human
Stay as you be, men, he said--
gpt
He jerked his head for Ben to follow him, and went forward to the bow, leaning there idly at the rail, the wind at his back.
human
Cory, I did not require you to sign. Men go with me of their own will, one way or another.
gpt
And so I'm to go overboard?
human
You seem not to be shaking.... I've not been so instructed.
gpt
Instructed?--I don't understand you.
human
Never mind. Time, time.
gpt
We are strangers, Mr. Shawn, who never met before. You could have forced my hand to take the quill, maybe. I'd never sign such a thing any other way, and I will not serve you on this venture. Shawn's face did not change.
human
Are the others all dead?
gpt
Several died and no help for it, he said quietly.
human
Peter Jenks lives--not harmed, I dare say. A thick skull. He'll share my cabin for a while at least.
gpt
Share----
human
Under restraint, Ben. Like all good vessels, _Artemis_, who must now be named _Diana_, carries irons for malefactors. I have had Chips staple a chain in the floor of the cabin for the leg irons. Unpleasant, but I'm obliged to question Mr. Jenks in certain particulars. Then no doubt he can be released.
gpt
Released to go overside.
human
Time, Ben, time. And so you will not serve me?
gpt
I will not.
human
I like that stubborn will. Mother of God, what a power of strength it might be when you're a man!... Ben, those fellas back there, they are servants. Good men--chose 'em with much thought--but servants, cattle. You are not as they.
gpt
If I did you any service aboard this vessel of Mr. Kenny's I'd be no better than they are.
human
I grant I may have done Mr. Kenny some harm, but he's a wealthy man. About to protest that Mr. Kenny would be so no longer with _Artemis_ lost, Ben held his peace.
gpt
I do regret it. If you will not serve me--as yet--perhaps you will serve the ketch? A vessel hath many needs, Mr. Cory. An idle or unskillful hand may do her much harm, come tempest or other misfortune. You cannot expect to share in any prizes----
human
Do you fancy I ever would?
gpt
Shall we hope to soften this Puritan virtue to some degree?
human
I say, you cannot share in prizes, but while aboard you will be fed and clothed like the others, and for this perhaps you might make some return in labor, if only for _Artemis'_ sake?
gpt
I suppose I must, as a captive slave, if I wish to live. But I will do no act of piracy, I will do no violence to anyone except in defense of my life, and I will escape you when I can. I believe any slave has that privilege.
human
Then I'll require of you no act of violence, only the labor of a foremast hand--can I say more? You have my word on it. And tell me something--have you ever spoken in this fashion to any man before?
gpt
I never did. I never had cause.
human
Knowing quite well that by a lift of my finger I could have you put to death? Human life is nothing to these men, you know. And there'll be muttering a-plenty because you haven't signed.
gpt
Knowing that, of course.
human
Ben, Ben, do you not also hear a voice, sometimes behind your shoulder as it were?--saying now for instance, 'Resist old Shawn, resist him even if you die for it!' Shawn shook him impatiently.
gpt
Is there not such a voice?
human
I don't understand you.
gpt
Tell me the truth!
human
I hear my own mind--heart, conscience, whatever you wish to call it. It serves me as well as it may, and I listen to it.
gpt
Strange! You are not a believer, I think? Do you pray?
human
I haven't truly prayed since my father and mother were murdered.... Is not conscience enough?
gpt
You spoke of slavery. Ah, Beneen, don't you see, all this is but prologue? I serve a great end. I spoke to you of the western sea and the new lands, and I did see the thought strike fire in you, don't try to deny it. Why, I'd not go on the account, nor meddle with this rabble, nor do violence to anyone, if I could help it. Mother of God, two or three fine ships, a handful of brave men, say fifty, sixty--it needs no more. We need no women--we'll take us native women in the new lands and raise up a new breed of men, and they shall be like gods. You must see it, Beneen, the way I have no choice?
human
I do see--as my father and my mother taught me, as I learned from my tutor and my great-uncle, and above all from my brother, whose understanding is better than mine--I do see, Mr. Shawn, that you cannot serve a good end by evil means.
gpt
Ochone!--a Puritan indeed but very young, now that's no lie. I know that talk, that doctrine, Ben, know it of old, a stick to beat the young and no truth in it, and so I deny it altogether.
human
I will affirm it while I live. Damnation, Mr. Shawn, it's no article of faith, only a plain observation any man can make. Your great end lies in the future, but the future grows from the present. The evil you do in the present can only generate evil in the future and not the good end you dream of.
gpt
Puritan and philosopher! Now I have seen flowers growing from a dunghill.
human
They grow from the seed of other flowers and would do so in common ground. The dunghill itself only makes a stink.
gpt
Feeds them, does it not?
human
I dare say nothing's purely good or purely evil. What's good in the dunghill feeds them, the rest is a stink.
gpt
Damn the thing, blind and stubborn as you are, I like you, Ben Cory.... Do you play chess?
human
A little.
gpt
I found a set of men in the cabin. We must play now and then.
human
If you like....
gpt
Nothing left then, Beneen, of the friendship I hoped there was between thee and me?
human
I don't know how to answer that. I don't see how there can be friendship if one man enslaves another, if one man does what another must hate and reject.
gpt
You're very bitter, boy.
human
I don't possess my own life, if it can be destroyed at your whim, a lift of your finger. I think his life is all any man owns. I think that's cause for bitterness, Shawn. I refused as soon as I understood, the first day. There've been three nights when you could have stood in to shore and let me swim for it. Shawn laughed a little, silently.
gpt
I know--you couldn't have me spreading word of you. And it's true, I would have done so at once.
human
I could not destroy your life, I think. I spoke as if I might, only in hope of persuading you, opening your eyes. I keep you with me for the same reason, now that's no lie. The friendship abides in me, though you've turned against me. And now you have my word on this: when I have won my little fleet, and my men, and am ready for the regions where none will follow me, I will be finding some means to set you free, and you still unwilling to go with me. I'll put you aboard some other ship, or leave you in a foreign port if I can. You have my word on it--yet I think you may go with me. And for the present I do be asking nothing of you but a seaman's labor, no violence. No violence, Beneen.