A moment later and there was loud cheering from the Spanish ships. The mutiny was over and the mutineers had won. Ropes were lowered to retrieve the officers thrown overboard. It had been a civilized mutiny.
A few moments later, a small boat was lowered from one of the enemy cruisers and rowed over to the Atlanta. “It looks like we are going to parlay and that is a very good sign,” said Janson.
In a very short while, the boat returned to her ship. More signals flew from the Atlanta. “We are not to fire, repeat, not to fire,” said Janson “unless, of course, the Spaniards violate the truce and fire upon us. Also, Paul, you and I are to report immediately to the flagship.”
Paul was puzzled. “What kind of trouble are we in now?”
A few moments later, one small cannon was fired from the Aragon. There was no splash as no shell had been loaded. Spain’s need for honor had just been satisfied by the firing of one unloaded gun in the general direction of the enemy. Spanish flags were dropped and the battle of Playa Colorada was over.
Janson shifted the Orion to a position much closer to the now anchored Atlanta and then the two of them went by ship’s boat to the flagship. Their orders were to report immediately, so they did not have the opportunity to change into dress uniforms. It didn’t matter. Admiral David Dixon Porter was preoccupied with the Spanish ships that were rocking gently at anchor only a few hundred yards away. His full beard was more white than dark and his eyes were piercing. The two men saluted and stood waiting to be acknowledged.
After a few seconds, Porter stood and returned the salute. He then extended his hand and they shook it. “I’ve been remiss,” the admiral said. “I wanted to congratulate you on sinking that Spanish battleship, but haven’t had the time. Now I can and you do have the thanks of a nation. We can be pleased that there’s one less enemy battleship to contend with. Of course,” he said with a tight smile, “it doesn’t look like the Spanish feel like fighting anyone this day.”
Porter turned and gestured to the Spanish ships where their crews lined the rails of their ships. “Look at them. They are scared to death and not of us, but of the Cubans. I just told their emissary that their surrender must be complete and unconditional and if there is any attempt to scuttle ships that are now our prizes, I will have them all cast ashore naked and unarmed so that the Cuban rebels can chop them to pieces with their machetes. I wouldn’t of course, but they don’t know that. For the past week, the poor fools have been afraid to go ashore for any reason and, along with running out of fuel, are also getting hungry and thirsty. Now, you’re probably wondering what this has to do with you.”
“Yes, sir,” said Janson, clearly awed by the intense man.
“You, captain Janson, will return to the Aurora, while you, Lieutenant Prentice, will take over a score or so of men from both your ship and mine and take control of the Aragon as prize master. You will then take her to a spot just off Havana where she can be clearly seen. Similar crews will handle the other ships. I want the Spanish generals in Havana to see that their so-called fleet is actually in American hands. Lieutenant Prentice, you and the other prizes will sail in concert with our fleet, so you shouldn’t have any worries about the Spanish prisoners trying to take control of the ship. If they do try something, you will cut them down immediately and violently. Can you do that?”
Prentice stiffened. “Yes, sir.”
Porter smiled. “Captaining a near derelict ship and a few score demoralized prisoners should be nothing to someone who helped sink a battleship, although it will look good on your record. I assume you can find Havana, can’t you?”
It was Prentice’s turn to smile. “With my eyes closed, sir.”
“Excellent, but do try to keep them open. When you get to Havana and the Spaniards have seen the last of their fleet, you will be directed to an anchorage and the prisoners will be removed. You and the others will return to the Orion while the captured ships await additional crews to take them to Florida or wherever the Navy Department wants them.”
“Sir, may I ask if the captured ships will become part of our navy?” asked Prentice.
“A good question, lieutenant. On one hand, they would greatly augment our small navy, but on the other, they are not very modern ships and I hope that the United States would not pin its hopes on having them as a strong line of defense. We must build newer and better ships if we are to protect our investments in Cuba and Puerto Rico. If not, some other power is very likely to reach out with its navy and take them. Britain is just arrogant enough to do it without so much as a thank you, while France and Spain hate us.”
* * *
Corporal Carlos Menendez slowly walked up the path to Rosita Garcia’s small home. He had been there many times since he had taken her son. He had eaten there and shared Rosita’s bed. She had proven to be a passionate joy and he was very fond of her. Tonight, as evening gathered, he thought she shared that feeling.
However, her feelings towards him might just come to an abrupt end. She appeared on the tiny porch with a small candle in her hand and stared at him. “Where is my son?” she asked, her voice breaking.
“I don’t know, Rosita. The Americans attacked at Santa Cruz and no one expected it. The place where he was working was shelled, but he did get away. But then he was captured and charged with being a deserter. The Spanish Army, my army, gave him a choice. He could work as a laborer or he could hang. He chose to work.”
Rosita sagged and sat down on the ground. “Then where is he?”
Carlos sat on the ground a few feet before her. “I don’t know. Where he was working was attacked. I got there afterwards and there were several bodies, but none were his.” At least none that he could find, he thought. A couple were so badly mangled they could have been anybody’s.
“So he has escaped and is alive?”
“Possibly. I just don’t know for certain.”
“And how do you know all these things and why should I believe you?
Carlos took a deep breath. “After twenty years as a soldier I have made many friends and I can talk with them and ask them questions. Sometimes sergeants and corporals know more than the generals.”
“But you don’t know where Miguel is now, do you?”
“No, but I’ve heard rumors that there are packs of deserters roaming Havana and that some of them are young boys. Let me rest here tonight and I will sneak back into the city tomorrow and find out some more. I am not expected back until tomorrow afternoon.”
“You will not share my bed. You will sleep on the porch.”
Carlos understood. He had failed her. She went inside and he curled up on the wooden porch. He was exhausted and sleep came quickly.
Two hours later she came out and nudged him with her bare foot. She was wearing only a shirt that came halfway down her muscular thighs. “I have changed my mind. I cannot sleep. I believe that you have done as much as was humanly possible and I cannot demand more. You will come into my bed and you will hold me, nothing else, until I fall asleep. Then, in the morning, you and I will again make love. You will go back to Havana and do everything you can to find my son.”
Chapter 20
Back in his tent, Martin took the brief letter from Sarah out of his pocket and read it for the tenth time in the last hour. She was safe and well, which he pretty much knew. She and the others were no longer living in the convent, which she said was hilariously inappropriate considering her carnal longings for him. Instead, their new quarters were on the property of the British Consul, a man named Redford Dunfield. Dunfield was complaining that his estate was getting very crowded, what with nurses, guards, and, of course, President Custer.