Jeff the Accountant Escapes the Wretched Burning Depths of Hades

Win/Win

The pirates under Cinna's command performed their duties well, getting Hell's Ferry seaworthy and grime-free. Funds left over after the purchase of the ship were used for cleaning supplies and hardware necessary for repairs.

The deck was soon enough scrubbed and stain-free. All spikes and hooks were left in place just where they were, and frayed rope was replaced with new.

The improvements helped to enhance the ships appearance of menace, rather than detract from it. Self-respect grew among the crew members. They were manning Hell's Ferry. With her sinister appearance and accoutrements that would be at home in any torture chamber. This was in high contrast to the fine furnishings of The Revenge.

They had been given a fresh start, and were making the best of it.

Among the activities that made up the fresh start were reading lessons. Mandatory reading lessons. Reading had always been a passion of Cinna's, and he wanted to show the crew how reading could open up new worlds for them.

It was an onerous task, met with varying levels of resistance. Black Pete likened it to having to sew a flag. Cinna's response was to say "Heed the words of your captain, men. Fulfill his expectations and life will be better all around".

He practiced saying phrases like that alone in his chambers, looking into a mirror, a stern, no nonsense look on his face. Using the technique he had seen Ed use so many times took him back to their days together on The Revenge. "We will be together again" he silently determined. The resolute look on his face worked to strengthen his words.

His men tried hard, and succeeded. To varying degrees. They learned from him, and he learned from them. No longer content to leave the work of sailing a ship in the hands of others, Cinna learned, mostly from Buttons, about navigation, steering, and, with help from Roach, keeping supplies stockpiled.

He was becoming a proper pirate captain, in his own way.

There were still nightly readings from the story of the little wooden boy. No one had tired of hearing them. But the reading aloud was shared. The men complimented each other about certain passages, and derided each other too. Just to keep from getting too soft.

The captain required a balance between threat and beneficence in them. His formula kept all of them alive during the raids they managed.

Bloodshed was okay, murder was to be avoided. Plunder would be limited. No ship they attacked would be left in danger of having it's crew members starve or be without funds for their necessities.

Cinna and his crew were gaining a reputation. A reputation helped along by the knowledge that Hell's Ferry was once a ship that met with disaster after disaster under a different captain. Word spread that a captain and crew that could keep a cursed ship such as that operating, must be in league with the devil.

It was win/win for Cinna and crew. Most ships they encountered acquiesced with little struggle and, in turn, the invaded ships suffered fewer losses.

Their reputation afforded Cinna the relatively guilt-free conscience he required, because less force was needed to be victorious in battle. As the number of victories grew, so did his men's respect.

Would he have Ed's respect? His heart said yes. His head wasn't sure.