The Devil and the Dark Water полностью

Another lantern was lit to its portside, followed by a dozen more, illuminating the masts and decks, the beakhead and even the sailors on the waist. From being terrible, the Eighth Lantern was immediately transformed into something mundane. It was an Indiaman. Exactly like the Saardam. It had rigging and sails and had clearly been maltreated by the storm, much as they had.

‘It’s just a ship,’ said somebody behind her. They sounded disappointed.

‘It’s the Leeuwarden,’ came another voice. ‘I recognise the colours. She was part of the fleet that left Batavia. I thought we lost her in the storm.’

There was a murmur of agreement, then surprise. A second smaller boat was crossing the water, approaching the island.

‘The Leeuwarden was the Eighth Lantern from the start,’ said Arent, emerging from the darkness with Marcus and Osbert. The boys were jogging to keep up with his long strides. Seeing their mother, they immediately ran to her side, becoming confused when they found her tied to a piece of wreckage.

‘It’s just a game we’re playing,’ said Creesjie, trying to be reassuring. She cast an appealing glance at Sara, who nodded towards Arent.

The mercenary took a knife out of his boot and severed the ropes tying Creesjie’s hands, allowing her to hug her sons.

‘But we saw eight lanterns on the water,’ argued Lia. ‘How was that possible if there were only seven ships?’

‘The Eighth Lantern was just a lantern mounted on a specially rigged yawl,’ replied Arent, going to the water’s edge. ‘I saw a broken version of it in the jungle. Creesjie’s crew must have built a few on this island, before they got it right and transported it over to the Leeuwarden. When they needed the Eighth Lantern to terrify us, they rowed it out on to the water and set it alight. That’s how it appeared and disappeared so quickly. It was only ever coming and going from the Leeuwarden.’

Closer and closer came the boat, oars splashing. Somebody was holding a lantern at her bow. Arent watched it, a grim expression on his face.

Sara was staring at Creesjie with daggers in her eyes. ‘You put my daughter in danger!’ she hissed.

‘No,’ said Creesjie pleadingly. ‘No, that was never the intent. Do you think I’d have brought my own boys aboard if I thought to do the ship harm? Old Tom was all theatre, just a shadow playing on the walls. There was never supposed to be a mutiny, or a shipwreck. I planned it so carefully, Sara. Crauwels was paid to sail us here, then disembark everybody by claiming he needed to thoroughly search the ship for Emily de Haviland. I assumed everybody would be so afraid they’d agree willingly. This island isn’t dangerous. It doesn’t really resemble the Mark of Old Tom, that was just to convince any last doubters that the demon was real, and had killed Jan Haan. There are supplies here, and the Leeuwarden was going to stumble upon us in a day or so. It would have taken everybody back to Amsterdam, leaving Crauwels and a skeleton crew to unload the treasure, minus his payment. Once that was done, they were supposed to sail the Saardam back safely, delivering the cargo and appeasing the Gentlemen 17. The only people who were supposed to get hurt were Jan Haan and Sander Kers.’ Hatred seethed in every word. ‘I didn’t know Johannes Wyck would be aboard, and I didn’t expect Crauwels to betray me. He wanted the treasure and The Folly for himself, and he thought he could get them by inciting his crew to kill the nobles, including me. Believe me, Old Tom was for your husband’s benefit alone.’

‘What about Bosey? You bu—’ Sara’s fury was quashed by the sight of Marcus and Osbert, peering up at her wide-eyed. They were clinging to their mother, firelight playing on their innocent, frightened faces.

‘Me and your mama need to settle a few matters,’ she said, her heart aching. ‘Will you play with Dorothea for a little while?’

They glanced at their mother uncertainly, but Creesjie smiled at them. ‘Off you go, boys. I’ll be along to collect you soon.’

Dorothea took each boy by the hand, her expression betraying neither dismay nor confusion at the circumstances. She would have questions later, Sara knew, but for the moment Marcus and Osbert were her concern. They usually were.

A crowd of passengers had encircled them, forcing Dorothea to push through. They were curious for the minute, still numb from everything that had happened, but their rage wouldn’t keep in its kennel long, thought Sara. Not once they realised they had somebody to blame for their misery.

Sara glanced at Arent near the waterline, wishing he was closer. Though only a few steps away, she felt she might need him soon.

‘Why did you kill Bosey?’ asked Sara, watching as Creesjie got to her feet.