Port of Errors (20 page)

In that moment, without a word more, Captain Stirvin was gone. He quickly met up with his men at the boarder of the Brier Wood and without delay, departed in haste for the Crimson Reef. With the wind in their favor, they were then on their way to Port Lorne

Chapter XII

Within the high and broad walls of North Cove, the bay was calm and serene. The moonlight cascaded brightly down, shimmering upon the cold, pitch-black body of water. North Cove was partially secluded and totally devoid of people. With over a dozen or so sea-caves within the walls of the bay, a small ship, such as a sloop, could easily hide.

Sailing cautiously into North Cove, Don Reina, Royal Hawkins and Brent Sherman needed to regroup with Mr. Hall and his best friend Tweed as was planned in the case of failure. Corazón del Mar entered North Cove through the only opening on the northern side of the island, opposite Port Lorne. Surrounded by walls of rock, they could hear the soft echo of the sea off the inner walls of the cove.

Corazón Del Mar, with lowered the sails, rowed toward the eastern side of the cove where she dropped anchor

That evening, before the sunlight was completely gone, a large frigate baring an English flag entered North Cove closest to the hiding place of Corazón del Mar, where she sat unnoticed in the dark. Two shots aboard this English vessel were fired into the air. Don and the remaining traitors awoke, startled by the sudden and unexpected intrusion. Standing at the starboard gunwale of this ominously frigate, was Sir Fouste and Mr. Robert Hall. The tenacious worry could be seen upon Mr. Hall’s face. Upon the hull of the ship could be read the Blue Raven, prompting Corazón del Mar to come out from her hiding place. An expression of relief could be read upon the countenance of those on board Corazón del Mar.

When Don Reina and Mr. Hall’s men boarded Sir Fouste’s ship, they saw Tweed’s face wrapped in his own blood soaked shirt, with nothing to dull the excruciating pain as he grew paler. He was still awake, but with fever and he shook the shirt from his face exposing his vile wound, which began to bleed excessively. Becoming lightheaded, Tweed fell into the skiff unconscious.

Don Reina and Mr. Hall stood at the bow discussing their situation. “You may have failed in this one thing,” suggested The Don, “but you can still come out of this as rich men. Put this behind you and concentrate on getting me to France.”

“Look at us!” replied Mr. Hall. “Besides myself, only three of my men live and one of them is dying! I’ll have that pirate’s filthy black heart for what he did to me and my men.”

Don Reina was afraid and unwilling to sacrifice more. “I need to make it to France alive! There is nothing more we can do save only suicide and that is exactly what you are asking me for!”

“You can complete your journey with Mr. Hall and his men as they have promised,” interjected Sir Fouste, as he sauntered over to them. “That is the price I ask for Black-Hearted’s life.”

“You ask the Don for no money?” asked Mr. Hall. “What is in it for you and why are you so eager?”

“I have more invested than you could possibly imagine and I already have a plan in place. But this plan involves the Don’s successful journey to France. However, it has been widely rumored that Queen Anne has cut all ties to her previous privateers. She will no longer sponsor my ship and in fact intends to have me hanged. I am running low on supplies and with limited backing, this has become my only resolve. So the deed will not be without monetary costs”

“I am not against Black-Hearted’s capture,” confirmed Don Reina. “He destroyed my ship, killed my crew and insulted me! If I can sail to France unharmed and yet be of assistance in the capture of Black-Hearted, I am more than willing to finance the expedition. But, you must be willing to work as a privateer under the command of King Philip of Spain.”

“Tweed will not survive the journey to France,” added Mr. Hall, “Please keep him on. You have a good surgeon.”

Sir Fouste agreed with his own stipulation, motioning toward Don Reina as the subject of their discussion. “Mr. Hall, you must assure the Don that he will fulfill his mission to France.” Then, looking directly at Don Reina, who was in notable agreement, Sir Fouste continued as though he was speaking directly to him. “He must deliver the contract.” Looking back at Mr. Hall, he concluded, “But once the task is complete, you must return for one last mission. If you want Tweed to live, you will be quick about it.”

Once all were in agreement, Tweed was left in Sir Fouste’s care. Mr. Hall and his men took Don Reina and departed on Corazón del Mar for France to deliver Don Reina.

Chapter XIII

While the Rogue and Roger’s Jolly sailed for Raven Bridges, Black-Hearted spied a large sloop, approaching from the East. Pulling out his telescope, he unexpectedly discovered Corazón del Mar proudly waving her colors on her way to France from North Cove. Looking out to where he might best cut her off, Black-Hearted realized that Widow’s Reef sat close to the potential intersection of their crossing. Motioning to Captain Garrison, Black-Hearted plotted their assault.

Shocked at the sight ahead, Don Reina panicked. This happenstance meeting was not looking very good for Corazón Del Mar. With a strong determination to continue on to France, Mr. Hall advised Don Reina, “We must try and make a wide pass around them or we’ll never make it to France alive.”

“If we hadn’t stopped at Port of Errors in the first place to satisfy your wounded pride,” replied Don Reina, “we should not have been sailing out of North Cove at this moment and therefore in this predicament! We would have been dining safely in France and all six of your companions would have been with us instead of dead or badly wounded.”

“We cannot change the past. If you wish to complete your mission, we can still sail around them. This vessel is fast and maneuverable. We can do this if we commit to it now.”

Don Reina’s first instinct was to escape the English Channel all together and sail back to Spain, where he might venture to Paris by land and complete an untimely mission. However, against his better judgment and nervous to give the order, Don Reina commanded the pilot to continue on toward their destination at a slightly altered trajectory. As the ships neared, Don Reina and Mr. Hall grew nervous, yet faithfully kept their course.

Don Reina and Mr. Hall began to panic when they saw Roger’s Jolly making its move from the other side of the Rogue. Mr. Hall ordered his men, “Turn this ship windward!” By the time their sloop turned part way it was too late. Roger’s Jolly was too close. In a panic they fired their pistols and long barrels.

Ordering a massive broadside, Captain Garrison fired. In an instant all cannons on the starboard side exploded into one powerful blow. Corazón del Mar’s gunwale was splintered at the stern.

Captaining Don Reina’s sloop, Mr. Hall fired back with three spontaneous blasts, damaging Roger’s Jolly near the quarterdeck. Mr. Hall then thought to ram his way out, sailing directly ahead in a collision course with Roger’s Jolly. Captain Garrison’s men were at the bow firing their pistols and muskets, when they realized they were about to be rammed. Captain Garrison took a step back and called to the helm, “Turn this ship portside! Brace for an impact!”

Captain Garrison was positioning Roger’s Jolly so as to fire upon Corazón del Mar at her keel’s front.

Black-Hearted was now in a much better position to attack. Extending his machete above his head and dropping his arm, he exclaimed, “Fire!” All at once, a substantial roar rumbled across the hull. Corazón del Mar was shaken with the enormous eruption, as she took a damaging hit just above the base of the mainmast and the gunnel at several points. A shower of slivers exploded onto the main deck. The mainmast came down with such force, many of her crew jumped over the gunwale and into the sea. With nowhere else to go, Mr. Hall simply joined the men in the water. The mainmast slammed heavily against the bow, cracking the bowsprit, which gradually weighed down until a portion of it crashed to the sea, still barely holding to the ship by a thick splinter of wood. Soon everyone, including Don Reina, had abandoned ship.

However, the unmanned ship, now burning in ruin, continued floating toward Roger’s Jolly at a slightly damaging speed. Luckily, Captain Garrison was still in position and fired at her deserted bow, cracking the upper end of her keel. Several more spontaneous blows to her weakened hull, a few flaming bottles of pitch and Corazón del Mar could take no more. The sky went dark with ash and smoke. Don Reina and Mr. Hall, followed by their men, quickly swam toward Widow’s Reef no more than a hundred yards to the south.

If Black-Hearted’s plan to steel back Isabel did actually work, a massive battle was imminent. Knowing Captain Stirvin would be on Port Lorne over the next few days, Black-Hearted contemplated a risky excursion to Port Lorne to try and even his odds with Captain Stirvin. As Black-Hearted sailed alongside Roger’s Jolly, he committed to his contemplation, and deviated from his planned route and changed course for Port Lorne. Signaling to Captain Garrison, Black-Hearted directed him to stay the original course and await Scurvy at Raven Bridges.

Over the next several hours, Don Reina and Robert Hall sat on Widow’s Reef. As a sign of their imminent demise, Fischer Todd’s half-decomposed and waterlogged body, wedged within a small crack, spanked the reef with each little movement of the sea. But emerging from the thick dark cloud of smoke, set against the yellow hue from the burning ship, the Blue Raven looked almost ghostlike as she pierced the blackness of it.

“Well, he’s a little too late,” said Mr. Hall. “Don’t you think?”

“At least we’re saved,” replied Royal. “But Black-Hearted better pay for this.”

Once aboard the Blue Raven, Don Reina’s frustration and anger peaked. But Sir Fouste put his mind at ease. “Night is falling. Get some rest and we’ll discuss our options in the morning. Believe me, I know what to do.”

Knowing Black-Hearted was in possession of the navy’s itinerary and might attempt an attack due to Isabel’s unwilling presence, Captain Stirvin was prepared with three other frigates docked at Port Lorne. The Sentry on which Admiral Flynn was still in direct command; The London, commanded by Captain ‘Mac’ Richards; and William’s Revenge, commanded by Captain Bradley Nokes were each battle ready. Close to five hundred English sailors stood ready for an assault that might never come to fruition. And many were skeptical that such a wanted pirate would show himself so boldly.

In order to draw Black-Hearted in Captain Stirvin felt it was crucial that The Crimson Reef follow the itinerary over the next few months, aware that Black-Hearted knew Isabel was held captive there.

As the sun gradually faded beneath the broad horizon, the sky slowly darkened to a beautiful deep blue. Night was falling fast as the wind swept softly through the masts and rigging.

“Might I request a short leave,” asked Kenneth aboard the Crimson reef. “All I ask is a couple of hours, Sir.”

“I cannot believe that you, of all people, are asking this of me. But even so, if you are asking, then there must be some importance behind it. Kenneth, if you can be back here within the hour you may go. But remember, you are first mate. You need to be on this ship more so than any other.”

Ever since Captain Stirvin saved Mr. Black’s life in that storm, Mr. Black had been particularly protective of him. And he did not trust Kenneth following his many unscheduled visits to Isabel’s quarters. Backed by Second Mate Garland Davis, Mr. Black arranged for Gabriel and Edgardo, who were unfamiliar to Kenneth, to spy on him as he ventured into town.

Finding Kenneth sitting at the Boar’s Milk by himself, Gabriel and Edgardo watched curiously from a short distance, at a table with a slightly more hidden view. Soon Kenneth was joined by a peculiar gentleman, who sat with his back toward the two spies.

Witnessing some sort of exchange between Kenneth and this individual, Gabriel and Edgardo became all the more suspicious. It seemed to them that Kenneth was passing a purse of payment for what appeared to be a secret document of some sort. When the mysterious gentleman finally stood to leave, he turned to face Edgardo and Gabriel, who could then identify him. They were surprised and disappointed to know who he was. He was about forty five years of age and known very well amongst those in the pirate community.

The two adventurers then slipped away without being seen and followed the gentleman to an inn, where he had been staying. When they felt they had all the information they needed, they found their way to the Crimson Reef, where they informed Captain Stirvin directly. Mr. Black’s and Garland’s involvement in spying on a senior officer was to be kept in confidentiality or payment to Edgardo and Gabriel would not be remitted.

As Kenneth sat quietly at the same corner table with a pint of rum, he ripped open the secret document, which happened to be a private correspondence. Unable to take his eyes off the letter, he lost track of the hour. It wasn’t until he noticed, from the corner of his eye, Garland and Captain Stirvin approaching his table that he realized his sad position. Becoming flushed in the face, he quickly folded up his letter and stuffed it deep into his coat pocket.

“You’re late, Kenneth,” said Captain Stirvin, standing there with Garland and a few other officers. “Is there some other reason you have neglected your post than sitting alone with a drink in a common brothel?”