Her voice cracked. "I heard Master Briggs say the ones who were captured, Obewole and the others, would be burned alive tomorrow."
"Burned alive!"
"All the planters have agreed that is what they must do. It is to be made the punishment on Barbados for any slave who revolts, so the rest of the Africans will always fear the branco. "
"Such a thing would never be allowed on English soil."
"This is not your England, senhor. This is Barbados. Where slavery has become the lifeblood of all wealth. They will do it."
"Bedford would never allow . . ." He stopped, and felt his heart wrench. "Good Christ. Now there's no one to stop them. Damn these bloodthirsty Puritans." He turned to her. "Can you get him down here? Without being seen?"
"We will try."
"If you can do it, I'll take him."
"And Derin too?"
"In for a penny, in for a pound." His smile was bitter. "Pox on it. I'll take them both."