Portete - Chapter 50
Healing
NOTE: This story contains some harsh language, violence, and mature themes that might be upsetting to some readers. They are pirates, after all. Ye have been warned.
Want to start at the beginning? Welcome to Portete.
The sun rose over the hills of Hispaniola in the distance. Rhett Sarlin, dressed in rumpled and dirty pastoral robes, stood before the crews of the Relentless and the Irredeemable, reciting a eulogy for the fallen pirates. MacRorie and ByJam stood to his right, MacDonald and Johnson, leaning heavily on his first mate, stood to the left.
“Lord, deliver the souls of these, our brothers, unto your care. They may have been lost on Earth, but we know that in your hands, they will find the light. Amen.”
“Amen,” came the murmured reply.
Roger Maddix and David Rowles stepped forward and began to sing. Their voices, blending in a perfect a cappella harmony, carried the weight of grief and sorrow of both ships.
Oh Shenandoah,
I long to hear you,
Away you rolling river,
Oh Shenandoah,
I long to hear you,
Away, I’m bound away
‘Cross the wide Atlantia.
The rest of the pirates joined in, blending their voices to the chorus.
Oh Shenandoah,
We loved your daughters,
Away you rolling river,
We’ll take her ‘cross
Your rollin’ water,
Away, I’m bound away
‘Cross the wide Atlantia.
Slowly, reverently, each of the fallen were dropped into the water below, sliding off the wooden plank extending over the side. Finally, the body of Matthew Hall lay before them, the last of their slain comrades.
‘Tis seventeen years,
He sailed these waters,
Away you rolling river,
Now he returns,
He’ll be your lover,
Away, he’s bound away
‘Cross the wide Atlantia.
The sailors moved to the rail and looked out over the water, each lost in his own thoughts, but singing with his brothers.
Oh Shenandoah,
I’m bound to leave you.
Away you rolling river,
Oh Shenandoah,
I’ll not deceive you.
Away, I’m bound away
‘Cross the wide Atlantia.
They stood for a moment, watching the canvas-wrapped bodies float away in the current. No words were spoken. The men began to disperse, each to his own duty. Daniel began to climb down the ladder to the Relentless when he felt a strong hand on his shoulder.
“Warrington,” came the labored voice. He turned to see Johnson towering over him. The massive captain looked pale and clearly was in pain, but his grip was like iron. “I don’t often apologize or even thank people.”
“So don’t,” said Daniel. “You don’t owe me anything.”
“That’s true. But know this, ‘Danny-boy’,” Johnson sneered. “I had great respect for your father, and I disgraced that by the way I treated you. And for that, I am sorry. Not to you, but the memory of your father. You may be part of the family now. I accept that. But you killed Dulcinea. That I will not forget.”
“Dulcinea,” said Daniel incredulously. “The woman who drove a blade into your back and tried to kill you. Yes, I can see why you would hate me over that.”
“Watch your tongue, boy. Even now, I could tear your heart out and...”
“That will be enough, Stephen,” interrupted MacRorie, taking Johnson by the arm and shepherding him toward a waiting MacDonald. “You can tear hearts out later. But now, you rest. You are no good to anyone dead.”
“Aye, Captain,” said MacDonald. “Yer nae use to us right now as it is, so I am puttin’ yer arse in bed, and that’s final!”
Johnson grimaced and glared at Daniel, but let his kilted officer take him below.
MacRorie sighed. “Ah, Danny-boy. I don’t expect you and Stephen will ever really be friends, eh?”
Daniel snorted. “No, I should say not.”
“Let’s get back aboard and let the repairs get finished. We should be able to make Tortuga by tomorrow.”
“And then what?”
“And then we drink, lad. We drink, and fuck, and get ourselves ready for the next grand adventure. The Irredeemable is going to need some repairs before we can make way again. And we will need to send word to Mendoza and the others that we ran into the Navy.”
“And the pirate hunter,” said Daniel ruefully.
“Aye. Vestergaard is hot on our trail now, it seems. It does make one wonder how he knew where to look.”
The Danish pirate hunter was fuming, and his crew stayed out of his way as he paced the deck. Guttural curses in his native tongue could be heard by the mostly-Dutch crew, and they averted their eyes should his gaze happen to fall on them as they worked to repair the damage from the surprise attack. How could he have been caught so unawares? He knew the pirates traveled together. Why had he not been more cautious? Why had he not held Bromwell back when he had the chance? He had become overly excited at the apparent ease of the find, he reasoned. And Bromwell – he was fanatical. True to his cause, no doubt, but perhaps not as disciplined as he had thought.
“Capitan,” said one of his officers. “We have sustained minimal damage, sir. But the Redoubtable is in a bad way. She’ll need at least a few days to repair her mast and be able to sail.”
Vestergaard slammed his fist on the rail and cursed again.
“Capitan?” Bastiaan van Tillberg, the young lieutenant, stood at attention nearby. “Sir, Captain Bromwell is requesting to come aboard.”
With a resigned sigh, he nodded and stood, straightening his coat. It was important that he remain in control of his emotions.
The English captain had no such worries, it seemed. Vestergaard stood firmly and watched as Bromwell came aboard, cursing and red in the face. All traces of stoicism were gone; his composure had clearly been shattered. The privateer braced himself for the verbal onslaught he knew was coming. Bromwell did not disappoint.
“What in the name of hell happened back there? I lost fifteen bloody men! Where in hell did that other ship come from? Who was that? I thought you knew these pirates, Vestergaard!” The English captain’s eyes were bulging out of his head.
“That’s quite enough, Captain,” the pirate hunter retorted. “Yes, we were caught off guard. That was MacRorie arriving late, and I should have seen it coming. I didn’t, and that is my burden to bear. I am sorry for the loss of your men, Captain. I really am. And now, thanks to the damage to both our ships, we have lost our best chance to take them down.”
The two men glared at each other for a moment, fuming silently. Bromwell spoke first.
“Very well.” His military training and aristocratic upbringing had returned. “Now we do things my way. As soon as the Redoubtable is able, we make for Port Royal. You will then sail to Santiago and wait for me there.”
Vestergaard, not used to being ordered to do anything, sputtered but did not respond. He knew he had to take responsibility for this failure, and now was not the time to argue with Bromwell. But he could not let his men see him dressed down by an Englishman like this. He chose his words carefully.
“Captain Bromwell, I understand your frustration, but you have echoed my thoughts exactly. Once we make the necessary repairs to your ship, we can be underway. I am not without contacts in Santiago, as I am sure you were aware, so I shall sail directly there without accompanying you to Port Royal.”
“I assumed as much,” said Bromwell simply. “One name in particular I will need you to find a way to contact.”
“Oh? And who might that be?” The Dane raised an eyebrow as he adjusted his hat.
“Captain Itzal Sendoa. He commands the galleon Anhinga.”
“I know the captain well, actually. He was first on my list.”
“Then it is settled. I will need some of your men to assist with repairs.”
“Of course, Captain,” said the pirate hunter with a half-bow and tip of his hat. “I will send them over with my carpenter at once.” Bromwell turned on his heel and walked away without another word. Vestergaard produced his pipe and absently filled it with tobacco as he watched the English captain leave. He would have to be careful in the future to make these discussions more private. He trusted his men implicitly, but secrets have a way of getting out prematurely, even among the staunchest allies. He was not pleased that Bromwell had already considered Sendoa. He had planned on that being his surprise. But now the whole crew knew where they were going and why. Ah, well, it could not be helped now. He lit the sweet-smelling tobacco and puffed thoughtfully as he watched the sailors begin their repairs of the Redoubtable. Things had not gone well, but they still were in a position to crush these pirates once and for all. They were dead; they just didn’t know it yet.
Level funeral scene.