by Ryan Gilbert
A Red Sky Rising
Ryan Gilbert
Copyright
A Red Sky Rising
Copyright © 2016 by Ryan Gilbert
All rights reserved in all media. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locales, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual people, places, or events is coincidental or fictionalized.
To my family and friends who have supported me and inspired me throughout this process…
Table of Contents
A RED SKY RISING
COPYRIGHT
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Several Days Later
The End… For Now
« COMING SOON »
CHAPTER ONE
Dark clouds covered the sky. A full moon shined its white light out over the sea as it peeked out from behind the darkness. The waves glistened like crystals and were just as alluring. For many, the sea was a treasure, something that should be discovered and explored until the end of time.
For a pirate, the sea was freedom. They followed no rules. They pilfered and plundered whenever they wanted. Fear of pirates consumed nearly every sea-faring vessel. Any honest person who sailed the seas had a right to be afraid. Once the skull and crossbones were raised, the terror of piracy became a reality.
In the port of Rebelde on the island of Jamaica, moonlight cascaded over the pirate ships that were moored at the dock. The terrific ships almost seemed to shimmer as the light glinted off of the water that splashed against the hulls. Each individual vessel was a harbinger of doom, spreading horror everywhere they sailed. For the pirates on the docks, the sight of all of the ships gently swaying back and forth on the waves was a wonderful sight to behold. Some would have even said that it was calming.
As anyone passing by would have noticed, the dock hands seemed to be mesmerized by one ship in particular. Its black hull rested calmly in the waters, blending with the darkness of the clouds in the sky. The wooden boards did well to hide the battle scars from its many fights and daring escapes. The light shining on the blood red sails gave the ship an enticing aura, holding one’s gaze for hours.
The Red Sky was a beautiful ship, combining speed and firepower with elegance and intimidation. Its thirty-four guns and its captain’s insane planning could lead to the destruction of any ship. As the ship’s notoriety started to spread, sailors learned to fear the red sails. Once a vessel saw those sails, any intelligent crew would surrender and avoid a battle. Those who challenged the Red Sky and her crew either had a death wish or were extremely powerful.
At the moment, the ragtag crew of the Red Sky was spending its leisure time at the Goddess of Rum tavern. It was one of the many places in Rebelde that they would frequent.
“Drink up, mates. It be our last day here, an’ we’ve got to make the most of it.”
Captain Riggs was yearning to get back out on the seas again. After close to two months of biding his time in Rebelde, he needed some more adventure. He was restless and could not wait for the Red Sky to set sail again. The anticipation had been burning in his heart ever since they had returned from Yorktown.
“How long until we weigh anchor, Riggs?” Julia asked.
“We’ve still got a couple hours, sweets. Just relax,” he replied.
Riggs’ love, Julia Hamond, sat next to him at the table, much more proper than he was. When he rested his feet on the table, she would sigh and try to ignore it. Even before she had decided to leave her parents, she had known what she would have to tolerate. He was a pirate, after all.
Clint, Riggs’ loyal navigator, was just finishing his third cup of rum. He was nearly falling over because he was so drunk, but he did manage to hide a bottle in his coat for later.
“There’s shno way ‘at chye’re makin’ me leave thish plashe. I love it ‘ere,” he said, his speech slurred beyond belief.
“Give the rum a rest, Clint. We need to make it out of the harbor in one piece,” said Coral Jack, the boatswain.
Jack and his mermaid friend, Valera, were both recovering from their own set of hangovers from the previous night. He pulled his cap down over his ears to keep the noise from disturbing him, but all she had was her fiery orange hair to block out the sound. Unfortunately, it did not help much.
“Dere’s no way yer goin’ to be able to be at de helm like dat. I could do better den you now,” Ripper said, noting Clint’s drunken state.
The Jamaican master gunner tried to take away the navigator’s mug, but he received nothing more than a punch to the face for his troubles.
“Yer lucky I’m in de forgivin’ mood,” he said, rubbing his face.
“Would everybody just stop hitting each other? I don’t want to be patching people up before we’ve even left the building,” said Eli.
For the past several weeks, Eli had been saddled with the jobs of both carpenter and doctor. After their friend Doc had been killed, Riggs gave the job to Eli. He had been trying to pass the job off to Valera since he had gotten it, but the teaching never seemed effective. Hopefully, once they set sail again, it would free up more time.
Beside Eli was Petey One-Eye, barely staying awake. He rubbed his good eye, adjusted his eye patch, and leaned against Eli to start to sleep. Rolling his eyes, Eli made sure that the old man stayed awake. Once they got onboard the ship, he needed to do his duties as quartermaster.
“What’sh the plan, Captain?” asked Clint before he smacked his head off the tabletop.
Riggs grinned as he took his hat from the table and set it on his head.
“Same as always, fellas. Get rich… get to be the most notorious pirates in history… and survive.”
“Any specifics?” asked Jack, cringing as his headache grew.
The Captain scratched his chin and tried to think of something. There were still some maps in his cabin that he had not yet investigated. Perhaps those could lead to some treasure. Regrettably, most of the maps were nothing but naval charts from the previous captain. Of the parchments that he had seen, none of them led the way to any troves of riches.
“I’ll try to think o’ somethin’ when we get back to the ship,” he responded.
“Oh… jolly good,” Jack murmured sarcastically.
“At least it’s somethin’. After that nasty bit o’ business with Garrett, I just want to ease back into piratin’ for now.”
With how tired and drunk everyone else looked, Riggs knew it would be wise to take it slow for the first couple days. He needed some time to clear his mind and think, something Rebelde would not let him do. The chaotic madness of the town did not allow much time for thought, something many pirates quickly learned.
“Everyone done with their drinks?” Riggs asked.
Instantly, Clint exclaimed, “No. I’ve jusht shtarted.”
Riggs gave a half-hearted laugh and motioned to Ripper to help Clint out of his seat.
“I don’t need help,” the drunken navigator shouted.
“Shut yer yap,” Riggs ordered.
“You shut it, Captain,” replied Clint, tossing his empty cup at him.
Riggs ducked just in time as the cup flew over his head. He had to put his foot down in order to stop this uproar f
rom escalating.
Standing up, he was about to scold his crewmate, but he felt a hand grab his shoulder. Before he could react, the owner of the hand spun him around so he could see him face to face. A massive red mark ran across the man’s face from the cup. Quickly, his entire face grew redder as he became angrier.
“How ‘bout I teach ye some manners?” asked the ruffian, drawing his fist back.
“How ‘bout not,” said Riggs, punching the man in the gut.
He pushed his attacker past the crew and into another table of pirates. Pretty soon, glass bottles were flying everywhere, and tables were getting overturned. The crew could hear the sound of chairs breaking over people’s backs and the raucous shouts of angry patrons. It was an all-out brawl.
The Captain did not even have to say a single thing. The crew tried to make it to the door as fast as they could, but they were not all lucky enough. Riggs was grabbed by a rather large man, but a stunning slap from Julia freed him. Coral Jack had a bottle graze the back of his head, adding to his headache. In retaliation, he turned around and whipped the butt of his pistol into the man’s hand.
After a couple more bumps and scrapes, the crew made it outside. Brushing the drinks and wood chips off of their clothes, they started their walk, or in Clint’s case, stumbling down to the dock.
“Ye should ‘o let me fight ‘em,” he argued.
“Ain’t goin’ to happen,” the rest of the crew shouted at him.
By now, most of the lights in Rebelde had been extinguished, but the light of the moon was bright enough to light the way. Breathing in the brisk, night air was enough to capture any pirate’s passion for the sea. In the distance, they could hear the creaking of the ships and the crashing of the waves. They could see the tall masts of the ships, ready to sail at a moment’s notice, silhouetted by the moon and the stars.
It was a breath-taking sight.
They made their way down to the docks, their boots plodding rapidly on the cobblestone. It was almost an instinct by now for them to hurry to get to the ship. Everyone was ready for another voyage. None of them could predict what awaited them, but that just added to the excitement. Whether they were running from the Navy or raiding a trader’s vessel, the pirates knew there would be no shortage of moments that would send their blood pumping their veins.
Riggs strode onto the dock, surveying the Red Sky from a distance. It had been a week since he had last been on the ship for his inspection as captain, and now the ship looked even better than ever. The crew’s dedication over that week definitely showed in their work. All of the damage that the ship had taken during its many battles seemed to have just disappeared.
Stopping at the bottom of the gangplank, the Captain stepped to the side and said, “Welcome back to the Red Sky, Ms. Hamond.”
With a bow and a grin, he gestured for her to lead the way. She laughed, snatching the hat from his head on her way onto the ship.
Riggs’ friends rejoined with the other crewmembers as they hurried to get the ship ready to sail. Yawning, Petey directed several of his crewmates to bring some boxes below deck, leading them to exactly where he wanted. Eli once again tried to start teaching Valera about being the ship’s doctor, but she could not focus with her pounding headache. Coral Jack felt very much the same, but he was forced to help prepare the ship. Breaking away from the group, Ripper made his way around the cannons, making sure that they were ready in case of a battle. Still completely plastered, Clint stumbled toward the helm, but Riggs pulled him aside.
“Sorry, Clint. Can’t have ye at the wheel when you’re like this.”
“But Captain…” the navigator protested.
“Clint… that’s an order. At least with me at the wheel, we won’t hit a docked ship.”
He could see almost every thought that ran through Clint’s head. His drunken expressions said it all. The gears in his head were churning for a logical thought and were coming up with nothing.
After a while, he mumbled, “Ash shye wish, Riggs.”
The navigator then fell straight to the deck and just lay there. Riggs rolled his eyes and just let him be. If Clint needed a nap on the deck to become sober, then the Captain would let him do just that.
“Make ready the canvas,” he ordered, climbing up the stairs to the helm.
As they detached the ship from the dock, Riggs pulled the wheel to starboard, turning it away from Rebelde.
“Half sail, gents.”
The sails fell into place, propelling the ship away from the dock. Looking behind the ship, he could see the trail of sea foam leading away from the dock. It brought a smile to his face.
“Full canvas, ye mongrels. Bring us out to sea.”
The last sail fell and filled with wind. The Red Sky was itself again, displayed in its full glory. The moonlight shining through the sails cast a mystical, red glow in the shadows. Once the ship left the harbor, Riggs closed his eyes and let the wind blow through his scraggly, black hair. Nothing was more refreshing than feeling that rush of air.
A new adventure had begun.
Nothing lay in their way but the sea and the creatures beneath its surface. The Captain planted his feet firmly on the deck and felt the vibrations as the ship broke through wave after wave. He was almost so mesmerized that he did not notice Julia until she laid her hand on his shoulder.
“I think the rest has done you well, Riggs,” she said, seeing the grin on his face.
“Aye, love. I think everyone needed it… some more ‘n others,” he said, pointing to the passed-out Clint, “Now I’m stuck doin’ his job.”
“I’ve got an idea then. As captain, can’t you get someone else to do it?” she asked, resting her arms on the pedestal for the wheel.
“I never said I had a problem with it.”
Turning to look at the girl, he noticed the dreamy look in her eyes. She looked exactly as she did when they had left Yorktown.
“What were ye thinkin’, love?”
Tilting her head, she said, “Well, Captain Riggs, if I’m going to be sleeping in your quarters from now on, I’m going to want some company.”
“Enticin’ offer…”
He took her hand and gently pulled her to his side of the helm. She grasped his coat and held him close, so close that their noses nearly touched. Riggs placed his hands back on the wheel, trapping the girl in his embrace.
“… I think ye’ll like it out here better.”
Julia wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into a kiss. Once their lips met, it felt like a jolt of energy had coursed through his body. It was a beautiful feeling, holding the two things that he held most dear in this world. Her soft lips meeting his was enough to drive a pirate crazy. His heart beat faster as her slender fingers ran through his hair. His muscles tensed, but she did not seem to notice. The two lovers just wanted to enjoy the moment.
As Julia broke the kiss, Riggs could not help himself. He wanted more. Taking one hand off the wheel, he slipped it around the girl’s waist and held her close. Their bodies kept each other warm from the chill of the night.
She brushed the tips of her fingers against his cheek, saying, “You’re so much more romantic on the ship.”
Turning around, she leaned back and rested her head on his shoulder, letting her long, brown hair cascade down his arm.
“Ye can say I’ve got more inspiration when I’m sailin’ the seas,” he replied, staring down into her eyes.
“Do you have any idea where we’re going?”
“Ain’t the faintest. Only thing I’m lookin’ for is the greatest prize a pirate can find.”
She giggled and gave him a quick peck on the lips.
“Can I have another, love?” he asked, giving her a pitiful begging look.
With a sarcastic sigh, she kissed him again, this time a bit more passionately. She slowly ran the back of her delicate hand down his cheek, whispering, “What’s the prize now, Robert?”
“I think I’m holdin’ it in me arms right
now,” he said with a wink.
The two had not even noticed that the dark clouds had covered the moon completely, blocking out its light. It did not bother them. They simply sailed into the black of the nighttime sea, ready for whatever would come their way. They had each other and that was all that mattered. Together, they sang their song, almost daring the darkness to try to dampen their spirits.
“Give me the sea;
Give me the wind.
Give me a ship
To plunder the land.
Steal and lie;
Steal and lie;
There are no rules,
But you will not die.
Raise the skull and crossbones;
Bring fear into a man’s soul.
Shoot and loot, steal his gold;
Send him down to the depths below.”
Back in Yorktown, two people went about their nighttime routine in a very different fashion than the pirates. Commodore Matthew Hamond and his wife Catherine were just getting ready for what they hoped would be a good night’s rest. Rain pounded against their bedroom window as storm clouds continued to gather in the sky.
Mrs. Hamond sat at her dresser, solemnly combing her hair. The expression on her face was blank, woefully observing her reflection. Behind her, the Commodore was in the midst of putting away his dress coat. It had been a trying day for both of them.
In fact, every day seemed to be a trying day.
Ever since their daughter had left, the mansion seemed so quiet. It had been a while since the two had actually had a pleasant conversation with anyone else. There was no one in which they could confide.
No one could know that their darling Julia was a pirate.
They had lied so many times that it was almost beginning to feel true. It was just as prominent in their minds as an actual memory. Julia had not left them. She had been forced to accompany the scoundrels, the same men who had destroyed the HMS Magistrate. It was a travesty, but both the Commodore and Mrs. Hamond would rather Julia live with the pirates than be brutally murdered right in front of their very eyes.