Spoons

I waited, and waited, when finally Smithe appeared with something from the galley, as was promised. "Good lad," I said, as I reached for the food set in front of my new quarters. "What's all this banter 'bout sharks?" I asked, but I didn't wait for an answer. "Does Mister Tar, have you diving in shark infested waters for a few bits of treasure? Which he intends to trade for more of that water, he's always going on about!" "Ever tasted that water? Nasty brackish stuff," I said, as greedily swallowed my meager meal. Running my sleeve across my mouth, I added, "Seems a sensible man would go to the source of that water and take all he wants, and keep the gold." I watched Smithe scowl, as he walked away. He glanced back over his shoulder, as if he wanted to say something, but he just kept walking. I snickered, "Poor Smithe, empty pockets and he's never been offered that water. He'll be back."

"Oi!" I shouted at a passing sailor, "Does your captain now starve prisoners aboard this ship?" "Nay! He snarled, "We serves 'em up t' the sharks, t' see who's hungrier." "Aye, I could do with a bit of shark meat," I muttered. I spied Dillard with some spoils from the bilge, and asked the same question. "I'll ask Smithe to fetch you something to eat from the galley," he said, as he hastily retreated to the main deck.

The capitan pointed a bony finger in my direction, and said, "¡Usted no es parte de mi equipo y usted no es incluso español!" He then gestured to his crew, and they deposited me into the sea. As I bobbed in the water, I watched the galleon change course, and sail away.

I glance up at the main, and watched as the sails went slack for a moment. "That can't be." I muttered, and noticed how quiet the ship had gotten. I stared in disbelief, as sailors, gunners, and marines all left their stations to gather about the capitan. I shouted, "Have you all gone mad? That's not a welcoming party, coming to greet you! They'll send us to the bottom, as surely as I'm standing here, if you don't return to your stations." But my pleas fell on deaf ears. The entire crew was in a trance, or worse, I concluded. The capitan was just standing there, with his eyes closed. I just wished he'd open his eyes, and when he finally did, I wished he hadn't. "His eyes are black as coal!" I muttered fearfully.

Not only did it appear that we were gaining on Mister Tar's little fleet, but the flotilla had changed course, and was coming to meet us. "What are you up too, Jacky Tar?" I muttered. I doubted that the capitan would entertain another parley, under a flag of truce. I also didn't believe Mister Tar would challenge the galleon, with so few guns. The capitan, and his crew were excitedly preparing for the impending engagement. All I could do was watch the event unfold, as the ships drew closer. "Fools!" I cursed. Mister Tar could only hope to cripple the larger vessel, and flee. The realization that it was more likely that the galleon would send the Relentless to the bottom of the sea, and the maps with it, made my heart sink.

We awoke to cannon fire and a night sky. The capitan was quite a sight, in the moon light, without his breeches. He strode across the deck, kicking and cursing those still unconscious. The ship began to move, very slowly, as if it too suffered a protracted hangover. Thankfully, the capitan had retired to his cabin, to regain his dignity. When the capitan came back on deck, we were advancing on the location of my ship. As we got closer, it was apparent that the ship was not as I had left it. The ship was badly damaged, and could not get underway. This seemed to reignite the capitan's fury, and he ordered the Spanish soldiers back to his ship. With the soldiers back aboard the galleon, the capitan seemed willing to leave my ship behind. I pleaded with the capitan that I be allowed to return to my ship, and help make repairs. It was then that he ordered the broadside, and finished the sinking of my ship, with the remaining crew aboard her. The first mate asked if I still wanted to return to my ship, as we left it and this bay behind us. I bit my tongue, and didn't answer, but I assured myself I would not forget this night.

A launch, sailing under a white flag, approached the galleon. Two lads at the oars, Mister Tar (I believe) at the tiller, and a lass at the bow of the boat. "What are you up too, Mister Tar?" I remarked. The launch came along side, and damned if the capitan wasn't welcoming them aboard!

As the net was hoisted on to the main deck, I heard gasps. A few sailors even crossed themselves, when the net was pulled open. Fore where a sea lion had been, now sat a lady, barely covered by a skin of some kind. "Back away, you fools!" I shouted, "You there, find her some clothes." I stepped forward and covered her with my cloak. Before, I could help her to her feet, the ships' boson clapped irons on her ankles. I turned to protest to the capitan, but he was busy giving orders to have her taken below.

"Very well, since you have no interest in sunken Spanish galleons, mayhaps you'll loan the Sealkie, to us." "Then we'll leave you to patch up your differences with the captain of the Rakehell, and be on our way."

"Well Mister Tar, Capitan Navarro is not one to take no for an answer, and the Spanish galleon is here to see that you acquiesce to his request. Permission to come aboard, Mister Tar?" "He only sent one galleon?" Jacky quipped. "And two more outside the bay." I retorted. "I'll take the request on advisement, an ye alone may come aboard, Spoons." He said, as a crew member of the Relentless lowered a ladder, from the waist of the Relentless.

The capitan was seething, the Relentless had fired upon us. The blast had struck us in the stern, and wrecked the capitans quarters! But it was only one blast, not the bombardment one would of expected, and for now all was deadly quiet. That is, the cannons on both ships were quiet, while their captains roared like wounded lions. I thought because of all the obscenities that were uttered, cannon blasts would be exchanged; but, instead a white flag was hoisted above the main, of the Spanish galleon.

"Capitan, you are about to draw fire from the Relentless," I said. "May I suggest you, change course, run up a flag of truce, and close a few gun portals, ahora!" Would he comply, or would Jacky fire first. I didn't have to wait long, to find out. The capitan was shouting orders, and we were veering away from both ships.

The Rakehell changed tack away from the Relentless, to make a run for the smaller lakes at the north end of the bay. It was then that the Spanish galleon came in to full view for the crew of the Relentless.

The Rakehell lurched, as two rounds struck the ship on the port side, near the water line. The ship's crew was now in peril on two fronts. Spoons chuckled, "Hello, to you." The Spanish captain bellowed out orders and prepared to sink the smaller ship.

As the Dutch fluyt left the harbour o' Havana, I considered the bargain that had been struck. Aye, I had command of a ship again, but Navarro had picked most of my crew. Some were passable sailors, most were soldiers put aboard to insure I'd keep my end o' the bargain. The ship was called the Zwaluw, she was lightly armed and required only a small crew to sail her. No threat to a Spanish galleon, a decent merchant ship at best. Word had been sent that the Relentless had charted a course for St. Jean. So, I wondered, whom does Mister Tar need t' see there, and why? I also wondered, how was I going t' get all these Spaniards off my ship.