Stewart Binns - Anarchy

Again, our journey after Rhodes was uneventful until we reached the Anatolian coast, east of Kalonoros. The sailors on board told me that the sea is very deep off this coast. Cold currents rise up only a mile or so from the shore, bringing up huge sea serpents and other monsters from the abyss, which create violent storms, especially in summer.

We did not see any serpents, but we did run into one of the storms. It was late in the afternoon and we were in full sail with a good westerly astern. We were some way offshore from a rugged coastline with heavily wooded hills running down to the water’s edge. There were no settlements and very little ground level enough for farming. As we passed a large headland, we suddenly saw a huge column of black clouds rising in front of us.

Master Raphael ordered that our sails be lowered and stowed and that the oarsmen row to find a sheltered cove to anchor in. But the storm was on us in minutes, raising a swell that tossed the Candiano around as if it were no more than a cork. The crew had not got the sails down in time and several men were flung from the rigging into the sea. The oarsmen also found it difficult to row against such a violent sea; oars started to clash and splinter.

The Master ordered Rufio to prepare the ship for possible capsizing or grounding. Then he bellowed instructions at me.

‘Take your men and make sure Lady Livia is safe. If we go aground, get her on to dry land at any price.’

He then rushed over to the helmsmen and tried to stop the ship coming broadside into the wind. The storm was now so fierce it was almost impossible to see anything other than walls of black water all around the ship. It was hard to hear even the loudest orders, and the rain was so intense it was like standing under a waterfall. The crew looked terrified and were convinced that a huge serpent was about to devour us. Master Raphael shouted at Rufio to calm the men, but many were beyond reason.

Then came a shudder from the hull and a sound like a huge axe striking a tree. We were still some distance from shore but had hit submerged rocks, and not a glancing blow, but a collision that had ripped open the hull. The oarsmen started to pour on to the deck, creating a melee of frightened men in a confined space. They reported that water was coming up from the cargo hold beneath them, which was already completely flooded. I looked at the Master, and from his expression it was clear that the Candiano was within moments of sinking.

He beckoned me over to him.

‘Get Lady Livia ready to abandon ship now. She has a dowry in her cabin: a large chest of silver and a jewellery box. Give those to your most trusted men. You take care of her. She must take nothing else. Let’s pray to God she can swim. I’m going to make a run for the shore – at least some of us will have a chance if we’re close to land.’

I gathered Eadmer and the men, ran to Livia’s cabin and banged hard on the door.

‘Lady Livia! I’m coming in with my men!’

I burst in and found the three women cowering in the corner, shrieking hysterically. I pulled the two ladies-in-waiting to their feet and shook them.

‘Ladies, control yourselves! You have to help Lady Livia. Give the dowry and jewels to my men. Your guards and I will help you, but you must take off your shoes. And no capes either. Take off your dresses, or tear them above the knee and elbow.’

They started to protest.

‘You may have to swim. Do as I order you to!’

Lady Livia started to remove her dress and spoke firmly to her ladies.

‘Do as he says. You’ve still got your underwear on!’

She then looked at me with an expression of abject terror on her face.

‘I can’t swim–’

‘Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you. Quickly, we haven’t got much time.’

I could see the rapidly approaching cliffs of the shore, perhaps no more than fifty yards away.

‘Everyone out on deck. Now! ’

I almost pushed them on to the deck, even though they had barely got their long kirtles off. I gestured to the guards to hold on to a lady-in-waiting each and I clasped my arms tightly around Lady Livia – something I had been dreaming about night after night, but not in these circumstances. We braced ourselves hard against the rail of the stern.

The crash came almost immediately, followed by the cracking and squealing of splintered timbers, the anguished cries of men being hurled into the water, and the rumble of the keel scraping itself along the rocks. We were all thrown forward as the Candiano lurched to the side. She let out a cry like a wounded animal and we were in the water in an instant.

I held on to Livia with all my might and looked around. Eadmer was at my side, and I could see Toste and Wulfric close by. It looked like we had gone over the port side of the ship, while the majority of the crew had been cast out on the starboard side. The waves were still mountainous and the rain continued to lash down like a torrent.

‘Let’s get away. She’s going down!’

Eadmer helped pull Livia clear. I peered into the gloom, hoping to find something to use as a raft. I grabbed the Candiano ’s war drum and made Livia hold on to it.

Toste then produced some rope, which he had tied around his waist.

‘Good man, lash it to the drum. What about the chest?’

‘Gone, I’m sorry. It was too heavy when we hit the water.’

I looked at Wulfric. He shook his head; the jewels had gone as well.

Only one guard appeared with his charge, both of whom could swim well, and we all gathered around the drum. We were being pulled towards the remnants of the ship, which was tearing herself apart on the jagged rocks.

‘We should make for the shore. Ladies, hold on to the rope and the drum. Let’s go!’

It was very difficult to swim and pull the rope at the same time, but the wind that had dashed the Candiano on to the rocks now helped propel us to the shore. To our immense relief, we were ashore in about ten minutes and all collapsed on to the sand in utter exhaustion.

The storm started to abate and the sky began to clear. I guessed that we had at least two hours of daylight and I started to issue orders.

‘Eadmer, take Wulfric and Toste. Have a look around, check for habitation, any kind of shelter. Then find water and firewood. If there’s a stream, take the wood there and we’ll try to make a camp.’

I turned to the Republican Guard.

‘Your name, soldier?’

‘Sandro, sir.’

‘Do you have a weapon?’

‘Only my knife, sir.’

‘That will do. Guard the ladies with your life. I’m going to look down the beach.’

‘Lady Livia, are you comfortable for now? I must assess our predicament.’

‘Well, other than the fact that I’m on a deserted beach in my chemise, with all my worldly possessions at the bottom of the sea, I’m fine.’

I smiled at her. The Lady Livia had a sharp wit. She was also brave and mature beyond her years. Her lady-in-waiting, who was easily ten years her senior and there to protect her, just sat at her feet in paroxysms of woe.

‘Is she hurt?’

‘She’s lost her sister.’

‘I’m sorry. But there is still hope. I’m sure others will come ashore.’

I walked up and down the beach several times. Bodies were being washed up on the beach in greater numbers than survivors. Most men had gone into the water on the other side of the rocks, where the current would have taken any survivors further round the headland. I sent the few who had made it ashore alive over to Sandro and the ladies. There was no sign of Rufio or Master Raphael, and only about a dozen oarsmen and the same number of marines were gathered ashore. Both members of the Grand Council and their entourages appeared lost. It had been a devastating disaster. I calculated that more than three-quarters of the Candiano ’s complement had perished.