“Ha Ha Ha Ha…you beauty” bellowed Captain Samuel West in that coarse gravelly voice that hung in the thick fog air like a newly hung wet blanket on a struggling clothes line. “We’ve finally hit the jackpot!”
On learning about the rich black cargo booty that was laden in the depths of the holds of the African Star, the pirate Captain could see the delighted responses etched in the faces of his motley pirate crew.
“ I tell you lads,” he gleefully gloated, “ if you do exactly as I tell you…… I have a plan that will enable us, all of us, to retire in riches and give up pirating forever. So you listen very carefully to my every word and you do exactly what I am about to tell you ”.
Back in the crew’s mess and together with his men again, the furrowed look on Wilkins’ face clearly showed the scorn of his own displeasure for having to reveal to the pirates the booty aboard the African Star and for the dire predicament that they were in. As low and as guilty as he was feeling about himself, he knew deep down that his decision temporarily assured the safety of his crew and the opportunity to once again take control of his ship would need to be seized upon if presented. In the back of his mind, Wilkins also knew that if they were to stand any chance of survival, that opportunity would surely be provided by the efforts of his ever-reliable young Chief Officer Toby Mitchel and the loyal and well trained crew aboard the Kalypso. He pondered about them and then, once again, heard the distant sound of that familiar horn….he knew help was on its way.
***
The thick fog off the African coast seemed to be getting even thicker as the Kalypso carefully but surely plied its way in the calm waters, still in hot pursuit of the African Star which lay hidden in the fog, so tantalizingly close by.
Chief Officer Toby Mitchel stood on the deck of the Kalypso, deeply worried and wondering about the fate and well being of Captain Wilkins and his shipmates, his eyes firmly set in the direction of where he thought their ship might be.
“ Can you see anything yet sir?”, eagerly asked Adam.
“No,” he replied, but I feel that they are not far away. “Sound the horn again, but this time make it three short blasts. Captain Wilkins will then know we are on our way and hopefully not too far away”.
“Sir, Sir, Sir” screamed Gerard as he hastily burst his way onto the deck with a look of horror and utter disbelief written all over his twisted face.
“What is it man? Out with it, retorted the Chief Officer. “You look as if you’ve just seen a ghost.”
“Sir, I have seen a ghost …..and the ghost is…….is with the pirate prisoners down below.
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