Origins of A Pirate
Chapter 13 (the unlucky chapter)
Jack had never seen anything like it. A place so dishonest that honesty was considered a plague. A place where women and rum came easy, but earning a living did not. A place known as Tortuga.
It was the perfect place to pick up a crew and use as a port, a safe harbor against the spying eyes of the British monarchy and the East India Trading Company- a ruthless business establishment intended to bring "prosperity" to those living in the area. They had gradually taken control of the entire area, turning the Caribbean way of life on its belly.
No longer were men permitted to sail wherever they pleased with the wind on their backs and the sea lapping at their boots. No longer could they buy and sell as they pleased, with out a care in the world over taxes and tariffs. The liberties once just taken for granted were now gone with the wind in every port in the Spanish Main. Every port, that is, except for Tortuga.
Tortguta was a new chance at life for Jack, as it was for so many who called it home. It was a chance at living the life he had been cheated out of when his mother died. It was the life on easy street.
Up until now, Jack, Teague, and Ginny had been pilfering only the smallest of merchant vessels, with naught but a few weapons. They took whatever they could find, whether it could be a few coins, a bolt of cloth, or if they were lucky-food. Due to the malnutrition often experienced, each had grown much skinnier in the past years, the ribs and bones that poked out made them look much like skeletons. But they would be hungry no more, as they were about to move up in the ranks. They were going to find a crew.
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The first mission was simple: A band of three petty thieves- possibly including a child or two were stealing small trinkets and provisions from merchant ships in the seas around the Caribbean. The orders were clear: find them, brand them, and teach them how to behave. According to Commodore Higgins, this was simply an act of desperation, of poverty.
They just needed to be warned of the consequences of their actions if they should continue such behavior in the future. After all, the three were simply small time criminals, and it was most certain that stealing food was not a crime worthy of a noose.
The new recruit knew this first mission would be the start of an impeccable career, full of adventure and danger.
Cut smiled to himself. He was on his way up.
Alright I tried to write this faster but I'm still procrastinating. Thanks to everyone who has been reviewing. I want to give a shoutout to oceangoddess, thanks for sticking with the story and reviewing every chapter. I appreciate the comments. If anyone knows of anything (and i mean ANYTHING) I can do to make it better, please PLEASE feel free to give critisism. If I don't update the next chapter for a while i'm really sorry, but my 15th birthday's coming up in less than a week and then I am going to an art camp, and then I'm going on vacation... but I WILL try to update soon. Well enough of my rambling. I hope I haven't bored you to tears. Thanks for reading!!