Sackett's Land (1974) by Louis - Sackett's 0 L'amour
Authors: Louis - Sackett's 0 L'amour
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wish to call them."
He motioned for a refill of our tankards. "We shall sail south, almost to the land of the Spanish men, then north along the coast, trading wherever possible. After that, to some islands off the north coast where fishermen have summer villages to dry and smoke their fish. There we'll refit and buy stores."
Tempany hoisted his glass, looking from under bushy gray brows at me. "Lad, have you thought there's more to Genester's hatred of you than what happened in Stamford?"
"Why should there be? We never met before."
"Agreed. Nor had he seen you or known of you, but think you now: once his anger was gone, would he have bothered unless there was something more?"
"Impossible, Captain. He has wealth, position, all a man could ask. I have nothing but a will to do."
"Suppose you were a threat to his keeping what he has? Or gaining more?"
"There is no way, Captain. To him I was just an oaf, a country bumpkin whom he believed to be making overtures to his lady."
"Until his anger led him to discover who you were."
"I am Barnabas Sackett, no more. I am a man of the fens, who, because his father was a skilled fighting man, holds a bit of land."
"And to whose father a promise was made."
"Oh? That! Captain, if indeed such a word was passed, it meant only that he might see me in some post where I could have a living."
"I agree that was the intention, lad, but things have happened. This man ... he will disclose his name when he sees fit ... lost a son when the Armada attacked. He lost a son in the plague. Suddenly he is no longer young, and finds as his only heir a man, a nephew whom he profoundly dislikes."
"Genester?"
"Aye." Tempany took a swallow of the ale and touched his beard with the back of his hand. "A night came when he was sitting about talking of antiquities, and one of the old friends shows two gold coins and tells their tale.
"Suddenly, the elderly gentleman of whom I speak is hearing again the name of that stalwart who stood above him and fought off the attackers until help came.
"He recalls the stern, honest quality of that man, and now he hears of that man's son. A promise is recalled, and Hasling comments on your enterprise in coming to him, your knowledge of antiquities ... which he probably overrated ... and your difficulties with Genester."
"Still, I do not--"
Tempany lifted a hand. "Wait. Hasling had his story to tell, and then I told mine, of the affair at the Globe and returning to find you at my home.
"The gentleman of whom I speak decided the fates were guiding him to a decision. He enjoyed the way you escaped so handily. It indicated presence of mind, and your dumping of Genester on your first meeting brought him to chuckling and wishing he could have seen it."
"I had a good friend who impeded pursuit. Do not forget that, Captain. But for Corvino--"
"Having such friends is a credit to you. I do not jest, lad. He wishes to meet you."
"It would be a pleasure, Captain."
"Aye, but somehow Genester has discovered that. Perhaps from one of the servants. I do not know. Genester's hopes center around the old man. He himself has little, so if the old man should choose to leave his estates to you--"
"That is impossible, Captain."
"No, not at all. It presents the solution to a problem. He respected your father, and you have shown yourself to be a young man of wit, intelligence and decision, something he was himself, and which he admires. So, before you go further with this trading venture, talk to him."
"I shall, of course, but I would choose to make my own way, Captain. How many of the titled gentlemen around the Queen have done as much? Raleigh, perhaps."
"As you will, but meet with him, at least. I shall see him soon. In the meanwhile, be careful."
The interest of great men is flattering, but I had no faith in such matters. I had found no luck and no opportunity except that I made. Finding the gold--that was luck, but on the other hand, had I not been walking the Dyke home from
He motioned for a refill of our tankards. "We shall sail south, almost to the land of the Spanish men, then north along the coast, trading wherever possible. After that, to some islands off the north coast where fishermen have summer villages to dry and smoke their fish. There we'll refit and buy stores."
Tempany hoisted his glass, looking from under bushy gray brows at me. "Lad, have you thought there's more to Genester's hatred of you than what happened in Stamford?"
"Why should there be? We never met before."
"Agreed. Nor had he seen you or known of you, but think you now: once his anger was gone, would he have bothered unless there was something more?"
"Impossible, Captain. He has wealth, position, all a man could ask. I have nothing but a will to do."
"Suppose you were a threat to his keeping what he has? Or gaining more?"
"There is no way, Captain. To him I was just an oaf, a country bumpkin whom he believed to be making overtures to his lady."
"Until his anger led him to discover who you were."
"I am Barnabas Sackett, no more. I am a man of the fens, who, because his father was a skilled fighting man, holds a bit of land."
"And to whose father a promise was made."
"Oh? That! Captain, if indeed such a word was passed, it meant only that he might see me in some post where I could have a living."
"I agree that was the intention, lad, but things have happened. This man ... he will disclose his name when he sees fit ... lost a son when the Armada attacked. He lost a son in the plague. Suddenly he is no longer young, and finds as his only heir a man, a nephew whom he profoundly dislikes."
"Genester?"
"Aye." Tempany took a swallow of the ale and touched his beard with the back of his hand. "A night came when he was sitting about talking of antiquities, and one of the old friends shows two gold coins and tells their tale.
"Suddenly, the elderly gentleman of whom I speak is hearing again the name of that stalwart who stood above him and fought off the attackers until help came.
"He recalls the stern, honest quality of that man, and now he hears of that man's son. A promise is recalled, and Hasling comments on your enterprise in coming to him, your knowledge of antiquities ... which he probably overrated ... and your difficulties with Genester."
"Still, I do not--"
Tempany lifted a hand. "Wait. Hasling had his story to tell, and then I told mine, of the affair at the Globe and returning to find you at my home.
"The gentleman of whom I speak decided the fates were guiding him to a decision. He enjoyed the way you escaped so handily. It indicated presence of mind, and your dumping of Genester on your first meeting brought him to chuckling and wishing he could have seen it."
"I had a good friend who impeded pursuit. Do not forget that, Captain. But for Corvino--"
"Having such friends is a credit to you. I do not jest, lad. He wishes to meet you."
"It would be a pleasure, Captain."
"Aye, but somehow Genester has discovered that. Perhaps from one of the servants. I do not know. Genester's hopes center around the old man. He himself has little, so if the old man should choose to leave his estates to you--"
"That is impossible, Captain."
"No, not at all. It presents the solution to a problem. He respected your father, and you have shown yourself to be a young man of wit, intelligence and decision, something he was himself, and which he admires. So, before you go further with this trading venture, talk to him."
"I shall, of course, but I would choose to make my own way, Captain. How many of the titled gentlemen around the Queen have done as much? Raleigh, perhaps."
"As you will, but meet with him, at least. I shall see him soon. In the meanwhile, be careful."
The interest of great men is flattering, but I had no faith in such matters. I had found no luck and no opportunity except that I made. Finding the gold--that was luck, but on the other hand, had I not been walking the Dyke home from
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