Seas of Fortune(43)
“Well, this is too slow for me. It’s as exciting as watching paint dry,” David declared. “I think it’s time for me to head out.”
“Back to Gustavus?”
“No, on to Trinidad and Nicaragua. And pick up a Spanish prize or two along the way, if we’re lucky.”
“If we must,” said Maria with a sigh. “But I have such a horrible backlog of plants to study. Lolly told me the rainforest was diverse, and I thought I knew what she meant, but the reality is inconceivable if you don’t see it with your own eyes.”
“Who said you had to leave?”
“You need me to find the Castilla in Nicaragua.”
“No, I don’t. I have Philip.”
Maria opened her mouth, then shut it without saying anything.
“And he has to come with me because he has to go home at the earliest opportunity. Even if he is dreading the parental punishments that await him.”
* * *
“Philip.”
“Yes, Maria?” He eased the rucksack he was carrying down to the ground. “As you can see, I am packed and ready to go back to sea.”
“I am sorry it didn’t work out. Couldn’t work out. You and me, that is.”
Philip didn’t quite meet her eyes. “I know. I made an idiot out of myself.”
“Don’t feel bad. You’re a teenage male. Teenage males, by definition, are idiots. Whatever century they were born in.”
“Thanks. I think.”
“Anyway, I have a present for you.” She brought forward the object she had been hiding behind her back. It was one of the blank journal books she used for drawing.
“You can use this to keep track of what you see and do. Perhaps it will make you famous. And . . . and I will enjoy reading it one day.”
He took the journal, brushing her fingers as he did so. “Thank you. I mean it. And good luck.”
He paused. “Heyndrick seems like an okay guy.”
“I think so, too.”
* * *
David studied his cousin. “You’re determined to stay here in Suriname?”
“Yes. I think there is a lot of opportunity here,” said Heyndrick, straight-faced.
“You’re blushing.”
“I am not,” said Heyndrick, coloring still more deeply.
“I am naming you as acting governor, but—you intend to escort Maria on her explorations?”
Heyndrick nodded.
“I thought so. We need someone to keep a steady hand here in your absence. I think I will appoint Carsten Claus as your deputy.”
“The ex-sailor? Ran away from the farm as a kid, and later thought better of it?”
“That’s right. He is CoC. An organizer of some kind. He is chummy with Andy Yost.” Andy was the owner of the Grantville Freedom Arches, the first headquarters of the CoC.
“And you let him come on board?”
“There’s CoC money invested in this colony. And the up-timers are counting on the CoC to make sure we don’t make any, uh, imprudent investments.”
“Buying slaves, you mean?”
“That’s right. I will leave you one of the yachts. You and Maria can use it for exploring. You’ll have to keep the captain, of course, I don’t have good reason to deprive any of them of command. Which one do you want?”
“The Eikhoorn.”
“I am not surprised.” Heyndrick blushed again. The Eikhoorn was commanded by Captain Adrienszoon, a man thirty years older than Heyndrick, while the Hoop had a young, unmarried skipper.
Heyndrick pulled a map out of its case, and flattened it out. “Are you sure you shouldn’t stay until July or August? See the colony through the end of the first wet season?”
“No. If I wait, I will be in the Caribbean in the hurricane season. Not a wise idea.”
Heyndrick found Trinidad on the map, grunted, and rolled the map up again. “That’s true . . . However . . . David, I have sailed with you for a long time. And there is something I think needs saying, although I doubt you’d like to hear it.”
“Out with it, Cuz.”
“You want to be a patroon. But we know how often colonies with absentee owners have come to grief. Someone like Jan Bicker can afford a loss, but you can’t. You’re terrific at managing sailors and settlers and Indians, but you need to manage yourself. After a few months, you go crazy and want to sail off. And next you know it, your colony, your investment, will be gone.”
“So what do you suggest?”
“I know you have to, what’s the American phrase, ‘get the ball rolling’ in Trinidad and Nicaragua. And then you want to get the rubber and tar to the Americans as quickly as possible. But after that, please plan on coming back here, and staying as governor. At least for a few years.”