I must go now - something is scratching at the door. If I fear for my health then, I will put in and take some rest. How can I write this? What will you think? The things it says, darling. High-pitched and interrupting itself with giggles, but the voice is real, my dear. But I assure, when I lie half-awake in my cot, the ship tilting around me over the Atlantic swells, it is all too real. Looking at those words on the page, it seems ridiculous. Strange voices seem to speak to me at night. But it is not in my nature to suppress truths, as you know, and I would have you know everything that I am experiencing. I have deliberated over writing this next section, for fear I should make you worry. We should reach our destination in another four weeks, God willing. The other is a woman, Ana, a West Indian trollop who dresses like an English lady and is forever suspicious of Swope, the excellent surgeon we've been lucky enough to acquire. Mister Rupert Black, no doubt a spy for the investors, pretends to a depth of sea-faring knowledge he does not possess and is forever in danger of questioning my judgement. The master-at-arms is a drunkard who carouses with the seamen and I suspect them all of plots and intrigues. There are some strange characters indeed - the West Indian cannibal, Ah Balaam, and the African mountain of intimidation, Horse (with his ever-present monkey, Bobo). Recruiting for a privateer venture always means accepting what hands turn out, but I fear more than a few of our crew are pirates passing themselves off as honest sailors. The men are for the most part good, stout lads, but there are troublemakers among them that I must keep my eye on. Lieutenant Davis is a busybody without any respect for my position, and Lieutenant Fulcher is nothing but a scoundrel. Privateers have made great fortunes in this business, the unfortunate Captain Kidd aside. With the Queen's letter of marque in hand, we expect to find plenty of prizes among the Caribbean islands, French and Spanish both. Quin, one of the steadier hands, took a cast of the log yesterday and recorded eleven knots! I was very pleased. Some adjustments to the placement of supplies has improved her handling a degree or two, and we are proceeding towards the Caribbean in excellent speed.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |