1609, Winter of the Dead: A Novel of the Founding of Jamestown Read Online Free

hissed Samuel, without making a move to get up.
    â€œYou?” said Nat. “You what?”
    â€œYou urchins,” Samuel said.
    â€œI beg your pardon for being an urchin,” said Nat. “But such is my fate. Forgive me for my worthlessness.”
    Samuel’s eyes drew up and his lip quivered furiously. “You’ve stolen from me, you stinking beggars!”
    â€œI don’t know what you mean,” said Nat. Richard dropped to his mattress, already bored with this game of words.
    Samuel shook his head. “I’m missing paper and ink, and no one but you would have the nature to steal.”
    â€œPaper?” said Nat. “Why do you think I’d steal paper? Certainly I can’t read nor write, I haven’t your education.”
    â€œYou are sneaky and clever!” Samuel snipped. “Just wait, you won’t know when my revenge is coming! You two just wait and see!” He slammed his black hat onto his head and stormed away, the feather bouncing.
    â€œWhat do you think he will try?” asked Richard. “I have never heard him so angry.”
    â€œWho knows and who can care?” said Nat.
    â€œDid you steal his paper and ink?”
    â€œWhy would I? I am as ignorant of letters as you. Now come. We have work to do.”
    The day went on as usual, emptying waste, serving food, washing out the most severely soiled clothing of the gentlemen with seawater, repairing loose planks alongside the sailors.
    But that night, after all had turned in for the evening’s rest, Richard’s yell woke Nat with a start.
    Sitting bolt upright and blinking the cloud of sleep away, Nat looked to his right where Richard slept. Richard was not there. He then heard Samuel’s voice, near the center of the ’tween deck. “Catch them, urchin! You will need them in Virginia!”
    â€œGive them to me!”
    Nat jumped up, hopping over sleeping men, trying not to step on anyone’s head.
    â€œSamuel!” shouted Richard.
    Men were awakening now, yelling and complaining.
    â€œYou boys shut your mouths or I’ll shut them for you!”
    â€œWhat is the commotion?”
    â€œI’ll give you a wallop if you do not quiet down!”
    Nat found his way to the center of the ’tween deck, his eyes now adjusted enough to see what was going on. Samuel had pried the wooden grating from the hold’s hatch, and was dangling Richard’s shoes over the hole. Richard was reaching out for them, but clearly afraid that if he made a quick move, Samuel would indeed drop the shoes down into the stinking black pit at the bottom of the ship.
    â€œSamuel, give me the bloody shoes!” Richard said.
    â€œGive me my paper and ink back.”
    â€œI don’t have your paper. Give me my shoes.”
    â€œBe quiet, boys!” shouted Edward Brookes. “You will go over the side of this ship into the ocean if I get my wish!”
    Nat said, “Samuel, give Richard his shoes before the men beat us!”
    â€œNo!” Samuel giggled and threw the shoes into the hold.
    Richard gasped, then grabbed Samuel by the collar. “You worthless beast! I need my shoes!”
    â€œThen go get them. I will not stop you. If you need your shoes, by all means, go into the hold and get them.”
    Suddenly there was a whoosh and a blow, and Nat was struck to his side, his breath knocked out. He lay stunned, struggling to pull air back into his lungs. Edward Brookes then knocked Samuel over, but Richard jumped out of the way in time.
    â€œYou boys get to your places before I kill the whole of you!” Brookes said. “And I am a man of my word!”
    Samuel groaned, sat up, and said, “I will go, sir. Do not strike me again.”
    Brookes grunted once more, then, seeming somewhat satisfied, stumbled back to his mattress.
    Samuel said quietly to Richard, “Best be after your shoes, boy. I would not be in Virginia with my feet bare. It could