CHAPTER NINE
The Birth of the Scapegoat
Copyright 2004, All Rights Reserved
The next evening, the Adventure was docked at the bustling island of Madeira. The main deck was unusually empty for the men were given leave to go ashore and explore the many libations Portugal had to offer. Gunman Moore, however, stayed on board. His loneliness and drunkenness lead him to light the deck with as many lanterns as he could muster. The men were now returning from leave accompanied by the wenches and whores they were able to rally. Captain Kidd lay in his chambers contemplating his next move. Presently, Moore was sitting on deck leaning against the main mast with his bottle of rum. Young Darby stepped aboard and was greeted by the drunken souse.
“What do ya think she’ll do for ya? She’ll work you right out of them pretty garments and into hellfire, that’s what she’ll do,” said the now nearly unintelligible gunman. He directly address the young girl Darby was escorting. “You! You there, the pretty one. I’ll be bettin’ your world revolves around satisfyin’ men of all assortments don’t it? So you think you can mount and ride young Darby here aboard the mighty Adventure, do ya? It’s a powerful honor, lass…” he laughed outright.
“Leave her alone, Moore,” whispered young Mullins.
“What’s this? The yard’s a speakin’ back to the ship’s gunman, is he? I wonder if he be knowin’ exactly what he be getting’ himself inta?” announced Moore to what was a now a group of the men who had returned on board. What the gunman and the young man didn’t know, and what the rest of the men could all now see, was that the Captain had risen from below decks and was eyeing the exchange from the stern of the ship.
“I know damn well what I’m doing. Just mind yer own business,” avowed a courageous Darby.
James Howe grabbed Moore and whispered into his ear. “He can’t hear me,”
Moore interrupted Howe before he could convey his entire message, “He’s in his chambers obsessing over his damn business. If we’re gonna mutiny this command, we have to show the crew who’s in charge and who ain’t!”
The jig was up and Darby, who had now seen the looming Captain, quickly changed strategies. “Mutiny?” he proclaimed, as if he had no idea.
“Ya heard right, young pup. Mutiny, MUTINY!” shouted the stupid gunman.
“The Captain will have your head for this,” said Darby.
“And I yours!” Moore said as he drew his broadsword and dashed towards Darby. The young whore screamed and was cleared away by a crewmate just in time. Darby, clearly the lesser of the two, was determined to put this drunken fool down; but weighing virtually a third less than his foe would be a setback: Darby without more ado kneed Moore in the groin and grappled his sword-bearing hand. He effectively disarmed the gunman.
With a fearsome yell, Moore knocked Darby against the mast and slammed the young man’s head against the metal-banned pole thrice before losing his grip. Darby, now stunned and with a bleeding brow, rushed Moore in an attempt to tackle him but was caught in a headlock and thrown viciously overboard by the overbearing ogre. The men hurried to the rail only to see Darby afloat in the freezing water. He was all right. The brawny lot began to laugh and cheer for Darby and his daring in taking on a man twice his size.
Captain Kidd, rapidly and gracefully, darted towards Moore who had his back turned. On his way, he picked up an iron pail and smashed Moore’s head with it in a flash. The immense and swift blow drew everyone’s attention. Moore’s limp body dropped onto the deck at once. The Captain brutally kicked the gunman twice and then stepped back.
“Hear me now!” shouted a thunderstruck Kidd, “This man is foul. He will be reprimanded and tried for mutinous acts on the high sea. There will be no mutiny! There will be no disobeying member of my ship!” All were silent. “Stand up,” he commanded Moore who remained motionless. With his foot, Kidd rolled the gunman over to discover a pool of blood streaming from nose.
CHAPTER TEN
Chapters
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 & 22, 23, 24, 25, Epilogue
The Birth of the Scapegoat
Copyright 2004, All Rights Reserved
The next evening, the Adventure was docked at the bustling island of Madeira. The main deck was unusually empty for the men were given leave to go ashore and explore the many libations Portugal had to offer. Gunman Moore, however, stayed on board. His loneliness and drunkenness lead him to light the deck with as many lanterns as he could muster. The men were now returning from leave accompanied by the wenches and whores they were able to rally. Captain Kidd lay in his chambers contemplating his next move. Presently, Moore was sitting on deck leaning against the main mast with his bottle of rum. Young Darby stepped aboard and was greeted by the drunken souse.
“What do ya think she’ll do for ya? She’ll work you right out of them pretty garments and into hellfire, that’s what she’ll do,” said the now nearly unintelligible gunman. He directly address the young girl Darby was escorting. “You! You there, the pretty one. I’ll be bettin’ your world revolves around satisfyin’ men of all assortments don’t it? So you think you can mount and ride young Darby here aboard the mighty Adventure, do ya? It’s a powerful honor, lass…” he laughed outright.
“Leave her alone, Moore,” whispered young Mullins.
“What’s this? The yard’s a speakin’ back to the ship’s gunman, is he? I wonder if he be knowin’ exactly what he be getting’ himself inta?” announced Moore to what was a now a group of the men who had returned on board. What the gunman and the young man didn’t know, and what the rest of the men could all now see, was that the Captain had risen from below decks and was eyeing the exchange from the stern of the ship.
“I know damn well what I’m doing. Just mind yer own business,” avowed a courageous Darby.
James Howe grabbed Moore and whispered into his ear. “He can’t hear me,”
Moore interrupted Howe before he could convey his entire message, “He’s in his chambers obsessing over his damn business. If we’re gonna mutiny this command, we have to show the crew who’s in charge and who ain’t!”
The jig was up and Darby, who had now seen the looming Captain, quickly changed strategies. “Mutiny?” he proclaimed, as if he had no idea.
“Ya heard right, young pup. Mutiny, MUTINY!” shouted the stupid gunman.
“The Captain will have your head for this,” said Darby.
“And I yours!” Moore said as he drew his broadsword and dashed towards Darby. The young whore screamed and was cleared away by a crewmate just in time. Darby, clearly the lesser of the two, was determined to put this drunken fool down; but weighing virtually a third less than his foe would be a setback: Darby without more ado kneed Moore in the groin and grappled his sword-bearing hand. He effectively disarmed the gunman.
With a fearsome yell, Moore knocked Darby against the mast and slammed the young man’s head against the metal-banned pole thrice before losing his grip. Darby, now stunned and with a bleeding brow, rushed Moore in an attempt to tackle him but was caught in a headlock and thrown viciously overboard by the overbearing ogre. The men hurried to the rail only to see Darby afloat in the freezing water. He was all right. The brawny lot began to laugh and cheer for Darby and his daring in taking on a man twice his size.
Captain Kidd, rapidly and gracefully, darted towards Moore who had his back turned. On his way, he picked up an iron pail and smashed Moore’s head with it in a flash. The immense and swift blow drew everyone’s attention. Moore’s limp body dropped onto the deck at once. The Captain brutally kicked the gunman twice and then stepped back.
“Hear me now!” shouted a thunderstruck Kidd, “This man is foul. He will be reprimanded and tried for mutinous acts on the high sea. There will be no mutiny! There will be no disobeying member of my ship!” All were silent. “Stand up,” he commanded Moore who remained motionless. With his foot, Kidd rolled the gunman over to discover a pool of blood streaming from nose.
CHAPTER TEN
Chapters
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 & 22, 23, 24, 25, Epilogue
posted by Emil Ahangarzadeh | 8:54 PM
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