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@@ -2911,32 +2911,29 @@ Edward was smiling when he walked back, most of the crew followed. "Let's go get --- -:TODO: Proof from here +The next day Delos sailed out of the cove at Ocracoke, followed closely by Revenge, and the sloops Adventure and Rosa, the latter two being prize ships that Thatch and crew had decided to keep for the time being, since a show of force, rather than speed was called for on this occasion. The winds and current were against them coming out to the east of the island, but as they rounded the point and moved into the ocean, the wind blew west southwest and Delos could bear almost directly for Charlestown. Revenge and the other ships, being square rigged, could not sail quite a close to the wind, and had to tack. After consulting with Thatch, Tamba agreed that Delos would sail to the mouth of the river and wait, staying out of sight as much as possible, posing as a fishing vessel should they be spotted. Tamba believed they would make Charlestown before the sun set, but it would likely be a long night of sailing either way since they'd probably have to tack back and forth all night. Unless they got their early enough to find a place they could set an anchor before the light disappeared. Tamba and Kobayashi set the sails and gave Lulu a heading before they went below to get some rest, leaving Lulu on watch. She knew that Aunt Māra was to keep an eye on her, but she also knew Aunt Māra was no sailor and that Tamba was trusting her to keep the ship on course and the sails smartly trimmed. +Henri sat on the desk beside her playing with two corn husk dolls who alternated between brutal close quarters sword fighting, and scampering runs around and between his legs and body. Sitting on the deck, below the reach of most of the wind it was warm in the sunshine. Lulu could almost pretend it was spring and they were headed north to fish, to spend the summers on the warm beaches of Rhode Island. But whenever she stood up to check her heading against the landmarks on the coast, or compare the maze of inlets, creeks, and estuaries on the map to the seemingly unbroken coastline in front of her, a cold blast of Atlantic winter wind reminded her it wasn't spring, and she wasn't sailing for fun. -The next day Delos sailed out of the cove at Ocracoke, followed closely by Queen Anne's Revenge, tk, and tk, the latter two being prize ships that Thatch and crew had decided to keep for the time being since a show of force, rather than speed was called for on this occasion. The winds and current were against them coming out to the east and of the island, but as the rounded the point and moved into the ocean, the wind blew west southwest and Delos could bear almost directly for Charlestown. Queen Anne's Revenge and the other ships, being square rigged, could not sail quite a close to the wind, and had to tack. After consulting with Thatch Tamba agreed that Delos would sail to the mouth of the river and wait, staying out of sight as much as possible, posing as a fishing vessel should they be spotted. Tamba believed they would make Charlestown before the sun set, but it would likely be a long night of sailing either way since they'd probably have to tack back and forth all night. Unless they got their early enough to set an anchor before the light disappeared. Tamba and Kobayashi set the sails and gave her the course before they went below to get some rest, leaving Lulu on watch. She knew that Aunt Māra was to keep an eye on her, but she also knew Aunt Māra was no sailor and that Tamba was trusting her to keep the ship on course and the sails smartly trimmed. +The wind held throughout the morning, Lulu only had to go aloft once and adjust the sails. She'd let Henri take helm while she climbed up the mast. Surprisingly, he hadn't done anything to her or played at it. He simply stood holding the wheel, too small to really navigate, but perfectly capable of making sure the wheel didn't turn as the waves rolled past them. The seas were picking up as the day went on. If they timed the tides wrong they were going to half a rough time heading up river and getting in the inlet. The navigating narrow, shallow channels when the ocean waves were meeting the river current and ebbing tide was never fun, but on these shores she knew it had been the ruin of many a ship. Hardly anyone went to St. Augustine, the only other town on this stretch of coast, because the inlet there was so treacherous. Ships had been known to wait weeks for favorable winds and currents to allow them entrance to the river. "And after all that you get there and it's a bunch of Spanish hovels and miserable people," her father quipped. -Henri sat on the desk beside her playing with two corn husk dolls who alternated between brutal close quarters sword fighting, and scampering runs around and between his legs and body. Sitting on the deck, below the reach of most of the wind it was warm in the sunshine. Lulu could almost pretend it was spring, they were headed north to fish, to spend the summers on the warm beaches of Rhode Island. But whenever she stood up to check her heading against the landmarks on the coast, or compare the maze of inlets, creeks, and estuaries on the map to the seemingly unbroken coastline in front of her, a cold blast of Atlantic winter wind reminded her it wasn't spring, and she wasn't sailing for fun. +Charlestown was not nearly so bad, as a town or a inlet, though it could get rough from time to time and today was shaping up to be one of those times. The wind that had brought them south at over six knots all morning had kicked up a considerable southerly swell that was now moving fast enough that it rolled Delos as it moved by. They were running almost directly down wind now. Delos rose up as the waves moved beneath her and then she slid and wobbled slightly side to side, like a squiggling piece of soap sliding across the top of the ocean. -The wind held throughout the morning, Lulu only had to go aloft once and adjust the sails. She'd let Henri take helm while she climbed up the mast, surprisingly he hadn't done anything to her or played at it. He simply stood holding the wheel, too small to really navigate, but perfectly capable of making sure the wheel didn't turn as the waves rolled past them. The seas were picking up as the day grew on. If they timed the tides wrong they were going to half a rough time heading up river and getting in the inlet. The navigating narrow, shallow channels when the ocean waves were meeting the river current and ebbing tide was never fun, but on these shores she knew it had been the ruin of many a ship. Hardly anyone went to St. Augustine, the only other town on this stretch of coast, because the inlet there was so treacherous. Ships had been known to wait weeks for favorable winds and currents to allow them entrance to the river. "And after all that you get there and it's a bunch of Spanish hovels and miserable looking slaves," her father quipped. +The good part was that the rough seas meant that, more than likely, the pilot boats and crews out on the island near the inlet would be laid up indoors, and unlikely to head into town to alert HMS Victory to their presence. The plan was for Delos to anchor near those pilot boats tonight if possible and stop them from going anywhere tomorrow when Revenge and the other ships showed up. -Charlestown was not nearly so bad, as a town or a inlet, though it could get rough from time to time and today was shaping up to be one of those times. The wind that had brought them south at over six knots all morning had kicked up a considerable southerly swell that was now moving fast enough that it rolled Delos as it moved by. They were running almost directly down wind, but with the current the water was still faster. Delos rose up as the waves moved beneath her and then she slid and wobbled slightly side to side, like a squiggling piece of soap sliding across the top of the ocean. - -The upside was that the rough shes meant that, more than likely, the pilot boats and crews out on the island near the inlet would be laid up indoors, and unlikely to head into town to alert HMS Victory to their presence. The plan was for Delos to anchor near those pilot boats tonight and stop them from going anywhere tomorrow when Queen Anne's Revenge and the other ships showed up. - -Tamba took over the helm when the sun reached it's high point for the day. Which wasn't very high. Lulu wasn't exactly sure what day it was, but she new the Solstice was close. She wondered if they'd be able to celebrate this year with their bonfire pig roast. It had been that very fire two years ago that had first brought Captain Anne to their shores. She'd been sailing with her husband of the time, John Bonny, bound for Nassau when they'd spied a huge fire on Edisto and decided to investigate. +Tamba took over the helm when the sun reached it's high point for the day. Which wasn't very high. Lulu wasn't exactly sure what day it was, but she new the Solstice was close. She wondered if they'd be able to celebrate this year with their bonfire pig roast. It had been that very fire two years ago that had first brought Captain Thatch to their shores. He'd been headed for Nassau when he'd spied a huge fire on Edisto and decided to investigate. Lulu thought about that night as she help Kobayashi gather up dried fish and two day old rice for a snack. She braced herself against the timber next to the cold stove and used the motion of the ship to guide her knife up and down through the tough strips of fish. -They made the inlet well before dark, but the channel was too rough to approach. The tacked out to sea, let the wind fall down into the evening and then made their way through the inlet in the twilight. They found an anchor by the light of a quarter moon and Lulu fell asleep dreaming of storming the city of Charlestown demanding the governor release her father and sister. +They made the inlet well before dark, but the channel was too rough to approach. They tacked out to sea, let the wind fall off into the evening and then made their way through the inlet in the twilight. They found an anchor by the light of a quarter moon and Lulu fell asleep dreaming of storming the city of Charlestown demanding the governor release her father and sister. --- -It was still dark when she woke. Aunt Māra shook her awake so she could help Kobayashi and Tamba into Delos's shore boat. They both had swords strapped to their waists, pistols on straps across their chest, and rifles in their hands. Kobayashi had darkened his face with charcoal and both were wearing black. They looked frightening. Lulu was glad she wasn't waking up to men like this bursting into her house. And then she remembered that she had woken up to them. +It was still dark when she woke. Aunt Māra shook her awake so she could help Kobayashi and Tamba into Delos's long boat. They both had swords strapped to their waists, pistols on straps across their chest, and rifles in their hands. Kobayashi had darkened his face with charcoal and both were wearing black. They looked frightening. Lulu was glad she wasn't waking up to men like this bursting into her house. -She watched them row into the night and then she went below to start the stove and make some warm breakfast. Two days of nothing but cold rice and dried fish with seaweed was enough. She struck and match an lit a bit of parafin, which she pushed n the small door of the stove. She began to feed tiny splinters, and curled wood shaving into the flame, letting the fire build slowly until coals began to form. Once she had enough heat she put in larger twigs until she had a good fire going. Enough of a fire to heat water for porridge. She put a copper on the stove and filled it with water from the fresh water barrels. Then she measured out several handfuls of oats and put the sheet to tin that served as the lid over the pot. +She watched them row off into the darkness and then she went below to start the stove and make some warm breakfast. She struck a match and lit a bit of parafin, which she pushed in the small door of the stove. She began to feed tiny splinters, and curled wood shaving into the flame, letting the fire build slowly until coals began to form. Once she had enough heat she put in larger twigs until she had a good fire going. Enough of a fire to heat water for porridge. She put a copper on the stove and filled it with water from the fresh water barrels. Then she measured out several handfuls of oats and put the sheet of tin that served as the lid over the pot. -She sat down on the stool Kobayashi kept by the stove and opened the door to the fire chanber to warm her hands. She fed in a few more sticks and waited for the water to boil. She watched the orange glow within the stove and wondered what Birdie was doing at the moment. Probably sleeping. If she was luckily. What was her father doing? Probably also sleeping. She glanced aft to where Delos's guns would be if she had any guns. There was a faint glow around the hatch door which meant the sun was rising. That meant her father probably wasn't sleeping. Neither was Birdie. It also meant Tamba and Kobayashi should have captured the pilot boats by now. Soon the dreaded pirate Blackbeard's flagship would appear on Charlestown's eastern horizon and with any luck that would strike enough fear in the hearts of its citizens that they would release her father and sister, and then... and then what? For the first time it hit Lulu that they would not be going back to Edisto. That, even assuming everything in the next few hours went according to plan and they made their escape, nothing would ever be the same again. They might escape his clutches, but Captain McPhail still owned the island. Still claimed the trees. Still had the soldiers to drive them right off it again. Wherever they went after this, for the first time Lulu began to understand, nothing would be the same, +She sat down on the stool Kobayashi kept by the stove and opened the door to the fire chamber to warm her hands. She fed in a few more sticks and waited for the water to boil. She watched the orange glow within the stove and wondered what Birdie was doing at the moment. Probably sleeping. If she was luckily. What was her father doing? Probably also sleeping. She glanced aft to where Delos's guns would be if she had any guns. There was a faint glow around the hatch door which meant the sun was rising. That meant her father probably wasn't sleeping. Neither was Birdie. It also meant Tamba and Kobayashi should have captured the pilot boats by now. Soon the dreaded pirate Blackbeard's flagship would appear on Charlestown's eastern horizon and with any luck that would strike enough fear in the hearts of its citizens that they would release her father and sister, and then... and then what? For the first time it hit Lulu that they would not be going back to Edisto. That, even assuming everything in the next few hours went according to plan and they made their escape, nothing would ever be the same again. They might escape his clutches, but McPhail still owned the island. Still claimed the trees. Still had the soldiers to drive them right off it again. Wherever they went after this, for the first time Lulu began to understand, nothing would be the same, ## Father in Jail, Birdie to some charlestown family. @@ -2948,7 +2945,7 @@ Birdie cocked her head. "What do you mean?" "I saw you two talking, and then I noticed that you stopped. I assumed it was something you said." -Birdie smiled. She told her father about the coversation with McPhail. He chuckled. "Watch yourself Bridie. Don't make enemies you if you don't have to." +Birdie smiled. She told her father about the conversation with McPhail. He chuckled. "Watch yourself Bridie. Don't make enemies you if you don't have to." She looked down. She'd felt good about her verbal attack until her father said that. He would have said the same she was quite sure. @@ -2964,7 +2961,7 @@ She nodded. "Where am I going?" "I want to stay with you." -Her father was about to say something when the door to the jailhouse swung open and McPhail stepped out. He closed the door and stepped back into the street to confer for a moment with the tk british soldier. Then he walked back over the wagon. "Mr father tk. You may step down and go inside of your own accord. Or my men can help you." +Her father was about to say something when the door to the jailhouse swung open and McPhail stepped out. He closed the door and stepped back into the street to confer for a moment with the captain of the soldiers. Then he walked back over the wagon. "Mr tk father's name. You may step down and go inside of your own accord. Or my men can help you." "What is the charge?" @@ -2982,19 +2979,21 @@ Her father didn't bother to hide his surprise. "On what charge?" "Quite." -Her father glanced down. "Well then," he said. +Her father glanced down. "Well then." he said. -She climbed down out of the wagon and ran to her father's side and hugged him. They stepped up onto the porch and Birdie turned around. She harbor stretched out before them in all its muddy, marshy glory. Out near the point, between the trees of the islands she saw a top mast, still to far to see the ship, but it was a big one. Behind it there was another. She glanced at her father. He shook his head ever so slightly. She looked down and followed him in the door. +She climbed down out of the wagon and ran to her father's side and hugged him. They stepped up onto the porch and Birdie turned around. The harbor stretched out before them in all its muddy, marshy glory. Out near the point, between the trees of the islands she saw a top mast, still to far to see the ship, but it was a big one. Behind it there was another. She glanced at her father. He shook his head ever so slightly. She looked down and followed him in the door. -When her eyes adjusted to teh darkness Bridie saw a man standing beside a desk. He seemed ill at ease and was fidgeting with a piece of paper. "Well then," he began and then stopped and rattled the paper. "You'll follow me." +When her eyes adjusted to the darkness Bridie saw a man standing beside a desk. He seemed ill at ease and was fidgeting with a piece of paper. "Well then," he began and then stopped and rattled the paper. "You'll follow me." Her father grabbed Bridie by the shoulders and turned her to follow the man. They waited as he unlocked a heavy wooden door and then led them into what Birdie assumed was the jail. There were rooms on each side, all of them small with a single barred window high up on the wall. The man unlocked a door and stood aside. Her father had to duck to enter the room. Birdie heard the door close behind them. Her father came over the to the door and spoke to the man outside. "The large ship in the harbor, what is she?" "HMS Victory." -"No, the merchant. The Mary, slaver, out of Lisbon." +"No, the merchant." + +"The Mary, slaver, out of Lisbon." -Her father turned away and walked over to the window to look out. There was no furniture in the room. The floor was hard packed mud with a bit of straw. Birdie sat down and leaned against the wall. Her father glanced down at her. "Sorry Birdie, I did not see this coming. Never meant for you to see the inside of a jail." He glanced out the window again. We're facing away from the harbor. He sat down beside her and spoke very quietly. "I'm sure you noticed the topmast of what I assume is Revenge. Whether it's Queen Anne's or Jack's I don't know. But someone is here and I think things will begin to happen, if not tonight, then early tomorrow." +Her father turned away and walked over to the window to look out. There was no furniture in the room. The floor was hard packed mud with a bit of straw. Birdie sat down and leaned against the wall. Her father glanced down at her. "Sorry Birdie, I did not see this coming. Never meant for you to see the inside of a jail." He glanced out the window again. We're facing away from the harbor. He sat down beside her and spoke very quietly. "I'm sure you noticed the topmast of what I assume is Revenge. Someone is here and I think things will begin to happen, if not tonight, then early tomorrow." "What's going to happen Papa?" @@ -3024,7 +3023,7 @@ Her father didn't say anything. The silence stretched out. Finally he said very "No, not theirs either I should think. -"What about their great grandchildern? Shouldn't we fight for something now so that we can hold it for when my grandchildrens' grandchildren's grandchildren need it?" +"What about their great grandchildren? Shouldn't we fight for something now so that we can hold it for when my grandchildrens' grandchildrens' grandchildren need it?" Her father said nothing, but he flicked away the straw. "Perhaps, but we aren't going to." @@ -3048,17 +3047,17 @@ Her father smiled at her. "I don't know, where do you want to go?" "Don't worry, we'll get out of here." Her father stood up and went to the window. Why don't you get some sleep, I'll keep the rats off you and then we can switch." -"There's rats?" +"Wait, there's rats?" ## Lulu and Henri at sea -The sun was just past it's peak when Queen Anne's revenge appeared on the horizon. Tamba and Kobayashi had come back hours before with one of the pilot boats and six men under guard. They were below decks now, tied up. Lulu had given them fish and water. They were sullen and did not eat. She had felt sorry for them when she went below to get them water as Kobayashi had asked her, but by the time she came back up on deck she decided they were a rude lot and she didn't really care what became of them. +The sun was just past its peak when Revenge appeared on the horizon. Tamba and Kobayashi had come back hours before with one of the pilot boats and six men under guard. They were below decks now, tied up. Lulu had given them fish and water. They were sullen and did not eat. She had felt sorry for them when she went below to get them water as Kobayashi had asked her, but by the time she came back up on deck she decided they were a rude lot and she didn't really care what became of them. It was strange how you could swing from sympathy to antipathy just by looking deeply in someone's eyes. -Revenge anchored a short distance back from Delos and launched two long boats that came over to Delos. Edward and his men came aboard and grilled the pilots about the best way into the harbor. In the end one of the boats took four of the men back to Revenge, while Edward forced the other two into the second boat with him. As the sun set the crew began to row upriver toward HMS Victory which, according to the pilots, had a small watch. Tamba went with them, Kobayashi remained on Delos to bring her into the Harbor once the long boat returned. +Revenge anchored a short distance back from Delos and launched two long boats that came over to Delos. Edward and his men came aboard and grilled the pilots about the best way into the harbor. In the end one of the boats took four of the men back to Revenge, while Edward forced the other two into the second boat with him. As the sun set the crew began to row upriver toward HMS Victory which, according to the pilots, had a small watch. Tamba went with them. Kobayashi remained on Delos to bring her into the Harbor once the long boats returned. -Edward sat on the deck brading punks into his beard and tying more to strands of his long hair. He caught Lulu watching him from where she sat, perched on the rail. "Make me look scarier." +Edward sat on the deck brading punks into his beard and tying more to strands of his long hair. He caught Lulu watching him from where she sat, perched on the rail. "Makes me look scarier." -"You already look pretty scary uncle Edward." +"You already look pretty scary Edward." He made a hurt face. "You mean I look scary all the time?" @@ -3066,19 +3065,27 @@ He made a hurt face. "You mean I look scary all the time?" "Never." He smiled. "Wild and scary aren't bad things in my line of work." -"That's what papa says. He says you look the part better than anyone he's ever met." +"That's what Papa says. He says you look the part better than anyone he's ever met." -"He said that did he?" Thatch seemed pleased. Lulu nodded. +"He said that did he?" Thatch seemed pleased. -Later Thatch was the first one in the long boat. He stood in the bow, one foot on the gunwale, adjusting his hat. He looked up at Lulu and tipped it to her. Tamba was the last man over. He shook Lulu and Henri's hand before he went over. "If this goes wrong, take the ship, go to Nassau with your Aunt." And then he began climbing down the netting into the long boat. Lulu and Henri glanced at each other. Lulu tried to smile, but this backup plan, it was not a thing that would make anyone smile. She filed it away under things not to worry about right now. The sun was setting as the long boat headed up the river toward Charlestown. By the time they were out of sight the darkness of night had fallen and the only thing left to do was wait. +Lulu nodded. -Lulu paced the aft deck. Henri fell asleep in Aunt Māra's lap. Kobayashi sat on the bowsprite with the glass and periodically scanned the horizon. Eventually Lulu too grew tired and laid down on the deck, wrapping a quilt around her. She was just dozing, slipping between darkness and dream when the distant sound of a canon jolted her upright. A moment later Queen Anne's Revenge fired an answer. Then the other two ships. Kobayashi had the anchor free before Lulu could get the sails up. He raised the foresail on his was aft to follow Queen Anne between the sandbars. The three ships road the tide and a light wind through the narrows and up the river into Charlestown harbor, one stayed behind the make sure reinforcements didn't arrive by sea. +Later Thatch was the first one in the long boat. He stood in the bow, one foot on the gunwale, adjusting his hat. He looked up at Lulu and tipped it to her. Tamba was the last man over. He shook Lulu and Henri's hand before he went over. "If this goes wrong, take the ship, go to Nassau with your Aunt." And then he began climbing down the netting into the long boat. Lulu and Henri glanced at each other. Lulu tried to smile, but this backup plan, it was not a thing that would make anyone smile. She filed it away under things not to worry about right now. -When the people of Charlestown awoke the next morning, they found themselves effectively prisoners of a terrifying man who moved in a cloud of smoke and now commanded the very warship that had been sent to protect them. At first light, in the silence of the morning, a shrieking whistle came screaming through the pink dawn and exploded in the courtyard of the residence of the mayor, blowing out windows and sending shrapnel searing through plaster walls. The kitchen was destroyed, one pig torn in the half by a chunk of cannon ball, and very loud message delivered. The king is not here. We are here. +The sun was already setting as the long boat headed up the river toward Charlestown. By the time they were out of sight the darkness of night had fallen and the only thing left to do was wait. + +Lulu paced the aft deck. Henri fell asleep in Aunt Māra's lap. Kobayashi sat on the bowsprite with the glass and periodically scanned the horizon. Eventually Lulu too grew tired and laid down on the deck, wrapping a quilt around her. She was just dozing, slipping between darkness and dream when the distant sound of a canon jolted her upright. A moment later Revenge fired a single answer. Then the other two ships. Kobayashi had the anchor free before Lulu could get the sails up. Delos slowly followed Revenge between the sandbars. The three ships rode the tide and a light wind through the narrows and up the river into Charlestown harbor, one sloop stayed behind to make sure reinforcements didn't arrive by sea. + +--- + +When the people of Charlestown awoke the next morning, they found themselves effectively prisoners of a terrifying man who moved in a cloud of smoke and now commanded the very warship that had been sent to protect them from people like him. It was not a good day to be in Charlestown, no matter who you were. The problem with men like Thatch, what really scared people was not threat or even the loss of whatever he might steal. What terrified the world was that they never knew what he might do. Thatch played this to the hilt. No one sailing the Atlantic before or since would be as good at it as he was. + +At first light, in the silence of the morning, a shrieking whistle came screaming through the pink dawn and exploded in the courtyard of the residence of the mayor of Charlestown, blowing out windows and sending shrapnel searing through plaster walls. The kitchen was destroyed, a pig torn in the half by a chunk of cannon ball. No more cannon fired. No more cannon need fire. The people of Charlestown understoon what the first one said. It said very clearly, the king is not here. We are here. ## Birdie and her father -Birdie jolted awake just like Lulu did, but for her the whistling sound came before the sound of the firing, which was only a split second ahead of the explosion as the cannon ball found the governor's mansion and the poor unsuspecting pig, which Birdie did not know about. She was about the jump up when she felt her father's hand on her arm, holding her down. "Patience." +Birdie jolted awake just like Lulu did, but for her the whistling sound came before the sound of the firing, which was only a split second ahead of the explosion as the cannon ball found the governor's mansion and the poor, unsuspecting pig, which Birdie did not know about. She was about the jump up when she felt her father's hand on her arm, holding her down. "Patience." "Was that?" @@ -3092,7 +3099,7 @@ She stretched her legs which were stiff from sleeping on the hard ground. "Not t "I didn't either," said her father. "And I didn't sleep much." He stood up and stretched. He walked over the windows and looked outside. "Fair winds, onshore. And I see Delos in the harbor." -Birdie leaped up and rushed to the window. Her father lifted her up so she could see. There was Delos, at anchor a stone's throw from HMS Victory, which she saw was not flying the same black death's head that flapped a top two other sloops and Queen Anne's Revenge. Delos was the only ship in the cluster anchored near the harbor entrance that wasn't flying the black. She squinted and tried to see if Lulu and Henri were on the deck of Delos, but she could not see that far. "What do we do now?" +Birdie leaped up and rushed to the window. Her father lifted her up so she could see. There was Delos, at anchor a stone's throw from HMS Victory, which she saw was not flying the same black flag that flapped from Revenge and a sloop. Delos was the only ship in the cluster anchored near the harbor entrance that wasn't flying the black. She squinted and tried to see if Lulu and Henri were on the deck of Delos, but she could not see that far. "What do we do now?" "The same thing we've been doing. We wait. It's like sailing Birdie, lots of waiting broken up by the occasional moments of sheer terror." He set her back down on the ground. @@ -3100,13 +3107,13 @@ Birdie leaped up and rushed to the window. Her father lifted her up so she could Her father chuckled. "You're young Birdie." -She didn't like this answer. She didn't *want* moments of terror while sailing. She tried to imagine the scariest thing she could, but a storm was all she could come up with, and that didn't seem so bad. I mean storms on land were bad anyway. In the worst case at sea you drowned. Every sailor drowns eventually, no need to fear that. Birdie wasn't in a hurry to drown, but she wasn't afraid of drowning or the sea or a storm. And she didn't think that was going to change even when she was her father's age. She wasn't sure what a battle at sea would be like, but she knew those were relatively easy to avoid. Just have the fastest boat on the sea and you should be fine. +She didn't like this answer. She didn't *want* moments of terror while sailing. She tried to imagine the scariest thing she could, but a storm was all she could come up with, and that didn't seem so bad. Storms on land were bad too, no one complained about those. In the worst case at sea you drowned. Every sailor drowns eventually, no need to fear that. Birdie wasn't in a hurry to drown, but she wasn't afraid of drowning, or the sea, or a storm. And she didn't think that was going to change even when she was her father's age. She wasn't sure what a battle at sea would be like, but she knew those were relatively easy to avoid. Just have the fastest boat on the sea and you should be fine. The sound of hooves pounding along the dry streets broke her thoughts and reminded her that she was in jail still. Her father craned his neck out the window. "Looks like something has people galloping." He chuckled. "I wonder what Edward will ask for besides us." "What do you mean?" -"I mean he has control of this city right now. He could decided to fire sixty cannon broadsides into this city all morning until it was nothing but ruins. And every smart person in this city understands that and most of them will give him damn near anything he wants to get him to not do that. I am curious what it is that he'll ask for, assuming he does ask for more than us." +"I mean he has control of this city right now. He could fire twenty-cannon broadsides into this city all morning until it was nothing but ruins. And every smart person in this city understands that and most of them will give him damn near anything he wants to get him to not do that. I am curious what it is that he'll ask for, assuming he does ask for more than us." Birdie considered this. What would she ask for in Charlestown? Some paper and ink would be nice. A new doll for Lilah and her. Maybe some sail cloth for Delos. Peppermint sticks for every child. "What would you ask for Papa?" @@ -3116,15 +3123,15 @@ Her father laughed. "I wouldn't ask for anything, I'd just leave." He looked out "Every child? That's kind of you Birdie." -Her father stepped back from the windows and quickly sat down beside her. "Lay in my lap, it looks like Edward asked for us at least." +Her father stepped back from the windows and quickly sat down beside her. "Lay in my lap. It looks like Edward asked for us at least." -There was a rattling of keys and the heavy oak door they had walked through less than twenty-four hours before swung open and two men entered. One was the sherriff, the other was McPhail. +There was a rattling of keys and the heavy oak door they had walked through less than twenty-four hours earlier swung open and two men entered. One was the sheriff, the other was McPhail. "Well, Mr tk father's name, it seems you have some friends who have come for you. Pirate friends." "I don't know what you mean?" -McPhail snorted. "Don't worry, you'll walk out of here today, but this is no longer about fine and money. You're a pirate now. You'll hang like one some day." +McPhail snorted. "Don't worry, you'll walk out of here today, but this is no longer about fine money. You're a pirate now. You'll hang like one some day." "Is there some charge to filed here? Am I accused of piracy?" @@ -3138,7 +3145,7 @@ The sun was well up in the sky when they stepped out onto the street. A wagon wa Her father looked again at the man in the wagon, who seemed to shrink back as everyone stared at him. Her father shrugged and lifted Birdie into the wagon. He sat on the rear and driver shook the reins and they lurched off down the street toward the wharf. -The road lead through the main square where Birdie saw a yellow wall in ruins and behind it the shattered courtyard and collapsed inner wall of a house. Wisps of smoke still trailed up. Two men were heavy stones and trying to clean up the mess, but their movements seemed ineffectual and tiny next to the casual violence of the wreckage around them. Birdie watched the man sitting on the chest in the wagon practically start shaking at the site of the cannon damage. Her father had turned around to look at her and noticed the man's expression. +The road lead through the main square where Birdie saw a yellow wall in ruins and behind it the shattered courtyard and collapsed inner wall of a house. Wisps of smoke still trailed up. Two men were heaving stones and trying to clean up the mess, but their movements seemed ineffectual and tiny next to the casual violence of the wreckage around them. Birdie watched the man sitting on the chest in the wagon practically start shaking at the site of the cannon damage. Her father had turned around to look at her and noticed the man's expression. "Who are you friend?" @@ -3150,29 +3157,40 @@ The road lead through the main square where Birdie saw a yellow wall in ruins an "Ah," her father sighed. Her turned to her. "Well, now we know what Edward asked for in addition to us." -Birdie glanced at Mr. Seward. She said nothing. It made sense. More sense than peppermint sticks for every child anyway. She wished she had thought of that. Of course they would need a doctor. After gold doctors were the most sought after thing on the sea. Sometimes before gold. After all you couldn't find gold if half your ship was sick. She'd heard Anne and Jack tell stories of captured doctors who'd eventually joined their crews, not so much because they wanted to be pirates, but because they were no longer able to convince anyone they weren't already pirates. +Birdie glanced at Mr. Seward. She said nothing. It made sense. More sense than peppermint sticks for every child anyway. She wished she had thought of that. Of course they would need a doctor. After gold, doctors were the most sought after thing on the sea. Sometimes before gold. After all you couldn't find gold if half your ship was sick. She'd heard Bellamy tell stories of captured doctors who'd eventually joined their crews, not so much because they wanted to be pirates, but because they were no longer able to convince anyone they weren't already pirates. -The wagon turned up Meeting street, headed for the shoreline. Near the end the road became too muddy for the wagon and Birdie and her father climbed down and helped Mr Seward with his chest, which was full of medicine Edward had asked for. Her father and Mr. Seward struggled through the mud to a long boat where Birdie saw Tamba standing among a number of other sailors, all holding guns, all with swords at their wastes. She wanted to rush into his arms, but she did not. She waited why the chest was loaded in and then Mr Seward climbed in. Her father lifted Bridie over the gunwale and sat her next to Tamba and then she threw her arms around him, and he his around her. Her father pushed them out, mucking his was through the sucking marsh mud until he was up to his chest in the water and then he heaved himself up and into the boat in a wet, muddy, stinking heap. +The wagon turned up Meeting Street, headed for the shoreline. Near the end the road became too muddy for the wagon and Birdie and her father climbed down and helped Mr Seward with his chest, which was full of medicine Edward had asked for. Her father and Mr. Seward struggled through the mud to a long boat where Birdie saw Tamba standing among a number of other sailors, all holding guns, all with swords at their waists. She wanted to rush into his arms, but she did not. She waited while the chest was loaded in and then Mr Seward climbed in. Her father lifted Bridie over the gunwale and sat her next to Tamba and then she threw her arms around him, and he his around her. Her father pushed them out, mucking his was through the sucking marsh mud until he was up to his chest in the water and then he heaved himself up and into the boat in a wet, muddy, stinking heap. -"Way to make an entrance" muttered one of the sailors who was rowing them back toward Queen Anne's Revenge. +"Way to make an entrance" muttered one of the sailors who was rowing them back toward Revenge. ## Back together on Delos. -The long boat hadn't even touch Delos when Birdie leaped off and onto Delos' webbing. She felt her father and Tamba climbing up behind her, but she raced on up and over the gunwale in such a hurry she knocked Lulu and Henri over and all three of the sprawled in a heap on the deck. Birdie quickly gathered them up and they all squeezed each other until the could not breath and burst out laughing and rolled apart. +The long boat hadn't even touched Delos when Birdie leaped off and onto Delos' hanging webbing. She felt her father and Tamba climbing up behind her, but she raced on up and over the gunwale in such a hurry she spilled over the top right into Lulu and Henri and all three of them sprawled in a heap on the deck. Birdie quickly gathered them up and they all squeezed each other until the could not breath and burst out laughing and rolled apart. Birdie rolled over and kissed the smooth oak boards of Delos' deck. "Thank gods." She looked at Lulu and Henri and it felt a little like someone was punching her in the gut, an unaccountable welling started in her gut, moved up her chest and began to slowly leak out her eyes in silent tears. Lulu rolled over toward her and they lay side by side, hands squeezed together, tears rolling down their cheeks as they stared up at the mast and the sun beyond it. -And then the sun disappeared and Lulu and Henri were yanked away from her as her father caught them both up in his arms. Birdie wiped her eyes and stood up. The first thing she noticed was how ruined the deck looked. Delos was in rough shape. No one had scrubbed her since they slipped off in the night. She glanced at her father. She was surprised to see the streak of tears down his cheeks, disappearing into his beard. It was only then she realized that just because he acted like everything was going to be fine, didn't mean the world was going to do as he wanted. +And then the sun disappeared and Lulu and Henri were yanked away from her as her father caught them both up in his arms. Birdie wiped her eyes and stood up. The first thing she noticed was how ruined the deck looked. Delos was in rough shape. No one had scrubbed her since they slipped off in the night. -But here they were, now it was time to go. "Let's raise anchor." +She glanced at her father. She was surprised to see the streak of tears down his cheeks, disappearing into his beard. It was only then she realized that just because he acted like everything was going to be fine, didn't mean the world was going to do as he wanted. To act was one thing, to bring the act to the end you wanted was quite another. But here they were, now it was time to go. "Let's raise anchor," she said. Tamba chuckled. "Good to have you back Birdie." Kobayashi came up from below and scooped her up for a hug. "My dried fish thief is back at last." -Last was Aunt Māra who stood off to the side watching the family. She held out her arms to Birdie and she raw over to her and buried her face in the softness of her dress. "My sweet girl," she said stroking Birdie's hair. +Last was Aunt Māra, who stood off to the side watching the family. She held out her arms to Birdie and she raw over to her and buried her face in the softness of her dress. "My sweet girl," she said stroking Birdie's hair. + + + +:TODO": From here was need a seque to night time and Aunt Māra's decision to leave. What do they do in the mean time? Do they speak with Edward perhaps. + + + + + + + -Aunt Māra stared at the city lights. Birdie stood beside her at the gunwale watching Charlestown's lanterns being lit up. She thought of earlier when Aunt Māra had stood to the side crying. She wanted to say something to her, to make her feel better, but she knew there was nothing to be said. Her family would never come climbing back up over the gunwale. There were no reunions in her Aunt's future, just eternal reminders of what had been and would never be. Birdie aqueezed her hand. She turned toward Birdie. +Aunt Māra stared at the city. Birdie stood beside her at the gunwale watching Charlestown's lanterns being lit up. She thought of earlier when Aunt Māra had stood to the side crying. She wanted to say something to her, to make her feel better, but she knew there was nothing to be said. Her family would never come climbing back up over the gunwale. There were no reunions in her Aunt's future, just eternal reminders of what had been and would never be. Birdie aqueezed her hand. She turned toward Birdie. I will miss you Birdie. |