Voyage of Slaves

The big Greek scratched his curly mop distractedly. “It is a long story, my friend, it is. . . . Aaah, you tell him, Yanni!”

Both Ned and Ben listened intently as Yanni explained. “Kostas, Alexi and myself all came from the island of Naxos, we were the greatest of friends as boys. All three of us wanted to be sea captains one day. Alexi was small, and given to book learning—his father was wealthy, also. Kostas and I were both from poor families, our fathers were only fishermen. But Kostas was a tall boy, handsome and strong. He was very popular. Alexi secretly disliked him for this. Having said that, Kostas also disliked Alexi.”

“Yanni, how can you say that? Little Alexi was as close to me as a brother.” Kostas was off once more, waving his arms and gesticulating.

Ben shared a thought with Ned. “I wish he’d shut up and sit down, we’re getting nowhere like this. I can’t tell him to be quiet, though—he’s a captain.”

Ned acted as he replied. “Aye, but I can, mate. Sit down, sir, down I say!” The black Labrador stood on his hind legs, pushing Kostas down into a chair with his front paws.

Ben winked at the Greek captain. “Ned wants you to sit quietly while Yanni tells me the story, Cap’n.”

Kostas stared at the dog oddly for a moment, then he waved at Yanni. “I’m sorry, friend, continue the tale.”

Yanni patted the dog’s head fondly. “Where was I—oh yes. Well, time went by, and we three boys grew up, but fate took us down different paths. Alexi’s father paid for his son to go to naval college. He did well there, and soon was sailing with the Greek navy as a young officer. Huh, the Krimboti and I, we were still running about the coast barefoot, no naval school for us, my friend. So, we fell into the pirating business, which was common among adventurous lads such as we. Now I must take you forward some years. Kostas and I had risen in the ranks—now he was a first mate and I was a gunner, aboard a Corsican vessel. We weren’t slavers or murderers, just good old-fashioned wave robbers, you understand.”

Ben nodded briefly, remembering the time he had spent aboard a French pirate vessel, La Petite Marie, captained by the buccaneer Raphael Thuron.³²

“Aye, I understand, Yanni, go on.”

The seaman once more took up his narration. “It was just outside the harbour, at the isle of Kríti, where we had raided a garrison and borrowed some ammunition during the night. We sailed out, laughing, straight into a ship of our country’s navy—we almost bumped right into it in the dawn light.”

Kostas smote the table and burst out laughing. “Hohohoho! Can you guess who was standing on the forepeak, in his smart tasselled uniform? None other than our old friend. I shouted out to him, ‘Good morning to you, Little Admiral Alexi!’ ”

Ned gave a sharp bark. Kostas covered his mouth. “Oops, carry on, Yanni—tell Ben what we did.”

Yanni was smiling as he explained. “We were younger and quicker then. Kostas and I manned the cannon, and blasted the navy ship right under the bowline. Alexi was jolted off into the sea!”

The big Greek leaped to his feet, gold teeth flashing. “Let me tell it, Yanni! Hohoho, we left her with her stern in the air and her head going down. I tell you, it was a sight to see, Ben. All the navy crew had heard what I called that tiny peacock. They threw rescue lines to him, calling, ‘We’ll save you, Little Admiral Alexi!’ His lovely new uniform was ruined, he was hauled aboard with the seat torn out of his breeches. He grabbed one of those hailing trumpets and yelled out after us, ‘I know you, Kostas Krimboti, and you, too, Yanni Karopolis. Villains! Pirates! One day, when I’m a captain, I’ll hunt you both down and hang you from my ship’s yardarm. I swear on my life I will!’ ”

Ned heaved a doggy sigh, resting his head on Ben’s foot as he communicated. “Oh dear, and it’s that very same Little Alexi who’s sailing to our rescue at the moment. Well well, our friends have got themselves into a right old pickle.”

Ben questioned Kostas and Yanni. “Let me ask you two things. One, how do you know Alexi is captain of the Callisto ? And two, does he know that you are aboard the Blue Turtle?”

Yanni allowed his captain to reply.

“The word that Little Alexi had been appointed as master of the Callisto was all up and down the coast. As I said, his father was a wealthy man—he practically paid for Callisto to be built, then made a gift of it to the navy. So Alexi was the natural choice. We heard in every port and water-side taverna that he had been given a commission to root out piracy on the high seas. The little maggot made it no secret that he was going to stretch our necks at the first opportunity. So we decided to fool him. Yanni and I gave up the pirating life. We bought ourselves this old tub, the Blue Turtle, out of our ill-gotten gains, and set ourselves up as treasure hunters. Right, Yanni?”