Buxacan Spicerunner

by Goodwin, Warren;

One boat shipped oars midway to the Golden Sunrise and the other returned. Olik was casually spilling lamp oil on the deck and rigging of the slaverunner. He made sure some got on each of the crewmen as he worked. Sako climbed onto the rail of his own ship to address the slaves on the beach.

  “It’s said that piracy is a heinous crime. When pirates are caught, they’re usually tried and hanged by whatever authority took them.” The slaverunner’s crew and former cargo were watching him and waiting breathlessly. “It is my belief, and that of my Crew, that rape is even worse than piracy. Everyone here knows what happened to the women on the beach, and to those who died before I came. This is justice.” Sako jumped lightly to the deck.

  That was Olik’s signal to trip the anchor release. The slavers were hoisted into the air. The nooses had been tied improperly by design—Sako didn’t want them to die quickly of broken necks.

  Olik lit a firestick and dropped it to the deck, walked aft and lit a second. This one was thrown on the wheel, which caught fire immediately. The fire in the bow was small but growing. Olik jumped over the rail and swam easily to the waiting boat.

  Brog joined Sako at the rail with seven fire arrows: one for each slaver. He lit the first one, drew and fired in one smooth motion.

  The captain of the Tama was hit in the groin and the flames caught in the oil Olik had splashed on him. He tried to scream as his scrotum was pierced but was prevented by his slowly tightening noose. Each of his men got the same treatment.

  “A lot easier than shooting birds,” said Brog.

  The dangling men burned and bled as their ship took flame.

  “Good shooting,” Sako said. “Let’s get some canvas up and leave before the fire attracts any attention.” He looked for Andrana as his men obeyed.

  On the beach, Freata watched with satisfaction. They might have been pirates, but they hadn’t mistreated her or any of the women the way the ‘honest’ sailors had. Perhaps some men aren’t so bad. She glanced at her companions. Maybe some of them are good. Andrana certainly thought so.

  Freata hoped Captain Pizi kept his promise. But even if he doesn’t, I think she can take care of herself and her girls. No one’s going to take care of me though. Maybe someone on this island wants to learn about music. Freata turned her back on the two ships and began walking inland. The pirates said there was a town nearby.

  Andrana and her daughters didn’t leave the beach until she could no longer see Sako. Please come back. I want to see you at least once before they hang you.

  The Smilers were making for Ressatta, which was the last of the Chains before the large island of Sevulia. Sako spent the time learning the names and faces of his new men. He seemed to be everywhere: high in the crosstrees setting sails, working the lines on deck, and even scraping chain, once. He said little, but encouraged the ex-slaves to speak freely. It was Dason’s idea.

  “It’s much easier for two men working together to talk than it is for them to approach you on the helmdeck,” he’d said. “They’ll learn that they are accepted as our Brothers, and they will be for life.”

  It was a big commitment. Once they swore, their only home would be the ship or Port Buxaca. Sako informed them of the rules, the share-out system, and the ship’s command structure, and how to change it if there were need.

  No one would be required to swear until after they’d made portcall at Ressatta. They’d be left there if they wanted to be. Sako didn’t want any man aboard who didn’t want to be there.

  They found no targets before Ressatta, to the disappointment of all. The Smilers made port and tied up like any other crew. They left a minimal watch aboard, informed the harbormaster they were privateers, and scattered.

  Sako lit a cigar as he listened to Dason and Ellor discuss prices and exchange rates. Several Smilers sat at the same table in a rowdy tavern.

  “Port Sipa will pay more than Gateway,” said Ellor. “The newly wealthy supporters of the Revolution seek legitimacy. They don’t necessarily want goods stolen from the aristocracy.”

  “So they’ll buy things we’ve stolen? What’s the difference?”

  “They won’t know where our goods come from. Also, Port Sipa is wealthier than Gateway.”

  “No way! There’s more rich Tayans than Agresians, and their gold’s worth more.”

  “They’ll pay more in Jonos for continental goods than in either of those towns,” Chos said flatly. “Still better to sell to our own factors, I say. That’s the way my old Crew done it. Safer.”

  Sako just listened. A serving girl cleared the dishes and took orders for refills as Clenchjaw arrived. A thin, well-dressed man was with him.

  “This Pallo Bini. Knew Captain Argi. Factor. Helps crews find cargo.” Clenchjaw looked at the stranger and indicated Sako: “Captain Sako Pizi.”

  The man extended a hand that was even softer than his voice. “Pleased to meet you, sir.” The hand was soft but there was nothing wrong with the grip. “I’ve helped many of your brother captains find useful cargo.” There was no particular emphasis on the word ‘brother’.

  “Go on.”

  “Fifty Tayan crowns, sir, and I can find you profitable cargo from here to anywhere. Or, I can find special cargo for a hundred Tayan crowns.

  “So, what’s your pleasure? Spice? Carpet from Alarfaj? Sugar is selling well on the docks of Ariton. If you’re short of the jinglies, I can also arrange,” Pallo’s mouth twisted with distaste, “cloth, timber or grain.”

  “Forty or ninety,” said Clenchjaw.

  “Those were the old prices, my talkative friend. Times are a little harder now, what with war on the continent…”

  “Well…I could use a solid cargo, but I am ‘short of the jinglies’ as you say. Perhaps in the future…”

  Pallo lit his pipe before making a new offer. “I have a specific cargo in mind, sir. Half high end and half of more common goods. For this cargo I would ask seventy-five.”

  “Seventy-five…” Sako put on a dubious expression and fingered the single silver Tayan regent that sat on the table before him.

  “Two dozen quality timepieces, from mantle-sized to free standing; sixteen bales of ermine, ten of fox. Thirty cases of Dalia brandy: six bottles per case. Two crates of fine china; five crates of marble sculpture: figurines and such. There’s also seventy-one barrels of Tayan whiskey, sixteen barrels of yellow apples, and twenty tons of cut timber. Pine, I think.” Pallo leaned closer and lowered his voice further. “There are also ten rubies, cut and ready for setting, as well as a dozen lesser stones—all cut.”

  “Your information is remarkably detailed, sir. And your price is reasonable, but I will have to gather my Crew and collect their pages and coals.” Sako put out his cigar. “I wasn’t lying when I said I was short of coin.”

  Pallo looked smugly pleased. “Sir, you strike me as a man of your word. I can meet you at dock three at noon tomorrow. In that time and place, sir, I will have a purse and you will have a name, time and destination.”

  “Sounds like a deal to me, sir. Should this prove as profitable as you say, you’ll become my exclusive factor in Ressatta.”

  “Very generous, Captain. I look forward to your next portcall.”

  Sako climbed the rope ladder up the side of the Golden Sunrise and was met by Dason at the top.

  “How many left us?” he asked anxiously.

  “None. They’re all here, ready to sail.”

  “Outstanding! Here’s some pleasant reading.” Sako passed Dason a folded sheet of paper. To anyone watching, it looked like sailing orders. Dason read quickly, and started giving orders for cast-off. Tirpa’s voice soon joined in. As the Crew made ready, Dason read the missive again.

  Horizon, brig: 6 guns, 30 hands. Sevulian registry. Captain Taurice Purple. Left Gateway 3 weeks past, course to bypass the Chains to the east, bound for Tevon. Cargo as specified.

  Barring accidents or a storm, the Horizon should be to the northeast of Hanarre at about the same time the Smilers could be there if th
ey left immediately.

  Eight days of smooth steady sailing brought the sailors of enterprise straight to the Horizon. They were able to get remarkably close before Captain Purple thought to put on more sail and run up an ‘I-Y’.

  Sako’s response was to run up the Bloody Smile. “Clenchjaw! Put a shot across her bow!”

  A gun boomed and water rained on the deck of the larger runner, but Purple wasn’t going to heave to. He would have been able to outrun the Smilers had he been more alert in the first place.

  “Give ‘em a full broadside, then switch to grape!”

  “FIRE!” The Crew had decided that that was Clenchjaw’s favorite word. Three out of four shot hit. Rail was smashed and one of the Horizon’s guns was upset.

  Purple returned fire with two guns to no effect. Before the splashes had settled, Smiler guns were nosed back over the rail.

  Clenchjaw fired his barrage of grape with devastating results. At least half a dozen men dropped. One of the Sevulian guncrews kept discipline and continued to reload their weapon.

  Sako was close enough that he no longer needed a telescope to see his target. “Muskets! Arrows!”

  The officer in charge of the last guncrew went down with an arrow in his neck as a dozen muskets were fired. More Horizons dropped but some returned the musket fire. Sako saw one of his new men go down. He started moving forward with a boarding axe in each hand. “Prepare to ram! Boarding parties stand ready!”

  Tirpa, Ieskott and Balgo were twirling grappling hooks on lines in preparation. Olik had a dozen men ready aft of them. Brog continued to rain arrows on the Horizon. He took out the helmsman.

  CRASH!

  “Hooks away!” said Tirpa. He and Ieskott cast their hooks conservatively low to haul the ships together, but Balgo cast his almost straight up, and looped it around the main yardarm of the Horizon. He hoisted himself up and swung across with his feet extended.

  The maneuver allowed him to knock down a sailor with an axe who was trying to clear Ieskott’s hook. Olik’s team surged across right behind him and began a slaughter amidships.

  Dason took a running leap well aft of the melee and cleared the rail by inches. He rolled and fetched up against a hatch coaming.

  Dason came to his knees facing aft with a pistol in each hand. Both pistols barked and the replacement helmsman lost half his face. Captain Purple dropped as well, clutching at his chest.

  By the time Sako reached the deck of the Horizon, the fighting was over. Afnir led some men below to winkle out those who’d fled, but all was quiet topside. Turning aft, Sako looked at Dason first. The first mate knelt over Captain Purple and was shaking his head in the negative. Oh well. Dead men tell no tales, but they’re also worth no ransom.

  “Aler, Roffo Zardi—with me to the captain’s cabin!” Sako would not be accused of favoring the old hands over the new. “Tirpa! Prisoners by the mast! Dason! Get these ships unfouled and tied abreast! Who’s been hurt?”

  Kostek had the answer. “Sharkbite, The Hyena and Arno, but none serious. Leck bled to death from a bullet.”

  Sako nodded. Leck must have been the one he saw go down before the collision. He continued to the cabin.

  Inside, he quickly found the logs and the strongbox. The box was locked. “Roffo, take this to Ellor and help him count it; Aler, check Purple’s neck for the key. I’m going to meet our prisoners.”

  Sako found a few miserable sailors lined up by the mast. Two weren’t able to stand on their own. He was amazed that there were so few and smiled at Olik and his team. “Eight? Bloodthirsty bastards, aren’t youse?”

  Olik just shrugged, and Sako turned to his prisoners. “Now tell me, what should I do with youse?”

  “Turn ‘em into valling fish stut!” said the new guy everyone called Stutmouth.

  “I was talking to them, Stutmouth.”

  Stutmouth crossed his arms and looked at his feet.

  Sako tucked his right hand axe into his belt and took the other by its head. Using the end of the haft, he lifted the chin of one man until their eyes met. “Any ideas?”

  “Murderer.”

  “Brave man, to say such to my face.” Sako’s voice held neither heat nor that deadly coolness that his friends had learned to recognize as a prelude to violence.

  “Ha!” said Afnir. “That one was shivering in the hold, knees to his chest and weeping like a girl!”

  “Hmm.” Sako lowered his boarding axe and passed it to someone behind him. “I was mistaken. But you are mistaken as well. If I were a murderer, you’d already be dead. Instead, call me a ‘sailor of enterprise’.”

  The Smilers chuckled. “We have your ship and we have your cargo. Since none of youse are worth ransoming, we have no further interest in youse. Killing youse would be a waste of energy.” Sako turned his back on them. “Put them below on the Sunrise and send Thard to them.” Sako looked around at his men as the prisoners were led away.

  “Brothers! This was our biggest haul ever!”

  Sako had to wait for the cheering to die down before he could continue. “But it won’t be our last. And, we have a new ship!” Sako had to pause again for their joyful agreement. “Afnir! Drinks for everyone!” That got the loudest cheer yet.

  There was a lot of work to do. They needed to find a suitable island to maroon the survivors, move the guns to the new ship and repair the damage. But they deserve a party first. Sako took the bottle from Naffen, drank, and passed it to Sturo. We all do.

  35

  From the Horizon To Stafa

  The Smilers got a good price for the Golden Sunrise in Hanarre. They also heard some very interesting news. It was big enough that Sako wasn’t ready to sail for Port Buxaca just yet.

  “Brothers, what is every tar in port talking about?” Sako asked his men.

  “Plague,” said Ieskott. “Everyone in Stafa is sick.”

  Stafa was the only major non-government port/colony in Clavland. Owned by the Northern Trading Company under royal charter, it produced ivory and amber, as well as significant quantities of gold, silver and exotic furs. Stafa remained under company control after the Agresian Revolution.

  In fact, the Council had continued to maintain a military presence there due to the wealth generated by the town. Only company ships and the Agresian Navy were permitted to call there.

  “Plague?” said Buck. “How does that help us, Captain?”

  “It means they’re weak—ripe for a raid.”

  “Good fort there,” said Tirpa. “Heavily garrisoned.”

  “But half the garrison is down,” said Sako. “They say one in five has died.”

  The Hyena let out one of his hideous cackles.

  Finve gave him a look of distaste before he spoke: “How old is this news? Has Agresia sent reinforcements, yet?”

  “Word arrived here in the Chains three weeks ago,” said Ieskott.

  “Chances are it’s not known in Buxa yet,” said Sako.

  “So we’re getting there before the Agresian troops are, I’m thinking.” Tirpa was warming up to the idea.

  Chos had thought of something else. “What about other Brothers? Three weeks since the news here…what, five or so to get there from here? Someone else could have heard the rumors too, you know.”

  “We thought of that,” said Dason. “No Red ships have been seen north of the Line since Port Therma. As for Black ships, Deadeye was here but got chased off by the Sword’s Edge; the Hangmen are supposed to be near Jonos; Sharks are cruising near Mokastitia, and everyone else is in Agresian waters. Spiderhead was seen a week ago south of Kimbula, so he might be in the area.” Spiderhead was the only major pirate from Rumtown.

  “The only sailors of enterprise still believed to be in the Chains are some small-time newcomers who got a sloop for food and supplies a while ago,” Sako said wryly. “They also are reported to have jammed the Sword’s Edge into a reef.”

  That got a general laugh from the survivors of Gull Stut Island. And the Hyena, of course.
<
br />   “Has anyone heard word of the Tama, yet?” asked Ellor.

  “I have,” said Aler. “Ship just came in from Colada and her crew is talking! The tales vary, but most of them mention the sudden appearance of over a hundred people with slave brands in Birdtown and the name Sako Pizi.

  “Depending on who you believe, the Tama was burned and sunk or eaten by a sea monster. The slaves were brutally tortured by Pizi and his men or the crew of the Tama got what they deserved. One guy said Pizi was the Tama’s captain and he had every woman aboard by force, ate the other children and whipped three or four to death.”

  “That valling piece of stut Little Ellor!” said Stutmouth. “I’ll bet my stap the little valler is behind all those valling lies!”

  “Oh come on!” said Sako. “All that from one little boy?”

  “Better be believing it,” said Tirpa. “People are believing what they’re wanting to, and about people like us, they’re wanting to believe the worst. Being more?”

  “Yeah. One of the slaves is a red haired woman, walks around naked to show the scars she got, and there’s an educated Clavvish woman who’s in love because she liked the abuse.”

  “I’ve heard enough,” said Sako firmly. “So, are we still hunting for small spicerunners, are we going home, or are we bound for Stafa?”

  “Let’s loot Stafa!” said Olik. The Hyena giggled. Everyone else thought that was an excellent idea.

  It was an easy voyage north, even with the continued gunnery drills and weapons training. The sea-virgins were coming along nicely. There was plenty of rum and whiskey and morale was high. In fact, the only complaints came from the cook.

  Sako was in his cabin having his feet measured by Perndil when there was a knock at the door. Since those who’d survived Gull Stut Island with him usually entered immediately after knocking, Sako was expecting one of the new men. “Enter!”

  Gomeneg stepped in without any signs of trepidation. “Captain Pizi, I’d like a word, sir.”

  “I’m all done here anyway, Captain.” Perndil gathered his things and left quietly.