Page 53 of In Just a Year
Greg opened the wooden chest of gems. This understated container full of small pouches was flat and crammed, but the pouches were relatively easy to stuff into one’s boot should pirates search for loot aboard. Although it had never happened to Greg, he seemed painfully aware of the possibility and his fleet was heavily armed.
“We filled two chests of gems?” Ben asked when Greg pulled a second one from his boot.
“This one holds rubies from my mines in Karur.” Greg handed it to Ben. “This time, your father will be happy with the diamonds. The mine in Golconda was very productive this year.” Greg produced a velvet pouch from the chest and handed it to Ben, who stuffed it in his coat pocket.
Ben eyed the open chest. “We don’t have many pearls for Arnold, do we?”
“Some, from the The Gulf of Mannar.” Greg pulled out another satchel made of brown velvet, then he opened his valise and took out a larger crate. “These aren’t as precious, but look how pretty,”
“These are uncut alexandrite, emeralds, and aquamarines,” Ben said.
“Yes, from Tamil Nadu. And here are some spinels and rubies.”
“We did well this time. Almost as well as when Caleb came to America with me,” Greg said.
A servant knocked. “Milord, there’s someone here—”
Before Greg could answer, a thin figure entered and dropped her heavy hood.
“Vati?” Ben said.
“I came to thank you, Ben-Ben.” She looked over her shoulder to a row of servants in palace uniform who carried barrels and flaxen satchels.
“I thought you never left the palace,” Ben said with a mischievous smile. There was more to his new friend than met the eye.
“Never to be caught.” She winked at him when the last servant placed another crate in the room for him. “They caught us last night but I learned so much from you that I convinced them to let me go. I no longer need to wait for the Shah and I am free to travel to the Red Fort of Delhi and await the marriage.”
“When?” Ben asked.
Vati beamed. “Who knows? The longer he waits, the longer I’ll be free.”
Ben knew not to ask more, especially because she seemed pleased to escape the palace for now.
“What is all this?” Greg stared at the barrels and trunks that servants brought to their cabin.
“Ben-Ben taught me so much, I wanted you to have enough provisions to make the journey home more pleasant for you. You are homesick, which is a luxury I never had because, until now, I never left my home for long enough.”
Greg opened one of the crates. “Is this jam?”
“Lime relish,kali khattawas Ben-Ben’s favorite on the trays I sent for Amberley.”
“How did you know?” Ben wondered.
“I had the servants send the trays back after you fed Amberley. There are dried mangoes, cheese, hokum fruits, and dried jamun berries. I hope these will last and sweeten your journey home until you reunite with your love.” Vati’s voice was friendly but finite, a goodbye.
Something squealed.
“Amberley!” Ben opened his arms and the little monkey hopped out from under Vati’s shawl. “I thought I’d never see you again.”
“I think he wants to go with you.” Vati smiled.
Ben patted the little monkey’s head and scratched his belly. The little macaque chuckled in delight and rubbed his head so tightly against Ben’s chest that his transparent pink ears flapped back.
“Little one, you’ll want to find a lady monkey and have a family one day. I can’t take you to England. It’s cold there and rainy. We don’t have any of the treats that you love so much.”
The monkey blinked and hopped back to Vati, seemingly unaware this was the last time he’d see Ben.
“If it is so cold and rainy, are you certain you must return?” Vati asked avoiding Ben’s gaze. “I’ve never had a friend before.”
