“Gabriel, listen to yourself!” Miles turned and barked into my twisted face.
“I want this over, Miles!” I shouted at him in a whisper. “You of all men should know revenge, hate, anger and bloodlust is not my true nature. This needs to end before this change in me becomes permanent. I assure you, I am completely in control of my faculties and have no doubt, I will remain so. As always, I rely on your loyalty in order to end this the way I see it ending. Don’t you see? If I do not turn myself in, there will be a change not only in me but in the world we live in. We’ll never be able to go back, regardless of our exposure of Chambers. If you choose not to support my decision, I can assure you I will still succeed on my own but when it’s all over, you and I shall find ourselves on different paths.”
My best friend and lifelong companion straightened his back and took a long, deep breath. I imagined he, too, was withholding a crushing blow to my reddened mug, now only inches away. He crinkled his brow at me as though he was searching for something to say. I, on the other hand, was at no loss for words. “Yes, I’ve suffered since I took that hit in the storm but I assure you, my resolve and my ability to decide my fate has not. Your job as my friend and first mate from this day forward is to never forget who we are and what we are capable of. Make your choice, Miles. If you’re not with me in this, then get the hell off my ship.”
Twenty-Three
Although the peace and resolution I’d searched for the night before had escaped me by way of yet more confrontation, I fell into my bunk without so much as removing my belt and boots and slept like a dead man. When I awoke, the sun passed through my windows in shades of gray, telling of clouds and rain. I welcomed them. We’d all grown so comfortable in the increasing warmth and calm seas that a change of weather might serve as a reminder to every man aboard that we were still on a mission—my mission. I’d won the vote to pursue the Stegman. Now there was nothing standing in my way.
“The leak won’t work,” Miles said. As my sleepy eyes focused on the doorway of the sparsely lit cabin, I realized I’d not only passed out, I’d not even bothered to close the door.
“Good morning, Miles.” I arose and stepped to my wash basin. I splashed the water on my face and rubbed it into my eyes to clear them of sleep and then I turned back to my old friend as I smoothed the goatee I’d left after my last shave.
“The Stegman and her escorts were spotted just after sunrise. Knowing where they were, I ordered Gimby to back away and let them out of sight, assuming, of course, that is exactly what you would have done. Please take note; I said escorts, so your suspicions were correct.”
“Aye. We can easily close in again. Why the doubts about my leak theory?” I moved to my desk and sat, offering Miles his usual seat.
“The noise. Last night, after you left me on deck, I heard a soft tapping and called on Emerson to take the helm so I could seek out the source. The ship was dead silent but for the usual sounds, so I followed the tapping almost to the stern. To my surprise, it was no more than the carpenter repairing a raised board. He even apologized, stating he was doing his best not to make too much noise at such an hour. My first thought was, if I found cause to search out the tapping, why wouldn’t someone aboard that navy ship do the same?”
“The noise carries at night; I should have thought of that. Especially with a sleeping crew, driving holes into the hull of a navy vessel would most certainly make enough noise to draw attention. Good observation, Miles. To be honest, I wasn’t altogether set on that plan after I’d given it thought. Well, out with it. I’m sure you have a better idea.”
“We disable the rudder.”
“Aye, but how?” I asked, leaning forward and pouring myself a mug of fresh water.
Miles rested his chin on his fist as he propped on his elbow and then pushed the empty mug in front of him my way.
“Are you certain you want her sunk?” he asked, lifting his drink as he leaned back in his chair.
“Of course I don’t. I don’t know what I was thinking. I just want her out of the way.”
“Out of the way you say. Remember, that ship is full of young, innocent men.”
“I know this and I don’t recall telling you to blow her the hell up, Miles.” I searched his eyes and wondered why, yet again, Miles appeared to be testing me.
Miles lowered his gaze and stared down at the floor. His thoughts were concealed from me. Whatever doubts he still harbored as to my abilities seemed to be causing him to hide from me. “Gabriel, I suppose we all knew when we signed on to follow you that anything might happen; no doubt ending up on the opposite side of the Royal Navy was certain, including men we know and served with.”
“Allow me to remind you, taking this ship was not my idea. You made the decision to steal a ship of the Royal Navy without consulting me first and yet we remain at odds over something that cannot be taken back. Together is the only way we can stand and win.” Based solely on our history, he had no viable reason to ever doubt me. Through his misplaced concern for my well-being and capabilities, now it was I who doubted him. The only way to manage this shroud of misunderstanding was to face it head-on, as I faced everything in my life. My voice remained level. “You believe what happened in Nassau changed me for good, am I right?”
“You did change. Perhaps you still can’t see it yet but you’re not the man I knew before. Perhaps this Rasmus Bergman character is the real you.”
I stood up and leaned forward, pressing my palms down on the desk. “Miles, when you removed your hand from my chest, signaling your approval—if not even your endorsement of that fight in Nassau, you knew exactly what would happen next. Stop acting as if anything that transpired that night, came as a surprise to you or was out of character for me. Think on that as you consider your future aboard this ship, as well as our friendship.”
Miles stood slowly.
“Gabriel, you have changed or perhaps all of this pirating and this vendetta have been in your blood all along and now, when called upon, it has risen to the surface. All I ask is that you hold onto the man you were years ago, long before we joined the navy. Can you even recall what your true calling was anymore? Regardless of our difference of opinion of who you are, or were, at least try to remember where we are…and why.”
“Desperate men do desperate things, Miles. You of all people should be able to understand that.” Again feeling that familiar bubbling in my blood, the reminder my friend had triggered caused me to pause and envision things long behind me. I lowered myself back into my chair and sighed. “I have always been a stubborn man. Stubborn men don’t take no for an answer and we get things done. You speak as if this change in my character was by choice or arose from some dark place within me. Let me assure you, any change you see happened long before Nassau. Keep in mind; the circumstances that brought us here in the first place.”
“The court-martial?”
“Even before that. The events leading up to this change caused me to be relentless in my desire to inflict as much hardship and grief on Chambers as possible because I have to. Anyone who chooses to block my path, much like that Barclay trash, will find himself ground beneath my heels. My mind is clear. Even if this change has turned me into this Rasmus Bergman, I assure you, those parts of me you call friend will still exist. However, at the end of this mission, I’ll wear a new uniform in the shape of a layer of thickened and hardened skin that only the most tried and true can penetrate.”
“You once said I was the only man you considered your equal, yet you not only opened that new uniform, you took off your coat and wrapped it around Carbonale’s shoulders. Last night, you were ready to maroon me.” He chuckled and scoffed, tossing his hand at me in disgust.
“Ah…the root finally breaches the ground. Carbonale proved himself but I meant it when I said I wanted to be rid of him. Do not assume you know my every motive and thought, because no one was or will ever be, that close of a friend; not even you.” I leaned forward in my seat and looked up at his reddened
face and his eyes glared back at me with contempt. In all our years together, we’d never been at odds for more than five minutes. An entire day of this was even more than I could bear. I needed to end this and not lose this man. He was, to me, an extension of myself. Perhaps he was speaking to me from somewhere inside of my mind that I didn’t want to listen to but if he continued in his insubordinate verbal assault, there was the possibility of a tear between us that might never be patched.
“You trusted a man you barely knew—you handed him a ship for Christ’s sakes— and what have you to show for it?” he asked, picking up his weathered tricorn and setting it on his wavy brown hair.
“Miles, as your captain and, more importantly, your friend, I’ve decided this conversation has reached its conclusion, lest our friendship suffer irreparable damage. Plainly spoken, enough is enough. I will take your words into consideration and allow them time to settle in. Until then, I think it best we avoid each other; orders and ship business only. I made my request to you last night for your assistance in my plan to surrender and ultimately take out those navy ships and capture the Stegman. I need an answer. I can find another man aboard who’ll gladly take the mission but then, of course, I’ll most likely be hanged.”
“Well played, Rasmus. I’ll give you my answer by sundown.” He blew out of my cabin without looking back at me.
Twenty-Four
My eyes opened upon hearing the slow, weighted and familiar sound of Miles’s gait approaching. I watched as he made his way towards me, dragging his hand along the gunnel, gazing off at the sea. I sat propped in my favorite spot. Even after my deadly tangle with that cyclone-driven wave, I still took refuge and spent moments of quiet reflection and contemplation at the bow.
“I know how to disable that rudder,” I said.
“Twisting the chains and splintering the rudder in the process?” Miles caught on immediately.
I couldn’t withhold my smile. “Aye; we set the chains in place during the night and then block her path with powder kegs, weighted down with enough stones to anchor them.”
“When the spotters see the kegs, the helm will take evasive action and destroy the rudder.”
“Aye.”
“And if they don’t turn in time?”
“There’s no way to detonate those kegs unless we have someone aboard who’s a very good shot.”
Miles nodded. “Decoys. Ryan and I can take care of the kegs. You and Mitton handle the rudder. This must be a swift and precise operation. Two longboats.”
I nodded.
Miles continued. “Four oarsmen in each boat. We’ll need to be quick about it and we can’t risk wearing ourselves out rowing.
“Agreed.”
A minute of silence gave way to a more settled and simple conversation.
“Adam and I had a nice chat last night.” We plotted and spoke as if nothing had happened to cause us to do otherwise. I was relieved and Miles gave the impression the weight of his own angst had been lifted.
“Good. He should spend more time talking to someone other than me.”
“Ship to starboard! Two miles out, sir!” the spotter in the nest shouted. We both turned as the words carried from the yardarm of the topmast.
“Not one of our quarry?” Miles shouted back.
“No, sir!”
“A merchant ship, perhaps?” I called back to him.
“She’s a refitted galley, sir—no flag!”
“Bloody hell. Sounds like pirates.” I bolted toward the helm, shouting into the wind. “Leave it to those rat bastards to foil my plans. It appears we aren’t the only ones after the Stegman.”
“Perhaps they’re after Big Red!” Miles shouted, running along behind me.
“Are you insinuating that’s Barclay?”
“It might be, but then again, he’s the sort that, if there is no gold to be had, he’d not take such a risk.”
“Agreed, and if we exchange gunfire, we’ll most certainly alert the Stegman convoy.”
“I don’t think we can avoid it.” Miles snatched Gimby’s spyglass and pulled it to his eye.
“Oh, yes we can. Full canvas, men! Gimby! Head straight for her!” I shouted as Miles handed the glass to me.
“Aye, Captain!” he called back, bringing Assurance about.
I stood next to Gimby, holding tightly to the starboard gunnel and watched as we turned toward the ship.
“What are your plans, Cap’n…as if I had to ask?”
“We can’t fire on them. The echoes from the great guns can be heard for miles over water and we can’t risk running the Stegman off, or worse, drawing her out here to us. Neither can we allow them to go after the Stegman. There’s only one way to keep that from happening.”
“Never jousted with a ship before.” Gimby’s brows rose, and he pressed his lips tightly together, as if he were about to chuckle and then thought better of it. “Ain’t never jousted on a horse, neither. I don’t trust anythin’ to carry me with legs of its own but it’s your ship, Cap’n.”
“Captain,” Miles said, rushing towards me. “Are ye going nose-to-nose with that ship?”
“Unless you have a better idea.”
“And if they don’t turn?”
I smiled. “One of us sinks.”
“I am beginning to doubt what Adam said to me last night.” He too, latched onto the gunnel as we picked up speed, lowering his brow.
“About what?”
“He convinced me that you were of a sound mind and would always have our best interest at heart but now I am not so certain.”
“Who would know my heart better?” My attempts at handling Miles carefully until we were back on level terms were over. As we stared each other in the eye, I could feel the returned tension spreading around us. The last thing I needed was for the crew to see dissension in our ranks.
“It’s not your heart that troubles me,” Miles said.
“Mr. Jacobs, your decision was made to stay on; now live by it. My order is for you to get these men ready for boarding.” Those nearby were stunned at the exchange but they quickly recovered and moved to their duties without a word of rebuttal from Jacobs, when I called out, “Beat to quarters, men!”
Finally, Miles broke away. “You heard the Captain, you nosey bastards. Get ready to kill some pirates.” Even Miles and his pride wouldn’t stand in the way of a good fight. Within seconds, my orders swamped the ship like a tidal wave washing over the decks.
The men cheered with more enthusiasm than I had expected. Either it had been too long without action since they’d signed on for this adventure or their night among pirates had given them a taste for more than rum and whores. Their blood was up and they were off their leashes.
“Cap’n, are we certain that be a pirate ship?” Gimby asked.
“We will know soon enough.” Taking out my glass, I looked at her mast and spotted a red flag—no quarter. “Pirates, Gimby. Ram her. Do not turn away, no matter what.”
“Aye, Cap’n,” Gimby said, rubbing the spray from his ruddy face. “Cap’n, when she spots us and she will if she hasn’t already, make no mistake…she’s gonna fire. Worse than that, if she veers off to avoid our bow, she’ll come broadside at the ready.” He continued to stare ahead.
“That’s a chance we’ll have to take.” I stared again through my spyglass and eyed her up. She appeared so close I could reach out and touch her bowsprit.
“Cap’n Wallace.” I turned and looked down into the wide, brown eyes gazing up at me. They were brimming with excitement and perhaps a glint of fear.
“Adam,” I said.
“Who are they, sir?”
“Pirates.”
“So’s the crew said. I am trying to find Boots. Have ye seen her, sir?”
“No but find her quickly. I want you hidden as soon as you can.”
“Aye, sir.” He rushed off looking for the second of the two he felt responsible for taking care of on the Assurance. I was half expecting him to attempt to drag me i
nto the hiding spot.
“All hands at the ready and awaiting your orders, Cap’n.” Miles’s heels were planted firmly, and his eyes were transfixed on our target.
I nodded. “I imagine you had to do everything you could to keep them from swimming out to meet it.”
“To say these men are eager would be an understatement.”
“Although we can’t fire the great guns, pistols and rifles can be used. I want to form a wall of weapons—two walls. If the pirates keep to known methods, they will be expecting us to surrender and be impatient to board us. As soon as we’re in range, I will order the first wall of men to fire and then have them give way to the second while they reload. Only our best on the front line, Miles. Their aim must be true and not a shot wasted.”
“That should take them by surprise, as well as take out any men they have on the gunnels.” Miles did not turn from the sight of the ship ahead. “Our lads are skilled, unlike those they’d be expecting on a merchant ship.”
“It won’t stop them all but it should reduce their numbers greatly on the main decks and perhaps run them off.”
At last Miles took his eyes off the target. “I’m afraid a great deal of blood will spill on our decks as well.”
“There’s no other way. The men are fully aware of what awaits us and are more than prepared for this. That ship is full of seasoned pirates…and the worst sort at that.”
“By my reckoning, we are gaining on becoming that sort.”
“No.” I pulled him around by the shoulder to face me. My eyes burned at the intention of his words. “We’ll never be that sort. This fight isn’t about killing them; it’s about keeping them from the Stegman and keeping our men alive. The sooner we end this, the sooner they can all leave this life, if they so choose.”
“So says every pirate. They’re always hunting for that one big prize so they can retire and live straight and play at being honorable men.” Again his words enflamed me but I held steady and true to our course.
AMBER WAKE: Gabriel Falling (The Razor's Adventures Pirate Tales) Page 16
