The Black Swan Page #6

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Stop your clacking and drive on.

- Potatoes?

- No, thank you.

- Meat?

- No.

- How about a little bread and cheese?

- I'm not eating with you.

- Oh, you'd rather starve, huh?

- Yes.

A little fasting wouldn't

hurt you any.

Also, it might improve

your manners.

My manners?

Look at it calmly. I kept you from

marrying a fellow you hated.

That's a lie.

Don't argue with me

while I'm eating.

I put you on a fine ship, give you

the best cabin and stick...

a bolt on your door.

Thanks for the bolt.

If you were really grateful, you'd

tell me something.

Someone in Port Royal has been

coming into a lot of money lately.

- What do you mean?

- Someone who hates Morgan...

and has been playing partners

with Leech...

giving him information and

collecting a captain's...

share of the booty, or

I miss my guess.

I can tell by your change of color...

that you know someone who's

had a windfall lately.

- Who is it? That fine father of yours?

- No, my f...

Ingram then. Well, why

don't you answer?

You're not after Leech. You would

like to make me believe...

something foul against a decent man!

You didn't answer me. Come in.

What is it, Thomas?

We just found a split in the

main brace, Captain.

Will you have a look at it?

- A split in what main brace?

- We also located...

- a barnacle on the cathead.

- What?

- Oh, uh, I'll be right up.

- Aye, sir.

And, uh, if you want to eat behind...

my back, I promise not to notice it.

There's two of them, Jamie.

It's Leech.

I knew it the minute I sighted

the topmast.

- The Black Swan.

- And the Hawk, I make it.

They've sighted us, all right.

We're no match for the pair of them.

We may as well run for it.

We can't outrun the Black Swan.

We'd be pounded to splinters

in a fight.

We can't fight with 100

guns against us.

We can't fight, and we can't run.

Nothing left to do but to disappear,

which ain't practical.

Run up the black flag and

head her around.

We're gonna join Leech.

But you can't fool Leech with a

baby trick like that, Jamie.

Hoist the Jolly Roger.

It's a beggar's chance,

but our only one.

By this time, our ships are at

Maracaibo waiting for us.

We'll join Leech and lead

him to Maracaibo.

He's not an easy man to lead, Jamie.

Main braces.

Back your main yards.

Come on. Get back to your

cabin and stay there.

Why? So I won't see that flag and

know what you are?

I'm captain of this ship, and

you're taking my orders.

That's Leech and his cutthroats.

We can't fight and we can't run.

There's only one way to

get out of this alive,

and that's to tell Leech

I've left Morgan.

That's exactly what I thought.

Mr. Ingram is right.

You are working with Leech.

You've got a head made of iron.

Get in there and think

what you want.

Come aboard, Captain. Come aboard.

And welcome.

We had a hard time finding you,

Captain.

Don't try any fancy tricks on me,

Waring.

You're under my cannon, and

I can blast you out of the...

water with a wink.

You chucklehead. Do you see

anything on this ship...

that looks like we was planning

to go into battle?

If you're smart, you'll stop

jabbering and talk sense.

All right. Let's hear

you make sense.

Why did you turn back?

To join you, if you're still

interested in Maracaibo.

Oh. And I suppose the other ships

are hunting me to join me too, eh?

I never seen a man so suspicious.

- What's your answer?

- My answer is they're after...

your neck, Leech.

But I'm not with them.

I'm after gold.

Did you desert Morgan?

The way I look at it, Morgan

deserted me...

taking up with that pack

of jackanapes.

I'm not of a mind to end up

playing government...

with a quill stuck behind my ear.

I stood it as long as I could.

But Morgan or no Morgan, I'm here.

You're lying, Waring, you were

with him yesterday.

You told the assembly you were

sailing off to capture us.

You get your tidings quickly,

don't you?

Yes. And they've always been right.

You've a skull for thinking,

Captain.

What else could I tell the assembly?

I've no hankering to grow

on a gallows tree.

Enough of jawing. Do we

sign articles or not?

There's a hole in it, Waring.

If you deserted Morgan and left...

the other ships to join me...

why did you go back to

Port Royal at all?

Well, come on. Out with it. Why?

To get my wife.

Oh, here you are, my dove.

These good gentlemen seem

to doubt that...

I have a pretty wife aboard.

Will you come out, my sweet,

and give them a look at you?

My love, may I present

Captain Leech.

Madame Waring, daughter

of the former...

Governor of Jamaica, Lord Denby.

Now you know why I'm not too

welcome back in Port Royal.

- Captain Waring...

- Yes, my dear. What is it?

I'm pleased to meet you, ma'am.

My apologies, Captain.

I'd go back to Port Royal myself to

pick up a lady of such caliber.

Then we'll forget the

misunderstanding.

Do you want to join forces for profit,

or shall we be on our way?

Aye, we'll sign articles.

And just to guarantee that your

ship will come along to help us...

you and the lady sail with

me on the Swan, eh?

It'll make the trip jollier.

That's a fair bid.

But I don't fancy subjecting my wife,

who is a delicate creature,

as you can see...

to that riffraff crew you

have aboard.

Madame, you'll be treated

like the queen ya are.

I promise you I'll slit

the throat of the...

first dog that brings

a blush to you.

You can't ask for more

than that, Captain.

Are you agreed or not?

Agreed.

- Mr. Blue!

- Aye, sir.

Take over. And to assure

Captain Leech...

that you're an honest man...

sail abreast of the Swan

at all times.

Aye, Captain.

"All other officers to

get one share.

"Article eight. Each captain

has a right...

"to value all spoils before

they are divvied up."

That's what we all agreed

to at Tortuga.

Stick your name on it if you're

favorable.

I'm considering...

There's no denying that

you know the...

Gold Coast better than anybody

on the Main.

It'd be a shame for you to waste

your talents up at Port Royal.

- My share's always been 10.

- There's no arguing.

Five you'll get.

You'll nip enough out of the first 2

prizes to set you up for a year.

What's the sense of waiting around

for some lumbering merchantman?

Why not hit straight for Maracaibo?

It's still the richest spot on

the Spanish Main.

Maracaibo is the plum we're

after picking, my lad.

Oh. I'll sign.

Stick you name right there.

Have a drink.

I'll do my drinking in Maracaibo.

Good night, gentlemen.

He's got some articles in his

cabin what need signing.

Get out!

Get out!

You can't come in here!

With so beautiful a wife, they'd

think it strange if I didn't.

I want to congratulate you for

showing a spark of reason.

You saved both our hides, for the

time being anyway.

All you got to do is

keep on looking...

at me with adoring eyes...

and maybe we'll get out

of this in one piece.

- You monster!

- Shh!

No love spats, my gal. Our friends

may be listening.

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