Sails Across the Sea: A Tim Phillips Novel (War at Sea Book 8) by Richard Testrake Page B
Authors: Richard Testrake
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Forsythe.
One prisoner was shaking with fear, the other savagely berated Devers. Again Sergeant Harris stepped forward and used his cosh upon the vocal one. A bayonet to the other’s neck kept him silent. Devers again asked the man where Lady Forsythe might be found.
The guard spoke at length, tears streaming down his face, Finally Devers turned toward Phillips. “He asks that we kill him now. If he tells us what we wish to know, Al Raschid will know and skin this guard alive. He says you will kill him more quickly than Al Raschid.”
The men had all climbed the stairway by this time and were beginning to congregate. Phillips was concerned about the noise the men were beginning to generate. An inspiration came to him. “Tell this man I will not kill him. I can take him away with us as a guest. Al Rashid cannot reach him and he can become one of my paid crewmen aboard my ship. Or, if he wishes, I will drop him off at any island we touch on our way home. If he comes with us, he will never see Al Rashid again.
More conversation ensued between the guard and Devers. “He says if you swear to take him away and allow him to live he will tell you what he knows”, reported Devers.
“Tell him I swear, man. We need to get a move on before the rest of the army finds us!”
The guard pointed to the entrance and appeared to be giving directions. Finally Devers spoke,” Sir, he says he fears to go inside with us. But, we just need to go inside the front entrance and bear to our left. We will come to the women’s quarters. There will be at least one eunuch guard on duty there. All the wives and female slaves live in those quarters.”
“Well”, Phillips noted, “I do not have time to act the fool. This man will come with us as a guide. Tell him to keep quiet, or we will leave him behind!”
As the group entered, two armed guard appeared. These men were wide awake and alert. One ran to a large brass gong hanging from the overhead and began beating it. The other came at them with a huge curved sword. With all the commotion, there was no point in silence anymore, and the two were cut down immediately. Phillips instructed those men armed with firearms to prime their weapons and then the mob of seamen and Marines poured into the designated passageway.
The hall ended in a massive, ornate door, studded with iron bolts holding straps of iron in place. The axe men went to work on the door, but it was difficult to break their way through because of all the hardware. Finally, a small hole was made through which a seaman reached through and lifted the bar inside. The door opened and two huge men waited for them with what appeared to be long halberd type weapons. As these men advanced on their attackers, Marines shot them dead.
Now the stone walls echoed with the sound of screeching women. All was confusion, in the confusion of scurrying harem members and Phillips had not the slightest idea of which might be the person he had come for. Finally, at the top of his voice he shouted, “Lady Forsythe, if you are here, please shout.”
As he said this, he remonstrated with himself, since every woman present seemed to be shouting. However, a calm voice across the hall assured him that she was Lady Forsythe and wondered what she could do for him.
She did not look like the wife or daughter of aristocracy. Dressed in rags, her face was bruised, and a few teeth seemed to be missing. Clearly she was not a high ranking member of the local society. Her thin arms clutched a small child, Phillips guessed, not able to walk yet.
Regardless, Phillips bowed, introduced himself and informed her he was prepared to take her home. He asked if there were any others women here he should take also. She nodded and pointed to a young girl huddling in the corner. The youngster was pregnant and was as big as a house. Forsythe informed him the girl was British, only fifteen and would not survive much longer in this place. She said, “I find myself
One prisoner was shaking with fear, the other savagely berated Devers. Again Sergeant Harris stepped forward and used his cosh upon the vocal one. A bayonet to the other’s neck kept him silent. Devers again asked the man where Lady Forsythe might be found.
The guard spoke at length, tears streaming down his face, Finally Devers turned toward Phillips. “He asks that we kill him now. If he tells us what we wish to know, Al Raschid will know and skin this guard alive. He says you will kill him more quickly than Al Raschid.”
The men had all climbed the stairway by this time and were beginning to congregate. Phillips was concerned about the noise the men were beginning to generate. An inspiration came to him. “Tell this man I will not kill him. I can take him away with us as a guest. Al Rashid cannot reach him and he can become one of my paid crewmen aboard my ship. Or, if he wishes, I will drop him off at any island we touch on our way home. If he comes with us, he will never see Al Rashid again.
More conversation ensued between the guard and Devers. “He says if you swear to take him away and allow him to live he will tell you what he knows”, reported Devers.
“Tell him I swear, man. We need to get a move on before the rest of the army finds us!”
The guard pointed to the entrance and appeared to be giving directions. Finally Devers spoke,” Sir, he says he fears to go inside with us. But, we just need to go inside the front entrance and bear to our left. We will come to the women’s quarters. There will be at least one eunuch guard on duty there. All the wives and female slaves live in those quarters.”
“Well”, Phillips noted, “I do not have time to act the fool. This man will come with us as a guide. Tell him to keep quiet, or we will leave him behind!”
As the group entered, two armed guard appeared. These men were wide awake and alert. One ran to a large brass gong hanging from the overhead and began beating it. The other came at them with a huge curved sword. With all the commotion, there was no point in silence anymore, and the two were cut down immediately. Phillips instructed those men armed with firearms to prime their weapons and then the mob of seamen and Marines poured into the designated passageway.
The hall ended in a massive, ornate door, studded with iron bolts holding straps of iron in place. The axe men went to work on the door, but it was difficult to break their way through because of all the hardware. Finally, a small hole was made through which a seaman reached through and lifted the bar inside. The door opened and two huge men waited for them with what appeared to be long halberd type weapons. As these men advanced on their attackers, Marines shot them dead.
Now the stone walls echoed with the sound of screeching women. All was confusion, in the confusion of scurrying harem members and Phillips had not the slightest idea of which might be the person he had come for. Finally, at the top of his voice he shouted, “Lady Forsythe, if you are here, please shout.”
As he said this, he remonstrated with himself, since every woman present seemed to be shouting. However, a calm voice across the hall assured him that she was Lady Forsythe and wondered what she could do for him.
She did not look like the wife or daughter of aristocracy. Dressed in rags, her face was bruised, and a few teeth seemed to be missing. Clearly she was not a high ranking member of the local society. Her thin arms clutched a small child, Phillips guessed, not able to walk yet.
Regardless, Phillips bowed, introduced himself and informed her he was prepared to take her home. He asked if there were any others women here he should take also. She nodded and pointed to a young girl huddling in the corner. The youngster was pregnant and was as big as a house. Forsythe informed him the girl was British, only fifteen and would not survive much longer in this place. She said, “I find myself
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