Episode 26 - The Legend of Undead Jack
Blackhawk's Galleon had finally arrived in Jamaica. The battered old vessel had previously visited the small French colony of Port da Paix, where her crew, made up of the escaped prisoners of Tortuga jail, had spent some time recruiting a ramshackle bunch of unemployed sailors. The pirates' now had enough swabs aboard to help sail the aging vessel to Puerto Bello, but what they lacked were fearless fighting men - needed to help them with their plan to capture a Spanish Treasure ship.
Captain Red Chaos, Greenbeard and Undead Jack had gone ashore earlier that day, and were now in a tiny encampment made up of bamboo buildings, wooden shacks, and a small make-shift jetty from which several men of color sat chewing tobacco and catching fish.
The tiny village was surrounded on three sides by dense jungle and steep, rocky cliffs. It was well hidden and looked like it had a well-established community underway.
"This is where some of the slaves I 'elped escape ended up. Tis not much ta look at, but at least it provides 'em with a safe-haven from da friggin' Spaniards." explained Undead Jack, as he led his companions toward a large wooden building in the center of the village.
At the entrance, Jack proceeded to remove his boots and placed them beside the steps leading up to the open entrance.
"Best be taken yers off too, mateys, " he said, "Tha locals 'r a suspicious lot 'n don't take kindly ta folks bringing demons inta thar dwellings." he continued, before adding, "Not sure why we's gotta remove our boots though… I never quite figured that'n out."
Greenbeard and Captain Red proceeded to follow Jacks example and removed their boots before following their shipmate up the steps and into the building.
Inside the well-lit shack, the three pirates were met by the only other white-man in the village. He was missionary from Port Royal who'd spent the last six months bringing the word of god to the local inhabitants. The man had an eye-patch over his left eye, several protruding scars across his neck, and a hook where his right hand would have been, "Greetings! I've not seen another white Christian soul for many a month… come in, and make yourselves at home" he said, merrily.
"Ahoy matey," replied Jack, "This 'ere be Cap'n Red 'n Greenbeard. And I be Undead Jack."
The man happily welcomed his visitors as they made their way towards the center of the large open-plan room and sat on makeshift bamboo stools around a rickety table.
"My names One Eye McDuff and I've been sent here to teach these fine people the word of god." said the missionary.
Several former slaves sat throughout the room, but paid little attention to the new arrivals. The women-folk were busily weaving shawls and blankets, while the handful of men merrily filleted fish and cooked them on a homemade stove in one corner.
"So what brings you to our lil' hamlet?" asked McDuff.
Undead Jack removed his hat and wiped the sweat from his brow before explaining the pirates' plans to recruit some of the locals. "Most 'o tha folks round 'ere worked tha fields 'o Santiago 'til I plundered tha joint two years back" he said, before adding, "In me benevolence, I burned tha friggin'… beggin yer pardon...tha bloomin' mansions down 'n chased tha plantation owners outta town - thus setting yer parishioners 'ere, free."
McDuff smiled broadly, "So you're the one!" he said, with a touch of excitement, "I've heard many a story of you, Undead Jack. The towns people still sing shanties about you 'n yer glorious crew!"
Jack looked a little embarrassed, "Arrr, twas tha least I could do" he said, modestly.
Captain Red patted his mate on the back and said, "Arrr… ye paid a dear price fer yer good-deed in tha end though, didn't ye!"
McDuff looked a little puzzled for a moment before Jack explained his shipmates' comments, "What ol' Red means ta say is that I was captured a few months later whilst pillagin' Nassau, and da friggin'… errrr… I mean bloomin' Governor 'appened ta be a mate 'o some lubbers we'd hung back in Santiago."
"Anyhow, ta make a long story short, tha Gov'nor 'o Nassau had me tried 'n sent back ta Tortuga. I thought I'd get let off lightly, 'til I found out the don-lovin' bastid, Foo Kin Ly, was governor 'o the place… beggin yer pardon." he said.
Greenbeard's curiosity at the missionaries un-churchlike appearance got the better of him, "McDuff, what 'appened matey? How'd ya lose that thar hand 'o yers?… 'n whats's dem neck scars all about?"
McDuff scratched the very scars Greenbeard had mentioned with his hook and answered, "Got these tattoo's at the end 'o French hangman's rope, I did. The froggies tried ta hang me three times in a row! 'n each time the rope snapped! In the end, they just gave up 'n let me go."
"Tried ta hang a man 'o god, ye say?" replied the puzzled Greenbeard.
"Aye lad. Ye see, I aint always been one 'o gods disciples. Believe it or not, I was a privateer like yerselves before I saw da light." replied McDuff, "Me salvation from tha gallows was divine intervention I tells ye!… and dats what led me ta hang up me cutlass and take ta bible readin' instead."
"So what bout yer hook?" asked Red, as the three pirates listened with interest.
"Me hook, ye say? Well, I lost me hand during a duel wit a gentry-type over in Roatan. Tha good-fella accused me 'o corrupting 'is daughter, 'e did. Was only teachin' the lass the word 'o god - 'n nottin' more - honest!" explained McDuff.
Undead Jack motioned towards McDuff's eye-patch, "And yer eye?" he asked.
McDuff looked a little embarrassed as he answered, "Got some blimmy seagull droppings in it, did I!"
"Ye lost yer eye due ta seagull shit!. beggin yer pardon" said Jack with puzzlement.
"Nay mate, twas tha very day I got me hook fitted 'n I forgot I had it when - all 'o a sudden - out 'o da blue - a blimmy gull decided ta baptize me! Needless ta say, I lost me eye trying ta rub da stuff out!"
Just then, a tall burly black man appeared from behind McDuff. "Fish!" he barked, in a gruff voice.
The pirates looked up in puzzlement.
"Fish!" repeated the man.
McDuff stood up and patted the man on the shoulder, "Arrr, lads, this 'ere be Jacob Jones. Would ye like ta try some 'o da fish he's cooked ya?" asked the missionary, as he took a bowl of piping hot fish-steaks from the man and placed them on the table.
"Aye, don't mind if'n we do!" replied the pirates in unison as they gingerly picked at the hot meal and began to eat.
"Thankyee, Jacob. Tis fine grub, fer sure." said Greenbeard as he tipped his hat to the man.
McDuff pulled out a stool for Jacob and invited him to join the merry band. Turning to Undead Jack he said, "Ye mentioned ye wanted ta recruit a few folks fer yer ship?"
"Aye mate" replied Jack, before explaining, "We's got plenty 'o sailors already… if'n ye can call 'em that!… They're tha sorriest bunch lubbers I's met, but we aint in a position ta be choosy. Anyhow," continued Jack, "What we needs is a few hardy buggers that 'r handy in a fight. Plannin' some action down on tha Spanish Main, ye see."
McDuff thought for a moment before saying, "Well me hearty, they're all free men here so yer more 'n welcome ta see who's up fer it."
Captain Red proceeded to explain that should the voyage prove successful, the volunteers would receive a handsome share of plunder each and be safely returned home again afterwards.
After two hours of consulting with the townships elders, Undead Jack managed to recruit twenty-eight men of color for the journey south. Many of the former slaves looked forward to earning a fair bit of plunder at the expense of the Spanish and hoped to return to their Jamaican hideaway as rich heroes.
Later that morning, the mustered recruits stood outside the large wooden shack as the ships' officers briefed the eager swabs of their plans.
"Mateys, da ships we're going after 'r many days sailing to the south," explained Jack.
"I knows none 'o ye fellas has got any seafaring experience, but don't ye worry none, fer all's we needs ya ta do when we reach our destination, is ta help us board a ship, much like da one yer gonna be sailing on, and kill all da friggin' Spaniards aboard it." he said.
The gathered men gave a hearty cheer as Jack continued, "Once we's captured it, we'll make good our escape 'n sail da boat back 'ere ta divide all dat nice loot"
Again the men gave a hearty cheer, this time louder.
As Jack finished his briefing, the former slaves began dancing a jig of joy at the thought of sailing aboard a pirate ship in search of adventure, fame, and fortune.
One Eye McDuff made his way through the dancing men and approached the three officers with Jacob Jones, "Lads, seeing yew 'ere like dis, an' seeing the fire burning in da eyes 'o them thar fellas, has made me begin ta miss me old pirating days! I wish I was able ta join ye in yer endeavours!"
"Yer more'n welcome to, mate" replied Jack.
"Haarrr! I don't tink so, lad. Tha almighty would strike me down where I stands if'n I abandoned me beloved parish!" laughed McDuff.
"I come! Me wants dem Spanish to pay!" said Jacob.
"Arrr, lad. We'll be honoured ta 'ave ye aboard" said Jack, as he patted the man on the back and shook his hand.
The gathered Negroes continued dancing and singing around the pirates.
"Merry bunch 'o buggers, aint they!" laughed Captain Red, as the three officers finally joined in in the celebrations.