Episode 8 - A Devious Plot
In the Lesser Antilles, Coggy's ship and the Baron Boat where now stationary and the two crews worked hard at keeping the ships alongside each other in the moderate breeze.
"Ahoy Moose, how's bout stoppin' off in Martinique? I's wantin' ta recruit a few more men." called Coggy across to his mate.
Moose and his wife stood on the Bridge of the Baron Boat.
"Aye mate sounds good ta me. Me dear ol' wife has out-stayed her welcome anyhow 'n I be wantin' ta put her ashore." replied Moose.
Moose Lady gave her husband a menacing stare.
"Ok mate. I'll talk to ya later. Give me regards to yer beloved..." replied Cog.
The two ships slowly parted again and headed towards the nearby French colony.
Later that day...
"So let me get this straight...." said a still confused Coggy as Moose and the others stood on the ships gangway and watched Moose Lady depart and head into Martinique.
"Yer good wife is a 'pirate' and actually belongs to the Sisterhood" he added, scratching his head.
"Aye, that she is mate. A pirate - a friggin female pirate..." moaned Moose as he gave his wife a reluctant wave goodbye.
Morgan hadn't stopped grinning for two days. He found Moose's predicament hilarious. The others tried to be as diplomatic as possible, but the constant smirks and jibes irritated Moose.
"Mate, never ye mind. We've all be inflicted by cupids filthy arrows once in a while." replied Cog, trying to cheer his mate up.
NavyRum gave Moose a menacing glance, "Aye but it seems ta me, Coggy, dat this randy bastid has had 'is fair share 'o arrows - lest ye ferget, the blaggard once tried ta have 'is wicked way wit my dear ol' mother!" he said.
Moose returned the Lieutenants menacing stare, "Arrr, shut yer trap NavyRum! I didn't know who she be at tha time - and if'n I had, I'd 'o run the hag through wit me rustiest cutlass!" he barked in reply.
Davey Jones and Morgan couldn't contain their laugher any longer.
"Stop this bickerin'" called Cog, trying to diffuse the situation, "We's got some recruitin' ta do. And I wants ta be back on the ocean wave as soon as possible."
"Just what do yew mean?" replied NavyRum to Moose's threat.
"Well, it just so happens that me Moose Lady knows yer dear ol' Mother!" replied Moose, "And guess what? She aint married to yer cigar-smoking father neymore!" he announced.
NavyRum approached Moose, "What else did she sey?"
"Yer mom has a lil' tattoo just like me wife's! - and do yew know what tha blimmy thing reads?" replied Moose as he goaded the Lieutenant.
There was an uneasy silence as Davey Jones and Morgan quickly gathered their composure again.
Moose continued, "It seys 'Sisterhood 'o Pyrates!'"
NavyRum's face dropped, "Ya filthy lyin' bastid!" he called, as he went for his cutlass.
Coggy quickly jumped in and pulled the Lieutenant away, "Calm down, we aint got time fer this..." he called.
Morgan held Moose back.
Again Moose continued, "Aye lads, alas it be true. The hag Kathryn and me good wife 'r part 'o that thar Sisterhood malarkey. And guess what?" he said, as the others listened with intent interest.
"Thar friggin' leader be none other than that shipwright whore, CupperBut, from Santa Catalina!"
The pirates stood in silence for a moment before all bursting out into uncontrolled laughter!
"HAR, HAR, HARRRRR! Moose, yew tell a good yarn, ye does!" laughed Coggy.
Moose remained stone-faced. "Mate tis true! Me wench told me!" he said.
The pirates continued to laugh, even NavyRum began to see the funny side of Moose's remarks.
"Lads, tis TRUE! I seen tha tattoo 'n everything. CupperBut turned ta piratin' a year after our lil' visit to her town." explained Moose.
Coggy calmed a little and began to listen to his mate.
"They's installed 'emselves a new Gov'nor in Catalina - so gawd knows what happened to yer ol man, NavyRum" explained Moose.
"Anyhow, tha island be thar stronghold now and me wife informs me they've been earnin' 'emselves a fearsome reputation in them parts." he added.
Morgan continued laughing, much to Moose's annoyance.
"Mate, tha only reputation those hags 'ill earn is through the deeds they do in a whore house - and NOT on tha open sea!" he said.
"Arrr, believe what ye likes, 'Enry, but I's just warnin' yew 'o what me Moose Lady said. And she aint one fer lying'" said Moose in reply.
Coggy was more interested than ever, "Mate, I's inclined ta believe ye. 'Appen I told yew lot about tha Sisterhood way back in Tortuga and yew bleedin' fools didn't believe me then!" he said, before turning to Moose and asking, "So mate, what else did yer good wife have ta sey? - And why is she in these 'ere parts?"
"Well Cogs, as far as the Sisterhood goes, she didn't say much. However, she's been ta St. Kitts, Nevis, and tha Virgin Islands try'n ta recruit a few more hags..." replied Moose.
Coggy's interest grew, "Did she mention that Spanish swab I rescued a while back? He said twas tha Sisterhood that sent his ship to tha locker off Coro and marooned him on the sand-bar" he asked.
Moose looked disheartened. He knew what he was about to say next would upset his gathered mates - especially Coggy.
"Mate, I has some bad news fer ye" he explained, "Tha bleedin' Spanish swab ye mentioned wus actually marooned on that thar sand-bar by tha hags - AFTER they extracted the information about the Treasure Fleet from him..."
The pirates all looked at one another for a moment. Disappointment, followed by anger, set in.
"THOSE FIGGIN' WHORES!" shouted Cog.
"Gawd darn it! Those hags know about tha Treasure Fleet 'n Puerto Bello" added NavyRum.
Morgan gathered his composure, "Ok, thars nottin' we can do about in now. I reckon's we continue on wit tha plan 'n get ourselves ta Curacao as soon as possible. Lest ye ferget, we's got a rendezvous wit tha Admiral in a few weeks - and we don't wanna miss it." he said.
Moose nodded his agreement and added, "Aye, 'Enry's right. Besides, tha hags know tha Fleet won't be in Puerto Bello till November. So they can't do nottin' bout it until then, anyhow."
The pirates thought for a moment.
Moose continued, "I reckon me wife is recruitin' more wimmin' in these parts 'n is gonna head back ta Santa Catalina to prepare their own lil' expedition to Puerto Bello. She mentioned havin' ta meet a wench by tha name 'o Cap'n Mandy up in tha Virgin Islands, so it seems ta me they mean business!"
Coggy looked concerned at having some competition for the Treasure Fleet. After pondering what Moose had said, he scratched his beard and announced, "Lads. I've got a real scurvy idea! What say ye to another lil' visit ta Santa Catalina?"
Davey Jones looked across to the Captain, "Yew aint tinkin' 'o plundering tha place, is thee?" he asked.
A grin spread across the pirates' faces as Cogs devious idea began to sink in.
"Too friggin' right, mate! We hits tha town hard 'n sinks tha wenches lil' boats before they can head south to tha Main." replied Coggy, with renewed hope.
Moose scratched his head, "Aye, I's all fer that! - but ney harm comes to me wife. DE YA HEAR!" he warned.
"Nor me dear ol' Mother, neither!" added NavyRum, with concern.
The pirates looked at one another and nodded in agreement.
"Right, lets stop yakkin' 'n get on with it. We needs ta finish recruitin' here then in three weeks time we'll meet up wit the Dark Water Alliance swabs in Curacao - before heading straight fer Santa Catalina" said Coggy.
"Times gonna be short, Cog" replied Davey Jones, "Will we make it ta Puerto Bello before November?"
"Aye, mate, we will if'n we sticks to the plan and avoid too many entanglements on the way" replied the Captain.