The Travellers Chronicles Book Four: To Chase Their Freedom

Chapter Five

The pilgrims set to building the fort first and foremost. It was winter, after all, and they needed the shelter. Tess, Lisette, and Sybille each worked hard, wanting to have a hand in building Jamestown. Sybille was terrible at cutting the wood into planks, so they moved her to working on building instead.

There wouldn't be room for a house for each family, so they had to build flats. When the work was completed, everyone was designated to a dwelling. As they had made Mr. Brewster (now a member of the Council) angry, the ladies were delegated to a small flat on the edge of the fort, far away from most of the shops. But they could care less, all they wanted was to live as pilgrims.

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June 1621

"Now, we must decide what to do about our neighbours the Indians." Brewster said at a Council meeting.

"We must attack first!" A Council member urged. "Or they will attack us."

"No!" Sybille jumped up. "That need not happen. We could all be peaceful and live together. How do we know they are hostile without even communicating with them?"

"And how, pray tell, Mrs. Benbow, do you suggest we speak to them?" Brewster asked. "The heathens do not speak the King's English."

"We learn their language."

Everyone laughed aloud. "Why would we? It is a barbaric language, and I, personally, will have no part in it. Now take your seat." Defeated, Sybille sat back down. "Mr. Benbow, you would do well to keep your wife in line. She needs to learn her place."

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James,

I write to you from Jamestown, Virginia, in the Colonies established in your name. There is trouble here, the council wishes to attack the First Nations People, those who lived here when we arrived months ago. This is not right, and it will create centuries of hostility and mistreatment of the First Nations People. It must not happen. I beg of you, write to the head of the Council, and tell them not attack but rather make peace with them. And please, tell them to no longer address them as 'Indians', it is a derogatory term and completely false as they are not from India.

Please do this for me and for the future of the Colonies.

Your Loving Aunt Margaret

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Aunt Margaret,

Thank you for warning me of the impending war. I have written to the head of the Council and ordered him to cease any thoughts of attack. I understand their fears, but you are right, we should not create hostilities. I have sent a linguist to learn their language and help with diplomatic relations.

I hope you are well, and are enjoying your time in the New World.

His Majesty James the First of England

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After months of talks and lack of food, the First Nations tribes came for the first Thanksgiving, which Tess had never believed had happened. Though the Thanksgiving part came from Sybille who, at the group meal, started asking others what they were thankful for.

"So, you create Thanksgiving and now the Americans will celebrate it for centuries to come." Tess chuckled. "You must feel like a God."

Sybille laughed at her comment. "In a way, yes." She looked out at the First Nations and the Pilgrims eating side by side. "And it feels wonderful."

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May 1639

On a ship bound for another of Sybille's ancestral homes, the ladies watched as the shores of Virginia faded away.