braided with red and purple cords. Everyone grinned when they saw Tumen.An old man stepped forward. He was almost completely bald and bent over, but carried himself with the dignity and strength of a leader. His robe was red and white like the rest of the villagers, but had a series of purple crosses down the middle. He wore a necklace of jade and gold that glittered in the sun."Mam!" Tumen cried. The old man held up his hand and said something back, smiling thro ugh crooked teeth.
Tumen ran up the beach, grabbing the old man and hugging him."Who is this?" Fitzwilliam asked interestedly. "The witch doctor of your village?Tumen shook his head, still too happy to be annoyed at the very wrong term "witch doctor."
"This is my great-grandfather, Mam."
"Oh, I just love family reunions," Jack said, clapping his hands together. "Now, where's the food?"Arabella whacked him in the ribs."Mam, these are my friends," Tumen introduced, first in Mayan, then in English. "They are the only reasons I ever made it back home."The old man spoke, and his great-grandson translated. "He says this is an occasion for great celebration. The village will hold a ceremony tonight in my honor, and you are all invited to come. There will be dancing and feasting and storytelling.""Dancing?"
Fitzwilliam said with a sidelong glance at Arabella. "I would be most pleased if I could escort you tonight, my lady." He made a little bow and held out his hand. Despite herself, Arabella fairly glowed."Absolutely not," Jack snapped. "As captain of this ship, I should be the one to take her. To protect her from you and the rest of these ..." He waved his hand searching for the word. "... scallywags what sail aboard the Barnacle. I do have rank to pull, you know.""Come now, Jack," the future earl of Dalton said.
"You would not know how to dance the waltz. Surely.""And of course we can all just see you getting down with the natives like their best mate," Jack shot back. "You might get your beloved boots and trousers dirty."Arabella c leared her throat. The two boys stopped their arguing and turned. She had her hand on Jean's arm. The Creole boy was smiling wickedly."Mind ye two, I have already decided to go with Jean." she announced. "He's the one not acting like a total dolt, if you hadn't noticed."Jean gave a little mock bow to Jack and Fitzwilliam. "I give you permission to take my sister, mon capitan. You can protect her"Jack glared at Constan ce.Tumen just rolled his eyes.
CHAPTER TWO
That night, the villagers built a huge bonfire on the beach. Giant logs were rolled up to sit on. The five crewmates of the Barnacle watched as dancers performed a rite of thankfulness. Jade and shell bracelets clacked in time to the music as the dancers stomped their feet. The lead wore a colorful headdress covered in feathers. Torches planted in the sand cast eerie shadows around his face. Men and women in the audience chanted along. "You must admit, this is fascinating," Fitzwilliam whispered to Arabella."It's a lot of fun, I'll grant ye that," Arabella conceded.Bowls of corn soup were passed around, as were tortillas stuffed with boiled eggs. Cooked manioc was served on leaves. Platters of fish garnished with oysters were set before them. Seabirds were roasted whole and served with avocado."This here meal is mighty tasty, mate," Jack said, chewing happily. "What do you call this, then?""Xoloitzcuintli," Tumen said with a faint smile."That some kind of rabbit or bird or something?""It is a small, hairless dog."Jack choked, spitt ing out what was in his mouth.
Tumen and Jean laughed."I'm going to miss you, mon frere Jean said with a brave smile, putting his arm around Tumen. "We've been through a lot together."
"I could not have survived it without you," Tumen admitted.Constance rubbed up against Tumens leg, purring loudly. "I'm going to miss you, too," he said, scratching her under the chin.Giant stone mugs of chocolate were passed around. Arabella was delighted with
Tumen ran up the beach, grabbing the old man and hugging him."Who is this?" Fitzwilliam asked interestedly. "The witch doctor of your village?Tumen shook his head, still too happy to be annoyed at the very wrong term "witch doctor."
"This is my great-grandfather, Mam."
"Oh, I just love family reunions," Jack said, clapping his hands together. "Now, where's the food?"Arabella whacked him in the ribs."Mam, these are my friends," Tumen introduced, first in Mayan, then in English. "They are the only reasons I ever made it back home."The old man spoke, and his great-grandson translated. "He says this is an occasion for great celebration. The village will hold a ceremony tonight in my honor, and you are all invited to come. There will be dancing and feasting and storytelling.""Dancing?"
Fitzwilliam said with a sidelong glance at Arabella. "I would be most pleased if I could escort you tonight, my lady." He made a little bow and held out his hand. Despite herself, Arabella fairly glowed."Absolutely not," Jack snapped. "As captain of this ship, I should be the one to take her. To protect her from you and the rest of these ..." He waved his hand searching for the word. "... scallywags what sail aboard the Barnacle. I do have rank to pull, you know.""Come now, Jack," the future earl of Dalton said.
"You would not know how to dance the waltz. Surely.""And of course we can all just see you getting down with the natives like their best mate," Jack shot back. "You might get your beloved boots and trousers dirty."Arabella c leared her throat. The two boys stopped their arguing and turned. She had her hand on Jean's arm. The Creole boy was smiling wickedly."Mind ye two, I have already decided to go with Jean." she announced. "He's the one not acting like a total dolt, if you hadn't noticed."Jean gave a little mock bow to Jack and Fitzwilliam. "I give you permission to take my sister, mon capitan. You can protect her"Jack glared at Constan ce.Tumen just rolled his eyes.
CHAPTER TWO
That night, the villagers built a huge bonfire on the beach. Giant logs were rolled up to sit on. The five crewmates of the Barnacle watched as dancers performed a rite of thankfulness. Jade and shell bracelets clacked in time to the music as the dancers stomped their feet. The lead wore a colorful headdress covered in feathers. Torches planted in the sand cast eerie shadows around his face. Men and women in the audience chanted along. "You must admit, this is fascinating," Fitzwilliam whispered to Arabella."It's a lot of fun, I'll grant ye that," Arabella conceded.Bowls of corn soup were passed around, as were tortillas stuffed with boiled eggs. Cooked manioc was served on leaves. Platters of fish garnished with oysters were set before them. Seabirds were roasted whole and served with avocado."This here meal is mighty tasty, mate," Jack said, chewing happily. "What do you call this, then?""Xoloitzcuintli," Tumen said with a faint smile."That some kind of rabbit or bird or something?""It is a small, hairless dog."Jack choked, spitt ing out what was in his mouth.
Tumen and Jean laughed."I'm going to miss you, mon frere Jean said with a brave smile, putting his arm around Tumen. "We've been through a lot together."
"I could not have survived it without you," Tumen admitted.Constance rubbed up against Tumens leg, purring loudly. "I'm going to miss you, too," he said, scratching her under the chin.Giant stone mugs of chocolate were passed around. Arabella was delighted with
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