Opening scene – To Die a Dry Death

Prologue

Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an acre of barren ground, long heath, brown furze, anything. The wills above be done! but I would fain die a dry death.

—The Tempest, William Shakespeare

***

Amsterdam, January 1632

The traveller brought a gust of winter in through the door with him, a howl of wind, a swirl of snow. He shrugged his shoulders and stamped his feet on the stone floor, grateful to be inside. The room was busy, thick with smoke and heavy with the scent of tobacco and beer. A fire crackled in the hearth beyond the crowded bench tables where voices buzzed in conversation. In a corner a whore flashed her wares to a couple of drunken sailors. A barmaid carrying a tray of foaming jars pushed between the drinkers.

“Welcome, sir. A room? A woman? Or just schnapps and beer?”

“A room for the night, if you please,” the traveller said, pulling off thick leather gloves. “A bitter night it is. The canals are all frozen and the cobbles might as well be ice.”

“Winter in Amsterdam can be bitter indeed.” The landlord jerked his head at a hovering servant. “The maid will take you to your room upstairs. Then come down and share a beer, or eat a meal.”

His room arranged, mug of beer at his elbow, the traveller sat at the end of a bench and attacked a plate of steaming bean and onion soup. As his hunger abated, the formless noise of voices nearby coalesced into words.

“It must have been the Devil.” A thickset fellow with a luxuriant moustache nodded solemnly. “Hundreds foully murdered.”

“He didn’t do it by himself, though,” the man opposite him said. “He had plenty of helpers, I’ve heard. They say the captain himself would have stolen his own ship if it hadn’t been wrecked.”

“That’s just it, isn’t it? He must have enchanted them. Or maybe they disturbed some evil spirit, out there in those heathen seas.”

“I heard there was a beautiful woman on the ship.” The speaker wiped beer froth from his lips. “Mayhap she was a sorceress. Like Circe.”

An older man down the end took his pipe out of his mouth and blew a plume of smoke through pursed lips. “Shouldn’t have women on a ship. That’ll be it, mark my words. Bad luck, that is. Well known fact.”

The thickset man drained his mug and rose to his feet. “Speaking of women, I’d best be off. She’ll be waiting and you know how that is.”

The traveller pushed his empty plate aside and grasped the man’s arm as he made to step past. “Excuse me, sir. This thing you’re talking about. What is it?”

“You’ve not heard? The doings with the Batavia? A bad business.” He shook his head. “A terrible business. I’d stay and tell you, but I dare not. I’m sure someone else will.”

But already the others were scraping back chairs, finding cloaks, slipping on gloves. One by one they ventured into the darkness, leaving an eddy of wind in the heavy air in the tavern. Only one man remained. He’d said nothing as the others talked, but the traveller had noticed the gleam in his eye as he sucked on his long pipe. Now, he sat staring at his mug.

“Do you know of this thing they were talking about? Batavia?” asked the traveller, slipping into the seat opposite him.

The man looked up. Flickering candlelight cast shifting shadows on a face past first youth, still handsome but weather-beaten. “And you do not? You’re the only man in Amsterdam who doesn’t.” His voice held a hint of amusement, or perhaps condescension. And something else. Sadness?

“I’m from Enschede,” the traveller said.

“Ah.” The man smiled. “A country lad. Well then, buy me a Genever to go with my beer, and I’ll tell you the story.”

The traveller waved a hand to summon the maid.

For a moment the man stared into the fire, dying down a little now, but deep red at its heart. “You’ve heard of Batavia? The city?” he asked at length.

“Yes. In the Indies, isn’t it? Is that where a ship was wrecked?”

The man grinned, the merest curve of his lips. “The ship was named after the city. The ship Batavia was wrecked.”

“Oh.” The traveller sipped at his mug, feeling foolish. In the corner the whore helped her customer to unsteady feet and led him to the stairs. Their footsteps clattered on the wooden treads and a door closed. A log slipped in the fire, producing an ephemeral display of bright sparks.

“Have you ever sailed? Ever been on the high seas?”

“No. We keep cows.”

The man swallowed a long draught of beer. “Well, then,” he said as he put the tankard down, “let me explain a few things first.” He wetted his finger in the beer and drew an elongated triangle on the bench top. “This is Africa. And up here…” he drew a couple of sausage shapes just above and to the right of the top of the triangle, “is the Indies. From Table Bay, that’s here, the ships sail south and use the west winds and the currents to sail east until they’ve gone far enough to head north, up along the coast of the unknown South Land, here, to the Indies.”

He paused for another gulp of beer.

“It’s fast. Much faster than the old route up past Madagascar. Better for the ships, for the crews, for the Company. The Dutch East India Company, the VOC, that is. But the waters in the south are uncharted and dangerous. There were a few close encounters with the South Land but all the ships reached harbour safely. Then in June, 1629…”

1

Adriaen Jacobsz rubbed a hand over his face. This was the worst part of being a captain, standing the midnight watch, when senses were dull and attention wavered. One more hour and he could get back to his bed. A brisk breeze filled the Batavia’s sails, pushing her northward. The deck swayed beneath his feet, matching the rhythm of waves that surged beneath the hull. Timbers creaked an accompaniment and the occasional murmurs of sailors at their stations added a soft harmony. Wan lines of light glimmered on the decking and Jacobsz looked up. In the night sky a gibbous moon floated clear of the clouds. Her appearance would be brief. Already, wispy outriders drifted towards her face.

His fingers tapping idly on the stern rail, he allowed his gaze to stray into the darkness to starboard. Out there, six hundred miles away lay Eendracht’s Land, Terra Australis Incognita, the South Land. Was the place really as bad as they said? No matter. The further over the horizon, the better. His job was to get his ship to the Indies unscathed. Not long now. Ten, fifteen days. They’d turned the corner, running broad-reached before the sou’westers out of the stormy gales in the deep southern latitudes, up into warmer climes. Not that the air was warm here. The pre-dawn wind blew chill against his neck, carrying with it that scent of rain, a sure sign of bad weather coming.

The moon appeared again, casting dim shadows of sails and rigging. Jacobsz peered along the crowded decks, past the three masts and beyond the leaping red lion on the ship’s bowsprit. He frowned. What was that? A line of sparkle? White water? Here in mid-ocean?

“Bosschieter,” he called to the look-out. “Is that white water, dead ahead?”

“Just moonlight on the white-caps.”

Jacobsz grunted. The moon was hidden again, like a woman drawing a veil across her face. By his calculations, they should be well out to sea, far from any shore.

A sudden force flung him to his knees, palms on the rough wood of the deck, ears filled with rasping, grinding horror. Timbers groaned, over-stretched rigging shrieked and twanged. Bollards rattled. Barrels, ropes, boxes bounced and clattered and banged along the deck. Shouts of alarm, screams of pain, a howl in the darkness as a man fell from the ratlines into the sea. Batavia fought and twisted against the grip on her keel. Jacobsz struggled to his feet on the deck. God verdomme. God vergloeiende, God verdomme. They’d hit something. A reef. It had to be a reef. Not a gentle sandbar, this.

The sails creaked and strained, eager to push the ship further north. Further onto the rocks. The timbers ground in protest.

“Get those sails furled,” Jacobsz shouted.

He’d hardly needed the order; men scrambled up the ratlines, tugged at the ropes.

The boatswain appeared through the companionway from the quarterdeck, still pulling on his coat. “Take charge for’ard,” Jacobsz said to him. “Stop them from panicking and get those mains down.”

The man hurried away, the shrill of his whistle cutting through the clamour. Somebody started to ring the alarm on the for’ard bells. Clang, clang, clang. Jacobsz swallowed his own fear. Stay calm, think it through. He’d run aground before, often enough. And usually, a ship could be recovered. He stifled the groan as the one man he could not ignore pushed towards him, staggering on the heaving deck. Pelsaert, pale and even more ill-looking than usual in his nightshirt.

“What has happened? What have we struck?”

Jacobsz scowled down at the man. “A bar in deep ocean. We’ve run aground.”

Pelsaert sucked in a breath. “Aground? You’ve brought us undone? Drunk at your station, I suppose—”

“This is not the time, Commandeur. I have a ship to save.” He gestured at dazed passengers emerging on the upper deck, mere shadows in the yellow glow of the stern light. “If you want something to do… sir… keep these people away so my men can work.” Jacobsz turned away.

“You will hear more of this,” Pelsaert hissed.

You will hear more of this. Jacobsz snarled the words in his head as his fingers automatically balled into fists. Did the pompous clown imagine he’d deliberately steered his ship onto a reef? Just as well the Dutch East India Company paid good money. He needed some compensation for having a blasted merchant who knew nothing about ships and sailing in nominal charge. He pushed down his rage. No time for that now.

“Steersman, fetch the lead. What depth bow and stern? Hurry now. And get the longboat launched.”

He’d have to lighten her, maybe float her off. Pray God the weather stayed calm. Shadowy shapes boiled out of the forward hatches, voices raised in alarm. Sailors he could use but the soldiers would just get in the way. Worse than the rats. He’d have to get somebody down there to sort them out. He yelled, raising his voice above the cacophony.

“Corporal, do something with the soldiers.”

*

Pelsaert shivered and huddled further into his coat as he pushed his way back to the quarter deck. The fever was unrelenting, even after weeks abed. And now this. His heart beat a strident tattoo in his chest, matching the clamour of the bell. A wave thudded against the side of the ship, sending salt-laced spray cascading over the deck. His foot-steps jolted as a tremor shuddered through the timbers. Panic roared up from his stomach towards his brain. To drown in this awful southern sea, far from home. Sharks, sea monsters. He’d heard about those. Images flicked through his mind, great beasts with foot-long fangs in gaping jaws. He grabbed at a rail and forced himself to breathe. No monstrous head churned the waters. At least, thank God in Heaven, they didn’t face a storm. The surf on the reef was bad enough.

He peered at figures clustered together on the quarterdeck, shadows in the dimness, their night clothes billowing in the breeze. The predikant, Gijsbert Bastiaensz, stood with his arm around his wife. He couldn’t see Lucretia van der Mijlen, although Zwaantie, her maid, was there with the butler, the steward and a few of the cadets. They pressed towards him, demanding answers he couldn’t give.

“We’ve run aground,” Pelsaert said, pretending confidence. “But remember, it happened before, not long out of Texel, and the ship was refloated. Keep calm.”

“God in Heaven, save us.” The predikant closed his eyes, his lips moving in silent prayer.

His wife, stolid and plain, gripped his hand, leaning into him for support. Her long hair cascaded down from her cap and around her face. “Should we bring the children out?”

“Have faith. The skipper is a well-experienced seaman.” True enough. And a drunkard and a lecher. Pelsaert wished again he’d had some other captain. No use to worry about that now. Splashes echoed above the thump of the surf. Dim figures stood against the rails. They were probably trying to lighten the ship, throwing over things not needed. He hoped it wasn’t cargo. But no. Surely not even Jacobsz would be so reckless.

Pelsaert shivered again. If they couldn’t refloat the ship… The option didn’t bear thinking about. He should do something, go and collect some of the more valuable items. Yes. Place them in a barrel, ready. Just in case. Jacobsz wasn’t a man to be trusted. He started towards the companionway to the living quarters in the stern. A figure stood there, hand on the lintel, swaying with the ship.

“My lady. Are you all right?”

Pelsaert stepped towards Lucretia, steadying himself against the roll of the vessel. She had dressed but her blonde hair was uncovered, blowing in the breeze.

“Yes. What’s happening?” Her breathing was rapid, through parted lips.

“There is no need to panic.” If he said it often enough he might believe his own words. “The ship has run aground. Captain Jacobsz is dealing with it. See?” One hand clutching the rail he pointed to the east where the darkness seemed a little lighter. “Dawn can’t be far off. Then we’ll see where we are.” He hesitated and cleared his throat. “Forgive my appearance, madam.” He gestured at the nightshirt over his breeches, “I felt it my duty as commandeur to investigate the situation as soon as I could.”

“Of course.”

“Best if you join the predikant. If you’ll excuse me…” Pelsaert bowed and hurried off, back below decks.

*

“Three fathoms astern, Cap’n. She’s stuck fast for’ard.”

Three fathoms. Barely enough for her to float. Let this be low tide. Please, Lord. Perhaps he should have attended church more diligently. The Constable hovered. “Cut loose the guns and throw them over the side, quick as you can.” As the man nodded and hurried off to the gundeck, Jacobsz bellowed over the cacophony. “Get everything off. Anchors, cannon balls, ropes, everything. And set the small anchor aft.”

A squall hammered the ship. Water trickling down into his shirt, Jacobsz sheltered from the sudden onslaught as the deck lurched again. The sea was rising, too. A huge wave struck, scooped up the yawl from its place on the deck and flung it into the sea. He peered through the driving rain to see the longboat set out in pursuit of the smaller boat. Just as well Gerritsz was out there. Small as it was, they’d need the yawl.

In the east the sky brightened. Fingers of red flitted over the wave tops and painted the gathering clouds in the west. Soon the sun would disappear behind the galloping cloud band. Jacobsz gazed along a line of white water that defined the reef, as one by one the cannons and their carriages were pushed out of the gun bays. Twenty-four pieces, enough to defend the ship against any pirate. Cannon balls followed, crates, ropes.

“Well, captain?” Pelsaert, properly dressed in breeches and jacket with a white lace collar, appeared in front of him, lips pursed, eyes bright with anger. And maybe a hint of fear? Jacobsz hoped so, but the merchant’s tone was clipped and precise again, the Antwerp burr hardly noticeable.

“We’re lightening the ship. Maybe she’ll float free.” Snivelling bureaucrat. What would he know?

“Not the cargo?”

“The cargo if we must.” Jacobsz stared him out until Pelsaert’s eyes flickered.

“I am responsible for the cargo, for the Company’s goods.”

The Company’s goods. Did he really think that mattered now? This merchant with his upper-crust accent? “What’re you going to do with the ship? She’s Company goods, too.”

Pelsaert lifted his chin. “The ship is your responsibility, captain. I won’t forget that.”

Jacobsz’s lip curled in a sneer. No, the commandeur wouldn’t forget that. A pity the man recovered from his illness. If he’d died…

“What if the ship does not float free?” Pelsaert asked.

“I’ve had an anchor set aft. We’ll winch her free.” The ship lurched sideways as another wave struck. Jacobsz rode the movement but the smaller man staggered.

“If that doesn’t work, I’ll go and look for land.” Jacobsz nodded forward, across the pink-flecked water. “There seem to be some islets up there.”

“See to it.”

Jacobsz snorted at the man’s retreating back. He’d already given the order. The longboat stood alongside, waiting for him. He turned back to the rail and watched another cannon topple ponderously from its port into the sea below. Droplets from the mighty splash hit his face. He prayed again that he could lighten the ship enough. Because he very much suspected that the tide was on the ebb, not rising. The wind blew chill, whipping his hair around his face.

Sailors held the longboat against the side on lines. Jacobsz scrambled on board and they pushed off into the dawn light to find a place of refuge.