* * *
A mosquito bite on his nose welcomed Patrick to the waking world. The bite was already welting up. He noticed his hands and face were covered with more bites and angry welts. With an ungraceful maneuver, he fell out of his hammock and onto the pile of scrap metal with a cacophonous crash. Amazed he found no lacerations from his fall, he considered himself protected by good spirits.
Patrick took himself around the back of the shed and made water. The merry libations were now draining his fluids. Although the sun was just rising in the morning sky, the heat already overtook him and he immediately started to sweat through his linen vest. The new blacksmith amused himself by trying to pee on flies in a stagnant puddle. Mr. Freeman soon came around the corner and joined him in the morning urination.
“We start early around here to avoid the heat," Archibald explained. "I want to give you a tour so when I send you to fetch errands you can navigate the town. Let’s explore Savannah, or as the rest of the colonies call it, the Scoundrel’s Haven. This small swamp-town has also been called the sanctuary for the bandit, swindler, murderer and prostitute. Shall we go explore this convict’s paradise?”
The men walked out onto the dirt thoroughfare and started their walk into town.
“Savannah is set up as a military base. All the lots are about the same size. It is supposed to promote equality, no man be better than his neighbors." Archibald smiled, "Unless of course you’re a high ranking officer." He continued, "Oglethorpe knew about all the fire problems in London so this city is mainly grids and open spaces. This also is smart for defense from the Spanish and the savages. The town pretty much revolves around four main areas called wards. There are also two new wards being developed. Each ward has a central square and is surrounded by trust and tithing lots. The trust lots are for government builds and churches and such. The tithing lots are used for homes and each home also gets a lot of five acres at the edge of town. I will take you around the wards and give you a guide of each.
The layout of Savannah's wards
Pirates of Savannah Trilogy: Book One, Sold in Savannah - Young Adult Action Adventure Historical Fiction Page 20