The Pirate Affair
Chapter Eight
Copyright 1997
by AUTHOR22@aol.com

The sun was setting. There was a solid wind of 5 knots coming from the 
north west. 

Jack and Scott lay side by side on the salvaged wood planking that had 
been a cabin door and that was now their raft of survival. They embraced 
in an attempt to escape the coolness engendered by the water 
evaporating from their bodies. 

It was an unusual contrast. The ocean water was warm; the open air 
cold.

The two talked of many things during the passing hours; their childhood; 
the good things and the bad; the important and the mundane. 

There was a giant question mark that stood out in both of their minds.
The question sprang from the love they felt for each other. Who were 
they? What were they? Why were they?

Jack looked deeply into the eyes of Scott. What he saw was beauty and 
soul, love and wonder. Yet he knew that Scott was not a person like 
himself; Scott was a ghost.

Considering the vast numbers of people that had been born into this 
world, and had passed into the valley of death, why was it that they 
had never encountered other supernatural beings?

Yet despite all of the questions there was one undeniable fact; their 
very existence was dependent upon the other. Jack was Scott's source 
of energy; without that life giving sperm, Scott would cease to exist. 
Without Scott's ability to move about, the cabin door would not have 
been found and Jack would have drowned.

The scary question was if Jack drowned would he join Scott, or would 
he pass into the unknown beyond his lovers presence? 

--------------------------

Jerry was enjoying the safety of the Seagull, yet she knew that her 
presence was needed by her kindred spirit and his lover.

She should depart. In reality, she was needed both places. That could 
only happen if she was assured of an energy supply.

When Jose had returned, and ignoring the existence of the Captain, she 
expressed her concern and her needs.

The young sailor smiled, and his cock immediately tented his trousers. 

The Captain was confused. What was the energy source they were discussing? 
Rather than to interfere, he remained silent. The two seemed 
to have forgotten that he was there.

His eyes widened as the girl let the blanket slip from her shoulders 
and then knelt before Jose. In concert they released the boy's turgid 
member. Pre-cum had already begun to ooze from the tip of his cock.

Jerry pulled down on his waist guiding him to the floor. Then she 
spread him out and kissed him once before moving directly to his 
dick.  

She started slowly, licking the shaft, then taking the sides in her 
mouth. Her tongue moved on to the head, tracing the edges of it and 
making Jose squirm.  She licked the precum off, then slathered onto it 
a mixture of that precum and her own spit, then began to pump it up 
and down.  

The Captain also squirmed, overwhelmed with the feeling of his stiffening 
member and the sight of Jerry jerking Jose off.  "Feel good?" 
she asked. The boy just smiled in response.  

The dialog was intended for the voyeur in their presence. The boy 
didn't care, but Jerry was planning a second course before her journey.

Without warning, she opened her mouth wide and took in a good half of 
his cock, pressed her lips tightly around it and then bobbed her head 
up and down.  

The Captain had fallen into the trap. He wanted to cum right then, but 
restrained an almost uncontrollable urge to massage his own shaft.  
Just when he thought that this was the best he had ever seen, she 
opened her mouth wider, paused, and abruptly went further down on the 
boy's rigid shaft in one swift move. He imagined the tip of his own 
cock entering her throat. 

He closed his eyes, creating a vision where he was years younger, and 
that it was his pego that was being serviced by the girl. 

He was silent with concentration,  paused and swallowed, imagining 
that more of his cock was burried in to its full length, filling the 
passage of the girl's throat.
 
He imagined her lips wrapped tightly around the base of his now bulging 
member. He breathed in deeply through his nose, like a bull, and 
made a swallowing action. He was so engrossed in his fantasy that he 
failed to realize that the passionate sounds had ceased.

The Captain was complete immersed within his dream and submitted himself 
to the fingers which loosed his trousers, and the lips that 
engulfed his throbbing cock.

She clutched at the head of his dick, making it pulsate with pleasure.  
She continued to bob her head up and down, and on each downward stroke 
his cock filled her throat.  

Jose was entranced by the scene before him. He had never seen the 
Captain aroused. Then the boy did something that would have surprised 
the Captain had he been aware. Quietly, Jose gathered up his clothing, 
dressed, and left the two to enjoy their passions in private.

The trip up the mountain was a short one. As the Captain's cock spewed 
forth its last spurt of cum, the ghost de-materialized.

The man's body suddenly relaxed. It had been years since he had 
enjoyed such pleasure. He opened his eyes in the expectation of having 
to confront his own conscience as well as the faces of both his crewman
Jose and the young girl he had allowed to violate his person. 
To his surprise, there was no one else present.

He moved to the chair, and slumped down into it -- not even putting 
away his now limp penis. His mind whirled in an eddy of contrary 
thoughts. His conscience kept pounding at him that he had allowed a 
young girl to have carnal knowledge of him. His conscious mind kept 
soothing his feelings; the girl was not a girl, she was a ghost.

But, being a logical man, he realized there was something missing. 
There was some fact which had eluded him.

As he withdrew from his sexual depression, his mind began to explore 
every moment that had transpired since he had been called to Lucy's 
aid. 

Finally, he stood, pulled up his trousers, adjusted himself, and left 
the cabin in search of Jose.

-------------------

The Bloody Cutlass was not doing as well as was the Revenge. Captain 
Frank always seemed to find ships whose cargo was either of little value, 
or a vessel armed to the teeth.

In such matters, luck played an important roll, and lately it seemed 
that every time Captain Frank took a gamble, he lost.

However, the life style in the Caribbean didn't require a lot of money 
if you were content to spend your time in the pubs, and eat on board 
the ship.

In that regard the Cutlass was fortunate; the last three ships they 
had plundered carried large amounts of supplies: Several tons of 
grain, many barrels of wine, and quite a few casks of French Brandy.

Eating and carousing aboard their ship was not as pleasurable as in 
the pubs. Nevertheless, it was not untenable.

All throughout the islands of the Caribbean were men who either, 
through the ill fate of being captured or through the ill wind of
indebtedness, found themselves in slavery.

A young Frenchmen had sought employment with the East India Trading 
Company as a cook. While still a teen he was full of vinegar and 
sought out the best that life on foreign soil could offer. 

There had been some misfortune involved, but most of his losses were 
self inflicted through his addiction to gambling.

Thus he found himself the property of an evil man to whom he owed the 
staggering sum of three hundred pieces of eight. His master was not 
disposed to spend further monies on him and thus, he found himself: 
working at whatever mean task could be found, allowed to sleep 
whereever he might, and allowed to eat whatever he could find.

His owner made it known that whoever would reimburse him could then 
take ownership and do with him as they pleased.

This inattention to the welfare of his property had the expected 
effect of ill use. The man lost weight, became ill, and became incapable 
of performing the most basic of tasks.

The only Doctor in Tortuga had become aware of him, and sought his 
ownership for the price of seventy pieces of eight. 

The good Doctor gave his new slave both clothes and good food, and 
soon his every condition improved.

After the man had served the Doctor for less than a year he was 
offered his liberty, with only the condition that the unfortunate slave 
should pay him one hundred pieces of eight when he was in a capacity 
of wealth to do so. 

He soon learned that being free had its disadvantages. He had no 
possessions and few tested skills by which he could earn a living. 
Thus he was ripe for recruitment on a Pirate ship.

The ex-slave had often taken refuge in the harbor of boy love and had 
thus become addicted to it.

He had been a man without home or hearth when he had been approached 
by Captain Frank of the Bloody Cutlass. 

They had spent a wild night together and, before the Captain had 
awakened, he had prepared the most fantastic breakfast his imagination 
and the ships larder permitted.

So into the society of Pirates he was received as cook on the Bloody 
Cutlass. 

He was a good cook if he was happy. He could turn the most awful 
garbage into a tasty meal. Only two things were required to keep the 
man happy: one was brandy, the other was a cute lad to sleep with.

Had the cook been into women it would have been more of a problem. 
Whores were in business and would never be content to spend an entire 
night with just one customer. However a boy was more easily pleased. 

If he was treated well, allowed a few gulps of brandy and fed, he 
would likely let his bum be diddled. 

So the cook's days were spent either in bed with a willing lad, or in 
the galley preparing meals which were everyone's delight.

Every member of the crew was pleased with the food and showed their 
gratitude by supplying him with a never ending line of lads.

On one particular notable occasion, he was given three boys. The next 
morning the cook and his three companions left the ship together to 
shop for meat and vegetables. The meal that night was one that would 
never be forgotten. Not even the best of Parisian restaurants could 
have done as well.

The Governor's amnesty was still in effect. As long as a pirate did 
not practice his trade on the island, Tortuga was a safe haven. 

Two days later the Revenge entered the harbor and found a recently 
vacated mooring within signaling distance of the Cutlass.

Captains Calico and Frank were not good friends; but, being in the same 
trade gave them enough common ground that they could enjoy each other's 
company. It did not come as a total surprise to Captain Jack Calico 
when he received an invitation to join Captain Frank for dinner aboard the 
Cutlass. Even though it was not specific, it was presumed that the 
invitation also included a guest. Traditionally it would have been the 
First Mate, if not him then a woman friend.

The invitation was quickly accepted. Being at sea for several 
weeks had drawn heavily upon the Revenge's larder; plus the 
fact that a day at sea is arduous work, and it's understandable that
no one would be in the mood to do any real cooking.

When the cook was told of the impending dinner, he immediately took the 
long boat ashore and headed for the market place -- accompanied by "Last 
Night's Boy".

His companion was quite dark. He was of mixed race; a little Chinese, 
a little black, a little French. His eyes were almond shaped, and were 
very dark. His hair was Negro black, but not kinky. His skin was a 
dark shade of tan, and almost satiny in both texture and appearance.

He was tall in stature, certainly more than five foot ten inches.

As with most of the street boys, his parentage was uncertain; but the 
racial characteristics were unmistakable. His age was indeterminate; 
probably under 19, but certainly older than 14.

Food had long been something that had not occupied his thoughts. He 
ate when he could and tried to ignore the feelings of hunger in 
between. This resulted in a well-filled-out, but lanky figure. His 
subsistence was derived from three pleasurable sources: the abundant 
supply of fresh fruit which was easily stolen from the many cultivated 
groves on the outskirts of Cayona; the seamen who seemed to have an addiction 
for his manhood; And an  occasional real job on which he labored under the 
tropical sun.

The previous night, he had been sitting close to the entrance of a pub 
when a handsome seaman had come out. He had smiled at the man, hoping 
that he might be interested. To his delight the sailor had offered him 
a meal aboard his ship. It was not until later that he found that he 
was a "gift" to the cook.

He did not have any complaints. The Frenchman treated him well. His 
benefactor was fatter than he liked but, when the lights were out, the 
man's mouth and his imagination had brought hours of delight. The man 
also fed him, and fed him well. He could not remember a time when his 
taste buds had been so well treated.

And there had been the wine; a different kind with each thing he had 
eaten. 

By the time the meal was finished, his head and his cock both felt warm 
and eager. His dark rod had grown hard even while he was eating the 
dessert of Banana, and Coffee flavored sweetened cream. It poked its 
head out of the bottom of his ragged shorts.

When the cook had mptoced jos hard delight, he made the boy stand, pulled 
his only garment from his body, and then washed him down with the 
sweetened cream. The thick, cool, white sauce looked like cum as it 
pooled in his navel, and wound its way into his thick pubic hair.

The man's tongue had been used like a ladle as it lapped up the pool 
and then continued down to the kinky hair. In their inebriated state, 
each relished what the other was doing.

His benefactor was lapping at his balls when the sperm started flowing 
from his dick. It was not released in spurts but simply flowed down 
his shaft mixing with the cream. It was only the change in flavor that 
had told the cook that the volcano had erupted.

The boy was amazed at the number of variations the man had in his 
repertory. They had gotten little sleep that night. His cock had been 
called to duty so many times that he had lost count.

But, in the end, both were pleased by the night. The cook and his 
guest began to contemplate the possibility of the boy being allowed to 
join the crew. The man felt assured that, if the two of them really 
worked at it, they could provide meals that would insure the crew's 
acceptance of the boy.

As they walked toward the market place, they noticed huge flocks of 
wild pigeons. A plan began to form. If they could obtain the meat and 
vegetables at little or no cost, they could prove the worth of the 
boy.

The meal would feature stuffed wild pigeons. For this they would need 
grain, vegetables, fruit, and the birds.

There was a small plantation just north of town whose owner was in 
Jamaica. His overseer was a lazy native who spent most of his time 
lost in a drunken haze whenever his master was away.

The cook and his boy borrowed a net from the barn, set up four poles 
and then spread grain upon the ground. A rope was attached to the 
poles so that, when pulled, the net would fall to the ground capturing 
the fowls.

They made four trips to the Cutlass laden with all of the food they 
could carry. Not one farthing had been spent.

The boy also pointed out that, about the sea shore, there were great 
multitudes of Crabs of two varieties, one belonging to the land and the 
other to the sea, and both sorts very big. Some of these, he knew, could 
create a giddiness which settled in the loins. An erection was guaranteed. 
If combined with the wine it should result in an excellent evening for all.

-------------------------

The hours had passed. The sun had set. Jack and Scott still clung to 
each other and to their make-shift raft.

Jerry had left the Seagull with the intent of returning as soon as 
possible. She was needed in both locations: as pilot on the ship; 
and as friend and helper to her partner and his lover.

She navigated the distance by instinct. When she passed the Swan Louie 
her heart lept with the confirmation that she was moving in the right 
direction. Then, from far above, she saw the two lying side by side, 
partially submerged. 

The ghost did not materialize and suddenly drop down into the sea beside
Scott and Jack; instead, she hovered just above them and said: "The Seagull 
is on her way. All ye need do is hang on."

Jack was too tired to be startled, "It's been a long day. How soon do 
you think she will be here?"

Jerry explained the situation, and made a guestimate of the time. 

Scott's state was deteriorating. Under the circumstances it was not 
likely that Jack could continue supplying his needs. Jerry suggested 
that she stay and that Scott visit the Swan Louie -- she was close 
enough now. Without sails, she could not get underway. 

Only a lookout had been posted to watch for a passing ship. Everyone else 
was laying around, doing nothing.

Moments later the boy ghost was onboard the Louie. He explored the 
Crew's Quarters.  The red headed sailor who had an eye for Julie was 
the only one in his hammock. He seemed to be asleep.

Scott moved along side, and placed his hand underneath the thin canvas 
that separated him from the boy's rump. He began running his finger 
back and forth along the crack. Lightly at first, but as a smile began 
to form, he became bolder. Soon the thin sheet that covered the man 
began to tent. Scott moved under the hammock, placed his mouth against 
the canvas and blew hot air into the sleeping buttocks. The body above 
him wiggled, but did not shift. So Scott blew more hot air into the
waiting crack.

Had the ghost had a second set of eyes, he would have observed the 
sailor's eyes suddenly fly open. Then, after another series of air blasts, 
the sleeping sailor said: "I don't know who ye are, and me pego doesn't 
rightly care." 

The body shifted slightly, and the sheet fell from the hammock onto 
Scott. 

A momentary moon beam reflected off the white sheet as it rose into 
the air. "God have mercy on me!" And the red headed sailor leapt from 
his bed, and raced nakedly out of the cabin.

De-materialized, Scott made his way aft to the officer's quarters. There 
he found an older man of perhaps thirty years. The pattern of his 
breathing suggested he was in deep sleep. 

The man's clothes were in a pile on the deck, and on top of them was 
his sheet. The body was completely exposed. Hair coursed its way from 
a heavily covered chest to a dense pubic forest. In the midst of this 
jungle rose its tower of babble -- reaching toward the heavens. 

The closed quarters were laden with the odor of this man's genitalia. His 
foreskin had receded exposing a glistening head whose moisture seemed 
to be on the rise.

There was no expression on the man's face, he was simply relaxed, simply 
asleep.

A fly buzzed about the room and landed on the top of the man's member 
and proceeded to dip its tiny feet into the cock ooze. It then choose 
to parade around the dome causing the instrument to pulse.

Unconsciously the man's hand swept past and the fly jetted off to now 
settle on his nose where it continued its late evening exercise. 
Again the hand sought to wave off the intruder who gladly returned to 
the source of the nectar. This time, however, the insect marched up 
and down the bottom seam of the penis head. The tiny tickle brought 
forth a copious trickle and also brought a smile to the man's lips.

In his dream he was a captain in the Roman army; the tickle came 
from a naked slave girl with a feather. Illogically, her only duty 
in his dream was that of a body-servant who must see to her master's 
every need.

The real actor in this fantasy marched up the seam to the opening that 
was the source of the sauce and continued to enjoy the repast. The 
flute took on a life of its own pulsing in response to the tiny musician 
that played upon it. Yet sleep continued, and the fantasy deepened.

He beckoned the slave girl to apply her lips to his waiting rod. It 
lurched, and pulsed, and the fly sped off. Even though the stage was 
now devoid of a thespian the drama continued and the instrument 
worked in concert with the imagination -- a wet dream was imminent!

A pair of ghostly lips enveloped the cock head and a gust of hot air 
brought the man to ejaculation. Scott materialized just in time to 
capture the treasured substance.

At that moment the man's eyes opened and saw a youthful head servicing 
his cock. He blinked, and again saw what he thought he could 
not have seen. The head that enveloped his penis was only a head 
... there was no body! 

The officer shook his head, and rubbed his eyes, and the apparition 
disappeared. It must have been a dream. He sought something to wipe the 
sperm from his belly and was mildly surprised to find there was none; 
yet his cock was tender from ejaculation.

He closed his eyes and reentered slumberland, hoping to revisit the 
slave girl ... and Scott returned to the makeshift raft.
 
-----------------------

The events of the next 18 hours went unchallenged as the Seagull 
passed the Swan Louie signaling her that they would return.

Jack was tired, and his nerves were on edge. Fear of the unknown had 
been heavy upon his body. Jerry had been supportive as best she could, 
but her presence lacked that sustaining love that had made his long 
hours in the water bearable.

The girl stopped chatting, turned and looked at him, plainly irritated. 
"Wish Scotty would hurry up about it." 

Jack looked uncomfortable under the scrutiny of his female audience. 
"I'm getting very cold just lying here."

In the hour that Scott had been gone, conversation had dwindled to 
just a few words. The boy's mind had wandered the path of self 
destruction. Had he been assured that his spirit would have joined that 
of his lover, he would have slid from the raft and given himself to 
death; but he could not be assured, thus he did not take that final step.

Finally, his lover returned and Jerry departed for the Seagull.

The tale of Scott's two encounters raised Jack's spirits almost as much 
as again being in Scott's arms. 

Scotty de-materialized as the Seagull came over the horizon.

Naked, cold, and apparently alone, the boy was pulled from the 
ocean by a skiff sent from the rescuing ship.

The Seagull then returned to the Swan Louie. The two captains discussed 
several alternatives, and finally decided that taking the Louie in tow 
would be the most practical solution. The closest port would be Tortuga.

--------------------------------

It was a typically hot September day, in the year 1720, as the plans for 
the party on board the Bloody Cutlass were nearing completion.

The cook and his boy had suggested that the invitation be expanded to 
include the full crew of both ships.

Captain Frank was both surprised and pleased at the suggestion. He was 
not fooled by the fact that the suggestion had come from the cook's 
new boy. It was obvious that the cook wanted the boy to become part of 
the ship's company. 

The lad was handsome, and Frank's pego would have suggested the 
recruitment anyway. If the man would be willing to share the boy, then 
Captain Frank would propose his being allowed to sign the ships articles.

As the day progressed, the delightful odors of the stuffed 
birds, cooking in the galley, wafted across the harbor.

A table was placed at the helm and set for four -- the two Captains, 
and their guests.

A second set of tables were placed on the quarter deck. Those would be 
laden with food and drink. Both crews could help themselves.

An hour before sunset, numerous branches of Candlewood were placed 
around the Cutlass as torches.

A longboat from the Revenge came along side, and hoisted several 
barrels of wine and casks of rum on board.

Two empty brandy casks had their tops removed and, in them, the 
caterers prepared a mixture of wine, rum, and fruit juice.

The Captain's table was a smaller replica of the one amidship. The 
birds were browned beautifully and grain stuffing mixed with mango spilled 
from their insides. Several types of shell fish were placed side by side.

As the visitors arrived, they were greeted by their hosts as though 
they were long lost relatives or the closest of friends. Yet in the 
pubs of Tortuga they had always been rivals; quick to temper and 
quick to brawl.

Captain Jack Calico was accompanied by two handsome youths. His host 
wondered if one of them might be a gift.

Frank, surmising the possibilities for the evening, suggested to his 
First Mate that he take his repast with the crew. The unexpected extra 
guest of Calico's being the excuse.

Mr. Johnson willingly gave up his seat. He was not a lover of boys 
and it looked to him as though that was what was in store at the 
Captain's table. He smiled to himself at the thought. Calico had a 
reputation as a womanizer, but the two lads he had brought with him 
suggested otherwise.

In actuality, the two handsome youths were Mary Read and Anne Bonny.

As the evening turned into night, both casks were drained and then
replaced with open casks of pure, raw rum.

The crew had drunk heavily, and were now passed out everywhere about the
ship. 

The pairing went interestingly between members of the two ships. Some 
were simply drunk and conversing, others were in the throws of sexual 
exploration. You could hear grunting and groaning from almost every 
corner of the Cutlass.

Despite several attempts to single out one of Calico's guests, neither 
seemed interested in Frank.

It was well past midnight when Calico and his two youths departed the 
Cutlass, leaving most of his crew still on board his rival's ship.

Frank was drunk, horny, and disappointed. The cook and his new boy 
came to the rescue, and took the Captain to his cabin.

----------------------------------------

Everything was very quiet in Cayona as the Seagull slowly entered the 
harbor channel with the Swan Louie in tow.

The Captains of both ships were astonished by what they saw. At anchor 
was the ship that had boarded the Louie and just beyond her was the 
Bloody Cutlass.

They had hardly dropped their hook when the Captains of the Louie and 
the Seagull went ashore to seek an audience with the island's governor.

Governmental authority was vested in Count le Passeur, a wealthy 
plantation owner. His appointment had been made by Jamaica's Governor Woods, 
whose own authority came as a direct appointment by King George.

In fact, the English King had never heard of le Passeur. The "Count" 
had been an affectation granted him by Woods. 

The Count's real power came from his ability to compromise. The reality 
of the matter was that he had little other choice as his domain had 
no resident armed forces, no budget to pay for one, and no authority 
to establish or to garner taxes.

Nevertheless, in the true spirit of governments everywhere, his 
governing was accepted by the island and its neighbors because he 
seldom interfered with their daily lives.

His declaration of an amnesty for the pirates had been an intelligent 
move. With only the occasional armed forces visit from Jamaica, he could 
never have enforced any other policy. 

Another key factor was that much of the economy of the tiny island 
nation was based on trade with those outlaws. 

The victimized captains were greatly displeased by the governor's 
attitude and reaction to the case they had laid before him.

He had pointed out that none of the crew of either the Revenge or the 
Cutlass had broken any of Tortuga's laws and he warned them that, as 
far as he was concerned, any attempt to take issue with anyone on the 
island or within the protection of her waters would lead to the 
banishment of the aggressor.

So in the next few days those on board the Swan Louie watched 
helplessly as their cargo was unloaded from the Revenge and sold to 
the local merchants and farmers.

At the same time, some 150 miles south of Tortuga a series of events 
were taking place that would alter the course of events throughout 
the maritime world.

His majesty's ship Endeavor had reached Jamaica with an order from 
King George. The document was of the highest priority, and it was 
international. In a rare instance of solidarity, both France and Spain 
had countersigned the command.

All Pirate ships were to be seized and their crews brought to trial. 
There would be no exceptions. The order went on to list specific ships 
that were the most wanted. The Bloody Cutlass, Captain Frank, and its 
crew were at the top of the list. Second was Captain Jack Calico and 
the men of the Revenge.

The charges were many and included piracy and murder. The punishment 
dictated was hanging.

The decision of Tortuga's Governor had not been acceptable to the 
Louie nor the Seagull. The two men felt that no fair minded government 
would encourage such injustice. While the island was small and 
isolated, it was a part of a larger authoritative structure. Tortuga's 
Governor was appointed by Jamaica's Governor, who in turn had been 
appointed by the King.

Under the cover of night, the Seagull left Tortuga; destination: St. 
Jago de la Vega, Jamaica. The Captain of the Swan Louie was a passenger. 
For the next week the Swan Louie would be under the command of her 
first mate.

Even though both the Swan Louie and her captain were French, the 
governmental community in the Caribbean had become an homogeneous blend 
of English, Spanish, and French.

Not too many years in the past, these three nations had been at each 
other's throats and even a version of piracy had been not only condoned, 
but promoted as a tool of limited warfare; however, economic interdependence 
had now become too great an issue. Thus, in the world of 1720, sovereign 
nations sought the help of their neighbors.

All of St. Jago was a buzz over the edict from Europe. While the Seagull 
was being moored, her long boat was taking her passenger ashore.

The governor's plantation was just beyond the outskirts of the city.

It was while he was arranging for the rental of a horse that he heard 
the rumors concerning the new mandate.

In October, retribution was close at hand. The governor of Jamaica, 
hearing of Calico's presence sent several armed sloops to intervene 
and capture the Captain and crew.  

A trap was now set in place. In Tortuga the Swan Louie would accept a rich 
cargo for transport to the Carolina's. 

Sloops would be hidden among several small islands along her course. 

Back in Tortuga, the First Mate of the Swan Louie was negotiating with 
the Revenge, through a local sail maker, for the purchase of the 
Louie's stolen sails. Quid pro quo. To this extent, Count le Passeur 
was of some help: he loaned the Louie sufficient funds to ransom her 
sails, taking a deed to the ship as security.

The Governor, was walking a very tight rope in his rule of Tortuga. 
His grandfather had been the island's first leader and had been 
appointed to that position through the influence of the East India 
Trading Company.

The company had many holdings throughout the Caribbean, including 
Tortuga. 

The Swan Louie was a Company ship.

Most of the week during which the Seagull was gone from Tortuga was 
spent re-fitting the Louie's sails.

The sun had yet to rise when the Seagull slipped quietly back into 
Cayona's harbor. 

Immediately her longboat was lowered, and both Captain's went ashore 
carrying a sealed pouch from Jamaica's governor addressed to the 
Count.

At noon, a horse drawn wagon arrived at the dock, and several longboats 
were loaded with an obviously valuable cargo, and taken to the Swan Louie.

The Louie's crew had been told that the cargo was destined for the 
Carolinas and contained much gold.

That night a heavy guard was set on the ship, and the crew allowed one 
last visit to the pubs before departing the next day.

At two A.M., Captain Frank and Captain Jack Calico met aboard the 
Revenge. The plan was that they would also depart Tortuga, but they 
would do so several hours after the Louie departed. The Revenge would 
follow the Swan Louie. The Bloody Cutlass would follow the Seagull.

If the Seagull stayed in Cayona, the Cutlass would then depart to aid 
the Revenge in her capture of the Swan Louie.

This time the Louie and her crew would not be spared. The same was 
planned for any ship that might be with her.

Afterward they would change their colors and make for Havana.

The Louie departed on schedule. There was no sign of activity on the 
Seagull. It was obvious that she was not going to convoy. Never-the-less, 
the Cutlass played it safe and waited.

The First Mate had set two special watches onboard the Revenge. These 
were lookouts. Their responsibility was to make certain they were not 
being followed.

As the day progressed their confidence grew. It appeared they would 
have little difficulty in overtaking and capturing their prey.

The Louie was neither being speedy, nor deliberately slow. They 
intended to be captured, but they would pick the spot.

The sun set. The sky darkened.

A whip-crack of thunder made the Revenge vibrate; tiny drops of moisture 
fell like a witches' potion from the sky.

The helmsman pointed at the patch of dark clouds that lay to the north 
west of them. "Looks like we might be in for a bit of a squall."
 
His remark was answered by a deep rumble from the heavens and then a 
sharp crackling of lightning, which momentarily diverted his attention.

Rain began to hammer against the deck, like furious knocking.

He pointed toward an odd shape of clouds,  "You can imagine it, can't 
you? A dragon, soaring over the water, and coming this way ..." He 
tilted his head towards the thunder. "... Landing on the Swan Louie and 
lashing its tail." 

The First Mate looked at his shipmate and nodded slowly, as though 
he'd shared and understood the vision.

Their attention was to the north. 

Darkness settled, and the Swan Louie came into sight. She was running 
a single light. Rain reduced visibility. 

Slowly the Revenge approached the Louie's stern. They were less than a 
mile from their prey when a bright flash of light that could have only 
been gun powder flashed from the Louie's bow. 

The Revenge was not aware that they were just north of a small island 
and, thus, they did not see the fast sloop that was rapidly moving 
toward them off their port stern.

Before the Revenge could hook the Louie, she was grappled by the 
unseen vessel. It was a surprise attack.

The sound of the hook hitting her stern was answered by a half-dozen 
armed Pirates. In the lead were two youths that fought like the devil 
was whipping them. The first goal was to break the hold, unloosen the 
grapple, and attempt to push the attacker away. But at least ten men on 
the sloop were pulling hard, so that there was never any slack in the line. 
Even before the two vessels made contact, cutlass-armed men, swinging their 
blades, swooshed on board the Revenge.

A large, red bearded man, with a cutlass held in his teeth, swung across 
the narrow gap that laid between the two ships.

He dove across the deck toward Anne, knife extended. She jumped to the 
side, avoiding him by inches. She raced toward a large box to climb upon
and thus gain an advantage, but the man scrambled across the deck and 
beat her there. He grabbed her arm while running and swung her against 
the main mast. Her cutlass spun across the space and rattled as it 
crashed onto the deck, out of sight.

She hit the timber face-first. Her eyelids fluttered, then she fell to 
the deck in a heap.

She didn't get up. She didn't move.

The soldier kicked her to the side. The pirate appeared to be unconscious, 
or hopefully dead.

The pirate had been fighting with a mate. The man scanned the ongoing 
battle. He did not see the young pirate's shipmate. But if not there 
then where ... ?

He noticed that the cargo hatch was open.

The man ran to the edge of the space and peered down. It was too dark 
to see. He predicted with a shout, "Got you!"

There was no one there. But how was that possible? Where could the 
other man be?

And then he heard it ... a creak. The creak of a foot on a dry piece of 
wood ... and it was coming from above him ... on the mast.

The soldier smiled. He looked up, "Gotcha!"

"Peek-a-boo!" The man started for the rope ladder to scale the mast. 
"I see you."

Mary scrambled further up the ladder. Unfortunately, it was less than 
six feet to where it dead-ended at the bottom of a sail. There was 
almost nowhere to go.

"You've been a bad lad." He taunted the young warrior above him.

Mary's eyes narrowed to two black slits. "The battle has just begun."

The man grabbed hold of the highest rung he could reach and started to 
pull himself upward.

Then he cried out in pain.

"Aaaah!"

Anne rammed a sail peg into the soldier's crotch. Not subtle, but it 
was all she could come up with on the spur of the moment. The discolored 
lump on her forehead throbbed. She had been groggy, nearly unconscious, 
but hearing Mary's shouts brought her back around. She was functioning, 
though mostly on impulse power, and she doubted her newfound strength 
would endure.

The man peered down. "What the --"

She hit him again. He cried out.

"You goddamn fucking little ass hole!"

All at once, he came tumbling down the rungs, and fell on top of Anne, 
pinning her. She swung upward and hit his arm just above the wrist, 
and hit it hard. His knife spun across the deck. She tried to crawl 
away. He grabbed her hair and jerked her back.

"I don't need that to take you," he growled.

Anne kicked him on the shin, then reached out with her fingers toward 
his eyeballs. The man jerked his head back, but her nails scratched 
his cheek. Enraged, he swung his hand around at her head but missed.

In an unusually high and loud voice she was drawing attention, seeking 
someone to back her up.

He clapped his hand over her mouth. Anne bit him. He howled; she sank 
her teeth in all the deeper. He wrapped his free hand around her 
throat. Together, they collided back against the mast. 

He jerked his hand free. Pinpricks of blood showed where his opponents 
teeth had been. "What kind of men were these that fought like women?"

He looked at the wound and his face turned ashen. Reaching out with 
the speed of a striking snake, he grabbed Anne by the back of the neck 
and slammed her head against the pole.

Anne's resistance faded with the impact. Her legs wobbled. The man 
twisted her hair around his hand to hold her up and slapped her face, 
hard. She tried to twist away, but he was still clenching her hair.

"Shut up." He brought the flat of his hand back and hit her again. 
"You should've stayed out of my way and stayed ashore to sell your ass 
in Tortuga."

"You're all alike. You pretend to have values, but you don't. You let 
your mates do whatever they want. You pretend you don't hear when 
their victims scream. You let them be punished. Well, now it's time 
for you to be punished." 

He reared back his hand, this time balled up in a fist. It hit Anne's 
face with a sickening impact. She fell to the deck with a thud.

"Goddamn Pirate!"  the man shouted. He saw his knife lying where it 
had fallen on the deck and picked it up. "Now you're going to wish you 
hadn't been born." He straddled her body, clutched her neck with his 
free hand, raised his knife into the air.

Mary had been driven out of sight, hidden by the sail. She peered 
about her, gaining a sense of where she was and what was happening.

She moved downward toward a long iron bar used to pry halyards from 
jammed pulleys.

Moments later she brought the bar down on the back of the soldier's 
head. He fell backward, toppling off Anne and onto the floor.

The two shipmates found their cutlasses and resumed their fight.

It was not a shining moment for the once-dashing Calico Jack, who, as 
everyone knew, had been the first to propose the skull-and-crossbones 
symbol. A combination of drunkenness and heavy bombardment sent many 
of the men, including Rackham, below deck. 

Anne and Mary stayed on deck,  swinging away. 

At one point they became so disgusted with the cowardice of their crew 
mates that  they rushed to the hatch and shouted to the men to come up 
and defend the ship. "If there's a  man among ye, ye'll come out and 
fight like the men ye are to be," Anne shouted.  

When they were ignored, Anne drew her pistol and fired into the hold, 
killing one. 

Anne and Marys' cutlasses bit deep into many a British sailor. Blood 
flowed and splashed. However, they were out-numbered and soon found 
themselves back-to-back surrounded by no less than ten armed men.

Then Mary did as she had done months before on that tiny island just 
before slaying Ruben. She ripped open her blouse to display her 
breasts. Her recent opponent had begun to suspect what the pirates 
true sex might be, so her hopes of an advantage did not come her way.

The ship was taken, and when the sloop's captain boarded, he found two 
"lads" berating Rackham for his less-than-manly comportment. 

Before midnight, the Pirates found themselves in chains in their own 
hold.

Anne and Mary who had fought hard in the past hour were vocal about 
the lack of bravery on the part of their shipmates. Anne took Captain 
Jack Calico to task. Her face reflected her anger. Had she not been 
swordless and in chains, she would have killed her sometimes-lover.

The Revenge, the sloop, and the Swan Louie changed course. Destination: 
St. Jago de la Vega, Jamaica.

Captain Frank's luck had changed for the better. The on-coming storm 
had caused him to delay his departure from Cayona and the onset of 
the heavy weather had prevented it altogether.

It took three days for the news of the Revenge's capture to reach 
Tortuga.

Word of the European Edict had already been rumored around the island. 

The Revenge had been drawn into a trap set in place right under Frank's 
nose there in Tortuga.  Had it not been for the storm, the Cutlass 
would also have been captured. And to add vinegar to the open wound, 
rumor had it that it had been an ex-mate of theirs, Capt. Barnet, who 
had commanded the King's sloop.

Frank did not dally. Within an hour of the news of the capture of the 
Revenge, the Bloody Cutlass departed Tortuga. Destination: unknown.

By the next morning there was not a pirate left on the island. The 
ribald atmosphere of the water front pubs became no more than an
echo in the past.

Tortuga, as the pirate capital of the Caribbean, passed out of the 
present and into history.

Still, the Seagull had one last task ahead of her. She had the passengers 
from the Swan Louie, and the Swan Louie was in Jamaica.

The day before she was to get underway for St. Jago de la Vega, Doctor 
Michael Redliffe sought passage.

Reluctantly they agreed, with the understanding that he must sleep on 
deck. The Captain and First Mate had given their quarters to the two 
girls. At sea, one or the other would always be on deck so, even though 
it was a bit crowded, the ship's officers shared the focsle crew's 
quarters.

The Seagull now had three more people than she normally carried; five 
if you counted the two ghosts. There was little privacy except in the 
small cabin shared by Lucy and Julie.

Jack and Jose must climb the main mast to the Crow's nest if they were 
to serve the needs of Scott and Jerry.

Foreplay and seduction as the path to sex was abandoned. Soon the 
request became as common place as a whispered suggestion of a snack 
between meals.

The run to Jamaica might take as little as 24 hours or as much a 48 
depending upon the winds.

With the exception of the Captain, the others watched and wondered as  
Jose or Jack climbed the mast. After a short interval the boy would 
return to his normal duties. 

Only the Captain knew what was going on. Then he took a most unusual 
step. He stated that there should now be a lookout in the Crow's Nest at 
all times. He himself would rotate with Jack and Jose.

That night, at Jose's prompting, the Captain modified his order. The 
entire ship's company was to take turns in the Crow's Nest. Watches 
would be two hours each.

He left the "who and how" to the two ghosts. He was confident that they 
would be discrete in the manner of their exposure.

On the next occasion with Jack, the two ghosts discussed who would be 
the most likely candidate: Leading seaman Mike, Bobby, or the First 
Mate. 

Before midnight, all three of the "initiated" had designated their 
counterpart to be "next". The Captain had suggested it be the First 
Mate; he being older, would more likely have "gone without" the longest. 
Jose had suggested Bobby, citing the fact that the youth had almost single 
handily kept the "Wish Cup" in the focsle cabin over flowing with 
youthful prayers. Jack had suggested Mike; he had noted the way the 
leading seaman kept his eye on Bobby.

The next question to be addressed was 'who would become whose mentor'. 
Jerry suggested that she work with the First Mate. As a naked female, 
her offers might be more acceptable to the older man.

That left Scotty with Bobby and Mike. At Jack's suggestion it was to be 
Mike.

------------------------------

Anne glanced into the sky once again, knowing, as she did, that it would 
be as dark and featureless as it had been the last time she'd done so. 
There were no stars showing, no moon -- just the blacker-than-black 
shadows of the clouds she could not quite discern in the pre-dawn 
gloom. As if to punctuate the futility of her vision, the wind chose 
that instant to pick up again, whipping her hair across her face, 
blinding her. She reached up to pry it from her eyes, allowing her 
gaze to return to the indistinct shapes of her feet as she stood there 
in her solitary dirty cell. 

She and Mary had both been isolated from the rest of the crew once 
their true sex was known.

Outside she could hear the sawing of wood, and the hammering of pegs. 
The city of St. Jago de la Vega was building something in the central 
town square.

Anne had tried numerous times to see any of her fellow captives, but 
all such requests were denied long before they reached the governor's 
eyes.

Then she received quite a jolt. Uncertain as to the number of days she 
had been a prisoner, she had assumed she had been found guilty in 
absentia and was already awaiting the hangman. 

It had been almost sunset when a guard had snarled at her that she had 
a visitor. 

The sight of Michael Redliffe brought tears to her eyes. Angrily she 
wiped them from her face, and almost snarled at her only friend.

The Doctor had ignored her foul mood, and attempted to take her into 
his arms. The guard immediately separated them and brought the visit 
to an end before she could learn anything of her status.

Redliffe argued with the guard that as a Doctor he had an obligation 
to investigate the health of the prisoner Anne.

After discussing the matter with his superior the guard placed the
two in a private room.

Later, the Doctor had sought the ear of the governor. Woods was 
dumbfounded to find that there might be some support for the defense 
of any of the pirates. He had never met the Doctor but, being the only 
medical man on the island of Tortuga, his absence there had already 
come to Woods' attention.

This change in governmental policy had tightened the rope he must 
walk. For years he had turned a blind eye to the activities of the 
Buccaneers, Pirates, and Privateers. That was dictated policy. Privately 
he abhorred thievery, even in the name of war.

As Anne stood there in her cell, the Governor was preparing for a 
lengthy day. 

There had been so much interest in the impending trial that the Governor 
had ordered it held in the public square.

The prisoners had been unable to find anyone to speak in there behalf, 
so it was something of a surprise when the governor read the letter 
laying on his desk. Doctor Michael Redliffe wished to speak on behalf of 
the two female pirates.

The Doctor challenged Woods' interpretation of the King's order. The 
edict clearly stated Captain Jack Calico, and the "men" of the Revenge. 
Mary and Anne were women.

This was turning into a sticky situation. Thus, the Governor decided 
that there would be two trials, one for the men, and a second for 
the women. Distancing himself from the actual trial and verdict, he 
appointed Sir Nicholas Laws to hear the case.

Most people knew that Laws would ignore whatever was said in defense 
of the pirates. He was the King's Man. The King had already decreed 
them to be guilty. They would hang.

The Doctor had also added a second concern just in case the Governor 
might disagree with his interpretation of the King's order. According 
to the Doctor, both women were pregnant. Thus execution of either 
woman would bring about the death of an unborn child. Neither England 
or France permitted such a thing. That precedence was quite clear.

Having two trials would permit the carrying out of the King's orders 
while seeking clarification as to the matter of acceptable punishment 
for the women.

As if from afar, the two ghosts watched the activity. They had mixed 
feelings. Jerry and Scotty both liked the metal from which Anne Bonny 
was made. She was full of bravery. Her palate was always immersed in 
the spice of life. Even Jack had to admit that the two women were 
exceptional.

---------END CHAPTER EIGHT--------