Episode 36 - Nombre de Dios
On the Bridge of the newly repaired Sloop, Coggy and Captain Kat stood and watched the last of the Sisterhood crews troop up the beach and back towards their homeport of Santa Catalina.
"Why am I here, Captain?" asked the woman.
"Arrr, Kathryn, I just wanted ta meet tha blimmy wench, errr.. I mean, the fine Cap'n that caused me so much grief during our lil' duel" replied Cog.
"Yer fine seamanship had me worried fer a moment 'o two!" continued Coggy.
"Where'd ye learn ta sail like that? Last I heard, ye was a Gov'nors wife… now look at ye! - a scurvy wench if'n ever thar was one!… no offence M'Lady" he added.
"None taken, Captain" replied Kat, "Your ship got a lucky strike on my port-side and if I hadn't lost so many gunners, we would have undoubtedly sent you to the locker, I'm sure of that" she added, with confidence.
"Aye, lass, yer not wrong there. I must admit, ol' Coggy certainly underestimated yer blimmy Sisterhood!" replied the pirate.
Kat surveyed the recently repaired Sloop and remarked, "I see you took it upon yourself to steal a mast from my ship!"
Coggy glanced across to the men working on deck as they finished off fixing the mast in place and got to work on hoisting the canvass aloft again, "Spoils 'o war, ye see," he replied, with a smile.
The two Captains admired the workmanship of the ships' carpenters and watched for a few moments as Coggy's flag shot to the top of the new mast and unfurled in the gentle breeze.
Turning back to her host, Kathryn asked, "I heard my son sailed with you. Where is he? I'd like to see him before you leave."
"Well, to be truthful M'Lady, that's tha main reason I asked yew aboard," replied Cog.
"NavyRum was a fine seaman… one 'o tha best. I was proud ta have him aboard…"
A look of great concern spread across Kats face, "He aint… He wasn't killed, was he?" she asked, anxiously.
"HARRR, Nay lass!" replied Cog instantly, "He's retired from privateering fer a while 'n is trying his hand at politics like his father before him!"
Kathryn looked confused, before Coggy explained.
"He's tha new governor of this 'ere island. Took up residence in yer old home no more that two days past!" he said.
Kat looked across to the island and began to smile.
"Anyhow," continued Coggy, "I wanted ta see ye because I wants some reassurances that me ol' shipmate will be allowed ta govern yer lil' town without reprisals from tha locals. I tink he'll make a grand gov'nor fer sure."
"Don't worry Captain," replied Kat, "He'll do a fine job. Although I am very surprised he gave up the Navy life to sail with a bunch of pirates in the first place… no offence" she added, with a grin.
"Haaarrrr!, yer son never told me he had such a purdy mother!" laughed Cog, "I sailed through here a few years back and it's a right shame our paths never crossed!" he added.
Kat smiled and watched as one of Coggy's officers made his way up to the Bridge and informed the Captain that the pirates were ready to set sail.
"Get a few oarsmen to take this good lady over to the beach." ordered Cog.
Kathryn made her way down the steps and followed the officer to the side of the ship. Turning back to Coggy, she remarked, "Maybe the next time we meet on the high seas fortune will favor me for once."
Coggy tipped his hat to his departing guest and called, "I'm sure it will, M'lady. A pirate like meself only has so much luck in a lifetime I'm due a bit 'o misfortune ta come me way, no doubt!"
"Just make sure that misfortune occurs AFTER you've brought the Sisterhood a fair share of loot!" replied Kat, as she gave the Captain a sly grin and made her way down into the waiting rowboat.
Within a few hours, Smugglers Cove was at high tide once more and the two pirate ships soon made sail again and headed out into the open seas. Turning south, and with a good breeze behind them, the two hardy ships soon left the small Sisterhood Island of Santa Catalina far behind them.
Less than two weeks sailing to the south, lay the stronghold of Puerto Bello - and the Spanish Treasure Fleet…
Meanwhile, in the small fishing port of Nombre de Dios - fifty miles east of Puerto Bello...
Captain Mako and William Fly had spent their first day in port helping the crew to unload Fly's cargo of rum and ale.
The men were finishing off their duties and were ready to conclude business in the town - Fly had a to collect his payment for the rum, and Mako was eager to check out the numerous ships berthed along the dockside. He was anxious to discover whether or not his shipmate, Iguana Jack, had kept the rendezvous they'd arranged back in Tortuga.
"If'n ye want ta sample tha local brews, Ay'll be over in the Rusty Cutlass tavern just over yonder" said Fly.
"Aye!" replied Mako, "But I has one 'o two things ta do first… I'll see ya there a lil later"
The two men bid farewell to each other and went their separate ways.
Mako headed along the dockside towards a familiar looking Brig he'd seen berthed there earlier.
As he approached the vessel, he noticed her gangplank was up and there seemed to be no one on deck. The ship looked a little worse for wear, as if she'd recently completed a long voyage. Barnacles encrusted her hull around the waterline and her deck was filthy with grime.
"Ahoy there! Is anyone aboard?" he called.
At first there was no reply, but after a few moments, an old scruffy looking man appeared from below decks, "Who that be?" he grumbled, as he popped his head out of the hold and proceeded to look about.
"I'm here… on the dockside" replied Mako.
The old sailor turned to face the voice and squinted as he tried to make out whom the visitor on the dock was.
"I'm Captain Mako, of the Dark Water ship, Insurrection," called back the Captain, before asking, "Where's Iguana Jack?… this is his new ship, aint it?"
The grumbling old sailor gingerly made his way out of the opening and slowly lifted himself up on to the deck, "Eh? Mako says ye?" he mumbled.
Mako watched as the eccentric old fool creakily made his way over to the side of the ship and leant against the railing. Again he squinted as he tried to make out whom he was talking too. "Would dat be Cap'n Mako, 'o da Insurrection?" he asked, as if he'd already forgotten what Mako had said a moment earlier.
After squinting some more, he finally removed a pair of spectacles from his scruffy, dirt-ridden shirt, gave them a quick rub, and put them on, "Well shiver me timbers!" he called on recognizing the Captain, "I know you! yer Cap'n Maple errr... Mackerel… ermm Maggot"
"MAKO!" barked the irate Captain.
"Aye, dats tha one!" replied the senile old fool.
"Where is everyone? Whar's tha rest 'o tha crew?" asked the Captain, with growing impatience.
"All ashore, they is. Aye what's left 'o em" replied the man.
Mako looked on with a touch of puzzlement, "What ye mean? Did ya run inta trouble on yer way here?" he asked.
"Scurvy!" replied the old one, as he lowered the gangplank and scurried down towards Mako, "Scurvy I says!" he repeated.
"So what 'appened to Iguana Jack?" asked a concerned Mako as he stepped back from the man - not wanting to catch the disease.
"He still lives… god bless his soul. In town, he be," answered the sailor, "Saved da ship, 'e did! Aye, seventy-five men went ta sea. Only half a dozen came ashore again.. Scurvy! I tells thee!"
Mako scratched his head and asked one last question, "So would ye 'appen ta know where in town he be?"
The old sailor gave a toothless grin, but said nothing as he simply pointed towards the Rusty Cutlass tavern.