The Pirate Hunter's Smarter Brother!

[Roberts]

Roberts walked jauntily as he an his green eyed escort left one tavern an headed into th fresh air to look for a better place to sup. At least that is what he told the lass..in truth he did intend they eat summin, but Roberts was lookin for a smaller darker venue where he could watch the locals and perhaps persuade her to see him in a new light.

Just as a promisin place made itself known about th corner Silkie grabbed him by th sleeve an pulled him again th wall. A grin immediately adorned his tanned face. Silke shot him an annoyed look. "Roberts.." she gazed off down th small avenue. The pirate's eyes followed, yet he saw naught but a burro and an old man. "I feel somethin...someone else has come aboard..one o' th' ships..could mean trouble" She looked at him now and there was a hint of dissapoinment. "We must head back " Roberts still didn't understand this "extra sense" of Miss McDonough's, but then there were certain things about a woman he didnt concern hisself wit. Long as everything else was where it belonged. Heaving a sigh he took her arm and they turned back towards the docks.

[Silkie McDonough]

Blast. Just when she was about to find a quiet little corner for the two to dissapear into. That was the problem with covorting with humans, a sense of obligation that she did not have when on her own. Sighing she held tight to Roberts arm as they made their way back to the ships.

She wanted to pulled him into a darkening corner without warning. She wanted to look up into the blue eyes of the big man and tell him"I'm feelin a bit put upon by bein a responsible adult." She wanted to wrap her arms around his waist and pulled herself close and say "I wonts t'ferget doze ships on d'dock n'tink only uv us ...jus fer dis'moment." but she kept walking.

[Ransom]

..."Seems Capitan Navarro knew 'bout our next undertakin'. I believe Spoons made some deal wit' him; since, I still hav command o' the Relentless he appears t' be willin' t' deal wit' me, fer now."

Inwardly, I vowed that if I ever ran into Spoons again, I'd shoot a hole in one of his kneecaps. Outwardly, I attempted to remain calm, as a fit of temper now would solve nothing.

"So, the sum of it is, either we work for the Spaniards, or we attempt to run to Florida and they blast us out of the water? That about it?"

[Ransom]

... Nate handed the dipper to the old salt and walked over to Africa. He too must have had a bad feeling because he was touching the thing that dangled about his neck as he looked to the Relentless. Nate cleared his throat. "Africa, sah, beggin yer pardon, tell me I be wrong but I gots a bad feelin."

Africa, who had been watching the two captains closely, was annoyed when he was interrupted by the one called Nate expressing the same misgivings as he himself had. Therefore he snapped at the man with more anger than he'd intended.

"You feelin's don matter on dis boat. You job to watch dat new man and do as you told. Got no call to talk o' bad feelin's and scare dis crew. Whatever come, da two captains will deal with it."

He turned away from Nate, his attention once again focused on the poop deck of the Relentless.

[Jacky Tar]

"Aye, that 'bout sums it up." I knew we could out run the Spanish galleons, but we'd be sittin' ducks when we anchored at our final destination; if we ever needed or wanted t' return t' Havana or any other Spanish port, we might not get the chance, if we crossed Navarro.

"We don't hav t' sail t' the Dry Tortugas or Florida; we can collect our money an head fer safer harbours. I as much told Navarro, we weren't up fer a treasure hunt." I stared at the docks, an mumbled, "Press ganged, again."

I breathed a heavy sigh an addressed Ransom again, "I can't ask yer self or yer crew t' serve the Spanish. Capitan Navarro, thinks he can buy his way t' nobility an would get there on our backs."

[Red Cat Jenny]

Red Cat spied Jonathan Roberts an Silkie headin back up th' wharf. They were lookin towards th' Rakehell as they picked up their pace.

She turned t' Ransom an narrowed her eyes.."Ain't no one gettin anywhar on me back, me front ..r' any other side!!!!!!" she raised her voice as she finished. Pausing, she interjected uninvited again.."wot money?..wot ye gonna tell th crew ye hired on wit a promise o rewards? If'n ye don't has a sekind mutiny..ye'd best choose a port wit enough provisions an rum t' keep em happy whilst we wait out th Spanish" She waved an arm towards the decks of th two ships as she spoke.

[Black Nate]

"You feelin's don matter on dis boat. You job to watch dat new man and do as you told. Got no call to talk o' bad feelin's and scare dis crew. Whatever come, da two captains will deal with it."

Nate was starting to understand the moore and his moods he thought. He didn't take offense to his gruff tone and did no more than acknowledge what he said with an "Aye, Sah." and headed back to the new man. "Well, I ain't sure where he gone off to, so yer shave is gonna have to wait. I guess yer gonna be stuck wit me til th capin assigns ya to yer own duties. Come forward wit me for a spell, well sort out the lines an coil em."

[Ransom]

My first inclination was to agree with Cat. There was no way I wanted to work for or with the Spanish, nor did I think my crew would agree to it, especially Africa. Out-numbered and out-gunned, we would be, as Jacky had said — sitting ducks. And even if we agreed to help them, all our hard work would go to their gain. Navarro would find some way to cheat us out of any treasure we might find. But I had a few more questions to ask before I made up my mind, and risked us all being taken prisoners.

"Jacky, why is Navarro asking for our help? Surely he has enough ships to make the venture himself, and he has your charts, since I'm sure Spoons, that treacherous dog, made copies. Why does he need us, and what will he do if we refuse to play his game? And is there a way to beat him at his own game, should we be forced to agree to his deal? You know the man better than any of us. Can we outsmart him?"

[Colard Dysart]

When his young guide returned, Colard, noticing that, other than himself and the Blackamoor, the ship was missing her crew, asked, "Sae, I canna help but wonder why yea hae come tae this port, being as how Spain ain't sae friendly with the English at present. Nae that I'm sorry that yea hae done, otherways mae ol' carcass would still be in yonder warehouse, sweatin' mae life away. Foreby, if yea see a wee squint of a man, with bandy legs and a scowl on his face headin' thisaway, I'd favor if yea could pretend yea never heard of me, while I just hunker down behind the capstan, if yea take mae meanin'." He gave young Nate a wink.

[Jacky Tar]

I pondered wot Spoons had told Navarro, an I knew after hidin' the stones that Spoons hadn't found the maps or talismans he'd need fer the journey inland.

"Aye, Spoons made a gambit he'd be able t' procure those things he'd promised t' Navarro, 'fore we reached Havana. I don't think the mutiny were part o' his plan. He probably would hav left the Relentless wit' the other Dutch sailors in tow, once we reached Havana."

I looked around the harbour fer any ship that might be o' Dutch origin. "I'm sure if he had everythin' he needed, Navarro would willingly supply the Dutch crew wit' a ship. The Spanish had captured more than a few Dutch ships." I paused an stared back at Ransom, "Aye, but the status quo remains unchanged. We hav somethin' Navarro wants an he's willin' t' put the Spanish armada 'tween us an somethin' we want."

[Black Nate]

Nate thought a moment before answering the old salt, not sure what all he should say about the ships coming to Havana. He'd heard scuttlebutt from the crew about a mutiny on the Relentless. And they did have an interesting dinner with that Spanish lord. Nate decided to sidestep the question in a way. "Trade goods don't know anything about enemies or allies, an when ya got trade goods, ya go where th market is fer em." As they made their way to the bow of the schooner, Nate pointed to an open spot on the deck. "If yer so afraid o bein spotted, just set yerself there, no one gonna see ya on shore." Nate picked up a bundle of lines and dropped one in front of Colard. "Coil that smartly and th day will go quickly, maybe we'll be leavin this port soon."

[Ransom]

I pondered Jacly's words a moment, then came to a decision.

"I don't fancy working for the Navarros. If we sneek out of the harbor, will he send a whole fleet to stop us, or one or two ships? I know we can outrun, and outsail the galleons, but once we're anchored, the game changes. Can we sail directly to Florida without him finding us?"

[Colard Dysart]

Colard settled to his work, content to let things be for the moment. A ship was a small place, and sooner or later he'd hear what was what. No need ta pry. Besides, he didn't really care what the ship's business was, just so long as he got away from Havana. So he coiled rope, singing an old song as he did so, his gravely voice just above a whisper......"We'll roll....we'll roll...we'll roll...an we'll all hold on behind..."

[Jacky Tar]

"Aye, workin' fer someone wit' a canon pointed at ye head, leaves a lot t' be desired. Still, we've come too far t' turn back."

I paced the deck an pondered our options. "I'll decline Capitan Navarro's offer. After we've taken on provisions an been paid, we'll sail north an see if the Spanish follow. We best avoid the Tortugas fer now. We can sail t' Port Bayou St. Jean; the trappers there are always willin' t' trade."

"O' course there's always the vipers, voodoo women an lord help us... the French t' deal wit'." I chuckled, but Ransom didn't seem amused.

Lookin' more serious, I said, "We can work our way from there around the gulf t' Florida. We could organize a landin' party an avoidin' lengthy anchorage of either ship in Spanish waters."

[Ransom]

At first the whole plan seemed too risky, but then the utter rediculousness and bravado of it all struck me as hilarious—two ships against a Spanish fleet, should Navaro be angry enough to follow?

I gave Jacky a wink and a grin. "Better you wait until after we've been paid before you decline Navarro's offer. Then again, why decline at all. Let's just take our money and leave. I think he'll get the hint."

[Jacky Tar]

Ransom was a scrapper, not that I wanted t' run from a fight, but I didn't want t' start one I couldn't win. "Nay, we will make our goodbyes. If Navarro gives chase, will make 'em wish he hadn't."

My crew was a bit lean an the port o' St. Jean was a several days out; so, I wondered how the crew would take the news regardin' our next port o' call?

"Ransom, we will need t' prepare t' leave Havana. Best inform yer crew o' the change." I paused, "Let's keep any discussion 'bout future plans just t' the next port o' call, shall we?"

[Ransom]

"Round up my crew?" I laughed. "Other than Africa, Nate, and that new man, Colard, my crew is on shore getting drunk as lords. I told them to stay within site of the ship in case we had to leave in a hurry, but it will still take me a while to find them and sober them up. How much time do I have? It will be Nate and myself to look for them, as Africa won't leave the ship, nor will this Colard fellow, who appears to have issues with a certain dockside warehouse manager."

I turned, heading for the main deck, but paused and looked back over my shoulder at Jacky. "You know luv, at time you may make me crazy, you may make me furious, and you may make me feel like a queen, but blast, life around you is never boring."

With a final wink, I returned to the Rakehell to collect Nate, and start the arduous job of finding a bunch of drunken sailors.

[Black Nate]

Nate coiled the lines along wit the new man who sang a shanty in time. Nate did not join in, but did hum along at times, more keeping his attention on the work and the deck. He watched as captain Ransom made her way on deck and had a talk with the big moore before heading forward to where he and Colard worked. She needed Nate to help her round up the rest of the crew ashore, saying they might be leaving port in a hurry. Nate saluted the captain and just before following her turned back to the old salt. "See? we'll be leavin port in a hurry. Keep up th good work an we'll be shovin off right quick!" Nate stepped lively to catch up to Ransom who told Nate to head into one of the taverns, muttering something about how they would set sail when the men were probably so into their cups they couldn't walk a straight line.

[Colard Dysart]

Colard nodded as young Nate left with the captain, glad that he had not been asked to go with them in search of the other crew members. Though, truth be told, Colard could probably describe by rote the interior and proprietor of every tavern along the docks, being as how he'd been drunk in all of them. Just as he was feeling all content with his lot, he heard a shouting. Peering through the skuppers, he saw his former employer running up and down the wharf, shaking his fists and and cursing flamboyantly. Colard hunkered down even lower, his back to the wharf, pulled his knit cap over his ears, and kept coiling rope.

[Jacky Tar]

Aye, I didn't envy Ransom collectin' her drunken crew. Wot little crew I had left was still aboard, except Roberts an Silkie, whom I spied driftin' along the docks.

Dillard, Stones, Jonesy an Smithe were stowin' provisions Raphael Navarro's men had delivered. I noted we still had aboard a few Dutch sailors, whom accordin' t' Dillard, had not sided wit' Spoons; at this point I was glad t' hav any extra able-bodied seaman.

I sent word t' Raphael that I desperately needed a cook, an a reminder that I still had some undelivered cargo fer him. I believe a meal t'night at a nearby inn, fer the crew might be in order, as well.

Hearin' Ransom's partin' remarks, I mumbled t' me self, "A couple o' borin' days at sea would suit me just fine, right now."

[Ransom]

It took Nate and me the better part of two hours to round up the crew. Tunny, and Jimmy Cox were still standing, but drunk as lords. Goose we found passed out under a table and had to drag out to the street, and Ludo, wine cup in hand, was singing Italian arias to a group of applauding Spaniards, who had even brought out a guitar and a fiddle to accompany him. Ludo ended his song with a flourish, gave a theatrical bow, received a standing ovation, then allowed us to lead him away.

Once back on board the Rakehell, everyone's drunken attention turned to the old man crouched in the stern coiling rope.

"Who th' hell issh that, then?" Tunny asked, squinting through bloodshot eyes.

"New crew member," I replied. "Now get below, all of you. Africa has hot coffee for everyone. If you're not sober and back on deck in twenty minutes, I've given him permission to toss you overboard." I turned to Nate, who was attempting to hold up Goose. "Give Africa a hand, then come back on deck, collect Colard, and start getting the ship ready to sail."

[Silkie McDonough]

Silkie and the rogue, walking arm in arm, flirting back and forth, greeted Jacky with a smile. “Capan’, twas bout t’ave a bite…” she grinned up at Jonathan for a moment, but turning back to the captain, her body language and voice reflected the resignation she felt about returning to the ship “got a feelin we was needed ere”

“Aye, preparing to leave port.”

Roberts and McDonough exchanged wide eyed glances and raised eyebrows.

[Black Nate]

"Give Africa a hand, then come back on deck, collect Colard, and start getting the ship ready to sail."

Nate went to salute the captain and almost dropped Goose, so instead he bowed his head. "Aye-aye Ma'am, sah!" He helped Goose below and sat him down with a cup of coffee before heading back on deck to pull, push and heave other crew down to the galley and plied each of them with coffee. "Drink up, sober up you lot! We got work ta do! Capin wants ta make sail th sooner th better!" Nate made sure to yell in the galley to prick up their drunken ears. He grinned his wild grin and headed topside. He spied Colard still doing a fine job of coiling the lines. "Oi Colard, fine work there. Come help me rig the moorin lines ta ready fer makin sail, then lets hope th rest o th crew are sober enough ta help raise sail we can leave this port, none too soon." As Nate headed to work the mooring lines, he looked over to the Relentless, wondering what all had happened and where the Red Cat might be. Another hand aboard would make the work go faster.

[Jacky Tar]

Hoping t' lift Silkie's spirits, I said, "We'll be visitin' a local inn fer a bite 'fore we shove off."

T' Roberts, "We set sail fer Port Bayou St. Jean t'morrow, I'll explain later why the change." Roberts nodded, an didn't look too surprised.

I was still concerned Capitan Navarro would not be happy wit' me refusal of his offer; but I knew we'd be better off wit' out any deals from him. I'd sent Smithe t' give my answer t' the capitan an I was anxious fer Smithe t' return.

[Ransom]

Activity aboard the Relentless didn't indicate that we would be leaving port any time soon. With a sigh, I wondered just when Jacky would hoist anchor and leave Havana behind.

After about ten minutes, a few of my crew stumbled back up on deck, still drunk but at least able to function — well almost.

On reflection, I decided that maybe a few more hours at anchor might not be a bad idea.