Chapter Eight – Tales of the Minerva
Diane stood on deck and stared at her sister. She had found Philip. If she wasn't in so much pain from the night before she would jump up and down and hug her sister, however her current state forbade her to do that. She just stood there and stared blankly before breaking into a glorious smile. Her stomach was fluttering with delight. She dearly loved Philip and missed him so very much, and was very worried too. Now her brilliant sister had found him for her.
"Where is he? How long will it take to get there?" she asked her sister eagerly. Lynn walked away from her and up to the quarterdeck. It was with much self-encouragement that Diane followed up the stairs swaying and blinking madly as the bright sun shone into her eyes.
"My sources, my very reliable sources tell me that he is to be found on the pirate ship the Minerva which at this present day is believed to be stationed at a spot on the south east coast-line of the large island off mainland Africa," Lynn said heavily, putting stress on each word to not only tease her sister but because she of what she knew. Diane gasped at her sister's information.
"He has been captured?" she barely breathed as she scurried over to her sister who began steering the beautiful boat. Lynn laughed.
"My dearest sister calm down, I am sure he is fine," she added laughing more. She saw her sister's face and stopped, she wasn't being very sympathetic. "Darling, relax, embrace the ocean. Feel free for once in your life. We will be heading straight for the island. But because it will take a long time to get there we will have to make a few stops along the coast of Africa, come down stairs and I will show you a map and the ports I plan to stop at," Lynn said roping the helm and jumping down to the main deck. Diane followed her down the stairs and marvelled at how much energy Lynn had when she, Diane felt like she was dying very, very slowly. They walked into the map room next to Lynn's cabin and she pulled out a pile of large tattered scrolls. She pulled one out and laid it across the large wooden table. It was a map of Africa with some seaports marked along its coastline. Diane looked over the browning map and her eyes travelled to the island. There weren't any markings of town along its coastline; she figured European countries hadn't discovered it yet.
"This," Lynn said pointing to a marking on the map in a town on the upper west of Africa, "Is a port called Casablanca. We will make for there before travelling down to this island. The reason for that is it is a very busy seaport, so there will be all the supplies we need. It takes about two, two and a half months to get there given that the conditions are fairly reasonable, we move at a steady pace, don't encounter any hazards be it a storm or other ships and don't require repairs," she said. Diane was a bit uneasy; it was going to take longer than she thought. Two months just to get to this town of Casablanca and then how long until the island?
"After that," Diane continued, "We shall be moving south and hopefully providing we don't have restock or encounter any problems we shall port here," she said pointing to a port marked on the cape at the very south of Africa, "Cape Town. I plan to actually stay there for a week because by that time we will have done nearly five months of straight sailing with a short stop in Casablanca. Takes a lot out of you. After Cape Town we will move north east towards the island and port here," she said pointing to an unmarked spot on the island.
"What is there?" Diane asked looking cautiously at the point where Lynn had her finger.
"Pirate hub; very popular place for those travelling to the Indies and East. Much like Tortuga 'cept bigger," Lynn concluded, "We will be able to get more in depth information about your husband and the Minerva'swhereabouts. We will also stock up there for the journey back to Casablanca, especially if we need to make a quick escape," she added.
"Why would we need to make a quick escape?" Diane asked worried not looking at her sister. Lynn turned away and walked to the window. She peered out and looked at the wake her beloved ship made. The sky was a brilliant blue and the ocean sparkled green and blue. She thought she could see a grey dolphin jumping through the waves but it was nothing than the light catching the water. The ocean was clear out there. It was Lynn's secret wish to be a sea creature so she could live in the ocean. So being a pirate and owning a ship was the closest thing. Turning away from the picturesque scene Lynn remember her frantic sister.
"Have you heard of the curse of the Black Pearl?" Lynn asked.
"Yes, but apparently that isn't true anymore. However, I did here it and it was awful, really horrible," she said shaking her head and pulling out a chair.
"Well, you may be shocked my darling sister but the Minerva is worse," Lynn said. There really was no escaping the truth, especially when it came to Diane.
"What?" Diane uttered after a short pause.
"The Minerva is a pirate ship feared by all, some won't even mention the name. It is said to have been made from rotting wood and the black sails are stain with blood. Held together by the magic of the devil. The pirate banner has no emblem that is the way they know who it is approaching. The crew crave blood and when they attack your ship scream at a blood curdling pitch signifying the slaughter. They are demons not for this world or the next, living only on what they can kill. The ship is said to be cursed, well blessed almost. Anyone who comes in contact with faces death and is army, there is no bridge to survival," she said seriously. Diane was shaking at what her sister was telling her, "The captain is something different. He is the grim reaper. He is pictured as wearing an all black ensemble; black breeches, black shirt, black vest, black jacket, black hat. It is truly frightening. His hair is long, black and curly and his eyes are like beetles. He is said to be Brazilian as is his wife. She is like the bloodthirsty queen that is never spoken of. She never leaves her husbands side and it is said that he cut out her tongue to show his power. However that is just a story. I have had the pleasure"(she said with a hint of sarcasm)"To meet this powerful woman. She is like a goddess; I have never met anyone like her. She is defiantly Brazilian but native not Spanish. She has an eye of steel and her wit and tongue is as sharp as a razor. I have never met a woman more powerful. But she is frightening, like a witch.
"His name is Captain Domicino Temido and hers is La Maria Temido agents of the devil. No man as ever lived after falling into a battle with the Minerva and her crew. They are said to have a fleet of twenty ships, which they have taken. And they are the richest pirate's ever, in the whole world. It is said that they have plantations all over the Caribbean and mansions in Brazil and Spain. No one in their right mind would walk up to them, to challenge them. You are very lucky that I love you and are willing to do anything for you because you do not want to mess with these pirates," Lynn finished. Diane was almost in tears and shaking so violently. Lynn laughed weakly.
"My husband, my darling is in the hands of blood-thirsty pirates!" she wailed. Dropping her face into her hands and sobbing. Lynn moved to her and crouched down.
"Come on Diane, let's get something to eat and not think about it. I will get you out of those clothes and put you in some sensible ones. Then you can help the crew out; no point you wandering around this ship for five months doing nothing," Lynn said pulling Diane to her feet. She wiped her eyes and cupped her cheeks, "Come on darling," she said and lead her out of the room and to the gallery.
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Diane was assigned to mopping the quarterdeck and then the main deck that afternoon. Lynn had lent her some clothes and gave her an easy job because she knew she would never have ever done any strenuous work in her life, maybe gardening but that was hardly work. Even mopping the deck Lynn got grumbles and groans. Diane was not a work kind of person and having been brought up having people wait on her didn't help.
"Hello there," Joshua said foolishly walking up to Diane as the sun was setting; most of the crew were hanging around drinking and laughing. Some were adjusting the sails, others repairing parts of the ship not attached. She growled in reply. He took a step back, "Sorry just wondering if you wanted a drink," he said slightly shocked.
"I am just tired," she said placing the old, dirty mop in its bucket and leaning against the rails. She reached for a bottle of rum that he was holding expecting something different. She swallowed and almost chocked, "Oh no not this stuff again," she said looking at the amber liquid her throat burning. Joshua laughed.
"Sorry, s'all we go in way of alcohol," Diane nodded, giving in. She sipped it again not as shocked this time, "What have you been up this afternoon?" He asked leaning against the rail next to Diane who stood straight and tall, very lady-like.
"Mopping the main and quarterdeck," she said with a sigh Joshua chuckled.
"That took you all afternoon?" he said in a disbelieving voice taking a gulp of rum. She looked at him with and honest look. He stopped drinking and swallowed, "Oh,"
"Yes it did, I am not used to 'working,'" she said almost mocking herself.
"Oh, sorry I didn't mean to…well…ah," he was thunderstruck for words.
"It is alright, I have been brought up in a very different way to you and your fellow crew-men. I have never worn this type of clothing before. This whole experience will take some getting used to," she said sighing and drinking some more. She decided to drink slower than last night, not wanting the feeling of death to wash over her again.
"Well, we are all here to help," he said kindly grinning at Diane. She raised her eyebrow and took a sip of rum. There was a pregnant silence where they stood drinking trying to think of what to say.
"So, you know where we are planning to go?" Joshua said slowly, trying to think of what to say.
"Yes, the island off Africa to the south east. We are porting at the pirate hub there," Diane said a little too sharply.
"Ah, good. The pirate town is called Ramora. Much nicer than Tortuga trust me been there a few times," Joshua said. Diane smiled faintly.
"Well lets just hope my husband isn't dead there," she said darkly.
(A/N: Sorry so short writer's bloody block! Review!)