Gossamer (03/27/07)
The sea was colored green.
Two hundred tons of cargo load kept Gossamer way below the waterline, and Caribbean water poured freely on the deck with each falling of the waves. The deck that was full of frantic sailors, two dozen soldiers dying from boredom and seasickness, and Lieutenant-Commander Willson. Oh, it was more than full of Commander Willson. The man's size was closely approaching to that of the barque herself. He was standing abaft, looking at the ship's crew from under his heavy square eyebrows that surrealistically contrasted with his almost perfectly round face, and chewed on his pipe.
The Lieutenant-Commander wasn't exactly in command, he was there just to represent the crown and to ensure that the ship's crew didn't lay eyes on the valuable cargo. Not that they had any idea what it was, of course, but simply knowing that it's valuable could have proven to be enough for the ship's captain to make a lethal mistake, least Willson was there to put the fear of God into him. And of the British Empire's court, but that was almost one and the same, since after being tried he would have most definitely be given a chance to meet the Creator. This cargo they were hauling out of St. Kitts was nothing like the Lieutenant-Commander ever seen before. Like nothing anyone has seen before, and like nothing anyone will see for a long, long while. Not until the time is right.
"Charming, simply charming" he muttered.
Men much more powerful than him made the need for secrecy on this mission abundantly clear, even to the point where Gossamer to raise sails in a hidden port on the far side of St. Kitts, and leave without escort.
"Yes, charming indeed..."
Lieutenant-Commander Willson wasn't thinking about the wonderful cargo, or the dangers of sailing these waters without a galleon or two at the side, but instead, about his soon-to-be wife. Oh, she was more than charming. He still didn't know how he ever got so lucky. Her name was Justine, and she was the prettiest thing he'd seen in his entire life. And soon, she would be his. Yes, he understood that it was all for the money, the status, but he didn't care. For the first time in his life, he was in love. Every pound of his complexion would melt under her momentary gaze, every time he'd see her he'd feel twenty years younger. She was his everything. A Jewel of the Sea, how he liked to call her. And with her to be his wife on his return, no pirates or dishonest captains worried him, for he was one of the happiest men alive.
"Ship on the horizon!" he heard someone scream from the mizzenmast, "She's sportin' no flag!"
***
The brigantine cuts through the waves, flying at ten knots per hour, its crew eager for battle. Torn clothes, bandannas, long, unwashed hair, and cat-like glow in their eyes. Cannons ready to fire. Soon she catches up with the defenseless Gossamer.
"Fire!"
Grapeshot tears through the barque's crew, cutting through flesh and bone and leaving a good third of it lying never to get up again. The ship's hulls crush against each other, there is a screeching noise, and what seems like a hundred grappling hooks fly onto the barque's deck. A moment, and the corsairs are already aboard, sabers, rapiers, pistols at the ready. Another moment and the sabers taste blood. The fight is more like slaughter, the weak resistance of Gossamer's surviving soldiers and sailors met with tenfold aggression. Pistol rounds are fired, someone's head explodes, their comrade stabs a pirate in the eye only to have his arm cut off by another. The deck is aligned with bodies and slippery with blood.
A man in a white shirt and red bandanna, the corsair skipper, crosses rapiers with Willson. A strike, and the Lieutenant-Commander uneasily retreats. Another strike, and Willson's cheek is scarred, another and the rapier flies from his hand. The pirate points his blade at the Lieutenant-Commander's Adam's apple.
"Wait... Wait... Before... Before you kill me... Do you even know what's in the cargo holds?"
"Aye. Tha most fascinating thing in the whole wide world. And tha most fascinating thing in the whole wide world is..."
"Love?"
A wide blade pierces Willson's back and comes out of his chest. A drop of blood rolls down his chin.
"Death," says Jewel of the Sea and turns the cutlass.
The sea was colored green.
Two hundred tons of cargo load kept Gossamer way below the waterline, and Caribbean water poured freely on the deck with each falling of the waves. The deck that was full of frantic sailors, two dozen soldiers dying from boredom and seasickness, and Lieutenant-Commander Willson. Oh, it was more than full of Commander Willson. The man's size was closely approaching to that of the barque herself. He was standing abaft, looking at the ship's crew from under his heavy square eyebrows that surrealistically contrasted with his almost perfectly round face, and chewed on his pipe.
The Lieutenant-Commander wasn't exactly in command, he was there just to represent the crown and to ensure that the ship's crew didn't lay eyes on the valuable cargo. Not that they had any idea what it was, of course, but simply knowing that it's valuable could have proven to be enough for the ship's captain to make a lethal mistake, least Willson was there to put the fear of God into him. And of the British Empire's court, but that was almost one and the same, since after being tried he would have most definitely be given a chance to meet the Creator. This cargo they were hauling out of St. Kitts was nothing like the Lieutenant-Commander ever seen before. Like nothing anyone has seen before, and like nothing anyone will see for a long, long while. Not until the time is right.
"Charming, simply charming" he muttered.
Men much more powerful than him made the need for secrecy on this mission abundantly clear, even to the point where Gossamer to raise sails in a hidden port on the far side of St. Kitts, and leave without escort.
"Yes, charming indeed..."
Lieutenant-Commander Willson wasn't thinking about the wonderful cargo, or the dangers of sailing these waters without a galleon or two at the side, but instead, about his soon-to-be wife. Oh, she was more than charming. He still didn't know how he ever got so lucky. Her name was Justine, and she was the prettiest thing he'd seen in his entire life. And soon, she would be his. Yes, he understood that it was all for the money, the status, but he didn't care. For the first time in his life, he was in love. Every pound of his complexion would melt under her momentary gaze, every time he'd see her he'd feel twenty years younger. She was his everything. A Jewel of the Sea, how he liked to call her. And with her to be his wife on his return, no pirates or dishonest captains worried him, for he was one of the happiest men alive.
"Ship on the horizon!" he heard someone scream from the mizzenmast, "She's sportin' no flag!"
***
The brigantine cuts through the waves, flying at ten knots per hour, its crew eager for battle. Torn clothes, bandannas, long, unwashed hair, and cat-like glow in their eyes. Cannons ready to fire. Soon she catches up with the defenseless Gossamer.
"Fire!"
Grapeshot tears through the barque's crew, cutting through flesh and bone and leaving a good third of it lying never to get up again. The ship's hulls crush against each other, there is a screeching noise, and what seems like a hundred grappling hooks fly onto the barque's deck. A moment, and the corsairs are already aboard, sabers, rapiers, pistols at the ready. Another moment and the sabers taste blood. The fight is more like slaughter, the weak resistance of Gossamer's surviving soldiers and sailors met with tenfold aggression. Pistol rounds are fired, someone's head explodes, their comrade stabs a pirate in the eye only to have his arm cut off by another. The deck is aligned with bodies and slippery with blood.
A man in a white shirt and red bandanna, the corsair skipper, crosses rapiers with Willson. A strike, and the Lieutenant-Commander uneasily retreats. Another strike, and Willson's cheek is scarred, another and the rapier flies from his hand. The pirate points his blade at the Lieutenant-Commander's Adam's apple.
"Wait... Wait... Before... Before you kill me... Do you even know what's in the cargo holds?"
"Aye. Tha most fascinating thing in the whole wide world. And tha most fascinating thing in the whole wide world is..."
"Love?"
A wide blade pierces Willson's back and comes out of his chest. A drop of blood rolls down his chin.
"Death," says Jewel of the Sea and turns the cutlass.
幻術
