CHAPTER FIVE

I believed my mother found out we were in straitened circumstances hence she let Kyle take me, she did it for my own good, but one thing bothered me. Why had Kyle not killed me, himself? It kept bothering my mind till we got to Dr.Tom's office and met Mr.Charles Cliff, he was a lawyer but he also claimed to love the sea and had been on treasure voyages more than thrice. Unlike Dr.Tom who was tall and sinewy, Mr.Cliff was short and a bit corpulent, though he had no flabby stomach or puffy cheeks. His face was square cut and strong, he had broad shoulders and seemed to smile all the time like it was a plaster on his face. Mr.Cliff smiled the very moment he set his eyes on me and stretched his right hand for a handshake, I took it non-committally and a look of disappointment flitted across his face.

I took a seat opposite the doctor while Mr.Cliff sat by me, he seemed everything but pleased at my presence.

I have found her, Mr.Cliff said vaguely.

I believe she's a fine vessel, the doctor added.

Yes, she is called "The Victoria", Mr.Cliff added smiling and rubbing his palms together.

The doctor looked at me eagerly and held out some papers to me.

I looked aghast.

He withdrew the sheaf of papers and stowed them away in his pocket

I don't understand sir, I found myself saying.

Tomorrow, we set sail, the doctor answered unnecessarily

I'm aware of that, I added knowingly, but the papers?

The papers are yours to sign if our expedition is successful, he explained.

I had my doubts as regards his explanation but I couldn't question him.

Mr.Cliff looked at me evil-eyed and I caught his gaze, for an instant, I concluded he was a crook and a fiend and I hated him at once. Mr.Cliff soon took his leave and the doctor and I were alone.

Sir, by the powers I don't trust Mr.Cliff, I complained.

He's a good man with a flawless record in the country, the doctor explained looking astonished.

I'm totally ambivalent about him, I think he's foul and I'm hardly wrong, I buttressed.

Son, sometimes our minds play games on us making us write off certain people as bad. Meanwhile in reality, they are actually good people, you'll like him, he remarked smiling.

I hope I do, I managed to say in between a furrowed brow.

The doctor was hedonistic, he had laid out plans for us to lodge in a proper inn replete with prostitutes. According to him, we were going to be without women for a long time hence we needed to be prepared. On this too, I had nothing to say because I'd abhorred women and I was abstemious. I'd been celibate all my life. Dr.Tom was quite different, he led a sybaritic lifestyle, he consorted with courtesans and practised all forms of clandestine debauchery despite being an officer of the law, he was human and I understood.

The doctor and I were in a horse-drawn carriage heading for the wharf where The Victoria was to cast off from. The carriage galloped through the streets of the city and for the first time in my life, I realized that the city was full of peasants, women who were once pretty now saddled with so many children and drunken husbands, working tooth and nail to make ends meet. The children played in the streets and many of them had flaked skins and were gaunt. Their heads were of gargantuan size, their chests were flattened and their sinewy bodies were laced with stomachs that distended in incongruous proportions. The women walked with splayed feet, literally waddling across the streets with heavy bosoms and maternal airs, quite a handful of them sang wild songs lustily. They were the country's proletariat who stood in sharp contradistinction to the elite of the nation who rode in gleaming horse-drawn carriages, they dined with kings and queens and their sons and daughters were adorned in resplendent robes and shoes, their sons had their hair cut, prim and their daughters had long, curly hair and they attended good schools. The wealthy were usually avaricious capitalists, they controlled the nation's economy, they paid peanuts as wages and subjected erring workers to hard labour. It was a nasty and brutish society.

I was jolted out of my reverie when the carriage pulled up by some young seamen who were haranguing about something, one of them was swarthy and brawny looking like he would crush the other man who looked both unhealthy and puny. The doctor stepped out and I followed suit, he held my arms and we walked through the men to where our ship was anchored. She was a beaut.

She stands defiantly in distinctive beauty, Dr.Tom remarked admiringly.

Yes she does, I concurred.

Tom! Tom! Someone screamed running towards us.

We turned at once

Oh Rutherford my good man, the doctor smiled patting him on the back.

Top of the evening to you sir, he greeted and shook my hands violently. His palms were unusually soft and moisturized then he turned to the doctor.

I have got some of the finest seamen, he said clasping his palms.

The doctor looked impressed, may I see them? He asked.

Of course, Rutherford said and blew a sharp whistle with his mouth twisted, four or five men gambolled up to us.

They introduced themselves as Israel, Anderson, Smith and Wilson, the doctor nodded. He was pleased.