The Scourge - Pirates & Privateers

Chapter 19: The Scourge vs El Terror

'I thought I'd find you here,' the Captain tramped up the freshly flattened path to the clearing, where Martin sat on a log, poking the dew-dampened ash with a stick, trying to find a way to press the dust back into charcoal. He knew of course that it wasn't possible, but it didn't stop him hoping.

The Captain trudged through the remaining thicket and sat down in his tree-root throne.

Martin didn't look at him. He just stared at the silver dust inside the stone circle and watched as the craggy shadows of logs and twigs disintegrated at his touch.

'How are you holding up, lad?' the Captain asked, his teeth clacking on the mouthpiece of his pipe, He was content just to chew it, since there was no fire with which to light it anymore.

'Not great,' Martin muttered. He put a hand to his itching scar. The skin burned at his touch. 'I fouled everything up, just like I do with everything.'

'You did what you thought was right, there's no shame in that.'

What you thought was right. The words echoed inside Martin's head like the crack of a whip.

'Then why do I feel so ashamed?' he scoffed.

'You've nothing to be ashamed of. You were only doing what I should have done from the start; what I would have done myself had greed not blinded me,' the Captain let out a hoarse, weak chuckle. 'I should have known that money was too good to be true. She's a desperate girl, that Miss Morton. Well... Miss Ealing, I suppose. She fooled us all, and I let myself be fooled.'

'You and me both.' Martin took the stick he had been prodding the ash with and tossed it into the trees.

The Captain sniggered to himself.

'You care about her, don't you, Hamish?' Martin sat on the question for a while. He didn't have the strength to answer.

'Doesn't matter anymore. Look at what I did to her; how I made her feel. I shouldn't have opened that cylinder. I shouldn't have told everyone about it.'

'Maybe, maybe not,' the Captain pondered. 'But I'm glad you did.'

'Why's that?'

The Captain tucked his pipe into his coat, then leaned forward to catch Martin's vacant stare.

'Because it means I can trust you to tell the truth, no matter how hard or how painful. That's why I came looking for you. I want your advice.'

'Me?' Martin furrowed his brow. 'Why me? W-why not the Quartermaster or the Bosun or Doctor Cotral or-?'

'Because they are just members of the crew right now,' the Captain insisted. 'They all have their reasons to lie, or exaggerate, or withhold something, but I know from what you've done, and how you've done it, that you're the most honest of men among these salty dogs. You have a good heart and a sharp mind. You're the only man on this cursed vessel I can truly trust. So, I ask you... nay, I implore you... what should I do? What path do you think I should take? Toros or Ealing? Who do I choose?'

Martin rubbed his cheek, his finger cutting through the groove in his cheek as if it were still fresh. He felt honoured to be so trusted, but at the same time sick, his shame a reminder that he did not deserve it.

'W-w-well...' he drawled. 'Well... I... I suppose that handing over Emily would be the safest option for everyone. Chances are, she'll be allowed to live. After all, it's the cylinder Toros wants. We'll be paid, and we'll escape with our lives. No harm done.'

There hung a heavy silence.

'I sense there's a "but" in there somewhere,' the Captain punctuated.

'... but...' Martin scratched the back of his neck, which had suddenly begun to itch. 'It's also the most cowardly option, I think. And worse, if you take it, it won't just end here. How many men would tremble to a captain that traded a woman, a woman he'd sworn to protect, for his own life? Will ships still tremble in fear when they see the flag, not of the Great and Terrible Black Hal but, of Captain Percival the Coward, who let his enemy get the better of him? How would you want the world to remember Captain Henry Percival after you're gone? As the man who sold out for a handful of silver? Or as a man who charged into even the most impossible storms, and rode out the other side?'