human
Do you know the true reason why that Dutchman was hanged?
gpt
The piece can't be played there,
human
Ha? Shawn stood abruptly and pushed the board aside with his foot.
gpt
Devil with the game, my mind's not on it. He had already made his blunder.
human
You heard my question?
gpt
I can't say I know the true reason for anything you do.
human
I did not hang him, Ben. His destiny hanged him. Nor I don't make much of poor Manuel trying to cut the body down, for 'tis Manuel's destiny to remain weak in the wits and no harm in him, except he may be used for harm by others. But--ah well, 'tis true enough what I told the men, I did find Barentsz so, and I'll have no such Devil's foulness under my command, now that's no lie. But --he glanced about the sunny deck, where no one else was in earshot--
gpt
He waited, the silence forcing Ben to look up at him at last.
human
It might be of especial importance to you, Ben Cory, to know that I know Barentsz's true reason for coming aboard my ketch.
gpt
His reason! He was brought aboard a captive, that or be drowned.
human
That was the seeming, said Shawn, rubbing his coin, looking gravely down with the sun behind him, his eyes all black.
gpt
Yet Barentsz could have gone with the others. They thought (not understanding the end I serve) that I would give them a boat. But no, this Barentsz chose to make a show of favoring my enterprise, so to deceive me and get himself aboard my ketch. Then soon enough, hearing what he muttered under his breath, I understood why.
human
I could make nothing of what he tried to say in English.
gpt
That's no matter.
human
Do you speak Dutch?
gpt
Enough.
human
Well?
gpt
You wouldn't care to say 'Well, sir?' or 'Well, Captain?'
human
Well, Shawn?
gpt
How you do play with your own life, the way it might be a thing of no value!
human
While I'm a slave it's of no value,
gpt
Mother of God, it's your very impudence that saves you. If you were what I've sometimes feared you might be, your conversation would not be so. You'd be sly, I think. You'd try to please me, I think, and not spit back at me like a little wildcat.... Well--Cornelius Barentsz was an agent, and that in the service of Queen Anne of England.
human
I don't believe it.
gpt
It doesn't matter. You haven't my ways of discovering truth. But now that you know I know this, will there be any particular thing you wish to tell me, Ben Cory?
human
No, Shawn.
gpt
If you be what I devoutly pray you are, you've nothing to fear even in your impudence. But those who betray me I do not forgive.