“All right, Herren. Let us keep this information contained. Herr Mannheim, you are officially cleared of all wrongdoing. Is there anything else you would care to add on your behalf?”
Mannheim sedately said, “Captain, I am grateful for your decision. I assure you again, mein Herr, that the mortal injury to Ziegler was not intentional, and I will not apologize for the result. I was merely coming to the defense of the ship’s officers.”
Heinrich sensed sincerity in what Reiner stated. He found himself believing this sailor as steadfastly as he would Otto. Nodding with understanding, he excused the man. Mannheim stood up from the chair, gave a curt nod, and strode out of the cabin.
Heinrich rubbed his forehead, gazed at the far wall, and let out a long slow breath.
“You did the proper thing, Heinrich,” Otto said softly. “Things will smooth themselves out in time; you’ll see. I will talk with Doc Strobel and will convince him to leave well enough alone. We will be rid of Ziegler’s body once we are at sea.”
As if wanting assurance in the matter, Fritz spoke and said, “Captain, I will talk with the crew about keeping silent. They know it is in the best interest of us all. None of those ruffians were liked by anyone onboard, and they will not be missed.”
Heinrich simply nodded his understanding. Otto and Fritz sensed it was time to take leave. Two hours later, there was a soft knock at the cabin door. It was well past four in the morning.
“Come.”
Both Otto and Fritz came through the door.
“We saw your lantern on, and we figured you were in need of company,” Otto said sheepishly; a slight grin on his face.
“Herren, you are never far from barring me from my sleep. Come in, and we can sit in mourning for one of our more illustrious sailors who paid the ultimate price for his stupidity,” he said glibly.
Otto grinned, realizing that Heinrich was again his usual self.
“What?” Otto played dumb. “Did you hide the bottle that was on the table.
“You know where it is kept. Go fetch it yourself.” A bottle of scotch was brought forth, and Otto poured them all a cup of the strong brew. They settled down in silence sipping the liquor, each deep in thought until the silence was broken, with the help of the scotch.
“That Reiner was something out there was he not?” Fritz stated.
“I think we need to assess all our new crewmen to get to know them better. We hired them so quickly, without digging into their background,” Heinrich remarked.
“That was the most marvelous sword fighting performance I have ever seen with a stick. We never had a clue what Mannheim was about,” Otto commented.
“I must say you and Fritz did a hell of a job on those scoundrels as well,” Heinrich added. “I am extremely impressed. You didn’t even allow me the pleasure of pounding a few heads. I am most disappointed,” he said with a mock frown and held his cup in salute to both men.
“I haven’t been in a good scrape in a long time,” Fritz chuckled in delight. “It has been months since we three have been in a tavern brawl. Although my jaw is sore as hell.”
“Are we a bunch of hooligans now?” said Otto.
“When has that ever changed?” Fritz shot back.
“Aah, Otto, I believe I saw a glint of pleasure in your eyes while you were brawling tonight. Don’t be so hard on us, my dear friend,” Heinrich said with a wicked grin.
“Well, I must say, Fritz and I did tear into them fairly well for the old fools that we are. But we mustn’t make it a habit. We do have a reputation to uphold.”
“Who are you calling an old fool? I can still roll with the best-thrown punches,” replied Fritz.
“I wholeheartedly agree with that statement,” affirmed Heinrich.
“Ja, of course, you would, Heinrich. I do not doubt your propensity to jump at the chance to rumble,” Otto stated as he rolled his eyes.
“You’re just a jealous man, Otto. As I said, I witnessed your delight in being in the midst of the action tonight,” Heinrich riled back at Otto.
“Aah, you don’t know what you’re talkin’ about,” Otto scoffed at the remark. He raised his cup and said, “Here’s to Reiner Mannheim for saving our arses, prost!” and the others raised their cups in the toast.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
ESPRIT de CORP
The very next morning Reiner was again seated in the captain’s quarters with Heinrich and Otto. Master Gunners Geiger and Rhine were present as well.
“Reiner Mannheim,” Heinrich stated his name as if the sound of it had a distinct ring. “You certainly surprised us last night by deciding to jump into the fight. But what impressed me was your fighting skill. I don’t believe any one of us had even the slightest notion of your talent with the sword. You are a first-rate seaman, and your work ethic is sound, but obviously, your skills go far beyond what we know of you.”
Getting straight to the point, Heinrich said, “Your fighting prowess can be extremely useful onboard.”
Reiner gratefully noted that the downside of last night’s miserable mishap was not mentioned. “Danke schoen, captain. I will take that as a compliment.”
“I want to utilize you in another capacity onboard ship.”
With a steady stare back, Mannheim said, “I am listening, captain.”
“We are sailing to the Caribbean, where none of us has been before, and we don’t know what to expect. It is common knowledge that the region has privateers and pirates. We heard first hand from other shipmasters here in the harbor that have sailed those waters, of the dangers that lurk there. Our ship may be attacked by those who would be happy to appropriate our goods without the slightest notion of paying for them if you understand my meaning?”
“I do indeed.”
“So, we must prepare the crew in case such an incident takes place. There may be other unknown dangers along the way, so we must be ready. To do that, I want to take advantage of your fighting skills.”
Reiner’s eyebrows lifted slightly; the subject matter was intriguing to him. “So, I gather from what you are saying that you mean to teach the crew to stave off an attack?”
“Ja, exactly! I would like you to train us in the use of weapons and tactics. I feel there is much more to you than meets the eye, Herr Mannheim. Your character disposition indicates that as well. An average sailor does not have the refinement you possess. You are somewhat of an anomaly among this crew.”
Reiner remained silent as did the others, while they all intently looked at the dapper sailor.
“Our welfare is dependent only on our ability to defend ourselves. No one will be there to come to our rescue if we tangle with scoundrels intent on plundering us. We have men who are not strangers to a brawl from experience to many ports of call. Most of them are in good physical shape and not frightened to tangle with the best of men. However, they do not have formal training in combat fighting skills and to fight as a coordinated unit to exact maximum impact.”
“I am with you, captain. What you suggest is a monumental task. There is no easy way to prepare the crew for such special skills. There is a lot to do to get ready to defend an attack by a determined aggressor.”
“That is right. Having to defend the ship to that extent was not on my mind back in Bremerhaven. I desired to set sail in haste. I did not even think it was crucial to recruit experienced fighting men. But now I realize we desperately need your skills, and we need you to teach and prepare the crew as best you can in a short timeframe. Will you do that?”
With a bit of hesitation, he nodded his assent. “Captain, I will train the men. I must caution, the men can be taught fighting skills; however, these are not learned overnight. It takes a lot to refine. And then, unfortunately, the best teacher is actual combat.”
“I can understand that skills tested at the end of a blade will be the proof, but we must train them as best as we can with what we have. Is that acceptable to you?”
“Jawohl, captain. I know of a handful of sailors onboard
that have soldiering experience. I have learned this in conversations with them. In my humble judgment, I find their knowledge to be quite impressive. We would be best served in the short time by assigning these men as combat leaders, and each take small groups of the men through training I will set up. I will report regarding these crewmen if that would please you.” Reiner explained, knowing this would strike a positive cord.
“Nothing would please me more than knowing we have others in our midst with these attributes,” Heinrich said in excitement.
“Provide their names to the first officer, Mannheim. Of course, I want you to speak with these men personally as they seem to have your trust.”
Reiner nodded and added, “We all know well your style, captain. The men will very much appreciate you and the officers taking a personal interest in their welfare by training them defensive skills. It is a rare thing to have a shipmaster so concerned about his men.”
“Well, I don’t know about how gracious I am to the men. However, I am serious about protecting our invested interest and without a capable crew, I have no way to succeed in that endeavor. To that extent, I am more than happy to afford you the responsibility to train the men.”
Heinrich liked this sailor more every minute he listened to his wisdom. “How long before you can begin.”
“Please allow me a few of days to draw up a training plan and then we can start.”
“Sehr gut. Are you acquainted with firearms and cannons?”
“Ja, captain, I have experience with both, learned from my father and several of his military associates.”
Conrad spoke up, happy to hear of Reiner’s ordinance knowledge, “I desire to discuss a few things with you pertaining to the use of these weapons then.”
“At the captain’s pleasure, I will be happy to do so.”
“Fine then,” said Heinrich. “Let’s schedule that as well.”
“So, Herr Mannheim, consider yourself relieved of your normal duties as of this moment to focus on your new task,” Otto interjected, speaking for the first time.
“Jawohl, I am grateful for the challenge,” Reiner stated.
Reiner was excused. The others then rose in unison and prepared to take their leave when Heinrich held up a hand and said, “There is one other matter that I want to discuss with you. It deals with the fact that you men have recommended that as captain, I should be assigned a guard for personal protection. All of you seem to deem my safety crucial especially in light of last night’s fiasco.”
With an unabashed tone, Heinrich added, “It is not my personal desire to have someone shadow me. In fact, I find it embarrassing. I need space in my duties aboard ship. I can take care of myself.”
“It is done as a precautionary measure on many a ship that sails in precarious waters we have found out from other crews,” explained Manfred. “We all figured you would see it as … let us say, a waste of manpower, but a shipmaster is a figurehead and must be protected. You are no different.”
“And besides,” Otto added, “Our business plans heavily depend on your personal capital. If you suddenly are no longer in the picture, we have no choice but to sail back home. You must be protected; or rather your money must be protected.”
Drope looked thoughtfully at his men. “You have a delightful way to word things, Otto. The morbid thought of not being alive anymore is certainly distressing; or the concern only for my money is distressing. It is difficult to choose which of the two is most important,” he commented while flashing a toothy grin.
Heinrich continued, even though he did not like the idea of a bodyguard one bit. “Since you persist, if you know of such a man among the crew; a man trustworthy, fiercely loyal, and able to be at my side in perilous times, please say so. I have confidence in my personal ability to fend off danger, but it wouldn’t hurt to have someone close by as my second set of eyes. Reiner Mannheim would have been perfect, but we need his talents elsewhere.”
Conrad felt he needed to emphasize the point and said, “As far as the logic behind the idea, it is not without merit. It is a known fact that in combat it is the leaders who are targeted with the hope to weaken their soldier’s resolve when they see their commanders slain. And since you do hold all the funding for our voyages, it makes sense to increase your protection. I do have a person if you don’t mind me stating.”
“Please do.”
“Anton Krause. We have sailed together for many years, and there’s no one more loyal and trustworthy than he. I can assure you Anton will cling to you like a bear to honey. In fact, the man is built like a bear. Everyone knows who he is just by the sheer size of the man and his powerful presence.”
Otto broke in. “We know who Krause is. He is a fine able seaman, but I had no idea of his abilities other than the fact he is large and strong. You see, that’s a good example. We do not know each man well enough to consider them for whatever is needed beyond their skills as sailors.”
“And that must change,” stated Heinrich. “Too much is riding on this venture of ours. We know Krause. He is built like the Rock of Gibraltar. There is no way he can be hidden in shadowing me, but he can certainly be a convincing bodyguard. Can you approach him concerning this offer, Herr Geiger? Oh and, somehow make him understand that I do not need to be coddled. He only has to be in this role when we are in places of questionable regard. And he can keep his distance to be close enough to assist in a predicament, otherwise, it feels like encroachment.”
“That I will, captain. There isn’t anything around that can take Anton down short of a cannon shot in the brisket. Besides being worth several men in a fight, Anton has a somewhat stoic manner; he does not consort to meaningless jabber or waste time with non-essentials, he focuses on ensuring all is as it should be. He is most resourceful. There is no one you could count on more in a disastrous situation.”
“Sehr gut. Herr Kleist, please see to it that the boatswains scour the harbor docks for new able seamen not only to replace the five misfits no longer with us but also for Mannheim’s and Krause’s vacancies. I prefer fellow countrymen if possible. If not to be found, then use your discretion. We will remain two more days in port before we head to Charleston.”
“That will be all then, Herren,” concluded Heinrich.
“Jawohl, captain,” Conrad and Manfred echoed in unison. The others left while Otto stayed behind.
* * *
“Heinrich, that Mannheim is indeed an interesting fellow, certainly not an ordinary sailor,” Otto reflected.
“You are right, my friend. I’m glad he is part of our crew.”
“You really are quite serious about shaping this crew into a force to be reckoned with.”
“If we are to protect ourselves from sea scum, let it be with deadly force. I do not consider it overkill at all; I see it as being prudent. Otto, I believe we have too much to lose by taking this threat lightly.”
“We know that merchant ships arm themselves against attacks for good reason, but what you are suggesting is a fighting capability much like a naval vessel. By Thor, that is much more difficult to achieve.”
“Ja, Otto, I want this ship to be empowered to do the most damage to whomever we face when and if that time comes.”
“You know, we will lose men in combat; that I can assure you. I say that not as a premonition of disaster, but rather as a fact.”
“Ja, but our business could be doomed if we do not prepare for the worse. Besides, we will lose many more if they are not trained in combat skills. I can’t imagine any of our men not wanting to be better prepared to defend themselves when threatened with death.”
“If we decide upon this new endeavor, it will tax our crew to the limit,” Otto said in retrospect. “I have to ensure that Mannheim’s training schedule does not interfere with the daily management of this vessel.”
“We have made this decision. And you’re right; it is paramount that we have enough crewmembers to perform all shipboard duties and still make headway in combat training,” Hein
rich said as he stared at the map on the far wall.
“Heinrich, I will meet with the boatswains to come up with a schedule that can accommodate the training,” Otto stated.
“Ja, ja, you wise old owl of a sailor. How can I ever forget that you control this ship like a master violinist? Although at times a bit off-tune,” he added grinning. “I should just stay in my cabin and eat and drink at my heart’s content as you run everything onboard.”
“I know you couldn’t stand being cooped up and deal with menial tasks. You’re only happy when you feel salt spraying in your face,” remarked Otto.
“How true that is, my dear brother. Besides, who else would be able to correct your faults unless I’m topside?” Heinrich deadpanned back at Otto and chuckled.
“You ungrateful rascal. I’m the one that has to manage you so you don’t get in trouble.” Otto threw it right back into Heinrich’s face. “Who else can protect your reputation as a bona fide ship’s captain, but good ole Otto, here?” he quipped.
Both men laughed jovially before Heinrich broke up the meeting. He put away the bottle of scotch that was still on the table from last night. Both got ready to do their morning check onboard the ship.
* * *
The See Wolf was on its southerly course, when Heinrich found Reiner on deck toward the bow, preparing for the training sessions that were to begin tomorrow morning.
Reiner had assembled an assortment of tools that would be used to simulate weapons such as swords, knives, clubs, and boarding axes. Training with the real instruments was far too dangerous. The collection of wooden ax handles and shafts along with belaying pins would have to do for now. And even they would bruise many a man until they were wielded with any semblance of skill.
Winds of Fury Page 14
