The Tangerine Merchant's Tale Read online

  The Tangerine Merchants Tale

  By

  Jay Harez

  Copyright © 2016 by Jay Harez. All rights reserved.

  Table of Contents

  1 RECHT OP EEN ADVOCAAT (Right to a Lawyer)

  2 ODD CONNECTIONS

  3 ONTSNAPPEN (Escape)

  4 TERUGKEER (Return)

  Chapter 1

  ‘RECHT OP EEN ADVOCAAT’ (Right to a Lawyer)

  “In all likelihood you imbeciles will hang,” Barrister Smythe explained to his two clients while he scanned their statements for the fifth or sixth time.

  “Why should I hang? I wasn’t even party to the…events,” said John Masten, the more effeminate of the two defendants.

  Barrister Goodson Smythe’s clients had been awaiting trial for almost a month.

  “Bloody coward!” Anthony Straat shouted, “We should have left you there and let the snake worshipper’s see to you,”

  “You are, or were, a part of the crew, were you not?” Barrister Smythe asked.

  “I was pressganged into service by these miscreants! I am a scholar, a historian, a student of cultures older and more…” said Masten.

  “You were offered wages and a berth?” Barrister Smythe asked.

  “Or face death at the hands of religious zealots,” replied Masten with less resolve.

  “You performed duties to further the enterprise in exchange for monetary remuneration making you party to the scheme.” Barrister Smythe explained.

  “It was my life or my service!” Masten shouted.

  “The position of the Batavian Council of Justice is that that was a bargain neither you nor your rescuers were authorized to make,” Barrister Smythe replied. “For God’s sake it is almost eighteen hundred! Now I need to know what went on aboard the vessel Wild Aye in every detail,” Barrister Smythe said to the two men.

  Once the doctors determined that both men were healthy enough to stand trial a date had been set. The newspapers had turned the whole affair into a public spectacle with wild stories of domestic piracy and mutinies. This was the first time that the accused had met their legal counsel and the trial was set to start five days from today.

  “First sir, were the sharks…” said Masten.

  “Shut your mouth about the fucking sharks! There were no more than normal for the wake of a livestock ship,” said Straat.

  “By livestock, you mean…?” Barrister Smythe trailed off.

  “The tangerines man, the tangerines!” Straat said sounding vexed.

  “Keep in mind Mr. Straat that as I am not in the flesh peddling business, your quaint euphemisms are lost on me as they will be on the tribunal,” Smythe explained.

  “I had no idea what the purpose of the venture was. I was merely a victim of circumstance!” Masten pleaded.

  “Gentlemen, we are getting away from the purpose of this meeting. As you know we have limited time to build your defense and…” Smythe was cut off.

  “And who’s to blame for that? We’ve been sitting in those cells fighting off rats and rapists for a month now,” Straat interjected.

  “The person or persons to blame for your circumstance is yourselves. Second to that, I just received word of my assignment to this case two days ago. It seems you have engendered some hostility from certain business interests; very influential business interests. If you two live to tell of this misadventure it will be because the members of the tribunal believe you. Regarding that point, neither of your statements makes either of you seem credible or sane for that matter. So let’s take a moment, and start from the beginning. Mr. Masten I would ask that you refrain from speaking until such a time as your participation in the events warrants your input. Mr. Straat, how did you first come to be aboard the Wild Aye?” Smythe asked.

  “Two months ago Captain Rynhaut and I was having a discussion about the company and both our futures. We had all heard the rumors about the company’s financial problems and were trying to make arrangements for ourselves. Mind you barrister, we weren’t after a fortune. We never fancied ourselves living like the lords high up the hill. We just wanted steady work or enough money to tide us over until such time as we could find steady work,” Straat said.

  “But you have a steady work history. According to the Dutch East India Trading Company records you and Captain Rynhaut both made quite a reputation for yourselves, with the shortest port stays making your voyages some of the most profitable,” Barrister Smythe countered.

  “True enough, but anyone who spends time at sea can tell you that things can change with a breeze. Fortune sometimes comes as winds at your back but those same winds can bring a Portuguese armada into range faster than you can run out your guns. Knowing that fact as well as me and the Captain did, we kept to the more crowded places; At least the ones we could afford,” Straat explained.

  “By crowded places you mean the bawdy houses and taverns clustered around the port like mushrooms on horse dung?” Barrister Smythe asked.

  “Those very places sir. We had built many lucrative relations in said mushrooms and, as you pointed out, the Company records prove it. We were set to leave in a few days on what we estimated to be one of our last voyages, the company’s situation being what it is, when an old acquaintance of the Captains offered to buy a round in exchange for some pleasant company,” Straat paused.

  “This acquaintances name?” Barrister Smythe asked.

  “Can we get something to eat?” Masten asked.

  “That is a fine idea. Good to see at this most desperate of times you’re thinking about your gut. What do you say barrister?” Straat seconded.

  “Fortunately I have been given a small stipend. Usually it is used to get decent clothing and shaves for the accused however I think your wretched appearances may work in your favor given the current economic climate. Yes a repast certainly couldn’t hurt,” Barrister Smythe said eyeing his pocket watch.

  Straat eyed the watch also. The detail of the watch was unique. It had both gold and silver inlay with a large ‘V’, an ‘o’, and ‘c’ etched in the cover. Smythe noted Straat’s scrutiny and quickly pocketed the item.

  “We are due to be hanged shortly so you needn’t worry about me trying to liberate the timepiece of our legal counsel. I mean we wouldn’t want you to be late to court, now would we?” Straat said with a chuckle.

  Smythe eyed the man for a moment and sensed a grin coming on. He caught himself, stopped, wrote a note on a scrap of paper then placed it and several duit coins into the jailers eager palm.

  “We will eat within the hour. Until then please continue,” Smythe said.

  “I’ve seen one like it before,” Straat said.

  “You’ve seen one like what?” Smythe asked.

  “The watch. It isn’t the first of its kind I’ve laid eyes on.” Straat said smugly.

  “I seriously doubt that sir!” Smythe was incensed.

  “As you say,” Straat said with a wry grin.

  The watch was only given to the sixty bewindhebbers or managing partners of the company. Barrister Smythe had inherited his from his father, who had inherited it from his father. Although Smythe had broken with family tradition and not given his life to the sea, he had proven himself in the field of law. Out of respect he didn’t brandish the watch about in the wrong circles, but those he knew were aware he carried it and that the legacy of the Dutch East India Trading Company was part of his history.

  Cold mutton and hard cheese accompanied by beer arrived in short order. The two men ate as if the food might vanish before they’d had their fill. Finally sated with greased mouths and full guts the two accused men seemed to relax a bit.

  “Now that that spectacle is concluded might we return to the mat
ter of the ‘Wild Aye’? Specifically, how did this, Captain Rynhaut, take command of a forty-two gun ship?” Barrister Smythe asked.

  “That relates to the old acquaintance I mentioned afore. You see, he was one of them high-born sorts who had at his disposal shipping manifests and certificates of consignment and all of the other kinds of parchment men who spend their time in offices place value in. He suggested to the Captain and me that if we knew of a prime route that could be sailed in short order then, well, it seemed reasonable at the time,” Straat explained.

  “And Captain Rynhaut just happened to know of such a prime route?” Barrister Smythe asked.

  “Point of fact is that he didn’t and neither did I. Though we had applied long ears to many a rumor and scheme, none seemed feasible to the captains way of thinking,” Straat answered.

  “So how did you come to know of this shipment of tangerines, as you call them?” Barrister Smythe asked.

  “Same said acquaintance told us of it. Of course at that point we were aware that this man had the whole scheme worked out a forehand but we listened. Once he described the details we were a bit leery, but when he told us of the return, well, we can’t be blamed for being men now can we?” Straat explained.

  “So you were motivated by profits alone?” Barrister Smythe asked.

  “Fear was our motivation. We knew what was to become of the DEITC if the contract doesn’t get renewed at the end of this year. Where would men with a successful history at a failed enterprise find work? We feared for our futures barrister. We feared not knowing where our next meal was coming from or where we would find housing once this company is no more,” Straat responded.

  Smythe understood what he was hearing. The company was the town and the town was the company. If the contract was not renewed the Dutch East India Trading Company would be no more. The town would probably become a hollow husk of itself leaving only the dregs of the population as fishermen and manual laborers. The outlook was bleak at best.

  “Very well, that may lend credibility to all of this but it’s still not an excuse for your behavior or an explanation as to what happened to the ‘Wild Aye’, or its crew,” Barrister Smythe said.

  “As I was sayin’ this fellow; smooth tongued, perfumed, and silked up to the jib, had a plan. He could get a ship…he had a route, and he had a ship. Our part was to get a crew, collect the cargo, and deliver it,” Straat said.

  “Where on Earth were you planning to go with your cargo as you call them?” Barrister Smythe asked.

  Straat looked at Masten. Masten just glared at him. Masten had no chance against Straat in any physical contest but the hostility in his eyes made even Barrister Smythe uncomfortable.

  “Well man, speak up. Where were you taking the tangerines?” Barrister Smythe asked.

  “Singapore,” Straat confessed.

  “Singa…!” Smythe stopped himself. He took a moment to compose himself. Singapore was one of the most dangerous ports within the DEITC’s trading territory and the waters surrounding it were infested with pirates.

  “Had all of you taken leave of your senses?” Barrister Smythe asked.

  “Each of those orange cunts is worth three thousand duits and we managed to collect almost three hundred of them! Nine hundred thousand duits sir! Even divided among the thirty of us, to hell with you if you say you can name a man that would turn down that sum!” Straat was taking his turn at being indignant.

  “Are you saying that someone in Singapore…?” Barrister Smythe started.

  “Several ‘someones’,” Straat interjected.

  “…is paying three thousand duits apiece for dot-headed women?” Barrister Smythe continued.

  “And not just paying in coin but paying in spice and silk. What would begin as a nine-hundred thousand duit route could be doubled or quadrupled if you returned with enough of either of those and if you were to add…” Straat considered his next words.

  “Do not suggest it sir!” Barrister Smythe asked.

  Smythe dreaded that one of his clients would let something slip about opium and he would be obligated to report it.

  “Our trip never got that far so I won’t go adding charges by confessing to what ain’t been done,” Straat said.

  “I should have thrown myself on the mercy of the tuggee,” Masten said despondently.

  “I would have liked to have left you the way you caroused with those whores!” Straat said.

  “They were not whores they were priestesses and acolytes you illiterate slave monger!” Masten said.

  Barrister Smythe was thankful that both men were manacled a reasonable distance apart, although the fight would have been decidedly one-sided. Straat’s hands were hardened from a life at sea. Towing cables, wielding a billhook and loading cargo had strengthened his broad back and shoulders. His face indicated that he had weathered conflicts with other men.

  Masten on the other hand brought nothing to the bargain by way of physicality. He had delicate wrists and cheekbones. He had wide eyes and lashes to rival any of the waterfront whores who had passed through this very jail. Even Masten’s graceful handwriting and signature told Smythe that he was not party to the crimes he was accused of, at least not a willing party.

  “Whatever they were, they fought like fucking jungle animals when we went to claim them,” Straat said.

  “Imagine women not wanting to be taken captive by foreigners,” Barrister Smythe said.

  “You can’t judge me Barrister Smythe! I have to fight for what I earn. Nothing has been handed to me, no sir. I live as a man!” Straat said.

  “I was at the temple by invitation, for the record,” Masten offered.

  “What prompted these women to extend such an invitation?” Barrister Smythe asked.

  “Water colors. I am an accomplished water colorist. My original intent was to capture the essence of the semi-domesticated tigers in the area. Apparently some of my work caught the eye of the local priestess and…” Masten was cut off.

  “Yes! We all know what a great artist you are. A shame you couldn’t paint yourself the skills to make an honest living,” Straat interrupted to say.

  “Like slavery?” Masten countered.

  “The company has been in the slave trade for decades. This was simply the next phase in the industry. New resources, progress and all,” Straat said.

  “Continue please,” Barrister Smythe instructed.

  “You speaking to him or me?” Masten asked.

  “Mr. Straat, please continue,” Smythe clarified.

  “Putting together a crew was no obstacle for the Captain he had it done in two days’ time. It was made easier by the wages we was offering. When we arrived that morning to collect our ship we find it being loaded and outfitted. It was supposed to be a forty two gunner but we only took the sixteen cannon for the sake of speed and cargo space. We had a crew of thirty and supplies enough to get us to Cochin. From there we were to go straight to Singapore,” Straat said.

  “Tell me about the ‘collection’ of your cargo,” Barrister Smythe said.

  “This is where I can help,” Masten cut in. “The festival had just begun and…”

  “Festival?” Barrister Smythe asked.

  “Maha Shivratri is a festival celebrated every year at that time,” Masten explained.

  “Is it some sort of pagan holiday?” Barrister Smythe asked.

  “Yes,” said Straat.

  “No,” said Masten. “Well in part but you have to understand their religion is thousands of years older than ours so there are going to be significant differences in the way they worship,”

  “Like prancing around half-naked in their temples, drunken orgies and the like,” Straat said. “I tell you Barrister Smythe if the civilized world ever got wind of what these heathens were up to Christianity wouldn’t stand a chance when it came to conversions,” Straat said with a chuckle.

  “The rituals celebrate their god Shiva. Shiva is married to the goddess Khali. According to some myths, on thi
s day Khali may manifest herself in physical form and worship among mortals out of respect for her husband,” Masten said.

  “That is an interesting bit of information but not something we want to burden the tribunal with,” Barrister Smythe said.

  “But that is key to everything that happened once we left Cochin!” Masten said.

  “Not this again,” Straat said rolling his eyes.

  “What happened after you left Cochin?” Barrister Smythe asked.

  “To put things in perspective our crew wasn’t really prepared for a fight and heathens or not, those bitches put up quite the struggle,” Straat said.

  “You’re saying your handpicked crew of ruffians and back-alley coolies couldn’t handle a bunch of tiny, half-naked women?” Barrister Smythe took his turn at chuckling. “Perhaps the comedic value of your tale will sway the court. Please continue,”

  “They study dance all their lives,” Masten said.

  “Dance?” Barrister Smythe asked.

  “Yes it appears that way but these women are cunning. More cunning than a white man would believe possible. You see, the dance isn’t really a dance it’s combat training,” Masten explained.

  “Are you saying that the dots have a female army of some kind?” Barrister Smythe asked.

  “No. Not at all. It’s more of a defensive method although two of the crew learned of its offensive lethality,” Masten said with respect.

  “So these half-naked, dancing Indian women…killed two of your crew?” Barrister Smythe asked Straat.

  “The truly vexing thing about their deaths was we couldn’t quite tell how they managed to do it, the men just fell to the ground with broken necks or gasping for breath. Either way, the Captain brought that to a halt in short order with a well-placed shot to the head of one of them. That gentled them down enough for sure,” Straat said.

  “She couldn’t have been more than ten or twelve years old. She was running from the fight and that bastard put the barrel of his pistol no more than a few inches from her head as she passed him. The memory of that poor girl’s skull bursting they way it did makes me sick even now,” Masten said.