XXV: Drums of War
"Alright, men take your places."
It wasn't long before Gosnold and his group were summoned back to Jamestown. And he wasn't waiting for answers.
"What is all this about a War?"
"Captain Gosnold," the Governor replied. "Those Savages got one of our men. We must stop them!"
"We must not always resort to violence unless 'tis truly necessary."
"Well, Captain, it appears they think one of our men killed one of theirs. Now they've got Smith."
"Smith?!"
"Right, they have Smith. And if we don't stop them, your man will die."
"Has anyone tried to reason with them first?"
"Smith tried, 'tis too late now!"
"I cannot believe you!"
The Governor was now face to face with Gosnold. He spoke quietly, barely audible now. "You and I may have a past, which we never saw eye to eye; however, as Governor I ordered any and all men to shoot any savages on sight, or be hanged."
He paused, but remained firm. "As Governor, you may have certain rights, but you are overstepping boundaries. It is the duty of a Captain to decide if or when to shoot. In Newport and Smith's absence, I speak on their behalf. To resort to War immediately would result in disaster. We do not yet know what we are up against."
"My have you gone soft," The Governor remarked. He moved in closer to him. "There was a time you were willing to risk everyone else's endangerment to save this man, remember?"
"I have not forgotten. We knew the Spanish, French, and Portuguese, and their courses of action. There are many tribes here, from what we have encountered at our other last camp. We could be outnumbered immensely." He addressed the men. "As next in line as commander, we will be ready, but will stand down unless they fire first! Then we will show them who we are!" The men cheered at this.
"Such fools," The Governor muttered quietly. "Yet they listen... ." He was seething as Gosnold divided the men into groups.
Thomas who was joined by Gosnold, Kendall, Percy and Archer, was pondering the conversation between the Governor and his now Captain. What did he mean, save his life?It was then Thomas recalled Smith's story... . But how did the Governor know?
"Bugger!" Kendall spat. "Still I cannot listen to that ol windbag—"
"Still? What does that mean?" Thomas wanted to know.
Before Percy could gasp, Archer had a hand over his mouth.
Archer glared at Kendall as if he said too much. Kendall looked over at Gosnold as if wondering if he should expound.
Gosnold started slowly. "I'll tell him."
"Why?"
"Because I know how explosive you can become Kenny, and at the moment we do not need any more trouble than we already have." He emphasized "any more trouble" before suggesting, "you all should retire for the night."
"But what about Smithy?"
"John will be fine, Kenny. I know it."
"Still 'Kindred Spirits', I suppose." Kendall winked before Gosnold joking pushed him toward the tents, and the others followed suit.
Thomas was a bit amused by all this, seeing their interaction. "You all still get along so well."
"Yes, indeed we do," Gosnold agreed. "I see John has taken you under his wing."
"Yes, and he is still obliged to you."
"Thomas...I'm certain he has told you many stories of our past, but has he told you anything about the people?"
"Well, he has told me about your men, Martin, Newport, Wingfield, and another man who's name escapes me... ."
"Sicklemore?"
"Yes, that sounds right...but isn't he dead?"
"Supposedly...in name only... ." He paused. "You are to tell no one this, but he is here, acting as Governor."
"What? Ratcliffe?"
"I am afraid so. None of us knew until we boarded, and we were to remain silent on the matter. Given his favour with the King, we cannot very well disprove him of an instance occurring years ago. Apparently he received a pardon upon revealing his new name. I must warn you, this was to remain a secret. May I trust you will not mention a word to the others?"
The red headed young man nodded to the older brunet gentleman. "You have my word."
"Thank you, Sir."
Thomas beamed that his good friend's comrade had respected him. But such respect reminded him of his guilt. "Sir, I have one confession to make."
"Oh?"
He hesitated. "Smith did not shoot the injun...I did." He felt some ease and continued. John ordered me to leave when it happened and I saw them imprison him. It should have been me... ." Imprisoned, he trailed off in thought.
"I see... ." The man paused. "That is most certainly like Smith, taking the fall for others... I must find him lest 'tis to late." He then asked. "Do you know where they have taken him?"
"No, only Smith was close enough to know their whereabouts, but I did see him in this glade...with an injun woman... ."
He raised his brow. "Smith found a woman?! Indeed very much like him... ."
Later that night, Bart Gosnold and Thomas managed to sneak past the guards and began following Thomas' directions. After finding the glade, he followed footprints—with only one set of shoeprints he suspected were Smith's— which ultimately lead him to the outskirts of a village.
He had to meet this woman. If Smith was amicable with her (perhaps even moreso) she may be willing to make peace. A tall, slender woman, of copper complexion, red mark on right arm, he recalled from Thomas' description.
"There she is!" Thomas noted the woman with long, ebony hair.
"Wait, where do you suppose she is off to?" He noted she was headed to the outskirts of the village.
Thomas thought fast. "The glade! We must follow—"
But Gosnold put a finger to his lips. There was a rustling noise up ahead. "Someone is following us... ." He whispered. "We should leave."
"But what about—"
"We must protect ourselves first. You keep an eye on her. I will trail you to ensure we make it out."
Cautiously, Thomas went ahead, and Gosnold followed. Thomas could barely make out her shadow.
"Faster now!" He kept looking over his shoulder, as Thomas continued.
Thomas had to keep pace not to lose her. Was she ever fast! He thought. But he didn't have long to think when he heard a noise and a thud from behind. Where was Gosnold? Was he down?!
Thomas turned around but couldn't see anyone. "Gosnold?" No answer. "Gosnold?"
"Are you lost?" Thomas turned around to find Ratcliffe facing him.
"Governor, I apologise." Gosnold was just—"
"You should be at camp!"
"But Sir—"
"Enough!" Ratcliffe pulled out a rifle, and moved behind Thomas, pushing it against his back. "I warned you not to disappoint me. We will be headed back to camp. If you attempt to leave again, you will be hanged for treason."
Sadly Thomas walked back to camp with Ratcliffe trailing him. Whatever became of Gosnold, (and the woman) would have to wait.
"Where is Gosnold?" Archer confronted Thomas when he was brought back to camp.
"I do not—"
"Silence!" Ratcliffe had an announcement to make. "It appears Captain Gosnold is absent. I checked his tent and noted he was missing. Thomas is fortunate I found him before anyone else did! As for our other comrade we have no way of knowing."
"Should we not look for him?" Kendall asked.
"Men, 'tis much too dangerous to be wandering around. For all we may know, an Injun may have captured him as well. We cannot risk anyone else going missing. However, in his absence I will take charge. Everyone from here forth must remain until 'tis time to march."
Thomas who felt helpless at the moment could see Kendall wasn't convinced. "We cannot leave a man behind. If there is any chance he is still out there we should find him and rescue Smithy before 'tis too late."
"Fool! They already have Smith! They may very well have Gosnold—"
"Then how is it that Thomas has escaped?"
Ratcliffe walked right up to Kendall, getting in his face. "Are you forgetting who is in charge? Do you dare defy my orders?"
"I have never, and will never take orders from you!"
His brow raised. "You have not changed."
"Neither have you!"
"Then you will face the consequences!" He turned to Martin and Wingfield. "Men, chain him."
Wingfield and Martin somewhat reluctantly complied. "You are most fortunate you are an officer, albeit a poor excuse for one. A gentleman's death awaits you. Take him to the ship." He glared as he was escorted.
"A gentleman's death?"
Archer explained. "Most men committing treason are hanged, but an officer of rank, if tried, and convicted, are given an execution from a firing squad! Assuming they've already been given a fair trial of course... ."
Thomas didn't want to imagine either outcome.
"Does anyone wish to join him?" Even Percy wouldn't dare speak. "Very well. Time is of the essence men. We will resume our plan of attack."
Sunrise was coming. What would become of Gosnold—and Smith? Thomas thought. The Drums of War were sounding. Time to march... .