William Brand

You just described Liam without the added issues of stepladders and higher reasoning. Still, I had a good day and I feel fine.

"Miss O'Flaherty, for your service here, I am grateful. The work of the galley does not go unnoticed aboard the Watch Dog. We are richly blessed to have Mister Gage at the cookstove and our health and happiness is much improved for his turn of bad luck so many weeks ago. You could learn much from him, but even so...I would be remiss in my position as Captain if I did not offer you a day's wages and the door. This is no easy life." He paused just enough that Moira had a chance to speak, but he filled the silence again. "Miss McDonough could use the service of an assistant with two unmarred hands. If you wish to remain I will find a place for you. If you don't, I will see you clothed better than you are at present and put you ashore with coin. What say you, Miss O'Flaherty?"

They both entered to find William standing at the stern windows. He was watching the Eastern most shoreline of the Cul du Sac Royal, for the Watch Dog had turned upon her cable, so that the stern was facing that sunlit shoreline. This gave the ship the advantage of being 'nose to sea', as a shipmate of William's had been want to to call it. William turned to them as they came in, and he gestured to the table. "Please." They both took a seat. William noted how Murin made a point of not looking at Moira, though it was apparent that she wanted to. "I have some matters to discuss with you both, so in the interest of economy, I shall be plain. Miss McDonough, you are not to begin any venture which requires the use of your hand until such a time as it has healed, and then only to the satisfaction of our good doctor..." he said with a force not to be misunderstood, then added quietly, "...whomever that may be." "Aye, Sah." she returned. "Good. "You will therefore be in need of someone to fetch and carry those goods necessary to your office. A point that I shall speak on momentarily. In regards to Luigi...you should both know that I require any and all able seamen aboard this ship to report, either to me or Captain Lasseter, any injuries inflicted upon a member of the Whole Company. If such an injury is witnessed ashore, such news is also to be brought to me or Captain Lasseter with haste, wherever we may be. Is that understood." "Aye, Sah." They said together, though as more of an echo than a chorus. "Now, Miss McDonough, before I can progress any further allow me to introduce Miss O'Flaherty of Galway."

When you said contingent I suddenly pictured a quota of troops furnished. I love hobbies with guns.

"Miss McDonough, no one is questioning your work. To question your work would be akin to questioning the work of Lazarus or Mister Hand." William smiled. "And while we are visiting the subject of hands, I have often seen you labor at the expense of yours." William gestured to her injury. Silkie put the hand in her lap. "No, Miss McDonough. You may stay if you so desire, but touching on the matters you have mentioned...well, I believe you should be made aware of something." "Sah?" "Would you please go to the galley and fetch back Miss O'Flaherty. Assuming she is still aboard, of course." "Miss O'Flaherty...?"

William nodded and it was enough. He asked for no additional details about the fight or Luigi, though he made note of Monsieur's Taggart's name that he might learn more about the man later. He also decided not to pursue the matter of Miss Ashcombe, choosing instead to let Murin know of Constance's design to put to shore in the company of Meg Wardell, and possibly Miss Moore. He explained their intentions to open a bakery or some such shop in order to live and work at Martinique. This explained, William suggested that it might be in Murin's best interest to go ashore with them, Monsieur Taggart notwithstanding. He said this of course, not by way of reproval, nor to sggest that she was wanted elsewhere. It was the genuine suggestion of one who had seen many come and go and he made the offer with no true opinion either way.

William accepted the ledger again and then leaned back in his chair. He pressed the tips of his fingers together and regarded Murin over them. "There are several subjects that I wish to speak with you about concerning the Watch Dog, our Miss Ashcombe and La Chateau Anse. I understand, by way of several men aboard ship, that you were present during an altercation with Luigi and several men of Martinique. What can you tell me about this incident?"

"Please have a seat, Miss McDonough." William said, pulling out a chair for her. "Tank ya, Sah." Once seated himself, William counted out Miss McDonough's final shares and pushed the ledger in front of her for her signature.

I had an excellent Christmas. I was showered with gifts and psent the whole time in the company of friends and family. Wonderful times. I was given pirate books. I very much like receiving pirate books. Wait...there are no draughts for the Lucy?

August 3, 1704 - Ward room of the Watch Dog William received several sailors in order, until Constance returned with Meg Wardell in tow. William stood up as they came in and invited them both to sit. As before, he fetched a bottle and several glasses from the stern bench and poured three conservative portions, offering each of the women a glass. William raised his glass in a quiet toast and they each sipped. Then William came directly to the point. "Do you mean to put to shore and remain at Martinique, Miss Wardell?" Meg looked at Constance and back to William and nodded. "Yes, Sah. I mean to do so." William nodded. He made a notation in the ledger and passed it to Meg for her signature. As she did so, he made an alteration in another volume, removing the names of Meg Wardell and Constance from the list of the Watch Dog and the Whole Company. He would later add a more descriptive explanation of their departure in his logs, but time was at a premium today and everything was reduced to a notation. Meg passed the ledger to him again and he nodded his satisfaction. "Thank you, Miss Wardell. I..." "Captain." she interrupted. "I want you to know, that...you see it's..." "Miss Wardell, you may go ashore with my blessing." William reassured her. "No one will think you the lesser for it. You served as ably as you were able to serve, Miss Wardell, and given your recent trials, especially your near demise on the Warrinton Heart...not to mention your service against the Maastricht, what more can be said?" "I hardly did any...service against the Maastricht, sah." "You were not several weeks recovered from the storm and you still took up arms in defense of this ship. Say what you will, Miss Wardell, you did take up arms." Meg's face did not except William's seeming generous praise, but she nodded. He smiled and counted out the last of her shares and passed them to her. "All of your worst fears and trials have been at sea. You have your life and the means to go where you wil. Now, go ashore and live." She teared up a bit at this, and maybe it was relief as much as anything else. So much money laid before her. A chance to begin anew. The freedom which her indenture never would have allowed her. The company of a strong woman willing to start this new life with her. "I can never thank you enough for saving my life, Sah." William shook his head. "You crossed our course. We were obliged to take you aboard." They exchanged some small conversation afterwards, but knowing that William's business was always pressing, they went out. William instructed Constance to collect those arms belonging to her and to take a ship's pistol for Miss Wardell. He also about to send for Miss McDonough, but found her already in the passageway off the ward room, even as she was knocking on the surgery door. "Miss McDonough. If you would join me." ~Larboard Watches on Duty~

Mister Sullivan Quint has a very good ring to it.

Thank you, Mister Greene. Beautiful sign, by the way.

Very nice work, Nathaniel. It has a classical look. I hope you don't mind but I took the liberty of making a weathered version.

When he says 'fops' he means gentlemen with a well turned ankle.

August 3, 1704 - The Ward Room of the Watch Dog "Enter." William said for the twentieth time since returning to the Watch Dog. Miss Constance came in at the door and she seemed as pleasant as ever, though her face still showed a little of the bruise where Tawny had struck her. William mentioned this mark again as a way of complimenting her, for she had proved resourceful in her attack on the murderous fellow. "I wish it was a scar, that I might brandish it in the retelling, Cap'n." She said with a smile as he pulled out a chair for her. "I understand completely, but I'd not have your face ruined by such a creature, Miss Constance." "Most kind." she returned. William stepped back to the ledger and counted out her shares aloud as he penned in a notation, turning the ledger to Miss Constance. She signed it with a very simple hand and a shorter signature than most, for Constance was both her first and only name, and no one had ever bothered her for another. She blew lightly on the ink and seemed to take genuine pleasure in placing her name alongside so many others. She nodded in satisfaction and returned the book to William. "It is done then." she said aloud. William did not take her meaning at first, but simply nodded, passing the shares over to her. "I mean to go ashore, Cap'n." "I should think so, what with those shares there...ready to be..." William stopped. Constance was shaking her head. "I mean to put to shore, Cap'n." William paused, laying down the quill in his hand, and then let out a long "Ahhh." It came out like a sigh. Then he laughed a little ruefully. It was a tired sound. He lowered his head a little and looked at the table before him. "This island is much too pretty." he said quietly, almost to himself. He looked over at her without raising his face. "When do you mean to go?" "Tonight...at the very latest, Cap'n. And I should like to take Meg with me when I go." William nodded, and smiled a little at this. He had thought to put Meg ashore himself and see that she was provided for, so this came as no great surprise to him. He almost said as such, but didn't, choosing to nod in his customary fashion. Then he shook his head in disbelief. "This island is much too pretty, Sah." she said, smiling. "Meg and I will do well here. I might even ask Callie to join us that we might make a life for ourselves. We shall marry three brothers and live as well as we have here." "Perhaps quieter." William offered. "Perhaps more loudly." she returned. William nodded. "You'll inform Mister Lazarus of your departure, of course." "I'm sorry, Sah." She said apologetically. "I already have." "It's right that you should have told him before me." William admitted and added, "You'll be missed at table." Constance grinned at this. "You should know, Sah...I may perhaps open a bakery or work a kitchen inn if I can find one to my liking." William beamed at the idea. "Oh, very good, Miss Constance. Very good, indeed. Then we shall visit, patrons all, when we are here next." William was genuinely glad to hear that so many of his departing crew would be here at Martinique, now and in the future, though another part of him felt a foreboding that so many should remain on this fragment of France in the middle of a wide war. "Go and tell Meg and bring her here for her shares." "Aye, Cap'n." She went out quietly and William sat a long time watching the door. ~Larboard Watches on Duty~

But of course. Now pick a chair not occupied and tell me of you holidays. Were you given any exceptional goodies? Was the pirate tree prominently featured on Christmas? And were you glad to see the departure of 2007 or pleasantly sad?

A nice meatless lasagna sounds so perfectly wonderful right now. Tonight's special...

Photos, I have seen. The tree, I have not.

The Cocoa Tree is my favorite tree in all of the world and I have yet to see one.

August 3, 1704 - Aboard the Watch Dog The payment of wages continued unabated, but for the glaring absence of several crew members, some ashore on business, while others were simply...missing. William tried not to think about the various dangers that might have befallen those still ashore. He tried to and failed. Claude and Cobus had been gone for over two days on an errand that should have taken but one. Ajayi, Klaas and Joshua had disappeared almost instantly in their course. Luigi was shore bound, as was Mister Ranst for the moment. The doctor and her companion were still conspicuously absent and now he had sent another two ashore to find what news they could, hoping not to lose them as well. "Too many fraying ends." William said to no one as he waited for the next able seaman to arrive and receive the coin owed him. Elsewhere... It was once said that 'there is a special providence in the fall of a sparrow', but no such providence, divine or ambivalent could explain away the uncanny luck and the equally uncanny misfortune that visited all of the rest of the world, when Tawny was discovered along the road near the port city of Fort St. Pierre. He had fallen into a ditch there due to a failing will and a persistent reaction to gravity. He had lain there for only an hour, bleeding out from his many injuries. He would have certainly succumbed to the many cuts and punctures in his person if not for the arrival of a man by the name of Lagueux Michaud, a wheelwright of that region. Laqueux himself would have never discovered the wounded madman had it not been for the dog traveling in his company. The short, but proficient bird dog had discovered Tawny the moment thy passed by him and Monsieur Michaud had plucked up the unconscious man and laid him in the cart, altering his course in search of the nearest doctor he could find. Tawny was unaware of any of this as it transpired, though he would have laughed at the irony of escaping the jaws of one dog only to be rescued by another. Certainly no one else would ever laugh about it.

It will be a year of much change and much expectation.

It was a good night and morning. Another year come and gone. In 2007 I was fortunate enough to see Amsterdam for the first time. I also revisited Israel and Egypt. I also traveled To Hawaii for the first time and PIP for a second time. Aye...it was a very good year.

The PIP DVD master copy arrived today. HUZZAH! FREE DRINKS THROUGH MIDNIGHT!

Coooool. That may just be my new favorite frivolous holiday after Talk-Like A Pirate Day. I'm making Key-Lime pie that day.

Call it a delegation of debauchery. The providence of a loyal patronage. Or simply call it free tea and naked women. The view doesn't change with the description.