Birds of Prey

His legs gave way under him and he sat down heavily on the deck of the dhow, bowed forward over the sword in his lap.

He felt but did not see the frigate bump against the dhow as Ned Tyler brought her alongside, and then Aboli's hands were on his shoulders and his voice was deep and close as he lifted Hal in his arms.

"It is over now, Gundwane. All of it is done."

Ned Tyler took the ship deeper into the bay and anchored her in the calm waters off the port of Zulla where now the white cross of Ethiopia flew above the shot-battered walls.

Hal lay for fourteen days on the bunk in the stern cabin, attended only by Aboli. On the fifteenth day Aboli and Big Daniel lifted him into one of the oak chairs and carried him up onto the deck. The men came to him one at a time with a touch of the forehead and a self-consciously muttered greeting.

Under his eye they made the ship ready for sea. The carpenters replaced the timbers that had been shot away, and the sail makers re sewed the torn sails. Big Daniel plunged over side and swam under the hull to check for damage beneath the waterline. "She's tight and sweet as a virgin's slit," he shouted up to the deck as he surfaced on the other side.

There were many visitors from the shore. Governors and nobles and soldiers coming with gifts to thank Hal, and to stare at him in awe. As he grew stronger, Hal was able to greet them standing on his quarterdeck. They brought news as well as gifts.

"General Nazet has borne the Emperor back to Aksum in triumph," they told him.

Then, many days later, they said, "Praise God, the Emperor has been crowned in Aksum. Forty thousand people came to his coronation." Hal stared longingly at the far blue mountains, and that night slept little.

Then in the morning Ned Tyler came to him. "The ship is ready for sea, Captain."

"Thank you, Mister Tyler." Hal turned from him and left him standing without orders.

Before he reached the companionway to the stern cabin, there came a hail from the masthead. "There is a boat putting out from the pard." Eagerly Hal strode back to the rail. He sca

Fasilides came in through the entry port and made the sign of the Cross. "Bless this fine ship, and all the brave men who sail in her." The rough seamen bared their heads and went down on their knees. When he had blessed each, Fasilides came to Hal. "I come as a messenger from the Emperor."

"God bless him!" Hal answered.

"I bring his greetings and his thanks to you and your men."

He turned to one of the priests who followed him and took from him the heavy gold chain he carried. "On the Emperor's behalf I bestow upon you the order of the Golden Lion of Ethiopia." He placed the chain with its jeivelled medallion around Hal's neck. "I bring with me the prize monies that you have earned from your gallant war upon the pagan, together with the reward that the Emperor personally sends you."

From the dhow they brought up a single small wooden chest. It was too heavy to be carried up the side, and it took four strong seamen on the block and tackle to lift it to the Golden Bough's deck.

Fasilides lifted the lid of the chest and the sparkle of gold within was dazzling in the sunlight.

"Well, my lads!" Hal called to his men. "You will have the price of a flagon of beer in your purse when next we dock in Plymouth harbour."

"When will you sail?" Fasilides wanted to know.

"All is in readiness," Hal replied. "But tell me, what news of General Nazet?"

Fasilides looked at him shrewdly. "No news. After the coronation she disappeared, and the Tabernacle of Mary with her. Some say she has gone back into the mountains, whence she came."

Hal's face darkened. "I will sail on tomorrow morning's tide, Father. And I thank you and the Emperor for your charity and your blessings."

The following morning Hal was on deck two hours before sunrise, and all the ship was awake. The excitement that always attonded departure gripped the Golden Bough. Only Hal was unaffected by it. The sense of loss and betrayal was heavy upon him. Though she had made no promise, he had hoped with all his heart that Judith Nazet might come. Now, as he made his final tour of inspection of the ship, he steadfastly refrained from looking back towards the shore.

Ned came to him. "The tide has turned, Captain! And the wind stands fair to weather Dahlak Island on a single tack."

Hal could delay no longer. "Up anchor, Mister Tyler. Set all plain sail. Take us south to Elephant Lagoon. We have some unfinished business thereabouts."

Ned Tyler and Big Daniel gri

The canvas billowed out from her yards and the Golden Bough shook herself and came awake. Her bows swung round and steadied as they pointed at the entrance to the open sea.

Hal stood, his hands clasped behind his back, and stared straight ahead. Aboli came to him then with a cloak over his arm, and when Hal turned to him he shook it out and lifted it high for his appraisal. "The croix pattge, the same as your father wore at the begi

"Where did you get that, Aboli?"

"I had it made for you in Zulla while you lay wounded. You have earned the right to wear it." He spread it over Hal's shoulders, and stood back to appraise him. "You look like your father did on the first day I saw him." Those words gave Hal such pleasure as to lighten his sombre mood.