Temporal Adventures

Chapter 13: Pirates

Chapter 13: Pirates

The shouted alarm from the sailor on watch caused a great commotion on the ship. Everyone not on duty immediately ran to assist those who were. Cannons were readied, and weapons retrieved from the armory were distributed to the crew so they wouldn't have to leave their posts.

Sean dodged between the sailors running on deck, making his way to the rail. Nicholas was already standing there, a spyglass held to his eye. Lowering the viewing instrument, he handed it to Sean.

"Have a look," Nicholas suggested.

The spyglass consisted of three cylinders of increasing size from the eyepiece to the final focusing lens. Holding it up to his eye, Sean peered through the device. Previously only a distant boat on the horizon, the pirate ship became enlarged enough for Sean to see the murderous brigands preparing their own ship for battle. Flying high from the center mast was the traditional black flag bearing a skull and crossbones. Partially obscured from view, something moved behind the ship, and Sean noticed it.

"There are two of them," Sean told Nicholas, handing the spyglass back to him.

Nicholas looked again. "You've a good eye. If these are the pirates who've been raiding these waters of late, there will be more than two before this day is done."

Sean's nervousness about fighting pirates at sea intensified with the possibility of more ships entering the fray.

"Hard starboard!" the Duke commanded from the upper deck near the wheel, ordering their ship to veer away from the incoming pirates. The vessel leaned heavily to the right as it turned. The wooden boards of the hull creaked loudly as extra pressure was applied due to the forceful nature of the high speed turn.

Alison and Cassie emerged from below deck and headed for the wheel where Mike stood beside the Duke.

"Can we outrun the pirates?" Alison asked the Duke. He shook his head in denial.

"Their ships aren't weighed down by cargo," Matthew explained, "and they aren't as heavily reinforced since they don't have to survive countless ocean voyages. The compliment of cannons is also less as they prefer to take ships intact. You can't plunder a vessel at the bottom of the sea."

Sean watched the incoming pirate ships from the railing. As they drew near, he no longer needed the spyglass to see the pirates scurrying around on deck, preparing for the coming fight.

"Where are we headed?" Mike asked Matthew.

"It's known as The Straights," the Duke answered. "Two nearby islands are close together, and the path between them is filled with coral reefs in shallow water. If the channel isn't navigated precisely, the reefs will destroy the hull of any ship passing through."

"Won't the pirates go around?" Mike questioned.

"The islands are both several miles long," Matthew explained. "By the time they came around, we'd have a significant lead. They have no choice but to follow if they want any chance at catching us alone and unsupported."

Mike switched his gaze from the pursuing pirates to what lay beyond his own ship. A pair of islands were visible not too far away, and Mike estimated they'd reach the islands before the pirates caught up with them.

Saltwater was forced away from the prow in white capped waves as the ship drove forcefully into the narrow and shallow gap between the two islands. The trailing pirate ships didn't waver in their pursuit but followed unerringly behind. The limited width of the channel forced the two ships to proceed single file or neither of them would have made it.