Black Sam - Prince of Pirates

Fifty-Four - THE STORM

Fifty - Four - THE STORM

April 26th, 1717

The overcast sky reflected Sam’s morose mood. Large grey clouds with bright rays of light bursting through points of vulnerability. His most trusted friend was gone, at least for now, and he missed him tremendously. He was on his way home, or at least what used to be his home. There was no way of knowing for certain how his journey affected the people he cared about most. Maria was a forgiving person, but could she forgive piracy? He hoped that her rebellious spirit would allow her to understand, but no other act of rebellion came with a more condemning label than pirate.

Sam leaned against the main mast watching the storm give chase. They were within a day of the Cape, and Sam’s nerves tightened with every nautical mile.

“Beautiful day, is it not?” Hendrick asked sneaking up from behind.

“It’s perfect,” Sam said with a somewhat sarcastic tone. Although he saw the storm as more than just a danger, it was immense power and ravenous beauty.

Hendrick seemed to get lost in its vastness as well. “We’ll see how perfect when that finally hits,” he said motioning to the thick black of the storms core.

A continuous barrage of angry lightning evaporated any trace of a smile left on Sam’s face. “That does not look good.”

“We can outrun it,” Hendrick said.

“Maybe; or we can try to outlast it.”

Hendrick shook his head. “We’re too close to give up.”

Sam stared into the eye of the coming monster. “If we get caught in that close to shore, it could be the end of all of us.”

“Either way, it’s a risk,” Hendrick said massaging his temples with his fingers. “Why not make a run for it?”

It was an easy argument for Sam to settle for himself. He wished for nothing more than to rush home to Maria, but not at the expense of his men. He looked again at the growing blackness. “I can’t make that decision for the crew.”

The big man studied Sam. “Of course.”

Sam never turned from the dark clouds. He stared as if in a heavy trance.

“Sam,” Hendrick said pulling on his arm. “Is everything all right?”

Sam gave his friend a quick smile then looked down in thought. Paul was gone, but Hendrick was not doing too bad a job filling in. He thought of Maria and what Cyprian might have told her. Piracy was one thing, Maria moving on in his absence, was something entirely different. “I’m just thinking about home.”

Hendrick scratched the back of his neck. “It’s a good plan, Sam.”

Sam was not so sure. There were so many variables, so many things that could go wrong. Sam’s confidence was beginning to wane. “I know,” Sam said. “But first we need to get past this storm. Gather the crew.”

***

“I vote we make a run for it,” one sailor yelled from the crowd.

“Aye, let us leave that darkness behind,” said another.

The rest of the crew responded with boisterous approval. Sam raised his hands and quieted the men. “No one would love to race toward home more than I would, but the risks—”

“We know the risks, Captain,” another man shouted.

“Let’s go,” said another.

“Okay,” Sam said looking a few of them in the eye. “I’ve never been one to wait things out either. Let’s get to it.”

The men went back to work.

Sam looked back into the darkness overhead. God have mercy on our souls.