Episode 35 - A Proposal
Aboard the Sisterhood flagship, Coggy made his way down the steep steps leading into the dimly lit ships' hold. He was escorted by a couple of his pirate guards to where the Sisterhood officer sat.
CupperBut was locked in irons and looked a little worse for wear. She hadn't slept or eaten since the battle.
"Git her some water. An' be quick about it!" snapped Cog to one of his men.
The pirate sat opposite the woman as Moose, Morgan, and Davey Jones entered.
"Me humble apology, M'lady" said Cog, "I gave me men strict orders ta treat ye real good an' look after ye. But it looks like ta darn fools misunderstood me," he explained.
"I'll discipline the scurvy bastids later." he added.
"Cut da bull, Cognito!" replied CupperBut, "Yer hear ta talk business, so lets get this thing over 'n done wit" she impatiently called.
Moose and Morgan sat next to Cog while Davey took a tankard of water from the guard and passed it to the wench. After taking a few sips to quench her thirst, CupperBut continued, "I thought I'd seen da last 'o yew sods when yer filthy barnacle ridden boat visited 'ere a few years back."
"Arrr, well missy, 'appen we heard a rumor 'o two about some fearsome Alliance in these parts 'n wanted ta come 'n see it fer ourselves" replied Coggy, sarcastically.
"And what have ye done with me parrot?" asked the irate woman.
"He's doin' just fine, missy. Likes his new cage aboard me Sloop, he does" replied Cog, with a grin.
Moose grew inpatient, "We can't sit 'ere all day… tell us why ye were so keen ta talk to us - else we'll be on our merry way." he said.
CupperBut took another drink, and began to explain, "Well, despite what Cognito has just said… I know the real reason why yer in these waters,"
The pirates looked intrigued as the woman continued.
"Yer here ta take out yer competition fer the blmmy Treasure Fleet - aint ya?" she said, forcefully.
"Done a darn good job 'o it too!" replied Henry Morgan with a grin.
"That may well be, Mister, but I still holds vital information about dat fleet. Information you'll be interested in, no doubt" she explained.
Coggy scratched his beard and asked, "So what do we have ta do ta get that information? Torture ye or kill yer surviving crew, one by one?"
"Neither" replied CupperBut, before taking one last sip of her water and adding, "An oath is all I want from yew bastids."
Moose shook his head and said, "Nay friggin' way! We's been double-crossed once already by swearing on pirate oaths - ye can ferget dat idea!"
The other officers all mumbled their agreement to Moose's concerns. The memory of the Ol'Man's treachery at betraying the pirate oath, a few years previous, still haunted them.
CupperBut remained defiant, and continued, "What yer dealings were in tha past I have nay desire to know about - but all I asks is fer you swines ta git tha 'ell out 'o Sisterhood waters"
"I can live with that" interrupted Coggy.
But CupperBut hadn't finished, "…and not return here until ye has a fair share 'o plunder from the Spanish treasure ships for me and me fellow Sisters!"
The pirates all looked at the woman with disdain. The sheer gall of her demands made each man a little irate.
"Yew gotta be kiddin'!" said Davey Jones.
"We aint sharing da swag with ye! We sent yer pitiful fleet to the locker fer a reason ya know!" added the irate Morgan.
"Yew bunch 'o greedy bastids!" barked CupperBut, "Thars more than enough loot in them treasure ships fer us all." she added, before Moose interrupted
"Thar's NEVER enough loot, missy! We attacked this god-forsaken island 'o sin fer a reason - and that was so we don't have ta share the loot wit no one!… especially yew!" he said, forcefully.
CupperBut sat back a little and gathered her composure for a moment. "Well then, we has nothing more ta say ta each other. And yew'll not be wantin' ta know how many armed War Galleons will be escorting da Treasure Fleet… or even the exact night the fleet departs Puerto Bello?" she said, trying to intrigue the pirates further.
The four officers remained silent for a moment before Coggy motioned for them to get up and follow him back up the steps.
After several minutes of discussing CupperBut's proposal in private, Coggy left his mates and made his way back down into the hold once more.
"The lads have calmed down a little, 'n have had a chance ta contemplate yer scheming plan." he said, as he sat opposite the wench.
"I got yer word, then?" asked CupperBut.
"Aye, that ye does missy," replied Cog with a hint of resignation, "Of course, I could just torture ye and butcher yer crew to get what I wants!" he added, with a sly grin.
CupperBut remained resolute and replied, "No doubt ye could, Cap'n. But I'll go to me grave wit that information rather than give it to yew fer free"
Coggy removed a flask of Whiskey from his tunic pocket, un-corked it and handed it to the woman. "Take a sip o' dis. Maybe it'll loosen dat tongue 'o yers." he said.
CupperBut took the flask and gulped down half the liquor before outlining exactly what she wanted in return for the information she was about to reveal.
Later that day...
Captain Cognito had finished briefing his fellow officers on what CupperBut had said. The pirates now knew what night the Treasure Fleet would depart Puerto Bello on its long journey to Europe. They also knew the approximate number of heavily armed escorting War Galleons that would be present, and most importantly of all, which ships were likely to be carrying the most valuable cargo.
In return, Coggy had given the Sisterhood officers his word that should the expedition prove successful, the pirate would one day return to Santa Catalina with a share of plunder for the Sisterhood. And that share should amount to no less than one fifth of all the loot acquired during their raid on the Treasure Fleet.
The buccaneers had finished putting ashore the surviving Sisterhood crews before scuttling the Fearless and Bonny Maiden.
The Grim Reaper and Baron Boat were now hastily undergoing repairs as the men were eager to set sail on the next high tide.
Meanwhile, Coggy had ordered a couple of his men to go bring Captain Kat aboard his Sloop.