Port of Errors (28 page)

Scurvy and Gunner continued to fight until they noticed the Rogue on fire. “Abandon the fight,” roared Scurvy. “We’re no match as we now be!” Turning away from William’s Revenge, Roger’s Jolly was able to slowly pull from the fight and began to sail away.

Captain Stirvin ordered the Crimson Reef to turn about. “Now bring me to Scurvy Shaw,” shouted Captain Stirvin. All of Captain Stirvin’s indignant anger had moved from Black-Hearted to Scurvy, knowing that it was he who had kidnapped his wife. Captain Stirvin was more determined than ever to capture Roger’s Jolly.

The Brier Sea then sailed off at the behest of Father Morgan. Following the Crimson Reef, knowing both Black-Hearted and Captain Stirvin were aboard, Father Morgan prayed for the guidance he needed. Fear was no longer an option.

With the Crimson Reef in pursuit of Roger’s Jolly, Captain Nokes centered his strengths on the Sentry, a much greater threat, with spontaneous blasts. The Sentry was too damaged to flee and so she had to fight.

Still at gunpoint, Lady Stirvin waited with Samuel and Isabel, for the ship that was now upon them. Sir Fouste stood at the bow of his ship, upon which was written,
the Blue Raven
, in elegant wording.

Suddenly, Katherine reached for Samuel’s gun, stood and fired at Samuel, piercing his shoulder. Before Katherine could turn, Isabel fired into Katherine’s back, causing her to drop with a groaning pain. The bottom of the longboat grew red, as Katherine lay with her face to the floor.

Being against a woman’s involvement in brutal affairs, Nathan jumped from his sinking longboat and swam toward the trouble.

Still at Raven Bridges, Bradley Nokes, Captain over William’s Revenge, finally put a stop to the Sentry by blowing out her bottom with a low broadside. Gunner ordered his men to try and and stop the flooding within her bilge. As they scrambled about, the Sentry gradually began to sink. Seeing that Gunner and his men were about to abandon ship and hoping to leave them with a slow and agonizing death, Captain Nokes simply sailed away.

William’s Revenge sailed out behind the Crimson Reef and the Brier Sea, upon Scurvy’s faint wake. Roger’s Jolly was barely noticeable from their distance.

Captain Stirvin was in a state of mixed emotions and didn’t know how to feel.

“It would seem that we’re in line for Port Lorne,” calculated Captain Stirvin. “Keep a tight course. I need to go below deck and speak with Black-Hearted. If Scurvy’s course should dramatically change, inform me before following.”

Sitting quietly while contemplating, Black-Hearted sat with his head against the wall. A sloppily strewn bandage graced his wound. Not nearly in a condition consistent with the vital wound he had professed it to be; Black-Hearted was doing quite well.

Captain Stirvin stood outside the cell, while Black-Hearted stood and walked close enough to keep the conversation quiet and too low for Kenneth or Alfonso to hear.

“In all my years,” whispered Black-Hearted, “I never thought I would be in such a situation with my best friend.”

“I don’t know what to say, Davy. Why did you allow such a thing? I know your wound isn’t as bad as you let on. I was told it was barely a scratch.”

“I can’t do this anymore. It was the only way out and the only way to keep you safe. You’re the only family I know, Joseph. You’re like a brother to me. Even now, I can hold no ill-will against you. Whatever happens to me; if I die, you need to know I died a better man.”

The officer updated him on the current situation as they made their way. “There are two longboats afloat in the water.” Pointing out the longboat in the distance, the officer insisted, “One of them looks like it could be ours, Sir.”

Once they were close enough they could see a man hunched over inside one of the boats holding a second individual. It was Nathan Crapo, one of Black-Hearted’s men.

Captain Stirvin’s heart sank when he could see that Nathan was holding a woman. His face turned pail and his whole body went numb.

“No!” He yelled, as he jumped hastily into the sea and climbed aboard the longboat. There lay Katherine, his wife. Pushing Nathan aside, Captain Stirvin quickly took her into his arms. His eyes stared into nothingness, tears streaming down his sun drenched face. All his thoughts were tangled in an unrelenting knot of emotion.

Nathan replied, “The lad that escorted your wife; he joined himself with another ship, as did Isabel. It was Isabel that shot your wife when she tried to escape.”

“I don’t know, but it was a large ship. The name on her bow read
the Blue Raven
.”

The Brier Sea pulled alongside of the longboat, opposite the Crimson Reef. Captain Stirvin boarded the Brier Sea, transferring his wife’s body safely aboard as well. After securing her body, Captain Stirvin instructed Nathan to follow him aboard the Crimson Reef. “Have this man placed in irons,” ordered Captain Stirvin, as he shoved Nathan into the hands of a few of his men. “Take him to a cell below deck.”

Over the course of the next hour Captain Stirvin didn’t speak or move, as he stood pondering. He would never hold her in his arms again. The thought of going through life, without his dear wife, made each minute all the more unbearable.

Leaving the next high-ranking officer in temporary command over the Crimson Reef, Captain Stirvin boarded the Brier Sea accompanied by two young sailors, Justin Walker and Ryan Warrick. He needed more time alone with Katherine in the captain’s chamber to gain proper closure. The two young sailors were to stand guard just outside the doors and were to remain there until Captain Stirvin reemerged.

As the top of the hour approached aboard the Crimson Reef, the cell guards were due for a change. When the relieving guard entered the bilge, something was different, it didn’t seem right. He took extra caution in his steps. Alfonso was sitting up in his cell, smiling and taunting him closer, in a luring fashion.

As he walked a bit closer he could see the guards on the ground near Black-Hearted’s cell. Their weapons were missing and the cell door was open wide. From the darkness of the shadows, two hands reached out and grabbed him. A dagger was placed firmly at his throat. Nathan continued to hold the guard, as Black-Hearted walked into the open.

As the crew vigilantly kept their course, a barrel labeled “
salt
” unexpectedly rolled down the center of the main deck, leaving a trail of black powder. The barrel slammed against the mainmast. As the crew looked to the origin of the barrel, there stood Black-Hearted with a small dirk held against the guard’s neck. Nathan, Kenneth and Alfonso stood right behind him with two unconscious guards slung over their shoulders.

Black-Hearted held a small flintlock pistol in his other hand. “Hello me hearties,” he jested, smiling with a mischievous grin. Firing his pistol, the trail of black powder lit up with a bright flash of white smoke, igniting a flame that raced toward the barrel.

Total chaos quickly ensued, as the crew ran from the barrel. In all the confusion, Black-Hearted scurried for a way off the ship, followed by Alfonso, Kenneth and Nathan. Using the chaos as a cover, they flung grappling hooks over to the Brier Sea and jumped ship along with most of the crew. Still under fire from a few sailors, Alfonso was hit and dead before he could hit the water. The pull of the Brier Sea yanked the others with a sudden jerk toward her hull.

The flame finally reached the barrel, causing a disastrous explosion that rattled the ship. Captain Stirvin, still aboard the Brier Sea, busted out of his cabin having heard the enormous explosion. All he could do was stand back in unbelief and watch as his beloved ship was destroyed and deserted.

A large hole was cratered in the center of the main deck, as the mainmast fell on to the quarterdeck. Splinters of lumber and rope came down like hail, as a blanket of fire covered the ship’s topside.

Black-Hearted, Kenneth, and Nathan slammed into the Brier Sea still holding to their grappling lines, which were unfortunately longer than the height of the hull. They quickly slipped along the hull, until they were sucked underneath the surface of the water. But they continued somehow to hold with a steady grip. Their pants began to shred from the force of the sea and razor sharp barnacles, which cut through to their skin. The geriatric old men aboard the Brier Sea took a hold of the grappling lines and pulled with all their might.

“Pull!” yelled Sterling, joining in. “Pull harder.”

Soon Kenneth’s head emerged from the water followed by Black-Hearted and Nathan. Against the friction of the sea, they pulled free of the water and proceeded up the side of the ship, completely exhausted. Bleeding, beaten and battered, they finally managed to board the Brier Sea.

“It’s William’s Revenge,” said Captain Stirvin, after spying it out. “You’re right. Captain Nokes can fish them out. Besides it’ll slow him down. I’ve nothing left to lose. I’ll join with you if it means we catch the Blue Raven.”

Captain Stirvin enlightened Black-Hearted of the situation, informing him of Isabel’s presence aboard the Blue Raven. Sterling then relinquished his command to Captain Stirvin and Black-Hearted.

“Tighten the riggin’s!” hollered Black-Hearted. “The time has come to test our fate. To Port of Errors we go –
and the Blue Raven
!”

Blinded by the recent death of his beloved wife, Captain Stirvin’s mental state was too compromised for him to be in command. A self-realization of his condition led him to a feeling of disconnect. He knew he was incapable of leading a crew at this time. To the contrary, Black-Hearted was more intense in his pursuit. His knowledge of Isabel’s forced presence aboard the Blue Raven pushed him to lead the crew with much greater determination and vigor. Captain Stirvin retired for the time being, waning within the captain’s chambers to morn over his beloved and dearly missed wife. Contemplating everything that had occurred over the last few days, he was devastated and needed time to heal;
time
he didn’t have.

The farsighted old lookout soon shouted with notable excitement, “Off the portside bow, a ship heading westward away from Port o’ Errors.”

Black-hearted took his telescope and ran to the portside gunwale atop the quarterdeck, shouting, “Aye, the Blue Raven she is, mates!”

With enough push in her sails and only a few degrees difference in course, the Brier Sea could possibly intercept her.

Justin Walker and Ryan Warrick, the two sailors standing guard outside the captain’s chamber, informed Captain Stirvin of the sighting.

Captain Stirvin was concerned for the well-being of his wife’s remains. Before they continued on, he had Justin and Ryan lowered with Katherine’s body into a longboat and sent them on their way to Port of Errors, only a couple of miles away.

Sir Fouste spotted Captain Stirvin in his attempt to head him off. Looking through his telescope, Sir Fouste confirmed, with a quizzical snicker, “A host of old men?” His face grew bitter as he questioned, “What am I that I should be thought of as such easy prey? Am I not a worthy opponent?” Taking a more careful look, he identified Captain Stirvin. But, as he took a closer look, he also recognized Black-Hearted! “What is this?” he wondered. Laughing to himself snidely, he quipped, “Together again, huh? They’ll try and head us off. She’ll drag heavy in the wind with her damaged bow and they’ll never catch up. Keep a straight course!”