Desperately Seeking Sally
Chapter Three
Almost immediately after I had pulled myself onto the quarterdeck, I had to parry the spear of a Monquistador, embedding the spearhead in the railing before I slammed the hilt of my sword down onto his helmet.
Drawing a pistol, I stunned a Monquistador crossbowman just as he was about to take a cheap shot at one of my men, stunning him.
A crossbow bolt suddenly grazed my shoulder, tearing my blue overcoat, and I turned to see a Monquistador crossbowman scurrying up the rigging.
Aiming my pistol, I pulled the trigger, and the Monquistador crossbowman fell to the deck behind a line of Monquistadors armed with spears about to charge.
Pointing my sword at them, I fired Gunnery at the Monquistadors, and without waiting for them to fall, I ran around them atop the El Pretension's railing to confront the Brass Monkey.
Almost immediately after I had landed on the deck behind the pilot's wheel, I had to lean backwards to avoid the electrical burst fired from the Brass Monkey's pistol.
Sheathing my sword, I drew the two pistols at the back of my waist and fired twice, missing the first shot but managing to hit the Brass Monkey's hand with my second.
As his fingers let go of his pistol, I drew my last pistol and fired at his chest, stunning him before he could draw his sword. Throwing him over my shoulder, I shouted for the men to fall back to the Aquila.
We unfurled our sails and left the Antilles Maelstrom, leaving the few remaining crewmembers of the El Pretension to repair their ship.
"No! Treachery! Deceit! You cheat, you liar, you fiend! I curse your name! I will have my vengeance, Pirate! I will have my vengeance!" Count Brastillo de Brass howled, a few seconds after he had regained consciousness just when I handed him to two of the men to be dragged away to the brig.
With our prize in hand, we sailed west to the Port Regal blockade, where I stood aboard the Aquila's quarterdeck with the Brass Monkey in tow to speak with the captain of one of the blockade runners.
"Here now, you've captured the Brass Monkey? Well done! Take this little monkey to the governor in Port Regal for his just desserts." The captain said as he shook my hand vigorously.
The blockade let us through, and after weeks of being so far from home, I was finally home, and aboard my own ship too.
"Let's deal with the governor quickly so we can find this Gilbert Sally mentioned." Emmett said as I and my trusted associates stepped off the gangplank onto the docks, and from there, we walked amongst the familiar buildings to the governor's office with the Brass Monkey in tow.
Governor Stanley was a German shepherd, and he wore a black three-cornered hat with golden embroidery over a white barrister's wig, a formal brown overcoat over a jabot and black waistcoat and white shirt, tan trousers, and black shoes with brass buckles and white knee socks.
"I understand you've singlehandedly brought this villain to justice. Congratulations, Captain Exeter, and welcome back to Port Regal." Governor Stanley said as he shook my hand, looking at the Brass Monkey.
"You're quite the adventurer, eh? Never took ship, myself – it was Her Majesty's army for me, where I was the very model of a modern major general."
"You've dealt a great blow for Marleybone against our enemies. Here is but a slight reward for your efforts." Governor Stanley said as one of his servants brought us a bag of gold coins.
"I curse your name! Beware, Pirate! The prison has not been built that can hold me! I will have my vengeance!" Count Brastillo de Brass howled as he was carried away by two redcoats out of the governor's office.
"Well, that's the last we'll see of that little blowhard! Now, where do we find Gilbert?" Bonnie asked, satisfied as we left the governor's office.
"That can wait until tomorrow. It's getting dark, and Rena and I know just the place." I said, sharing a smile with Rena. We led the others to my uncle's house, where I knocked on the door.
The door opened, and there stood a woman in a green dress that looked like an older version of Rena. Without waiting for her mother's gasp, Rena threw her arms around her.
Rena released her mother from the hug, and she ushered us inside, where my uncle sat in front of the fire with a cup of tea in his hands.
"Uncle Haytham, it's us." I said and as he turned his head, his eyes widened and he stood to embrace me. A few minutes later after the introductions, we sat around the dinner table, where Rena's mother poured us tea.
"So you've followed in your parents' footsteps." Uncle Haytham said as he sipped his tea. "You know, you remind me a lot of Tessa when she was your age."
Jack nodded as he gulped down his tea. "Matt's so unlike Edward, I sometimes wonder if he's really his son. He's a dead ringer for his mother though, right down to the pretty face."
"What's that supposed to mean?! Are you saying that I look like a girl?!" I demanded. Jack grinned before answering. "Your face has no trace of masculinity, and if it weren't for your hair and clothes, people could easily mistake you for a girl. Come to think of it, even with your hair and clothes…"
"But that's beside the point." Uncle Haytham interrupted. "Your parents were searching for El Dorado when Tessa was pregnant with you, and they went to investigate a lead on Marco Pollo's map when you were five."
"And that's when they went missing..." I asked, staring down into my tea. Jack, who was sitting next to me, patted me on the shoulder. "You talk like they're dead already. They could just be trapped in a dungeon somewhere! I'm sure they'd think of a way to escape if that were the case."
"That's a very comforting thought, Jack." I said dryly as I finished my tea. Saying my goodnights to everyone, I went upstairs to my room to change into a clean white shirt and brown trousers.
The next day, we all enjoyed a breakfast cooked by Rena's mother, who could whip up a five-course meal for twelve from scratch if she put her mind to it. It's a shame that gene skipped over Rena, but at least she makes a killer cup of coffee.
"You're looking for Gilbert, you say?" Uncle Haytham asked as he put down his fork and knife. I nodded as I shoveled another forkful of omelet into my mouth. "He and a pug named Sullivan own the Savoy Mercantile. I believe that I had you run a few errands there when you were younger."
I nodded as I began remembering and handed out my plate to Rena's mother. "We'll set out after breakfast. More please, Mrs. Raden."
After we had said our goodbyes, I led my trusted associates to the Savoy Mercantile, where a brown-haired Dog holding a wooden cane and wearing a red coat over a cravat and waistcoat, trousers, and shoes stood behind a counter.
Next to him was a Pug wearing a brown coat over a blue cravat and black waistcoat, gray trousers held up by a brown leather belt, and black shoes.
"Hail, Man-Of-War's hand, safeguard of our nation! Here find an end, at last, to all privation. See anything you like? Spare all you can afford!" The first dog said dramatically as he swept his arm. His partner sighed.
"Forgive my partner Gilbert. What he means to say is 'Greetings, captain. May we interest you in any of our wares?'" The Pug said.
I shook my head. "What can you tell us about Mustang Sally?"
"What a lady fair to see! Mustang Sally, the pearl of piracy! But I fear she's lost – oh sorrow!" Gilbert said dramatically.
"I understand you're here to find Sally, but I wonder if you might partake of some employment along the way." Sullivan said.
"Ah, when a pirate's not engaged in his employment or maturing his piratical little plans…" Gilbert said, but Sullivan cut him off. "There's a rather important shipment of… goods we've been expecting for some time. Best not get into exactly what they are, you understand?"
"Although our dark career sometimes involves the crime of stealing, we rather think we're…" Gilbert said, but Sullivan cut him off again. "Enough. Our man Jackstraw was to take delivery in the sewers, but he hasn't come back yet."
"You'll find the drain leading into the sewers under the bridge. Go check on Mr. Jackstraw and see what's what with him."
"We should go." I said as I turned around. We soon found the drain, and Rena drew her knife to pry open the manhole cover. After she had done so, she set it aside and we descended down into the sewers, where some lanterns were already lit.
We soon came across a lit area of the sewers, and I peeked around the corner to find Crab scavengers wielding daggers and harpoons, and a brown Dog wearing a bandana on his head, a green jacket over a white shirt and yellow trousers, and black shoes was chained to the wall.
"Take out the harpooners first with your pistols, and then engage the thugs." I whispered to the others. "Three, two, one…"
On my mark, we leapt out from behind the corner and stunned the harpooners, leaving the remaining thugs with no long-range support.
"Are you here for Jackstraw? Well, we found him first! Get them, lads!" The Crab scavengers' leader shouted. He led the charge towards us, and as he swung his dagger, I ducked down and gave a sharp jab to his stomach, sending him reeling back for me to stun him with an electrical burst from my pistol.
Rena delivered rapid, sharp jabs to another Crab, and Bonnie jabbed another Crab with the superior range of her Scaramanga.
Jack deflected the dagger of another Crab, sending him stumbling forward so he could kick him in between the legs and knock him out with the hilt of his cutlass, and Old Scratch harnessed the power of sewer water to cover another Crab in sludge.
Ratbeard gripped the hilt of his cutlass with two hands and slammed the flat of his blade onto the head of the last Crab, knocking him out, and we got to work on freeing Mr. Jackstraw.
"Gilbert and Sullivan sent us to check on you." I explained to Mr. Jackstraw as I removed the chain from one of his wrists.
"The bosses sent you? Alright then…" Mr. Jackstraw said as he took a sip of Yum from my hip flask, which I had offered to steady him. "Bad news, I'm afraid. The shipment – it's gone!"
"Here I am making sure the delivery's all delivered, when out of nowhere, some bloke gives me a short, sharp shock to the back of my head."
"Nearly killed me, they did! When I come to, it's all of it gone! I've been looking all over down here, but there's no sign."
"We've been robbed! Seeing as how they might not be too fond of me right now, I wonder if you might tell the bosses for me."
I nodded, and we emerged from the drain back into the sunlight of Port Regal. Mr. Jackstraw handed me back my hip flask and began walking home, and the rest of us started heading for the Savoy Mercantile.
"Stolen? Oh bother." Sullivan said after I had given him my report. "Well, here's a how-dee-do. That shipment is eagerly awaited by one of our associates – and it was late already. It will not do to disappoint him."
"The goods are contraband – we can hardly go to the authorities. Indeed, we can't mount a proper search without drawing unwelcome attention."
"We need your help, good captain. Deliver this message to Captain Corcoran, informing him of the delay." Sullivan said as he handed me a letter sealed with a red wax stamp.
As we left the Savoy Mercantile, I heard a familiar voice hiss towards us, and I turned to see Blind Mew standing outside the door of the Savoy Mercantile.
"Kind captain, I've important information – I can be of aid in your current dilemma. Provided, of course, you'd care to make a contribution…" Blind Mew said as he held out his empty tin cup and shook it.