Terror In The Mist (The Island In The Mist Book 3)

by C. G. Mosley

  I swallowed when he pronounced my name, and the room was so deadly quiet that my gulp seemed to echo loudly. I remained silent and although I must have seemed distraught, I did the best I could to keep my composure.

  “We’ve questioned your men, but to be honest, they refused to reveal your identity. They were tortured and beaten, but those men are fiercely loyal to their captain.”

  The governor seemed to get a sick pleasure as he went on to describe the ways he tortured my crew. I tuned most of it out. I didn’t want to know what sort of horrors they went through. I was grateful to them for wanting to protect me, but I felt incredible guilt too.

  “Your men never once hinted that their leader was the notorious Captain Redd,” the governor continued. “Unfortunately, the Royal Navy crew that overtook your ship was unable to plunder its contents before it sank to the bottom of the ocean. Mr. Reeves, there was seemingly nothing available to us to confirm you are indeed Captain Redd.”

  I couldn’t help but smile. No one knew the real name of Captain Redd. I liked it that way and I wasn’t going to volunteer that information now. The secret would go with me to my grave.

  The governor continued, “I’ve always heard that Captain Redd got his name from the fiery red hair that adorns the top of his head,” he said, eyeing the fiery red hair atop my head. “Unfortunately, that’s not enough evidence to confirm my suspicions. So little is known about Captain Redd; the color of his hair could be like any other number of stories that are floating around about him. Are you familiar with any of these stories, Mr. Reeves?”

  I remained silent and just stared at him. It didn’t seem to bother him.

  “One story I’ve heard is that once Captain Redd and his crew were surrounded by three Spanish warships. Somehow Redd and his crew overtook each ship, one at a time, until the sea around them turned red with Spanish blood and afterward the pirates made off with a Spanish galleon loaded with untold piles of gold. I’ve heard that gold is still hidden somewhere on a tiny island in the vast ocean.”

  The story the governor had heard was for the most part true. Except it was four Spanish warships, and we spent the vast majority of that gold. However, there were a couple of chests buried on a small island near Tortuga. Nevertheless, I remained stone-faced and said nothing.

  “There was one other story I heard that gave a clue concerning the identity of Captain Redd,” the governor said. “A merchant ship sailed into port several months back and the captain told me a story of a pirate ship that robbed him of all of his medical supplies. He said the pirate ship flew a black flag adorned with a human skeleton. The skeleton had a cutlass in hand and a red skull. Mr. Reeves, you can imagine how my eyes widened as I realized that the merchant ship captain had just described the Jolly Roger most commonly associated with Captain Redd.”

  I swallowed again but remained calm.

  “As I said before, Mr. Reeves, the Royal Navy was unable to search the sloop before it sank. However, they did manage to salvage one vital piece of evidence.”

  My eyebrow arched as the governor leaned over and picked something up off the floor. As soon as he arose, I knew exactly what it was and I knew the secrecy of Captain Redd’s identity was gone.

  “I believe this belongs to you, does it not?”

  The governor grabbed the corners of the cloth and shook it until the folded black flag opened completely. It was Captain Redd’s flag… my flag. The Jolly Roger was the one way to identify all pirates and I was no different. It was just as that merchant ship captain had described it to the governor: a skeleton with a red skull holding a cutlass.

  I took a deep breath and considered my next move. There was no need to continue my stance of remaining silent and denying everything. Clearly, the governor knew all along that I was the notorious Captain Redd. I looked at him, and I looked at the other old men that flanked him left and right. They hadn’t said a word since I’d been in the room. Then something else occurred to me. Why wasn’t my trial being held before a Vice Admiralty court? Colonial governors had not presided over trials such as mine for over fifteen years. Something was off about all of it and I wanted to get to the bottom of it immediately. I began to chuckle lightly.

  “You got me governor,” I said, clapping my hands together in applause. “I am the one and only Captain Redd.”

  The governor slapped the table in a joyous fashion. He was clearly happy to hear me say the words.

  “I knew it,” he said cheerfully.

  “You were just too smart for me sir,” I continued. “However, I must confess that I am somewhat confused by this court arrangement.”

  Governor Winters’s joyful mood suddenly subsided and was immediately replaced with worry—the kind of worry one gets when they know they’ve been caught doing something dishonest. In fact, I imagined I had a similar expression across my own face moments earlier when the realization set in that I’d been found out.

  “What are you referring to, Mr. Reeves?”

  It annoyed me that the good governor defiantly refused to refer to me as Captain Reeves, especially after I had made it known that I wasn’t just any ordinary pirate captain. So it didn’t bother me at all to return the disrespect toward Governor Winters.

  “Well, Mr. Winters,” I said with a smirk. “I believe King George would be displeased to know that the colony you oversee does not conduct its trials under a Vice Admiralty court.”

  The governor’s face began to turn red and the rage building within him was evident in his eyes. The other men at the table began to move uncomfortably in their chairs.

  “And just what do you know about a Vice Admiralty court, pirate?” Governor Winters snarled.

  His mood didn’t rattle me the slightest bit.

  “I know that for at least the past fifteen years every pirate trial has been overseen by dignitaries and sea captains from right here in Port Royal,” I replied. “I know many sea captains and high ranking officials that reside in this town. I don’t recognize a single one of the men seated at the table with you.”

  Governor Winters’s looked toward the guards on either side of me. For an instant, I thought he was going to ask one of them to assault me. Instead, he asked them to leave the room. After a moment of bewilderment, all four guards exited the room, leaving only Governor Winters, his assistants, and me.

  A normal person in my position would’ve surely felt fear at this moment. I, on the other hand, felt nothing of the sort. I’d already accepted that this day would be my last. If I was going to die by the hand of a corrupt colonial governor, so be it.

  “Pirate, you are correct,” the governor said, suddenly much calmer. “This court is nothing more than a clever trick.”

  As you can imagine, I was suddenly very confused.

  “A trick?” I asked.

  Governor Winters nodded and suddenly stood from the table.

  “I had to make sure you were who I thought you were,” he replied. “Now I’m sure.”

  I shook my head, still unable to process what was going on.

  “Governor, I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

  “Captain, it was of extreme importance that I made sure you were Captain Redd because the task I have for you is daunting to say the least.”

  “Daunting? Task?” I said, still confused.

  The governor hastily strolled around the table and stopped in front of me. He reached in the pocket of his long, black robe and retrieved a small key. He inserted the key in my shackles, freeing me.

  Awestruck, it took a moment for me to find my next words. However, there was one obvious question that I wanted answered immediately.

  “Will I be executed?”

  Governor Winters returned to his chair and stared at me with those beady eyes. After a long moment, he gave me a cryptic answer.

  “That depends,” he said flatly.

  “On what?”

  “I have a most dangerous task for you, Captain Redd. The reason I had to make sure you were who you are is beca
use I truly believe you are the only man that can accomplish this task. The fate of your life is very simple: complete the task I give you and you will be granted a royal pardon.”

  “That sounds wonderful,” I replied dryly. “However, I think you should know I’m a package deal. What about what remains of my crew?”

  The governor huffed, and I got the feeling he wasn’t ready to discuss the fate of my crew just yet. Nevertheless, I didn’t back down. “To complete a dangerous task, I need my men at my side,” I stated forcefully. “Unfortunately, you’ve already complicated matters and made this task you speak of even more dangerous than it already is.”

  Governor Winters continued to stare at me, confusion etched on his face.

  “Your men have already killed a significant portion of my crew,” I said in an effort to erase his confusion. “It is imperative that what remains of my crew are also released and allowed to accompany me on your ‘task.’ Furthermore, they are to be granted pardons too.”

  Governor Winters suddenly slammed his fist down on the table and bared clenched teeth.

  “How dare you give me orders, pirate? You are not in a position to bargain with me!”

  “And you, sir, must need my help pretty badly to put yourself in the position you now find yourself in,” I replied calmly. “You are requesting my help. I am telling you what I need to help you.”

  “There are plenty of worthy seamen I will make available to you that are superior to that band of misfits you call a crew,” he snarled in reply.

  “It doesn’t work that way, Governor. I need my crew or there is no deal.”

  As soon as I said the words, I couldn’t believe I’d said them. The governor was offering me a golden opportunity to escape an execution I truly believed was a certainty mere minutes ago. What was I thinking spewing orders at him and giving him an ultimatum? He eyed me sharply, no doubt reading my thoughts.

  “Very well,” he said finally, sighing. “You will have what remains of your wretched crew… all twenty-eight of them. It amazes me that you’re barking orders at me when you have no idea what I have in store for you.”

  “Forgive me, Governor, but I woke up this morning under the false assumption that it would be my last. My main focus these last few moments have been on nothing but how to survive the day. Fortunately, I just checked that off my to-do list. Now on to the next chore: how can I, and what is left of my illustrious band of pirates, help you?”

  “Spare me the theatrical nonsense, Captain Redd. You are not completely free until you complete my task, and do not think you’ll be able to sail into the sunset without doing what I ask. The task will require you to retrieve a certain object and return it to me. I’ll give you six months to achieve this. If I do not hear back from you in six months‘ time, I will put a bounty on your head large enough that every pirate and privateer from Tortuga to Madagascar will be looking for you.”

  I nodded in agreement. “I’m a man of my word, Governor.”

  He breathed what seemed to be a sigh of relief and slumped into his chair. He believed me, and it seemed that my words lifted a great weight from his shoulders. Governor Winters suddenly seemed older and more tired. Something big was troubling him.

  “Captain Redd, do you ever read the Bible?”

  I blinked twice as I allowed the question to sink in. “Of course, I have read passages from the Bible. However, I will not mislead you. It has been quite a while since I’ve studied any of the King James.”

  The governor nodded at me, and his scowl returned. “I figured as much. Given your current profession, I’m surprised you’ve read any of it at all. Nevertheless, are you familiar with the story of King Solomon?”

  “I am not, but if he was a king, then there must have been treasure of some kind or another involved. You have my undivided attention.”

  “Ah yes, King Solomon collected piles and piles of treasure, but none of the gold is my concern at this moment.”

  “Well it concerns me,” I replied. “Where is this King Solomon’s gold located?”

  “No one knows, and I will remind you yet again that the gold is not my concern, nor should it be yours. What is of grave importance is a particular ring that once adorned Solomon’s hand.”

  “A golden ring?” I asked, pretending to be excited.

  “A magical ring,” he replied dryly. “A signet ring that, according to legend, gave King Solomon the power to control demons, and it even gave him the ability to speak to animals. King Solomon’s ring has fallen into evil hands, and I employ you to get it back and return it to me on behalf of King George.”

  For a brief moment, I must admit that I truly believed the old governor was having a little fun with me. However, when his serious expression never ceased, it became quite apparent that my assumption was incorrect. There was a long silence. I wasn’t sure how to respond to his claims. I knew of magic—a certain sort, anyway. Voo doo magic was well known throughout the Caribbean, but I’d never given it much thought. I didn’t know for sure if it was real, nor did I deny its existence; I fell somewhere in the middle.

  “How exactly did this magic ring you speak of fall into evil hands?” I asked.

  Governor Winters let out another tired sigh before he spoke. “It’s nearly impossible to separate fact from fiction… there are so many different stories regarding the ring. Here is the legend as I know it: King Solomon’s ring was unearthed near Jerusalem over 500 years ago, during the Crusades. It is believed that the ring was used by the Crusaders to unleash a multitude of demons upon the Muslim forces. Although the Crusaders were fighting in the name of Christ, they felt that their use of the ring was justifiable since their foe was unholy and unworthy to remain in the Holy Land.

  “For a time, the ring’s power allowed the Crusaders to gain the upper hand over their Muslim enemies and they enjoyed several victories. Unfortunately, the victories were only short term, and it seemed that they were won with a heavy price. It is believed that God punished the Crusaders for turning to the ring and its demonic powers in their effort to claim the Holy Land in His name. It is widely believed that use of the ring is the reason the Crusades were lost.”

  “What happened to the ring after that?” I asked anxiously.

  “The ring was locked in a silver chest and moved from castle to castle over the past 500 years. Legend says that the chest was guarded at all times by four of the king’s best soldiers. No one dared open the chest for fear of what the consequences could be for England and whoever the reigning queen or king was at the time.”

  “Over time, the legend of King Solomon’s ring began to ring less true, until finally most people dismissed the story altogether as nothing more than a child’s bedtime story. About seventy-five years ago, the practice of guarding the ring ceased.

  “Before I go any further, there is something you must understand. King George is a very superstitious soul. When he took the throne, he made it clear early on that he did not like the idea of having the ring in the same quarters as him. He requested to speak to the captain of the next ship headed for Port Royal. In a private meeting, that captain was ordered to dispose of the ring into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean near the midway point of the voyage.”

  “Apparently, things didn’t go according to plan,” I said.

  The governor crossed his arms and shook his head regretfully. “No, it seems the captain of that ship had other plans. He sold the ring at sea to a pirate. The Royal Navy captain and his dreadful crew collected a lion’s share of gold for the ring, but they made a very serious mistake.”

  I cocked my head sideways, puzzled about what the governor was referring to.

  “They should’ve never trusted a bloody pirate,” he said sharply.

  I nodded. “Let me guess: the corrupt captain and his crew of fools didn’t get very far with that gold, did they?”

  “No sooner had the wind began to fill their sails, the pirate captain put the ring to good use and called upon a tentacled monstrosity from the
depths of the Atlantic Ocean.”

  “The kraken,” I whispered.

  “The poor ship and the crew never stood a chance. It was all destroyed in mere minutes.”

  I shook my head and chewed my lip as I digested the governor’s words. There was no good reason for him to make up a story like the one I’d just heard. I believed him; the somber expression on his face could not be faked. The governor was truly concerned about what the coming days held for him and the rest of the world. It seemed he was relying on me of all people to make things right. For a brief instance, the gallows didn’t seem so bad anymore. There was only one part of the governor’s story that didn’t make sense.

  “If this pirate captain you speak of had a beast of the sea destroy a Royal Navy ship in the middle of the Atlantic, how do you possibly know so many details of the incident?”

  “I know because there was one survivor,” the governor replied. “He was found floating on part of the wreckage by a passing merchant ship and brought to Port Royal. He told us everything.”

  I took a step toward the governor, suddenly intrigued by the news of this survivor. “May I speak with him?”

  The governor looked toward the floor and slowly shook his head. “I’m afraid that will not be possible,” he said. “The young man was injured gravely by a splinter from the mizzen mast. He died the day after our interrogation.”

  I frowned at the news. “That’s unfortunate,” I said. “I suppose there is only one other question that needs asking.”

  “Yes,” the governor replied. “You want to know the identity of the pirate captain that currently holds possession of the most powerful ring in the entire world.”

  I waited anxiously for him to tell me. I prayed that it wasn’t Blackbeard, and yet I knew there was another pirate captain sailing the seas that was worse than he. Surely not, I thought hopefully.

  “The witness was very certain that the pirate captain was none other than Winston Trimble,” the governor said solemnly.

  Damn! My nausea returned; I felt incredibly sick. The governor must have noticed the change of color in my face because he quickly urged me to sit down. I followed his advice, and although sitting down did help, the nausea didn’t leave me. Why oh why did it have to be Captain Trimble?