Episode 7 - A Family Reunion
In St. Kitts, Coggy and Moose had returned from their meal with Unlucky Joe. The two pirates sat on the Bridge of the Grim Reaper and began swigging numerous bottles of rum.
Coggy looked a little green, "Arrghhh, Moose, I tink ol' Cogs is gonna need someone ta Gut me!..." he groaned, in much discomfort.
"Dat's whot ye git fer promisin' me a GOOD meal, an' I git dat slop called soup! SPIT! I'm gonna stay on a ships biscuit diet from now'z on!" moaned Moose.
"Arrgghh, I's inclined ta agree wit ye. That's tha last time I ever 'as lunch wit a landlubber - Dat stuff wus vile!" groaned Cog he held onto his rumbling belly.
"I'll git tha surgeon ta have a look at ye!" replied Moose.
Just then, Henry Morgan made his way aboard. He looked a little worse for wear too.
"Maties, a lil' word 'o advice..." he said, "Never upset a room full 'o whores...."
"Just what 'ave ye done now?" asked Moose, with a large grin.
Morgan staggered up to the Bridge and sat down next to his mates, "All I said wus; 'dis place smells like a bleedin' fish-mongers' - and low 'n behold, I ends up bein' abused by a dozen blimmy hags. Tha whores threw me out 'n banned me from thar house 'o sin!" groaned Morgan, as he opened a bottle and joined his mates.
The next morning...
Hoards of pirates gingerly made their way back aboard the Grim Reaper and Baron Boat. The men had enjoyed a day's festivities in town, but the time of departure was fast approaching.
Coggy had recovered from his drinking session with Moose and Morgan and was preparing the ship for its voyage south, through the Lesser Antilles.
But Davey Jones and NavyRum had yet to return
"Where tha blazes 'r they?" grumbled Coggy to himself as he looked across to the dock.
Just then, Moose headed up the gangway and back onto Cogs ship.
"Mate, how's bout avoidin' Guadeloupe on our way south?" he asked, trying to show no concern.
"What tha 'ell fer?" asked a puzzled Coggy.
"Errrmmm, Arrrr, lets just sey I's got an enemy 'o two down thar. And I aint in too much 'o a hurry ta pay 'em a visit..." he replied, uncomfortably.
Coggy looked a little confused but then gave a wry smile to himself on realising Moose's real reason for wanting to avoid Guadeloupe.
Before he could carry the conversion further, Davey Jones and NavyRum appeared.
"Where tha 'ell have ye been?" he growled to the two sorry looking swabs. "We wus about ta leave without ye!"
Davey Jones staggered up the gangway, "Matiz, 'appen we'z been lookin' fer Mooze <hic>" he replied.
Moose turned to face the two men, "What fer?" he asked.
"Mooze, tharz a wench about thiz 'ere townz zat's wantin' a word wit yer! <hic>" replied Davey as he tossed his empty bottle of grog into the water.
NavyRum stumbled up the gangway and gave Moose a pat on the shoulder, "Aye mate, so we sent her over to tha Baron Boat <hic>. She be waitin thar fer ye!" he added.
Moose remained silent. He knew exactly who the woman was.
"Haarrrrr, sounds ta me like yer lil' ol' wife has caught up wit thee!" laughed Cog.
Moose turned and gave Coggy a menacing stare, "How tha bleedin' 'ell do ye know bout her?" he grumbled.
Cog, Davey, and NavyRum didn't reply. Instead they tried to hide their amusement at Moose's predicament and headed below decks.
Moose remained on deck scratching his head, "MORGAN!!! YEW BLAGGARD!" he screamed atop his voice - before storming off the ship and heading over to the Baron Boat.
Within three hours the two pirate ships had left the island of St. Kitts and where making good headway in their continuing journey through the Lesser Antilles.
Meanwhile...
Admiral Tew, Mako, and Iguana Jack were a days sailing out of Tortuga when a small Pinnace approached with truce flag raised.
"What do these buggers want?" asked Tew as he headed down to the deck and made his way to the portside.
"AHOY THERE!" called the Pinnace Captain as his ship came alongside the Frigate, "I wus wonderin' if'n yew fine lads 'ill be kind enough to spare us a ton 'o grub?" he asked.
Tew's men began to laugh at the gall of the Captain.
The Admiral was also amused. Turning to his men, he ordered them to hoist the Jolly Roger.
"Lads lets inform dis 'ere swab of our true colours!" he laughed.
The Pinnace Captain looked on with no undue concern as the pirate flag shot up the pole and fluttered menacingly in the breeze.
"Now now, dinnae be like dat!" shouted the Captain, still showing an uneasy calmness to his predicament.
"Mate, I tink yew don't realise just how much trouble yer in!" laughed Tew as he ordered his men to prepare a boarding action.
"Just so 'appens I do, Sir" replied the Captain, before adding, "but word as it that yew be seeking information on a certain Cap'ns whereabouts!" he said, with confidence.
Tew looked on with interest. He ordered his men to delay their boarding action - for the moment. "Ok, Mister, yee've got one minute ta convince me" he shouted.
"Well, Admiral 'Appen I's heard yew 'n yer mates 'r lookin' for a pair 'o swabs by tha name 'o Greenbeard 'n Cap'n Green Eye" replied the Captain, with a grin.
"Keep talkin'" called Tew.
"It just so 'appens that I knows thar EXACT whereabouts!" replied the Captain.
"And where would dat be?" shouted Tew, with increasing impatience.
"Arrr, well… before I reveals dat lil' gem of knowledge, I be wantin' ta have a private word wit ye!" he replied, before adding, "So how's about grantin' me permission ta come aboard..."
Tew thought for a second before ordering his men to stand down and allow the man aboard.
Back in the Lesser Antilles...
Aboard the Baron Boat, Moose sat in his cabin. With him was a fair, but fierce, looking woman.
"Arrr, love I wus plannin' on visitin' ye later in tha year. I hadn't fergotten bout ye!" explained Moose, trying to conceal his unease.
"Don't give me that!" she barked, "Tas been TWO friggin' years since yer pox ridden hide graced me with yer presence"
"Aye, but I wus out earnin' us a good livin' from me deeds. I's got me a tidy sum 'o swag hidden away so ye can buy yerself that lil' townhouse ye always wanted now, love" replied Moose, with a nervous grin.
"Do ye think I wus born yesterday?" she replied, "Yer like any other man - once yew bastids go off on yer friggin' adventures, ye forget bout everyone 'n everything cept yer bleedin' mates!"
Moose looked unsettled. He hadn't seen his wife, Moose Lady, for a long time and he'd forgotten just how bad her temper could get. "Ok, love. I knows yer pissed at me fer not commin' back more often but...."
Moose Lady abruptly interrupted.
"But nottin!" she barked. "Listen 'ere, yew pox-ridden curd - it jus' so happens that a lot 'o tings can 'appen in two years and I's got some interesting news fer yew!..."
A knock on the cabin door abruptly ended the conversation.
"Who's that?" barked Moose Lady.
"Tis me, 'Enry Morgan. 'Appen Coggy's signalling us ta come alongside tha Grim Reaper" came his muffled reply though the door.
"Ok, tell tha men ta furl tha sails. I'll be right up" replied Moose.
Moose Lady got up to leave.
"Hey! What's dis news ye has?" asked Moose.
Moose Lady gave her husband a sly smile and wink, "Arrr, well, me darlin'" she said sarcastically, "It just so happens I aint that town wench ya left behind two years ago! Ney - I happen ta be a pirate now! - just-like-yew!!!" she replied, with a broad grin.
Moose stood up and looked on in disbelief. But before he could say anything, Moose Lady lifted the sleeve of her puffy silk shirt and showed her husband an elegant tattoo on her forearm. "Read it 'n weep!" she said, as Moose scrutinized the drawing.
"That's right yew scurvy bastid, it seys 'Sisterhood 'o Pyrates'" she proudly proclaimed, with a laugh that shook poor old Moose to his soul.
Aboard Tew's flagship...
The Admiral stood on the Bridge with his guest - the Captain of the Pinnace.
"So, just who tha 'ell are ye?" he asked impatiently.
"Me names Cap'n Red Chaos, but yew can call me Red" he replied.
"Ok Red, it just so 'appens ye be right 'bout me wantin' Greenbeard 'n Cap'n Green Eye - so tell me what ye knows 'n I'll consider yer request fer food" said Tew.
"Arrr, Admiral, I dinnae need any grub - 'appen me food request wus nottin' more than a ruse. Me real reason fer this lil' meeting wus ta offer yew me services." replied Red, before announcing, "I's heard ye be on an expedition to tha Main with that Cognito bastid"
Tew looked irritated. "Tis quite clear ta me dat word in these parts spreads quicker than tha devils plague through a whorehouse" he barked. "Which snivelling Git informed ye about dat?" he asked.
"Never ye mind, Admiral. We all have our sources 'n t'would be unhonourable 'o me ta reveal 'em." replied Red, before adding, "Anyhow, I don't claim ta know yer exact plans but I knows that when scurvy bastids like yew 'n Cognito 'r involved, thars gonna be one 'ell of a loot-fest. And I wants in!"