Sandokan: The Tigers of Mompracem (The Sandokan Series Book 1) Read online

  All this trembling before a woman was so unworthy of the Tiger of Malaysia! It was time to extinguish the burning in his heart and build an abyss between himself and that enchantress! Away with the visions that had plagued him for so many nights. True, these people had taken care of him, but he would bury his gratitude and go, flee from this welcoming home, return to the sea that had unknowingly pushed him ashore, and become once again the feared pirate of formidable Mompracem!

  With those thoughts swirling through his head, Sandokan had walked to the window, barely containing his rage. He thought he could hear the cries of his Tigers and the roar of artillery somewhere off in the distance, summoning him to battle. Nevertheless, he remained at the window, held by a force far greater than his fury, his eyes fixed upon the young lady.

  “Marianna!” he exclaimed at one point, “Marianna!”

  At the sound of the name he adored, that explosion of anger and hatred disappeared like mist in the sun. The Tiger was indeed falling in love. Unintentionally, his hands reached for the windows and opened them. A gust of warm air, sweet with the scent of a thousand flowers, swept into the room.

  Breathing in those fragrant balms, the passion he had tried to suppress just a moment ago began to resurface, this time stronger than ever.

  Hands trembling, on the verge of delirium, he leaned on the windowsill and admired the graceful lady in silence. Fire coursed through his veins and red clouds darkened his vision, but he continued to gaze on the one who had so enchanted him.

  How long did he remain that way? Undoubtedly, a good amount of time, for when his trance broke, the young woman was no longer in the garden. The sun had set, night had fallen and an infinite number of stars sparkled in the sky. He began to pace about the room, arms crossed and head lowered, absorbed in his thoughts.

  Minutes later, he returned to the window and breathed in the cool night air. The choices were clear. On one hand, a new life filled with love, peace, and happiness; on the other, Mompracem, his Tigers, his good friend Yanez, his prahus, the thunder of artillery, and the thrill of battle! Which to choose?

  If he chose Marianna, they would say he had put her before his Tigers and his vendettas! Should he not be ashamed to have feelings for the daughter of an enemy? What if he tried to forget her? But he knew his heart would not let him… He had not felt affection when he had been the terror of these waters, battles had been enough… but now…

  He listened to the rustling of the branches; blood coursing violently through his veins.

  What if he put the forest between himself and that divine woman, then the sea, and then a wall of hatred? Hatred! Could he hate her? He had to escape, he had to return to Mompracem and be with his men! If he stayed, the fever would consume him, his power would forever be extinguished, and he would no longer be the Tiger of Malaysia. He had to go!

  Looking down, he discovered he was only three metres above the ground. Silence reigned over the garden, now was his chance, not a soul was in sight. He leaped over the windowsill, landed softly among the flowers in the bed below, then walked toward the tree beneath which the Pearl of Labuan had sat a short time ago.

  “How beautiful you were just sitting here, Marianna,” he murmured sadly. “To think I’ll never see you again… never hear your voice again…”

  He leaned towards the tree and picked up a flower, a wild rose the young lady had left behind. He admired it at length, inhaled its heavenly fragrances several times and hid it in his breast pocket. Then without looking back, he began to run towards the wall that enclosed the garden.

  “Time to go, Sandokan; time to bring this to an end!” he murmured.

  He was nearing the wall and was about to jump it, when he slowed down and clutched his hair; a forbidding look spreading across his face.

  “No, no!” he sobbed desperately. “Whatever happens, I have to stay!”

  Afraid of the attraction of his life beyond the wall, he began to run towards the garden, and did not stop until he was beneath the window to his room. He hesitated one last time, then leaped to grab a tree branch and climbed up to the windowsill. When he found himself once again in that house he had so recently fled, a second sob resounded from the depths of his throat.

  “Ah!” he exclaimed. “The Tiger’s days are coming to an end!”

  Chapter 8

  The Tiger Hunt

  WHEN HIS LORDSHIP knocked on the door at dawn, Sandokan had not yet slept a wink. Quickly recalling the hunt, he jumped out of bed, slid his faithful kris between the folds of his clothes and opened the door.

  “Ready, Milord,” he said.

  “Excellent,” replied the Englishman. “I did not think I’d find you so well prepared, Highness. How are you feeling?”

  “Strong enough to fell an ox.”

  “Then we’ll set off immediately. My scouts have chased the tiger into a grove and there are five hunters waiting for us in the garden, anxious to begin.”

  “I’m ready; will Lady Marianna be joining us?”

  “Certainly, I believe she’s already waiting below.”

  Sandokan suppressed a cry of joy.

  “Let’s go, Milord,” he said. “I can barely contain my desire to set eyes on our prey.”

  They left the bedroom and passed into the drawing room. The walls were adorned with a large collection of weapons, but Sandokan’s eyes immediately turned to the centre of the room where the young lady stood, more beautiful than ever, resplendent in an outfit of blue. He halted abruptly, as if dazzled, but quickly recovered and walked to her side.

  “You’ll be joining us?” he asked, pressing her hand.

  “Yes, Highness; I’ve been told your countrymen are unmatched in such hunts and I wanted to see you in action.”

  “I’ll kill the tiger with my kris and present you with its pelt.”

  “No! No!” she exclaimed fearfully. “You could be injured once again.”

  “I’d let myself be torn to pieces for you, Milady, but never fear, the tigers of Labuan haven’t a chance against me.”

  His lordship drew up beside them and offered Sandokan a splendid carbine.

  “Take this, Highness,” he said. “A bullet is sometimes worth more than a kris. Let’s go, my friends must be growing impatient.”

  They walked down to the garden where five hunters awaited them. Four were colonists that lived nearby; the fifth was a handsome naval officer. Sandokan inexplicably felt an immediate dislike for him; however, he stifled the feeling and shook hands with everyone.

  During the introductions, the officer kept his eyes fixed on Sandokan, taking in every detail, then, while the others were busily making their final preparations, he went to talk to his lordship who was closely inspecting a harness.

  “Captain, I think I’ve seen that Malay prince somewhere before,” he said bluntly.

  “Where?” asked Lord James.

  “I’m not sure, but his face isn’t new to me. I’m certain of it.”

  “Bah! You must be mistaken, my friend.”

  “We’ll see, Milord.”

  “So be it. All is ready. Time to saddle up, my friends. Be careful. We’re dealing with a powerful beast.”

  “I’ll kill it with one shot and offer the pelt to Lady Marianna,” said the officer.

  “Not if I see it first, sir,” replied Sandokan.

  “Let the best hunter win,” said his lordship. “Saddle up!”

  The hunters mounted their steeds; Lady Marianna took her place upon a handsome colt with a snow-white mane. At a signal from his lordship they all set out from the garden, several scouts and two-dozen large dogs leading the way.

  Once outside the gates, the party split, each member choosing a section of the vast forest. Having mounted a high-spirited horse, Sandokan rode up a narrow path at full speed, wanting to be the first to flush out the beast.

  “Faster, faster!” howled the pirate, spurring his horse towards the sound of several barking dogs.

  That impertinent officer would not b
est him in the hunt, he would be the one to offer the tiger’s pelt to Marianna, no matter the cost, even if he were to lose an arm or be torn to pieces.

  A trumpet blare tore him from his thoughts.

  “The tiger’s been found,” Sandokan murmured.

  In a flash, he crossed a section of forest bristling with durians, palm trees, arecas and colossal camphor trees, and spotted a half dozen scouts racing towards him.

  “Why are you running?” he asked.

  “The tiger!” they exclaimed, fleeing past him.

  “Where?”

  “Near the pond!”

  The pirate dismounted, tethered his horse to a nearby tree, put his kris between his teeth, grabbed his carbine and slowly approached the pond. A strong scent of wild game filled the air; the tiger could be anywhere, ready to pounce upon him at any moment. He scanned the branches; once assured the path was clear, he cautiously advanced along the shore of the pond, noting the ripples across its surface.

  “It passed this way,” he murmured. “Clever of it to dart through the pond to throw the dogs off its tracks.”

  He went back, mounted his horse and was about to set off, when he heard a gunshot thunder from nearby, followed by an exclamation that made him start. Spurring his horse, he raced toward the source of the blast. Minutes later, Sandokan spied the young lady in the middle of a small clearing, sitting upon her white pony, a smoking carbine clutched in her hands. He let out a cry of joy and quickly drew up beside her.

  “You… here… alone!” he exclaimed.

  “And you, Highness, what brings you here?” she asked, blushing.

  “I was following the tiger’s tracks.”

  “Me too.”

  “Why did you fire?”

  “I spotted it, but I missed and it fled.”

  “Good Lord! Why risk your life against such a beast?”

  “To keep you from harm; you vowed to attack it with nothing but your kris.”

  “You should not have put yourself in jeopardy, Milady. Though I appreciate the gesture, it will not stop me from slaying the beast.”

  “Oh no you won’t! You’re bold, I can read it in your eyes, and you’re strong, but a struggle with that tiger would be fatal.”

  “What does it matter?! Grave wounds would be welcome…”

  “Why?” asked the young woman, caught by surprise.

  “Milady,” said the pirate, drawing nearer, “my heart breaks whenever I think of the day I’ll have to leave this place and perhaps never see you again. If the tiger were to tear me to pieces, I’d be able to stay under your roof, enjoying those tender emotions I experienced, when beaten and wounded I lay on my bed of pain. I’d be happy, very happy, if other cruel wounds forced me to remain near you, to breathe the same air as you, to listen to your lovely voice, to gaze upon your face and your smiles!

  “Milady, you’ve bewitched me. Without you, I would not know how to live, I would not have peace, I would be miserable. What have you done to me? What have you done to my heart that once was impervious to all tenderness? The very sight of you makes my arms tremble; I can feel the blood burning in my veins.”

  Marianna, stunned by such an impassioned and unexpected confession, remained silent, but she did not withdraw her hands, which the pirate had taken and was now pressing enthusiastically.

  “Do not be frightened, Milady,” resumed the Tiger, with a voice that descended like sweet music into the young orphan’s heart. “Do not be angry if I confess my love to you, if I tell you I adore you. From the first moment I saw you, I lost all reason. You’re fixed in my thoughts, day and night.

  “So strong is the love that burns in my chest, that at your command I would battle against all men, against Fate, against God! If you desire, I’ll make you ruler of these oceans, the Queen of Malaysia! At a word from you, three hundred ferocious men, who fear neither lead nor steel, will rise up and wage war throughout Borneo to give you a throne. Whatever your dreams, I’ll make them come true. I have enough gold to buy ten cities. I have ships, soldiers, and cannons. I am powerful, far more powerful than you could possibly imagine.”

  “Good Lord, who are you?” asked Marianna, dazed by that flood of promises and spellbound by those eyes that burned so intensely.

  “Who am I!” exclaimed the pirate, his brow darkening. “I…”

  He drew closer to the young lady, looked at her fixedly, and then began to speak, his voice tinged with sadness.

  “There are some shadows over my past I best not reveal for the moment. I can only tell you I bare a name that strikes terror into all those living along these waters, a name that makes the Sultan of Varauni and even the British governor of this island tremble.”

  “And you love me… you who are so powerful,” murmured the young woman.

  “Immensely. I’d do anything for you: perform miracles, commit crimes. Put me to the test. Speak, and I’ll obey like a slave. Would you like me to give you a throne? I’ll do so. I love you madly, but if you wish me gone, say the word and I’ll return to that island from which I came, even if it meant martyring my heart forever. I’ll go, and if it’s not enough, if it’s my life you wish, at your command I’ll slay myself right here before you! Speak to me… I’ll go mad if you do not speak! Milady, I beg you, tell me what I must do!”

  “Well… love me then,” she murmured, overpowered by such affection.

  The pirate howled with joy as three rifle blasts suddenly reached their ears.

  “The tiger!” Marianna exclaimed.

  “It’s mine!” Sandokan shouted.

  He spurred his horse and took off like a shot, kris in hand, eyes shining bravely, followed by the young lady, ever more drawn to that man so foolishly gambling his very existence to keep a promise. The other hunters had gathered three hundred yards ahead of them. The naval officer had left the group, and was advancing on foot towards a clump of trees, his rifle pointed and ready.

  “The tiger is mine!” yelled Sandokan, jumping off his horse and racing after him, filling the air with a frightening roar.

  “Highness!” shouted Marianna, quickly dismounting.

  Not a word could bring Sandokan to a halt at that moment, determined as he was to capture his prey.

  The beast was standing at the base of a large tree, baring its powerful claws, ready to pounce. Hearing the prince advance, the officer quickly aimed his rifle and fired. The smoke had not yet cleared when, with one rapid movement, the tiger sprang into the air and knocked down the reckless young man.

  The beast was about to attack the other hunters, but Sandokan, his kris tightly clutched in his right hand, lunged towards it. Surprised by such daring the tiger was knocked to the ground before it could think to move. Sandokan grabbed it by the throat and stifled its angry roars then with one rapid motion, plunged his kris into the beast’s heart, burying its serpentine blade. The tiger fell still, slain by that deadly blow.

  A deafening cheer greeted that act of bravery. The pirate, who had escaped from that struggle unscathed, threw a contemptuous look upon the officer then turned to face the young lady, who had been looking on in silent terror. With a gesture that would have honoured a king he said, “Milady, the pelt is yours.”

  Chapter 9

  Betrayal

  THE LUNCH LORD James offered his guests was one of the most magnificent the villa had ever hosted. British cuisine was honoured with enormous steaks and colossal puddings, while Malay cuisine was represented by roasted toucans, tender bamboo, giant oysters from Singapore, and a mountain of exquisite fruit. Bottles of wine, gin, brandy and whiskey accompanied every course and glasses were raised repeatedly in honour of Sandokan and the intrepid Pearl of Labuan.

  By teatime, conversation had turned lively. Talk of tigers, hunts, pirates, ships, England and Malaysia filled the air. Only the naval officer remained silent, his eyes fixed on Sandokan, taking in the prince’s every word, studying his every gesture. When the conversation turned to piracy, he quickly interrupted.

 
“Excuse me, Highness, have you been in Labuan for a while?” he asked.

  “I’ve been here for twenty days, sir,” replied the Tiger.

  “Why haven’t I seen your ship in Victoria?”

  “She was captured by pirates as I was sailing for Varauni.”

  “Pirates! You were attacked by pirates? Where?”

  “Near the Romades.”

  “When?”

  “A few hours before I arrived on these shores.”

  “You must be mistaken, Highness, we have a cruiser patrolling those waters; there haven’t been any reports of cannon fire.”

  “Perhaps the wind was blowing from the east,” replied Sandokan, raising his guard, not knowing what the officer was leading to.

  “How did you get here?”

  “I swam.”

  “And you didn’t witness a battle between a cruiser and two pirate ships?”

  “No.”

  “Strange.”

  “Sir, are you questioning me? Do you doubt my word?” asked Sandokan, rising to his feet.

  “Heaven forbid, my dear Highness,” replied the officer, smiling sardonically.

  “Now, now!” exclaimed Lord James, intervening. “Baron William, I beg you not to start arguments in my home.”

  “Excuse me, Milord, I had not intended to,” the officer replied.

  “Let’s not discuss it any further then. Have another glass of this fine whiskey then off with you. Night has fallen and the jungle isn’t safe after dark.”

  The guests did the final honours to the generous lord’s bottles then went into the garden, accompanied by Sandokan and Marianna.

  “Gentlemen,” said Lord James, “I hope you’ll all visit us again soon.”

  “Certainly,” the hunters replied in chorus.

  “And I hope good fortune smiles upon you next time, Baron William,” added his lordship, addressing the officer.

  “Next time, I’ll make sure the beast is in my sights,” he replied, giving Sandokan a scowl. “A word, Milord.”

  “Certainly, my friend.”