MAROONED: Will YOU Endure Treachery and Survival on the High Seas? (Click Your Poison)

by James Schannep

  You look idly about, awaiting orders.

  “What a bunch-o’-soddin’ rubbish,” Butch says, arriving on deck. “Ever heard-o’-a surgeon on the watch? Should be learnin’ me trade. So many books and potions down there, without a clue on what t’do with ’em. God help the first man t’get sick, his surgeon’s stuck on watch!”

  • Listen to the man vent. Ask, “Why do they have you on watch, then?”

  • Nod sympathetically, then excuse yourself to find Robin and see what duties you should perform.

  MAKE YOUR CHOICE

  Thy Cup Runneth Over

  A bottle of wine is opened, but only those deemed in charge—that is, yourself and Rediker—are offered a glass. Hierarchy and propriety must always be honored, it seems, even when punishing a pirate crew. As the Captain, you’re allowed to go first.

  “Health to His Excellency the Governor, and prosperity to the colonies,” you begin. “Wine is a fitting tribute offered from a wayward seafarer, for it is Homer’s wine-dark seas that so dominate our destinies. Like Odysseus, I too was blown off course, and I pray the magistrate sees a repentant soul who might be worth pardoning. The Greeks say they invented wine, seafaring, democracy, and even civilization. Perhaps seeing this wine now will remind us of our civility and the chance to show that the greatest gift of a democracy is the power to raise up the people and give us voice.

  “Homeric wine was described in several different ways. Often it would be melas, or dark, used lyrically to compare wine to blood, death, and the depths of unforgiving seas. But it could also be called aithops, or bright, to compare to the play of sunlight shimmering upon the waves at dawn. Will this wine I hold in my hand be a portent of death and darkness? Or will His Excellency show the world and the rest of Britannia that Boston is to be a shining light of civility?

  “Health to His Excellency the Governor, and prosperity to the colonies,” you say again, ending the toast and drinking from the wine.

  Rediker steps forward and raises his own glass. “I say damnation to the Governor, and confusion to the colonies! Looks like a fine day t’die, so do your worst, ye devils!”

  Gasps ripple through the gathered crowds, and the magistrate’s face flushes red. The reverend clasps a hand to his mouth in disbelief. Rediker smiles, then gulps down the wine, finishing off both the libation and any chance of liberation.

  “Hangman, dispose of these knaves!” the magistrate cries.

  With that, a rope is strung about your neck, prayers uttered, and the platform falls out beneath your feet to leave you swaying in the breeze.

  THE END

  Together, As One

  “Very well. You’d know your cousin best; I trust your judgment. Bring me that pirate captain, Ward. Alive, if possible.”

  “Aye, sir,” you say, before saluting.

  Rushing below decks, you find your cousin in the ship’s magazine, as expected. Word of the impending pirate battle has already flooded through the ship, and the Hornblower’s crew surges forth to action stations.

  “And I’d like you by my side, cousin, if you think you can face those who likely murdered your old shipmates,” you say, finishing the tale.

  James pauses, considering your words. “These were good men. If you’re leading the attack, coz—count me in!”

  “What about your duties here, lad? Call came for action stations!” Monks interjects.

  “I shall send a replacement down from the boarding party. Come, we haven’t a moment to lose!”

  * * *

  The drums beat for war as the Hornblower sails towards the pirate ship. The plan, insofar as you’ve been made aware of it, is to pin the Cooper’s Pride up against the coast, without letting them slip through an inlet and escape into the shallows. Once they realize the only way to flee is over the open seas, you’ll cut off the smaller ship, board her, and take the pirates with flintlocks and steel.

  The cannons boom, making what could be considered a warning shot—but more likely is meant to shape the fleeing ship’s course. It works, and the Cooper’s Pride alters its course to flee further along the coast.

  The Hornblower follows the pirate ship along the convex bend of the coast, until another ship is revealed from around the curve. A Spanish Man-o’-War, not too different from the last you’ve seen. She’s moored in this hidden inlet, and the pirate ship dares not sail into her. This is an unexpected tactical wildcard—neither ship is allied with the Dons.

  Captain Longwick continues with the present course, and you have the boarding crews ready themselves. Sharing a knowing look and a nod with Cousin James, you steel yourself for battle. Then the order comes to attack at will.

  “FIRE!!!” you order, and the muskets discharge in unison. Not waiting for a reload, you draw your saber and shout, “Charge!”

  The boarding party drops muskets and instead launches grappling hooks and walkways across the open sea, bridging the two ships. It’s a ferocious and bloody battle from the start. The pirates are brutal fighters, but numbers are on your side. The sailors rush against the gilded barbarians, taking the others by sheer overwhelming force.

  James sticks by your side, fighting like a man out for revenge. With a shout of, “For Billy! For the Pride!” he goes after the brutes. You watch his back and he watches yours. Together, fighting as one, you cut through the lines of pirates, making your way towards the center of the ship in hopes of capturing the pirate captain.

  That’s when you spot him. He has a red skullcap, a pierced eyebrow, and fire in his eyes. He’s not distinguishable from the rest of the crew, but you recognize a fellow leader of men when you see one. They fight in a circle radiating out from this man, keeping their trust in his leadership, ready for whatever orders he may give.

  “Cap’n Rediker, look out!” a mustachioed man shouts as you approach.

  “He’s gonna blow the whole bloody ship!” James cries, noting the setup near Rediker.

  The pirate captain, rather than turning to cross swords with you, dashes back and lights a fuse—the long tendril of which ignites and runs down below decks. Without another thought, you dash over, leap and slam your cutlass down upon the fuse; cutting the head off this fiery serpent just before it would retreat below decks.

  Rolling to your side, you see James fighting the mustachioed pirate who warned his captain. The pirate called Rediker joins the melee, but, together with your cousin, you’re able to best the pair of them in outright combat. At nearly the same moment, you each raise a blade to the throats of your foes.

  “Surrender!” you growl, sword pointed with menace.

  Rediker looks to the blade at his throat, then to that of the man at his side who shares in his predicament.

  “Surrender!” you call again.

  “I yield!” the pirate says.

  Click to continue…

  Too Easy

  It takes a few stabs with the spear to get the hang of it, as the refraction of light shifts where you perceive the fish to be versus where they actually are, but eventually, you’re able to catch a meal of red, yellow, green, and purple fish.

  Making a great feast from your bounty, you eat like you truly are the monarch of this small island. It all goes down swimmingly. Huzzah! Lots of fish, no issues. Unlike plants, brightly-colored does not necessarily mean toxic in the fish world. Indeed, their rainbow scales might make them more camouflaged against the brightly colored reef, or perhaps they simply need to recognize one another amongst so much visual noise. Either way, you get a wonderful source of protein and fish oils.

  * * *

  It appears as if your luck has only just begun, for the very next day you’re out hiking when you startle a feral pig on the island. Most likely a sow that was released by passing ships in hopes of growing a native population, she now frightens when you step near her, astounded that she didn’t hear your presence. Unwittingly, the pig dashes off a rocky outcropping, falling to her death once she’s been dashed on the rocks below. All you’ve got to do is gather he
r up and have a real feast.

  How do you prepare a wild pig?

  • Remove all the organs to remove risk of tainting the meat with fluids, such as from the musk gland.

  • Tie the pig to shore; soak it in your local pond overnight. This will cure the meat and remove parasites.

  • Eat only the head and/or organs. The pig likely has parasites that it will pass on to you through its flesh.

  MAKE YOUR CHOICE

  To the Trees!

  The best way to avoid lightning is to make oneself as dissimilar to a lightning rod as possible. Becoming just another part of the undergrowth in the forest is a great way to do just that. Indeed, this was probably your best choice, because when the rainstorm starts in earnest, you don’t get soaked through or have to sit for a long time in an awkward position.

  After a short time spent cowering from the fury of Mother Nature, the storm has passed. With any luck, that means you can now set up camp and not have to worry about sleeping through the deluge for a second night.

  The squall over, the clouds part and warm tropical sunshine pours down in its stead. Back out to the clearing, you find a spot with a view of the coastline that’s semi-dry, due to a natural protection from a rocking outcropping. Plenty of time to set up camp here, start a fire, fortify a more permanent shelter, and even cook dinner. The rest of the day is looking up!

  As a two birds/one stone sort of effort, you clear the area surrounding your camp of underbrush. This vegetation can be used on a new shelter or for kindling your fire (especially the driest bits), but its removal will also help minimize insects, rats, and snakes around your camp.

  Once you’ve cleared out this growth and built a sleeping area for the night, you set out your clothes, journal, and pistol shot to dry. The pistol is a flintlock, which you can use to start a fire.

  The flintlock mechanism works by literally striking a piece of flint, which creates a massive spark. So all you have to do is hold the pistol near the kindling, cock the hammer, and pull the trigger. Flash! The sparks leap into the kindling.

  After coaxing the spark into a flame, you carefully reload the pistol and store it back into your waistband. Best not to use that trick too many times, or you’ll wear out the mechanism before you have a chance to use the weapon.

  Sitting back, you enjoy the warmth of the fire as the sun sets. This was a fine day. Though it very well could be the crackling of the firewood echoing off your rocky outcropping, you could swear you can hear something or someone wandering around out there, watching you. Keeping close to the fire, you try to shrug off the feeling.

  Maybe you should take your mind off things. Think back to the time on the ship and Captain Bullock’s true killer. If Rediker and his ilk were the likeliest of suspects, then Joe, Chips, and Robin were the trio with the most opportunity. After all, these three were the first to arrive on scene, so that means they were close to the captain’s cabin.

  What do you really know about these men?

  • Reflect on your knowledge of Robin, the tattooed hulk of a gunner.

  • Think back to your experiences with Joe, the young olive-skinned bosun.

  • Reminisce on your time spent with Chips, the crusty old carpenter.

  • Keep your mind off of the Cooper’s Pride, and simply enjoy the fire’s warmth.

  MAKE YOUR CHOICE

  Town Rats

  Your hands ball up into fists, and you send a right hook into the man with the wounded nose, aimed right at that same bull’s-eye. An unpracticed boxer, you’re signaling your attack and could probably be easily dodged, but the drunken man’s reflexes are too slow and you ring his bell with more strength than you knew you had in you.

  A terrible crack sounds out and you’re not sure if it was your knuckles or the last bits of his cartilage. Either way, a new fountain flows from his face and he curses you as he backs away.

  Stunned that you even knew how to throw a punch, you look at the other man is if he knows what should happen next. As it turns out, he does. He waylays you with a haymaker of his own, sending you reeling back across the muddy boardwalks. You trip over a loose board, and hit the soft ground.

  The kick that hits you in the ribs is a ferocious one, and the attacker seems to realize it. He takes a minute to help his friend while you catch your breath.

  “I’m fine! Finish the bastard off,” a newly nasal voice cries out.

  Vision turning red, you grab hold of the loose board, find your footing, and spin around just in time to connect wood to skull with your would-be assailant. It’s such a brutal strike, full of such unbridled rage and pent-up aggression that the man falls with just the one blow.

  “Good God Almighty,” says a man behind you.

  You turn to see two town guards looking at you with mouths agape.

  “You better hope this fella wakes up in the morning,” the other says.

  “Just in case, you’ll be sleeping in a cell tonight.”

  Not much choice here:

  Go directly to jail, do not pass go, do not assault officers of the peace and make matters worse.

  Trapper

  The pirates give chase through the jungle, hot on your heels, slashing their cutlasses as they go. None fire their pistols, for it would be a waste of the flintlock’s single shot to discharge the weapon without a clear line of sight.

  Lithe and swift, you manage to pull slightly ahead of the men. In this way, you’re able to leap onto the perfect precipice before the men come tumbling down after you. A ravine you’ve explored serves to decimate their ranks as they fall into the crevasse with bone-crunching finality.

  The remaining pirates give chase more warily, but the natural well you had found is hidden by ferns, and Marlowe and his men fall perfectly into the trap. From here, they struggle to free themselves, collapsing the earthen walls of the hole and burying themselves alive. Those who were pursuing you are now gone, buried like so many distant memories, but more pirates still remain nearer the shore. You’ve come too far not to end this…

  Claiming a pistol off the fallen pirates, you now stalk the rest of the men, armed to the teeth. They respond in kind, setting fire to the underbrush of your island. Soon, only Barlow and Rediker remain—and you’ve got a pistol for each man.

  The flintlock you’ve been carrying all these weeks is the one you save for Captain Rediker. Stepping from the underbrush, they turn to face you, faces full of surprise. Out here, on the very beach you were abandoned upon, only the three of you stand living.

  • Fire at Barlow first—savor the victory.

  • Fire at Rediker first—he’s the bigger threat.

  MAKE YOUR CHOICE

  Treachery Afoot

  Rediker nods quickly at your orders. “I got this, Cap’n. Go!”

  Then you find your feet and take great strides out of the cabin, across the quarterdeck, and towards the larboard side, where the ship is moored in port. From here you see Billy running down the wooden planks of the wharf and into Boston. He’s an older seaman, not used to sprinting, and his hefty frame waddles with the extra weight.

  Not wanting to waste a moment, you grab hold of a rope hanging slack from the yardarm and swing off the ship like a marauding corsair. The rope brings you over the crates being offloaded and down onto the wharf with a bit too much speed. Boots hit first, then you tumble and roll forward, before finally finding your footing. Even so, that move helped you get on Billy’s trail much quicker than simply climbing down the gangway and darting between the mazes of crates would have.

  This tumbling clatter upon the wharf causes Billy to look back, and, upon finding himself pursued, he renews the frenzied pace of his attempted escape. He shoves bystanders out of his way; one of them splashes into the harbor, and the commotion brings all eyes towards the pair of you.

  “Deserter!” you shout, thinking quickly. “Stop that man!”

  The bystanders move aside, laughing now at the familiar scene.

  Billy changes tactics, tries to lo
se you in the alleyways of the port town. He’s clearly been to Boston before and navigates the narrow streets as easily as if he were leisurely consulting a chart. You look about desperately from intersection to intersection, only to catch a fleeting glimpse before he disappears again.

  But you’re faster than the husky old sailor and gaining on him with every turn. Finally, he slips up, and you corner him in one of the alleyways. He tries to double-back, but now you’re blocking his path—heaving for breath, sweating, panting, and looking for all the world like a cornered and wounded beast ready to lash out and defend himself.

  The old mate pulls a dirk from his waistline and you do the same with the dueling pistol, pulling the hammer back for emphasis. His eyes go wide with the move. At length, Billy tosses the knife aside, catching his breath and shaking his head.

  “Saltboots, ya might be a lot-o’-things, but a murderer ye are not. I dunno who killed Bullock, but I don’t believe ye killed the man, nor do I believe that ye will murder me now. Lemme go. The Cooper’s Pride was good t’your family and I been kindly t’ye, have I not? Look at me. I be but an old man without a taste for the pirate’s life,” Billy pleads.

  • Take pity on the man. Agree to let him live out his days here in the colonies, and return to the ship.

  • Fire the pistol, and set him free of this life. Dead men tell no tales.

  MAKE YOUR CHOICE

  Treeline

  From the jungle, you watch the men as they arrive on the beach. They’ve already transferred the carriage guns to the shore, erecting a makeshift fort in case any ships were to follow them to this cove while the Pride was careened and vulnerable.