"I'm going to load a weapon and grab a cutlass," she replied with a quizzical look.
"I need you to stay with me. We're going to need people to defend the ship in case some of the townsfolk decide to attack us, and I want you by my side."
"But—"
"Please, Christina," Herbert pleaded, "I need you here. I'm not fit to fight in my state, you should know that."
Christina stared at her brother for a few seconds before letting out a sigh. "Well, when you put it that way," she said. "Just so we're clear, forcing guilt on your sister isn't fair."
Herbert smirked. "It worked though, didn't it?"
Christina lightly punched Herbert in the arm, but with a smile on her face.
A few minutes later, Jack and almost the entire crew of the Queen Anne's Revenge, a little over two hundred of them, came to the weather deck. Some gathered weapons, while others went to the bow or clambered up the rigging ropes to catch a glimpse of the scene unfolding. There was a buzz amongst the men itching for a fight.
"Listen up, men," Herbert shouted. The crew turned their attention to the quartermaster. "It looks like our captain needs us up there, but I don't think I have to tell some of you that the townspeople are not to be harmed. Some of you hail from this town, so you know their feelings. To everyone else, keep your pistols at the ready, but you are to be no more than a threat. These people have been through enough already, and they're only doing this because they're scared. Get the captain, and get out of there without bloodshed. Understood?" The crew agreed loudly. "Move ou—"
"Herbert, look!" Christina called out, pointing to the pier.
Herbert lifted himself up with his hands on the wheelchair to see properly. A group of fifty or so people were coming from all directions to their ship. They were running towards them with crude excuses for weapons and angered looks plastering their faces.
"Bring the gangplank up!" Herbert commanded. The crewmen were watching the approaching townspeople. "The gangplank! The gangplank!" he shouted.
A few crewmates heard the order and pulled up the temporary bridge. Just as they finished, the townsfolk rounded the bend to their dock.
Herbert wheeled himself over to the port side of the ship. His wooden apparatus creaked and groaned as it moved, complaining of its age and closeness to sea water.
Jack was also on the port side, and he leaned his elbows on the railing. "Hello gentlemen, what might we do for you?" he called down to the approaching men.
Herbert looked over the group, and they were all the epitome of normal. He could tell some were sailors, with their rugged hands and weathered faces, and others, with their tanned forearms and hair lightened from the sun, were farmers. None of them were fighters, and they were a far cry from pirates.
They wouldn't last five minutes, the lot of them, even if they had the same weapons as us.
"Would ye mind droppin' yer plank for us? We have something we need to discuss with ye," one of the farmers said.
Jack cast his gaze on the many people gathered, then shrugged his shoulders. "I'm sorry, gentlemen, I simply cannot in good conscience have my men lower our gangplank. You see, I'm not generally a violent man, but these men here?" He motioned to the crew. "These men are quick to violence because they are generally used to life-or-death situations. If I lower that gangplank, and you board, I cannot say what would happen. My captain wouldn't like it if any of you were injured."
The men gathered around the ship seemed to calm down at the threat. They took in how many crewmates there were, and how many carried actual weapons.
The farmer pointed a sharp hoe in Jack's direction. "Your captain is the reason I lost my brother!" The man's words seemed to rile up the crowd and give them renewed courage in the face of overwhelming odds.
Jack scratched his face. "That's strange, because up until today we had been out to sea. If you're referring to what happened to the town, we were not responsible. Trust me, sir, I know your plight. I have lost loved ones in the past, but I would not put the blame for their murder on someone not at all involved in it."
The farmer did not seem convinced, though he paused for a moment to consider his words. "The pirates who attacked us kept shouting to bring them Blackbeard. We don't want any further trouble, so we're going to bring your captain's head to Calico Jack and be done with it."
Herbert's heart stopped, and it felt as if the icy hand of the Devil had gripped hold of it. Calico Jack, the pirate he used to work for, who left him with nothing after he was crippled, was the one who'd attacked Bodden Town. He froze in place, and he could no longer hear the words exchanged between the farmer and Jack.
"Herbert!" Christina called. "Herbert, are you well?" she said as she knelt down and gripped his arm. Tala barked excitedly, mimicking her master's concern.
Herbert shook his head. "I'm here, I'm here," he replied.
"I can't believe it… Calico Jack was the one to attack. Why?"
Herbert was still reeling from the mention of that name. It took him a moment to answer his sister's question. "We killed one of his subordinates. Of course he would want vengeance. The real question is… where is he right now?"
Herbert could feel a great surge of anger welling up inside him. He too desired vengeance. Vengeance for what Jack Rackham put him through. Edward had promised to help him in his quest, but now he was stuck in the Boddens' mansion. The more time they wasted here, the farther Rackham got away from them.
The sound of gunshots rang out from up the hill of the town. Several sharp pops caused all eyes to turn in its direction.
Herbert grabbed the spyglass that Christina still held and looked through it. He could see the crowd at the mansion had placed a ladder in front of the stone wall, and someone was climbing up it. On the balcony of the second floor, one of their crewmates was re-loading a musket as Edward stepped out. He had a concerned look on his face as he questioned the mate, his massive beard moving as he talked.
One of the rioters climbed the ladder, and the mate shot at him, but missed on purpose from what it looked like. The rioter ducked down, but after another moment he resumed his climb. When he reached the peak of the wall and stood atop it, Edward shot a pistol at him, hitting him in the leg. The man fell inside the mansion grounds before the sound even reached the ship.
Edward jumped down and out of sight, but soon reappeared in front of the gate with the injured man held by the scruff of his neck. After some words from Edward, and a long pause, the crowd dispersed. Twenty or so of the townspeople remained, and the worst of it seemed to be over, but the twenty weren't allowing Edward to leave.
Jack and several other crewmates had also been watching the event as it unfolded. Afterwards, he turned back to the townsfolk at their ship. "It seems as though we no longer have an issue. Most of your neighbours have gone home," he said with a smile.
The farmer looked confused. "What?" he said. He looked at those gathered, then towards town, and at Jack. From their position on the dock, they weren't able to see the Boddens' house. After another moment of internal debate, the lead farmer stormed off in a huff with everyone else following soon after.
"Well, it seems as though the captain managed to calm most of the people down," Jack said to the crew.
"So now we storm the rest of 'em, right?" a crewmate asked.
Jack laughed. "No, no, that won't be necessary, unless the captain wants us to. We need to speak with him first and see what he wants us to do. Although I doubt the townsfolk will let us get close. Someone needs to sneak inside the Boddens' to talk with him. Any volunteers?"
Immediately, a lone crewman spoke up. "I will."
Jack nodded. "Victor, thank you for volunteering. Anyone wish to help Victor?"
"That's not—" Victor began before being interrupted.
"I will go," Alexandre said, placing a hand on Victor's shoulder.
Jack raised his brow. "Truly? Well, I suppose you can see if there are any injured. Thank you, Alexandre."
"Pas de probl
ème. We will watch how they patrol and sneak in later in the nuit."
Jack nodded before fielding a flurry of questions and objections from the crew on what they should do next.
"We should leave," Christina said.
Herbert cocked his brow. "What?"
Christina began whispering. "Think about it, Herbert. These people were just attacked. Wherever Calico Jack went, he can't have gotten far. We can catch up to him if we hurry."
Herbert paused for a moment. It was as if his own thoughts and desires had been spoken aloud. He badly wanted to chase after Calico Jack, but his concern for Edward overpowered it, even if only just.
"We can't, the captain needs us."
Christina glanced at the Boddens' house. "He's going to be fine. Most of the crowd has left. He just needs to convince those left over to stand down. Besides, we'll just be the advance party. Once Edward's out he can ride on the Fortune to join us."
Herbert scratched his chin. His sister made a good point. Splitting up might be the better option if they wanted to find Calico Jack quickly.
"The crew would never accept it," Herbert said.
"They would, if we convinced them," Christina replied. "They trust me. I can tell them how it's a good idea, making it seem as if it's what we should be doing, and soon enough everyone will be saying it. Then, by tomorrow, all you have to do is say a few words and they'll follow."
Herbert looked at the sole of the deck. "I don't know."
Christina pulled his neck up. "This is our best course. You want revenge, don't you?" she asked.
"Yes, of course I do."
"If we don't move soon, we won't catch up to Calico Jack, we won't have the upper hand, and you won't have your revenge."
Hebert had no rebuttal. He was caught between an uncontrollable urge to do as his sister suggested, and staying to ensure his captain—his friend—was safe. He sat there in silence for a moment as his sister's gaze bore into him.
"Very well, you don't have to decide. The crew can decide."
"What?"
"We'll put it to a vote tomorrow, after Alexandre and Victor return with Edward's orders. If he doesn't order us to attack, then we'll propose a vote on whether to stay or leave."
"But how? The captain is the one who has the final say."
Christina sprouted a devilish grin. "Only in battle, and only if he's here. The quartermaster is next in line—that's you. The crew voted you into the position after John passed, and you gained all the privileges that comes with the rank. You are the authority now."
Herbert peered at his sister with newfound respect and terror. He knew she was intelligent, but he didn't know when she'd become so devious.
"Mr Christian," Christina called in a sweet voice.
The crew seemed to have calmed down, and that allowed Jack to see them. "Yes, what is it, my dear?"
"I was just thinking that it might do us well if we raised the anchor. We may need to depart rather quickly," she said with a smile.
"You may be right. Good thinking," Jack replied. He issued an order to raise the anchor, and several crewmates hopped to complete the hours-long task. Jack glanced at the brother and sister with concern written on his face. "How are you two holding up? Trust me, I know how I would be feeling if…" Jack paused a moment and took a breath. "If the man I wanted revenge on was just here."
"I am well," Herbert replied. "I just want this business concluded so we may move on and catch Rackham before he does any more harm."
Jack nodded as he scrutinized Herbert. He appeared unconvinced. He was about to say something else, but a voice from the pier stopped him.
"Oi, is everything well over here?"
Herbert looked over the railing as Christina and Jack turned around to see who was hailing them. Hank Abbot, Bartholomew Roberts' first mate, was at the pier with a few armed crewmates.
"We are well, thank you Hank. Come, Christina, help me with the gangplank."
"Tala, rester," Christina commanded, causing her wolf to sit patiently beside Herbert.
Christina and Jack went to the weather deck, and, with the help of some other crewmates, they restored the wood and rope gangplank so that Hank and the crew of the Fortune could board.
As they worked, Herbert watched them and petted the reddish fur of the wolf. "What do you think I should do, girl?" he asked the wolf. Tala looked at him when he spoke, but soon went back to watching her mistress, providing Herbert no insight on his dilemma.
Hank boarded and shook Jack's hand, and then he, Jack, and Christina walked up to the quarterdeck. Hank, a shorter but well-built man, looked distraught despite the brave front he seemed to be trying to maintain.
"It seems that we have a slight problem on our hands," Hank said.
"Indeed," Jack replied.
"At least most of them have backed down," Herbert added.
Hank nodded. "Yes, that is fortunate. It looked as if you were planning on heading up to the mansion with your forces until the townsfolk showed up. What will you be doing now?"
"We thought it best to wait, as the immediate threat is over." Jack motioned to the crewmates pulling on the rope of the anchor. "We've decided to raise anchor in case we need to make a quick getaway. Perhaps you should as well."
"Wouldn't want our trousers stuck around our ankles, now would we?" Hank said with a laugh.
"Most certainly not."
Hank told one of his crewmates to go back to the ship and get the others working on the anchor. "Did the townsfolk let slip anything on our captains or any more information on the attack?"
"All we were able to find out was that it was Calico Jack who attacked the town, and they were here for Edward."
Hank unfolded his arms in shock, and several of his mates' jaws dropped. "Now, you wouldn't be tellin' me you had a run-in with this Calico Jack before, would you?" he asked, his face reddening and on the verge of sweat.
"We killed one of his men…" Jack glanced Herbert's way, and Herbert nodded to the silent question. "Our quartermaster here also has some business with Calico Jack."
Hank eyed Herbert, but then focussed on Jack. "He's a dangerous man. Does Roberts know about your involvement with him?"
"I'm sure he does now," Christina replied with a chuckle.
"This won't sour our relationship, will it?" Jack asked.
"No, we have nothing to do with the man, but everyone's heard the stories of Mad Jack Rackham. I reckon any one of us would steer clear of him if we had the choice."
"We don't have a choice, not with him," Herbert said.
Hank stared at Herbert, and nodded after a moment. Hank was afraid, and he had every right to be. If the stories were true, Calico Jack was the truest of villains, and not someone to be trifled with.
"We need to find out where he went."
All eyes were on Herbert after his statement. Hank had a look of concern, but Jack appeared resolved, and Christina smiled. Even Tala seemed to sense the mood and let out an eager bark.
Hank spoke up. "My men and I can go to the local tavern and discreetly ask around. They don't know us like they do you, so we shouldn't have to worry about getting into fights."
Jack chuckled and looked at the broken town. "You think there's still a tavern left?"
Hank joined in the laugh. "With the state the town is in, there's somewhere selling ale, I guarantee it."
"Stay safe Hank, and get some sleep, yea?"
"You as well, friends. I have a feeling we won't have much over the next while."
Hank and the crewmates of the Fortune left the ship and walked towards town to gather information. Through all the excitement, Herbert only just now noticed that the sun had descended fully below the horizon. The town was dark, and the cold of the sea wind came in full force.
In an instant, Herbert's upper body was shivering. He looked down at his legs and placed a hand on the thin, frail thing that was half his body. He could feel through his hand that his legs were freezing. The feeling in his legs had been stol
en from him by a pirate who probably didn't care. Though the feeling would never return, he wanted revenge regardless.
Herbert told himself that it wasn't just for him. He told himself that he was going to get revenge for everyone else... but he didn't feel grief, or sadness, or any shred of empathy for those who'd lost something because of Calico Jack. He felt only anger. A single-minded, self-serving anger which consumed him the more he thought on it. If he hadn't have heard that name, he could have gone through another day not even thinking on the fateful day when his ability to walk was stolen from him, but that was all it took. Two words, and a flood of memories gripped him and wouldn't let go.
"Herbert, are you well?" Christina asked.
Herbert looked up at his sister's face. Her sweet, caring face that he knew and loved was now grown, and slightly weathered from hard work aboard the ship. He hoped that she would never feel the cold that he felt deep inside, but he feared that it was already too late. She, too, had lost something that had crippled her, but she had been able to build herself back up again. She still carried the weight. He could see it in her face, and in a memento from the past: a carved wooden rose hanging from her neck. He wondered if she was as fragile as he, and if, like him, two words could take her legs from her as well. Whatever the case, he resolved to protect her from that ever happening.
Herbert smiled. "I am well," he said. "Let's leave, shall we?"
Herbert hoped that his words were not lost on Christina, and from the look on her face it didn't seem like they were. She smiled, and the two of them went to the crew cabin to eat, sleep, and wait for word to get back from Alexandre.
…
"Herbert, wake up," Christina's voice called.
Herbert opened his eyes, blinking to help him focus. It was pitch black inside the ship, as it usually was, so he had no sense of what time it was. Christina held a lantern at her side, and she was fully dressed.
Herbert pulled himself up and moved his legs so they were dangling off the side of his hammock. "What's the hour?"
"Before dawn. It's time for us to make our move. Hank informed us of the direction Calico Jack went, and I've prepped some of the crew's more influential members. Should we put it to a vote, I'm confident they will vote in our favour."
Blackbeard's Justice (The Voyages of Queen Anne's Revenge Book 3) Page 7
