Chaper 15 - Husband on the run!
After few days the steamboat's departure, the wedding preparations were complete.
Jody had taken care of organizing the party and the military parade. Everything had to end with the general drunkenness of the people, in order to prevent them from spoiling the escape already skilfully studied.
Kaj, in his capacity as Minister of the Navy and Grand Admiral, had made visits to the bay to prepare the boat that was to be used for the escape and crossing the Ocean. The local fleet was in complete disorder and made up of two dozen pirogues carved out of huge tree trunks, almost all already broken.
Luckily he had found one in fairly good condition and had hastened to have it supplied with masts and sails and also to provide abundant provisions, under the pretext that it was to be used for a trip to the sea of the spouses, to introduce the new husband. to coastal villagers.
The prudent fisherman had acted slyly, not to raise the slightest suspicion.
Those good islanders were convinced that their new king and the two new ministers had by now abandoned the idea of leaving the island.
On the morning set for the grand wedding ceremony, an extraordinary crowd gathered on the village square
Giant plates with huge arak pots had already been prepared. Immense fires had been lit to roast the meat of oxen, giant turtles, and oversized sea crabs.
During the day there were military parades, dances, scary concerts based on gong, so that the population would not get bored. As soon as the moon touched the top of the mountain, a hundred slaves lay on the ground, forming a living carpet, up to the door of the royal house, on the other side a kind of canopy, surrounded by cages containing the hens was covered with red fabrics.
The queen went out and walked on those human bodies, while they were playing the national anthem, to break through the most solid ears.
The ex-widow had left her mourning shirt to wear another richer one, of blue silk trimmed with pearls, and was wearing a cloak made of tou-cheou-ky feathers on her shoulders.
Shortly after, Blake appeared, followed by the ministers and military leaders. He was always dressed as a convict, but they had also placed a cloak of blue feathers on his shoulders and on his head a kind of fireman's helmet, very bruised and an immense tuft of feathers.
The sailor hesitated to walk over that layer of human bodies, then followed the queen, taking care not to step too hard.
Jody and Kaj, who were under the canopy, burst out laughing seeing him with that helmet.
«If he could see himself in a mirror, I'm sure he would burst, poor Mr. Blake!»
«Shut up Jody or you'll compromise ours and his dignity. Let's be serious or he too will burst with laughter».
When the couple arrived under the canopy, they were made to sit on two cages and a kind of sorcerer who was, horribly disguised with sea urchins, offered the couple a fish cut into pieces.
The wedding ceremony was over. Immediately formidable clamor rose in the crowd. The couple were led to a table in the center of the square, while the crowd, which seemed to be in the throes of a real delirium, stormed the others and, above all, on the arak vases.
The fear that the daring escape would fail took Blake's good spirits away. Luckily Jody and Kaj were there to encourage him, especially the former, who ate for six and drank.
At ten o'clock in the evening the islanders, having overturned the tables, danced furiously in the square and many who fell never got up again.
It was time to stop. Jody, who had taken over the direction of the party, ordered four heralds to have them retire to their huts so as not to disturb the newlyweds anymore.
When everyone was gone, the bride and groom headed for the house and Jody and Kaj kept watch in front of the door. The three convicts, now sure of the happy outcome of their escape, were not, however, calm. A suspicion, a cry could mess everything up.
They were to tie up and gag the three women and flee to the bay, where the pirogue was ready.
First they let Naja and the two ladies enter the first room and, as soon as the door was closed, they threw themselves on them with a lightning move. Kaj grabbed the queen, holding her hand over her mouth to keep her from calling for help; then he gagged her and quickly tied her up.
With the two ladies, old and weak, it was easier.
«Madam» Blake whispered as he approached the bride, whose eyes blazed, «I'm sorry I did that, but I said there I had no desire to stay here. You will never see me again».
A strangled cry of a wounded beast escaped through the gag.
«My dear friends, full steam ahead!»
They closed the door after turning off the oil lamp and rushed towards the bay. There was none. In a short time the three men reached the edge of the village and threw themselves into the forest.
Kaj, who by now knew the way, guided them and they reached the beach, where the pirogue was anchored.
«Goodbye, poor Naja» said Blake, preparing to leap into the dugout.
«One moment, Mr. Blake» Kaj said, picking up three oars that he had hidden under a mat. Help me».
«To do what?"
"To sink the fleet, and prevent us from hunting us. It is true that all the other pirogues are in bad shape, but caution is never too much».
«You're right Kaj, let's hurry up»
They got to work, banging on the flanks of the canoes that yielded easily.
Almost all of them had already sunk, when some rifle shots rang out towards the forest, then ferocious screams.
«On board!» Blake commanded «We're caught!».
In two leaps they threw themselves into the pirogue, grabbed the oars and hurriedly pushed offshore, while sailors and fishermen began to rush from the huts as well.
«Unfold one of the two sails, Jody.» Blake shouted «The wind is favorable!»
Numerous torch-carrying warriors emerged from the bush and ran towards the beach, screaming fiercely:
«Death to the white man!»
It was too late for them now. The engineer had hoisted the sail, which had quickly inflated in the night breeze, giving the dugout a quick pace.
«Give me a gun, Kaj!» asked Blake who had dropped the oars and was unfolding the mainsail.
«Here is your carbine, Mr. Blake» replied the pearl fisherman.
The warriors had stopped on the shore, not daring to embark on the two or three remaining pirogues. Blake fired a rifle shot and the brave, hearing the ball whistle over their heads, ran away.
«Drop everything! We will spin almost like the steamboat».
The pirogue, which was a beautiful boat, skilfully carved out of the colossal trunk of a tree, with the raised prow decorated with the monstrous head of some marine deity, glided rapidly on the water, gently rising and descending the large waves of the Indian Ocean.
Already the coasts of the island were about to disappear into the darkness, when a curse escaped from Blake's lips.
«What's up?» Jody asked.
«Look over there! Is it really him?»
«Who?»
«The steamboat.»
«That damn again!» Kaj exclaimed, clenching his fists.
«Drop the sails Kaj, he could see them.»
The pearl diver and Jody quickly lowered them. Towards the south three bright spots shone, one red and one green almost at the water's edge, and one white at the top.
«Let the sharks devour all those stubborn nuisances that move on us.»
«No», observed Blake, who was watching closely, along the island to the north.
«Will he see us?»
«The dugout is shallow and the moon will rise very late. I hope we'll get away with it».
«Have they lost hope of finding us?» Kaj thought.
«I believe; if this were not the case, they would have continued the route south. Ah! Death and damnation!».
«What do you still have, Mr. Blake?» they asked, frightened by the sailor's accent.
«We are in danger of being caught.»
«Is he coming towards us?»
«No, but I'm afraid he will enter the bay and the natives will not fail to warn the commander of our escape».
«Mr. Blake» Kai offered «let's raise the sails and resume the race».
«No, they might see us. I prefer to wait for events».
The steamboat was advancing not too quickly, keeping a few miles from the coast in order not to hit the coral reefs that surrounded the island.
He was already so close by now that the clanging of his machines could be heard. From time to time a jet of black smoke issued from its chimney. The three convicts, in the grip of a real anguish, carefully watched his moves, fearing to see him change course at any moment and head towards the bay.
Fortunately he did not veer aboard and they saw him pass off the vast cove and gradually disappear northward.
«We are safe!» they exclaimed «They are returning to the penitentiary, then the time has come to set sail and on to Ceylon».
«And may luck protect us!» Jody added.
The one on the island had been a very demanding stop, so they decided to rest in turn, while one was holding the helm.
But unfortunately for them the adventure was only just beginning.