Relentless and Rakehell

[Ransom]

Jimmy felt a little bad about eating so much, when his shipmates were still trying to digest Goose's stew. But hell, everything had smelled and tasted so good, he couldn't help himself. He tucked the sausage into his pocket and returned to the Rakehell with the letter and bag of food.

Tunny met him on deck, and his nose started twitching. "Wot's that I smell?"

"Nuthin'," Jimmy said with haste, moving toward the captain's cabin.

"Yer a lyin' dog, Jimmy Cox, 'cause I know a sausage when I smells one." Tunny grabbed for Jimmy's shirt, and started to pat him down, looking for the hidden food. "And wot's in the bag?"

"Belay that, ya swine," Jimmy batted away at his assailent. "I got a letter to deliver to the captain. And this bag be full o provisions, but it's fer the captain ta decide who get wot."

"You'll not be takin' a step until ya unload that cargo o' meat." Tunny stood his ground.

With a sigh of regret, Jimmy pulled the half eaten sausage link out of his pocket and handed it to Tunny. The stocky man placed it under his nose and took a deep breath. "Ah, tis the real thing, this is." Then he shoved the piece into his mouth, a look of rapture on his face.

Jimmy went quickly below to give the captain the message from the Relentless, and to let her know that extra provisions had come with it.

[Jacky Tar]

I thought about the feedin' frenzy, aboard the Rakehell, when they pulled out those lobsters. I hoped my letter was as well received; if not, I better have the gunner roll out the cannons.

"Stones, keep an eye out fer the captain of the Rakehell. She might try t' board us, and take our cook!" Or worse I thought, leave hers.

[Ransom]

"Lobsters? He sent lobsters?" I peered into the bag, and sure enough, it was full of the fat cooked creatures. Then Jimmy handed me Jacky's reply to my note.

"Leave one of those here." I indicated the contents of the sack. "The rest of them you and the crew can fight over. Goose gets last pick."

Jimmy grinned, knuckled his forehead, and left the cabin.

I sat at my desk and read the reply, which was a bit confusing. Did he think we were all starving to death? I didn't need provisions, we had plenty of those. I needed someone who knew how to cook them. Not that I didn't appreciate the lobster.

But it was the invitation to dinner that surprised me. Not long ago, he'd declined my offer of dinner aboard the Rakehell. Even after I had promised to have it catered. I'd gotten the distint impression I had scared him off. Now here he was, inviting me to the Renlentless. What should I make it? Maybe, I thought, he feels safer on his own ground.

I gave a little snort of amusement. What the hell did the man think I was going to do to him? Only one way to find out.

I pulled out a sheet of paper and dipped my quill into the little silver and glass inkwell, and composed my reply.

From the Rakehell

To Captain Tar

My crew and I thank you for the lobsters. I accept your kind invitation to dinner, on the condition that I send over head of time my cook, so he can observe the preperations. If this is agreeable to you, what time should I arrive?"

With respect,

Ransom

I folded and sealed the note, then walked to the door, opened it and shouted for Goose. He appeared moments later, his face smeared with lobster juice.

"Take this to the Relentless and wait for a reply."

[Jacky Tar]

Another crew member from the Rakehell was at the gangplank of the Relentless, and requestin' t' give me a letter, from their captain. "Blast, is that woman goin' t' send 'em one by one, t' be fed?"

I looked over the side of the ship, and saw the sorriest excuse of a sailor I'd ever seen. I yelled to him, "Stand fast! Wot's yer name sailor?" He weakly replied, "Goose."

"Ye the cook from the Rakehell." He replied, he was the cook. "Stones, do we still have a laundry tub and brushes on the dock?" Stones smiled and said, "Aye, Mister Tar, and lye soap aplenty." I looked seriously at Stones, "I don't care how much he protests, but see that Goose has a bath, and burn those rags he's wearin'. Then show him to the galley, to report t' Spoons fer galley duty." Stones chuckled and looked down at the skinny man, and started down the gangplank.

[Spoons]

A skinny man, smelling like lye soap, and wearing badly fitting slops is escorted into the galley by Stones.

"Ye must be Goose!" He looks too scared to answer. "Stones, ye can leave us, now." Goose mutters something about having had a bath this month, already. "Aye, a bath and new clothes, a fine introduction. Well, I'm Spoons and Mister Tar informed me that you'll be working in the galley. So, we will start by you learning some cleaning duties." He starts to protest, "Goose, you don't want me to call Stones back in, do you?" He shakes his head. "Good, a clean galley is where we will begin."

[Ransom]

Goose hadn't known what the letter he carried said, but he hadn't expected a bath before he could go on board. Screeching and protesting, to no avail, he was scrubbed to within an inch of his life, given fresh clothes, then hussled down to the galley, where a man called Spoons gave him a look of dispare, and started giving him orders.

"I don't rightly know why I'm here" he pleaded.

Spoons gave him another look, as if a piece of fouled meat had been tossed into his cook pot, and informed him he was there to learn how to cook

Goose nodded, somewhat distracted by the wonderful aroma coming from the stove. "So, what are we cookin' fer um? And, will there be leftovers, do ya think?"

Spoons just rolled his eyes.

[Jacky Tar]

Returnin' t' the galley, I see Spoons has things well in hand. Goose's hair is tied back, and he is busy scrubbin' pots and pans.

"Spoons, I hope Captain Ransom will be joinin' me fer dinner. I would like ye t' prepare Toad in a hole, roasted potatoes, and English peas." Goose mutters somethin' about bad meals and frogs. I smile, "Goose, we all eat the same meals." Goose starts t' look green, "Goose ye best come topside fer some air!"

Goose, and I go up t' the main deck; he t' the main deck railin', and I scan the deck for Dillard.

[Dillard]

I've been busy inspecting rigging and checking sail cloth. All, appear to be in good condition, and we should be able leave port on schedule. We took on more fresh water today, and more provisions.

Mister Tar and a sailor from the galley have come on deck. I'm hailed by Mister Tar, and given the task of collecting a Captain Ransom, from the ship Rakehell. Seems Captain Ransom is to dine with Mister Tar.

I set out for a brisk walk to the dock of the Rakehell. Good chance to stretch my legs and opportunity to get off the Relentless, sooner than I thought I would. The Rakehell is a bald headed schooner, she looked fast, with raked masts.

I approached the Rakehell, there didn't appear to be anyone aboard, and I didn't see a soul on deck. "Ahoy, crew of the Rakehell, permission to come aboard!"

[Ransom]

Africa heard the hail and walked to the dock side of the ship. A man he didn't know was standing there. Due the the nature of the Rakehell's usual line of business, strangers were looked on with suspicion.

"What you want with dis ship?"

[Dillard]

Mister Tar made no mention of dealings with slavers! Of course the imposing man, standing there, could be a crew member. "Don't jump to conclusions, Dillard," I mumbled.

"I was sent to escort Captain Ransom, back to my ship the Relentless, at the request of Mister Tar! Is your captain aboard?"

[Ransom]

"You wait there, while I check."

Africa went to the captain's door and knocked.

"Yes?"

He opened the door and poked his head in. "There be some raggedy-man callin' for you. He say he from the Relentless to escort you."

"What kind of raggedy-man?" the captain asked.

Africa shrugged his big shoulders. "Don know. Never see him before."

"Well, tell him to head on back to his ship. I'm not ready to leave yet, and I can find my own way to the Relentless. Tell him to relay to his captain that I'll be along in about half an hour."

"Aye, Captain." Then he shut the door and returned to the rail. The raggedy man was still waiting.

"Captain Ransom say you go back to Relentless. She be along soon and can find her own way."

[Dillard]

She? Did he say she? I looked up at the large man, and shouted, "I'll wait, thank you!" I found a crate to sit on, and made myself comfortable.

[Ransom]

Africa shrugged, then went to relay the message to the Captain. "Dat raggedy man say he goin' to wait."

She looked amused. "Is he, by God. Well, I need to change clothes. I may need you later, to tighten some corset strings."

"What you mean?"

"Just what I said. I don't have a maid, in case you haven't noticed, and I plan to dress lady-like for this dinner. I can't tie my own bodice strings, so you're elected to do the job."

Africa was alarmed at this statement. He'd never seen the captain in anything other then a conglomeration of men's clothing. "Why you need to dress up for dis dinner?"

She smiled. "Every maneuver needs a strategy, Africa. Fancy dress is mine."

He eyed her with suspicion. "It dat man, isn't it. You been actin' funny ever since you come off dat ship."

He received a glare for answer. "You just be near at hand when I need you."

[Jacky Tar]

Dillard should have been back by now, wit' Captain Ransom.

"Stones, I'm going ashore." Stones didn't look surprised, as I started down the gangplank. I was worried, but tried not t' show it. The walk calmed my nerves, and I arrived at the dock of the Rakehell, in short order.

I was surprised, and pleased t' see Dillard on the dock, "Mister Dillard!" He stood immediately, and explained that Captain Ransom was not ready to leave.

I gave him permission t' return t' the ship, and told him that I would escort the captain, to the Relentless. Dillard looked amused, but didn't comment and returned to the ship.

Now, I waited...

[Ransom]

As he pulls bodice strings, Africa mumbles under his breath. "Don see why you gots ta put on dis get-up just for eatin' dinner."

I hold on to my desk to keep from being pulled over backwards, and suck in air as the bodice gets tighter. I decide the French woman for whom it was intended must have been far more petite than I. But I liked the look of the sky-blue silk, and when Africa was finished, I could tell even he was impressed.

I pinned my hair up, then slipped my feet into a pair of satin shoes decorated with jeweled buckles, and prepared to step from the cabin.

"How you goin' ta get off dis ship in dos shoes?" He cocked an eye.

I lifted my chin. "I'll have you know, I wore clothes like this all the time, before turning...well, taking to sea. I have danced all night in just such a pair, so I'm sure I can make it off the Rakehell without mishap."

However, it had been seven years since I'd danced at those balls, so when I tripped over the skirt and nearly fell, I heard a snort of "I told you so" behind me. With a glare at my first mate, and hoisting up the bloody skirt, I made it up on deck.

The rest of the crew stood goggle-eyed, then I heard a few snickers. Tunny gave me a courtly bow. "Who'd have thought it. Guess ya can make a silk purse out o a sow's ear after all." He grinned.

"I'll show you who's a sow, you crab-faced son of a sea-worm!" Unforetunatly, I'd forgotten that I no longer had my rapier at my side.

With an oath, I turned to the rail. I saw it was no raggedy-man who waited for me, but Jacky himself. With another oath, it ocured to me that I had to walk the narrow wooden plank that connected the Rakehell to the dock. With chin high, and trying to retain what dignity I had left, I picked up my skirts, just as I would if crossing a London High Street, and started across, praying I wouldn't trip in my delicate shoes, which pinched my feet someting awful.

[Jacky Tar]

The creakin' of the Rakehell gangplank caused me t' turn my head, and what I saw made me think I was dreamin'. I must of fallen asleep, while waitin' fer Ransom. Fer surely Goose's cookin' couldn't be that bad, that she would put on a gown?

But, just as this dream like vision was about t' step onto the dock, upon which I stood, her slippered foot got caught. She fell forward into my out stretched arms, and started wit' curses that would make any seaman blush! Aye, it were no dream and this were no ordinary lady.

[Ransom]

"Cursed skirts!" I snarled, trying to get myself straightened out. Jacky, ever the gentleman, held my elbow so I wouldn't fall again, but the little smirk on his face didn't make me feel any better about my loss of pride.

Nor did the laughter coming from my own crew. I turned to shout at them, "One more titter out of you lot, and I'll cut your rum ration." There was instant silence on deck.

I turned to Jacky. "I'm fine, so you can let go of me, sir." With a final tug on the constricting bodice, a breath to calm myself, and a wince, as the blasted shoes were already putting blisters on my heels, I faced the captain of the Relentless.

"Not quite the entrance I had intended to make. You should be back on your ship, waiting for me, not here on the dock. I told that other escort you sent that I could find my own way." I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him. "Now you've spoiled my surprise."

[Jacky Tar]

Not wantin' t' take too much pleasure, from Ransom's fall from grace, I tried t' look more serious. "Ye certainly know how t' make an exit!" It's not one I'm goin' t' forget anytime soon, I thought.

I decided it was best we depart the dock, and leave the pryin' eyes of the crew of the Rakehell behind. I offered her my arm, and apologized profusely fer not sendin' a carriage.

This had been a day of surprises, not the least Ransom's surprisin' attire.

[Ransom]

We'd only taken a few steps when I decided the shoes had to go. "Damn and blast." I halted, shook the shoes off my feet, picked them up, then heaved them at the deck of the Rakehell. With a wide grin on his face, Africa caugt one of them, but the other missed, bounced off the side of the hull, and splashed into the water.

Wisely, Jacky made no comment. I met his amused eyes and merely shrugged. "Been on a ship too long, I guess. I used to dance all night in shoes like that. Can't imagine doing that these days. I've forgotten what it was like to be a silly girl, with nothing on my mind but balls and parties. Never thought I'd miss all that, but sometimes I do."

[Jacky Tar]

"If I may say, ye look loverly." We started t' walk toward the Relentless, and I halted t' ask, "Do ye want me t' hail someone aboard yer ship, t' fetch ye some walkin' shoes?"

[Ransom]

I laughed. "Don't be silly man. I prefer barefoot to almost any other state of foot. Other than that, maybe a fine pair of boots."

I put my arm through his, and smile. "Lead on, sir. I believe we're keeping Spoons waiting."

[Jacky Tar]

I felt my chest swell wit' pride, when she took my arm. I had t' remind myself, this attire she wore by design. I gladly let her play her games wit' me, fer now.

The walk to the Relentless, was not long enough. We stepped up t' the gangplank, and I hailed the ship, "Permission t' come aboard!" Stones came t' the main railin', "Aye, Mister Tar... and lady?" I walked ahead of her, to lead her up the narrow walk. Barefoot and surefooted, she did not require my assistance.

We stepped onto the deck, and were greeted wit' stares and smiles. Thankfully, the way t' the galley was clear. We decended down the steps t' the galley.

[Ransom]

As we walked along, I could see Jacky had a lttle extra strut to his walk. Inwardly I smiled. I figured the dress was already doing its work, even if he guessed what it was for.

After I crossed to the Relentless, I could see Spoons look of surprize. I wondered how the cooking lessens he was to give Goose had gone.

With a tingle of anticipation, I let Jacky lead me below.

[Jacky Tar]

As we enter the galley, I'm relieved t' see Spoons had taken Goose in hand, and things were as I had left them. The smells were agreeable, and nothin' burnt lingered in the air. Goose is shellin' peas, and has chopped some mint, for the English peas. The toads in a hole are bakin', and the potatoes roastin'.

Goose's color has returned, and he looks quite pleased wit' himself. Spoons re-enters the galley, and smiles at us, and pats Goose on the shoulder.

"Spoons I just wanted Captain Ransom, t' see that in fact Goose was in the galley, and receivin' yer fine instruction." Spoons looks like he doesn't recognize Captain Ransom, and offers t' serve us in my quarters on the hour.

Ransom looks genuinely surprised by Goose's appearance, and inspects the meal preparation wit' keen interest.

[Ransom]

Goose looked up when the two captains entered the galley. He nearly dropped his bowl of peas when he saw Ransom. Never seen her in a dress before. Actually, he'd kinda stopped thinkin' of her as a lady, bein' as how she was always in men's clothes, and was always cursin' him for somthin'.

She gave him the once-over as well, and he was sure she was as surprized at his new appearance just as much as he was of hers. When Spoons entered and clapped Goose on the shoulder, Goose felt a real sense of pride at his cooking accomplishments of the day. He was sure the two captains would enjoy their meal.

But he secretly hoped there'd be lots o' leftovers, as Spoons hadn't let him do much samplin' of the evening fare while they were putting things together.