The Silent Thief

XV

XV

       Above the berthing, on the deck, the men were still glaring at me. Did I do something to them?

I heard an urging voice far away say, “Take a look at her, John.”

“Not yet. I can’t bring myself to it,” the man who I supposed was named John answered.

“Well I’ll tell ya’ this, she’s real skinny,” the other man said.

I craned my neck trying to see who the two men were and who they were talking about. A door being opened in front of me blocked my view. A hand reached out and jerked me into the room. With one quick move, I ducked catching the man by surprise then I head butted him in his stomach. He clutched himself then fell to his knees. I stood up triumphantly and said to the man sternly, “Don’t you dare lay a hand on me.”

The man was the Captain. I felt better now knowing who it was. Ha, the man surely deserved it!

He stood up after gaining his breath and turned to the three men who were standing behind me obviously shocked by what just happened. “Well don’t just stand there. Hold her!”

Hold HER? Did he know? I thought as a panicked feeling came over me.

“Against the wall!” The Captain spat.

One man grabbed my neck making me cry out in pain. I kicked forward but the other man grabbed my leg. I was unbalanced and there were four men in the room. I cursed under my breath but I was still trying to fight them. Soon only my legs remained untied for my hands were stretched and tied to my left and right.

“Tsk tsk tsk, when will you ever learn respect, little one?” The Captain asked.

My mouth was gagged earlier because I wouldn’t stop screaming. I tried as best that I could to speak. I was slightly thankful for the rag in my mouth though, because I was uttering such vulgar words even a pirate would be surprised.

The Captain ignored me and said to his other three men, “Now let’s see what we have here.”

His men chuckled making me want to kick them all in their groins ever so badly.

“A change of clothes,” the Captain started counting what he implied to be ‘what we have here’, “Another pair of clothes that are not too pleasant which needs to be removed,” he said grabbing a torn piece of my shirt that was hanging at the end, “and a helpless girl.”

Oh, we’ll see about that, I thought angrily. There was no way I was going to let these perverted and disgusting men touch me let alone look at me in a naughty way. I’d kick the daylight out of them before they could even think such thoughts.

One of the men eagerly asked the Captain in a thick accent, “Captain Stones, when can we start?”

If only that man were closer, I’d kick him so hard. Now I knew the Captain’s name, Stones. It must be his last name. The name didn’t sound familiar in anyway.

“Alright then, let’s see how much spirit she’s got in her, shall we?” Captain Stones smirked evilly while coming closer to me.

Here’s my chance-the moment he’s close enough.

Then he stopped. Ugh! Just a few more steps, you fool! I thought madly.

“Do you know how I knew you are girl?” Captain Stones asked me while reaching with his sword to pull my gag out of my mouth. He must know that I want to kick him.

The other three men were sitting comfortably around the fairly large room. I tried thinking of a way to draw them to me so I could attack them as well.

I answered mockingly in my real very feminine voice, “Oh my, I haven’t the slightest clue. Please enlighten me, Captain Stones.”

He put his sword away and answered, “I knew since the moment you delivered those diamonds to me. I am a very experienced pirate who has sailed around the world. I have seen many things so of course I can tell a woman when I see one,” he finished quite arrogantly.

“I see,” I said then continuing, “but for a very experienced man that you claim to be, it sure is easy for one to escape with the very diamonds that you sent me to steal. If I were you, I would not have underestimated a masked woman. Also, may I add, you cannot remove my mask that hides my identity no matter how hard you try.” That part was a lie but I knew it would make the other three men interested. I was not finished though, “So what I see is a man who claims to be very experienced but obviously doesn’t act like it, and when he manages to catch the woman who took the diamonds he wanted, he can’t even claim her identity. Ha! Some experienced pirate you are!” I was trying to annoy him into striking me. That way he would be in my kicking range.

The other men were now thinking into how to remove my mask for one of them inquired, “Maybe we could shoot the mask?”

“You idiot,” the second man said, “That would probably kill her.”

The man shrugged his shoulders as if he didn’t care. That fool.

“Oh we’ll see to that mask soon enough,” Captain Stones said through gritted teeth. “Come here you idiots and hold her down!”

The three men stood and obeyed their Captain. I was about to nail the first man with my foot but of course, someone had to interrupt.

“Captain Stones!” A young sailor came bursting through the door.

The Captain fumed obviously furious that he was interrupted. “What do you want?!”

“The ship you told us to look out for, um, Captain James’ ship, I believe-“

“Just spit it out, boy! I haven’t got all day.”

“Aye, Captain. He’s here. He wishes to speak with you immediately,” the boy answered wrapping his hands with the end of his shirt. He was nervous and probably afraid that the Captain would strike him. A large bruise ran along his right cheek bone and his eyes kept darting around the floor. He most likely experienced it before.

Captain Stones scowled then glared at me. “Another time. You three make sure and watch her. She can be deceiving.” Then he stepped out of the door.

I wasn’t afraid of what would happen next with these three men in the room with me. I was happy and felt relieved to hear that Captain James actually came back for us.

I glanced at the men and smirked from behind my mask. “Who’s first?” I asked.

*******

*gasp* What do you think?! What will happen to her now?