uniting with Captain Rike. The captain stuck to his word, or at least, honoured my mother’s last. I was just twelve, and though I had never been forced to endure the dark realities of the life my parents had known, I fear I may have had Rike not taken me under his wing.
The experiences I would have missed had this occurred, I cannot begin to describe. I have witnessed more than any landlubber could ever imagine. To be a pirate amongst many may not be considered by the majority as honourable, however for myself and the many like me, ‘tis a way of life. A pirate can never be far from home, for their vessel is their home. Consider living without anchor, without the need to be responsible for something you would never reap the benefits of once you pass from this miserable earth. I speak of properties and overvalued images, the responsibility created by those few who claim to be in charge of the majority. Nay, living every moment of life for that very moment is far worthier an existence than any dull route of life upon land that you may believe keeps you safe or secure.
‘Twas from the day Rike took me under his wing that I became aware of his kindness. The qualities I have come to witness him display are those of the most virtuous man I have ever known.
Upon Roselyn I was a mere deckhand, to begin with. In reflection it seems he took pity on me, as I stood without parents in a life of uncertainty. He allowed me to wander as I pleased upon his vessel, frequently learning new skills and gaining knowledge invaluable to any seafarer. Captain Rike treated me as if I was his own son, though still, all of his crew mates were treated well. Over the many years I had served under Rike, I apparently earned enough of his respect for him to grant me the position of first mate aboard ship, and ‘tis indeed the rank I continue serve to this very day. Roselyn herself was truly magnificent, I remember the first time I saw her, certainly the most beautiful thing I can ever recall seeing.
As day became night few of the pirates remained in Nataliya’s tavern, many had ventured into the streets of the port, others taken to sleep. Sollertis had joined us now the crowds had cleared and we each sat exchanging stories, though Davey had scarcely spoken a word since we had plundered the Martona, still, the mead we consumed seemingly did him some small favour. He spoke quietly, starring down into his tankard.
“Thirty three years ago I left this place to avoid the gallows, I fled after murderin’ four men who tried to rob me o’ mi work load.” Rike shook his head.
“Silly bastards,” he slurred taking a large swig of ale, “still, least the reason you fled for won’t be stickin’ in your mind for what seems all o’ time.” Sollertis’ face fell to a forced expression of boredom. He raised his eyebrows, looking at me.
“What do you mean, capt’n?” I asked, glancing at Sollertis with a smile on my face, the captain had spoken of this story many times in the past when in good spirits and drunk, but I knew it would frustrate Sollertis so continued to press the captain with questions upon the subject.
“‘er ‘o I ‘ath named me beloved ship o’er.”
“Who were she capt’n?” I replied hearing Sollertis begin to tut.
“She were, the first woman, I e’er loved an’ lost.” The boatswain shook his head and rolled his eyes. The captain slouched back in his seat with a large ridiculous grin on his face. “We ‘ath not all ‘ad the pleasure o’ bein’ wed, Sollertis.” Rike hazily glared into oblivion for a moment before Rones spoke up.
“I was married once.” The captain’s beverage sprayed from his mouth in apparent disbelief. ‘Twas strange that I had known Davey for so long, yet each time we sat and spoke, particularly when mead was involved, I would learn new things about him.
“Davey married? I don’t believe it, you bastard! What poor wench ‘ad the ill fate o’ takin’ the ‘and o’ Damien Rones?” Rike yelled out, chortling with humour but Davey did not seem amused.
“She were no wench, Rike. ‘Twas only to escape the gallows that I were forced to leave ‘er. Before I fled, I promised ‘er, one day, I would return. Over thirty years ‘ave passed.” He exhaled a great sigh.
“In all these years, Damien, you have never mentioned you had a wife?” Sollertis seemed as excited as he was surprised.
“‘Twas not relevant in the past.” He paused for a moment, “this were the last time I set sail with you, Rike, we should never ‘ave gone for that ship, whatever were upon ‘er, ‘twas not for us.”
“Damien?” Sollertis hastily replied with intrigue.
“After I came to you upon the gangway’s o’ that ship, Sollertis, I were stricken down by three men, ‘twas upon ‘er beak, just three men, I thought I were a dead man. Stricken to mi knees, I blacked out, I thought, for when I came too ‘twas daylight upon the beak. ‘Twas. ‘Twas daylight. Every man I ‘ave ever butchered stood before me, masses o’ ‘em, every face, they flashed before mi eyes. I ‘ave done things to men that you would not find in your nightmares. Dark thoughts plague mi mind, cap’n. I dread to think of what be waitin’ for me on the other side. If I should die... I... I never want to die.” Water flooded the giant’s eyes and I recall becoming almost fearful, for as Davey spoke the captain looked down into his mead with a most troubled expression.
“The sea shall be the death of me, Rike, mi time upon the oceans be finished.” Without saying a word the captain slowly nodded, still staring down into his drink, for some time he seemed entranced.
“What will you do, Damien?” Our boatswain asked, breaking the strange silence.
“I know not yet, I’ll be headed in land, ‘twas from Jamaica I fled so long ago, I’ll keep mi promise, if she still be alive.”
‘Twas at that moment something struck me about Damien Rones, for all the foul deeds he had done in his life, he seemed disappointed in himself. How a man could carry such misery for so long is beyond my imagination. Suddenly Rike snapped out of his hazy state and spoke up, loudly.
“You shall always be welcome to return should you change your mind, Rones. There be a long day ahead of us tomorrow, lads, I shall be turnin’ in. ‘ath been an honour, Davey.” We all stood to our feet. Rike and Davey shook hands and said no more to one another as we each said our goodbyes. ‘Twas saddening to know that Rones would no longer be sailing with us upon the seas, it was calming to know he was amongst the crew, not just in times of dispute, he had an aura about him, one of security and confidence that was spread amongst his company.
“Shall you be joinin’ me tonight, cap’n?” From across the tavern Nataliya’s high pitch voice called out. She hastily tip toed over to Rike, now clothed in a dress that flaunted her incredible rack.
“Not tonight, mi darlin’, per’aps another.” A sorry look covered the captain’s face and thoughts troubled my mind on that evening as to why he had reacted so bizarrely to Rones’ story.
“And what about you, young ‘Arvey?” She loosened the lace that held her bosom, and I must admit, their sheer mass enticed me.
“Enjoy yourself, lad.” Rike placed a hand upon my shoulder, nodding, he stumbled towards the tavern door. Nataliya took my hand and to her dorm we hastily stepped. A beauty she was, her age certainly did not restrain her for we did not sleep a moment that night, nor each night I returned to lay with her.
During the days I spent much of my time with Rike. He was familiar with many of the brothel and tavern owners, particularly the female ones, and took little time in introducing me to them as though we were family. ‘Twas most warming and I even expected to be introduced to a female named Roselyn within the port, though it did not occur. ‘Twas upon one such day as this, that, within a bar the captain was approached by an old gaunt looking male who I quickly realised had no teeth, he carried with him a rolled sheet of paper that looked as filthy as it was ancient.
“Are you sailing out wi’ Cap’n Morgan?” He avoided eye contact with either of us and seemed to speak from just one side of his mouth, as though everything he had to say was a secret.
“I were not aware Morgan was ‘arboured.” The captain replied, sipping his mead at every available o
pportunity.
“’e be ‘aving a gathering at admiralty court, there be rumours o’ the greatest plunder ever to be known.” Rike laughed at these words, he did not mention it but I knew he was thinking of the Martona.
“Can I ‘elp you wi’ somethin’?” The old male handed us the rolled paper he held and I became disturbed at a further sight, every finger upon the man’s hand, including his thumb, had been chopped half off. With a sigh the captain took it avoiding contact with what was left of the stranger’s digits, unravelling the sheet he stared at a map of the Caribbean Sea. “What of it?” He asked with a hastily fading patience.
“The island in the midst you see there, it be the cursed isle o’ Davey’s locker. There be treasures there that’d give a man more than wealth, more than you could imagine, yet, there be things there, terrible things.” Once more the captain laughed aloud. Turning his back to the male he rerolled the map.
“You’re a beggar?”
“Nay, you be Cap’n Rike? Ye must reopen the map, cap’n.” With nothing else said by Rike he withdrew from his pocket a number of coins and put them into the mangled hands of the stranger.
“Come, Sailor.” He said shoving the map carelessly into my arms. We left the tavern and with pace walked up to the north docks and then along a
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