“Once again,” Maddox said. “You do realize what you’ll be branded as?”
“I do, but that doesn’t mean I need behave as one. This ship and crew shall carry on as before. The only difference now, is her mission.”
A loud knock came at the door. “Enter, Mister Jacobs.”
“We’re underway, Captain.” Miles glanced at Maddox. His eyes fixed on the man’s boots upon my desk. Maddox met his glare and slowly lowered his legs.
“We were just discussing our heading,” I said, breaking up the silent duel, as well as fighting back a smile at the young man’s reaction. “Our friend, Maddox, was just pointing out that, due to the events of this evening, we’ll be branded as pirates.”
“Pardon me, sir, but it seems to me we’ve been pirates all along. We’ve a bit more polish than most, of course, and then there’s the advantage of having the permission of the crown.”
Maddox laughed. “I certainly can’t argue with that.”
I let the telling remark and laugh lie, for the moment. “Well, Carbonale, it appears you’re a pirate as well—a pirate without a ship of his own. What are your plans after the colonies?”
“I don’t make plans that far in advance, Captain. They just get in the way of possibilities.”
“Sometimes plans create possibilities,” I said. “I’m living proof of that, now aren’t I?”
“Regardless, I’m not quite sure I’d make a very good pirate anyway.” He chuckled again.
The distant sound of thunder brought our exchange to a halt. Miles’s head tilted as he listened to the sounds on deck. “What the devil was that?”
“Are you both certain no one knew of your plans to take the ship?” I asked, popping to my feet and checking my arms.
“All of those informed are present and accounted for,” Miles said, turning for the door.
“Then our discovery has been quick. It appears this new life begins immediately for both of us, Carbonale, whether we like it or not.”
Maddox’s eyes flashed open at the sound of his surname. Miles smiled. “Gabriel Wallace hasn’t been called one of the brightest men in the Royal Navy, simply for his leadership, lad, or his hair.”
I didn’t need to wait to see or hear their reaction. I led the way out of my cabin to address the ruckus, as always. It was time to put ourselves to good use. We didn’t have long to wait.
“Signals from shore, Cap’n.” Gimby’s eyes were fixed on land as I arrived at his side at the helm. “They found us out,” he growled.
“Who fired on us? That was no shot from shore.”
“No, we ain’t that lucky, sir. T’was the Peregrine.” I grasped the spyglass from Gimby’s hands and followed his pointed finger across the open water. As my eye focused in the lens, the distinct silhouette of the fastest ship in the Royal Navy sharpened into view, with her thirty-four guns readied.
“Wait…she gave a warning shot?”
“Aye, Cap’n,” Gimby said as I handed him back the spyglass.
“Unlikely. Captain Blankenship is not known for courtesies.”
“Maybe one of his gunners got anxious,” Gimby said. “I mean, we’re out a’ range, so what would be the purpose? We could hold our own out-runnin’ her, if we didn’t have a belly full a’ supplies. The Peregrine’s been at sea patrollin’ for over a month. She’s ridin’ high and lean.”
I smiled deep inside at the helmsman’s pride and confidence in our ship, as well as her crew. Even when facing the swiftest ship in the Royal Navy, he had no doubt the Majesty’s Venture could best her in a fair fight. Night was upon us, and with the full moon coming up, I lost all hope of losing her in the darkness.
“She won’t give us her broadside. She’s out-gunned and she knows it. Catch the wind and give us the fastest course, Mister Gimby. My war isn’t with the sailors of the Royal Navy—even if their duty is on that ship.”
“Aye, Cap’n.”
“Mister Jacobs, have all hands readied. If Blankenship is looking for a fight, then we’ll be ready to give him one, and end it quickly.”
“All hands look alive, and stop your nappin’!” Miles ordered.
Carbonale was leaning against the gunnel, looking back at the Peregrine. “Captain, why would you have difficulty refraining from battle with that ship in particular?”
“There are certain functions the Royal Navy must perform that I have always disagreed with. The captain of that ship seems to revel in it.”
The young man looked my way. In his eyes, it was obvious that he was not only surprised but also disgruntled that my knowledge exceeded his expectations. It was more than apparent he wasn’t pleased that I possessed intelligence that he himself had not provided. Unfortunately for Carbonale, his lack of acquaintance with exactly how much I did know and the extent of the information my own inquiries had provided, shifted his thoughts elsewhere.
“Captain, I believe I would like to make land in Boston.”
“Now is not the time, Carbonale! In case you hadn’t noticed, there’s a warship in our wake and she’s gaining fast. If Boston is your heading, then jump and swim for her…or get to your quarters and fight.”
“Pardon me, Captain, do we as yet have a heading at all?”
“Out of these waters alive! Now, if you can’t make yourself useful, then shut your hole and stay out of the way!”
“Might I at least suggest Boston; that is, before I find something useful to do to assist you. I’m no captain but a heading for these gentlemen is going to prove necessary once you best the Peregrine.”
I had to pause at the man’s candor. Despite our ill-fated introduction and his annoying over-confidence, he did offer me food for thought. However, I wasn’t even close to sitting down for a meal with him yet and perhaps never would. “Boston it is then, but if the harbor is full of the navy, I suspect you’ll need to swim to shore anyway.”
“Is that how you choose to thank me for helping to save your neck?” Carbonale smiled, and then a change of expression covered his face in doom. He froze at the icy silence of Miles and the stillness of Gimby, even before I recognized their imposing postures.
As the wind changed direction, Carbonale’s candor went with it and his humor was lost along with my good nature. I turned and began my walk to the stern of the ship. The question may have been asked in jest but this was no time for jokes. Knowing so little of the man, I brushed off his attempts at camaraderie and returned to thinking he had the worst of intentions. I would believe so until proven otherwise.
“I assisted in saving him from certain execution, not to mention rescuing his cabin boy from Chambers’s whip, balancing the score, and yet I still owe him?” I heard Maddox ask as I walked away, hanging on every word spoken when my back was turned until their voices were swept overboard by the breeze.
“Your misfortune is that you have only one life to give for that man,” Miles said. “He’s the Captain and as such, it’s not his nature to do anything unseemly. The Royal Navy didn’t give him honor, he was born with it. But, I’m not the Captain. You just keep in mind that Gabriel Wallace has a limit to his patience, just like any other man.”
“He seems a brooding sort,” Carbonale said.
“Brooding? Ha! You know nothing of that man. He will slit your throat and throw you to the sharks before you can cause any trouble aboard a ship of his. Earn his trust and loyalty and maybe you’ll make it to Boston.”
When I reached the quarterdeck, the whipping wind and the rattling deck boards from men preparing for battle filled me with life again. Our mission to escape the Peregrine pushed memories of London and all that lay behind far from my thoughts, for now. As I went about my usual routine and the familiar sights and sounds aboard ship calmed me, I released the anger that had built in me at the very mention of the Peregrine, let alone the sight of her sails.
Regardless of my commission to the Majesty's Venture and my tenure as a sailor, I’d never concealed the fact I did not agree with some of the practices of the
navy. I also wasn’t naive enough to think that every man aboard the Peregrine approved of her missions without question.
Even though behind closed doors, people proclaimed their respect of my holding steadfastly in my beliefs, I was remanded to the same ship for the past several years by Admiral Chambers, while those younger and less experienced than I had been promoted. Now here I stood, and no misdeed that hung over me before this day mattered anymore. I had a loyal crew and one of the best ships afloat, thanks to that loyalty.
As I watched the frigate gaining on us, I had complete faith the Majesty’s Venture would prove, regardless of her current status in the water as a free lady, that she and her crew would best any vessel who chose to challenge that freedom.
“Well, it’s all not quite how I would have liked it.” I turned to see Miles staring out at the Peregrine as she closed in slowly.
“Not how I had it planned either. I’m not sure if I should thank you or toss you over the side,” I said.
Miles turned and squinted at me, resting an elbow on the gunnel. “I’d like to see you try that someday.” He chuckled. “However, I must admit my curiosity that your things were packed when we arrived.”
“My original intentions were to get as far away from London as possible and inquire as to the purchase of a ship and crew. Then, I planned to take up my own cause to settle some differences.”
“Sounds like a vendetta to me, not that I have an issue with such things. I’m disappointed in you, Gabriel—plotting such an adventure without me.” However, the pleasant surprise at my plan was evident, not only in his tone but in his eyes as well.
I looked away and stared back out at the Peregrine. “Not a vendetta, Miles…a war. My plan was to destroy anyone who was involved in my court-marshal, namely Chambers, and the planned destruction of my reputation. I want to take what they value more than honor and loyalty—their fat purses.” I heard Jacobs move as if he were about to speak but I wasn’t through yet. “I already knew the verdict wasn’t the end of this, even before you arrived. I didn’t think of my murder, however, as part of their plot, or what happened to Adam. It all makes me wonder even more about what the Admiral was involved in.”
“Well, we’ve no time for mysteries now. There’s that moon you were hoping to race to sea.”
“I’m aware of that, Miles. Believe it or not, under the circumstances, I’m happy to see it.”
I pushed off from the gunnel and made my way back to the helm.
“There’s no way we’re outrunning Blankenship. Mister Gimby, what’s our speed?”
“Seven knots, Cap’n.”
“Take her down to five. My legs are tired. We’ll not run another mile today.”
“Aye, Cap’n.”
“Give them the windward side, Mister Jacobs,” I turned and said to my newly appointed first mate. “Tell the men to beat to quarters. Let’s send them a reminder of who they’re dealing with but leave them well enough to remember it.”
“Aye, Captain!” Miles’s relief was evident in his renewed exuberance.
“How close you want ‘em, Cap’n?” Gimby shouted.
“We’ll make the adjustment any moment. Ready the guns! Mister Jacobs, lead the call to fire upon my order.”
The sails were beating against the wind like the wings of a giant bird above our heads. The Peregrine was closing on us fast now. Her gun ports were open and her crewmen were ready at the gunnels, waiting for the word to fire.
And fire she did.
The blow shook us hard. We latched onto anything stable to keep from falling.
“Dammit, Gimby! She’s hit us astern!” I shouted. Miles raced to my side and informed me we’d taken a blow from three shots but in her haste to attack, the rest were on their way to the bottom of the ocean. We’d sustained damage to the yard on the spanker and lost most of the poop deck gunnels.
“Two men injured, Captain—deadly.”
I turned and faced the oncoming waves as they smashed against the bow. I swiped the spray from my face and then pounded the butt of my fist on the rail as I willed a good swell to hurry. “Bring a spring upon her cable. Come on, Gimby. Bring her about!” I shouted.
Gimby’s hands clamped hard on the wheel and I spied the answer to my willful prayer, as a large swell came upon us, along with our opportunity.
“Now!” I bellowed.
Gimby spun the wheel and the Majesty’s Venture answered as if being pulled round by her bow.
“Fire!” Miles shouted upon my order. His roar mingled with the first round of chain-shot as the Venture peaked on the swell and lead launched at the rigging of the Peregrine. Our broadside now faced the ship at an angle, leaving us out of range again of all but her swivel guns but they were useless to her at this distance. The clouds of smoke covered her but even at no less than fifty yards we could hear the rips and shredding as her sails tore away from the masts.
As another swell lifted us, Miles’s voice roared again. The rotating whiz of chain-shot blew across the water and tore through her foresail, as we wrapped around her and headed off into the wind, facing west. Every man on deck appeared to be holding his breath, as we waited for the smoke to clear.
All eyes watched as the Peregrine’s rigging snapped and her foremast began to tilt slowly like a bowing maid. Still at full canvas and having not had the time or opportunity to lower her sails, the mast was so snarled in the flapping rags it seemed like an eternity before at last, it shattered at its gaping wound like the branch of a tree struck by lightning and slammed onto the deck, sending a cheer of victory along the length of the Majesty’s Venture.
“She’s done for the night, Cap’n,” Gimby said, handing me the spyglass. Before I raised it to my eye I already knew her state and what measures would need to be taken to salvage her for sail. My concern was only for her crew. As I imagined the unimaginable, my thoughts turned to more pressing matters. We were free of the Peregrine, but we’d only just begun our journey into danger.
Four
We were now the enemy of an amoral captain. Knowing the business of a navy vessel, I also knew very few of her crew would ever realize how easily she could have been hulled and sent to the bottom of the ocean. Killing men who were following orders was not my intention and I pressed myself to believe they’d suffered no more losses than we had. I didn’t cheer or toss my hat at this scrap. My only satisfaction came from handing swift defeat to one of the prized vessels that was unfortunate enough to fall under Admiral Chambers’s command.
“Well, that was easy,” Carbonale said. “I’d say you got your new career off on the right foot.”
“There’s no joy in this. A fine vessel, regardless of her captain or her use, has been damaged. Her crew may be in for a punishment worse than we gave them, for not putting a stop to this, even though I’m sure simply stopping us wasn’t her mission.”
I turned quickly and headed off to assess the damage but thought otherwise when I felt the heat rising in my head and I spun back. “I never take pride in firing those guns. Where’s the glory in tearing apart a grand ship such as the Peregrine, or any other vessel full of young men for that matter?”
To his credit, Carbonale’s eyes may have wavered but he did not back down. “You will not make much of a pirate with that mentality.” Carbonale pushed his shoulders back and crossed his arms at his chest. It appeared to me he was puffing himself up like a peacock and attempting to reach my height but he needed broader shoulders and bigger shoes.
“And you won’t live long with that attitude of yours.” Again my attempt to walk away was thwarted.
“Captain, even you would have to admit that if you kill your enemies there will be no one to stand in your way.”
“Isn’t it enough that Admiral Hawthorne is dead? Tonight, I was running for my life and lest ye forget, you’re a deserter, remember? I’m making it clear that I’m through running. I have business to attend to from this day forth and do not mistake me, sir; men will die on all sides. Nowhere is i
t written that I have to enjoy it.” The look in the man’s eyes changed. I believed he’d heard me this time, as I could almost see my words whirling about inside his thick skull.
“Well, it appears I stand corrected. Is there a cabin boy or someone who might show me where I may rest my scolded bones? After all, this was to be my station prior to the series of unfortunate events.” I did not for a moment believe he’d felt chastised. However, it sounded as if he finally knew his place where I was concerned.
“Unfortunately, as you know, the cabin boy has been laid low by a whipping. Take yourself below and find an empty hammock, sir.” I turned and waved my arm as if brushing him away like a pesky fly.
Carbonale excused himself and said, “Apologies, Captain.”
As Carbonale strutted away, Miles asked, “Perhaps we’re—meaning mainly me, second guessing keeping that one alive?”
“Oh, I believe we’ll find some use for him, eventually.” I smirked.
Miles planted his meaty hand on my shoulder as we finally made our way to the stern. His thunderous laugh caused the men to pause. Once the crew witnessed the true humor in his voice, they carried on with a renewed vigor and the tension that had loomed over the Majesty’s Venture since leaving London began to fade into the open water before us. The waning full moon was our heading for now and with its glow lighting our way, we raised canvas and chased her the rest of the night.
“Sail ho, Captain!” Adam shouted through my door. A mere two weeks in the lanes and already we were in business.
“Come in, Adam,” I said, as I rose to retrieve my baldric and sword. “Navy or merchant?”
“Appears to be merchant, sir.”
“Tell Mister Gimby to set a routine intercept to meet up with her.”
“Yes, sir.” Adam blew down the gangway carrying my order. Due to the nature of our guest, I returned my weapons to their proper place and seated myself at my desk.
“Did the boy have a vote?”
AMBER WAKE: Gabriel Falling (The Razor's Adventures Pirate Tales) Page 3
