Download the Book - Islam and Science Fiction
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interwoven diamonds blazed on his skin. Abubakar nodded<br />
approvingly.<br />
“Double diamonds . In Kumasi, in <strong>the</strong> kinte, <strong>the</strong>y st<strong>and</strong> for<br />
justice… <strong>and</strong> for slavery. In <strong>the</strong> holy language, <strong>the</strong> ‘adileen are those<br />
who are just…<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Adeline was a slaving ship. And now you<br />
belong to <strong>the</strong> Al-Jaza’ – <strong>the</strong> Recompense. How fitting.”<br />
The captain was dazed, his eyes unfocused, his mind oblivious to<br />
<strong>the</strong> man’s words.<br />
“Come on! Buck up, man! In a week, you’ll be boasting to <strong>the</strong><br />
o<strong>the</strong>r captains. Nary a one has a br<strong>and</strong> to rival <strong>the</strong> Adeline’s.”<br />
“Captains?” Bayonne asked, staring at Abubakar without<br />
comprehension.<br />
“So many ships we chased. So many we stove in – <strong>the</strong> San Jan,<br />
<strong>the</strong> Henrietta Marie, <strong>the</strong> Adelaide, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Mary. The Phoenix, <strong>the</strong><br />
Dove, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Fox. The Christopher, <strong>the</strong> Abercrombie. The<br />
Esperanza, <strong>the</strong> Trouvadore, <strong>the</strong> Creole, <strong>the</strong> Lyra. Dozens <strong>and</strong> dozens<br />
of ships we have sunk. Thous<strong>and</strong>s of slaves freed. And each ship’s<br />
crew, we gave <strong>the</strong>ir own br<strong>and</strong>. None is <strong>the</strong> equal of yours.”<br />
The captain’s eyes glazed, <strong>and</strong> he shook his head.<br />
“I don’t underst<strong>and</strong>.”<br />
“Bah! Enough! We haven’t got all day! You next!” Abubakar<br />
hauled <strong>the</strong> overseer before <strong>the</strong> holy man. Again <strong>the</strong> incantations.<br />
Again <strong>the</strong> somber assent.<br />
“No! No! Not me! Take ano<strong>the</strong>r!” <strong>the</strong> overseer shrieked,<br />
thrashing about in frenzy of desperation, struggling to break<br />
Abubakar’s grasp. The man’s fingers gripped like <strong>the</strong> coils of a<br />
python. Again <strong>the</strong> sizzling of live meat, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> horrid smell. The<br />
overseer screeched <strong>and</strong> fell senseless to <strong>the</strong> floor. Hawkins felt he<br />
might collapse himself, from <strong>the</strong> mere anticipation of <strong>the</strong> tribulation<br />
that lay before him.<br />
One by one, <strong>the</strong> sailors were hauled forward. One by one, <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
flesh hissed <strong>and</strong> charred, <strong>the</strong>ir screams buffeted Hawkins’s ears. The<br />
number remaining dwindled steadily, <strong>and</strong> with each of his compatriots<br />
subjected to <strong>the</strong> crimson iron, <strong>the</strong> pit of Hawkins’s dread yawned<br />
deeper <strong>and</strong> deeper. His heart was palpitating, racing near unto<br />
bursting. His stomach churned, <strong>and</strong> his knees threatened to give way.<br />
His chest felt crushed. He could not get enough air to brea<strong>the</strong>.<br />
“Oh God in Heaven!” he prayed silently, though he was not<br />
accustomed to reverence. “Deliver me from this appalling fate! If ever<br />
I have done but an ounce of good, if even <strong>the</strong> smallest of my deeds<br />
has been pleasing to Thee, <strong>the</strong>n avert from <strong>the</strong> hide of this, <strong>the</strong> most<br />
abased of Your creation, <strong>the</strong> hideous torture that lays in wait for him.<br />
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