"Where are we Captain, what sort of port is this?"

"Welcome to Singapore, my boy. You are going to love it here."

Chapter ten

Singapore

As we walked along I couldn't help but notice how very different Singapore was from Tortuga.

James took me too all of his favorites.

Finally ending in a pub. I t was the first place that reminded me of home. It was very much like the Faithful Bride. The people were just as loud and lewd.

James ordered us each a tankard of ale then found us a table to sit at.

"What do you think of Singapore?"

"It's very different from Tortuga."

James laughed, "I think you will find most places different from Tortuga."

I missed my home. Actually I missed me mother, but couldn't admit to it, especially not now I was a pirate.

James smiled, "I miss her too."

I looked at him in amazement. "How did you know?"

"I recognized the look. It's all right ya know. We all have someone we miss. The trick, never admit it to anyone."

I nodded me head and took a pull on me drink.

I had drunk ale before, but not as much as I had that night.

When we finally walked out, my walk had a very distinctive swagger to it. I held my arms in front of me moving them about to keep me self from tipping over if not keep from running into anything.

James suddenly started laughing.

"I've never seen anyone walk like that drunk or sober. You look like a drunken snake charmer," he quipped.

I stopped and let me arms go to my side.

"I've drunk ale before, do you suppose theirs is different?"

James stopped beside me. "I know you've drank before, but not as much. We never stayed in any port long enough to have more than one or two."

"True enough."

We began walking again. This time I kept me arms beside me and the swagger wasn't quite so pronounced.

James started up the conversation once more. Here's a thought, the way you walk, if you did that sober no one would pay any heed to ya. They would think you drunk and stay away from ya. You could go anywhere. Perhaps even a Navy port.

I laughed, "What would I be doing in a Navy Prot?"

"You never know," he said and motioned with hand towards me. It could be anything, imagined or unimagined."

I thought about this briefly then let it leave me head.

James suddenly took out his pistol and loaded it.

"Expecting trouble?"

"We be approaching an alley. Murders and thieves have been known to jump someone from alleys especially if they appear drunk."

I reminded him, "James we are drunk."

"Exactly," he said proceeded with caution.

Just as we reach the alley their came a woman's scream. Her scream was rather frightful and deafening. Not to mention sobering. Immediately James ran into the alley pistol at the ready.

I started to follow him when I saw the situation at hand. A man was holding the woman from behind his blade at her throat.

Hoping I had not been seen I went as quickly as I could around the alley until I was in back of it and behind the man.

"Let her go." James shouted at the man.

"Come any closer and I'll slit her throat," came the retort.

I withdrew my sword and moved swiftly. I stopped directly behind him and pressed my sword against his back.

"Drop the blade," I demanded.

He just stood there for what seemed an eternity. For a moment I feared he would not comply so I shouted and enforced my words by pressing my sword harder against him thus piercing the skin.

"I said, drop the blade or I'll run you through."

With that he dropped the blade and let the girl go.

Unfortunately she fell to the ground passed out.

I went to my knees to revive her. When I did this I had set me sword down and turned my back on the man, leaving my self-vulnerable. I looked up in time to see the man retrieve his blade and about to plunge it into me back.

I reached for my sword when came a loud bang and the man fell to the ground dead.

James, who had been standing there, had shot him.

He put away his pistol and came over to the girl and me.

I stared at her not knowing what to do, "She's not breathing."

James pushed me aside and got out his dagger. He quickly cut her dress open then cut the lacing holding her corset together.

With the corset cut away from her she gasped and started breathing again.

I looked at him in awe, "How did you know to do that?"

He chuckled, "Clearly this is your first time to Singapore.