1 post tagged “fable”

Okay, now that I have this Journal, what do I do with it; wax poetic, engage in literary criticism, textual deconstruction, philisophical debate, political brickbats, historical writing? None of it seems interesting, so instead of doing something serious, which despite my better instincts and judgement I will try to do here at some point, on with the show! Oh, what show you ask? How about a serialized pirate fable? Sounds good to me, but remember I'm on percocet. So without further ado, here is the first installment of my original buccaneering tale, "Red Beard". And my god have a sense of humour about this cause he's going to need it!

Red Beard
Episode 1: Captured!

The year, 1704, off the coast of Jamiaca a Spanish ship makes a desperate run to escape the most dreaded buccaneer of the Spanish Main. John Teech is his name, better known as Red Beard for his flaming facial hair and to keep him seperate from his renowned older brother Edward, the imfamous Black Beard.
The desperate Spanish captain has put on all sail and manned the guns. "Are you sure that it's Red Beard," he calls to his look out?
"Aye sir. I'd recognize Jolly Roger anywhere."
At that moment a canoon booms from the quickly closing pirate ship, the shot just crossing the Spanish ships bow. "Heave to, or I'll sink you," comes the hoarse cry from the pirate vessel.
"It's hopeless," the captain sighs, ordering the sails furled. Within a few moments Red Beard's black hulled ship, William and Mary, is fast along side and the fearsome pirate captain boards the helpless Spanish prize. Red Beard is an enormous man dressed in black and red, pistols, knives and swords festoon his clothes. His beard and hair are flaming red and slow burning gun matches entwined around his neck wreath his head in a devilish smoke. He is accompanied by his mistress, the beautiful, fierce she pirate Consuello, his huge, heavily armed black slave Pharaoh, the tattoed West Indian Caribe and several other cut throats.
"Captain, I'm Red Beard the pirate. I'm here to take your passenger the boy Prince Juan del la Cruz as my hostage. Hand him over or I'll send your ship to Davy Jones' Locker."
A look of relief passes over the Spanish Captains face. "Fetch the Prince and his guardian." His crew moves with dispatch and visible relief. "You'll have no problem from us Red Beard. I knew it was you before you boarded," the captain replies as his crew hustle the Prince, a mere boy of twelve, and his beautiful guardian Michelle, on deck. "I know of your reputation for ruthless violence. Take them both and go."
The Pirate is puzzeled. "You're not going to resist?"
"Certainly not."
"You're going to turn a mere boy and a woman over to the likes of me?"
"As quickly as possible."
"All right, the Pirate says, motioning to Caribe to take the prisoners. "How did you know it was me before we boarded? Was it the cut of my jib."
"Not really," the Spaniard replies.
"The fearsom likeness of me ship?"
"No."
"Well then what was it man!? Out with it before I feed you to the sharks!"
"If you must know, it was Jolly Roger," the Spaniard replies pointing into the pirate ships masts. Red Beard looks into the rigging of William and Mary and sees his 2nd Mate, Roger, dangling drunkenly from a yard arm swilling rum.
"Roger, you idiot! Get down from there immediately," Red Beard roars! "Stede, the Pirate shouts to his 1st Mate aboard his ship, "Get that damn fool out of the rigging before he de-masts us again!!"
By this time Red Beards crew is hustling the Prince and Michelle onto William and Mary along with anything else of value they can find on the Spanish ship. As the pirates cast away, the Spanish crew looks on with relief. "Captain," the Spanish 1st Mate asks, "Do you really think it was Christian not to warn them about that kid?"
'Maybe not, but they'll find out soon enough."
Meanwhile... Elsewhere...