Cover courtesy of @BarryVosloo
An action adventure pirate tale with all the expected elements. The ship carrying the governor's daughter is attacked at sea and she is kidnapped by Tortuga's most notorious pirate, Terrance Hollick. Spirited away to t...
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Lieutenant Christopher Barlow stood amidships, scrutinizing every man that came aboard. His own marines were already in position on deck and the crew selected was in the process of boarding.
"That man, stop." Barlow held out his swagger stick and rested it on the man's shoulder. "Name."
"Seaman, Ryan Cafferty, sir."
"I know your face, do I not, Seaman, Ryan Cafferty?"
"I doubts that, sir."
"Really." Barlow pressed the point of the stick into the man's collarbone.
"Ow, sir!" Ryan pushed the sick away.
"What's this! Striking an officer in the King's navy? Do you know, Seaman, Ryan Cafferty, that that is a hanging offense!"
"Beg pardon, sir. I only brushed your stick away, you were stabbing it into-"
"Take this man below and put him in irons. I'll deal with his actions later."
Two marines hurried forward and wrestled the screaming man away. Barlow turned to the rest of the crew on deck, his smug visage scanning the lot.
"Heed that lesson well. Insubordination aboard my ship has zero tolerance. Orders will be obeyed when given. Any man refusing or obstructing will be kissing the gunner's daughter for fifty of the deck master's finest. Am I clear?"
There was a mumble of assent and the men were dismissed to tend their duties. Barlow made his way to the bridge and gave the command to set sail.
"What course, sir? The helmsman inquired.
"The north face of Tortuga island, helmsman. Somewhere along that coast our friend, Captain Hollick has a haven and I intend to find it."
******
"Ahoy, Captain! There's a brig moving past Thunder Rock and heading this way."
Hollick climbed the crude stairs hacked out of the cavern wall and joined his lookout in the small, natural opening in the rock face. He took out his spyglass and watched the ship for a few moments.
"That's the friend that carried our guest."
"That ponce! He wouldn't have the-"
"Not him, I'll wager. More likely Governor Francorte's marines."
"What're your orders, sir?"
"For now, mark his passage. If passes, we do nothing. If he approaches, we man the top gun."
The top gun was a small canon mounted outside the cavern overlooking the disguised entrance to the cavern below. The lookout grinned a toothless smile and his eyes twinkled.
"Might I coax them closer, Skipper."
"No, Mister Mullen, you may not." Hollick patted his man on the back and returned to the cavern floor.
