Episode 33 - Love Birds
The afternoon of the 5th day of March, 1640.
Ms CupperBut opened the door to her townhouse and welcomed Coggy inside with a broad smile.
The Captain was uncomfortable but knew what he was about to do was vital to get his ship repaired and back onto the Ol'Man's trail.
He wiped his feet and presented the wench with a bunch of flowers he'd pillaged from the local graveyard.
"Ahem" he coughed, as he sheepishly made his way into the woman's house, "So lets get this ting over 'n done with. I takes it yee've sent tha carpenters to tha dock to begin repairs?" he asked.
"Don't worry Captain, yer ship will be up 'n ready before yew know it," she assured.
"Right... were's tha dastardly deed gonna take place?" he asked nervously, as he looked around CupperBut's home.
"Well... I thought me bedroom would suffice!" she said, as she led poor 'ol Cog into the room.
Coggy looked around the room and held out his hand, "Payment first, love," he said.
CupperBut rummaged around in her purse and pulled out a small bag of gold coins, "Fifteen pieces 'o eight, we agreed, didn't we?" she asked.
"Who'd ya tink I am?" scowled Coggy, "I said twenty, 'n ney-less" he barked.
"Ooops, sorry Captain, yer right, twenty it was and twenty it will be," she replied, as another five coins were placed into Cogs hand.
Coggy quickly placed the money into his jacket and gently removed his parrot, Arfur, from his shoulder and placed him on the wench's bed.
CupperBut then proceeded to fetch her own parrot from its cage, and likewise placed it onto the bed, next to Arfur.
The two parrots looked at one another for a moment...
Coggy patted Arfur on the head and said, "Right, yew little varmint, yee've got two minutes ta 'ave yer wicked way wit this 'ere bird - so be quick 'bout it!"
"I tink they likes each other," whispered CupperBut, "Best be givin' these two love birds some privacy, Cap'n" she said, as she ushered him out of the room and quietly closed the door behind them.
Coggy and CupperBut made there way into the wenches kitchen where she poured her visitor some rum.
Cog took a swig, "So, yer sorry parrot is tha only one in Catalina, eh?" he asked.
"Aye! And I can git me a good price fer any offspring she has from this lil' meeting today," she replied, with a greedy grin.
Coggy finished his rum and poured some more, "Well, Ms CupperBut, 'appen ol' Arfur thar, hasn't had tha company 'o his female type fer a while - so I 'opes this lil' encounter wit yer fine bird will keep tha bugger 'appy fer a while..."
Just then, all hell broke loose in the bedroom!
"SQUAWK, SQUAAAAKKKK!" came a hideous shriek from the room.
"What tha bleedin' 'ell is yer bird doin' to my Polly?" asked a concerned CupperBut.
"SQUARRRRKKK" came another shriek.
Coggy and the wench rushed back to the room and burst in only to see Arfur violently plucking the feathers out of Polly!
"ARFUR!… WHAT'R YER DOIN'?" screamed an irate Coggy.
"Squawk-fer-twenty-piece's-of-eight-I-want-tha-bitch-naked!" squawked Arfur with glee as he continued plucking the terrified bird.
Coggy grabbed Polly and quickly handed it back to CupperBut trying to hide his embarrassment.
"Yer friggin' bird 'is a bleedin' animal!" she screamed, as she slapped Coggy's face and threw him and Arfur out of the house.
Coggy dusted himself down and grabbed his parrot, "YEW LITTLE BASTID! I'M GONNA FEED YER SORRY HIDE TO ME MEN FER LUNCH!" he barked, as he shoved poor Arfur back onto his shoulder and stormed off, back to the ship.
Later that day...
Moose was inside the Governors new townhouse admiring the portrait of his wife.
"Ye 'as a fine lookin' wench, thar mate" he said.
The Governor, Sir Bartholomew Navyrum, sat in his favourite leather chair smoking one of his cigars.
"Now look here, young man, why on earth would scum like you demand to see me?" he asked, in his upper class English accent.
"Arrr, tis like this, 'appen me 'n me brethren pirates 'r on us way to Belize," explained Moose, "…but thars a filthy lyin' blaggard by tha name of Ol'Man who 'appens ta be headed that way too." he said.
"Yes yes, but what has all this got to do with me?" asked Navyrum, with growing impatience.
"Well, matey, I's wantin' ta know if'n thars been any unsavoury characters visitin' yer fine port lately?" replied Moose.
Just then Navyrum's wife, Kathryn, entered, "Unsavoury characters you say?" she asked.
Moose stood in silence as he watched the woman elegantly brush by him.
He had never seen such a beautiful gentry woman before, and her sweet smelling perfume, and English accent, made his longsword shake.
"Errr, Erm, yeah, unsavoury people… folk" mumbled Moose.
Kathryn stood next to her husband and poured him a whisky.
"My dear Captain, the only unsavoury 'folks' to visit our little town lately have been your fellow shipmates" she said.
Sir Navyrum sipped his whisky before turning to his wife, "My dear, why don't you pour Mr, ermm, sorry what is your name again?" he asked Moose.
"Moose, me names Moose" replied Moose, not taking his eyes off Kathryn.
"Oh yes, Mr Moose. Dear, pour Mr Moose a drink, darling" continued Navyrum.
Kathryn proceeded to walk towards the pirate and handed him a crystal glass.
Moose's hands trembled a little as he looked deep into the woman's eyes.
"My, my, are we a little nervous?" asked Kathryn, with a sly smile.
Moose didn't answer.
Kathryn placed her hand onto Moose's and held it steady as she slowly poured the whisky into his glass.
A shiver shot threw the pirates' spine as he felt the warm soft skin of the fair maiden on his flesh. His longsword began to rattle.
Navyrum stood up and walked towards a large window that overlooked the harbour.
"My dear Sir, I know nothing of this 'Old Man' of yours, I can assure you that no one has visited Santa Catalina in the past few days. Except you and your friends, of course." he said.
"Arrr, well matey, I's mighty glad ta 'ere dat." replied Moose as he took a swig of the whisky, trying to calm his nerves.
Kathryn placed the decanter onto the Governors desk, gave Moose a sly wink and ran her fingers down his shiny longsword, before making her way out of the room.
Navyrum turned to the pirate and asked, "Why is this 'Old Man' so important?"
Moose didn't answer immediately; he was too busy watching Kathryn disappear down the hall.
"Ahem" coughed Navyrum, trying to attract Moose's attention.
"Arrr, sorry thar mate, 'appen tha whisky's gone straight to me head" said the embarrassed Moose, "Anyhow, tha Ol'Man be a treacherous blaggard who works fer tha Spanish. And me goodself 'n me mates 'r after him fer his crimes against tha crown... errmm English crown" he said.
"Well Mr Moose, I'm afraid I can't help you. Like I said, no one of that description has passed through here to my knowledge," replied Navyrum as he lit up another cigar, "I'm a busy man, so I think it is best you be on your merry way. Good day to you, Sir." he said.
Moose finished his rum, tipped his hat to his host, and said, "Well, matey, I best be on me way - thanks fer tha drink, maybe I'll come back dis way again some day 'n pay a lil' visit to yer wife... errrrmmm yer good self"
"I sincerely hope not." replied Navyrum under his breath as the pirate left.
Back at the dock, Coggy and the pirates stood on the ships deck and watched as the final touches were being put to the repaired hull.
Moose made his way along the gangway and onto the ship.
"Arrr, so has tha Ol'Git been 'ere?" asked Cog.
"Naw, tha Gov'nor seys no one's been through dis place in weeks" replied Moose.
The pirates thought for a while...
"Hmmm, so it looks as though tha Ol'Man hasn't bothered recruitin' any more swabs into his crew," said Quinn.
Coggy looked at his mate, "Hey Moose, yew look a lil' flustered... what be tha matter?"
Moose was in a daydream...
"MOOSE, what's wrong lad?" asked Cog again.
"Nottin', I jus' tink I's fallen in love wit tha Gov'nors wench, dats all!" he replied, without realising what he had said.
The others looked on with interest as Moose quickly headed below deck for a cold bath.
The pirates smiled to one another before turning their attention back to the ship.
"Well lads, I only 'opes we can catch tha Ol'Git before 'e reaches me treasure" said Coggy as he gave the signal to hoist the sails.
"Now dat we's ship shape again, I reckon we'll be on the Grey Ghost's stern within three days" replied Morgan.
The pirates watched the sun begin to set over the town and were filled with renewed hope as the Grim Reaper finally got underway and headed for the open sea - and the Ol'Man...