Episode 30 - Mako's Change of Fortune
In the Spanish town of Santa Marta...
Captain Mako and his small band of surviving shipmates were now in good spirits once more. They'd spent most of the day in a local tavern - eating a hearty meal and enjoying numerous tankards of rum as they merrily toasted their good fortune at surviving the run-in with the bounty hunters.
A wily old sea dog in the tavern had taken pity on the sorry-souls after hearing of their recent events, and he kindly agreed to pay for the food and ales the men were now enjoying.
Mako approached the man, who stood at the bar, "I thanks ye fer tha grub 'n grog, mate. Me men 'n I have just been ta 'ell 'n back, as ye know, and we's not eaten in days" he said.
The man tipped his hat and filled his guests' tankard with another round of ale. "Arrr, tis tha least Ay could do fer a fellow Cap'n. Ay been in one 'o two narrow scrapes meself during me travels" he said.
Mako noticed his host was wearing an old Royal Navy uniform. He had a long silver sword that had but a single elegant engraving on its handle. "Tis a fine sword, fer sure" said Mako, as he nodded towards the weapon and continued admiring its workmanship, "What's the initials 'W.F.' stand fer?" he asked, as he pointed to the fancy engraving.
"William Fly" replied the man, as he withdrew the sword from its sheath and handed it to Mako to inspect.
"I notice yer a Navy-type" remarked Mako in reference to Fly's uniform.
"Used ta be… but retired now," replied Fly, "The sword wus me retirement gift fer tha nine yers service Ay gave to His Majesty's Fleet." he added.
Mako finished admiring the elegant weapon and handed it back to his companion.
Fly continued, "Anyhow, Ay'm doin' a lil' privateering here 'n there these days. Pays a lot better dan tha Navy, I can tell ye!"
"So ye got yerself a ship, then?" asked the inquisitive Mako.
"Aye mate - a Schooner, she be. Ay've been running rum 'n ale to a mate 'o mine in Nombre de Dios." explained Fly.
Mako grew more intrigued.
The two men continued talking for the rest of the afternoon, and Fly agreed to allow his new acquaintance to sail with him on his up-coming journey to Nombre de Dios later that week.
Meanwhile, aboard Blackhawk's Galleon...
The officers stood on the Bridge of Blackhawk's ship and watched the crew finally secure the captured French Brig and Fluyte once more. Greenbeard and Captain Green Eye were still irate at what had transpired earlier that day. Both men continuously berated their fellow officers about Undead Jack.
"Jack, I don't know how ye did it. but yew friggin' cheated somehow an' I don't trust ye one bit!" said the still irate Greenbeard.
Jack smiled but said nothing as he watched his two new ships come under the control of the pirates again.
Captain Red turned to Greenbeard and said, "As far as I'm concerned, he won tha card game fair 'n square. Thar his ships now, so's let stop all this bickerin' 'n figure out how ta best divide da crew. Them ships can't sail ta Puerto Bello all by themselves, ye know!"
"We's pressed a bunch 'o surviving Frenchmen" explained Excaliber, "…offered da choice of swimmin' wit sharks, or helping us with our endeavors, dey was real eager ta sign the articles" he said.
The crew had finished dumping the unwanted cargo overboard, had loaded the newly acquired trade ships with a few extra cannons, and were now finishing off the division of the crew.
It had been decided to mix the crew equally as to prevent the pressed Frenchmen from causing a mutiny if the chance arose. Aboard the Galleon, the main force of Cutthroats would remain, whilst on the Brig and Fluyte, a handful of recruits from Port da Paix and several men of color would sail and make sure the latest additions remained true to the pirate articles they'd signed an hour earlier.
"If'n any 'o dem frogs shows a sign 'o dissent, cut thar arms off 'n throw 'em overboard!" called Excaliber as he overlooked the final rowboat of men heading over to the Brig.
"Right, now that all 'o dat has been sorted all we need ta do is find out who takes command 'o what" said Blackhawk, as the officers all turned their attention to Undead Jack.
"So what say ye, mate?" asked Excaliber.
Jack ambled his way across the Bridge and slumped down into Blackhawk's old wooden rocking chair, before slicing open a melon and taking a bite.
The others remained patient for a while as they awaited Jacks decisions.
"Well, come on man. I can't stand 'ere all day waiting fer yew!" barked Greenbeard.
Jack threw the remaining melon overboard, wiped his lips and said, "Well as yer all probably aware, ol' Jack will be takin' command 'o that thar Brig fer da remainder 'o our journey." he said.
The men continued watching the old sea dog as he took a swig of rum and gave out a belch.
"As fer the other ship." he said - as he got out of the chair and walked over to the side of the ship, "In me gracious spirit, I'll be handing that fine vessel over to yew" Jack turned and faced Greenbeard.
"ME?" asked the pirate, with puzzlement.
"Aye, take her if'n yew will. And make yer cousin first mate fer all I cares" replied Jack.
Captain Red looked disappointed at Jack's unlikely decision, "What ye giving it to HIM fer?" he asked.
"Cause hopefully tha two swabs 'ill hit a reef 'o something 'n get off me back fer good!" replied Jack, "We lot have done nottin' but bicker since our time back in Tortuga jail" he added.
Greenbeard and Green Eye tipped their hats to Jack, and wasted no time in scurrying down on to the deck, before ordering a few oarsmen to take them across to their new prize.
Once the cousins were out of earshot, Blackhawk turned to Jack and handed him his pack of cards back before asking, "Tell me one thing Jack. Did ya cheat?"
Jack took the cards, placed them back into his tunic pocket and said, "Of course I didn't! These be me lucky cards… I's never lost a game yet using these buggers!" with a sly grin and wink.
The others gave a hearty laugh as Excaliber remarked that the pirate should be called Un-gentlemanly Jack from now on.
Jack made his way onto the deck and prepared to depart the Galleon for his new Brig. Calling back, he shouted, "Hey Lieutenant Excalibur! Finnegan's Wake needs a first mate! Want da job?"
"Finnegan's Wake?" called back the Lieutenant.
"Aye, that be the name I's givin' me new Brig!" smiled Jack, as he disembarked the Galleon and climbed down into a waiting rowboat.
Excaliber smiled, and wasted no time in following his new shipmate into the boat - leaving Captain Red Chaos to mumble his frustrations at being left to sail to Puerto Bello with only Blackhawk as company.
Later that day, the Galleon, flanked by the two new ships, resumed its journey to Puerto Bello and it's date with the Spanish Treasure Fleet
Meanwhile, on the Sisterhood Island...
After their raid on the docked Sisterhood fleet, the Cutthroats had finally reached the Cove where their two pirate ships were anchored. They merrily loaded the rowboats with the loot and grog they'd stolen from the warehouses whilst pinning down the enemy crews during the skirmish.
Whilst in the town of Santa Catalina, a few sympathetic townsfolk had finally emerged from their houses and made their way up to the local prison, where upon they proceeded to release the officers and crews of the Sisterhood Alliance.
"The pirates have all left!" called a gleeful citizen.
"Aye, they all disappeared across the island, back to their ships, no doubt" remarked another.
The four Captains emerged from the buildings and quickly mustered their surviving crews, while a few hardy folks pulled a large heavy munitions wagon through the main gates.
Without hesitation, the locals began handing out pistols, muskets, and swords to the waiting women.
Moose Lady, Maggie, Annabelle, and Mandy all looked at one another with vengeful eyes as they kited up with the weapons and proceeded to march their crews into the nearby jungle and follow the path the Cutthroats had took earlier that day. And at the same time, several hundred yards off shore, the last two surviving Sisterhood ships approached their homeport.