Stone That the Builder Refused - Madison Smartt Bell [56]
From the battlements of Fort Picolet the view of the sea was much broader, and indeed there were a great many ships standing off the coast—the doctor could make out at least twenty. Immediately below the walls of the fort, a small cutter was just mooring, and the doctor recognized the port captain, Sangros, as he disembarked in the company of a French naval officer. The silence was perfect as these two men climbed toward where he and General Christophe stood, except for the rush of water and the rising wind and the clatter of metal as the men set up braziers for heating boulets rouges.
If the naval officer was impressed by this preparation, he did not show it. His manner was haughty, though his voice was high and a little shrill. He presented himself as one Ensign Lebrun, aide-de-camp of the Admiral Villaret-Joyeuse.
“How is it, General,” he said to Christophe, “that you refuse to admit French ships to the port?”
Christophe extended a hand toward Sangros, who passed him a brass spyglass. Christophe did not bring it to his eye, but simply held it across his breast as he spoke. “I see twenty-three warships there, and some of them show foreign colors. On what authority do they come? I have no order from the Governor of this colony to admit them.”
“Sir, the Governor of Saint Domingue is there,” said Lebrun, turning to point toward the harbor mouth. “He is the Captain-General Leclerc, and his are the orders you are charged to obey.”
“General Toussaint Louverture is Governor of the colony,” Christophe returned. “I admit no warship to the harbor without his order.”
“Well, and where is he to be found?” Lebrun sniffed. “Your General Toussaint Louverture.”
Christophe said nothing. The wind was rising; the doctor anchored his hat with one hand. After a moment, Lebrun extracted an elaborately sealed letter from a large stack of documents he held under his elbow. Christophe returned the spyglass to Sangros before accepting it. He broke the seal with his thumb and, upon a first glance at the contents, gestured at the men to be quiet. The iron clatter stopped, and Christophe read in a voice loud enough to be heard by all present.
I learn with indignation, Citizen General, that you refuse to receive the fleet and the French army which I command, on the pretext that you have no order from General Toussaint. France has made peace with England, and the government now sends forces to Saint Domingue which are capable to subdue rebels, if one must still find them in Saint Domingue. As for yourself, Citizen General, I admit that it would cost me a great deal to count you among the rebels. I warn you that if today you have not turned over to me Forts Picolet and Belair and all the other batteries of the coast, tomorrow, at daybreak, fifteen thousand men will be landed. Four thousand are landing this moment at Fort Liberté; eight thousand at Port-au-Prince; you will find attached my proclamation; it expresses the intentions of the French government, but recall that whatever personal esteem which your conduct in the colony has inspired in me, I hold you responsible for whatever may occur.
General in chief of the Army of Saint Domingue, and Captain-Generalof the Colony.
Signed: LECLERC
Christophe refolded the letter. “Well,” he said. “It is all very complimentary. Let me see this proclamation of which the letter speaks.”
“I am instructed to give it to none but the General Toussaint Louverture,” Lebrun said, with a certain smugness in the rejoinder.
“As you prefer,” Christophe said. Seeming not to know what to do with the letter addressed to himself, he turned it this way and that, then handed it back to Lebrun, who took it with an air of puzzlement.
“Come with me,” Christophe