Episode 8 - A Call to Arms!
24th day of January, 1640.
One Eyed Willy was the Governor of Tortuga. He was a well-liked pirate who looked after folk and pirate visitors to his beloved town.
The five pirates stood outside the Governors mansion and were met at the door by Willow, One Eye's wench. She be a short skinny waif with a poxy complexion and thin receding grey hair atop her head.
"What the friggin' 'ell do you friggin' friggers want?" she squawked, spitting out a half smoked piece of tobbaco.
"Errrm, errr, err" said Moose, trying not to ruffle her feathers.
"Is Willy in?" butted in Morgan.
"Whad 'd ye wan' im fer, yew friggin' bastids!" she scowled.
"Who is it dear?" came a quiet voice from behind her.
"Tis a bunch of the sorriest lookin' friggin' frigs I's ever friggin' seen" she answered - without taking her eye off the five men.
"Let me see, Willow" came the sheepish reply, as the door swung open and One Eyed Willy appeared.
"Arrr, Willy mate" Coggy quickly said, "Any chance of commin' in? We's got some alarmin' news for ye!"
"Ney, frig off!" blurted Willow as she slammed the door in Coggy's face!
The pirates just stood and looked at each other in bemusement.
"Squawk-what-a-friggin'-bitch-squawk" said Arfur the parrot.
Through the door they could hear a muffled conversation.
"Who 'r 'dose friggin' gits?" came the muffled voice of Willy's wench.
"They're pirates, love. Why don't ye go and make us a nice cup of tea?" he sheepishly asked.
"Frig off - make yer own friggin' tea!" barked Willow, "An' don't be invitin' tha likes o' those friggers in 'ere either, yew friggin' spineless frig ye" she added, as she disappeared through the main hall.
The door slowly opened again, and One Eye greeted the pirates, trying to conceal his embarrassment.
"Nice friggin' wench ye 'ave thar, mate!" smirked the tactless Morgan.
"Aye, she's full o' spirit, that 'un" replied Willy.
"'Appen her ol' father be the richest bugger in Cayman and I's waitin' till I gits me 'ands on his loot before me wench meets with a little accident." said Willy with a wink, cautiously looking over his shoulder.
"Anyhow, what brings the likes of ye 'ere?, and what's this terrible news ye 'as fer me?" he asked.
Later that afternoon, One Eyed Willy stood white faced at the window of the tavern, Silver Sloop.
Taking a deep breath, he quickly made his way into the pirate hovel.
"Hear ye, Hear ye!" he called, trying to make himself heard above the din.
"Hey, if'n it aint the good old Gov'nor" called Cap'n Jon, the bartender.
One Eye jumped up onto the bar and again shouted at the top of his voice.
The noise died down a little as pirates and local scum took an interest in One Eye's antics.
"Listen 'ere all ye scurvy blaggards" he called out.
"I's just 'ad word from a reliable source that a bleedin' Spanish invasion fleet is headed 'dis way from Santiago. THEY'S COMMIN' TA RECAPTURE TORTUGA!" he anxiously shouted, atop his voice.
There was a hushed silence for a moment before all hell broke loose with pirates jumping up and clambering for the door.
Ten minutes later...
Cap'n Jon looked disgruntled as he cleared the mess and replaced the upturned tables of his empty tavern, "The bleedin' bastids didn't even pay fer their drinks" he said to himself.
"Never mind" he continued, "The Spanish carry plenty of swag wit 'em and they like a drink o' two. Tink its time for a change of theme in me tavern.... hmmmm... now where's dem nice 'lil paintings of Madrid I 'ad?" he said, scratching his head.
Down by the dock, a group of anxious local sailors stood watching the five pirates approach.
"So, what's 'dis bout some invasion?" asked a hardy soul.
"Tis true, mate," replied Quinn, as he followed the others onto the Reapers waiting launch.
"If'n any of yew scurvy swabs value 'dis 'ere town o' Tortuga, Hows 'bout joinin' us in our plan?" shouted Coggy to the men as the boat made way. "We's goin' out ta try and intercept them thar don's before its too late" he said.
"Aye, Sir! Ye can count on us" came the enthusiastic response as the men dispersed and headed for their various ships.
Back aboard the Grim Reaper, Coggy gave the order to make sail. The ship slowly pulled away and headed for the open sea.
"Look Coggy!" said Moose pointing astern, "Thars a fleet o' ships leavin' Tort. They're commin' our way"
"Aye, and every bleedin' one of 'em has hoisted the Roger!" said Quinn, with a broad grin.
"Ye can always rely on tha brethren… lads" said a happy Coggy, "Tis a fine day for the brotherhood o' pirates. The don's 'r gonna 'ave 'ell on thar 'ands if'n they tink Tortuga's gonna go without a fight" he finished.
And with that, the Grim Reaper and her following pirate fleet sailed proudly into the sunset - heading for a date with the approaching Spanish...