Voyage of Slaves

She was caught up in the moment, and thoroughly enjoying herself. The bullwhip in her hands was like a vengeful snake, whipping pitchforks and hoes from the men’s halfhearted grasp. The mayor was picking himself up from the dust, like a plump black beetle, when she caught him a parting shot across the seat of his tight britches. Crack! He screamed like a stuck pig, throwing himself into the roadside bushes, with both hands clutching his bottom.

Ned winced at the sight. “Ooh, I bet he has his supper standing up for a week or two, mate!”

Tears of mirth coursed through the dust on Ben’s face.

“Go on, tell me you’re not afraid of her now!”

The teams of horses were thundering along the rough-hewn track. Wagons bounced and jumped over rut and rock. Everyone was shouting for joy, but holding on tight. If anyone fell from a wagon, they would be left at the mercy of the mayor of Porec and his townsmen. After galloping several miles, the horses were slowed to a steadier pace.

Janos Cabar caught up with the back wagon, hailing Ben. “Hola, boy! Are you and your dog having a good time?”

The boy’s strange, clouded eyes were alight with excitement. “We certainly are. You were marvellous back there!”

She saluted him with the coiled bullwhip. “Aye, it beats washing a man’s dirty shirts by the streambank. I’m going on ahead to see how the going is. Don’t fall asleep in the dark now, keep your eyes open.” She galloped off, leaving Ben to talk with Katya.

“Is Janos married? I can’t imagine her washing and cooking for a husband!”

The girl shook her head. “No, she says she has enough to do, running this crew and managing her taverna. The rest of the women are. Magda is my mother, I have another sister at home, and two brothers. I’m the eldest. My father is a farm labourer. He works hard, when there’s work about, but it’s Mother and me who really butter the bread on our table.”

Ned glanced up to the wiry, pipe-smoking driver. “I hope she washes her hands before she butters the bread!”

28

THE GOING WAS EASY BY NIGHT. BEN found himself blinking and wiping his eyes to ward off sleep. After an hour or so, their leader came back, signalling the wagons to halt. Everyone got down from the wagons to hear what she had to say.

“There’s a cottage further up the road, on the outskirts of Buje. The old woman sells eggs and vegetables. I’ve known her since I was a little girl. She told me that a half-mile further on, the Revenue officers are lying in ambush. Somehow they must have got word from Porec, maybe by way of a carrier bird. So now we leave the road, take the wagons down onto the shore. Watch out for soft sand, and rocks that might smash the axles. Go quietly, but keep an eye on me for any signals. Remember, these are real Revenue men, so be careful!”

The team drivers took their horses down a side path onto the shore. Crossing the sand, one of the wagons got stuck when it strayed from the line. Ben and Ned lent a hand and a paw, to dig it out. Janos hitched her stallion to the team, heaving it free of the soft sand. The tide was coming in, so they rode through the shallows, where the sand was wet, but firmer. The boy and his dog walked alongside the wagon, splashing along in the cool seawater.

Katya pointed out the town from the wagon. “See off to the right there, that’s the lights of Buje.”

They rolled on by in the peaceful night, with the surf sighing gently up onto the shore. Janos Cabar appeared at Ben’s side, like a shadow out of the darkness on her black stallion. She spoke calmly to him.

“Get back up on the wagon, the dog, too. We’ve been seen. I should have known they’d post a lookout down here, to watch for any contraband coming in by boat. It’s our bad luck he spotted us instead. I hope you’ve got sharp eyes, boy, I’m putting you to watch our backs.”

Ned lay at the back of the wagon, with his chin on the tailboard as he scanned the shoreline to the rear. “This is my job, mate, I’ve got perfect vision at night.”

Ben stroked the Labrador’s ear fondly. “So you have, old faithful hawk-eyed hound.”

Ned replied indignantly, “Old yourself, ancient youth!”

Katya liked Ben’s dog. She patted his back. “Keeping watch, eh, good old Ned!”

Ben corrected her. “Better call him good young Ned, he doesn’t take kindly to being called old, do you, my nice young puppy?”

The black Labrador shook his master’s hand off. “Cease this foolish prattling, both of you. It’s not apparent to you yet, but we’re being followed!”

The boy signalled Janos Cabar, who steered her horse to the backboard. “What is it, can you see anything?”

Ned followed the direction of his dog’s nose, pointing. “Aye, back there, up on the road . . . wait!” He made as if to peer hard in the direction, relaying Ned’s information to Janos. “They’ve moved up a bit . . . now they’re leaving the road. There’s eight of them, wearing helmets and dark uniforms. They’re all mounted, too. They’ve crossed the shore now. They’re into the tideline, coming through the shallows. Can you see them?”