XVI. Speak Now?
"Oh, s—!"
That was the feeling I had after my bout of drunken revelry. My head wouldn't stop throbbing. I found myself in someone else's bed. A woman's face was peering over me.
"Christopher, he's awake now."
"Mrs. Newport?" I managed, before a sudden feeling of nausea came over me. As if knowing what was coming, she had a basin ready in which I vomited. I felt, embarrassed, being here, not knowing how, in my current state; but I appreciated having a loving woman's touch that I hadn't felt in a while. "I do apologize," on behalf of my cursing in front of her. "How—"
"This hasn't been the first time someone has sauntered into this home, out of sorts."
She smiled wryly as the person in question stood in the doorway, scowling. She left the room while he entered. "I may be a blunderin' oaf at times," he told me, "but yer far too young to be makin' such an ass of yerself!"
"Who are you to preach to me about propriety?!"
"Kendall went out looking for you yesternight. You, ingrate, are fort'nate 'e found you bloody drunk outside a brothel, in the notorious Liberty of the Clink—the wrong side o' the River—an' 'eeded me own urgin' to bring you 'ere!"
"Well pardon me from causing you trouble I never asked of you! I will gladly be out of your way!" I didn't know where I was going, but I certainly wasn't staying there. However, as I got up, my body was in so much pain that I hadn't felt before.
"You, stubborn ass, are in no condition to be wanderin' 'bout any'ere. Give it time—the pain will cease in a couple 'ours."
We stared each other down for a moment, until I ceded, laying down for a while to rest some more. When I awoke, I joined the family to eat as if nothing happened, and thanked them for their hospitality. Now sober, Newport and I went for a walk.
"Listen lad. I know I'm not yer father, and don't expect you'd consider me one. I 'aven't a son and you 'aven't a father. You know I 'ave no issue sharin' me pipe and laughin' with you as if we were ol' friends. But you best believe when yer out of line, I'll speak plainly to you as if I would a son if I e'er 'ad one, understood?" I nodded, accepting his honestly. "I may very well be a bloody drunkard, but I'd ne'er 'ope you'd follow me in that regard... ."
I was trying to recollect the events...lashing out at Kenny...going to the pub...waking up in Newport's home... .After I relayed what had happened recently, not giving out specific names, I added. "I most certainly am an ass!"
"We all are, from time to time, lad. Though I suppose your other friend must be feeling the same for losing your camaraderie." I began feeling like a hypocrite for cussing out Danny that other night, when I had done something far worse. "Lassies come and go, but a few good men are 'ard to come by." He then muttered. "Took me three marriages later to learn that... ."
I supposed he was right. From now on, I wanted to do whatever possible to maintain any stable friendship.
Spring, 1607
They were sailing around a large bay of water. "Chesapeake," John decidedly called it. "Hopefully within the next few days we'll find a suitable place to land," as he navigated along the coast.
"Are you going to stop there?"
John was beginning to think Thomas needn't know all the questionable choices he made in life. Perhaps he wasn't such a good example for Thomas... . Nevertheless, his apprentice wanted to learn from him.
He continued where he left off.
Winter, 1596-1597
After our walk, I sat down with Newport at The Pelican. "It won't be long until we face the tide again, eh?" I joked with him.
Newport quietly sipped his tankard, before he spoke. That pause gave me reason to suspect something was up. "Actually, Sea Eyes, I'll be taking time off...to be with me family." Apparently his wife, Elizabeth, wanted more children; this was certainly understandable. I could tell he thought of them often. At one particular occasion, I remember watching him curse at himself one evening.
"D— it! I'm tellin' you, Sea Eyes, if you enjoy the free life, be as free as long as you can manage. So long as there's only you and the sea, 'twould save you many problems... ."
I didn't completely understand what he meant then, but it was clear now, his wife and children wanted more time with him. He seemed more at ease out on the ocean than at home, when he had to put away his pipe and watch his language. At sea, it would be him and his crew, who were just as crude as he was, if not more-so. I'd be by his side, learning from him, studying the tide changes, drawing out my own maps of the places we traveled, while he would give his input.
"You know I love the sea, but I love me wife an' daughters also. I'll prolly be puttin' me pipe away for good this time around." I choked on the pipe I happened to be smoking, when I heard that.
As First Mate, by default, Sicklemore could take his place. I had an unsettling feeling about him becoming Captain... . However, Newport told me the crew members wanted to vote for their replacement, and even Newport supported the most favorable candidate... .
"Master Gosnold has done exceedingly well as Quartermaster, and is being considered as the next Captain of the Neptune, for times in which I am unable to continue my duties."
"That's quite an honor," I was telling Newport. "But wouldn't that normally fall under the First Mate?"
"Normally, however the men have noted a displeasure for Sicklemore, and while Martin may be a better choice, they're not entirely comfortable with him, either, as the younger sailors find him far too rigid."
After our chat, I made my way back to Kenny's. "D— it Smithy! The Liberty?! Home of the infamous 'Winchester Geese' and other vagrants around London? The prison is over there for a reason... . I better not find your arse in that area again—"
"You won't!"
"Good! Some of those 'Winchester Geese' are notorious for having 'goosebumps,' you know." From what Kenny had explained, they weren't particularly desirable... .
"I don't think I'd entertain such trollops... ."
I had thanked Kenny for finding me later on and told him my story. "At least she isn't my lady, lest I'd have beaten you, or worse... ." I always appreciated Kenny's frank honesty, though this time it certainly scared me. "Why hadn't you mentioned it sooner?"
"I was certain you'd think just as less of me as he would."
He thought for a moment. "Well, I'm the last to judge, as you know I'm not a saint. If he ever asks, as good Queen Bess always says, 'video et taceo—I see and say nothing.'"
I noted he had some bruises that his servants already tended to."What the Bloody Hell happened to you?!"
"I ran into Geoffrey this afternoon. The drunkard had quite the quarrel with me over the two hundred pounds he claims I owe, though he actually owes me instead... ."
"I wish I was there for you."
"No worries, mate," he winced. "I survived, did I not? I'll get the bastard another day. No one mocks Master George Kendall and gets away with it! A military man is a man of his word... ."
As Kenny vowed, he did get his revenge. Poor Geoffrey was so beaten I actually felt sorry for him. "Are you not concerned he'll come after you again?"
"Hell if I care. Even so, by the time he's well, we'll be back off at sea. I'll worry about the rest when we return to London... ."
As much as I admired Kenny's bold and daring nature, and I had no doubt he could take care of himself, there were times I even began to fear my own safety. (Why not? I did want to live longer than seventeen, after all.) I saw fit to acquire a place of my own, especially since Kenny often brought 'friends' over for the night, and I didn't care to be around at that time. On those occasions, I went to Newport's and Mrs. Newport had a bed for me, no questions asked.
Eventually I acquired my own place. Due to my age, I couldn't sign a lease on my own, but Arch offered to consign the lease since he had excellent credit. Arch and Kenny helped with the move and supplying the furnishings. Afterward, Arch stayed behind as I asked his opinion.
"The wench doesn't surprise me... ."
"Arch, I know you didn't take too kindly to me initially, and while we're on better terms, I understand your initial frustration with our growing bond. Perhaps if I tell him you'll both be back to old times again."
His answer somewhat surprised me. "Smith, we may have been mates since University, but, you two act as though you've always known each other. He's never shared as much with me, as he does yourself. If anything, he has someone else that also carries his enthusiasm for adventure." He added "I occasionally wonder if we'd be friends if it weren't for her... . However, that is a story for another time."
I thought about Arch's words, when one night a carriage arrived one weekend. I opened the door to find my other comrade. "I come bearing gifts... ." He brought food Mrs. Gosnold had prepared just for me, and some dear things of his. "My scholarly rolls from my days at University. They include descriptions of indigenous plants and wildlife, as well as life in the East Indies. They always say we should keep these, considering how much we pay for them, but I hardly read them now, and think you might enjoy them."
"I'm much obliged." I couldn't think of any more words to demonstrate my appreciation. As he looked around my moderate flat, I felt my place wasn't up to par with his standards. "I know the place isn't quite so grand, but 'tis what I can afford at the moment."
He disagreed. "'Tis fine, quite comfortable." I offered him a chair, as he seemed quite encumbered by something. "I know it has been some time since we've truly been able to chat, and I do apologize for not coming sooner... ."
"No worries, mate. I know you have much to think about these days...I hope I'm not keeping you from Mary... ."
"Oh, no," he said quietly. "She's staying with her mother... . I decided to take the opportunity to visit you."
"You're more than welcome to stay." He gestured his appreciation. A part of me wanted this moment, as I was certain it would be quite a while, if ever, that he'd be able to do such again.
As we settled down for the night, he had his arms wrapped behind his head staring at the ceiling. Should I speak now? After a while, seeing him at peace prompted me to hold my peace as well. Instead, I begin envisioning time on the high seas with a different leader, doing away with it all... .