“Papa knew how Phillipe treated me, he knew of the cuts and the bruises and the fear, but he did nothing. He knew all that and knew he was not my bloody brother! Knew he had no right to be there! Papa was my father yet he abandoned me to the sadistic evils of that fucking bastard!”
His voice cracked as he spewed the next words. “The times Phillipe called me a bastard, the times he made me call my mother a whore! And it wasn’t me! It wasn’t me who was the bastard, nor my mother the whore!
All Tiola could do was hold him and hush him to sleep, and hope the pain of knowing the truth had not stabbed too deep, that eventually he would come to understand why his father, why Charles Mereno, had acted as he did.
One day, perhaps, she would be able to show him why. One day, but not now.
Forty Three
Sunday Afternoon
Exasperated, Jesamiah swept the charts scattered over his mahogany table to the floor, strode across his cabin and taking the rum from the cabinet poured himself a more than generous measure.
“That will not solve your problems,” Tiola observed, not looking up from the book she was reading. It was one of the things she loved about Jesamiah, his ability to take a breath and carry on, regardless of what cruelties life hurled at him.
“No, but it makes me feel better.”
With a sigh, Tiola uncurled her legs and leaving the book on the window seats went to him. She threaded her arms around his waist and tucked her head into his shoulder. “Can I help?” she offered.
“Aye, you can conjure up a wind that will take us far away to where there are islands with plenty of fresh water and meat. Where there are no storms, no waiting gallows, and no bloody Royal Navy frigates under command of a certain Commodore Edward Vernon about to appear over the horizon, ready to blow us to Kingdom Come.”
Finch bustled in, grumbled about the mess. “Can’t you keep this bloody place tidy fer one bloody minute? What’m I supposed to do fer yer dinner then? I got a nice bit of ox tongue.”
“That’ll be fine Finch, thank you,” Jesamiah answered.
“An what’ll I do with that Spaniard, de Castilla? Do I let ‘im out now or keep ‘im locked away?”
“Let him out if you wish.”
“‘E keeps as sayin’ ‘ow he wants to join us.”
“Whatever for?” Tiola asked, astonished. “I thought he hated us, hated Jesamiah?”
Finch was picking up the charts and sliding them back into their drawer beneath Jesamiah’s desk. “‘E do. Apparently ‘e ‘as a wife ‘e ‘ates even more.”
Jesamiah laughed. “Half the men aboard the Sea Witch are here for the same reason.” He tapped his finger on to the tip of Tiola’s nose. “Start worrying, lass, when I talk about transferring to a different ship.”
“You want coffee then?”
“Yes please Finch.”
Sniffing loudly Finch laid the last chart on the table. He stabbed a tobacco and tar-stained finger in the middle of it. “It’s this one you want. The Bahamas. New Providence Island.”
“Thank you Finch. You may go.”
Alone again, Jesamiah rested his chin on Tiola’s head. “I don’t know why I put up with him.”
“For a similar reason as to why I put up with you?”
“What? Because he’s handsome, charming, fun to be with and good in bed? I don’t think so!”
Tiola laughed, which made Jesamiah laugh.
He needed to make peace with himself, and his past, but he also had to make peace with the present, for Commodore Vernon would be seeking him out and there were things he had to say to Henry Jennings. Several bones to pick over. And a few diamonds to be delivered?
Jesamiah had thought to keep the large handful he had in his pocket, but then he had figured that perhaps were he to get them to Jennings he could bargain some form of pardon for the crew.
“Finch is right, you should return to Nassau.”
Jesamiah snorted and walked away from Tiola, went to the rum for a refill. Maybe, but not just yet. He had to gather the courage to sail into a lion’s den first.
“Jennings sent you to Hispaniola, my luvver. You did what he asked of you. He can sort things out.”
“Oh aye, sort things as far as the noose!”
“Your coffee.” Finch trundled in with a tray of coffee pot, sugar bowl and cups. He liked to do things properly when Tiola was aboard. Beside the pot rested a black leather tobacco pouch.
“You’ll be needin’ this an’ all I reckon. I assume you’ve been lookin’ all over fer it? Bloody fine Captain you are, loosin’ things so bleedin’ important. Get us all ‘anged one day, the way you bloody carry on.” He stomped to the door, said as he went out. “Dinner in ‘alf an ‘our.”
Tiola was at a loss.“ Why would you be wanting to look for a tobacco pouch? You do not smoke.”
Frowning, Jesamiah set his rum glass down and slowly picked the pouch up. “It belongs to Henry Jennings. He dropped it that night twelve days ago when I had to run from Nassau.”
My God, he thought, was it only twelve days? It feels more like a lifetime.
“At the time I wondered…” He paused, said slower, “At the time I half wondered if he had deliberately dropped it.”
His fingers flew to open the pouch, excitement lighting his face. “The wily old dog!” he laughed. “The cunning old bastard!” He pulled out the folded paper inside, opened it, laughed again and twirled Tiola around his cabin.
“Finch!” he yelled, “Finch, I love you, you miserable old git.”
From the galley a rattle of pots and pans and a scathing, extremely rude, retort.
Tiola was reading what was on the letter. It was signed by Henry Jennings and bore Governor Woodes Rogers’ official seal.
“It’s a Letter of Marque, sweetheart,” Jesamiah explained. “It states that in the interest of declared war with Spain, whatever action I followed I was doing with the express approval of the King’s representative of the Bahamas Colony of Nassau, New Providence Island. We’ve been legal all the time! We can go home with flags flying and heads high – and not have a single word spoken against us!”
He laughed again, grinned like the rogue he was. “And thinking it over, I might just as well be keeping those diamonds for m’self, eh?”
Rain was happy as she danced off across the land, for the black-haired Witch Woman had said that there was nothing more beautiful than a clear, rain-washed, sapphire-blue sky, and the glorious arc of a perfect rainbow.
Author’s Note
Pirate Code is my seventh adult novel, and the hardest I have had to write. All my other novels, including Sea Witch, had at least a skeleton framework of historical fact as a basic plot. Pirate Code I have had to invent from beginning to end. Sad to say, none of this story actually happened!
Woodes Rogers was a real person, he was Governor of Nassau on New Providence Island in the Bahamas. He did have financial difficulties because the men who had sponsored his circumnavigation of the world procrastinated about paying his share of the spoils. Henry Jennings existed and so did Edward Vernon – although I have no idea if they were in the Bahamas in 1718. Vernon became famous in the early eighteenth century in an affair commonly known as the War Of Jenkins’ Ear – yet another skirmish in the fluctuating state of war with Spain.
There was a rebellion on Hispaniola (now known as the Dominican Republic) but not at this time – although who knows, maybe an earlier uprising just never got off the ground and was not recorded – it is not beyond the realms of possibility that it could have happened!
The one fact that is true; there was a brief war with Spain around 1718 and Woodes Rogers did rescind the agreement of amnesty for the Caribbean pirate community. The pirates were expected to set sail and fight for England. Pirates being pirates, most of them decided that the British Government was not worth fighting for and went to fight on the side of Spain instead. I like to think the idea was initiated by my Jesamiah.
There is one other small reference
to a real person, Edward Teach. The notorious pirate, Blackbeard. He will take a major role in the next voyage, Bring It Close. And you may be wondering what happened to that ebony casket. You will find out in a future Voyage – On the Account.
Helen Hollick
2011
Glossary
Aback – a sail when its forward surface is pressed upon by the wind. Used to ‘stop’ a ship.
Account – see On the Account.
Aloft – up in the tops, at the masthead or any where about the yards or the rigging.
Articles – Each man when coming aboard ‘agreed the Articles’. Some pirate ships were run on very democratic lines, the crew elected their captain, agreed where to sail, divided the ‘spoils’ fairly etc. Most rules were sensible things like no naked flame below deck; each man to keep his weapon clean and ready for use; and no fighting aboard ship.
Bar – a shoal running across the mouth of a harbour or a river.
Bare poles – having no sail up – the bare mast.
Belay – to make fast or secure. Also: ‘Stop that’. ‘Belay that talk!’ would mean ‘Shut up!’
Belaying pin – a short wooden rod to which a ship’s rigging is secured. A common improvised weapon aboard a sailing ship because they are everywhere, are easily picked up, and are the right size and weight to be used as a club.
Bell (Ship’s bell) – used as a clock, essential for navigation as the
measurement of the angle of the sun had to be made at noon. The bell was struck each time the half-hour glass was turned.
Bilge – the lowest part of the ship inside the hull along the keel. They fill with stinking bilge water or ‘bilge’. Can also mean nonsense or foolish talk.
Binnacle – the frame or box that houses the compass.
Bo’sun – short for boatswain, usually a competent sailor who is in charge of all deck duties.
Bow – the front or ‘pointed’ end of the ship.
Bowsprit – the heavy slanted spar pointing forward from the ship’s bow.
Brace – rope used to control the horizontal movement of a square-rigged yard.
Brig – a two masted vessel square-rigged on both masts.
Brimstone – formerly the common name for sulphur.
Broadside – the simultaneous firing of all guns on one side of a ship.
Bulkheads – vertical partitions in a ship.
Bulwark – interior wall of ship.
Cable – a long, thick and heavy rope by which a ship is secured to the anchor.
Cable’s length – a measure of 120 fathoms or 240 yards.
Capstan – drum-like winch turned by the crew to raise or lower the anchors.
Careen – the process of beaching a ship, heeling her over to her side and cleaning the underside of weed, barnacles and worm; making essential repairs to the part of a ship which is usually below the water line. A careened ship will go faster and last longer than one that is not.
Cathead – vertical beam of timber protruding near the bow, used for hoisting the anchor.
Cat o’nine tails, or ‘cat’ – a whip with many lashes, used for flogging.
Caulk – to seal the gaps between planks of wood with caulking – see oakum.
Chain shot – two balls of iron joined together by a length of chain, chiefly used to destroy, masts, rigging and sails.
Chandler – a merchant selling the various things a ship needs for supplies and repairs.
Chanty/shanty – a sailor’s work song. Often lewd and derogatory about the officers.
Chase – or Prize. The ship being pursued.
Cleat – wooden or metal fastening to which ropes can be secured. Can also be used as a ladder.
Clew – the lower corners of a sail, therefore Clew up – to haul a square sail up to a yard.
Close-hauled – sailing as close to the direction of the wind as possible with the sails turned almost 90°.
Cordage – rope is called cordage on board a ship.
Colours – the vessel’s identification flag, also called an ensign. For a pirate, the Jolly Roger!
Courses – lowest sails on the mast.
Crosstrees – wooden platform partway up a mast to keep the shrouds spread apart.
Dolphin Striker – a short perpendicular gaff spar under the cap of the bowsprit for guying down the jib-boom. Also called a martingale.
Doubloon – a Spanish gold coin.
Fathom – a measure of six feet of water.
Fore or for’ard – toward the front end of the ship, the bow.
Forecastle – pronounced fo’c’sle; raised deck at the front of ship.
Fore-and-aft rig – sails set length wise not at right angles (square-rigged) to the hull.
Flukes – the broad parts or palms of the anchor.
For-and-aft – the length of a ship.
Forestay – the rope leading from the mast to the bow.
Fother – to seal a leak by lowering a sail over the side of the ship and positioning it so that it seals the hole by the weight of the sea. The canvas can be.
Futtock – ‘foot hooks’.
Futtock shroud – short pieces of rope which secure lower dad-eyes and futtock plates to the top mast rigging.
Galleon – a large three-masted square-rigged ship used chiefly by the Spanish.
Galley – ship’s kitchen.
Gasket – a piece of plait to fasten the sails to the yards.
Gaol / gaoler – pronounced ‘jail’ and ‘jailer.
Grape-shot – or grape, small cast iron balls bound together in a canvas bag that scatter like shotgun pellets when fired.
Grenados – early form of hand grenade.
Gunwale – pronounced gun’l; upper planking along the sides of a vessel. ‘Up to the gunwales’ – full up or overloaded.
Halliard or halyard – pronounced haly’d. The rope used to hoist a sail.
Hard tack – ship’s biscuit. Opposite is soft tack – bread. Hatch – an opening in the deck for entering below. Hawser – cable.
Heave to – to check the forward motion of a vessel and bring her to a stand still by heading her into the wind and backing some of her sails.
Heel – to lean over due to action of the wind, waves, or greater weight on one side. The angle at which the vessel tips when sailing.
Helm – the tiller (a long steering arm) or a wheel which controls the rudder and enables the vessel to be steered.
Hold – space below deck for cargo.
Hull – the sides of a ship which sit in and above the water.
Hull down – a vessel when it is so far away from the observer the hull is invisible owing to the shape of the earth’s surface. Opposite to hull up.
Jack Ketch – the hangman. To dance with Jack Ketch is to hang.
Jollyboat – a small boat, a dinghy.
Jolly Roger – the pirates’ flag, called the jolie rouge – although its original meaning is unknown. The hoisted flag was an invitation to surrender, with the implication that those who did so would be treated well – and no quarter given to those who did not.
Keel – the lowest part of the hull below the water.
Keelhaul – an unpleasant punishment – the victim is dragged through the water passing under the keel, either from side to side or bow to stern.
Knot – one nautical mile per hour.
Landlubber or lubber – a non-sailor.
Langrage – jagged pieces of sharp metal used as shot. Especially useful for damaging rigging and killing men.
Larboard – pronounced larb’d; the left side of a ship when facing the bow (front). Changed in the 19th century to ‘port.’
Lee – the side or direction away from the wind i.e, downwind.
Lee shore – the shore on to which the wind is blowing, a hazardous shore for a sailing vessel particularly in strong winds –can easily be blown on to rocks etc.
Leeches – the vertical edges of a square sail.
Letter of Marque – Papers issued b
y a government during wartime entitling a privately owned ship to raid enemy commerce or attack enemy warships.
Lubberly – in an amateur way, as a landlubber would do.
Luff – the order to the helmsman to put the tiller towards the lee side of the ship in order to make it sail nearer to the direction of the wind.
Maroon – a punishment for breaking a pirate ship’s articles or rules. The victim was left on a deserted coast (or an island) with little in the way of supplies. Therefore, no one could say the unlucky pirate had actually been killed by his former brethren.
Mast – vertical spar supporting the sails.
Molly Boy – a homosexual prostitute.
Oakum – a material used to waterproof seams between planks on deck etc. Made of strong, pliable, tarred fibres obtained from scrap rope which swell when wet.
On the Account – or the Sweet Trade; a man who went ‘on the account’ was turning pirate.
Piece of eight – a Spanish silver coin worth one peso or eight reales. It was sometimes literally cut into eight pieces, each worth one real. In the 1700s a piece of eight was worth a little under five shillings sterling, or 25p – this would be about £15 today. One side usually had the Spanish coat of arms, the other two lines symbolising the limits of the old world at the Straits of Gibraltar, the exit into the Atlantic Ocean from the Mediterranean. In later designs two hemispheres were added between the lines representing the Old and New Worlds. Pieces of eight were so widely used that eventually this sign was turned into the dollar sign – $.
Privateer – an armed vessel bearing letters of marque, or one of her crew, or her captain. A privateer is theoretically a law-abiding combatant.
Quarterdeck – the highest deck at the rear of a ship where the officers stood and where the helm is usually situated.
Quartermaster – usually the second-in-command aboard on a pirate ship. In the Royal Navy, the man in charge of the provisions
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