Jeff the Accountant Escapes the Wretched Burning Depths of Hades

There's a Whole Ocean of Fish, Right There

"Well, there's nothing to do but set it right. And I know I can do it. After all, I faked my own death and found my way back to you guys, didn't I?"

"I probably saved your lives, in all honesty. You had no food or water, did you? Though I don't know why you didn't think to do a little fishing. Olu has that bit of rope, and Buttons has several fish hooks right there, on the collar of his jacket. There's a whole ocean of fish, right there."

"And, as for water, unless my eyes deceive me, those clouds are the kind that will bring us a gentle rain shower. We can catch the rain with some of those large leaves and refill the water skins."

"Help me secure the boat so it doesn't drift off."

The "gentle rain shower" turned out to be a three day downpour. But when it was over, enough fish, turtles, crabs and seaweed had washed ashore for Roach to make meals for many days to come.

Working alongside his crew, Stede became surprisingly adept at all things survivor-y. Making and tending a fire, cleaning fish, digging a pit to bury their waste.

In no time they were ready to leave the island. Together they made sure the little boat was seaworthy and safe enough to hold them all.

A raft they made served to carry the extra smoked fish and turtle meat. The Swede had crafted a crate from driftwood that they gathered on the island. And a number of the large leaves were added so that more rainwater could be caught to provide them with drinking water.

Together they decided that Blind Man's Cove was the first place they needed to go. Contrary to what Blackbeard had said, pirates did bury treasure. At least the pirates that manned the ship known as The Revenge. They had buried the wages that Stede had payed them up to that point. (Where were they going to spend any of it at sea?)

They would get a new ship.

Stede would get a new name. The Gentleman Pirate had been killed back in Barbados. There were witnesses. The whole town, in fact, witnessed his death.

Stede could feel in his bones that the life he always wanted was on the horizon. He would find Ed. He would make him see that the things that happened were necessary so they could be together with no loose ends to get in the way.

"Cool ones" he remembered Ed saying when he tasked him with coming up with new names for them.

So, good bye Gentleman Pirate, hello, Blondebeard?