Dear Elizabeth; All My Love, Jack

28.9.1728.

Dear Elizabeth,

                I find myself in new excitement. The sea sensed how bored I was and led me to an African slave port. The crooks in charge of the slave port saw me as a pirate and assumed that I would be more than happy to ship fresh cargo. I played the part of a greedy pirate and let them put slaves on my ship. They gave me a manifest of slaves and their worth to the British crown. I put on an act that pleased the immoral beasts who paid me to do their dirty work.

              The crew was beyond angry, but they wouldn't go against their captain. Once we were at sea, I excused myself to vomit the immoral and disgust I felt into the sea. Then, once we were a safe distance from the coast, I told them to set sail for Fiji. They were happy, and Anamaria told the slaves that they would be freed in Fiji. They thanked me in their language, and I felt their gratitude.

            Deep sorrow flooded my veins at dinner when Anamaria told me some of their stories. Being traded for coin out of jail, thinking they would be freed. Being ripped away from family, tribe, friend and foe for the sake of the British coin. Being torn to shreds and treated like grain or oxen. The stories made me sick to my core. Dinner was...educational, at best.

           I don't think I've ever been less hungry. Even that night, I was shocked at the people's eagerness to work for free. They worked like they were part of the crew. Everyone's workload was much easier. Not a spot on the deck. It was amazing. It really put the crew to the test to put their ideals to work, and they did it perfectly. I was delighted with the outcome.

       When we arrived in Fiji, the people wanted to repay me. They wanted to give me gifts and coins. But I refused, and they were surprised. They thought I had done this all for a price. I could not bring myself to accept it. I saw as them paying for their freedom. I let the crew accept whatever they wanted, and I would take nothing.

      Love, I may be a pirate, but I am a human being. 

All My Love,

Jack