Dancing in the Dying Flames

(ACaptainKirklandtale)

I smell the spray of sea on my face, the feel of the wind blowing through the sails... I couldn't imagine life any other way. I am Captain Kirkland, this is my home. I have salty wind blown blonde hair, dead sexy bushy eyebrows, a sash against my chest, and a black Captain hat. Land doesn't satisfy my desire for something' more... Like there is something' missing inside of me. The sea seems to fill in that gap with her bipolar moods. The year be 1588. I am at war with Spain or otherwise known as Antonio although, it has never officially been declared. In spite of being Captain Kirkland, I am also the country of England. I am under orders of the Queen, Elizabeth, or my boss, to raid him whenever I can. My red coat bellows in the wind, testing the wills of the elusive ocean of the Pacific.I tell my loyal crew, "There be no storms in t' sea dog blasted air! Tonight! We raid, Now get goin' you scoundrels!"Later, after we came back with some booty courtesy of Antonio... I start playing with some of his gold pieces then spread it evenly amongst the crew.My lookout suddenly yelled, "Captain! You need t' see this!"I sighed, "I'm comin'... I'm comin', yer scallywag." If I know Salty Sam, then he would be calling me up for just seeing a whale on the horizon. "Salty... If it's another whale, I'm tannin' your sorry flea bitten hide!"He said, "Just come here Captain!" When I came up he just handed me the telescope. "L-look, Captain!"When I put me eye to the telescope, I nearly dropped it. "A lass! There be a lass, floatin' in t' water! Men! Get t' scurvy dog flea bitten ladder! Now! Fetch t' row boat!" I grab a rope and start scaling down the mast quickly. "What be ye standin' here fer?! Do it! Now!"They scrambled to do as I say, "Yarr!" They placed the rowboat in the water while I just jump into it. Something inside me be screaming save this lass!She was floating around a wreckage probably just made by the Spanish Armada... Her hair floating like a red crown around her head. I fastly row to her and pull her in. I put my ear to her mouth just to see if she's breathing... She's not. I put my ear to her chest and I find out she's still alive. I decided right then and there that I be going to try to save this poor soul. I use one of my hands to hold her head in place, I pinch her nose together, and start breathing into her. I do that for a minute or two and finally, I heard a faint coughing sound. I stop and reposition my hands just then to support the deadweight. I just look at her rum red sopping hair. As she grabbed something from the inner folds of her skirts and made a slicing movement in me direction. I automatically drop her and scramble all the way to the other side of the boat. I yelled, "What t' Bloody Hell did yer do that fer!? I just saved your arse!"

This beauty yelled at me, in a musical Spanish accent, "I didn't ask t' be saved! Much less by you! I rather be taken by t' sea, just like me ship... Just like that... me Antonette be gone... Along with all me mates and crew... I rather die with them. T' Captain is supposed t' go down with t' ship, que pasa? All this... nothin'! Idiota! Don't touch me again... Or you... lose... yer... hand." She fell against the boat apparently exhausted.

I sigh and wondered what I should do with this firecracker of a beauty... I decided that I just can't leave her here in this condition. I have no choice but the put her on me Eliza Sunrise. She might not like it but I be damned if I see her die without a chance of survival on this open water with no supplies at all. Though she be going to have to be put in the brig. I don't want her to jump out and try to kill herself, For some reason, I just can't take that.

I row to the boat and said, "Bring me up, Scotty!"

Scotty said, "Aye Captain!" He pulled me up while I put her in my arms and just hope she doesn't wake up.

Scotty nearly dropped the whole boat while I saw his jaw drop. He asked, "A woman, Captain? Are ye sure about this? Women are bad luck on boats."

I stepped on board and said, "Aye... Don't doubt ye Captain, mate!"

I put her in my quarters then I feel through her clothes hoping that I can find that dagger she had hidden. I blush but I can't have any of the crew doing this... Who knows what they might try...

I didn't feel anything on her chest... I just know that her soaking clothes got to be pretty cold, I lift up her skirt just enough to show off a leg to reveal the dagger. I quickly grab it then put it under my pillow, along with her 1 shotgun. I grab a pair of my extra clothes and head out to the brig. I assigned two of my best mates to watch over my cabin just incase she wakes up.

I set up the most comfortable bed with a couple of soft blankets and a goose down pillow. Then I put the clothes hanging on her sink, just incase she wanted to change. I clap my hands together feeling satisfied that I did everything possible to try to make her more comfortable.

I go back to my quarters and I'm just lucky that she didn't wake up. I eat at about half past the noon time with the rest of my crew.

My first mate, Harley Jean, complained, "Why do we have a lass on t' ship?"

I replied, "Because I said so, that's why!"

One of my other crew, One-Eyed Reilly, "Me bets the Capt' has a crush on t' lass. 20 silver pieces, any takers? She sure is a looker... I saw her with me one good eye."

I said, "Shut your crodscottle, sea barnicle, rotten yellow dogged, toothless trap hole! I have no feelin' fer t' Lass... She hates everyone, anyway. Now, if ye don' mind. I got to give our prisoner food."

One of my crew said, while laughing, "Not if you want her to live, Captain!"

I down another pint of my ale and smashed the glass against the table, "Who said that! I'll make 'em walk t' plank!"

They started pointing at each other and I sighed, "Honestly, what am I going to do with me crew... I can' throw you all out!" I laughed and the whole crew laughed with me.

I grab some of the ham the chef made and an orange. I also gather up a pint of water then walk my way down the stairs. I figured after all that salt water, she was thirsty. I knock on the wooden door, "Young Lass... Ye in there?"

I heard her cough then her say, "What do yer want?! Leave me be!"

I open the door, "Good, ye're awake. I reckon that ye be mighty thirsty abou' now."

As soon as I set the tray down right next to her, she tore into it like it was the first meal she had in days. I wonder how long she had been stranded there floating on that driftwood.

After she was done with chowing down, I asked, "What migh' be ye name, Lass?"

She stared at me with her unnerving eyes the color of the purest silver doubloons, just when I think that I won't get an answer, she spoke.

"Me name is Captain Scarlet Lopez de Montanio otherwise known as the 'Red Queen o' the Seas' perhaps ye heard o' me?"

I said, "I don't recall ye name, Lass."

Scarlet said, in her musical accent, "Funny, I have heard of ye... Captain Kirkland. Ye is the most wanted pirate in t' Seven Seas. 70,000 gold doubloons, if ye be caught..."

I nodded, "Indeed. I am Scarlet."

She quickly leaned forward across the table and moved her fist right next to my jawbone. I look down and there was nothing metal there... She looked confused.

I laugh, "It's hard to cut me without a knife... Ain't it, Lass?"

The whole ship rocked, more than usual, and suddenly our bodies was flung across the room together. I hit the door and she fell on top of me. She is cursing some spanish at me as she fell. I automatically grab her and try to shield her as the whole chair comes flying toward us.

Just then, the door flew open with one of my crew yelling, "Captain! Storm ahead! Looks like i's a big 'un!"

Great thanks to talk like a pirate... I had a difficult time without it!

http:/talklikeapirate.com/translator.html