Crewmen on the Maiden tossed a lifeline to the survivor who released his desperate grip from the barrel that had kept him alive through the night. It took two tries until the hapless man could reach the line and at one point it appeared as if he would drown in the attempt, but he raised a victorious fist gripping the rope and the crew heaved to until he was close enough to climb a rope ladder they lowered. The man was in very poor shape and it took an inordinate amount of time for him to reach the deck of the Maiden. He finally climbed up the final rung, wheezing and heaving for breath on all fours at the feet of the crew who had saved him.
“Who be you?” Chibs barked at the panting man.
“M,M,my n,n,name is Geor Alton. I am the king’s governor of the Jamaica colony.” Alton stammered between gasps for air.
“Pleased to meet you Governor. My name is King George, and this is the H.M.S. Make Believe! What kind of a fool do you think I am? What is your name?” Chibs rasped. His face was flushing as his temper flared.
“I speak the truth to you good Sir. My name is Geor Alton…”
“Yeah, yeah and you are the kings own blah blah, whatever and what have you. I’m too tired for games.” Chibs said as he turned away from the pleading man, “Take him below, lock him in the hold.”
Several of the crew began to drag Alton away as he protested.
“I am the Governor of Jamaica! Treat me fairly and you will be rewarded! I can pay. I can grant pardon. Please I beg of you…”
Through the commotion, Captain James made his way forward from by the helm. He had been scanning the horizon keenly while the crew fished their new guest from among the wreckage. He strode over next to Chibs and pointed off to the northern horizon.
“There Chibs. What do you see?” he asked.
Chibs turned to see where James had pointed and squinted. A faint haze squatted over a small area of the edge where the sky met the sea and amid the bleary smudge of white and gray Chibs could make out a small white shape. He searched his pockets for a second and produced his telescope, he then fixed his gaze through it on the white shape.
“That’s not the Shepherd, James. It’s not that American brigantine either.” Chibs replied, his look suddenly becoming even more fatigued.
“I assumed the cannon fire was from the Shepherd when I heard it earlier. They followed after one of the Americans that abandoned the fight last night. I didn’t think anything of it then, but I suppose it is possible they were drawing her off to an ambush. Could it be?” James lowered his voice to not raise a panic.
“It’s a possibility, sure. But likely any vessel they had wouldn’t sit idle while we sunk one of their own.” Chibs replied.
“The American brig couldn’t have overcome the Shepherd.”
“We will find out soon enough Captain. If Shepherd has been taken or sunk. Their next course will definitely bring them to us. The explosion from the Gazelle was big enough, I’m sure parliament in London probably felt it. I think we should push east, run with the wind at our backs and get as much distance between this mess and us as we can.” Chibs encouraged. His face was long and weary, his voice missing the usual gusto Lilith had grown accustomed to hearing.
“We should run. But Trina and the Shepherd could be in trouble. She would sail to our aid Chib, we won’t leave them to whatever fate they may have encountered.” James was resolute.
“Aye Captain. I’ll have the crew make ready, again.” Chibs said, making his way to prepare.
Lilith, exhausted like everyone else aboard, lingered on the bow. She trusted and admired Chibs as well as Captain James, when they disagreed on matters, she found it most discomforting. There was little to be gained by inciting conflict between the Captain and his first mate, though on this particular issue she felt more aligned with James. Trina was a friend to Lilith; she was tough, and she had introduced Lilith to her new way of life. James had her heart, Chibs felt like the father she’d always longed for, but Trina was an older sister. Hard while still matronly, a friend when needed and a woman in the mix of a man’s world aboard ship.
“You think we should be running? Like Chibs wants?” James asked, seemingly reading her mind.
“No. I mean, we are all tired James. I want to run as much as anyone else. But if they are in trouble, James, we have to do whatever we can to help.” Lilith exclaimed.
“We will. I won’t leave them to whatever fate throws their way. But I do hate to defy Chibs’ advice, if it weren’t for him, I would never have survived as long as I have.” James looked troubled, conflicted about his decision.
“I treasure Chibs as much as any of you, James. But I think you are making the right choice. Whatever the horizon holds for us, we can’t run forever.”
“Just what does the horizon hold for us my dear?” James asked, locking his eyes onto hers. “Does the fair Lilith intend to spend her days sailing with a pirate crew?”
“I can’t say James. Forever? No. But who knows what the future holds? For now, I am here. I will live my life as each day comes until I have a choice to make, I suppose.” Lilith replied breaking her eyes away, back to the sea.
The two remained on the bow, watching the sail on the horizon without further exchange. Lilith felt a desperate anxiety to find out the fate of the Unholy Shepherd. Even under full sail, their progress felt like an agonizing slow crawl leaving nothing for Lilith to do but torture herself with the possibilities of what they would find of their sister ship.
