Pirate Legacy
Chapter Nine
As we left Jonah Town in the morning, Jack requested that we stopped at Skull Island.
"Why would we go there?" I asked.
"The Aquila still needs guns and the officers to command them, and I know just the men for the job." Jack answered.
I nodded as I turned the wheel. The Aquila handled like a dream. She was everything I could've hoped for, and more.
"Give me everything you've got, full sail!" I called. The others lowered the sails, and the Aquila began to pick up speed.
"The Aquila flies again! Do you feel it?" Jack cheered as we sailed towards Skull Island.
We dropped anchor at Skull Island and arranged for Emmett and Bonnie to help with the fitting of the cannons.
Jack led Rena and me to a building, a tavern judging from the sign hanging above the door depicting a Yum bottle.
We entered the tavern to see a few dogs at the tables, drinking Yum.
"Hello, Amanda. You're looking as every bit as ravishing as I remembered." Jack said to the barmaid. She was about Jack's age, and obviously used to hard work.
"After all these years you sail all the way to Skull Island to pay me compliments?" Amanda asked.
"We're looking for David and Richard Clutterbuck." Jack answered, getting back to business.
"It's nice to see you, too." Amanda said as she pointed to two men, who looked similar enough to be brothers.
As Jack walked over, they looked up and the older bald brother said, "Jack Russell. Where the hell have you been?"
"Sorry for leaving like I did, lads, but where I was going… No one could know… Do you two have work?" Jack asked. The younger brother with the short hair and beard shook his head.
"Nah, we're between contracts at the moment." The younger Clutterbuck answered.
"Well, we're looking for gunnery officers. What do you say?" Jack asked.
"We'd be for getting into a few more scraps." The younger Clutterbuck said, looking to his brother.
"Good show!" The older Clutterbuck agreed.
"The Aquila is a fine vessel. We're fitting all the guns as we speak..." Jack Russell said. "And I'd like you to meet your new captain, Matt Exeter, and your first mate, Rena Raden."
"This is David Clutterbuck." Jack said, gesturing to the older dog.
"And this is his younger brother, Richard." Jack finished as he gestured to the younger dog. We shook hands, although the brothers were hesitant to shake hands with Rena.
"You have a woman aboard your ship and as your first mate too?" Richard asked me. "It sounds like bad luck to me."
"She's brought nothing to me and my crew but good luck!" I said defensively.
"Is she your girlfriend?" David teased.
"What? No!" Rena and I both said at the same time, flustered. All of them got a laugh out of that.
"Seriously, it's not funny!" Rena protested, turning bright pink. I nodded in agreement.
David and Richard knew some other sailors looking for work, and so we agreed to meet up at the docks.
As we returned to the docks, the Aquila was now equipped with eighteen guns and four swivels.
David, Richard, and many other sailors were already aboard the ship, and they looked impressed.
"We've already assigned the men to their posts." David said. "I'm in charge of the port guns and Richard will take the starboard."
"We're ready to go, Captain." Emmett called. I nodded.
"Then we sail for Flotsam, men!"
The men raised the anchor, and as the men brought us to half sail, we set sail for Flotsam.
We reached Flotsam by taking the orange Windlane to Flotsam Skyway, and I could finally see the ramshackle city for myself.
Legend has it that Flotsam was founded when two rival pirate crews fought an epic battle, only to realize that their cannons had ruined both sets of sails.
The crews banded together to survive, and in time their floating wreck became a new home, and a sprawling city of timber and plank sprung up, and one of the most amazing sights I've seen.
I took Rena, Bonnie, Emmett, and Jack along with me to find One-Eyed Jack, and I entrusted the care of the Aquila to the Clutterbucks.
One of the crew gave us directions to the Black Spot, which was a good thing, because otherwise, it would've taken us the entire day to navigate the city and find the stairs leading to the tavern.
The Black Spot was inside the stern of a first-rate, with glass windows overlooking Flotsam. The barkeep was a white Jackrabbit with an eye patch over his right eye.
He wore a red bandana and many golden rings in his long ears. He wore a blue vest over a red shirt, brown pants, and leather gloves and boots.
"We're looking for One-Eyed Jack." I said as I sat down on one of the bar stools while the others sat down at a nearby table.
"Sure I know him! He's my uncle, you see, and he owns this place. What's your business with Jack? Maybe I can help you." The barkeep said as he handed me a tankard of Yum.
"I'm looking for Ratbeard." I answered as I took a swig from the tankard.
"I know nothing about that. You just missed Jack – he's gone to collect… uh… rent on the other establishments he owns here."
"Head on over to the Flop House and talk to Mustang Sally – Jack ought to have made it there by now. It's to the right at the bottom of the stairs. If I see Jack, I'll tell him you're looking for him, mister…"
"Exeter. Matt Exeter." I answered as I finished the Yum. As the others got up to leave, I left a tip on the bar for Jack.
We soon found the Flop House, its name in brass letters above the door. As we opened the door, we found a brown Horse with black hair surrounded by Dogs, a good many of them unconscious.
"Sally, time's come to pay the piper. Ratbeard sends his regards!" One of the Dogs shouted. The brown Horse, apparently Sally, spotted us.
"Lend me a hand here!" Sally shouted, and the Dogs turned to meet the charges fired from the small firing line formed by Bonnie, Emmett, and me.
Four Dogs went down, and Sally took advantage of the distraction and slammed the flat of her blade into one of the Dogs' heads, knocking him out.
There were four Dogs left, and the rest of us singled one out and fought him.
I drew my sword and as the Dog slashed at me with his cutlass, I stepped out of the way and spun around, bringing my full force into the strike.
The others had knocked out the others, and we regrouped.
"I owe you a favor." Sally said. "I'm Mustang Sally."
She wore a pink dress and wide-brimmed hat, and she wielded a rapier.
"I'm Matt Exeter, and these are my friends." I said. "Have you seen One-Eyed Jack?"
"I haven't seen him, not today at least." Sally answered. "Thanks for the help, Matt. Ratbeard, he's no end of trouble."
"Tell me about it." I said darkly. The deaths of his crew weighed no less heavily on my mind since yesterday.
"You know him? If you see him, belt him one for me!" Sally said. "Now where were we? If you're looking for One-Eyed Jack, talk to Ned over at his galley near the stairs to the Black Spot. Jack's often there."
"You have my thanks, ma'am." I said. "Let's get going."
We found Ned's galley where Sally had said, a type of ship propelled by rowers near the stairs leading to the Black Spot. A burly man was standing on the deck.
"Did One-Eyed Jack send you? Hold your fire, young Pirate! Go tell him I'll have his money in two days' time, on my word of honor." The man, presumably Ned said.
"I would, if I knew where he was." I answered.
"What's that? Oh, you're looking for Jack, are you? Who sent you?" Ned asked.
"Jack's nephew, the barkeep at the Black Spot sent us." I answered.
"The barkeep sent you? I don't follow you. Wait… Let me guess. A white rabbit with an eye patch?" Ned asked.
"That's the one." I said. I could feel that my suspicions were about to be confirmed.
"Ha! You're chasing a wild goose, Pirate! The Black Spot barkeep is One-Eyed Jack. He's a crafty one, Jack is." Ned said, chuckling.
"I can't believe you fell for it. You were talking to a one-eyed jackrabbit, you know. Ha! A friend of mine has a ship to sell you…"
"I knew it." I said.
"Let's go back to the Black Spot and show Jack who he's messing with!" Jack said.
We reentered the Black Spot, where the barkeep or rather One-Eyed Jack was alone as he looked over Flotsam.
"Ah, so you've found me at last, eh? Sorry about the deception, but a rabbit can't be too careful. Now, time to do business…" One-Eyed Jack said as he turned to face us.
We sat down warily and I said, "The Frogfather has transferred his favor to us."
"The Frogfather wants me to do his favor for you instead of him? That's wonderful news – Frogfather's favors can be… difficult to repay."
"You're telling me." I said. "We had to break into the Presidio for him to lead us to you."
One-Eyed Jack laughed and he continued.
"You mentioned Ratbeard earlier. I take it you're looking for him? He's hiding out in a cabin I've leased him, or at least, he was."
"What do you mean?" I asked suspiciously.
"I promised Ratbeard I'd warn him if anyone came asking for him. And so I did, while you were looking for me. It was a favor, you understand."
"You can still catch Ratbeard if you're quick. Ah… two favors repaid today and with nothing but talk: not a bad day for old Jack. It's to the left of the stairs."
We quickly got up and ran to Ratbeard's hideout. The door was locked, and we all rammed into it, busting down the door and Ratbeard stood in front of the open window.
"It's you again! You may be quick in the chase, but you're too late!" Ratbeard said as he jumped out the window.
Jack ran over to the window and looked down. "Ratbeard's gone! How are we supposed to find him now?"
"That paper on the table's still burning. It looks important!" Bonnie said.
I quickly snatched up the paper and put the fire out with some Yum.
"It's the Will! Ratbeard tried to burn it! But there's still one page left. What does it say, Captain?" Emmett asked as he looked over my shoulder.
"Whoever reads these words, you have my congratulations! I, Captain Gunn, being of sound mind, hereby name you my sole heir, and bequeath you a king's ransom!" I read aloud.
"To claim your treasure, walk the path I lay down here, and learn a few lessons that a master pirate has to teach you."
"Begin at my refuge at the end of Corsair's Channel. Inside a cask, you'll find my next lesson."
"I realize that, as a pirate, you may not have any patience for an old man's riddles. If this is the case, you'll find my treasure at…" The page ended there.
"The rest is ashes. Ratbeard's got a shortcut. We got to hurry to Gunn's refuge, quick!" Rena cried.
We hurried down to the docks and we hastily set sail for Corsair's Channel.
We took the blue Windlane to the Vortex of Doom, where we turned northeast to enter the channel. I didn't know much about it, as there weren't any ports where my uncle and I could trade for goods.
Aside from a few flying fish, there weren't many inhabitants.
I swore to myself that for everyone Ratbeard's trampled on to get to Gunn's treasure, I would stop him. That much was certain, at least.