The final part of the Batavia trilogy.

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21/10/12: Massacre and Miracle

With Pelsaert, the VOC's officers and Wiebbe Hayes gone, Cornelisz could now show his true colours. He gathered up about two dozen supporters and had them swear an oath of allegiance to him, making these mutineers the rulers of Batavia's Graveyard.

The first to die was a man suspected of stealing wine, followed by two carpenters believed to have planned to steal one of the homemade skiffs. This was accepted without fuss – firm but fair, a way of keeping order on the island.

Another group was taken on the skiffs under the pretence that they were to aid Hayes in his search for water. In actually, this group was bound in ropes and thrown into the sea as soon as it was out of sight of the island. Again, this was discreet enough to cause little suspicion.

One day, however, everything changed. The smoke of a signal fire could be seen on the horizon – Wiebbe Hayes had found water.

The survivors Cornelisz had attempted to maroon on the other islands now began to make their way to Hayes' position, having realised that the mutineers had, quite literally, left them out to dry. Cornelisz acted, his mutineers capturing one of the boats and bringing its passengers back to Batavia's Graveyard. There, Cornelisz gave the order – 'kill.'

The massacre had truly begun...

"We need experienced soldiers like you," Dan grinned.

Private Jimmy Neutron nodded slowly, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow. Ever since the boat captives had been killed, Dan and his men had become much more...harsh in their dominion of Batavia's Graveyard. Several people had joined him out of fear – he, however, had not sworn loyalty. Now, he had been invited to dine in Dan's tent, but he didn't know why.

"Order on Batavia's Graveyard must be maintained," continued Dan, "And men like you are just the people to maintain it."

"Um...thanks, Mr. Phantom, but I don't think..."

"Sir."

A soldier had entered the tent – he seemed to be covered in blood. Perhaps he'd been hunting the island's sea lions, Jimmy considered.

Dan nodded to the man.

"Deed's done, sir," said the man, handing him a small box.

"Ah, thank you," nodded Dan, taking it, "Something for you, Mr. Neutron."

Slowly, Jimmy took the box and opened it.

"...no."

"Yes," replied Dan, serenely, "That is the head of Mr. Wheezer. I am prepared to give similar orders to dispatch your friend Ms. Vortex as well – so make sure you think about this offer carefully."

He leant in, a downright vile smirk on his face.

"Will you swear an oath of loyalty to me?" he hissed.

This was not a rare trick. On one occasion, a soldier named Hans Harden and his wife were invited to dine with Cornelisz – while they did, their eight-year-old daughter was strangled. On another, a preacher named Gijsbert Bastiaensz and his eldest daughter dined with him; Bastiaensz' wife and seven other children were murdered and dumped in an unmarked grave. Both swore an oath of loyalty to protect those they had left.

Mutineers wandered the island, killing at random. Many of the female passengers were forced to become the wives of the mutineers. An expedition was even sent to murder those who were left on the desert islands nearby.

Before long, of the initial 180 castaways, there were just seventy people left on Batavia's Graveyard, half of these mutineers.

Now, Cornelisz' attention turned to Wiebbe Hayes...

"They ain't coming, are they?" said Arnold.

"Thank you, Mr. Obvious," muttered Tommy.

The group had been waiting for Dan to arrive for days – but by now, it was evident that he wasn't coming. Furthermore, several men and woman had managed to get over here from Batavia's Graveyard and the other islands – the stories they told were very disturbing.

"Alright men, I think we've got a good idea of what's happening here," said Tommy, "If Phantom's really killing everyone over there, then he'll come for us next. We need a defence."

"And how do we do that?" demanded Arnold, "They have all the weapons!"

"Then we make weapons," replied Tommy, "Arnold, take your men and gather up any wood or coral you can find. The rest of you – find rocks. We're building a fort."

Wiebbe Hayes' fort was the first structure built by Europeans on Australian soil.

Hayes was a good soldier – he positioned his defences against a series of mudflats, which was the most likely area Cornelisz would use to attack.

For a while, nothing happened. But eventually, the mutineers launched two attacks, both of which were driven off. After this, Cornelisz tried a different tactic...

"Sir, Phantom's here – he's under flag of truce."

"Truce?"

Tommy climbed out of the fort, making his way over to the mudflats. Sure enough, Dan and four others were waiting, along with a skiff full of supplies like blankets, shoes and other things Tommy's group didn't have. His own men were gathered around, hesitantly looking through the supplies.

"What is he doing?" Tommy muttered, striding over.

As he approached, he heard one of Dan's men whispering.

"...and if you dump Pickles, there's more where this came from. Just gut him and come with us..."

"What is going on?!" shouted Tommy.

"Well," said Dan to the soldiers, grinning, "Here's your chance – do you want wealth? Do you want luxuries? Prove it."

The men looked among each other, and then to Tommy.

Arnold grinned and nodded.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Phantom," he said, "But I'm afraid you've just given us a much better prize."

With that, they picked up their wooden spears and pointed them at the mutineer leader.

"Bad move," hissed Dan, "I have supports – I'll be freed in a week."

Cornelisz had a good reason to be confident – the mutineers had managed to salvage some cannons from the Batavia's wreck. Not long after Cornelisz was captured, another attack was launched, this time supported by artillery fire...

Tommy cringed as another projectile hit the fort, shrapnel flying all over. He had lost five men, one fatally – the mutineers were advancing, and for once, they had the advantage.

"Is this it?" shouted Arnold, as another projectile just missed his head.

Tommy sighed.

"Looks like it," he nodded, "At least we can go down fighting..."

Arnold nodded, and looked over the wall.

He froze.

"Arnold?" demanded Tommy, "What are you doing? Put your head down, now!"

"Look," whispered Arnold.

Tommy looked hesitantly into the distance. His heart missed a beat.

And then someone gave the cry.

"Sail on the horizon!"

It was the Sardam, a rescue ship sent from Batavia to find the survivors. She was a fully crewed and armed ship of the VOC, and as for her commander...

"Helmsman," ordered Vlad, "Take us in."

"Aye aye, sir," nodded the Helmsman, spinning the wheel.

Vlad walked over to the port railing, studying the islands. He hoped he was not too late, that there was someone left to save, that – wait – were those boats?

"...what in the name of?"

The first boat rowed into hearing range, the skipper standing up and cupping his mouth.

"Mutiny! There's been a mutiny! They're going to take the ship!"

Vlad grabbed his periscope, looking over the two boats heading towards him. One was full of ragged, wild-looking soldiers – the other full of ragged, wild-looking men who seemed to have looted the clothes of officers and gentlemen.

"Aim for the second boat," he barked.

"Yes sir!"

The gunners of the Sardam shifted her cannons, aiming at the mutineers' boat. A man began to shout, ordering their immediate surrender. There was a brief, tense silence.

Then the mutineers began to throw their weapons overboard. They had given up.

The nightmare was over.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Jeronimus Cornelisz confessed to his crimes, albeit under water torture. He and about seven others were hanged in Houtman's Abrolhos, but not before his hands were cut off with a hammer and chisel. A few more men were marooned, and still more were keelhauled – dragged under the hull of the ship by rope, an agonizing way to die. For the rest, a grim fate awaited them in Batavia; punishments included torture, mutilation or prison.

Ariaen Jacobsz was imprisoned and tortured – after this, he vanishes from all historical record.

Francisco Pelsaert ended his life in disgrace, blamed for the loss of Batavia and for causing a mutiny. He was sacked and his property confiscated by the VOC – he died eleven months after the survivors were rescued.

Wiebbe Hayes was promoted and became a Dutch national hero. Pelsaert promoted him to Sergeant as soon as he was rescued, and he was quickly promoted to Lieutenant by a grateful VOC. After this, he vanishes from historical record – an unsung but certainly a true hero.

Wiebbe Hayes' fort survives. It can be found on what is now known as East Wallabi Island.

The wreck of the Batavia was found in 1963, and artefacts from her can be found in the Western Australian Museum in Fremantle. A replica was constructed in 1995, and can be visited in Lelystad in the Netherlands.

Of all the 341 crew and passengers of the Batavia, just 68 survived.

Am I the only one who feels sorry for Pelsaert?

Oh, and just in case I forget tomorrow, the next word for the contest is 'Horizon'. Last week's word has been put on the 'Enemy Unknown' chapter, in case you missed that. And yeah, they are all maritime related. =P