Julian Stockwin - Conquest

‘And as we have not the means to ensure his, er, security while in the process of setting our plan in train, it does rather set us a problem.’ His apologetic smile might have been seen on a parson regretting upset picnic plans.

Renzi knew he had to get through to the baron if he had any hope of getting out alive. But the man was a mystery – he was known to be a royalist, a refugee from the chaos of revolution, and here he was, patently of noble birth, with the delicacy of manners and graces of the ancien régime , in Africa fomenting a native rebellion.

‘Sir, it would gratify me much to understand how a gentleman of courtliness and discernment is to be found in such distant parts as this. Do you not pine after the salons and civilities of la belle France? The home of Voltaire and Montesquieu both – the mists on the Seine from the Pont Marie, the bookshops on the rue St Honoré even?’

‘Why, I do believe you are acquainted with Paris, sir!’

‘Not so long since I had the felicity of attending the Institut as guest of M’sieur La Place.’

‘Then you are a scholar indeed!’ the baron exclaimed, in wonderment.

‘In the meanest way, sir. I have pretensions at a theory of the human condition that require extensive travel of which—’

‘He lies!’ Thérèse spat. ‘I know him for a certainty as a humble clerk of sorts from off one of the navy boats. He must have bribed his way to the attention of their ruling general to get his grand post.’

‘Possibly. A gentleman of learning certainly,’ the baron mused, stroking his chin.

‘And one who is in some mystification as to the meaning of your present actions, sir,’ Renzi said civilly.

‘I believe, Mr Secretary, you are referring to this current enterprise. There is no mystery, sir. I’m engaged in the raising of the Xhosa tribe to fall upon the eastern frontier, thereby attracting the military forces of the English occupier while Cape Town is retaken. As you may imagine, I have some considerable interest in what you have to say concerning why it must fail.’

Renzi swallowed. ‘None the less it exercises me considerably why a distinguished member of the noblesse does so support the Emperor Bonaparte in such a forward manner.’

The baron winced. ‘I abhor the upstart Corsican. Probably more than you do! He has the manners of the banditti and the instincts of a wolf and while he tears down the old order he replaces it with his own aristocracy. A vainglorious and contemptible creature.’

‘Then why—’

‘There are principles of honour and destiny that must rise above all else. At the present time the country is ruled by that scoundrel but will not be always. There will come a time when we emerge from this state of eternal war into a bounteous peace. Then, sir, the age of empires will begin and undoubtedly whosoever has possession of the fulcrums of trade will inevitably accrue the most glorious and enduring dominion.

‘France shall no longer be denied her place as queen of nations, her right by virtue of culture and civilisation! No more in the shadow of other more thrusting realms, she shall step forward to take her role as leader and exemplar, ruling over the greatest empire the world has yet seen.’

‘And for this you—’

‘For this I abjure my title and honours, for what are they compared to the glory of one’s country? For this, too, I have invested my entire fortune in the equipping of the expedition, for nothing but celerity and swiftness of purpose will secure the prize.’

‘I honour you for it, sir,’ Renzi said sincerely. The baron was a patriot of the highest order and had dedicated himself and his wealth to the service of his motherland. And he was impeccably correct in his logic: whoever ended the war with the most possessions would dominate trade and world empires – and he must be aware that the British were at that moment, thanks to their navy, beginning to detach French possessions and adding more of their own. A strike back now, before military reinforcements and the apparatus of permanent rule could arrive from England, was their only chance. He was privately funding the uprising to overcome delay and bureaucracy, yet had been able to arrange in time the necessary deadly counter-stroke – a direct assault by some powerful squadron already at sea.

The baron gave Renzi a curious look. ‘And now you will infinitely oblige me with your views on why we must inevitably fail.’

‘I vow I shall tell you everything I know, but find it necessary to learn further of your preparations, sir, it bearing so on the elements of success.’ What was he reading of the man? The stakes were higher now by far than his personal survival.

The baron beckoned graciously. ‘Then I shall be your guide and show you our little enterprise.’

Walking side by side they began their tour within the kraal. ‘A contemptible little fortification, you’ll agree, but then it’s for a temporary purpose and, besides, what have we to fear, no one knowing of our existence?’

It enclosed a wide area: to one side were numerous thatched huts in the native style and, set apart, others with a small stoep that resembled a Dutch country dwelling. ‘Our living quarters. And over there those of our closest warriors.’ There were many such men nearby, some standing on one leg with the other crooked against the knee while balancing with the assegai. ‘The main band numbers some ten thousand, four paramount chiefs and their Nguni followers. A formidable force to unleash, I’m persuaded.’

‘And there?’ Renzi indicated directly across to the other side. It was a long, low thatched structure away from other huts covered by canvas and well guarded.

‘Ah. That is where our muskets and powder are stored. Dear me, you have no conception of the pother and vexation it has been to mount this uprising. The Xhosa are not to be trusted in the article of muskets – if they got hold of them before time they’d turn them on their brothers to seek some petty vengeance or other. No, the only way for me has been to send first for the weapons, useless, of course, without powder. This was to attract the avaricious attention of the warriors to flock to me and, as you can see, has succeeded handsomely.

‘Then the recent shipment of powder. To prevent its looting and ransacking, I have made my selection of those who will bear my arms and they have every interest in guarding the store. Tomorrow is the final move, which will set match to fuse.’

‘What is that, pray?’

‘I had hoped to have the services of fifty soldiers of France to aid us but their vessel seems to have been delayed. I can wait no longer – the warriors are hot with blood-lust to begin and I risk my standing with them should I attempt to hold them back. Therefore I’ve given orders that the arms will be issued. Tomorrow.’

Renzi felt numb at the sheer impossibility of stopping the tidal wave of savagery about to engulf the frontier. And shortly he would be asked to reveal the fatal flaw.

‘Out of the gates here, we have but a short walk to the landing jetty.’

A rickety but strong pier jutted out from the riverbank. Two cargo-loading boats lay alongside and Renzi estimated that there was at least four feet of water available. Was the river tidal, he wondered.

‘It is made from what the local people so quaintly term stinkwood. Now, is there anything else you wish to assess before you share with me your objections?’

Renzi looked about him. There were above a hundred warriors in sight and Thérèse and her men were paces away: he would be chopped down before he had gone yards if he tried to run.

He drew himself up and said quietly, ‘Sir, I promised to tell you everything I know. And I have to say to you now, that I know . . . nothing. Nothing at all. There is no reason I can think of that might halt your scheme.’