Episode 12 - A Hero's Welcome
29th day of January, 1640.
The three battered ships limped back into the harbour of Tortuga.
Quinn was surveying the ramshakle fleet as they approached the main dock, "Tis gonna take us a while ta recover 'r losses, Coggy" he said, with a touch of resignation in his voice.
"Never yee mind, Quinny" replied Moose reassuringly, "'Appen I's still got me Baron Boat in dry dock," he continued, "…and when she's ready, tha pigs in Cartagena will be wishin' they'd never 'erd o' the MooseMen" he said, with pride.
"Arrr, Moose. 'Appen I forgot 'bout yer flagship! She'll be a fine asset" replied Cog, as the ships began to berth at the dock.
Within a few minutes, a group of townsfolk gathered on the dockside.
One Eyed Willy met the pirates as they disembarked, "Job well done, matey's" he said, enthusiastically shaking the hands of each man.
"I's invitin' ye all to a free round o' drinks down at tha Silver Sloop Tavern" continued Willy.
"Arrr, Now yer talkin'!" replied Davey Jones, eagerly licking his lips.
Coggy was the last one to disembark.
"I's headin' over to Tew's flagship ta see if'n 'es willin' ta join us with our trip ta Cartagena" said Cog, as he bid farewell to his mates.
"Aye, and I's got me a meetin' with tha shipwright" called Moose, as the pirates went their separate ways.
"Tis just us three, then" said Davey to Quinn and Morgan as they eagerly headed for the tavern.
Two hours later...
Moose was over at the shipwrights checking on the progress of his flagships repairs.
"Chroist almighty, Moose!" said the shipwright, scratching his haed, "yer boats got a lot 'r damage to it's hull. What 'appened?, had a run-in wit tha dons did ye?" he asked.
"Nay lad, 'appen we got caught in a storm near tha reefs of Nassau. Took us nigh on three weeks ta limp back 'ere. Me men where workin' overtime pluggin' tha holes," replied Moose, surveying the damage.
The shipwright shook his head, "Sorry mate, but 'tis gonna be another week 'afore she's sea-worthy again,"
"Gawd darn it!" said Moose with great disappointment, "We sails fer Cartagena in a day o' two."
"Never yee mind, Moosey" said the shipwright cheerfully, "'appen I's got a nice 'lil Fluyte ye can 'ave - real cheap too!"
"A Fluyte?, a bleedin' Fluyte?" replied Moose with a touch of anger, "Me MooseMen 'ill not be seen dead in a Fluyte," he continued, "We sails in nottin' but Brigs or Frigates these days - 'appen I'll 'ave ta tell Coggy 'es gonna 'ave some lodgers on 'is ship fer a while" he said.
"Arrr, don't be too hasty thar," replied the shipwright before Moose could leave, "I may be able ta git her ready by tha weekend - but only if'n tha price is right!" he said, as if he'd rehearsed it.
"Yew theiv'n blaggard!" growled Moose, with a menacing glance, "Tink ye can take me fer a fool, eh?"
"Calm down, matey, calm down" said the nervous shipwright as Moose drew his cutlass.
Moose put the blade to the throat of the quaking shipwright, "If'n she's not ready by tha day after tha 'morrow, I'll come back 'ere 'n hang yer theiv'n festering carcass from me friggin' yardarm, yer filthy bilge rat ye!" he barked.
Back in town, One Eyed Willy stood in the packed tavern preparing to propose a toast to the hero's of Tortuga.
"Here ye, Here ye" he started, "Tis with great pride in me heart and a tear in me eye that I stands 'ere today wit me brethren pirates." he said, lifting his bottle of rum into the air.
"Arrrrr, Arrrrr" came the rambling response from the gathered men.
Willy took a swig of rum and continued, "Every last one of ye scurvy swines 'ill always be welcome to tha fair town o' Tortuga as long as I's Gov'nor," he said, with a lump in his throat.
"Fer if'n it weren't for tha bravery ye showed yesterday, tha townsfolk of this 'ere place would be speakin' tha vile Spanish lingo by now, and we'd all be eatin' nottin' but onions and beans for tha rest of our wretched lives" he said, taking another swig of rum.
"Arrr, Arrr" again came the response of his fellow pirates.
"I tips me hat to tha lot of ye and wishes ye good luck in yer endeavours" finished One Eye.
Just then the tavern door burst open and in stormed Willy's wife, Willow!
"Whar the friggin' 'ell 'ave ye been, yer useless friggin' git ye?" she barked, into Willy's ear.
"Errrm, erm, sorry me darlin', 'appens I's jus' sharin' a rum wit me mates," replied Willy, in a cowering sheepish manner.
"Git yer yeller friggin' hide back home, yew bleedin' gutless frig ye!" screamed Willow, "Yer friggin' lunch has been ready fer an hour and I's got better friggin' tings ta do than chase yer friggin' pox ridden hide round dis friggin' cesspool." she said, grabbing Willy by the ear and dragging him out of the door.
"I'm glad that thar wench 'is not waitin' fer us in Cartagena!" said a relieved Davey Jones over the chorus of laughter.
"Aye lad, poor ol' Willy… 'appen I'd rather do tha hem pen jig off me very own flagship than wake up to that bitch every morning!" said Morgan in agreement.
Back at the docks, Coggy met Moose, Morgan, and the drunken Jones.
"So what did Admiral Tew say?" asked Morgan.
"He's an elusive one, that'n," said Coggy, with a sigh, "'appen he's not convinced tha risk 'is worth it - but he sey's the flag o' truce will remain aloft fer now and he's willin' ta 'elp us take on Cartagena. 'Appen the swine wants some revenge on the Spaniards for sinkin' 'is ship," explained Cog.
"Can we trust him?" asked Davey.
"Don't see why not." replied Cog, "He could've easily turned on us instead of tha Armada, so I tink we's gotta give tha bugger the benefit o' the doubt" said Coggy, trying to convince himself.
"With that thar price on 'is head ' n the swag we gets from liberating Cartagena o' it's riches - who'll need yer bleedin' treasure map, Cog?" asked a greed filled Moose.
"Arrr, Moosey, yer a cheatin' theiv'n pirate ye 'r - dats' what I likes 'bout ye!" said Coggy admiringly, "but I's got me black heart set on that treasure, so don't be getting any treacherous ideas in yer twisted mind before tha Admiral has played 'is part at Cartagena." he quickly added.
"We'll claim that bounty on Tew's head all in good time, no doubt"
"Anyway, What's the news of yer Baron Boat, mate?" he asked.
"The shipwright reckoned it'd be another week o' two before she be ready," replied Moose.
"Gawd. We's sailin' in less than a week - 'appen I can't risk word of our impending attack on Cartagena leakin'," explained a disappointed Cog.
"Don't ye worry thar, Coggy," added Moose quickly, "'Appen I came to a lil' agreement wit tha blaggard," he said, with a scowl on his face.
"He agreed ta get her ready within two days and I agreed not ta skin 'im alive," explained Moose.
Davey staggered a little before adding, "Ye could've 'ad my flagship fer tha occasion <hic> but 'appen I traded it fer a warehouse full o' rum <hic>"
"Figures!" said Morgan.
"What 'bout yer ship, 'Enry?" asked Cog.
"Arrr Cogs, I's loaned it to a mate o' mine in Eleuthera," replied Morgan, trying not to disappoint his mates.
"What tha 'ell fer?" asked Moose.
"Well, mate, tis like this... I's done me fare share o' piratin' in years gone by, and as ye know, I's got me a tidy sum of swag tucked away for me retirement - so instead of takin' unnecessary risks, I loaned me ship to me mate on tha account that 'e gives me one fifth of 'is ill gotten gains…" replied Morgan.
"So whadda ya doin' embarkin' on this 'ere mission fer?" asked an unconvinced Moose.
"'Cos I's a greedy bastid!" snapped Morgan.
"Good enough reason fer me," said Coggy.
The pirates nodded in agreement.
"Right, then, - tis settled, we sails tha day after tomorrow... Moose, go get yer ship ready and let tha Admiral know when we's leavin'" said Coggy.
The three pirates returned to the dock and mustered the remaining crew in preparation for their long voyage to the Spanish stronghold of Cartagena.