Chapter 5
By early spring the Vigilance Squadron included six former Spanish vessels; wherever the orders for Spanish privateers to conduct operations had originated, the orders had clearly been rescinded, allowing lightly armed and unarmed merchantmen to operate along the entire Novaya Rossiya coast.
Lady Sarah was in port following a lucrative expedition to Sitka and the Aleutian Islands; Volkov was supervising an inspection of the cargo when he noticed a colorful display on the docks. A large vessel bearing the Spanish flag, its gunports noticeably closed, rode at anchor in Golden Gate Bay, and a group of fancily-dressed men had just come onto the dock. One of them was Don Domingo, again wearing his highly ornate uniform.
For just a moment the two men exchanged a glance. Don Domingo was in the company of civilians—men of business, perhaps, or diplomats—and was clearly uncomfortable; when he recognized Volkov and Lady Sarah his expression turned to one of pure hostility.
God is in his Heaven, Volkov thought. And the tsar is far away. I would wipe that smile off your face with pleasure . . . but, alas, I have better things to do.
Za zdorovje, he added. To your health, Spaniard. May we never meet at sea.