Pirate Souls

I - Chapter 8 - Adapting

The following day, everyone on board emerges around midday. The Irishman is weak. He would do well to stay in bed and get some rest. His obstinacy will be the death of him! He wants to organize life on board because his band of sailors has been halved in number.

After a rapid inventory, it seems that there is not enough drinking water to permit a serene trip to Tortuga. Some of the men must have been helping themselves during the night. We shall even lack wine.

John and the captain fear a mutiny. The prisoners are nevertheless kept under watch. The threat comes from the crew of the Anarkhia. Together they have decided to offload the Spaniards as fast as possible to preserve the few victuals they have. There is no dinghy. They will have to swim to the island which is about fifty yards from our brig.

A wave of panic overtakes the poor men. Not all of them can swim. It breaks my heart. It is sad to see. The first of them jump.

Leaning over the bulwark, I see that there is a sort of solidarity among the Spanish sailors. Cook sends them empty barrels to help them reach dry land. Pirates will always surprise me. One day they can kill in cold blood, and the next, they will show compassion.

Or perhaps it is the shared fear of drowning that guides this benevolent act? Perhaps Steven wants to forge a reputation for himself in the world of banditry? He must leave survivors if he wants the story of his attack of the galleon to spread over the seas.

The last soldier has to jump. Tension is mounting. He is terrified. He will not jump. Bappé orders him to hurry. My Spanish is not good, but in such a situation, one may easily guess the prayer uttered. The sailor mumbles incomprehensible words in his beard.

"Wait!" I shout.

What am I doing?

I think I have seen too many deaths. I do not want this day to be marked by the demise of a frightened man.

"Recruit him," I suggest as I try to control my panicked shaking. "The man is strong. He is a mountain of muscle, look at him. He will be a boon to your crew."

The Spaniard turns round and blurts out a whining "gracias ."

"He's another mouth to feed," says Steven irritated. "And it is not really in our interest to take on a seaman who is afraid of water."

The pirates guffaw. I smile too. Steven is on my side. I am sure of it. He is pretending to be against my suggestion so that his lieutenant can oppose him.

It works.

"I think it is a good idea to take him as far as Tortuga," announces John. "He can wash down the deck and scrape the hull. He will only have a half ration every day, only sea biscuits. And he will sleep outside, here, with the ship's boys. And when we arrive, we'll sell him to the brethren, if needs be."

The weather-beaten faces of the bandits nod one after the other. How I loathe the man, even when he serves my purpose!

"Let's keep him," approves young Nick.

He gives me a friendly wink. I have earned his respect during the fight with the galleon. The pirate with the rotten teeth stands beside me to show his support for my proposal. I am really astounded to see two sailors oppose their captain so openly because of me. It makes me proud.

"That's it. Weigh anchor! Bappé, explain all this to our new friend. But one suspicious move on his part and he will go to the bottom before he has even set foot on l'Ile de la Tortue."

I stop holding my breath.

Victory!

I am excited as I try to hide my joy. Suddenly, the survivor throws himself at my feet and blathers a series of unfathomable words in his singsong language. His eyes slant downwards. This gives him a gentle face despite his imposing physique and his thick black beard.