Captain Savage: The Fortress pt.10



As the first explosion shakes the fortress like an earthquake Governor Crowley suddenly finds
himself sitting on the floor. The Sergeant is lying face down in front of him, coughing blood.
His back is peppered with shattered glass from the broken windows behind him. Crowley
does not care. He shakes his head to end the ringing in his ears. When the high-pitched
whistle finally disappears he hears the terrified screams from his bedroom. He turns around
angrily. On his bed the two mulattoes are clinging like children to each other, their eyes wide
in shock.
###Shut up, stupid broads!### He shouts at them. ###One more scream and you###ll be back at my
plantation before sunrise!###
The girls look at him with open mouths, but they fall silent immediately. Although they
despise the Governor it was still more bearable being his concubines in this luxury residence
than being fair game for the lecherous attendants while working in the sugarcane plantation.
Without paying any more attention to his kept women Crowley walks over the dying sergeant.
The hall is ablaze with light from the fires outside. Through the shattered windows he sees the
remains of the opposite wall. All of the guns have disappeared as well as most of the masonry.
From his point of view he can overlook the whole bay behind the fragment.
###Colonel Brathwaite, come here at once!### He calls for his serving commander impatiently.
Only moments later the Colonel arrives. Being already dressed up himself he salutes to the
Governor, who is still in his nightdress and slippers.
###We have no idea what happened right now, milord! I heard from my soldiers that Lieutenant
Gosford found the guards of the previous watch being killed. As it seems he immediately
went into the dungeon after raising the alarm. I###m afraid he is###### The Colonel tries to report,
but gets interrupted briskly.
###I want you to find and execute all of these culprits! Search every house and barn, look under
every rock. This time we will make an example of those offenders to the Crown!### Drops of
saliva sputter from Crowley###s lips.
###Yes, milord! My troops will comb the whole colony. We will arrest everyone related to the
rebellious scum we know. They###ll bleed for this malicious plot!###
###It###s not a rebellion, Brathwaite! Those puny agitators would never be able to hit us that hard.
It###s the pirates! This damned Captain Savage is the key!### By his looks it is perfectly clear that
Crowley does not tolerate any objection.
Brathwaite has been a soldier long enough to carry on without opposition. ###In that case I
would like to inform Commodore Pennington and the shore batteries, milord.###
###Yes! They shall blow every ship near the bay out of the water! And Pennington shall loose
his hold and search the coastline. I will be damned if we let them escape!###
Captain Savage joins Cain and his raiders who already captured the crew in the bow.
Besides the soldiers and the guards only two sailors were killed during the sneak attack. The
rest has been rounded up in the corner of an empty hold.
###Well done!### Jane gives Cain an appreciative pat on the back. Then she stands in front of the
sailors for a short speech.
###I am Captain Savage and I am in charge of this vessel now! Every one of you is invited to
join my crew for a life of freedom and independence. The ones to keep their loyalty towards
the bloody King will be marooned on a nearby island with enough supplies for two days.
You have time to choose until dawn.###
Arms akimbo she looks at the men in grim determination.
###I don###t think we need that much time, Captain!### One of the sailors stands up. A bright old
scar parts his beard on one cheek and he has a lot of tattoos on his arms. He looks at his
comrades. ###We###re all sick to death from the King###s Navy, right boys?###
To Jane###s surprise lots of the sailors cheer in agreement. Only a few ##' mostly the wounded -
remain silent. Nothing better could have happened to her now that she needs all hands on
deck!
###So come on, you old salts! We have to weigh anchor immediately!### Grinning at the sailors
she turns around, waving them to follow her. Spearheading her crew she dashes back on deck.
Before Sally jumps up the stairs she quickly instructs one of the colonists: ###There is a surgeon
among the officers in the stern. Get him here to look after the wounded.###
###Which one is it?### The man asks perplexed.
###The breathing one, but you have to wake him up, I###m afraid.### Sally disappears with a wink
of her eye.
The harbour is bathed in the light of the burning fortress. Some people watch the scene out of
their windows. Some others have already left the buildings, standing in the streets and
alleyways. They are in a tumble with their eyes all fixed upon the blaze.
The pirates use the utter confusion to set sails. While Jane turns to the quarterdeck Sally
immediately goes aloft the ratlines. She scrambles as quickly as a monkey. For a second Jane
is caught watching her lover###s elegant moves as she is the first to enter the yard. What a hell
of a woman, the captain fondly thinks. But there is no time for pleasant distractions now!
Time is crucial, so she shouts her orders over deck.
Malik simply cuts the guy ropes with a boarding axe, his muscles flexing visibly under dark
bare skin. He works fast and precise, never needing more than two blows for each rope. The
last rope bursts under one single slash. Wooden splinters fly around as the blade digs deep
into the rail. The ship is loose!
The same moment the fabrics billow from the masts in the nightly breeze. Together with the
rag-tag crew Sally quickly trims the sails, making sure to get most speed out of the wind.
Slowly first, but gaining more and more speed by the minute the brigantine leaves the quay.
Jane skilfully operates the steer in her hands. In the orange light illuminating the night she is
on target for the inlet.
As the ship has already passed half of the bay Jane hears a sliding sound above her. She lifts
her head for a moment to see Sally descending one of the shrouds. Close by her side Sally
jumps down. Her feet touch the planks in a soft landing.
###We###re on the loose, luv!### Jane laughs at her in verve, but quickly stops when she sees Sally###s
serious face.
###Not yet, I###m afraid!### Sally tells her with an anxious voice. ###One of the sailors told me about
two citadels with additional shore batteries. When we pass the inlet we run directly into their
crossfire######