Smoke filled the night sky as the sound of the djembe drums and shakers permeated the burial scene. The women wailing and singing beside the men. Tradition aglow before the skies just as Madi had explained to him. Silver found a place one of the huts hidden behind the tree to seat with a direct view to the burial scene before him. His eyes firmly watching Madi unknown to her.
A headsman walked in the middle of the crowd with a goat which was to be sacrificed in honor of Mr. Scott. Madi stood by her mother stoic while staring at the lifeless body of her father. Liberation was poured on the ground surrounding Mr. Scott's body with the offerings placed on the pedestal made of grass mat and wood. Silver watched as Madi and her mother walked to his body to place their offerings, never once flinching or letting their grief overwhelm them before their people. He was in awe at both women's strength and value of their responsibility. From his side-eye, he could see Rackham walk to talk to Flint, disregarding that happening, he turned his full attention to what was going on just a few feet before him.
Silver realized he now had a direct view to his Madi. "His Madi?" he questioned himself with a sad smile on self-pity and a cloud of shame to think of her in such endearing terms at her father's burial. He watched Madi wrap herself into her shawl staring stoically as the elders of the community began to carry her fathers' body to its burial location in the depths of the forest with the women singing and the drums beating ever so loudly. She stood still that nobody would envision she had broken down in his arms just hours ago.
He could honestly tell himself that she is the first person to care about him without wanting something or expecting something in return. She might have denied being concerned him but in the depth of his being, he chose to believe that she cared for him like he did her. Besides, she had called him Silver today not just "Mr. Silver."
As he watched the proceeding, it was abundantly clear that while sadness permeated the air, it appeared to be a celebration of Mr. Scott's spirit being welcomed by ancestors according to the story Madi had explained to him this afternoon about their rituals.
After her father's body had been moved, Madi turned to hug her mother before turning around to scan the crowd as if searching for something or someone. Silver followed her gaze until it landed on him. He held her gaze and stood up, walking in her direction, away from his seclusion. Madi stared at the piercing hazy eyes conflicted on whether to run into his arms again or just wait for the ground to swallow her whole. Since Silver had been captured by her men, there has been a familiarity between them. She could not explain the draw but she just felt comfortable without explanation. She enjoyed the comfort his arms provided her and she enjoyed the ease of her conversations with him. He was the first man outside her father whom she had hugged. As she watched him walking towards her, she knew she had to turn around and return to her cottage. This was neither the time nor place to make a scene or cause havoc within the community.
Abruptly, Madi turned around and in haste started walking towards her cottage. As she walked away, she looked back at her mother to give her a nod of recognition. She could see the distinct burden now on her weary shoulders and the awareness of loneliness at love lost. As she continued walking, the elders and community members would whisper "sorry" in their native dialect and English as they wiped away tears of sympathy. More than half way from the burial happenings with no Kofi or Obi and no one surrounding her, she slowed her steps to a pause to simply catch her breath. She placed her hands on her abdomen while inhaling deep breaths and exhaling out her mouth. It was her personal centering mechanism and self-hug. She needed one badly now before she lost it again.
Silver stopped in his tracks as he was a mere few feet behind her. He had been tracking her quietly while trying to cause suspicion with the people. He watched her in awe as he did atop the makeshift jail while they were held captive. He watched transfixed at her inhaling each breath as it gave rise to her breast drawing his gaze to her chest. Each breath pulled his gaze to her mouth which appeared succulent asking for his wet kisses. He noticed her hands again on her abdomen and he wondered if this how she dealt with pain. All he wanted to do was grab her into his arms again this time soothing her with soft kisses and promises of peace. But he knew this was neither the time or place and it would get him killed. He jolted from his delusions to hear her sniffing attempting to hold her tears threaten to fall again.
He walked as quietly as he could across the few feet to stand on her left side while tapping her shoulder gently. She flinched before turning to her left side to face him directly. He could see the mist gathering in her eyes so he instinctively pulled her while holding her hand compelling her to start walking beside him toward the back of her cottage. There was empty bench behind the cottage inviting them to sit. They sat on the bench out of the gaze and ears of everyone with the starless night and distant sounds of the drums and shakers playing. They both released each others' hands at the same time. At this moment, Silver exhaled after realizing he was lucky not to have been catching touching her or being alone with her again.
He looked down at the palms of his hands in disbelief, he had just held Madi's hands. And she held his hands.
"Let it out Madi" Silver said.
Madi bent down and buried her head in her hands and started crying uncontrollably. Her haunting cry was a mixture of pain and fear of the unknown. He sat silently watching her and wanting to pull her into his arms. He stopped himself midway after having to consciously censure himself. So he watched and periodically whispered, "I am sorry."
"I don't know of another home but this village. This is my home and I fear for my people." Silver attempts to interrupt but she continues, " we are isolated to keep us safe from the British, the slave catchers, the Spaniard, the pirates and many things who just want to do us harm. It is my people's refuge. You know other slaves who escape come here for refuge. My father provided for our community and now he is gone. There is no link to Nassau. There is nobody." She said.
"The burden falls on my mother. You know they call my mother the 'Queen mother of Ashanti' as she was the all knowing and warrior when my father was away. My people revere her as they do our ancestor who defeated the Denkyira and Bono Empire to form the Ashanti Empire. That's the burden she carries alone to lead everyone. But she can't do it all and continue to manage the village. I'm scared for her and my people. Now we embark on this alliance with no guarantees to fight the British. We will have to risk it all. We will have to risk HOME." Madi said.
Silver continued to listen with her fear; loss; and, lack of trust of his men now evident.
"I understand that we cannot hide forever. Captain Hornigold knows of our location. I understand we cannot fear the British forever. I understand it all. I even spoke to my mother about our mutual interest in waging war against the British the night I questioned you. But maybe my Mother is right, maybe we cannot trust the pirates and maybe we need to be separate to ensure our survival. My father worked and helped Nassau, they still killed him." Madi said.
"The British killed him, Madi." Silver responded. While saying this his mind worked overtime to absorb the statement that she had tried to convince her mother to see to their release or at the very least their mutual interest.
"What's the difference? One side has no loyalty and the other side will kill to suppress my people" Madi said.
"I can't speak for all pirates but for me alone. At least with me, you can trust me." Silver said. "You can trust that I want the best for you, your mother and your people whom I have come to respect." Silver continued. "If this war was avoidable, I will have fought hard to prevent the happening and I truly understand the risk you are taking on with this alliance. Trust me Madi, my mind is clear."
Raising her head from her hands, Madi turned to look at Silver perplexed about why she cared what he thought and why his words were soothing. His eyes seemed to pull her towards him and she craved his arms again and maybe the feel of his lips. She had seen people kiss around the community but she was forbidden to embark on such behavior until her parents picked a suitable partner who will accept the responsibility of ruling with her. For the ancestor's sake, he is a pirate! her brain internally screamed. He will tell you anything so be weary. Besides, why was she having such thoughts after her father's burial?
"I see," Madi said.
"But I need you to understand, we are putting the village at risk with this war against the British. We are risking the lives of a thousand of men, women, and children who call this place a home with no guarantees. See unlike you, Mr. Silver, my people have no recourse, it's either bondage or death should we not prevail in this war. You are a pirate, you have no rules and you get to run and be free, my people have no such choice unless we prevail. So No. I cannot just trust you alone, I need to know you will control yourself and your men especially your Captain." Madi said with blood shot red eyes from crying.
"It's Silver or John," "Madi," he said not breaking his eyes from her.
"I would like to think we are friends now, so it's either you call me John or Silver, not Mr. Silver when we are both speaking. I understand the authority bestowed on you but I will like to think after what we have shared, we can be less formal when we talk." John continued. "You called me Silver moments ago if I recall," he said while daring her to look away.
Madi's mind raced again from hearing him say her name again. The way he pronounced her name was intoxicating as if she was his lady and unconsciously she heard her lips mouth "John" while staring at him.
"Yes, that's my name," said Silver while moistening his lips with his tongue unconsciously.
Embarrassed. Madi quickly said "either way as long as you are around my village it will be Mr. Silver" as she immediately stood up and started walking, making her way around the cottage not looking back to a disappointed Silver wondering what he had said wrong.
He got up to follow her but noticed she picked up her pace as she got closer to her stairs. Aware of people now around, he got closer but not too close and whispered, "Madi, I am sorry for your loss. Understand that our conversation is not over. Goodnight."