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...
