To be a pirate or a king's man?

Chapter 9 - Shore Leave Cancelled

Chapter 9

The Stormprow sailed into Tortuga two days after Sam and Morgan's discussion. Morgan had told the crew beforehand that the ship was to be restocked and given small repairs before sailing in two further days. Any man not on the ship by the time it was sailing at first light would be left behind, so it was advised to sleep on the ship. As they sailed in, Morgan ordered that the flag be hoisted at full mast. "Saves docking fees," he explained, "No-one tells a pirate like me or those I deal with to move around or pay when we don't want to."

The crew came ashore and began to load the supplies that Morgan was buying from the harbourmaster and local supply store manager. He also sold the cargo that was the fruit of their spoils and, having finished, shook the two men's hands before turning and walking back to Sam and the Stormprow's First Officer; John Lincoln. "Well, that's that sorted out. You two oversee the loading of the cargo before joining me at the nearest alehouse!" Morgan waved and turned. To cover his rather distinctive face, he always wore a hood, tricorn and neck scarf around his face and took off his mask, although no-one could see his face. Sam and Jack turned and went back to the harbour, where the crew were about starting to resupplying the ship.

"Step lively," John yelled, "The sooner you mates finish loading, the sooner you can get drunk on real ale!"

"Aye, and I'll bet there's a pretty lady in the inn, awaiting your pleasure!" added Sam. The men worked faster.

Two hours later, Sam and John walked into the nearest tavern - The Winking Maiden - and found Morgan with his head bent over, speaking in a low voice with another man. Sam saw that the other man was in a brown jacket and black trousers, he wore a brown bicorn diagonally across his head and was urgently whispering into Morgan's ear. Morgan glanced up and saw Sam and John standing next to them, "Ah, John, Sam! Welcome to my humble establishment!" he saw Sam looking puzzled. "I bought this alehouse a few years ago, and use it as a stop off point for information and cargo. Brings a good revenue, too," he added. "This is Lyris Clutterbuck, though most people just call him the whisperer. He's my informant here in Tortuga, although he's probably everyone else's too!" Morgan laughed introduced the man he had been talking to, who smiled slyly. "A pleasure, I'm sure." he said, quietly but with confidence.

"You already know John," Morgan continued, "But this is Sam, my new Bo' sun. Say hello, Sam."

"Good morning." Sam raised a hand to shake, but the whisperer recoiled.

"He doesn't touch people," Morgan said, "Says that one day someone will touch him and stick a knife in his gut," he shrugged, "True enough for most pirates, really..." he said thoughtfully. The whisperer interrupted, "I think that we should get back to the topic at hand, Will. The ship you're looking for isn't too much of a worry, but Diamond Eye's been seen in these waters."

Morgan grimaced, "The ship's not what worries me. It's what's on the ship that does. He is looking for me, and he'll find me before the end of the year. That ring is the only chance a mortal has against him. Diamond Eye is a nuisance, but we're on even ground. However compared to him, Diamond Eye's a summer's day sail trip, savvy?"

"Still. My informants tell me that this HMS Hurricane is three days fast sail from here to the west. Your ship will catch it easily, provided it doesn't get to an archipelago. Diamond Eye is coming in from the north, and his ship is faster than yours."

"Our ships are exactly the same."

"But your precious storm cannons have weighed down your prow, and you're slower than him. Not by much, but enough to give you a disadvantage in a sea battle."

"My crew's better by far. His brain-dead deck swabbers can hardly tell which end of a sword to hit someone with, and I'm a better swordsman than him."

"Fair enough, but to fight him on deck, you've got to catch up to him and board him. Which you can't do. He wants the ring as well, Will, and he's prepared to fight you to get it. You both have him as an enemy, and you both need that ring to face him. You need to leave now if you want to stand a chance."

"Right. Thanks for the encouragement." Morgan rose and held his two officers by the shoulder. Sam and John had both had a drink whilst the Morgan had been talking, but were now standing, ready to follow the orders of their captain. "Round up the men. We leave immediately. Lyris, see if you can hold Diamond Eye Jack up for a while when he arrives."

"Not on your life, nor mine neither." replied the whisperer as Sam and John ran to gather the crew of the Stormprow.

Sam ran to the bar of the inn and told James, who was having a drink, to tell all of the other men to get back to the ship immediately. "Don't ask why, just do it. Captain's orders!" He shouted as he ran on to the next man and gave the same message. Soon enough, the information that shore leave was cancelled was flying around the town, and within an hour every man was waiting on the ship. William Morgan stepped onto the deck, redressed as the dreaded pirate that he had earned his reputation as. His mask was polished to a gleam and his clothing was every inch as terrifying as it was when Sam had first seen it. "All hands to stations, full sail west!" he yelled. The crew cheered him and ran to their stations, sails hoisted and with Morgan at the helm, the Stormprow shot out from Tortuga bay, the wolf and snake flag flapping in the wind as she made with full speed towards the ship and the ring that was Morgan's greatest worldly desire.