Episode 25 - The Feast
21st day of February, 1640.
The blood-stained beach was still littered with corpses as a line of pirates continued hoarding their ill-gotten gains into large piles of gold, jewels, and silver, next to the beached Grim Reaper.
Aboard the ship, Lieutenant La Foot was briefing Coggy and his mates about the previous days events, "We lost 'bout 130 men dead, 56 wounded, and tha Alliance ship Fear, went down wit all hands, Sir,"
"How many men 'r left in tha town?" asked Cog.
"About 150, Sir. Thars still a bit more lootin' ta be done, and we's took over 400,000 pesos from tha treasury alone!" replied the Lieutenant, with a grin.
"Hmmm, not bad fer a days work!" said Davey Jones.
"Arrr, give tha poor buggers that got wounded an extra portion 'o plunder fer thar endeavours - but tell 'em they's bein' left here in Cartagena, they's no use to us now," said Coggy, "'Appen we's sailin' ta Belize as soon as tha ships 'r ready 'n tha swags been loaded onto tha Baron Boat," he added.
"Aye Sir." replied La Foot as he disembarked the ship and headed back into town.
"Coggy, me Baron Boat needs a few days repairs, 'n by tha looks 'o it, so does Tew's flagship," explained Moose.
"Tis gonna take us at least another day ta load tha hoard, so I reckon's we can plan fer departure tha day after ta tha 'morrow... any objections?" asked Cog.
"Fine wit me," replied Tew as the others nodded in agreement.
"'I think ol' Neptune 'as been smiling on us lads, cos it looks like tha tides a commin' in ta refloat me ship," said Coggy, as he watched the red bloody waves gradually move further up the beach.
Meanwhile, Quinn, Morgan and a bunch of marines, were escorting the Ol'Man and his wench, Cyclone, to the dock where the Grey Ghost was berthed.
"Tew said we's gotta keep an eye on yew two," said Morgan as they approached the dock, "So we's posting a guard on yer ship till it's time ta depart."
" Don't be getting' any ideas in yer scurvy head, Ol'Man, else I'll hang ye from yer very own yard arm." he added, menacingly.
"Another pirate wannabe speaks," replied Cyclone sarcastically.
"Listen 'ere, Morgan," said Ol'Man as he stopped to face his escort, "I's been killin' scum like yew since before yer two-bit Tortuga whore of a mother gave birth to yer yeller hide - so DON'T be makin' threats to tha likes 'o me!"
Morgan was itching to take a piece of the Ol'Bastid as the anger grew inside him, "Tha only ting keepin' yer filthy hide alive 'is tha pirate oath, Ol'Man. So when yee've received yer share 'o tha treasure - as far as I'M concerned - yew 'n yer whore are fair game. If'n Tew don't git ye, I WILL!" he warned.
"Arr shut yer trap, boyo, before I sticks that thar sword 'o yers in it!" replied the Ol'Man as he continued to bait Morgan.
Quinn grabbed the arm of Morgan and pulled him back slightly as he went for the Ol'Git, "'Enry, don't let tha ol' bugger git to ye... he's jus' a theiv'n tax man who's too yeller to earn 'is plunder like any 'onest pirate"
Cyclone began to laugh, "HA, whadda yew know 'bout pirating? Get back ta sewin' flags yew old hag" she laughed.
Ol'Man added to the insults, "Aye, 'n keep yer wharf rat arse's outta me ports... I'm sick of hangin' swabs like ye from me masts." he growled.
The group reached the dock and Ol'Man, Cyclone, and twenty pirate guards boarded the Grey Ghost's open launch as Quinn and Morgan remained on the dock.
"What 'bout me crew?" asked Ol'Man as the boat pulled away.
"Thar's ten 'o yer sorry swines already aboard her - yee'r getting' ney more... TAX MAN!" called Quinn, as the boat headed for the ship.
Morgan and Quinn quickly headed away from the dock, "Right, lets get back to tha others 'n count tha days takings before I 'as a change 'o heart 'n kills tha bugger were 'e sits" said the irate Morgan.
Later that day...
"Squawk-yew-bastid!-squawkkkk" squawked an irate Arfur.
"Shut yer beak, bird!" replied Coggy, as he stood in his cabin scrubbing the poor bird, "Yer filthy lice-ridden stench 'is makin' me eye water, 'n givin' me tha sneezes... so git yer wretched carcass in that thar water before I gits me cook ta bar-be-cue yer sorry hide," growled Coggy as he struggled to duck the bird into the soapy water.
"Squawk-Squarrrrrk" gurgled Arfur.
There was a knock on the cabin door and La Foot entered.
"Sir, we's finished pillaging tha town, but Dredd Roberts wants us to stop burning tha buildings - 'e reckons if'n he's gonna be tha new governor 'n all, he'd like something left ta govern" said the Lieutenant.
"Aye, Ok, La Foot, recall tha men" said Coggy as he continued to struggle with Arfur.
Moose, Davey, and Quinn were over-looking the rowboats taking the riches of Cartagena over to the Baron Boat.
"Tha lads said tha repairs 'r goin' well. We's gonna be ready ta sail on time." said Moose with pride as he looked across to his beloved ship.
"I's never seen so much swag!" said Quinn with glee as another two boats left the beach and headed for the ship.
"If'n ye tinks dats a lot - wait till yer see what ten million peso's looks like!" replied Davey in reference to the awaiting treasure near Belize.
La Foot approached the three pirates, "I'm goin' inta town, Coggy wants me ta recall tha rest 'o tha men - anyone fancy a last rum in tha tavern before we leaves?" he asked.
"Count me in, matey… if'n the place is still in one piece - dat is!" replied the eager Davey Jones.
"I's headin' over to me ship, so I'll see yew two later," declined Moose.
La Foot and Jones quickly disembarked the ship and headed up the beach.
"Not goin' wit 'em, Quinny?" asked Moose.
"Naw, matey, I's gonna stay 'ere 'n watch our very own treasure fleet," he replied, as he looked at another rowboat full of swag heading for Moose's ship.
Meanwhile, Tew was back aboard his flagship watching his remaining crew patch up the hardy vessel.
"How's it goin', lads?" he called to a bunch of busy sailors.
"We're almost finished, Sir" replied one.
"Right, if'n ye needs me, I'll be in me cabin" added the Admiral, as he left the Bridge.
Back in the smouldering town, the last of the invading pirates were getting some last-minute whoring with the virgin wenches they'd taken prisoner.
"GIT YER SCURVY HIDES BACK TO THA SHIPS! DAT'S AN ORDER!" barked La Foot as he headed towards the tavern with Davey Jones.
"Awww, but Sir, I's not 'ad me a go yet!" grumbled a disappointed pirate as he was pinning a wench to the ground with his long sword poised for action.
Inside the tavern, the barman was clearing up the mess left by some eager pirates earlier, "Bleedin' swines," he cursed to himself.
La Foot and Jones entered.
"Arrr, welcome to me little tavern," said the man, "Sorry its a mess, but some of your men got a bit carried away when they pillaged the place" he added, trying not to upset the two swabs.
"No need ta apologize, thar matey," replied the smiling Davey as he made for the bar, "Jus' give us a couple 'o bottles 'o rum… 'cos we's shipping out soon 'n I's not 'ad a drink fer an hour 'o two."
La Foot and Jones enjoyed the quietness of the empty tavern and spent the next thirty minutes reflecting on the last couple of days.
That evening...
All the pirates were sat on the Bridge of the Grim Reaper enjoying a rum and roast pork meal. They were engaging in a toast to their recent endeavours...
"I'd like ta thank all me brethren pirates fer the bravery 'n courage they's showed recently." said Coggy, as he stumbled to his feet with a bottle of grog in one hand and a lump of meat in the other.
"Here, Here," came the gleeful reply from the merry swabs.
"And I'd like ta also ask all me mates present to drink a toast to tha fine Cap'n, Maniac Moose, fer if'n it weren't fer 'is dead-eye accuracy in takin' out those turrets, 'ol Coggy 'n me men would be spread all over the beach, feedin' tha gulls, no doubt" continued Coggy.
"To Moosey!" they all called.
Cog poured himself another rum and lifted his tankard again, "And finally, I'd like ta finish by askin' all ye murderous thieves ta drink one last toast to tha Admiral 'ere, fer if'n it weren't fer 'is balls 'n great seamanship… we'd 'ave surely perished in that thar harbour" added Cog, before taking a gulp of rum and giving out a long belch.
"To tha Admiral" they all called in unison, as they lifted their tankards of rum in the air.
Tew looked a little embarrassed but got to his feet, "And I'd like to sey, tas been a pleasure goin' inta battle wit ye... I's not seen eye ta eye wit some 'o yew in tha past but me tinks this 'ere endeavour 'o ours has shown us dat we's all from tha same mould… Theiv'n murderous bastids one 'n all" he called, as he too took a gulp of rum and slumped back into his chair.
"By god, matey, I'll drink to that!" laughed the drunken Davey as all the pirates stood and cheered.