X. A Whole New World
"Rise and shine, sleepyheads!" I heard Ben call.
I groaned, opening my eyes to find quite a few faces looking over me—some grinning, some laughing. I was lying right next to a barrel, an empty wineskin nearby. Percy was sprawled out on top of me, but he was beginning to stir. We looked at each other, trying to recall what must have happened.
"Argh, get away from me, you bastard!" He cried.
"You'll have to get off of me first, you arse!" We scrambled to our feet.
"You two have had quite the night singing like two drunkards atop a barrel, arms on each others shoulders swaying back and forth, as two peas in a pod." Lon used Ben to demonstrate. "Shall I go walk the wood so wild, wandering, wandering, here and there—(1)"
"Spare us our ears, Lon—even when drunk, those two sounded better!" Ben grinned.
"You awoke half the crew. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you two were old friends."
"Preposterous!" Percy retorted. "What makes you believe I value the company of the likes of a farmhand?"
"Why not?" I replied smugly. "A popinjay is no smarter than an ass!" His eyes widened, and he opened his mouth to say something, but "Eagle's" hook banged a nearby wall.
"Alright men, that's quite enough!" Newport announced, bringing back our attention. "You lads best be thankful yer still 'ere. You asses could've easily been maroon'd on the nearest isle, or e'en swimmin' with the fishes back to England."
"We do apologize sir." I felt responsible for laying down the first punch.
"We 'ave but ano'er couple of weeks b'fore we return to London. Make 'aste."
Before I went anywhere, the captain stopped me with his hook. "The bugger prolly deserv'd it, but don't give me reason to reconsid'r bringin' you aboard. You've come quite a ways in a short while." He slapped me on the rear before I went my way.
Kendall came up to me jokingly as we sat down for breakfast. "If you intend thus to disdain, It does the more enrapture me, And even so, I still remain, A lover in captivity.(2)"
"Pipe down, 'Phoenix' lest you want a bunch of fives!" I shook my fist.
He raised his brow. "I think you know as well as I how much of an egregious error that would be." I pondered that for a moment, and rightfully changed my mind. I knew I couldn't compete with him.
He then whispered. "That's what I caught Percy singing last night. Speaking of which," he looked around before whispering in my ear. "I thought you'd like to be aware of some rumors going around... ."
After he told me, I was shocked, and then slightly amused. "I see... ."
"You should be grateful I covered for you this morning. The 'Raven' was looking for you, and I told him you were working my shift. I figured you could use the extra rest before he suspects foul play."
"I'm obliged." I didn't really want to face Sicklemore this morning anyhow.
As Percy climbed up top, he began snickering. "Some say, you resemble a vain woman with your constant tossing and turning."
"...Others say you sound as one when carrying a tune."
"Keep quiet, lest you want to be tossing and turning with the sails!"
"Not if I tie you first!" He glared while I grinned. After a moment, I added. "Care to join me for some ale afterward?"
"You can't be serious! Besides, I quite detest the bitter taste and prefer a good wine."
"Well, apparently we emptied that wineskin last night. Besides, according to the others, we appear to get along better while drinking."
He thought for a moment. "Well, now considering I likely won't remember hardly anything afterwards, I can't see any harm... ."
Spring, 1607
Land ahead. John and could see it on the horizon. "There it is Thomas." He pointed to a vague outline across the sea.
"Land!" Thomas gleefully scanned the horizon, wondering what awaited them there.
"Land ho!" He shouted to the crew. Excited shouting ensued. John excitedly breathed in the fresh air as he did every time he came close to shore. Each time would bring back those memories of the first time. Even after several years, John could still remember his first experience on a strange land as if it were yesterday.
Autumn, 1596
"Bloody Hell, men! You asses nearly ran the ship aground!" That was Newport berating the crew for an otherwise sloppy landing. Before heading back to England, a storm pushed us toward the coast of Africa. We decided to settle along the Gambia River, for now, which was a common trading port for merchants. I had to admit, while I was far from home, it was a relief to be on dry ground again.
Shortly after landing, I could hear the sound of beating drums. As we went closer to them, we noticed a clearing with a certain village through the grasslands. The native people were having such festivities. I noticed the bright colors and ornate beads, that clashed against the scantily clad dress of the women and their dark skin. While men were beating drums, wearing no tops but seemingly skirts for a bottom, the ladies were dancing. I stopped and stared in amusement. I wasn't certain if I considered them pretty or not, but I was certainly enamored by their rapid movement in ways I've never seen people move before.
I wanted to delve a bit further, when Bart reminded me we weren't explorers—at least not yet. Not to mention, any further, and we'd be treading towards Portuguese camps. The area seemed highly segregated, with various disputes between English-Portuguese control.
Bart and I took off our shoes and stockings to feel the wet sand and water between our toes.
"'Tis so fascinating out here," I remarked, noting the warmer climate, comforting breeze and welcoming trees I've come know as "palms."
"'Tis rather pleasant," Bart admitted, now taking his tunic off. "Though I'm not particularly fond of the humidity." He noted the rainy season had ended, and the humidity would've been much worse a few months ago.
Noticing how hot it was myself, I took off my own tunic to wipe the sweat from my face. At this point, I had grown a fair amount of blonde whiskers. I debated shaving them, but seeing how stubble wore well on Bart and Kenny's darker hair inspired me to keep it for a while—as it made me feel more like a man. I had a slight proud grin as my shirt rubbed against them, noting them in the reflection of my sword.
"Don't get too attached to them," my comrade joked. "Once we reach civilization," he made a swooping noise with a dagger. "Off it goes. Prim and proper ladies don't think too kindly of touching stubble, though the playful ones find it adds a nice touch."
Bart, meanwhile, climbed a palm, and dropped a few cannonball-like objects before climbing back down. "Coconut." He answered my puzzled expression. "'Tis very watery on the inside, but the flesh has a nice taste." He cut it in half with the back of a hatchet. We sat down watching the waves, holding the half in our palms and drinking the juice as if it were a bowl, before scooping out the flesh with our daggers.
"Surprisingly refreshing," I remarked. Not that I minded ale, now, but it had been so long since I had anything else, I was forgetting what other foods and drink must have tasted like.
"The people here know how to mix it into what they call 'coconut milk.' I haven't mastered that yet."
"I didn't know people could look so dark." The people here had skin as brown as tree bark, which I've never seen before. Their clothing, was nearly non-existent, with a strange language and customs I couldn't understand.
"People all around the world are quite different, John—especially their appearance and customs. I've met people as unusual as here in another world, though they're more copper-skinned, with long dark hair—if they have any at all." I had to chuckle at that. "There is another world I am intent on seeing. Sir Raleigh had mentioned more land, that in some ways, reminded him of England. Some parts having a similar climate, and a comforting feel he could not describe—a 'home away from home.'"
I found this interesting. "What world was this?"
"Sir Walter Raleigh and other explorers call it 'The New Word.' They planned to explore, and hopefully start another colony like those in England. But the native people there weren't hospitable, and they had to vacate. Many men went missing. Some say they were eaten by those people. Someday, I intend to make my own voyage out there and see it for myself... ."
"Something tells me you will." I assured him.
The more Bart spoke of this "New World," the more fascinating it became. I also hoped to see it for myself.
At this point, we finished the coconut, and went toward the water. I collected some interesting shells and rocks I wanted to identify later. We made a game of skipping rocks. Mine would skip so far, and Bart was determined to beat me. When he finally did, I threw the rest of my rocks at him. He responded by dunking me into the water.
After joking for some time, we reminded ourselves we should probably head back to camp. We were supposed to be hunting for warthogs, something similar to pig, except hairier with tusks, according to Bart and the other men.
As we were hunting down the warthogs, I spotted, a good-sized beast drinking near a watering-hole. With precision, I narrowed down my target and fired. I prided myself on how skilled I had become with shooting targets. As I went near it however, a dark man jumped out from behind a tree shouting in a foreign tongue, to attack me. A few others came after him.
"John!" I could see Bart running toward our direction, shooting one of them down, until another man attacked him.
I meanwhile was trying to keep the man from stabbing me, as I kicked him down. But other men kept coming after us, and we began strangling them. As I finally managed to stab the man with a dagger I hid in my shoe, the other man that I knocked down was coming toward me again. Bart had finished off his attacker and shot him from the ground. But I noticed another man coming from behind him.
"Watch out!" I shouted.
Too late, he had my comrade by the neck. Thinking fast, I tried climbing on top of him, but he knocked me off. I finally grabbed my gun, knowing it was a risky move, with the men tossing back and forth across the ground. Hastily, I aimed before firing my last shot... .
1) "Will Yow Walke the Wood Soe Wylde?"
2) "Greensleeves"