Sandokan: The Tigers of Mompracem (The Sandokan Series Book 1) Page 20

  “Are you not a gentleman? Besides, it may not be long before we’re family.”

  “Thank you, Milord,” replied Yanez.

  He drew his sword, saluted, sheathed it, then calmly left the room and descended the steps into the garden.

  “Now to find Sandokan,” he murmured, when he was a good distance from the villa. “We have to make his lordship happy.”

  He would scout the jungle and the path and Lord James would be delighted to learn he had not spied a single pirate. By Jupiter, what a magnificent deception! Who could have predicted it would have worked so superbly? It may not have gone quite as smoothly as Yanez would have liked, but that scoundrel of a brother of his would marry that golden-haired young woman. By heavens, he certainly couldn’t fault Sandokan’s taste. He had never met anyone so beautiful and charming. But then? He feared for the future of his beloved Mompracem, but there was no use worrying about it now. If Fate no longer wanted them to scour the seas, they would go and live out the remainder of their years in some city in the Orient: Canton or Macao perhaps. When the time came, they would bid goodbye to these lands forever.

  While pondering the future, the good Portuguese had crossed the garden and now stopped before one of the gates. A soldier was standing guard in front of it.

  “Open, my friend,” said Yanez.

  “Are you leaving us, Sergeant?”

  “No, just off to scout the area.”

  “Looking for pirates?”

  “One last look to put his lordship’s mind at ease.”

  “Would you like me to accompany you, Sergeant?”

  “That won’t be necessary. I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”

  He passed through the gate and headed up the path to Victoria. As long as he remained within the guard’s sight he advanced slowly, but once the vegetation concealed his movements, he quickened his pace, and barrelled through the forest. He had gone a few hundred metres when a man leaped out of a bush and blocked his path. A rifle was immediately trained at his chest and a menacing voice thundered, “Surrender or die!”

  “Don’t you recognize me?” asked Yanez, taking off his hat. “Your vision must be beginning to falter, my dear Paranoa.”

  “Señor Yanez, sir!” exclaimed the Malay.

  “In the flesh, my friend. What are you doing here so close to his lordship’s villa?”

  “Keeping an eye on the wall.”

  “Where’s Sandokan?”

  “A mile from here. Do you have good news, sir?”

  “It couldn’t be any better.”

  “What are your orders?”

  “Run and tell Sandokan that I’m waiting for him here. Have him order Ikaut to prepare the prahu.”

  “Are we leaving?”

  “Perhaps as soon as tonight.”

  “I’ll go immediately.”

  “Wait, have the other prahus arrived?”

  “No, sir. The men are starting to fear they’ve sunk.”

  “Great God in heaven! We have such bad luck with our expeditions! Fortunately we have enough men to defeat his lordship’s guard. Go, Paranoa, and be quick.”

  “I’ll be back in a flash!”

  The pirate ran off with the speed of an arrow. Yanez calmly lit a cigarette and sat down at the base of a superb areca tree. Less than twenty minutes later he spotted Sandokan racing up the path at full speed. He was accompanied by Paranoa and four pirates armed to the teeth.

  “Yanez, my friend!” exclaimed Sandokan, running toward him. “How I feared for you! What happened? Did you see her? Tell me about her, brother! Tell me! I’m burning with curiosity.”

  “You run like the wind,” said the Portuguese, laughing. “I’m happy to report all went well. I played my part beautifully. They think I’m an Englishman; I introduced myself as one of the baron’s relatives. What a reception, my friend! No one doubted me for a moment.”

  “Not even his lordship?”

  “Oh! Him least of all! He’s waiting to have dinner with me.”

  “And Marianna?”

  “I talked to her and found her charming and beautiful. Then, when she began to cry—”

  “She began to cry!” howled Sandokan, stunned. “Who filled those beautiful eyes with tears? Tell me! I’ll rip out the scoundrel’s heart!”

  “You’ve gone mad, haven’t you? Her tears were for you.”

  “Ah, my beloved!” exclaimed the pirate. “Tell me everything, Yanez, I beg you!”

  The Portuguese did not wait to be asked a second time and quickly relayed his conversations with his lordship and the young woman.

  “The old man seems determined to leave now,” he continued, “so you can be certain you won’t be returning to Mompracem alone. We still need to be cautious though, little brother! He has fewer soldiers now, but there’s still a good number of them; it won’t be easy to defeat his escort. Having talked to him, I can see you were right, he’d slay Marianna before he’d allow you to kidnap her.”

  “Will you see her tonight?”

  “Of course.”

  “Ah! If only I could enter the villa as well!”

  “You’ll see her soon enough.”

  “When will his lordship start his journey!?”

  “I don’t know yet, but I think he’ll probably decide this evening.”

  “Do you think there’s a chance they’ll leave tonight?”

  “It’s possible.”

  “How could I know for certain?”

  “Send one of our men to the Chinese gazebo or to the hothouse to await my orders.”

  “Aren’t there guards stationed about the park?”

  “No, only at the gates,” replied Yanez.

  “What if I were to hide in the hothouse?”

  “No, Sandokan. You’ve got to keep watch over the path. His lordship could hasten his departure, and you’ll be needed here to lead the attack. You know you’re worth ten men.”

  “I’ll send Paranoa. He’s capable, cautious and he’ll get into the hothouse without being spotted. As soon as the sun sets, he’ll hop over the wall and await your orders.”

  Yanez fell silent for a moment then said, “What if his lordship changes his mind and remains in the villa?”

  “Hell! That could complicate things… What if, once it’s dark you open the gate and sneak us into the villa? It seems like a viable alternative to me.”

  “An unrealistic one, Sandokan. There are too many guards; if they spy us on the grounds they could barricade themselves inside the villa and put up a long resistance. Even if we did make it inside, if his lordship thought he was trapped, he could very well empty his two pistols into the young woman. We must be cautious, Sandokan.”

  “You’re right,” sighed the Tiger. “Lord James could kill her.”

  “You’ll wait on the path then?”

  “Yes, Yanez. If, however, he continues to put off his departure, we’ll have to act. We must free Marianna before the authorities in Victoria learn we’ve landed on Labuan and left Mompracem almost defenceless. I fear for my island. If we lose our home, what will become of us?”

  “I’ll try to persuade his lordship to hasten his departure. In the meantime, ready the prahu and assemble the entire crew. We’ll have to strike quickly if we’re to succeed.”

  “How many soldiers are there at the villa?”

  “About ten or so and as many Dyaks.”

  “Victory is assured then.”

  Yanez stood up.

  “Are you going back now?” asked Sandokan.

  “You shouldn’t keep a man waiting for dinner, especially when he’s a captain and I’m only a sergeant,” smiled the Portuguese.

  “How I envy you, Yanez.”

  “Rest assured, little brother, you’ll see her tomorrow.”

  “I hope so,” sighed the Tiger. “Goodbye, my friend. Go and convince him.”

  They shook hands and parted, then as Sandokan and his men set off to ready their trap, Yanez lit a cigarette and headed back towards the vill
a, walking calmly, as if he were returning from a pleasant walk in the country. He walked past the sentry and began to stroll around the garden; it was still too early to meet with his lordship. At the end of the pathway he encountered Lady Marianna, who appeared to be looking for him.

  “Ah, Milady! What luck!” exclaimed the Portuguese.

  “I was looking for you,” replied the young woman, offering him her hand.

  “Oh?”

  “We’re leaving for Victoria tonight.”

  “Did his lordship tell you that?”

  “One of his servants.”

  “Sandokan is ready, Milady. The pirates have been notified of our plans and have prepared an ambush.”

  “Good Lord!” she murmured, “I can’t believe it’s going to happen.”

  “Milady, we have to be tough and determined.”

  “My uncle… He’ll curse me, he’ll hate me.”

  “But Sandokan will make you happy, the happiest of all women.”

  Two tears slowly ran down the young woman’s cheeks.

  “Tears?” said Yanez. “Don’t cry, Lady Marianna!”

  “I’m frightened, Yanez.”

  “Of Sandokan?”

  “Of the future.”

  “It will be bright. Sandokan will grant your every wish. If need be, he’ll set fire to his prahus, disband his men, renounce his vengeance, bid goodbye to his island and relinquish his power forever. Whatever you desire, Milady.”

  “He loves me that much?”

  “Madly, Milady.”

  “He told me he was avenging his family, but the tales I’d always heard—”

  “Don’t put too much faith in them, Milady,” said Yanez, offering her his arm as he led her into the shade. “Most people think Sandokan is no more than a vulgar pirate, born somewhere in the jungles of Borneo, a man thirsty for blood and riches, but they couldn’t be more wrong. He’s of royal lineage; he’s not a pirate but an avenger. He was twenty years old when he ascended the throne of Marudu, a kingdom near the northern coasts of Borneo. As strong as a lion, as cunning as a tiger, as fearless and valiant as a hero of old, in a but a few months he conquered his neighbouring lands and extended his frontiers to the Mahakam River and the borders of Varauni.

  “Those victories would be his demise. The Dutch and British, jealous of the brave warrior who appeared on the verge of taking the entire island, allied themselves with the Sultan of Varauni to destroy him.

  Bribes of gold and arms would eventually bring down that new empire. Traitors stirred up the various tribes of Dyaks within his lands; bands of soldiers stealthily invaded his kingdom, corrupting his captains and their troops, killing, pillaging, committing unspeakable atrocities against anyone that opposed them.

  Sandokan held his ground, fending off his enemies with the fury of desperation, but despite his efforts that valiant struggle would soon come to an end. The betrayals reached to his very palace. His mother, brothers, and sisters were murdered by hired assassins and he, on that night of carnage and slaughter, barely managed to escape with a small band of loyal men.

  “For years he hid throughout the southern coasts of Borneo, hunted like a wild beast, living in unspeakable misery, hoping to avenge his family’s murder and recapture his lost throne. Then, one night, giving up on everything and everyone, he boarded a prahu and declared war on the Sultan of Varauni and all members of the white race. Once established on Mompracem, he gathered some men and began to pirate the sea.

  “He was strong, brave, clever, and thirsted for revenge. He pillaged the Sultan’s court, attacked Dutch and British ships, he was relentless, merciless. He soon became the terror of the seas; the infamous Tiger of Malaysia. You know the rest.”

  “All that blood; all to avenge his family,” said Marianna, no longer weeping.

  “Yes, Milady, he’s an avenger who often mourns the loss of his mother, brothers and sisters, killed by assassins blades, a warrior who respected the weak, who never harmed women or children and who pillages his enemies not out of greed, but to one day raise an army and retake his lost kingdom.”

  “What a balm your words are, Yanez,” said the young woman.

  “You no longer fear the future?”

  “Yes, I’m his. I love him. Life would be impossible without him.”

  “Let’s go back to the villa, Milady. All will go as planned, you’ll see.”

  The two returned to the villa and walked up to the dining room. His lordship was already there, sullenly pacing back and forth, his eyes fixed on the floor.

  “Ah, you’re back? I was beginning to fear something bad had happened to you.”

  “I wanted to be thorough, Milord,” replied Yanez.

  “Did you spy any of those dogs from Mompracem?”

  “No, Milord. The way is clear. We may set off whenever you desire.”

  His lordship fell silent for a moment then turned towards Marianna, who was standing near a window.

  “We’ll leave in five hours, understood?”

  “I’ll be ready,” she replied dryly.

  “I thought I’d have to drag you there in chains.”

  “Sir!”

  The Portuguese noticed the young woman’s eyes flash menacingly, but remained silent, despite a strong urge to run the old man through.

  “Well!” his lordship exclaimed sarcastically, “I never thought you’d give in so easily. By any chance, have you stopped loving that knife wielding ‘hero’ of yours? My congratulations, young lady.”

  “Enough!” exclaimed the young woman, in a tone that made his lordship start.

  They remained silent for a moment, eyeing one another like beasts before a fight.

  “You’ll yield. You’ll yield or I’ll break you!” snapped his lordship, furiously. “I’d kill you before I’d let you marry that dog, Sandokan.”

  “Do it,” she said menacingly, stepping towards him. “Kill me now.”

  “You wish to make a scene? A waste of time, my dear. You have five hours to prepare. Go.”

  The young lady stopped. She exchanged a quick look with Yanez then left the room, violently slamming the door behind her.

  “You saw her,” said his lordship, turning towards Yanez. “She thinks she can defy me, but she’s wrong. By God! I’ll break her!”

  Instead of replying, Yanez wiped a couple of drops of cold sweat from his brow then crossed his arms so as not to surrender to the temptation of drawing his sword. He would have given anything to do away with that terrible old man, knowing he would not have hesitated to carry out his threat. His lordship paced for a few minutes more, then motioned for Yanez to sit.

  Dinner was eaten in silence. Lord James barely touched his plate. The Portuguese, however, did great justice to the large variety of food, eating as if it were his last meal. They had just finished when a corporal entered.

  “You summoned me, sir?” he asked.

  “Tell the soldiers to make ready to leave.”

  “What time, sir?”

  “Midnight. And have everyone load fresh bullets into their rifles.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Are we all leaving, Milord?” asked Yanez.

  “I’ll leave four men behind.”

  “Do you think our escort is large enough?”

  “We’ll take twelve soldiers and ten Dyaks.”

  “With such strength, we’ll have nothing to fear.”

  “You don’t know the pirates of Mompracem, young man. If we meet them, they’ll give us quite a fight.”

  “Do you mind if I go to the garden, Milord?”

  “What for?”

  “To supervise the preparations.”

  “By all means, young man.”

  The Portuguese left the room and rapidly descended the stairs murmuring, “I hope Paranoa is there by now. Sandokan will prepare a nice ambush for them.”

  He walked past the soldiers without stopping, and getting his bearings as best he could, headed down the path to the hothouse. Five minutes later, he f
ound himself in the middle of the grove of banana trees where he had captured the British soldier the previous night. He looked about to ensure he had not been followed, then approached the hothouse and silently pushed open the door. A dark shadow immediately trained a gun at his chest.

  “It’s me, Paranoa,” he said.

  “Ah, Señor Yanez.”

  “You must go immediately. Tell Sandokan we’re going to set off in at midnight.”

  “We’ll be ready. How large is the escort?”

  “About twenty men.”

  “I’ll go right away. Goodbye, Señor Yanez.”

  The Malay left the hothouse and headed down a path, keeping to the shadows while Yanez returned to the villa.

  Shortly before midnight his lordship came down the steps into the garden. He had strapped on his sword and slung a rifle over his shoulder. Twenty-two men, twelve British soldiers and ten Dyaks were standing at attention, each man armed to the teeth. A group of horses were pawing the ground, anxious to set off.

  “Where’s my niece?” asked the old man.

  “There she is,” replied the sergeant of the guard.

  Lady Marianna was just then walking down the stairs. She was dressed in her riding clothes, a jacket and long skirt of azure velvet and a feathered hat, tilted to one side. She could barely hide her nervousness and the Portuguese, who was watching her closely, spotted two tears forming on her lashes.

  She was no longer the energetic young woman of hours before, the rebel who had spoken with such fire and pride. The thought of being kidnapped, of forever leaving her uncle, her only relative, who did not love her, that was true, but who had been her guardian those many years; of forever leaving those familiar places for an unknown future in the arms of a man who bore the name ‘Tiger of Malaysia’ seemed to have finally overwhelmed her. When she mounted her horse, her last strength gave way and her tears began to fall abundantly.

  Yanez rode his horse towards her and said, “Be strong, Milady; the future will be bright for the Pearl of Labuan.”

  At his lordship’s command, the escort set out from the garden and headed down the path, where unknown to them, the Tigers were lying in wait. Six soldiers led the way, rifles levelled, eyes trained on the trees and bushes, ready to fire at the first sign of an ambush. His lordship rode behind them followed by Yanez, the young woman, and another four soldiers. The rest of the escort brought up the rear, weapons slung across their saddles.