William Brand

Aye, Monsignor. You have discovered gold indeed! Well done, my good sir.

I was about my duties, Monsignor. Since waking, I have put tasks to several officers. I have spent a good while caulking the ship. I spent a considerable time on the subject of those cannons both functional and not with our Quartermaster. I spoke at length with Mister Lassester about the filling of positions aboard the Watch Dog. I greeted new recruits and gave orders regarding personal weapons. I made updates to the ship's armory and the ship's muster. And now that the day is waxing to its end, I am venturing into town to fetch back those supplies befitting my office. (A slow smile spreads across William's face as one eyebrow rises up.) Did I not seem busy to you, my good Diego? And what have you discovered? (Smiling again) Tell me that it is gold to finance the ship's repairs.

(William spends his day along side the caulkers and pitch boilers. Not since Amsterdam has he spent more time working on any ship. The Tsunami notwithstanding. It is a warm day and not a little moist out on the water and William takes care not too spend too much time in the sun, taking his work into the lower holds amongst the perilous angles of the pitched over decks. It is at once disorienting and strangely fascinating to the Watch Dog hauled over from the inside. Then William informs the Master Carpenter of his plans to go into town and buy the necessary log books, chart papers, callipers, dividers, inks, quills and all else needed to keep one's ship well recorded and well charted.)

(William returns from his private discussion of the Watch Dog and hails the newly arrived guests.) Good morning, Miss Tudor and Mister Ciaran. Welcome aboard. Please, Monsignor, let them maintain their arms and weapons until such a time as either I or Mister Lasseter can put them into storage. With the ship on this pitch it is impossible to take them now. Now, if you are willing to begin service at once, see to the various officers in charge if the caulking and we will discuss your services this evening.

William asks Mister Youngblood to 'please touch off the 12 pounder to rouse all who might still be a-bed.' (William walks briskly down to the shoreline and has two sailors row him out to the Watch Dog.) Fire off the swivel again, Mister Lasseter, and once the tasks of the day are set in motion I should like to speak to you on several subjects as touching the ship and her crew.

(William walks the night beach and takes note of a the few lights still burning aboard the Watch Dog. Then he turns back to the fort after pondering long on the subject of positions yet to be filled and tasks to be completed. He passes a dutiful watchman at the fortress gate with a passing nod and slips into the silent yard of the fortress. He smiles at the finishing touches left by Mister Hawks. Thoughts of smithing carry him to the newly completed forge. It's been a lifetime since he picked up the tongs and hammer. He takes out the knife that Big Mike made him so long ago and remembers the cold nights when the forge was almost not enough to keep them warm as they worked to make steel into knives and spearheads. He turns a corner of the tower to find a man half asleep at his watch. Still in too good of a mood at the days accomplishments, he relieves the man of his post without too much scolding. The sailor scurries off in embarrassment and with not a little enthusiasm at the thought of sleep as William remains, shouldering the musket under a sky pocked with stars.)

Also, Mister Youngblood. We have a man in our midst who cast his vote with you when the position of Captain came into question... A Mister Johnson. A most capable man. He is swift to respond to orders and sees to tasks that need to be accomplished without being asked. He has shown great interest in the three quarter murder guns at the stern and has already proven that he has some understanding of their maintenance. When occasion permits, please instruct Mister Johnson in the loading and firing of the swivel guns. I believe he will prove to be superior to all others aboard, with the exception to yourself of course, when it comes to clearing the decks when the need arises.

If the good Doctor has no objections, I would gladly have you see to the cannons. You may do no work, but I will give you leave to take three able seaman from the ranks for the purpose of testing each cannon. Put the three men on watch here at the fort and we shall fire the canno mid-day tomorrow. I see no harm in this, Mister Youngblood. The position of Master-at-Arms has not been filled, so the keeping of the roster is in the hands of either myself or Mister Lasseter. When you return to the Watch Dog you may give the arms to me or to him.

(William goes ashore and into the fort where he finds the Master Gunner attending to the position of the cannons.) Do they meet with your approval?

You can't throw out the cook!! lol ...but you can give him a day off if you like.

(William extends his thanks at the accomplishment of each task and listens carefully to each and every request placed before him. Then he addresses each crew member in turn.) Good, Doctor. Please take three able seaman from amongst the crew and move what you need to the fort. The room at the base of the tower is sufficient for both kitchen and surgery, having the two largest rooms of the fort. You are welcome to house yourself and Armand in the room furthest from the cook fires and you will find fresh water housed at the rear of the tower. There are bunks enough for the two of you unless we should have wounded sooner than expected. I pray you have no patients from accidents ashore or from the repairs. (turning to Mister Lasseter.) I leave the preparations, as they are, in your capable hands, sir. Please extend my compliments to Mister Badger. (addressing the Monsignor) I believe you and the carpenter are free to decide the best course of action as regards the caulking. Thank you for stepping in and steading the momentum of our work. I shall go ashore and walk the ramparts of the fort. I am anxious to see the blacksmith's work.

(hands Mercenary a key to the Kate.) Duty calls me elsewhere, so I leave you a key for your room and the larder. I will pass out three keys in all, but to you shall go the first, since you live on the premises. The cabin is yours for the duration. I only ask that my room be kept locked and that you mind the stores when you are about. I'll find a few other managers to help with the place, but mind the cook. He seems angry most of the time, but it is reflected more in his face than his disposition.

Thank you, Monsignor. That would speed us along well. (Turns to Master Lasseter) Free up all the fresh water stores to the workers today and we'll put together a bucket brigade tomorrow and bring fresh stores from the river behind the fort. (Walks over to Tempest) Doctor, you have the run of the workers today. You may interrupt any woman or man at their duty to apply what ointment and liniments as they may need if it does not hinder them too much from their labor.

Thank you, Mister Lasseter. Since we are still near to shore and our stores can be renewed, you can inform the crew that there shall be an extra rum ration for all at the ending of the day.

Welcome back, Mister Badger. Once you have eaten would you do us the honor of maneuvering the ship into the cove?

With my recent appointment to the Watch Dog as Captain, I'm in need of extra help around the Tsunami Kate. Please leave a resume on the counter if I'm not in.

Some quiche for Tempest and Jim. and a Kahlua Coffee with a little bit extra.

(William takes his portion of food to the table and spends his time there eating and listening to the gossip, conversations and everyday din of sailors at their meal. He notes the individual and unique dialects of each crew member. "So many nations in one hold. So many tongues.", he muses to himself." A man might life a year among this cross section of humanity and learn much." He takes note of the new faces and wonders, not for the first time, how many of them will be here in a year's time. Fate is fickle. Then he see Mister Johnson.) "Mister Johnson! I wonder that you should have made such a new murder gun out of the old one. Why, I've not seen a polish on any cannon, knew or old to match the light coming off the stern swivel. (laughs) Our enemies shall mark us at fifty leagues. Excellent work. The gun is much improved. I was almost loathe to test it for the tarnish. The thing was apt to blow up in my face, but now... You have taken to it with admirable instinct. You'll be teaching me the swivel before long."

Thank you, Christine. This is excellent fare and it will keep the lads and lasses fit for the many hours of work ahead. Do you see the need for any changes or modifications to the galley and larder?

It would be my pleasure sir to recreate the flag for you. Please send me the largest version of it that you have to william@towerravens.com and I will recreate it for you. You can buy me lunch at PIP this December.

Todays' Special is Quiche Lorraine with bacon...

You don't need a crew, ship or garb to have a flag. You just need an insane and unexplainable desire to fly a flag and stand beneath it shouting bucket loads of 17th century jargon to the hills. The rest will come in time.

No, Doctor. It won't inconvenience anyone. We have no such use for space, since we have no such officers and are not likely to. The Watch Dog is a converted Merchantman and therefore, she has a smaller gun deck and most of the walls aft are permanent. A true frigate oft times has walls that can be removed, but the Watch Dog is no true frigate. As for my quarters, they are fixed, as are most of the rooms aft. We may choose to change the nature of the cabins at some future time, but for the present I would rather see the surgery made adequate for our wounded should there be any. (William thanks the Doctor again and goes above decks)

(William walks over to the chair and laying his coat and shirt aside, he rest himself in the chair.) I believe my neck and shoulder is the cause of the trouble, but mostly it is the neck. All of the pain and discomfort has settled in the larboard side making it difficult to turn me head to starboard. If it doesn't resolve itself soon I shall drift to the left. *Chuckling* I cannot see where such listing should prove of benefit. *With gentle care, runs her hands over the afflicted areas to see where the tauntness begins and where it radiates to. Applying the balm and pressure she steadily kneads the areas where the knoting is most obvious and works outward to where the tauntness dissipates* Do not fall asleep on me now, William. I fear my small frame would not be enough to keep you from toppling off your perch. You should feel a heating sensation for a brief of time as the balm works its magic. I do not feel anything of major wrong...simply a case of muscular protest to an overlong held position through the night. *Continues to work the muscles for twenty minutes, then checks the tauntness of the once afflicted areas and stands back with approval* Good as new, or perhaps even better...I did notice areas that seemed to echo old injuries and have worked their offences to the wayside. Check back with me if they should flare again. As you were, my dear. (William swivels his neck first left and then right, popping it on both sides. Then standing up he rotates his left arm at the shoulder, smiling with approval.) Thank you, Doctor. Thank you very much. You've added a year and a day back to my neck. (Turns to go and then stops in the doorway.) Doctor, I thought that you should know that I am moving you into the space that is generally reserved for the second and third mates. Then I shall have the wall between this space, and the added opening forward into the gunnery deck, altered into a larger surgery. I believe that this will supply you with ample room for your craft and an easier egress from your cabin to the tables of operation. The bunks of the second and third mates shall remain. One for you and one for your assistant. Then we shall construct three more bunks along the length of the new space for patients. This will also put you closer to the gunnery deck so that the wounded need not be hauled through the narrow confines of the hall. I'm going to have the bulkhead beyond the new surgery reinforced and thickened to shield you and yours somewhat better from the noise and debris of the gunnery deck. This may also improve the amount of light to the surgery, as there is ample space above to add a skylight over the new room , to say nothing of the additional indirect light from the widened passage. Of course, if you would prefer some other arrangement I can see what can be done, but I do believe this will afford you the most space we can allow without sacrificing too much of the rear gunnery deck. What is your thinking on the matter?