Sweet Trade of the Red Coral

Chapter 1

Floor boards creaked as patrons passed to and fro, sloshing mugs overflowing with alcohol. The smell of rum perfumed the room, especially the breath of the men seated around a rickety table playing a game of high stakes poker. The Peg Leg was not a pub for the faint of heart, but rather beckoned the cutlass of every gentlemen o’ fortune, in other words, pirates.

Captain Ezekiel Jones sat in one of the chairs around the poker table. Only one other player was left out of the seven that had started, Captain Argus the Black. The game became tense as each man kept upping the ante each round. The men were rivals not only at sea, but every time they met on shore. Captain Argus’ eyes shifted uneasily back and forth between his cards and Captain Jones’ face. He was holding three Jacks and up until now felt certain of his hand, except that Jones sat there so calm, the smoke from his pipe curling lazily around his face.

“It’s to you, “ said Jones.

Argus shifted in his chair and said, “I tell ya what.” A crafty idea started to form in Argus’ mind. “Let me loosen up the purse strings and throw in something that’ll really interest ya.”

Jones paused then leaned back in his chair and put his hands behind his head, “Really, and here I thought you’d thrown in all but the barnacles on the bottom of your ship already.”

Argus scoffed and spit, “Ha, you wish.”

“Well then,” said Jones.

“I be bettin’ Red Coral,” Argus said quickly.

Jones raised his eyebrows, genuinely surprised, “Red Coral? That’s awful bold of you.” He took a deep breath and leaned forward again, “But I imagine it’s time to put you out of your misery.” Jones pushed in the rest of his booty to add to the heaping pile of money, gold, jewelery, even a small jeweled scabbard already in the middle of the table. “I call. Your cards, Captain Argus.”

Argus grinned from ear to ear smacking his three Jacks down on the table. Now it was his turn to lean back in anticipation.

Jones took another deep breath, “Three Jacks. Well, that does beat my three nines.” Argus started to lean forward to sweep up the heap of treasure. “But, it doesn’t beat a full house.” Argus froze with his arms in mid air then he brought his fists down hard on the table.

“You lily-livered, scurvy dog, son of a...”

“Now, now,” Jones said fingering the hilt of his cutlass. “There’s no need to get all upset o’er a simple game of cards. You bet and you lost, fair and square. I’ll be ‘round tomorrow to pick up the Red Coral. What say you, noon?”

Argus forced his hands to unclench as he pulled back slowly into his chair a grin playing across his face. “Aye, noon it is.”

Jones gave him a hard look, “You wouldn’t want to cheat me on a bet, Captain Argus, I would chase you down where’er you sailed if you did.”

Argus returned the hard look, “I ne’er welch on a bet. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.” And sometimes, he thought to himself, you win even when you lose.

Captain Ezekiel Jones stepped lightly out into the tropical night air feeling thoroughly pleased with himself. After tonight, he could finally make good on his promise to his first mate, and friend, Casey, and make him the Captain of his own ship. Captain Casey Dawkins, had a nice ring to it, he thought, as he hurried towards his own ship to make plans for tomorrow.

The sun was directly overhead and hot with only a faint breeze coming off the sea as Captain Jones along with Casey and four other swarthy sailors at their heels headed straight for the sloop to take them to their new ship. Casey Dawkins couldn’t hide the pleasure in his eyes at possessing this formidable ship that rivaled Captain Jones’ The Jewel of the Damned. The group’s pace slowed as it neared the sloop. A large group of the Red Coral’s crew gathered around with Captain Argus standing squarely out front.

“You think he’s up for fightin’ you over it?” Casey said.

“I was afraid of it once he sobered up and realised what he’d lost, but I’d hoped the sting of not following through on a bet would keep him slightly honest,” said Jones. His men were fully armed but there were more men out front then they could handle and if worse came to worst he would let Argus’ reputation take a tumble and justify his sweet trade of the Red Coral out on the high seas.

Captain Argus the Black stood out front, feet planted firmly on the dock with a broad smile on his face. “Ahoy, Captain Jones! Fine afternoon for settlin’ a bet, isn’t it?”

Captain Jones felt a stone drop in the pit of his stomach as he slowed to a stop across from Argus. He raced over the details of the game last night but could not find any way out for Argus. So why was Argus so confident?

“Aye, it is. So, I’ve come for my ship and Casey Dawkins here will be captain. He’d entertain keeping on some of the crew after...” Jones was drowned out by Argus throwing his head back and laughing along with the crew behind him. On lookers started gathering behind Jones to watch the spectacle.

“Oh, I be sorry Captain Jones, that was funny.”

“I be glad you find it amusing Argus, but you lost your ship, the Red Coral, to me in a bet last night at our poker game. I’m here to collect at noon as we agreed. Unless you be welchin’ on the bet... then, believe me, I be placin’ a black spot on your head.”

Argus chuckled again and said, “No, no you be not mistaken. I did bet Red Coral,” he reached behind him and flung a person dressed in tatters and dirty from head to foot onto the dock in front of him. The person’s cap fell off and a dirty tangle of bright red hair spilled out. “What you be mistaken about is which Red Coral. This is the Red Coral I was bettin’.” Argus chuckled as his crew bellowed again with laughter behind him. The crowd behind Jones was starting to chuckle as well.

Jones eyed the heap in front of Argus, “Now Argus, that doesn’t look like a ship.”

“Well, I never said ship now did I Jones? Aye, I didn’t. I said, and I be quotin’ here, I be bettin’ Red Coral and this here is Red Coral. Not my fault you don’t know the difference between a wench and a ship.” The crowd and Argus’ crew laughed heartily again.

“It’s a woman? You had a woman on your ship?” Jones stepped forward to nudge the heap with the toe of his boot. Everyone on the dock fell silent.

“Aye, I won her in a bet as well and figured I’d pass the good luck on to you.” Jones walked slowly around the unmoving heap and looked at Casey, who looked for all the world like someone had just kicked his puppy over the side of the ship. He shrugged his shoulders.

“All right, Argus,” he said. “Get up, Red Coral. Follow me.” He turned around and walked away from the snickers of the crew and the on lookers dispersed disappointed at the lack of a fight or at least an argument. Casey was the one who looked behind to see if Red Coral was following. Her curtain of dirty, red hair covered her face.

“What are we going to do with her?” said Casey.

“I’m hopin’ she’ll just run off.”

“And if she doesn’t?” Red Coral was walking slowly behind them. “Because she’s still followin’ us.”

“I have no idea,” sighed Captain Ezekiel Jones. And he really didn’t.

Chapter 2

One by one the crew looked up as word spread that Captain Jones was returning with Casey, the four soldiers and a woman. The crew gathered around silently as they boarded the ship. Finally, Jones turned to Red Coral and told her to go below to find some food and clean up. She dutifully scurried past the men. Hostile eyes followed her route then snapped back to the Captain.

Jones held up his hands, “I know, yes, she’s a woman. No, she’s not stayin’ on the ship.”

“What happened?” said Second in Command, Sword Jugglin’ Darius. “We thought you were coming back with the Red Coral?”

“So did we,” said Casey as he slumped towards the forecastle deck.

“Sorry, mateys,” said Jones, “Captain Scallywag Argus claims that woman’s name is Red Coral and that is what he was bettin’ last night at the Peg Leg.” The crew looked at each other in shock and some in amusement.

“That was clever of him, Captain, surely you be not letting this go?” Darius spoke what the rest were thinking.

Captain Jones’ brown eyes turned to stone and his voice turned cold, “By the powers, I fully intend to go on the account and send that squiffy Argus to Davey Jones’ Locker where he belongs.”

He found her in the galley gulping down the ship’s fresh provisions of salt pork, biscuits, cheese, and grog. It would be many months before the provisions turned into the wormy, moldy, sour, and putrid mess that the crew had to stomach until they reached the next port. It was feast or famine on a pirate ship and this woman looked like she’d seen more famine than feast lately.

She paused in her chewing to eye him over her spoon then returned to her food, but cautiously, as if she expected it to be yanked away from her. She was dirty! Filthy, even by a pirates’ standards, which were none too high to begin with, and smelly too. He honestly couldn’t tell what she looked like other than she was slim and of average height.

He decided not to spook her any further by getting closer so he settled down at a table farther away. Sea Monkey Sid, the cook, dropped a mug of grog in front of the Captain and said, “She hasn’t spoken a word, but she’s workin’ on her second helpin’.”

Jones nodded, took a long drink before turning his attention back to the woman, “You won’t be stayin’ on the ship. I thought we could get you cleaned up after you finish eatin’ and look into settin’ you up at the Peg Leg or some such place at port.” She continued chewing so he took another long drink before asking, “What say ye, Red Coral?”

“My name isn’t Red Coral. It’s Sophie Haggerty, not Red Coral,” she lowered her spoon and looked up at Captain Jones, her green eyes bright with unshed tears, “And if it’s all the same to you, I’d like to stay on the ship until I can figure out a way to kill Captain Argus the Black and feed his body to the sharks.”

“You can’t mean to let her stay!” said Casey. After talking with Sophie, Captain Jones had sought out his first mate.

“She’s still eatin’ and I’ve sent someone round to fetch her some new clothes to wear when she finishes gettin’ cleaned up.” Jones had admired Argus’ ruthless plunder of the merchant vessel unlucky enough to cross his path, but Argus had turned truly sadistic when it came to her crew and unfortunately the couple of passengers on board, which included Sophie Haggerty and her father. She described how he’d gutted her father like a fish and tossed him bit by bit into the sea for trying to protect her from Argus. He kept her as a part of the ‘booty’ and when he’d tired of her, left her to survive amongst the crew. Jones shook his head as if to clear it and wondered how much of Sophie was left and how much had died on the Red Coral. “Simply put,” he said, “She wants revenge, as I do. You ha’e to respect that.”

“But she can’t, she won’t. Not against someone like Argus,” said Casey.

“I know. Which is why she’ll be stayin’ here. If not workin’ at the Peg Leg, then somewhere else at whate’er suits her.”

“Do you ha’e a plan then?”

“Not yet, but I am workin’ on it,” said Captain Jones softly, “I can take revenge enough for the both of us.”

Captain Jones leaned over his desk studying the charts before him when the door to his Great Cabin banged open. A young woman stood there in a slightly worn full, ankle length skirt of dark brown with an off-white, long sleeve blouse and a black corset tied snugly around her waist. Her now shiny, red hair was pulled back from her face with a handkerchief, but spilled over her shoulders in soft waves showing off a slightly thin but otherwise perfect face. Perfect, except for the green eyes that held a flame of pure anger and the mouth set in a firm, hard line. He knew he was staring, but couldn’t help it. Was this the real Sophie Haggerty?

“I thought after telling you my story that it would stir some pity in your heart, a tall order considering you’re a pirate.”

“I heard you Miss Haggerty. It is Miss Haggerty, isn’t it?” He saw a shadow of sadness pass over her features before returning to an even sharper anger than before.

“Yes, it is,” she said sharply.

“Look, all the jacks on this ship still consider a woman on a boat for any voyage to bring bad luck. The fact that the merchant vessel you traveled on was taken by Captain Argus just confirms their superstition.”

“But you don’t believe a woman brings bad luck.”

“It doesn’t matter what I believe.” He held up his hand to stop her, “I also understand your reasons for wanting to see Argus dead and I fully agree with them. I have my own reasons for wanting to keelhaul him across my ship. My next account will be the sweet trade of the Red Coral. I give you my word, we will both have our revenge.”

“How can I know what your word is worth? You’re a pirate. You’ll be out at sea and lose interest as soon as you run across a fat, rich ship.”

“He made me look like a squiffy in front of the whole port.”

“He hurt your pride? That’s your reason for revenge? He killed my father!” He came around his desk to close the distance between them.

“You be not the first to lose a loved one at sea, lass.”

“But, you cannot expect me to stay or live in this God forsaken port in the middle of nowhere...”

“No, I don’t. I except you to save your money and buy or earn a passage back where you came from. Surely, there is family somewhere waiting for you. Go home.” He took her arm and turned her around and lead her outside his cabin. “Darius will escort you to the Peg Leg and see you set up there.”

Chapter 3

Every night was lively in Porto Bello. Especially Friday nights, since it was considered bad luck to start a voyage on a Friday. Captain Jones ordered some of the crew on shore to put on a good show while he stayed behind with Casey and the rest of the crew to start putting plans into motion.

Porto Bello was a crescent shape carved out of the jungle with a naturally deep harbor that made it a perfect port. The fortress was built out of coral rock mined from the harbor with walls three feet thick. Porto Bello had two seasons - wet and dry. Now, was the dry season. The biggest occupation for everyone was keeping the jungle from creeping in and overtaking the town. It was a quiet, almost peaceful town until the Spaniards sent the gold and silver they’d collected from the interior back to Spain. Then everyone was busy moving cargo from the two story Customs House, decorated with graceful arches and heavily guarded, to the ships. The biggest building in town sat right on the edge of the harbor making it easy to transfer the riches by ship across the ocean.

The town was divided into four sections - Triana for the poor and slaves, Merceds for the rich, Guinea for the free negros, and the shanty town for everyone else. The inhabitants of Merceds enjoyed Plaza de la Mar surrounded by the King’s houses, the Cathedral of San Felipe, a Convent, and a hospital. Down a side street about 100 feet away and over a small bridge was the other plaza. It was just called the Plaza and people gathered there day and night to drink, eat, smoke, seek pleasure and generally pass the time.

The Peg Leg was a short walk down one of the many side streets leading away from the Plaza. Sophie found herself staring up at the sign, unable to move. Captain Jones was true to his word and set her up at the Peg Leg with instructions to take care of her or let her seek other work if she wanted. What she wanted was to scream, tear everything within reach to pieces, basically, fall apart. Instead, she stood frozen, wistfully thinking that time would stop and wait for her if she did. Darius brought her here but couldn’t force her to enter, so he reluctantly left her standing outside. She told Captain Jones the parts of her story that she could, as for the rest, she wasn’t sure she would ever be able to put it into words. Right now she thought that was for the best.

“Lass. Lass?” Sophie felt a light touch on her arm which finally broke her reverie and forced her to turn her attention to a short, old woman looking up at her. “Are you all right?” Sophie didn’t want to answer that question. “Do you have business in there?” The old woman looked at the battered door of the Peg Leg where muffled shouts and laughter could be heard. “It’s not the worst place around here, but I wouldn’t go in unless I had to.”

“There’s only one thing I have to do,” said Sophie.

“What’s that Lass?” Sophie started. She hadn’t meant to say it out loud. She didn’t want to answer that question either and shook her head. “Dear, I’m an old woman and prone to meddlin’ so please take no offense, but there is the Black Christ of Porto Bello at the Cathedral. He was a gift that floated into the harbor one day to protect us from an epidemic. He’s our patron saint. Take the widest street out of the Plaza and cross the bridge to the Plaza de la Mar. You’ll find him there and the Convent of Mary.” The old woman squeezed her arm and then shuffled off into the dark.

A convent and after the weekend a way to send a message home. She would at least let the rest of her family know she was alive. She started making her way back toward the Plaza. She didn’t get far.

Chapter 4

Several of Argus’ crew spotted the pretty red head, making her way across the Plaza.

“That be her, all cleaned up?”

“Aye and if it isn’t, we’ll still ha’e a bit o’ fun.” They spread out to intercept her and quickly cornered her in the street off of the Plaza right before the bridge leading to the Plaza de la Mar. It was indeed Argus’ red head and at this time of night there was no one traveling between the two plazas.

Jones’ crew had been ordered to act as if they were just having a good time on a Friday night. Their real job was to keep an eye on Argus’ men while Captain Jones and the rest of the crew were planning an attack on the Red Coral. Porthole Bryan spotted Sophie as well and sent one of the men to tell Darius who was on the other side of the Plaza. By the time Darius and his men reached the bridge they found a circle of men around Sophie. Sophie was wild eyed and holding a dirk that she managed to take from one of the pirates. The short blade was covered in blood and several of the pirates were bleeding from small wounds and cursing loudly.

“Barnacle Breath!” Darius yelled above the din.

“This is none of your business, Sword Juggler. If your Captain doesn’t want her, then she’s fair game.”

“No, she isn’t. He put her where he wanted her, so let her be! Besides, you won’t get any farther with her alive. I think she’s made that clear, even to a sprog like you Barnacle Breath.”

Barnacle Breath Malroy spit, “Dead or alive, I be not sure it matters any more.” Both sides drew their weapons and circled each other warily. Sophie tried to cross the bridge, but one of the pirates she scratched blocked her way and pulled a short dagger out of his boot with a grin. The sound of steel being pulled from it’s resting place filled the dry, cool night air and with a cry the fighting began. Jones’ men were not as drunk as Argus’ and quickly started taking the advantage. Darius began to make his way to Sophie to try and at least get her across the bridge out of harm’s way. Rabble would not be tolerated in the Plaza de la Mar. There were more of Argus’ men afoot that night and one of their crew must have alerted them because more came pouring up the street toward the fight. The river that ran under the bridge lead past the docks so Jones’ men started to head toward the bridge.

“Darius! Watch out!” Porthole Bryan yelled. It was too late, a dagger sunk into Darius’s side. He pulled away and stumbled backwards into Sophie. The rest of Jones’ crew closed in a tight circle around Darius. He gathered himself, wrapped his free arm around Sophie and hissed, “Back to the ship! Now!” and flung them over the bridge. The rest of the men quickly followed.

The adrenaline rush that woke Argus’ men at first, quickly wore off with the cold water and slippery banks of the river bed. They soon lost interest in the chase and instead hurled insults after the retreating men. Barnacle Breath Malroy pulled his flintlock from his belt, took aim at the red hair fleeing in the dark, and fired.

Chapter 5

By the time they reached the small sloop, the men were half carrying, half dragging Darius across the dock. Porthole Bryan helped Sophie onto the sloop, her left arm covered in blood. Everyone boarded and headed for Nombre de Dios. The Spaniards abandoned this harbor many years ago in favor of Porto Bello. The pirates soon took it over as a safe place to dock their ships while scouting the other small harbors with sloops or dinghies. The men set off hoping that Captain Jones still had enough time to put his plan into action.

The Jewel of the Damned rose up to greet them just inside the entrance of the harbor. It’s three masts covered with dark, emerald green sails gave vessels a false sense of hope that nothing that beautiful could be deadly. The sloop was spotted long before they arrived. One look at Darius and Captain Jones sent him straight away to the infirmary with Jake Sawbones, the ship’s doctor. Porthole Bryan recounted the events to the crew standing around, all eyes on Sophie. She moved towards Captain Jones, but he interrupted her, “Take her to Sawbones as well. Porthole Bryan, you’re Second in Command now. Mateys! We be going ahead as planned. Prepare the fire ships.”

Chapter 6

The Red Coral lived up to her name with sails colored a bright red, a sign of the violence to come to any ship she was bearing down on at sea. Captain Argus smelled the air and thought it was still, too still. He roused himself and gave his Second in Command the order to round up the crew on shore. The Second in Command, Bart Leadfoot started to ask for more time, it being a Friday and all. He was silenced with a glare from Argus, “Round them up now!”

He made his way to the poop deck, uneasiness filling his gut. He knew Captain Jones would confront him at the first opportunity, he thought at sea. He also thought him a tad soft with an unruly crew. Something on the air told Argus he just might have underestimated Captain Jones. Caution and crew be damned, he thought, bellowing orders, “Everyone up and at the ready. We sail tonight!” Men scrambled to follow his orders. Soon there was a shout from the starboard side. Bart Leadfoot limped quickly up to the Captain, “There be movement on the water Captain. It looks like small sloops, one of which I think belongs to the Jewel of the Damned.”

“Get us out of this harbor now, Leadfoot.”

“Aye, aye Captain.”

Darius was dying. Sophie mopped his brow as Sawbones did his best to make him comfortable. After the doctor saw the bruising on the front of his stomach he shook his grey head, “He’s bleeding inside.” He turned his attention to Sophie as another crew member held her down. Luckily, the lead ball passed through muscle and missed the bone. To her credit, she didn’t scream, much, as he dug it out. Sawbones pocketed the lead ball and headed top side.

Sophie made her way painfully to Darius’ side to provide what comfort she could, “I’m so sorry, Darius.”

“Nay, lass, don’t be worrying. To go to the Fiddlers Green in a beautiful woman’s arms ain’t such a bad thing.” Sophie helped him drink and when he closed his eyes, she grabbed the dirk and headed to the main deck as well.

Captain Jones wanted two things tonight - the Red Coral and Captain Argus the Black dead. He heard the grim news and took the lead ball from Jake Sawbones. He loaded his own flintlock with it, intending to bury it in Argus’ belly. Sword Jugglin’ Darius was the best Second a Captain could ask for. Once he earned the crew’s respect, the Jewel ran smoothly through fair weather and foul. He spied Sophie coming towards him, bandaged up and armed, “How be you?”

“I’m sorry!” tears finally running down her face, “I couldn’t stay at the Peg Leg. I went to the convent to wait out the weekend and send a message to my family.” He moved to touch her but he didn’t want to cause her any more pain.

“Please, just stay out of harm’s way. There’s accounts to be settled tonight.”

Captain Jones sent the fire ships ahead so as soon as the Red Coral made it out of the harbor she was blocked in by fire. The Red Coral was short half her crew and moving slowly because of it. Jones knew Argus must head towards Porto Bello to pick up the rest of his crew and was waiting there for the ambush.

The fire ships were blazing and lit the Red Coral and the Jewel of the Damned as they drew up alongside one another. Crews rushed to the sides armed with daggers, cutlasses, axes, and grappling hooks. The Jewel of the Damned prepared to board the Red Coral. Crew from the Jewel began throwing crowsfeet across the main deck and howls of pain went up as unlucky jacks stepped on the sharp points. Grappling hooks went sailing overhead and struck the sides of the Red Coral with a solid thunk! Red Coral’s crew desperately hacked at the ropes and a few went below to aim a cannonball at the Jewel’s side.

Jacks from both sides started swinging over and Argus’ crew from Porto Bello could be seen picking their way over the water through the fire strewn debris. Captain Jones swung over to the Red Coral as a cannonball went off from the Jewel barely missing him as it slammed into the side of the Red Coral sending wood splinters flying. He landed on the deck and started hacking away, bellowing, “Argus! I challenge you!”

It took some minutes of intense fighting before his words finally sunk in and the Red Coral’s crew looked to Captain Argus. They were sorely outnumbered with flintlock fire keeping the sloop with their remaining crew away from both ships.

“Argus you squiffy of a Captain, I challenge you here and now!”

“Aye, I’ll just bet you do,” Captain Argus said as he made his way down to the main deck drawing his cutlass out as he drew near. Both men circled each other as the crew marked the outline of a wide circle for them.

Captain Argus moved in quickly to strike the first flurry of blows, testing Captain Jones’ ability. Jones parried and moved back to the edge of the circle before countering a blow, sending Argus back to the middle. Argus charged back swinging. Jones fended him off but as he moved to the side, Argus swung behind his back and slashed him across the chest. Seeing his blade strike, Argus spun around and charged again only to miss a thrust and feel steel cut across his shoulder. Jones grunted with the effort of continuing the attack, forcing Argus to retreat across the circle to the quarter deck. Argus bellowed with frustration as Jones cut him again on the arm. He lunged at him, throwing his weight into it. Jones lost his balance for a second that cost him a slash, this time to his stomach.

Both men moved apart for breathing room. Captain Jones’ jacks cheered louder as he rushed in for another attack. They fought to the middle of the circle, crossing swords until Argus threw Jones off. Jones came back quickly, wearing Argus down until with a sidestep and lunge, Jones plunged his cutlass into Argus’ body. They remained poised for a moment before Argus slumped heavily to his knees, his cutlass clattering to the deck.

Argus gasped, clutching his stomach rocking back on his heels, “There, there Captain Jones. You’ve won the challenge. I be making my way to the sloop with the rest of my crew that wants to follow.”

Jones circled him slowly, “I could, but that, was for Sophie Haggerty. This,” he said as he pulled his flintlock from his waist, “is for Sword Jugglin’ Darius.” The sound of the flintlock was deafening after the noise of the sword fight. Argus fell forward in slow motion as Jones’ crew roared in triumph.

Chapter 7

Captain Casey Dawkins saw to Barnacle Breath Malroy and the few remaining crew of the Red Coral that continued to fight after Argus’s body was dumped overboard. The Red Coral suffered some damage but she was sea worthy and ready to set sail. Captain Jones and Captain Dawkins decided, since they had the two fastest ships at sea, to go into the buccaneer business and build a pirate fleet of their own.

Sophie Haggerty stood on deck smelling the salt air. Captain Jones offered to take her to any port she wished so she could return to her family, but Sophie just smiled warmly at Captain Jones and said, “I thank you for the kind offer, but I’ve decided, it’s a pirate’s life for me.”