't tell that untie is your sister!"
"Don't worry. She'll be fine, my sister can convince even the most stubborn person in the world." John thought of changing the topic. "Oh, by the way, where are Meeko, Flit and Percy? I haven't seen them yet."
"Meeko's probably somewhere in the woods, Flit... I have no idea, and Percy is in the village with untie Nakoma."
"Come on, let's go and find them. It's really nice morning, perfect for walking in the woods."
"But what about mum and untie Juliet?"
"They'll be fine. I'm sure that they'll be friends soon."