Episode 32 - The Hag
5th day of March, 1640.
Admiral Tew had recovered from his injuries but his heart was full of sorrow, and anger. He'd lost all three of his Alliance ships in his relentless pursuit of the Ol'Man.
"If'n we ever gets our 'ands on that treasure, I's wantin' yew lot ta know dat as far as tha Dark Water Alliance is concerned, our lil' truce is over!" he growled, as the pirates watched the island port of Santa Catalina come into view.
"Yee'll get ney argument from me, Admiral" replied Coggy, not taking his eye off the town as the ship limped it's way into the harbour.
The pirates where anxious to quickly berth and begin immediate repairs. They wanted to be back on the open sea as soon as possible.
The thought of Ol'Man reaching the treasure before them made each and every one irritable and frustrated.
"I also wants yew ta know that whatever 'appens - I want's tha Ol'Man and his wench taken alive," said Tew, "'Appen those two bastards 'r gonna 'ave tha pleasure 'o tasting me blade 'n I want's 'em conscious when it happens." he added, with an evil glint of revenge in his eyes.
Within an hour, the ship had docked and Coggy was heading towards the shipwrights.
Moose and Morgan gathered the surviving ramshackle crew together and headed towards a timber warehouse looking for supplies and tools, "I wanna be back on tha Ol'Gits trail within a day," said a determined Moose as the men entered the building and began gathering the planks of wood together.
Meanwhile, Quinn, Davey Jones, and La Foot entered the local tavern and quickly settled into a session of rum drinking with the locals...
Later that day...
Cog was inside the shipwrights' workshop, still getting over the shock of discovering the shipwright was female. He'd never met a female shippy before and it made him uneasy about demanding help in repairing the Grim Reaper. Especially when this female was the most stubborn wench he'd ever met.
"Look, missy... all I'm askin' is fer yew ta supply as many 'o yer best carpenters as ye can spare," said Cog, trying to be patient and not loose his temper with the wench.
"And I'm tellin' yew, Captain, I don't 'ave any bleedin' men ta spare - they's all out working on tha Gov'nors new townhouse," replied the defiant woman, "And me name aint missy - it's Ms CupperBut to yew!" she added, with a scowl.
Coggy became even more frustrated, "I's askin' ye one last time - git those buggers down 'ere NOW 'n me bunch 'o motley bastids 'ill refrain' from burning yer friggin' town to tha ground!" he barked.
Again, the shipwright held her defiant stance, "Yer crew 'o sorry sods don't scare us! We's a hardy bunch on this here island 'n we don't take kindly to scum like yew threatening us!" she said.
Coggy didn't know how to handle the wench, he was used to getting what he wanted and when he wanted it. Diplomacy wasn't his strong point but he knew he'd have to stay civil, the last thing the pirates needed was another battle - time was short and his crew exhausted.
"I's willin' ta pay ye double tha goin' rate fer yer 'elp in repairing me ship" he asked, hoping to appeal to the wenches greedier side.
"Sorry... no deal" she replied, much to the growing annoyance of the pirate.
Just then, Tew entered...
"What's tha bleedin' hold up?" he asked in frustration, "Tha more time we waste sitting in dis cesspool - tha further away tha Ol'Bastid gets."
"Dis bitch is bein' unreasonable," snapped an irate Coggy.
Ms CupperBut gave Coggy another scowl, "Please leave me store… I's not got time ta speak to tha likes of ye" she said, as she ushered the shocked pirates out of the building with her broom.
Coggy and Tew looked on in stunned silence as the door was firmly slammed in their faces.
"Jus' kill tha wench, Cog." growled Tew.
Coggy knocked on the door...
"Clear off yew bunch 'o pox ridden curds!" came the muffled shout from within.
Coggy knocked again - louder...
The door swung open and CupperBut gave the two men a menacing scowl that terrified the souls of the two pirates.
"I don't know 'bout yew, Cog, but I tinks I'm beginning ta like dis wench," said the Admiral as he began to admire the gall of the woman.
Back at the warehouse, Moose and Morgan had finished gathering the timber that was to be used in repairing the Sloop.
"Right, dat should do it... now lets get dis lil' lot back to tha dock 'afore someone notices it's gone!" said Morgan, as the theiving pirates headed back to the ship.
Meanwhile, Admiral Tew had managed to charm his way back into the shipwright's workhouse.
"Yew two buggers jus' don't give up, do ye?" said CupperBut in annoyance at her visitor's persistence.
"Look missy, me mate Coggy can be a bit 'o a psycho when it comes ta dealing wit peasants," growled Tew, "So me advice to yew is ta jus' give us what we needs 'n we'll be on our merry way" he said.
CupperBut grew more inpatient, "Me names NOT missy - 'tis Ms CupperBut, and as I's already told tha good Captain - I AINT GOT WHAT YEW NEEDS... NOW CLEAR OFF 'N LEAVE ME ALONE!" she barked, as her patience finally snapped.
Now it was Tews turn to feel uncomfortable. He too wasn't used to being confronted in such a manner - especially not by a woman!
"I's 'ad enough 'o dis," scowled Coggy as he drew his cutlass.
CupperBut dropped her broom and reached down behind the counter and pulled out the largest longsword the two pirates had ever seen!
"Put yer lil' knife away before I sticks me friggin' sword where tha sun don't shine, mister!" she said, with a calmness that caused the pirates to quake in their boots.
Coggy and Tew stood in silence. Finally breaking into hearty laughter at the stubbornness of the ol' wench.
"Yee'd make a fine pirate, missy, errrr CupperBut," laughed Tew, as Coggy replaced his cutlass and conceded defeat to the defiant hag.
CupperBut put down her sword and gave the two men another menacing scowl, "I don't take kindly ta being laughed at," she barked.
But the two pirates continued to laugh at the absurdity of the whole affair.
Meanwhile, Davey Jones, Quinn, and La Foot staggered their drunken way back to the ship where Moose was stockpiling the supplies they'd stolen from the warehouse.
"Yew bunch 'o drunken swabs," growled Moose, "Get yer sorry hides sobered up, 'n give us a 'and wit tha repairs"
The three drunken pirates sheepishly staggered aboard the ship where Morgan stood waiting for them with a barrel of cold water, in which he proceeded to dunk each drunkard - head first!
A few minutes later Coggy and the Admiral approached the dock still grinning after their run-in with the wench.
"What's so bleedin' funny?" asked a curious Moose.
"Tis a long story mate," replied Cog with a smile.
"So, are we getting tha 'elp we needs?" asked Moose as he surveyed the damaged ships hull.
"Aye, lad, we is," replied Tew as he made his way aboard, "'Appen 'ol Coggy, 'ere, has come to a lil' arrangement wit tha shipwright!" he announced, with a broad grin.
Coggy followed the Admiral aboard and disappeared into his cabin, looking for his parrot, Arfur...