"What took you so long?"
The captain of the HMS Hunter had seen countless battles during his many years of serving with the East India Trading Company. He was credited with being the harshest and cruelest captain to serve under, and every member of his crew sported lash scars on their backs to attest to this fact.
And yet, this big and brawny man flinched when Beckett asked him a simple question in a soft and calm voice.
The two men were currently walking across the deck of the ship, heading for the brig. Down below, Beckett could hear the dog with the keys barking like some kind of wild beast and he inwardly frowned at the idea of having a wild mutt around that liked the pirate.
"After we threw the fat one overboard with a rock around his throat, chaos erupted and we were forced to dock somewhere else for more supplies and to get a doctor onboard." The captain explained. He had been the kind of man who was against having a doctor onboard the ship, saying that letting the weak ones die off was much better for the rest of the crew.
"Chaos? On your ship?" Beckett stopped walking and he arched an eyebrow at the man questioningly.
"The one eyed bloke you wanted kept alive…He just started wailing and screaming like a wounded animal or something."
"And this is the supposed chaos?"
"He…He tried to kill himself a few times."
"What?!"
Anger was on Beckett's face and the captain winced and groaned softly.
"How did this happen?!"
"Well…the first time he tried it, he threw himself overboard and my men were forced to drag him out of the water. The second time, he tried to hang himself with his shirt."
Beckett ground his teeth together for a moment, questioning the man's intelligence and finding him greatly lacking.
"Did he try anymore times?"
"Just one more…"
"Well?"
"He got a hold of a knife…and he had just slit his right wrist when one of my men found him. We were forced to keep him in heavy restraints after that."
Beckett was furious about this, but a sudden thought came to him and he frowned.
"He slit his right wrist first?"
"He's left handed."
"So that's why he was able to play those notes like that…"
"Sir?"
Beckett looked almost surprised that someone was standing beside him while he mused aloud. When he got over it, a smile played on those thin lips of his.
"How long have you been a captain?"
"Fifteen years, sir."
"That's a long time." He commented. "Mercer!" he shouted.
The man seemed to materialize out of thin air.
"Sir?"
"I want that dog and my new harp player washed up and set up in my office in no less than two hours." Beckett ordered, suddenly throwing an arm around the surprised captain's shoulders.
Mercer noted the dangerous look in his master's eyes and when Beckett began to lead the captain over to one side of the ship; his suspicions were confirmed.
Beckett had one hand behind his back, holding a small toy cannon tightly.
A wicked smile crossed Mercer's face as he headed for the brig to collect his master's new toy.
There was a loud bang and the captain of the HMS Hunter was fired without pay.