Fair Wind to Java Page #4

Madness came first.

You're lower than I thought.

And you're more emotional.

You see, I've learned my lesson

with regard to force with women.

I've had success with Kim

by being gentle.

I don't want to hear!

I'm disappointed.

I thought you had more self-control.

Incidentally, Mr Wilson, Mr Blue

and Mr Flint are joining me.

They will sail the Gerrymander

under my flag. Snake!

Captain Badala. Everything ready?

Reasonably so.

We should sail before sundown.

How about the girl? She's depressed.

Perhaps seeing her mother

has upset her.

The Americans? They are on the prow.

Good.

Kung, guard the girl carefully. Stay

with her at all times. Yes, Tuan.

Stand by her door till we sail.

I don't know how

to fight like this.

Good. There'll

be more interest.

SHOUTS OF ENCOURAGEMEN Get up! Get up!

Here comes one of the guards.

Good boy! That's what I call boxing!

Come on, lads! Come on!

GUNFIRE:

Good work, lads!

Let's get to the ship!

I'll get the girl first.

Hey, Captain, look!

Have you got the telescope?

Captain, they've got the girl.

We'd better get back to the ship.

You two stay with me,

the rest of you get to the boats.

Sounds like trouble at the boats.

Get down there.

Man the boats, everybody!

Man the boats!

Come on.

Ho!

Head for the stern! We'll climb

the wreckage of the rigging.

Throw him overboard!

Ahab, search the ship.

See if any more are aboard.

Secure this mizzen rigging.

Mr O'Brien.

You're now my First Mate. Aye, sir.

Reader, take the forward watch

and set the headsail. Aye.

Captain, more of them coming!

Grab a rifle. We'll hold them off.

Chop that line and set the sail!

That did it. They're turning back.

Mr O'Brien, stand by to haul anchor.

Aye, sir.

Keep firing, in case

they change their minds.

Good work, lads.

How's your ammunition? A few rounds

left. We may need it later. Sir?

Did you see that fort? I saw it

on that point of land as we came in.

Yes. We'll have to pass under its

guns. They may not know we escaped.

Ahab and I watched closely

as we came in, we can help. Good.

You stand by the helmsman.

Tell Ahab to stand by. Aye, sir.

Signal from the bow, Mr O'Brien.

Turn two points to starboard.

Two points to starboard, it is.

I hope.

Will the fort fire, Captain?

Maybe not Chances are they haven't

had word from the village.

I hope the messengers are tired,

sir. Yeah.

He's a cool one.

Who, the captain? Yeah.

Aye. Except when it comes

to that skirt.

He only used her to get information

about the diamonds. Maybe.

He's a tough one. But I still think

he'll be grabbing that dame back.

Only if he needs more information,

Mr O'Brien. Haagh!

We showed them a clean pair

of heels, lads!

Mr O'Brien?

Set a nor'west by west.

For Batavia, Captain?

Is it more trading,

now the girl has gone?

Not Batavia, Sunda Strait.

We'll catch Mr Pulo

and then go after the diamonds.

Oh, no!

I mean, aye-aye, sir. Mr O'Brien!

Put a work party on the mizzen. Get

all the sail out of her you can.

May saints preserve us!

16 knots, sir. Good.

The mizzen will hold, Mr O'Brien?

Just like new, sir, if not better.

The barometer's been falling.

Might be a storm.

That's when we gain time -

in a blow. We'll make the ship, sir.

The mizzen might carry away, sir.

It'll hold all right, Mr O'Brien.

He drives this ship, eh?

I'm wondering about one thing. What?

When we catch Pulo, what are we

going to do? He's got cannons.

The captain will figure it out

He will at that!

If the ship will last that long!

Reckoning fixed on Sunda Light.

I can see it, but no sign of Pulo.

It's Pulo, all right. Shorten

canvas, Mr O'Brien.

We'll lie out of cannon range, and

let him lead us to the diamonds.

Reader! Send your boys up

to take down the rolling sails.

Watch out there! Haul in the sails!

Haul in the sails!

Come here, girl

Don't be afraid. Give me

your ankle-bracelet, please.

The Krakatoa kali. No!

Captain Boll is still a prisoner

at my palace.

He will suffer if you don't obey me.

Gerrymander off the starboard.

Kung, get the girl below.

It's Boll.

We can attend to him with cannons.

Captain Badala, you know better

than that.

He won't come within cannon range.

He'll follow us. We won't catch him.

His broken sail's all restored.

Clever work. He must have flown

to get here so quickly.

Well, Mr Blue, what do you suggest?

You know him.

If we can't catch him or outrun him,

let's lose him after dark.

He doesn't know the way.

Only as far as Sunda Light.

He doesn't know the island the girl

talks about - Krakatitoe.

I can rig a spinnaker

out of your extra mainsail.

Give her a few more knots and we

can give him the slip. Good idea.

Tell Kung to keep the girl

below decks.

Seems a capable man - Mr Blue.

But utterly untrustworthy.

He's useful for the moment, unlike the

others. Wilson's too fond of alcoholic spirits.

Would you propose

to lose them overboard? Exactly.

Ah, Mr Wilson.

We were just speaking of you.

I have a message from Mr Blue.

Where are the extra mainsails,

your honour, St Ebenezer...?

Sir Pulo?

Sometimes I just don't know

who you are!

The sails are in the forward locker.

Forward locker.

Aye, sir.

I don't think he overheard

our plans for him.

Krakatoa. What a curious name

for a volcanic island.

It almost sounds

like a volcano going off.

Let's go to the chart room

and map out our course.

Pulo has some canvas on his deck.

He's going to rig an extra sail.

They'll never sail as fast as Boll.

They'll probably try to lose us

after dark. There's no moon.

We can't go in close enough

to see him.

Not without getting blown up!

Right! We'll follow with a longboat.

Paint the sail black,

so it won't show.

I'll carry a lantern shaded on

one side and signal you. Aye, sir.

That'll be all right.

Lower it down and secure it.

It's about ready, Captain.

It's a funeral boat you've got

I hope not I need a crew of two.

You, Jess and you, Ahab -

you've got sharp eyes. Yes, sir!

Look sharp for that lantern tonight,

Mr O'Brien.

We shove off in five minutes.

Otherwise it'll get so dark,

we'll lose them.

The light's moving to starboard.

Give it one more point to starboard.

What's that? Huh?

Sounds like somebody swimming.

Heave to! It's me! Wilson!

Keep your eye on the ship, Jess.

You don't have to follow Pulo.

I know where he's going.

If this is a trick...

It's no trick. I swear it.

Quickly now. Where is this place?

Here.

Krakatoa. That's the name. Krakatoa.

The girl says the diamonds are

there, but she can't remember where.

Pulo thinks she'll remember.

"Krakatoa, a small volcanic island.

Also known as Fire Island.

"The volcano has been dormant for

100 years, but earthquakes occur.

"This explosive type of volcano

is dangerous. "

The girl talked about a fire god

guarding the diamonds - the volcano.

Mr O'Brien, set course for Krakatoa.

Pile on all the canvas she'll take.

We'll make her fly like a bird!

Wilson!

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