Episode 27 - The Interogation
In Santa Catalina, Coggy and the pirates gradually awoke from their previous night's festivities at the Governors mansion. Each man had an almighty hangover as they gingerly tidied themselves up, before leaving the mansion and heading over to the local prison housing the captured Sisterhood crews.
Annabelle, Maggie, and Captain Mandy, had been escorted there earlier that morning awaiting the pirates to come along and interrogate them. Whilst Captain Moose and his wife had spent the night in a local tavern - getting 're-acquainted'
Coggy and Henry Morgan waited in the large open courtyard as a group of pirate guards brought the three female officers from their cell.
"Right ladies, lets get down ta business" said Cog, as he began asking the wenches a few questions.
"I know the ships we sunk yesterday don't make up tha full compliment 'o the Sisterhood fleet… so all I wants ta know from yew three is how many of yer comrades were at sea when we arrived?" he asked.
The women remained silent as Morgan drew his cutlass and began sharpening it on a nearby rock - trying to intimidate them.
"Lookee here," continued Cog, "I'm a man of little patience. Best be tellin' me what I wants ta know else yer gallant shipmates in dat jail will be cursing ye from their graves"
Morgan finished inspecting his blade and added, "Coggy's murderous buggers are lookin' forward to 'pleasuring' yer fine crews! Just before they guts 'em!"
Mandy spat on Morgan's boot, and answered, "They'd gladly gut themselves if'n yer vile men lays a hand on em!"
"Yer a feisty, one aint ye?" snapped Morgan, as he rubbed the spit of his boot.
Maggie finally broke her silence, "What guarantee's do we have that you'll spare our crews?" she asked.
"We have nay desire ta stay here much longer, Cap'n" replied Cog, "As ye know, we have a date with the Treasure Fleet to keep, and if'n we don't set sail soon, we're gonna miss it." he added.
"So as fer yer 'guarantee', I'll tell ye no lies We'll simply leave yer town this very day 'n bother ye no more. Just tell us how many of yer comrades are still in these waters and what yer plans were regarding yer own expedition to Puerto Bello" he asked once more.
Maggie pondered the Captain's words for a moment, looked at her companions, turned back to Cog and asked, "Can I have a few moments alone with my shipmates. We need to discuss this in private."
Coggy thought for a second before ordering the pirate guards to stand down. He motioned for Morgan and the men to follow him across to a wagon where they sat and watched the three women discuss their situation in private.
Maggie wanted to discuss the chances of making a run for it, but Mandy and Annabelle advised against such a risk. The chances of them getting out of the courtyard alive were slim with so many Cutthroats milling about the place.
"Those swabs have got us pinned, Mags. I don't think we has much choice" explained Mandy.
Annabelle echoed her companion's thoughts, "She's right. These murderous bastids will gleefully kill their prisoners and probably wipe out the whole town if'n they don't get what they want."
Maggie thought for a moment before asking, "So what should I tell them? They probably already realise Captain Kat and CupperBut aint around. In-fact, I reckon they'll probably set a trap and try to sink them too!"
"Aye, that's true," added the concerned Mandy before saying, "They're due back in port this very afternoon!"
Annabelle glanced over to the pirates to make sure they were still out of earshot, "When Kat an' CupperBut see my half-sunken ship blocking the harbour entrance, and notice the smoldering ruins of the ships in port - they're gonna realise what's happened and be on alert"
"Aye! So if'n we can keep these murderous sods around a little while longer - until our Sisters arrive home - we could give these sorry bastids a taste of their own medicine!" said Maggie, with renewed hope in her eyes.
Just then, Captain Moose and Moose Lady entered the courtyard. Moose kissed his wife goodbye and made his way over to his mates sitting on the wagon, while Moose Lady joined the three female officers in the middle of the courtyard.
"What's up, Coggy?" he asked.
"Arrr Moose, we's given the blimmy hags an ultimatum and they're talking it over for a moment 'o two." replied Cog.
Moose clambered aboard the wagon and joined his mates as they intently watched the women.
"Did ye get any information from yer good lady, Moose?" asked Morgan.
"Nay mate, she wouldn't say a thing regarding thar friggin' Sisterhood… In-fact.. we didn't do too much talking!… she was too busy admiring me longsword!" replied the pirate, with a wink.
The women officers continued talking for a few minutes more before Coggy informed them of his growing impatience.
Moose Lady had briefed her comrades on her disappointment at not gaining any useful information from her husband. "The only thing I knows is that the pirates have no more than two ships at thar disposal. Apparently, they had some sort 'o deal with the Dark Water Alliance ta help 'em take on the Spaniards… but fer some reason, Admiral Tew 'n his cronies didnae meet a rendezvous they had planned." she explained.
"Well, I don't know what they hope to achieve with only two ships in their pathetic lil' fleet" replied Maggie, with a smirk.
Coggy had finally lost patience with the women and had called a group of his Cutthroats over to him.
"Right lads, go get half a dozen women sailors from da prison, and bring 'em out 'ere." he said, with a menacing look in his eye.
"We gonna hang 'em or gut 'em?" asked Morgan.
"Neither!" replied Cog, "I've got a real good idea on how ta make dem blimmy officers talk" he said, with an evil grin.
Within a few moments, the Cutthroats had brought six anxious looking female sailors from their cell. Two women belonged to Captain Mandy's crew whilst the others where from the Armistad.
"Bring dem with me," ordered Cog, as he walked over to the female officers in the centre of the courtyard.
The escorting pirates duly obliged, and were joined by Moose and Morgan as the men approached the four female officers.
"Right, yew blimmy whores! Yee've had ample time ta have yer lil' chitchat and I's still yet ta hear the information I wants" said the irate Cog.
The female officers looked on in silence as their shipmates were made to stand in a line and face them.
"Who's crew do ya belong to?" asked Cog to the first prisoner.
"I... I sail with Cap'n Annabelle" she replied, nervously.
Coggy instantly drew his cutlass and ordered the watching guards to raise their muskets and point them at the other five sailors. He then approached Annabelle and proceeded to hand her his sword.
"Right lads, I'm givin' this 'ere wench me sword, and if she don't run that shipmate of hers through with it, I wants ya to shoot the rest of her crew!" explained Cog to his men.
He continued looking at Annabelle with menace, "Ye got fifteen seconds to carry out me order - else a group of yer beloved crew 'r heading for tha locker!" he said, before retreating to where his fellow pirates stood.
Turning back to Annabelle, Cog added, "And we'll continue ta kill five wenches every time ya fail to use that thar sword on the other!"
Moose and Morgan looked on with interest, "Haaarrr, no wonder dey call ye Coggy da Bastid, mate!" remarked Henry.
Annabelle held the sword firmly as she looked at Maggie, Moose Lady, and Mandy with anxious eyes.
The women remained silent, not knowing what to say.
"Ten seconds" barked Cog.
Annabelle turned to face her terrified shipmate, "Forgive me" she said, in a quite voice as she slowly stepped towards the woman she was meant to kill.
Slowly raising the sword up, she repeated her words, "Forgive me… I… I'm sorry"
"Five seconds." called Cog, as he motioned the musketeers to ready themselves.
Annabelle remained motionless for a few seconds more. A single tear trickled down her flushed cheek as she prepared to make the kill.
"Three….. Two….. One!…. Prepare ta fire!" barked Cog. The musketeers pulled back the hammers on their weapons and began to gently squeeze the triggers.
"OK YEW BASTID!" barked Maggie, "WE'LL TELL YA WHAT YE WANTS TA KNOW!"
Annabelle instantly dropped the sword on the floor and fell to her knees as Coggy motioned for his men to lower their muskets - turning to Moose and Morgan, he gave a simple wry smile...