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A Seafaring SagaChapter 18: Flight Of The Bombardier
“What in blue blazes!!!” Jacques Broadside was peering through his telescope at the Mantis, which was now almost alongside the Aterops.
“What?” asked Viktor.
“That blistering barnacle Storm-Rider ‘as thrown himself overboard -- chained to an anchor, and the wee princess!”
“Suicide -- and revenge?” suggested Viktor.
“Revenge maybe, but there’s only a snowman’s chance in the underworld that ‘e’d commit suicide. No, mark my words, there’s somethin’ up ‘is sleeve, although I’m a Black Falcon if I know what it be.”
“What do you want to do?” asked Viktor.
“We’ll stay where w--” Broadside started, but stopped, “No, wait -- Storm-Rider’s crew’s surrenderin’. Standby to make full sail! If those naval types get it into their heads to pursue us -- although I doubt it -- then I want ter be able to catch a headwind and outrun them, which’ll be easy if they take on the Mantis’s crew and cargo. Meanwhile, we sit pretty and see what ‘appens.”
Viktor took Broadside’s spyglass and was stared at the Aterops.
“Er…captain…I think that ships doin’ something…” he said slowly, the spyglass pressed hard into his eye.
“Say what?”
Broadside snatched the spyglass from Viktor and shoved it into his own eye.
“Oh blasted bloated bleary barracudas.” he murmured, “She’s makin’ sail…rasin’ anchor…”
“What’s that mean?” asked Viktor.
Broadside thrust the spyglass into Viktor’s hands.
“It means she’s comin’ after us!”
Onboard the Mantis, O’Brien had things well under control. The pirates were all rounded up on the main deck and ringed around by his men.
“I must say,” said O’Brien, casually, “You are a very submissive lot of sea rats. Especially when you think of how you’re all headed to the noose.”
Smythe sneered at the man.
“Arrr! Sure, but wait until Burtrand shows up again with the ransom demands. Ye’ll be whistling’ a different tune then I’ll wager.”
The pirate wanted to say it out loud but he knew that it might put them on to Burtrand’s trick.
All the other pirates however, had no such assurances and were showing visible signs of panic. They were caught. Caught between certain death by the sword if they acted now and certain death by hanging if they didn’t.
“Sir,” said one of the mariners walking up, “I believe the brig is in sufficient condition to contain them in.”
“Very good!” O’Brien snapped, “You heard him men. Get these scalawags into the brig.”
But as the pirates neared the brig they became more nervous and antsy then before. Smythe could see it in their eyes. They were going to make an attack.
Tyco! he thought, They’re going to get themselves killed and me along with ‘em.
Quickly he felt through the bag at his side.
Let’s see...a cloth soaked in mercury dust…a little bit of leftover glove cleaner…and…
Smythe pulled out a vial of red substance and another, smaller one. He had overheard this trick from an old acquaintance, though he’d never tried it out. Dragon blood was volatile stuff they said. Smythe looked ahead. They were headed towards the poop-deck, and the open hatch to the brig, underneath. This was Sydney’s chance. Quickly he poured the little vial into the bigger one and put the cork in again. Then… he threw it into the brig.
Onboard the Aterops, they didn’t even notice the explosion. The boom, the bang, the light. It was just like the lightning they’d been watching ever since the storm hit. And they were intent on the Bombardier. Of course those on the Bombardier noticed it but they weren’t about to go back and investigate.
“Great gallons of gutted guppies!” exclaimed Broadside.
“What?” Viktor demanded.
“Di’n’t ya see it? I didn’t even have me spyglass on an’ I saw it!”
“See what?” Viktor was getting exasperated.
“Somethin’ exploded on that yonder Mantis! Methinks those wily pirates be up ta summat after all!”
“Then the Aterops will have to go back!” said Viktor hopefully, “She’ll have to return to the Mantis and then we can escape!”
Broadside shook his head.
“Nay, Vikky, the Aterops didn’t twitch an eye. She’s still comin’ fer us like a shark to a feeding spree.”
Viktor groaned. “So where’re we going, exactly?”
“Where ever the strongest wind’ll take us,” replied Broadside, “and at this moment that be towards Anka Dolour.”
“The slave island?”
Broadside nodded gravely. “The one and only.”
“But isn’t that- rather dangerous?” asked Viktor.
“Only if you be a slave,” grinned Broadside.
“Couldn’t we go somewhere else?” asked Viktor.
“Aye, we could,” said Broadside, still grinning, “I could set a different course, and sail to the Black Knight Isles, or to Ninjaria, or down ter Talistrand, or Peregrine, or anywhere pretty much in these southern waters. But I don’ want to. We could stand and fight too, and probably knock the stuffin’ out o’ that stuffy ship, but I don’ want ter.”
“Why?” asked Viktor, totally perplexed. The man was a pirate, was he not?
“I don’ care fer beatin’ up me fellow Crusaders, if’n I can help it," said Broadside, “All me life I've spared Crusaders when possible, and kept me loyalty with the Crowne, although I don’ really care for their laws. Besides, I say that we could knock the stuffing out o’ her. But that don’ mean that it wouldn’ take a lot o’ effort, although havin’ left ‘is marines on the Mantis, ‘e won' have enough men to be successful a’conquerin’ me.”
“But why go to Anka Dolour?” asked Viktor.
“Because if there be one place in all Dametreos where the in’abitants will shoot down an official on sight, it’s in Anka Dolour. D’you think that the slavers want a strong Crusader navy? Or that they like any navies at’all?”
“So,” said Viktor, puzzling it out, “You refuse to kill your countrymen, but you’ll willingly let the slavers do it? I’m afraid I don’t understand.”
“‘Course not, you ain’t me, are ye?” said Broadside, “No, I’m hopin’ that the captain o’ that vessel will turn back when he sees where we be headed, but if’n he don’…ah well, all will be fine, young Vikky. Pity about Storm-Rider though. Would’ve liked ter have gotten him back personally. Still, he’s had his comeuppance. Best move on to other things.”
That, it seemed to Viktor, was a wise decision. Lingering would not be a good idea.
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