Scales of Gold - Dorothy Dunnett [72]
‘Arguim,’ said Nicholas. ‘Where Ca da’ Mosto went inland by camel.’
Diogo Gomes looked up. ‘You met him; you know what he found out. The gold travelling north passes through a market called Wadan that lies six days inland from Arguim; and six days beyond that, there’s another, better market called Taghaza. But that’s twelve days into the desert, in a land without water and full of robbers and nomads. You set up a trading-post there, and you have to set up some means of providing it with water and food and enough men and arms to protect it. You think you could do that?’
‘No,’ said Nicholas.
‘No. If you want to tap the real wealth, sure enough that’s where some of it is. But meanwhile we have to content ourselves with what the dealers fetch to the coast. The Tawny Moors bring the stuff from Wadan to Arguim and sell to Christian ships with a Portuguese licence, and to nobody else. Pirates are hanged. Traders who sell arms to the Muslims are burned for heresy. Business isn’t quite what it was – in the Prince’s time you’d find the warehouses full, and fifteen caravels would load every year. Soon, it may be like that again; but meantime you’ll still find the odd ship in the anchorage, and you should get enough gold to make it worth your while, and the King’s. Gold and whatever else you may be after.’
Diniz said, ‘Could you reach Prester John from Wadan?’
The map rolled up with a smack. Diogo Gomes sat back and looked from him to Nicholas. He said, ‘Did King Alfonso require it?’
Nicholas paused. Diniz said, ‘No, but the Pope did. The Pope freed a galley, and asked the King to give Senhor Niccolò all his assistance to reach Ethiopia.’
‘I see,’ said the commander. His eyes in the unshaven face were watchful and narrowed. ‘So now what will you do? That is, you’ve heard, I assume?’
‘No,’ Nicholas said. He laid a hand on Diniz’ arm. ‘The Pope?’
‘The Holy Father, God rest him, is dead,’ said Diogo Gomes. ‘And the Crusade from Ancona is halted. The fleets and the armies have gone.’
‘But,’ said Diniz, ‘the threat from the Turk still exists.’ Nicholas took his hand away.
Diogo Gomes said, ‘Naturally.’ He recovered, and repeated himself, rather slowly. ‘Naturally, to link hands with Prester John and his Christian armies is still Holy Church’s great desire. Any man who did so … You have this in mind, Senhor Niccolò? This? If so, you would have to sail much further south than Arguim. You would have to penetrate the interior from the Sahel.’
‘The land my lord Diogo knows better than anyone,’ said Jorge da Silves, his hands laced hard together. ‘Where the rivers begin. The rivers outlandishly named, any one of which may be the great Nile, and the highway we are seeking.’
Diogo Gomes took the flask in his hands and held it ready to pour, his face scanning them all. ‘Is that what you want?’ said the commander. ‘Then I shall tell you what I found out, and willingly. I believed you had your eyes set on the gold mart at Wadan.’
Nicholas smiled. ‘The Franciscans have drilled me too well. But I won’t hide from you that I need to find gold if I go to the Sahel. I have funds to replace.’
‘The marts are there,’ Gomes said. ‘As I told you. It is where the northern caravans come to unload. They might sell to you, if you are circumspect, and if you reach there. There are many dangers; curiosity being the greatest.’
Nicholas said, ‘You travelled further inland than Ca’ da Mosto ever did. Two hundred miles?’
‘And turned back,’ said Diogo Gomes. ‘Men become frightened, and sicken, and die. There must be enough to man your ship home. Men ask incautious questions.’
‘About Wangara?’ Nicholas said.
The seaman’s eyes rose to his. ‘You know the name?’
‘Many people know the name,’ Nicholas said.
‘Then forget it again,’ said Diogo Gomes. ‘Unless your friend Lopez here is going to betray it. Is that why you have brought him?’
It was Loppe who answered, unruffled as ever, dignified as ever. He said, ‘My lord, if I knew it, I should not tell that secret to my worst enemy. I sail as an interpreter, nothing else.