The Cry of Liberty

Chapter Four: Allies

"All hands on deck!" Roland shouted as the rain pelted the St. Agatha and her crew. Thomas seemed to still be punishing everyone for Sasha's actions, letting the sails stay down knowing a storm was approaching. Men in the crew had been showing her the basics of their jobs onboard so when Roland called for help, she obliged. She was no longer Sasha Wainwright, wife of the Captain, no she was Sasha Hartford, newly inducted into the crew of the St. Agatha. "Madok, help Giles and the others with the ropes. Elias, take Sasha below and help her secure any loose supplies. Antony-"

"Let's go, it'll be safer below deck." Elias helped Sasha down the stairs of the rolling ship. "At least Roland still likes ya', lass."

"I suppose, for now at least." She stopped a rolling barrel of goods and held it while Elias tied it down.

"Yer getting stronger by the day, lass." He grinned as she held another crate in place for him.

"Strong maybe, but I'm not getting any better at sword fighting." Sasha sighed, heading down to check on the human cargo below. The old Scot followed with an armload of food. There had been a few casualties from the captives, one had developed an illness no one could place, three had escaped and leapt into the ocean, and three had starved themselves despite Sasha pleading for them to eat. "I feel no closer to being able to free them. How many of the crewmen would turn against Thomas?"

"Well, most of the men in this line of work despise it. I myself only work aboard this damned boat to pay off my debt and avoid ending up in one of the colonies like these poor people." Elias helped her hand out the rations. "I think once we take out the loyal ones and the Captain, the rest will fall in line."

"We will help." Both stopped and turned to see who had spoken up. He was chained near the end of the third row, a man in his thirties looking up at them with fire in his eyes. "You will help us, no?" Sasha walked over and handed him some bread and nodded.

"That's the plan, to take the ship and bring you back to your homeland. What's your name?"

"Davu."

"Where did you learn English, Davu?" Elias questioned, leaning against a beam.

"From the ports, I worked for many Englishmen until I was taken." Davu locked eyes with Sasha. "What will you do after freeing us?"

"I-" She paused, bracing herself against Elias as a wave hit the boat. "I suppose I'd start helping more people somehow." Davu held out his calloused hand to her and she took it, shaking it.

"I will rally those able to fight." He assured her. Sasha and Elias finished handing out rations and headed back to the supply hold.

"That boosts our numbers significantly." Elias chuckled. "So we have you, me, Jack, maybe a handful from the crew, and about two dozen African's." He caught Sasha as the boat rocked, knocking her forward. She looked up gratefully as he steadied her.

"Then we can do it?"

"We don't have much time left to make another plan so it'll have to do." The older man sighed. "Your sword fighting has improved, don't fret that lass, but I fear we will need guns to take the ship." Sasha offered a determined smile.

"There'll be plenty of time to train me on a pistol after we take over."

"You've got spirit, lass. Alright, we'll work on your sword for another week and then we'll have justice." Elias chuckled, clapping her on the shoulder. "I'll keep up the recruitment until then." The two went back to securing the crates of supplies.