The Black Swan Page #2

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Jamie, I had news for you.

Aye, a packet of news it is, me boy.

Now put your shirt on. You look much

too naked for a decent Englishman.

And now find me my great admirer...

the so-called governor of Jamaica.

And if this sad little wench be

his daughter, fetch her...

some smelling salts.

And you, Tom Blue, tell all

me old captains...

- to meet me tonight at the Porker's

Sterne.

- Aye.

- But I...

- Jamie-Boy, I got a lot to tell you.

Silence!

Now listen to me.

If there's anybody wants

to tell me different...

let him stand up and get

his head broke in.

I say Captain Morgan's a king's spy.

He bought his life by

offering to put all...

his old cronies on the

end of a rope.

I say Morgan's a yellow dog!

Now, wait there, Captain Leech.

We ought to hear what...

Morgan's got to say.

Are you calling me a liar?

No, but I'm saying we oughta

hear Morgan out.

And nobody's calling me a liar.

Now, then, anybody else want

their head broke in?

I say Captain Morgan's a two-faced

cur with the king's brand on him.

And I say Captain Leech is

a gibbering ape...

fit only for the company of baboons.

Ah, gentlemen, Captain Leech

is in a temper.

Aha! Morgan's fetch-and-carry.

Don't cross with him, Jamie. You're

too drunk to do yourself justice.

- A little room, please.

- I always wanted to cut that...

oily tongue out of you.

Leech! Jamie! Stop it!

Stop it, you lubbers! Stop or

I'll blast the both of you!

I told you he was coming!

Sit down, you two.

Over there, Captain Leech.

Your seat, Captain Waring.

Ale for all hands, Barney...

and keep it pouring till

we're all drowned.

Gentlemen, I am delighted to see

you all still alive and kicking.

You were all my captains once...

and I have called you together to

know if you will still follow me.

Where to? The gallows at

100 guineas a head?

Your head, Captain Leech...

were it filled with gold instead

of slops, wouldn't fetch that.

Gentlemen...

I have come from England

with an offer from...

His Majesty King Charles.

A king's pardon and a hundred

acres of land...

to each of you who will

settle down ashore...

or take your ships into

peaceful trade.

Oh, they'll clap us in jail

the minute we dump...

our cannon.

It's a trick.

And who's going to give us

the hundred acres of land?

- The new governor of Jamaica.

- The new governor?

- And who is the new governor?

- Henry Morgan...

Sir Henry Morgan...

knighted by His Majesty and assigned

the island of Jamaica for his ruling.

I said it before and I say it again.

A king's spy.

No, Captain Leech. A king's right

arm in the Caribbean...

and a strong one.

Gentlemen, England has signed

a peace with Spain...

The long fight is over.

It's a trick.

Spain wants a breathing spell

from our attacks...

so she can strengthen

her forces here.

- Quiet, Jamie.

- It's a scurvy trick, I say!

Sit down!

They'll bring over armies and

ships to murder us if we...

give them peace.

- Aye, they will.

- Quiet, you bubbleheads!

The privateers are done for.

They're in the past.

They must give way now to progress

and the making of...

law-abiding colonies.

England wants peace and

time to build her empire.

Will you join me for that,

Brother Leech?

I sailed the Main with you, Morgan...

and if you're crawling under

the king's flag...

I'll keep sailing it without you!

- Who's coming along to Maracaibo?

- There's a lot of gold in Maracaibo.

As governor of Jamaica, I make

my first pronouncement.

I'll run every pirate and privateer

into the bottom of the Caribbean.

I give those of you who

don't join me...

a month to clear out of

English waters.

My ship, the Black Swan,

don't drop...

her sails for any king's spy.

That's my answer to you,

Captain Morgan.

And if any of you yellow-livers

get the blood...

back in you, I'll lead you

against Maracaibo!

Who's coming with me?

- I, sir!

- And I, sir!

Jamie Waring. Come on, Jamie-Boy.

He's got the king, but we've got

the wind on our side.

And a captain's share of Maracaibo.

Get down, you drunken fool. You're

my second in command.

Hey, Barney. More ale for

Captain Waring.

- Aye, sir.

- Gentlemen, to Captain Waring...

my loyal right hand at

Government House.

Come on, Jamie. You were never

meant

to suck your thumb in a king's collar.

- We'll get you a new ship.

- To Jamie Waring!

May his neck never grow longer!

The occasion seems a little lacking

in enthusiasm, Henry.

I imagined we'd meet with

some slight disapproval.

At least we don't have to

shoot our way in.

Whom do you wish to see?

We are waiting upon Lord Denby.

His lordship is busy, sir.

He'll be busier in a few minutes.

Mr. Ingram, these gentlemen are

waiting upon his lordship.

- Gentlemen?

- I am Sir Henry Morgan.

From the looks of you, it

could be nothing else.

Your Excellency, there are

some gentlemen here...

with muddy boots.

I have removed all my effects.

The premises are at your disposal

for looting or burning.

I can appreciate your

discomfort, milord.

It's not pleasant having

a man you tried...

to hang return as your superior.

But for the sake of the empire

we both serve...

I am willing to forget your

distaste of me.

The ceremony making you official

governor will take place tomorrow.

I shall perform all duties required...

of me as an officer of the Crown.

But my personal life is my own, sir.

It does not include associating

with blackguards.

Well, Sir Henry, do we run him

through hang him...

from the yardarm...

or start dancing the minuet?

Being governor is going to

require some restraint.

There's always Maracaibo.

Get to your quarters, you

blockheads! Both of you!

- What quarters, sir?

- How do I know? Find them!

Take any rooms you want.

- No, you don't! That's mine!

- I saw it first!

Oh, no, sir! No, sir!

Don't kill me! Don't kill me.

I's going. I's going.

- Pick that up.

- Yes, massa. Yes, sir.

- Pick it up!

- Yes, sir. Oh, you...

You is one of them pirates, is you?

Or... Or ain't you?

- What do I look like?

- Yes. I mean, no, sir.

- What are you doing here?

- Oh, nothing, sir. Just going...

going fast.

- Stealing, eh?

- Oh, no, sir.

I was just looking for a locket that

belonged to Miss Margaret.

- But it ain't here, sir. It ain't here.

- This is Lady Margaret's room?

Yes, sir.

How's her bed? Soft enough for me?

Yes, sir! Yes, sir!

"And 10th, we do hereby give and

grant unto Sir Henry Morgan...

"full power and authority to...

"levy, arm, muster...

"command and employ all

persons whatsoever...

"residing within our said

colony of Jamaica,

"to march from one place to another

or to embark them...

"for the resisting and withstanding

of all enemies...

"pirates and rebels, both

at sea and land.

"Given at our court at Whitehall...

"the sixth day of November, 1674...

"in the 16th year of our reign.

- "God save the king."

- God save the king.

"We, duly elected to the Assembly...

"by all the peoples of Jamaica...

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