XXIII. Man on a Mission

Thomas looked onward as John spoke to his comrade. What camaraderie they had, he thought. So many years together. He nearly felt like he knew John his entire life, even if it was but a few months. But there were certain things that he knew John would do with his mate, that he would not do with Thomas.

As it was getting late and time to retire, there was a shortage of tents. Seemingly Ben & Lon, Wingfield & Martin, Kendall & Archer, as well Gosnold & John took no issue sharing tents. This left Thomas in an awkward position of sharing with Percy. The latter, feeling chilled, took the blanket, leaving Thomas with nothing for the night, but the clothes he wore. With his loud snoring, it was equally difficult to sleep.

Early the next morning, there was a meeting amongst the men. The Governor and Gosnold were feuding over territory.

"Captain Gosnold! I have thus claimed the land for King James. What more could you want?"

"With all disrespect, it would be better for our groups to split to better prepare us for another raid. After all, if they destroy one camp with all of us, what would we have left?"

"You raise a valid point, Gosnold. Very well. Take your crew and settle elsewhere on the land. The rest of us will remain here until we have need to join forces again."

"Must you leave now?" His good friend asked.

"I must find another place for our men. With the shortage of tents, and supplies, and the likelihood of another raid, it would be unwise for all of us to remain. Besides, you have other matters to take care of... ." He winked.

Bart was right. Besides, half the men couldn't tolerate working with the Governor, and someone needed a legitimate excuse to split; at least for now.

"Take him with you," John nodded his head toward Percy.

"I couldn't torture you by leaving him here!" They both laughed.

And so, Bart took Kenny, Arch, Percy, Martin, Wingfield and a few others with him, further down the shore. Meanwhile, the remainder, including Ben Lon, Thomas and Smith were building their fortress over the next few days. John was seemingly going through the motions, giving orders aimlessly, his mind seemingly somewhere else. One particular day, it was raining as they were putting up the last wall of their camp. Ben and Lon were complaining about working in the rain. Thomas asked John a question.

"...eh John? John?"

"What?" He looked up from what he was doing. He wasn't even listening to him.

"What's gotten into you? You haven't been yourself these past few days."

"Oh, he just missed fighting off those Indians." Ben replied. With Lon, he reenacted

"We'll kill ourselves an injun... ."

They continued working and soon the rain stopped. The men were at this point complaining of not finding any gold, and wondering if it were all worthwhile to continue. Many grumbled over the time they wasted. Many complained to the Governor, others wanted some encouragement from Smith. But where was Smith?

The men grumbled again. "With all this sneaking away Smith has been doing as of late, one wonders if he knows what the rest of us do not know." One settler remarked.

"Maybe he's found the Indians and he's negotiating with them." Remarked another settler.

"Perhaps he's already found the gold and is keeping it all to himself!" Remarked yet another.

"Nay!" Thomas spoke up. "This is the ol' Seadog were speaking of. He wouldn't keep anything from us." Would he? Thomas began wondering to himself.

Thomas went looking for him in his tent. Not there. Again. Where on earth was he sneaking off to? And why wasn't he telling the others? What was he hiding, and why?

Ben and Lon were already out looking for John. Hopefully they found something. Hours later, Ben and Lon came running back, clearly spooked.

"Well, did you find him?" Governor Ratcliffe asked.

"No...enchanted tree...moving branches." Lon remarked.

"Roots appearing and reappearin'" Ben was in a daze.

"Bloody fools!" The Governor shook his head.

Thomas was guarding the edge of the fort when he heard a branch break. He aimed and ...there was a familiar face.

"...Thomas it's me!" John raised his arms.

"John I could've shot you!"

"Not aiming like that you wouldn't! Keep both eyes open when you shoot. You'll see twice as well." He patted him on the back as if there were nothing to it.

"Smith! Where were you?" The Governor called out.

"I was out scouting the terrain, Sir."

"So you know where they're camped. Good. We'll need your help for the battle."

"What Battle?" The Captain asked warily.

Ratcliffe was going off a plan to kill off the Indians. But everyone was shocked when John exclaimed "There is no gold!" He took out an odd yellow vegetable. "Look, it's food. They can help us!"

Ratcliffe would hear none of this. Any Indians, according to him were to be killed. He added. "Anyone not complying with the orders will be hanged."

John stared him straight in the face. "As you should've been some time ago!"

"Smith! Smith!"

But Smith wasn't listening to the Governor, he was walking away, toward his tent.

Thomas tried to catch up with him. "John, what were you on about Ratcliffe being hanged?"

He sighed and shook and shook his head. "It's a long story, Thomas. I haven't got time to explain it now."

"You spent an entire journey telling me your life story, and you can't tell me the aught you have with Ratcliffe now?"

"There's no time Thomas! Don't you see there are bigger things at stake? Our lives—their lives—" He paused, realizing he was shouting at Thomas. "I'm sorry Thomas. Maybe sometime I'll explain it to you. Now is just not the time." He retreated to his tent.

Thomas didn't know what to think anymore. What had gotten into him? Why was he suddenly concerned about 'their' lives? Who's life—since when did John even care about his own life? He wondered.

It was now Thomas began wondering if the Smith he had met along the journey was the man he portrayed himself to be... .