To be a pirate or a king's man?

Chapter 3 - The Hanging

Chapter 3

Sam walked over to them. His heart lifted as he saw them finish the survivors of the Black Cat’s crew, keeping only one officer alive for questioning. James and Ed had survived, as well as a handful of others that Sam knew. Unfortunately, the captain hadn't even come out of his cabin for the entire fight and Tyler had survived. The First Officer had been killed in the first attack on the Black Cat, making Bo’ sun Tyler into First Officer Tyler.

Tyler stormed over to Sam “And where the hell were you, Wheelwright?” he yelled. “Were you so concerned with your own safety that you just hid below decks the whole time, hmm?”

“Sir, I caused the explosion, sir. I went over to the other ship and ignited their gunpowder stores, killed their captain too, sir.” replied Sam, hoping that Tyler would believe him. He didn't.

“Bollocks! You’re a coward and a liar to boot, lying to a senior officer, no less. You expect me to believe that an eighteen year old able seaman with a minute amount of battle experience could think his way to getting to an enemy vessel undetected, destroying its gunpowder store and killing its captain? And might I remind you that the captain of the Black Cat is Peter Lucas, one of the deadliest pirates that has ever roamed this ocean?”

“Aye, sir. I took this ring off him after I killed him.” Sam presented the ring; a loop of silver with a gold spiral, and a small ruby held in the grip of a silver skeletal hand. Tyler inspected the ring, holding it up to the light. He then put it on his own right index finger admiring it. “A common sort of trinket." he said, although he knew that the ring was far more valuable than that, "No doubt stolen from our own captain or even one of your fellow seamen. Anyway, I’ll take this from you as proof of your cowardice and looting of the personal property of your fellows. I’ll see you hanged for this, Samuel Wheelwright, as soon as I have the captain’s consent. Men, take him to the brig.”

James spoke up, “But, sir, I know this man and can vouch for him. He is no coward and certainly no thief. I saw him drop to the other ship myself, sir.”

“Oh, so it’s defying the orders of a senior officer for you, too, is it James Crick? Take them both to the brig. They’re on prisoner’s rations and nobody is to speak with them. Anyone who does will suffer the same fate.

Sam’s heart, which had been raised on hope and happiness only a few minutes earlier, now sank to the bottom of his chest. Even if Tyler bothered asking the captain’s permission to hang him and James, the captain would say what Tyler wanted him to say. They’d be lucky to last the night before Tyler took them out and hanged them from the mast. He let his fellows take him. There was no point on putting up a fight, and they were all too scared of Tyler to try and defend them. He didn't blame them.

Sam woke slowly. The brig of the Hurricane had been damaged beyond easy repair, so he and James had been thrown into the larder whilst Tyler figured out what to do with them. Or rather, gave enough time to make it seem like he was even contemplating their lives.

The crew had taken Sam's sword and the gun that he'd taken from the Black Cat, along with most of his personal possessions. They'd been apologetic, of course; Sam was well liked and a natural friend amongst them, but Tyler was so terrifying to them that it had taken less than a heartbeat for them to decide where their loyalties lay.

James was still sleeping, and from light that was coming through a hole in the wooden walls of their prison-no doubt caused by their recent battle with the Black Cat and her crew- Sam guessed that it was about five o'clock in the morning; one hour into the first watch of the day. In truth, he was surprised that he was still alive, although there's not much point in hanging 'cowards and thieves' when no-one can see them twitching, he thought glumly to himself. He laid his head back and dozed off again, trying to think of a plan that could save his and James' life.