"You can get these sailors to follow you?" One Eyed Hold-Your-Nose Rufus asked Robin, in disbelief. "You? An Earl, so far above them you can't even understand their-"
"We don't have time to argue," Robin interrupted. "Just tell me how you expect the pirates to attack, and let me lead."
Chaos and panic reigned on deck, with sailors rushing about, shouting out oaths and prayers for safety, while terrified passengers wept and screamed, or stood by pale and trembling. One Eyed Hold-Your-Breath Rufus knew he had no choice but to obey Locksley's commands.
"Alright," he said, while Much swiped his hand at the odor of garlic coming from the boatswain's mouth, "the pirate craft is small and light. It will overtake us, and they'll bring it up right up along our side, maybe even ram it into our ship. Then they'll board us, and rape, kill, and plunder."
"How long do we have until they make it here?"
Rufus narrowed his eyes, trying to judge the distance between ships. "I'd say an hour. Two, if we're lucky."
"Good." Before Rufus could stuff another garlic clove into his mouth, Robin leaped onto a barrel and raised his voice above the clamor of terrified voices on deck. "Good people," he shouted, his voice calm, firm, and commanding. Somehow, it rose above the din and quieted it. "We face a dangerous threat, but we need not panic. My friend and I are returning home after five years of battling Saladin's armies, and these pirates, though unprincipled and vicious, do not frighten us. If you will do as I say, we can defeat them, and make them rue the day they dared attack The Trego. Are you with me?"
"Speak for yourself about not being frightened," Much muttered quietly to himself.
A heavy silence was followed by a rousing cheer from nearly all the men on deck.
"How did he do that?" One Eyed Hold-Your-Breath Rufus wondered.
"That's nothing," Much answered him. "Just wait until you see him shoot!"
...
The sailors were relieved to be able to follow orders and strain their muscles, even if some of those orders seemed extraordinary and unusual. Robin of Locksley commanded them to bring up all the cargo they could haul, and stack it down the center of the deck, to build a sort of wall. He'd also ordered caskets of olive oil opened, much of it to be spread on the starboard side of the deck and all along the ship's rail, and down her sides. Heavy crates were roped above. Robin watched them swing in satisfaction as the sailors practiced releasing them.
"Be aware, and stay clear, unless you want to be knocked senseless. These aren't meant to hit you!"
The sailors were virtually unarmed, except for a few knives used to slice through rope. There were also a few spears on board, typically used to catch fish. Robin assigned them to Rufus.
"Now, take care when you throw them," he said. "We don't want to hit anyone in Africa."
The friendly complement paid to his strength completely won over the one eyed sailor, and forged a new friendship between the two men.
While Robin strode the deck, issuing orders, he was stopped by a tug on his sleeve. Looking down, he spied Guiseppe, the ship's small cabin boy.
"Excuse me, sir," Guiseppe said, "but what can I do?"
Robin smiled, and crouched down to meet the boy at eye level. "You're a brave lad, and we need every pair of strong arms onboard. What are you good at, Guiseppe?"
"I'm good with a slingshot, but I don't have any pebbles to shoot."
"Perfect!" Robin cried, delighted. "I need you to stay behind this wall of cargo, and shoot all the pirates you can."
Drawing his knife from its sheath, Robin sliced open the seal on a crate and pried open its lid, uncovering a treasure of colored beads. "Here are your pebbles," he declared proudly.
At that moment, the old Venetian merchant Luchas voiced his complaints.
"Now look here," he objected. "I really must protest! Those beads belong to me, and cost a fortune! I forbid you to use them!"
"Would you rather give them to the pirates, and forfeit the lives of everyone onboard ship?" Robin demanded, his eyes fierce with challenge. "I promise to pay you for your goods, when all this is over."
"You had better," Luchas sneered.
Much took his place by Robin's side. "My master always keeps his word, I've have you know!"
"Much, enough." Turning to Luchas, Robin asked, "Can you fight?"
"Fight? Me? Fight pirates? Are you mad, sir? I'm an old man!"
"Then get below, and comfort your wife. Tell her I said not to worry."
Turning his glance out to sea again, Robin judged it was nearly time. "Godspeed until we meet again, my friend," Robin said, looking Much fondly in the eyes.
"Of all the ships on the sea, how did we manage to board the only one beset by foul and revolting pirates, I'd like to know?" Much cried out in frustration. "And don't you dare claim it's because Trouble always comes looking for you! Oh, I hate this!"
Much withdrew his sword and nervously readied himself for battle, taking his place with the other men onboard behind the wall of cargo. Robin ran and scurried up the pole to take his position in the crow's nest, bow ready to pick off as many pirates as his supply of arrows allowed.