CHAPTER 37
Teach
The congested dock fairly groaned beneath the weight of the assembled crowd. Anticipation was everywhere in the city, on the streets and in the water. Children cried, parents bickered, and clever tradesmen called out their wares for sale. With a group this large, there were sure to be several hungry individuals.
Everyone had come to see the launch of the largest galleon ever built. The Deliverance rocked in the swell under full canvas. It was an awesome sight, like a preening peacock, as if aware of all the attention. The eager men of the crew stood at attention, squinting against the morning sun, small arms draped from their shoulder belts.
Richard Drummond himself stood before the group, dressed in a velvet coat and silk waistcoat. On his head he wore a powdered wig, and the silver buckles of his shoes glinted in the sunlight. The mayor of Bristol droned on and on about the importance of this day and how proud the city was to have such an esteemed merchant in their midst.
For his part, Drummond’s eyes searched the crowd, a cheerless look on his face. Despite this being one of the most anticipated days of his life, he appeared unable to muster even the slightest hint of a smile.
Teach stood back, his square jaw once again covered with several days’ growth, his hair pulled into a knot beneath his hat. He stared at his father, as one would stare at a stranger. Teach had always felt affection for the man. Even when Drummond had been at his most demanding, deep down Teach had yearned for his father’s approval and affection.
Not now. Not after what Drummond had done.
Teach and John had spent the past six days searching the docks and ships of Bristol for the two men, but they hadn’t been able to find them. Teach and John had also made more inquiries into the Providence. It belonged to another merchant but was nowhere near as large or grand as the Deliverance. It would call on several ports in the West Indies. Teach refused to believe he was too late to catch up to it.
He would have set sail on another ship if he’d found one heading out sooner, but the journey often took months to prepare for, and the Deliverance was the next vessel leaving port.
Teach had given Kaiser to David. He could not take a horse with him where he was going.
That morning, as Teach had wandered the city streets, people had drawn back in fear and revulsion when they’d seen him, for he was covered in mud and grime. They’d whispered behind his back, pointing fingers at the unsightly figure before them.
Teach had been numb to it all. He hadn’t had any feelings left. Until he’d seen his father.
Teach’s was one face among hundreds on the docks, and Teach did not fear discovery. On his feet he wore stout calf-hide boots. He had the old jacket and floppy hat John had given him. Once again his face and hair were unkempt, and his father would have a hard time recognizing him.
Teach watched as his father addressed the crowd briefly. There was a haunted look in his eyes, and his was the face of a man suffering.
Teach knew instinctively that if he would simply show himself, his father would recover, but Teach was unwilling to move. His father would make him stay in Bristol, and Teach could not accept that fate. Everywhere Teach looked he was reminded of Anne. The pain of her absence hadn’t dulled. He was constantly aware of the knowledge that she was somewhere far away and he couldn’t reach her.
Teach’s eyes moved over the crowd, but they paused briefly on the familiar sight of William and Patience standing together, William’s arm draped protectively around her. Teach’s mouth tightened slightly, but he gave no other response.
Swinging his bag of belongings onto his back, Teach pushed through the throng. In his bag were the things he’d packed from the house, and in Teach’s pocket was the ring he’d planned to give Anne.
As Teach approached the boarding plank, he reached for the papers in his waistcoat and handed them to the stocky young man near the plank. On Teach’s instructions, John had paid the original first mate a tidy sum not to report that morning, allowing Teach to take his place. The first mate was a representative of the merchant owner, and in most cases, he could not be removed from his office by the captain of the ship.
A cheer went up as the assembly dispersed, people jockeying for a better position to watch the mighty Deliverance set sail.
“You’re late,” the man said, giving Teach a once-over.
“I know,” Teach said shortly. It hadn’t taken much for him to mimic his father’s signature on his papers. He’d mastered the art when he’d been a schoolboy and Drummond had taken Teach to his office once in a while, before Drummond had decided that a merchant life was no life for his son.
“I wonder what Richard Drummond would say if he knew you cared so little for your post,” the man said doubtfully.
Teach nodded. “You’re free to go and ask him yourself, . . .” He waited for the young man to supply his name.
“Jack Thurston.”
“Well, Jack Thurston, you’re free to go and ask him yourself, but he’s a very busy man. If you want to waste his time—”
Jack shook his head. “No, that won’t be necessary.”
Teach was an imposing figure, and he knew how to use his size to his advantage. He was quickly learning that he didn’t need to employ force to get what he wanted.
“Are you as good a first mate as they say?” Jack asked.
Teach didn’t know what kind of rumors John had spread, but he could imagine they’d been slightly exaggerated.
“Aye, I am.” There was an undercurrent of danger in Teach’s nearly blank expression.
Jack obviously assumed that Drummond had employed Teach at the last minute, knowing what a target the Deliverance would provide out on the open sea. Any sloop out there would have heard of the galleon’s maiden voyage and know what a coup it would be to capture such a ship. Most of the Deliverance’s crew was former soldiers, prepared to fight if any pirates dared show themselves. “Well, then, what’s your name?” Jack asked. “I can’t read this chicken scratch.”
Teach studied Jack for a moment. “The name is Edward Teach.”
Jack nodded. “Good enough, although I think ‘Edward’ is too fine a name for you. If you intend to look like a street urchin and smell like a sow, I shall have to call you something else.” He looked Teach over from head to toe, noting his shabby black hair and beard. “You’re no dandy. I’ll call you Blackbeard. Welcome aboard.”