Page 180 of Storm over the Caribbean
Mr Ambrose gave a nod. “Pleasure.”
It most likely really is. Though we probably shouldn’t mention why. Plundering can be such fun!
“Aye.” The other captain simply gave a grunt. “My name’s Davis. Captain Davis. Now get your arses moving! We’ve got a schedule, you know?”
“Oh yes.” Mr Ambrose’s eyes glittered coldly. “We do.”
He glanced towards the “port” we were anchored at, and I followed his gaze—only to see nothing more than a single, half-rotten pier, and a scruffy fisherman on the beach. Said fisherman’s fishing line was twitching, but that didn’t seem to disturb his slumber in the least. No one else was around. Not even a single eyewitness.
I shared a glance with Mr Ambrose. He gave me an inconspicuous nod. Turning back to Captain Davis, I sent him another friendly smile. After all, I was just a harmless, jolly little ship’s cook, right?
“Say, Captain, could we come aboard for a moment? We have to answer to our employer, and we’d like to ensure that the goods are in good condition before we set out.”
The captain shrugged. “Do what you’ve gotta do. It’s no skin off my nose.” And, without another word, he turned around to lead the way to the store room.
Striding forward, Mr Rikkard Ambrose swung his leg over the railing and onto the other ship. Then he turned and held his hand out towards me. I strode up to him, half a dozen smirking pirates on my heels.
“Same routine as always?” I enquired with a smirk.
He answered with a simple nod. “The very same.”
My smirk widened.Time to have fun and be a pirate! I pity the poor fool who tries to catch us.
***
Somewhere in an inn’s bathroom, a big, bearded man with his feet in a tub full of steaming water sneezed abruptly.
“S-see, Mr Karim, Sir?” one of the sailors who sat next to him exclaimed, teeth chattering. “I t-told you we must have caught a cold.”
“Shut up, you!”
“A-aye, Mr Karim, Sir!”
“And tomorrow we’ll be out on the sea again, looking for those pirates!”
“Aye aye, Sir!”
Discovered!
Over the next few days, I had lots of fun. And no, by that I do not mean having secret trysts in the captain’s cabin! Get your mind out of the gutter!
Although we did that, too. A lot.
Ehem, where was I…
Ah, yes! Explaining how much fun pillaging and setting things on fire was!
Was that bad? Probably. But here was the thing: I didn’t give a flying fig. These people hadn’t hesitated even an instant to let a ship flying the Jolly Roger approach and escort them across the ocean. It had taken me some time to realize what that meant, but finally it clicked.
“They know.” Eyes narrowed, I gazed out across the sea at our next target. The sailors were waiting at the railing, big grins on their faces. “I thought it was just a captain here and there, but that’s not it. Theyallknow about the pirates being hired to eliminate their competition.”
When nothing but silence came from behind me, I turned around. Mr Rikkard Ambrose was looking at me, his eyes cool and unperturbed.
“You knew. You knew that they knew from the beginning.”
He cocked his head. “Why do you think I started approaching my competitor’s ships flying a pirate flag?”
Oh.
