| Subject: The New World - Part #32 |
Author:
Wanda
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Date Posted: 19:48:21 06/16/03 Mon
PART #32
Finally, Bow calmed down enough to return to the main house. He knocked on the door, and called out to Catherine. Soon she appeared in the living room. She asked him if he would please sit down for she wished to talk. Would he be so kind as to answer some questions concerning Joshua? He thought, “Doesn’t she realize how difficult it is to discuss Joshua with her at this time?” He sighed, then asked, “What do you wish to know?”
Catherine said, “Bow, Joshua took a painting to Jennings to a buyer who was going to take it on to New Orleans. Did you know what painting he took with him?” Bow certainly did not like the direction this conversation was going. He said, “Catherine, I don’t feel right about discussing Joshua’s business with you.” Looking at Bow, she said, “I am sorry you don’t feel right about discussing Joshua’s business with me; but I do want to know the truth.”
Bow recognized that stubborn will that so characterized Catherine, and said, “Yes, I did know about the painting.” Catherine said, “Who did the painting?” Bow said, “It was a Monet.” Catherine said, “Thank you for telling me the truth.” He said, “I don’t understand. If you knew it was a Monet, why did you ask what it was?” She said, “Joshua told me the painting was done by Paul CeZanne.” Bow said, “I don’t understand what you are saying.” Catherine said, “Bow, I believe Joshua sold the Monet that was stolen from a family that was on the ship. I believe he lied to me to cover up the fact he was selling stolen property.”
Bow asked, “How did you know the painting was a Monet?” She responded, “I unwrapped it when Joshua was not around.” He smiled, “Now that was the Catherine he knew, and loved.” Catherine saw the smile; and asked, “What about all this is so funny?” He said, “I find your snooping humorous.”
Catherine said, “While you are smiling, I have some more questions for you.” Bow responded, “I was afraid you might have more questions.” “I want to know if Joshua was part of this piracy thing.” Bow said, “Are you sure you can handle the truth of all this?” “If I had not wanted to know, I would not have asked you,” she said.
Bow said, “You’d better relax, for this might take a while. I am going to have to take you back a few years in history. You will remember I told you my father was Jean La Fitte, a rather notorious pirate. I grew up with everyone knowing my father. When I wanted to find work, no one would hire me. People could not seem to trust the son of a pirate.”
Catherine asked, “What does this have to do with Joshua?” Bow said, “You must be patient Catherine; you will see. My cousin, Joshua, was raised here on this plantation with a silver spoon in his mouth. He had everything that money could buy, but he was never happy. He was always wanting something new, something bigger, or something better. Finally his father said, “No more.” He wanted him to start making his own way. To tell you the truth Joshua had played the role of a rich boy for so long he couldn’t break away from it. He wanted everything that riches could buy without the work to make the riches. So, he made a proposition to me. He knew I was desperate for work; and no one would hire me, so he told me if I would dig out of dry dock my father’s old ship, we could go into business together. I asked him what business he was referring to, and he laughed. He said, “Bow I can’t believe you would ask. We’re going into the pirate business for you are a natural for that life, and between the two of us we shall become rich.”
“What was Joshua’s role in all this?” asked Catherine. “He was the one who made the contacts in various sea ports to find out what was being shipped. From these findings he would make selections of what he wanted stolen, and my crew went out and seized the cargo that Joshua wanted. We brought it back, Joshua stored it, and then made the contacts to move the merchandise. I took care of the risks at sea, and Joshua took care of the risks here on land. My crew never knew that Joshua was a part of all this, for Joshua said that was the way it had to be.”
Catherine asked, “Do you know where Joshua has the merchandise stored?” Bow said, “No, Catherine, I don’t know. He was very secretive about that. It may not even be here. I was instructed to take it to a certain point, and he took care of it from there.”
To be continued..
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