William Brand

William received the letter again and read it aloud. He drew closer to Murin as he did so, careful to keep his voice low, though the cacophony of voices on the berth deck made this unnecessary. "Thank you for what you have done. I remain, always, your servant. If ever there is a need, whatever kind, you know where to find me." "Brevity in correspondence, to be sure." William remarked. "And cautious enough to leave the letter unadorned with monogram or signature." Murin said nothing to this, perhaps owing to her too many words from before. William folded the letter closed while looking at her. He passed the letter back again. "And where might you find him?"

August 4, 1704 - Fore lastage of the Watch Dog "Miss McDonough, the letter is addressed to you, is it not? I've done you the courtesy of delivering it unopened, but with almost everyone aboard the Watch Dog one might assume that your English friends have sent you this correspondence." William explained this very slowly and then he stood with his palms spread apart as if to say, 'Is this not so?'. "There is light enough to read by in this place."

Augst 4, 1704 - The fore lastage of the Watch Dog William considered several retorts to this most obvious answer, but felt that any of them would be utterly lost on Murin. His respect for the woman was declining by degrees, so much so, that his anger could not rest for trying to keep up. "The cats keep down the lurking enemies of the hold who would sink us. The boarders defend the Watch Dog unasked..." William said this as if to himself, and perhaps he did, not thinking the words would mean much in the present company. It was a kind of barb that he said it so, but he was past caring at the moment. Before, he would have defended her, and indeed had done so just moments prior as he glared coldly upon Mister Bly, but now they were the Captain and the prisoner again. William took out the letter with the unbroken seal upon it and passed it to Murin.

August 4, 1704 - Aboard the Watch Dog Ciaran went aloft and spied all the surroundings. While William waited for word from above, he surveyed the deck, and finding Miss Tribbiani attempting her place there, he sent Brenton Lund to fetch her back again to the surgery, adding his own look of sympathetic disapproval that she should think to labor after such an injury. After a time, Ciaran looked down from the height, having found nothing worth noting to the Captain. He said as much with a look and a nod to the Captain below. William was disappointed, but not surprised by this. It would have served little anyway, since William was of a mind not to pursue the matter beyond the confines of the Watch Dog. He scanned the docks one final time from his poor vantage point. Then, with nothing but the unopened letter available to him, he went below, but not before he fixed Nathan Bly with such a look that the man was lost for what to say or do. William left Nathan in this awkward limbo as he disappeared below the weather decks. The berth deck was crowded, not that it wasn't always such, but the milling of so many men as they stowed and secured supplies made the place seem all the smaller. So busy was the place that he travelled forward through the throng a third of the distance to the fore lastage before anyone noted his arrival. There were several quick nods, sharp salutes and a stumble or two as men became aware of him. Jacob Badger was in the midst of calling a few men aloft for the business of checking all the lines before departure, when William and he met among the men. "Has she spoken to anyone?" Jacob shook his head. "I've not heard her speak, but some 'ave spoken ta her." Jacob gave Jack a look, as was his way, but William seemed not to care about this. Instead, he went forward where John McGinty stood watch over the door. John snapped up his musket so suddenly, he might have struck the overhead beam. William was actually surprised that he didn't, and said as much. "What words has the prisoner shared with anyone?" William asked as a matter of course, for he expected to hear the words 'None, sah'. "Some Gaelic, Sah. Betwixt her and God, I expect." "Speak you Gaelic, Mister McGinty?" "None, Sah, but as I'm a sailor I know 'nough of it ta cuss, which...she also did, Sah." William smiled a little at this. "And no other words...? Then I..." "Beg pardon, Sah. She said that she were 'fine' to Mister Roberts and that 'the Cap'n had his reasons', Sah." William said nothing to this, for what had he to say, what with Murin able to hear all. Still, his mood darkened a little. "Open the door." John threw the bolt and stood aside as he went in. William closed the door slowly behind him as Murin stood up, this time careful not to strike her head overhead. "How is it you have tongue enough to disobey my order of silence, Miss McDonough?" he said flatly.

I had a root canal earlier today and now I feel like I'm at a Torquemada dentistry convention. CONFESS!

A very happy birthday, lass. May you have a good and merry day fraught o'er with unexpected gifts of large bills.

A better sailor I've not found. It has been a pleasure serving with you these few years and I hope for many more to come. Happy Birthday, lad.

7,000! My but how the tale of the Watch Dog has grown. Last night we crossed the 7,000 mark. 7,000 posts over countless days, and all to describe a few months at sea. A TOAST! TO THE WHOLE COMPANY! MAY TRUE FORTUNE FIND THEM!

August 4, 1704 - Aboard the Watch Dog Harry Saltash was at the gangplank when a young boy arrived with paper in hand. The lad tried to avoid Harry's eyes as he scanned the Watch Dog stem to stern in search of a marine, but as many of the marines were employed in the stowing of stores, not one was to be found at hand. That is, none that were obvious to the boy. Harry tried prompting the lad with several questions, but having no tongue for French, he grabbed Ulrich as he passed. "The lad needs something." "Qu'est-ce que c'est, garçon?" Ulrich asked, leaning over the rail. The boy started and quickly asked for the whereabouts of a Miss McDonough, though he pronounced it 'Meck-Duhnoo'. Ulrich made a face at this and gestured impatiently for the paper. The boy gave it up reluctantly, but Harry reassured him with a smile and would have sent him on his way, but Ulrich called him back again. Then Ulrich called for Mister Badger, and once the letter was in his hand and he had heard whom it was for, he agreed that the lad should remain until the Captain was made aware of the matter. William was in the passageway already when Mister Badger entered to fetch the letter to him. Jacob explained the arrival of the boy and the intended recipient of the letter he bore. William's eyes narrowed only a little as he tucked the letter away without reading it. Then William went out into the daylight. At first, he only looked about the upper rigging and seemed no more interested in other matters than any other passerby. He thanked Mister Badger, who returned to his work. William simply stood before the doors of the surgery and the galley. After a time he made his way along the rail. Once he was within speaking distance of Ulrich, he casually asked him to send the boy on his way, never once looking at the lad. Ulrich did so and William continued forward along the rail. As the lad returned into the throng, William observed him peripherally all the while pretending to watch a load of new cable go down into the holds, but this proved difficult, so he passed word to Ciaran to go aloft and see what might be seen from aloft. From William's vantage point the lad was already lost in the crowd. "A veritable fog of flesh." William cursed quietly, and wished, not for the first time, that he could see through the obstacles before him. 7,000

August 4, 1704 - Berth deck of the Watch Dog "A fine language if you have a tongue for it." Robert Hollis said before the cable tier door, and if Murin was startled she did not show it. She simply turned towards him, and though a new door had been framed in since Tawny's unpleasant departure, there were gaps sufficient and daylight enough streaming in from the overhead hatch for her to see him without the aid of a lantern. "I'm sent to bring you fare." Robert explained. "You'd best step away now." he explained, and she complied easily enough. Then, Jack Roberts threw the bolt and swung the door that Robert might enter. Robert, who was ordered to leave the tray and nothing more, tarried in the opening and attempted conversation as he exaggerated the simple task of setting the bowl and cup upon the floor. "Best come out of there, Mister Hollis." Jack prodded. Robert smiled and gave Murin his most winning smile. "Perhaps we'll another time." He made the gesture of tipping an invisible hat. "Miss McDonough." "That will do, Mister Hollis." "Aye, Sah."

A nun with a switch...?

August 4, 1704 - Berth deck of the Watch Dog Between two and three bells of the Afternoon Watch Robert Hollis made his way forward with a bowl and cup from the galley, careful not to spill the contents of either as he wended his way through men awake and asleep. He wore his usual smile, which Owen often complained about, for it was ever present and belied the man's habitual tendency to find humor in everything. He would often interject humor where he shouldn't, making him a friend to some and an irritation to others, but he was otherwise so affable that no one but Owen found him truly disagreeable. Robert's one true failing was this; that he was apprised of an overactive curiosity, often prying into the affairs of others past the point of social propriety. He would delve into every little secret and suspicion with the persistence of a driving rain, and he would spread them with the ease of a practiced rumormonger. In short, Robert was a man of unending frivolity, a gossiper of the first order, a patent eavesdropper, and a notorious teller of tales, both true and exaggerated. Now, as he made his way to the cable tier, he was intent on learning why a woman should have angered the notorious Red Wake to such a degree. He was, after all, a keeper of so many stories as touching William Brand.

But of course...

We met and had drinks made from pomegranate and grapefruit. We also had lemon cake, baked potatoes and broccoli. All foods with Vitamin C. Then we watched Blackbeard's Ghost with Peter Ustinov...

Coffee for Captain Sterling... ...and iced drinks for me and everyone else.

Actually, I believe that Patrick Hand first mentioned the Careening Camp in this thread following PIP 2006, which I could not attend. He states in the thread (Pyrate Camp 2007) that the pirates who camped at PIP that year discussed the idea of a "careening camp". People tend to credit me with many of the ideas surrounding The Mercury, but I serve only as an organizer of the collective ideas, and while I am flattered, I couldn't say who started the initial idea. I assume it came from a Patrick, Jim, Silkie and anyone else who may have been in the 2006 encampment. See the following thread: Pyrate Camp 2007 - http://pyracy.com/index.php?showtopic=9273 Still, From one Quartermaster to another, and for the sake of getting information to your event organizers, may I recommend the following threads for research... Creating the 1720 Careening Camp: http://pyracy.com/index.php?showtopic=9343 GAOP Encampment: http://pyracy.com/index.php?showtopic=7305 The Mercury Crew: http://pyracy.com/index.php?showtopic=12579 Getting tentage ready for PIP: http://pyracy.com/index.php?showtopic=10076 The Mercury, 1720 Clothing and Weapons: http://pyracy.com/index.php?showtopic=9816 The Mercury, 1720 Careening Camp: http://pyracy.com/index.php?showtopic=9815 See also: Sleeping and washing... http://pyracy.com/index.php?showtopic=11728 The Surgeon's Tale: http://pyracy.com/index.php?showtopic=12247 Special Effects PIP 08, Disussion: http://pyracy.com/index.php?showtopic=12100

August 4, 1704 - Aboard the Watch Dog William was a few minutes alone, pacing the room in tight arcs. Had anyone been near the ward room door they might have heard William speak aloud several times as he argued points of law, the inconsistency of foolish people and some random religious remarks that the average clergyman would have found unsettling. After a time he stopped, for he felt more than heard Jim Warren outside the door and he opened it to find him and the Boatswain. "Come in, gentlemen." William gestured to the table and both men took a seat while William kept his feet. "No doubt you've come to me to ask me 'Why?'" "Aye." Jim returned. "I was discreet as may be, but the lads couldn' help noticin'." Jacob added. William nodded and then shook his head. "I have imprisoned her to keep her from herself and those who would harm her." Then, over the course of several minutes, he explained Miss McDonough's actions as she had explained them to him. He added a few of his own words with her and then looked to both men for comment. "Turn her out." Jacob offered, as easily as he might have asked for someone to pass the salt. It came out almost pragmatic. He said it in the tone of a man who has crossed his share of oceans and whipped his share of men. William said nothing. "Would they see her hanged, do you think?" Jim asked, and his face had never changed once during the whole of the conversation. William found this calming, like an anchor in his foul mood. "I don't know." William admitted. "The act of meeting with an English privateer, masquerading as...well, I don't know what. I can't imagine this fellow Sterling is parading his allegiance about the island, but met with him she did, and the French can call it what they may if they learn of it." "Treason." Jacob said again in his straight forward way. "Aye...and would they be wrong?" William asked, though it was a question meant solely for exploration on the point. It bore none of the anger he had displayed before. In truth, he was not so much angry with Murin as he was frustrated, and he had used his temper unchecked to drive home the very weight of the matter. He did not believe that she had acted treasonous, but the definition of that act was the difference between freedom and a grave. "But a woman?" Jim asked again. "The French might hang a dog for treason." William said, and while he had not meant for the term to be metaphorical or humorous, it came out as a little of both, given the oft used title aboard ship. Jim smiled, but it was a humorless wisp of a smile. "They could hang all the dogs." William added, and his voice was sober. "Then what is the question to be answered here and now?" Jim offered. "Are we to turn her out and set the French on the Englishman?" "I don't like the idea of rescuing a woman half starved only to restore her on her progress to the gallows." William admitted. "And how should the crew like to see a woman hanged? She is well liked." "A well liked dog turned 'pon her master." Jacob said sternly, and it was his turn to make use of the monicker. "Fool of a girl." "Aye. If we turn her out and touch not the English, she might return to them and let slip some three dozen names of wanted men in the Whole Company. Careless as a child in conversation. No. I cannot let her go again to them while they remain. It follows that I cannot also attack the English and keep her here, for she owes some allegiance to this Sterling and would despise herself or us afterwards." William shook his head. "The matter is tainted top to bottom, and I can see no clear path but for the safety of the Whole Company." "Let the English go and we may regret it after." Jacob said, simply. "May...?" William returned. "Nay, will regret, I should think. This alliance to the French is a wall of clay. The English rule the sea with too many, too well, and the war will have but one outcome I think." Jim and Jacob nodded. "I think I know your mind, Mister Badger." "You do, Sah." he agreed, and he seemed as quietly angry now as William had been but moment ago. "Nevertheless, please have fare brought to Miss McDonough." Jacob nodded, and he almost said more, but he didn't. He went out and left William and Jim to sound out the matter. "How can I trust her after?" William asked, rubbing his forehead. He did not expect and answer to this and Jim made none. Instead, he argued other points aloud. "The French know of this or they don't." Jim mused. "If they know, then the English are found out already, and our part in this may be of no concern or beyond their horizon. We might say nothing and bear Miss McDonough hence to Trinidad. In this way she is removed from the French and any desire of theirs to pursue her is deluded by so much sea water. She has means enough...assuming she is allowed her shares or any sum, and she may find her way to anywhere she will." "One imprisoned tailor, with eight score men in the balance." William returned, though he nodded at Jim's reasoning. Then he sent Jim out again to finish the business of securing stores. William remained alone to consider on the matter, and he liked it not at all, for he reasoned that Dorian should have a say in the matter and they were removed from him by what seemed liked three hundred leagues. Two bells of the Afternoon Watch

August 4, 1704 - Ward room of the Watch Dog The first fire of William's anger had burned itself out, but the coals remained and he looked at her with a Captain's contempt. The crew had long ago pulled out the great chair and asked him to sit and he could not now ignore his place. "You have, out of loyalty to him, given out my name most freely, only to return to me with his. To whom are you loyal now, having betrayed us both to each other? Will you now lay odds upon us?" William gave her no opportunity to speak, but went to the door and called for Mister Badger to lay aft with two marines. Then he stood before her and said, in a voice so close, and in a tone almost in confidence that it was a kind of angry intimacy, "You will say nothing of this to anyone until I have considered the matter. You shall not speak at all until I have removed this order of silence from you, not even to agree with me. Say but a single 'Aye, Cap'n' to me again before I am ready and you will uproot my already hewn down patience." Mister Badger appeared at the Ward room door and before the marines could enter William said, "Please see Miss McDonough secured in the cable tier." "The cable tier, Sah...?" Jacob asked, but the look in William's face was answer enough. "Aye, Sah."

August 4, 1704 - Ward Room of the Watch Dog "He saved your life...?" William said and it was hard to tell if it was a question or comment, but he was already beyond either and the words carried little care. "Aye." she managed, not knowing what else to say to this. William began shaking his head very slowly. He stared at her in disbelief and there could be no doubt that he was angry and becoming angrier still. Instead of balling up his fists, he spread them flat upon the table so slowly and deliberately that the gesture proved far more threatening. He let out one long, slow breath and made as if to speak, not once, but three times. So angry was he, that he suddenly removed himself from the table. He was unable to look at her for want of screaming 'Why? In the name of all that's holy, what could have possessed you?'. Of course, the answer was already before him, for as she had already stated, Sterling had saved her life. He paced the room four times before stopping and turned in the spot most removed from her. "We are allied to France!" he shouted, and again he could say nothing more for a moment. Then his words came, like a deluge, and infinitely worse than screaming, he whispered them at her in a loud hiss across the room. "A tailor of mine in conference with a privateer of England while we walk hand in hand with their most Catholic Majesties of Spain and France. All but bedfellows at Versailles! I have these two days danced, gamboled and capered about Turcotte, that our letters of Marque might not be so much as worried about the edges." William's voice came louder now. "Smiled in his face like a whore, my dignity undressed so that we might not fall but a stride out of favor with France!" Murin made as if to speak and William shut her teeth with a look. "The Forenoon Watch is not cold upon the fire and Klaas, murdered and drowned, lies cold within the hold with so many rats and onions for company. Murdered. Not a crewman aboard this..." A knock came at the door then and Jim Warren put his head in to see if anything was the matter. William sent him away again with instructions that they were not to be disturbed, and he just managed to sound cordial about it. Then he stood in front of the stern windows watching the water in silence. "Where is he?" William asked without turning back to her. First bell of the Afternoon Watch

August 4, 1704 - Ward Room of the Watch Dog "May I assume that you spoke with this Sterling, Miss McDonough?" William asked, and there was a new, previously removed tone in his voice as he said 'Miss McDonough', as if a dark formality had settled over the room. William's face changed very little, but the small, conversational smile on his face faded to dusk, taking all of the light from his eyes.

August 4, 1704 - Ward Room of the Watch Dog "Indeed." William said at first, and no more. He finished winding the watch and set it aside. Then he leaned in a little on his elbows. "And how come you to a knowledge of this ship and this English Captain, Miss McDonough?"

August 4, 1704 - aboard the Watch Dog "Is the matter of capital importance, Miss McDonough?" "It...Aye , Sah." William said nothing and his face remained impassive as he gestured up the gangplank. Once aboard, he let her go before him to the Ward Room, but not before correcting a task or two being mishandled on the deck. Once inside the Ward Room, he took a seat at the head of the table, taking the time to wind his heavy watch as he nodded towards her. "Proceed."

Aye, aye.

August 4, 1704 - Aboard the Watch Dog With the noon bell already come and gone there were few remaining stragglers from the Lucy and the Watch Dog to be found. Seamen Coipman, Black, Howard, Aretinson, Millet, and Leigh had all returned to find the cutter gone and themselves welcomed aboard the frigate. All who were expected aboard had returned, and while some slept, the rest worked. William stood at the gang plank with several of the young boys of the 'Dog. He was instructing them to fetch him three more younkers to the frigate, that he might have more to fetch and carry for the gunners. Even as they faded into the crowd, Miss McDonough materialized there and he stood watching her until she found him across the docks. William tipped his hat a little and noted something in her bearing he couldn't discern at that distance.

And now I'm craving orange juice....