Chapter 8

Pirate's Life for Me

“Friends of yours?” Bellamy posited rhetorically.

Vicious’ had an unpleasant expression on his face as he recognized the ship. “If your friends usually try to chop your arm off then ya, I’d say we’re well acquainted.” Vicious responded.

“That’s the ship you’ve been running from?” Locke said, jaw agape. “A ship of that size… What were you doing in the capital?”

Vicious played the victim. “We were minding our damn business!.” He said pointing at the ship with his good hand. He reached for the spyglass adorned upon his hip. “She’s tenacious, I’ll give her that.” He said, his eye glued to the lens.

“Who?” Locke asked.

“Legatus Arabella Strong. Same bitch that gave me the souvenir.” He flashed his damaged arm quickly. “Hey kid, when did you say my Augustus’d be ready?”

“Not till tomorrow.” Locke said defeated.

Vicious threw down the spyglass. “It’s good to go now?” He said rhetorically. “Great! Go fetch my quartermaster Lana. Tell her we’re leaving.” He said in a commanding tone

“The Augustus isn’t ready.” Locke hesitantly reiterated.

Vicious paid him no mind. “Fish boy! I’m taking your catch.” Vicious tossed Bellamy a coin pouch.

Bellamy looked down at the weighty sac that had just landed awkwardly in his hands. “Sold.” He said bewildered.

Vicious looked back at Locke “Get fucking moving kid.”

Locke realised Vicious wasn’t kidding. He turned and started into town. He got halfway down the street and realised he had no clue where Lana might be. He debated turning back to ask Vicious, but even from there he could hear his booming shouts berating the other shipwrights into action. He figured he’d try Randal’s, afterall that’s where he’d be.

He pushed through the giant steel door and into the dingey dank drinkery. He scanned the room and sure enough there she was sitting at the bar. A girl after his own heart. He moved swiftly over to her as she pulled back on a bottle of rum. “Lana, right? Locke, we met the other day.”

“What do you want, kid? Shouldn’t you be fixing the ship.”

“Vicious sent me, imperials incoming, he said you’re leaving.”

Lana choked on her booze. “Tell me you’re finished.” She said urgently.

Locke didn’t know what to say. “Yep.” He nodded. “All done.” He knew the ship wasn’t quite ready but Vicious didn’t give him much choice. They were leaving regardless. Why give her any doubt.

“Nice timing kid.” She said with a huge sigh of relief, placing her hand on his shoulder. “I need to gather the men.” While turning towards the door, she turned back and flipped a coin towards the barkeep.

As Lana opened the giant steel door Lenore pushed through from the other side. “Oop, sorry.” She said as Lana slipped right by her.

“Lenore.” Locke exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”

“Came to pick up my cut from Randal. We had a few too many last night and I didn’t collect.” She laughed. “What are you doing here?”

“There’s an imperial ship on the horizon. The pirates are setting sail. I was just telling Lana.” He pointed at the door in which they had just crossed paths.

“So you’ve finished repairs on the ship?”

“No not quite, didn’t phase Vicious much though.”

“Vicious?”

“Captain of the Augustus.”

“The Augustus?”

“The ship sis, the one in the harbour. The one I’ve been working on for days.”

“Right, of course… wait how do you know the captain’s name?”

“Oh um ya, that’s a funny story.”

“Well if he’s half as well mannered as that Lana then I’m sure he’s just splendid.” She said with an eye roll. “How are they gonna leave if the ship isn’t fixed yet?”

“It’s mostly fixed, Some sails still need to be rigged and there are some holes to patch but it’ll move. They just need to avoid rough waters.”

“I’m sorry your new friends are leaving so soon. I know you were hoping to get to know them better.”

“Ah it’s okay, reality was bound to catch up eventually. What are we doing for dinner tonight? I was thinking maybe we could… hold on...”

“For what, dear life?”

“No, my bag, with all my tools, It’s still on the ship. “

“You better go grab it before they set sail!”

“I’ll be right back!” He said in a reassuring voice, sprinting out the door.

“Be safe.” She said encouragingly as the door closed behind him. “I’ll be here when you get back.”

Locke arrived at the Augustus, Lana and the crew were already there, preparing to set sail. Locke found his bag lying on the deck where he left it. He grabbed it and looked over at Bellamy who had finished unloading his catch onto the ship and was helping them move some other supplies. Locke made his way over to Bellamy. The two of them exchanged exasperated glances. Feeling as though their job was done they began disembarking the ship

They were half way across the gangplank when above them, on the quarter deck Vicious lowered his spyglass. “Time’s up lads. Let’s get this show on the road.” The guys on the dock dropped what wasn’t on board and made their way onto the ship. The mooring line was untied and the crew pushed the ship along the dock.

Vicious' eyes darted down towards Locke and Bellamy. "Are you coming or not?" His question, a simple yes or no, yet somehow it seemed the most complicated question Locke had ever been asked. The answer lingered somewhere out of his reach and with the ship already on the move he didn’t really have time to search for the correct one. The plank was tilting and before long they’d be down in the drink. He could feel his heart swelling with excitement and nerves. He thought of his father sitting there at Randal’s. Was he going to end up just like him, a complacent husk waiting for death to take him or was he going to seek out the adventure he so craved. Before Locke’s mind could truly grasp the weight of his decision, his feet had already moved him onto the ship’s deck. Bellamy was quick to follow his best friend. They'd hopped aboard the Augustus, and within moments the ship left the docks and there was no turning back.

Locke stared back at the shore and could see Lenore standing on the cliff's edge, waving. It was at that moment he understood. She always did know him better than he knew himself. The Augustus moved further off to sea as their small old town shrank in the distance.