{FIC} The Gleeful Ghost, Chapter 6
Five days later, the captain returned.
“I did it, Kurt, I did it!” He picked the smaller man up and spun him around, laughing. They were back in the captain’s quarters, finally together after five long, stress-filled days. “I’m a free man. My warrant expired two days before I walked into the constable’s office. Two days!” He set Kurt down and smiled, the obvious relief showing in his eyes. “Can you believe it, Kurt? I can finally leave the life of pillaging and plundering behind and be a respected, upstanding member of society again. It feels so good. It really does.”
Kurt was thrilled. He had been so worried, going out of his mind, spending hours standing at the railing, watching boats come into the harbor, wishing it was David coming back to him. But now he was back. Kurt felt like he could breathe again. “What are you going to do? What happens next?”
“I don’t know.” David laughed, suddenly aware of the amazing, endless possibilities. “I could sell The Ghost, I guess. Discharge the crew. I could start looking for a senior position on a merchant vessel.”
Kurt’s face fell. He knew the likelihood of them finding employment on the same ship was rare. Would they even have a future? Was The Ghost all that was keeping them together? “Are you going to inquire about that, um….here, in Havana?” he asked cautiously.
“Yes. I suppose I should. I hired the four new deck hands when we docked. I could sell The Ghost fully staffed, she’d be worth more that way.” The captain seemed to be lost in his thoughts. Kurt imagined the captain selling him along with the boat. He felt sick to his stomach.
“Or….” David leaned back against the edge of his desk, crossing his arms over his chest.
Kurt stiffened.
“Or, if luck is truly with The Ghost, I might be able to secure a new commission entirely. I could talk to the shipping companies themselves and offer The Ghost on contract, retaining the crew and staying on as captain.” He was looking at Kurt but his eyes were glossed over, his mind far away, picturing a new, different life. “It’s possible. I mean, I never aspired to be captain, you know. It just kind of happened. I have Azimio and his conceit to thank for that.” He hesitated, smiling slightly. “But I like it. It’s a lot of responsibility but, well….I like the crew, I like the way we work together. They’re good men and I feel responsible for them….for as long as they want to work for me.”
“The men adore you, David. You know that.”
“I suppose.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “But, yeah, there’s a chance we could do that. Not here. I couldn’t find that kind of opportunity in Havana. We’d have to sail to a legitimate port. Maybe St. Johns?” He pulled Kurt against him, leaning in, snuggling his chin into Kurt’s neck. “No matter what, angel, we’ll be together.”
“I like the way that sounds.” Kurt sighed. ‘We’ was the only word he really heard.
“Hey. I, uh…I got you something.”
“You did?” a huge grin spreading across his face.
“I know how you like smelly things. Well, good smelly things.” He laughed, “You know what I mean…” He handed Kurt a small bundle tied with string.
Kurt untied it and unwrapped the package. “Soap?” He brought it to his nose and inhaled. It was amazingly fresh and citrusy, something like oranges and cream. “I love it, thank you.”
“Good. I was hoping you would.” David smiled sheepishly.
“We’ll be using this soon, you know….” Kurt smirked.
“Awww.” The captain feigned annoyance. “Is it time to take another bath already?”
“Ok. Enough talking. You. Bed. Now….” Kurt began walking the larger man backwards towards his bed. “I feel the need to show my appreciation for this lovely gift. And celebrate the wonderful news that I’m not sleeping with a criminal anymore.”
Just then there was a knock on the door. “Damn.” They said in unison.
Acer entered when invited. “Sir, there’s two gents here to see ya. They say it’s urgent. They wish to speak with you, privately.”
“What do they want? Who are they with?”
“Don’t know, captain. They wouldn’t say. But they’re fine looking gents. Dressed proper.”
“Thank you, Acer.” David kissed Kurt lightly on the cheek and walked him to the door. “I’ll talk to you later, ok? And I’ll….uh, we’ll get to celebrate tonight, promise.” He gave Kurt’s ass one last squeeze as he walked out the door.
Kurt made his way to the galley, trying not to be obvious in his glance towards the two men coming aboard. David was greeting the men, exchanging pleasantries with them. One was taller and lean, the other shorter with a mane full of dark curly hair, pulled into a low ribbon at the back. They looked very proper indeed. Kurt’s curiosity only slightly distracted him from the excitement of the conversation he’d just had.
“We seek employment on your vessel, sir.” The taller man was saying.
David sat at his desk and the two men sat across from him. He eyed them suspiciously. Why would men dressed as they were request employment on a ship in a town known to harbor pirates? He assumed they were lawmen, undercover perhaps, trying to trap him into something. He’d just acquired his freedom, there was no way he’d allow himself to be charged with a crime again.
“I’m sorry, gentlemen, The Ghost has a full crew. There are no positions available.”
The taller man looked to the smaller one, sighed and looked back to the captain, lowering his voice. “Please, sir. You are our only hope.”
The captain sat back in his chair and narrowed his eyes. He considered the possibility that these men were fugitives, criminals desperate for employment like all the others. But with their formal dress, proper manners and the money that they apparently came from, it was easy to assume their crime was something atrocious indeed. “The Gleeful Ghost is not a safe haven for murderers and villains, gentlemen.” David stood and turned, looking out at the harbor through his large window. “I don’t know what rumors you’ve heard but I refuse to give sanctuary to blatant criminals aboard my ship.”
“Please, Captain Karofsky. We’re not murderers. We’re not villains.” The taller one spoke softly, but earnestly. “We have heard rumors, of course, but please. Please consider adding us to your crew.”
David turned and eyed the men again. The shorter man still hadn’t spoken. He just sat there, nervously darting his eyes between the captain and his companion. “If you’re not criminals, then why aren’t you seeking employment on another ship? One that has positions available, perhaps?”
“I said we weren’t murderers but…we are, um…well. There’s been a warrant issued for my arrest, sir.”
“Yes? Well. What crime did you commit?”
The taller man looked back at the other and sighed deeply, then looked down at his hands, dejected.
“You won’t admit your crime to me, sir? Really? Oh, wait, of course you’ll tell me you’re innocent of all charges. Is that it?”
They were silent. The captain waited for a response but none came. His patience ran out.
“Honestly, how can you expect me to hire you, now, after telling me that you have a warrant? I told you already, The Ghost has a full crew. There are no positions available. I’m sorry you’ve wasted your time here and I’m sorry for your circumstances, gentlemen, but I can’t hire you. Especially, since you’re incapable of the slightest bit on honesty to admit your cri--”
“Loving me.” The smaller man answered with a quiet, trembling voice. “His crime was loving me.”
The captain’s eyes shifted quickly between the two men. Realization hit. He lowered himself slowly into his chair. This was it, these were the rumors being spread about The Gleeful Ghost. She was successful, lucky, perhaps, but more important than that, she was now known as a safe haven for others whom the world deemed “different” enough to be criminal. They were not your average felons, no….now the crimes against nature could be forgiven as well.
“I was sentenced to hang, sir….and he…he helped me escape. We fled here, to Cuba.” The taller man added quietly after the long silence.
David shook his head slowly. Everything changed. He spoke softer now, compassion creeping into his voice. He looked to the smaller man and asked, “Is there a warrant for you, as well…um, forgive me, what was your name?”
“Anderson, sir, Blaine Anderson. And yes, I can only assume that there is.”
“And your name, Mister…. Wilson, was it?”
“Yes, Flint Wilson.”
He sighed deeply. He didn’t need two more deck hands. And he didn’t want to upset the crew by over-crowding the bunks. But what choice did he have? He knew he couldn’t deny them employment. He just hoped he could pull out of Havana’s harbor before any more like-minded men showed up, begging for asylum.
“Do either of you have any sailing experience?” He asked the question, knowing the answer didn’t matter.
“No, sir.”
“I’m sorry, captain, no.”
Of course not, he told himself. Two extra men on a large sailing vessel, and they had no clue what they were doing. “Well, we’ll find something useful for you to do.” He stood and walked around his desk and the men stood instinctively. “You, Mr. Wilson, you’re tall, I suppose, built well for rigging. I’m sure you can learn from Blackmon how to rig and knot securely. Go find him on the bridge. And you, Mr. Anderson….” He eyed the smaller man, noticing the similarities between him and Kurt for the first time. “If you’re not opposed to the idea….I suggest you head to the galley and look for the cook. He’s overworked already, feeding, laundering and caring for such a large crew. You may be of service to him.”
“Thank you, captain.”
“Thank you very much, sir.”
He watched as the men left his cabin. He wanted to add that he fully expected them to be discreet in their relationship. There were no private bunks available and if anything would start a mutiny, even among a crew as accepting as his, it would be the matter of illicit love-making in the crew’s shared quarters. But he didn’t. He wanted to believe they were smart enough to recognize that on their own.
The Ghost set sail in the early evening. Dirk knocked on the captain’s door.
“Sir. We have an issue with one of the new deck hands.”
“What sort of issue? Which one?” David really hoped the two newest members hadn’t done something to infuriate the crew already.
“Strando, sir. It seems he’s….well, somewhat of an imposter.” Dirk chuckled slightly.
“What do you mean?”
“Just, please come out on deck, captain.”
Strando was hanging halfway over the railing, moaning, retching and vomiting like a madman. The seas were calm and they’d been sailing for less than an hour. It was clear to everyone onboard what that meant. He was no sailor.
Anger instantly overwhelmed the captain. He pushed through the crowd, shouting as he did. “You lied to me, land-lover?” He grabbed Strando’s vest, shaking him, speaking harshly. “There were many capable men eager to gain employment on this ship, to become a member of my crew. You told me you had experience, you told me you were skilled. I turned down expert seamen for you? Have you ever been aboard a boat in your life, Strando? ” He shook him again, demanding a reply. “Well? What do you have to say for yourself?”
The man lifted his head slightly, attempting an apologetic shrug, “I didn’t swim to Cuba, sir…” and then retched again, barely missing the captain’s boots.
The captain threw him back against the railing in disgust. The green-tinted man moaned loudly as he leaned back over towards the open ocean.
Kurt arrived, obviously amused. He quietly moved through the crowd of mumbling, curious men surrounding the fraud. “Excuse me, gentlemen, excuse me. Please give this man some room.” He pulled the man down from the railing and seated him on the deck. He had in his hand a mug and some long strips of cloth. “Captain, you’ll have your chance to interrogate him later, I assure you. Let me tend to him first, please.”
The captain complied, moving away and letting Kurt do whatever it was Kurt wanted to do. The cook sat on the deck in front of him, lifted the cup to the man’s mouth and instructed. “You won’t want to, but you must drink this. Slowly…”
Strando sipped at the nasty, thick concoction, grimaced and drank again, finishing it.
“There, now…as if your life depended on it, keep that down.” Kurt went to work on the man’s hands. He took a small pebble from his pocket, wrapped it in the strip of cloth and tied it around the man’s wrists, then repeated with the other one. Holding Strando’s hands on his lap, he pressed his thumbs over the pebbles. “Breathe with me.” He inhaled slowly, deliberately, staring intently into the man’s eyes, then exhaled just as slowly.
The crew dispersed mostly. Dirk returned to the bridge. But the captain remained, watching the transformation the imposter experienced. He couldn’t believe he now had three new crew members with absolutely no sailing experience between them.
Strando breathed in and out, slowly, following Kurt’s lead. “How do you feel?”
“A little better.” He answered.
“Good. You’ll need another dose in an hour or so. Come find me then.”
“Yes, sir.” Strando answered.
Kurt stood, took the mug and walked back to the galley. The captain followed him.
“What was that? More black magic?” The larger man asked as they ducked into the galley.
“Not at all, captain.” The cook answered, turning back towards the man, smiling. “Just an old trusted remedy for seasickness. He’ll be fine if he keeps the bands on his wrists.”
“Just when I think you couldn’t possibly amaze me more….” He leaned down, cupping Kurt’s face and kissing him lightly.
“You haven’t even begun to know all my secrets, captain.” Kurt teased, pulling back from the kiss. “Go easy on the man, please?” Kurt asked, “He seems harmless.”
“Hmmph, well. I suppose we’ll see. I don’t appreciate being lied to.”
“Of course not. But everyone has a story. He might surprise you.”
They returned to the deck to find Strando involved in animated conversation with several crew members. He was a completely different man.
“We heard a noise. My heart was beating right out of my chest. And then! And then I saw him! There I was…with a shotgun aimed at my belly. I thought I was a goner, fellas--Captain!” Strando stood, embarrassed and apologetic. “I’m so sorry, captain, please forgive me.”
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t throw you overboard.”
“Agnes.”
“What?”
“Agnes, sir. She’s the only reason. She’s every reason. She’s the moon and the stars, captain. It’s Agnes. It’s always been Agnes.”
“What in heaven’s name are you blabbering about?”
“I’m in love, captain. I’m in love and I have to stay onboard. Please. I have to work for you, on this ship, the most successful pirate ship in all of the Caribbean Seas, sir, in order to finally be with the woman I love. I have to make my fortune. I lied to you. I regret that, but it was necessary, I’m sorry. All that matters is that Agnes and I are finally together.”
He jumped to his feet, glancing around at his growing audience. He continued speaking, animated and lively. Kurt tried not to giggle as he caught David’s bewildered expression. The crew found amusement in the man’s tale. He certainly had a way of telling a story.
“I’m from Georgia, sir,” he continued. “My family is poor. We have a small farm neighboring a very large cotton plantation that Agnes’ father owns. We were neighbors, best friends growing up but I couldn’t be with her, I couldn’t marry her. Her father wouldn’t allow it. They were so wealthy and I…I wasn’t good enough for her. I tried to work for him, on his plantation, but once my intentions were known to him, he fired me. I tried to find employment in Savannah but I could never make enough there to matter to him. I had to find a way for Agnes and me to finally be together.”
“Her father caught us. We were together and he caught us. He held a gun to my chest and pulled the trigger but it didn’t fire. I thought I was dead, captain. But I got another chance. Another chance to be with Agnes. I ran away. I ran away from the woman I loved and it broke my heart. But I promised her I would return. And I have to. She’s waiting for me. I have to work for you, here on The Gleeful Ghost, I have to make my fortune on the high seas, so that I can return to her. So that we can finally be together.”
Seemingly not to leave any doubt as to his sanity, he fell to his knees in front of the captain, clasping his hands together and pleading. “You have to let me stay, captain. Please. I have to make my fortune, Agnes is waiting for me. I’ll do any job, any task, no matter how demeaning or lowly. Just please let me stay.”
All eyes turned to the captain. They waited, with bated breaths for the captain’s decision. Shaking his head, he finally answered, snorting, slightly amused. “Fine. You seem harmless enough, although obviously completely mad. And for the love of all that’s holy, stop retching all over my deck.”
Strando leapt to his feet, running towards the railing and shouting into the night, “I’m coming for you, Agnes! I won’t disappoint you, my love. I’m coming for you…” as the crowd of sailors broke out into cheers.
David turned and caught Kurt’s smirk. He rolled his eyes and shook his head as he walked past him and towards the bridge. No one noticed, but David’s hand grabbed and squeezed Kurt’s for just a second.