Chapter 8
John woke early and headed to the galley to help Jack prepare the morning meal. As soon as he walked into the kitchen, Jack handed him a long wooden spoon and pointed to the stove where a large tin cauldron sat, bubbling. John stirred the barley-filled liquid, becoming lost in thought as he watched the broth swirl and gain momentum. He took a deep breath as the steam rose; the familiar aroma of smoked pork woke his stomach, causing it to rumble.
Today was the last day the pirates would be on the Bonetta and Captain Black Sam Bellamy had not given in to John's constant badgering. John felt desperate. He knew he had to do something drastic to prove himself. But what? he thought as his brain grasped at vague ideas, nothing, other than stowing away had occurred to him and that thought was thrown aside as soon as it had risen. He wanted to be accepted by Black Sam as an equal and treated with respect and he knew sneaking onboard was not the way to do that.
Later that morning, while Jack served the crew a breakfast of barley porridge drowned in creamy pork broth, John snuck out of the galley and headed for the Sultana. Over time, the two pirates guarding the hatchway had come to admire John's tenacity and the short one often spoke words of encouragement to him as he passed by. The tall one didn't say much but always let him pass so John took that as a sign of acceptance.
"Don't take no fer an answer John," the short one said.
"Aye, 'n let the capt'n know we wouldn't mind ye kickin' around," said the other man grumbled.
John nodded to the men. He marched across the gangplanks and up the deck of the Sultana towards the captain's quarters. This will be the day I become one of Captain Black Sam's crew, he thought as he knocked hard three times. The quartermaster opened the door and left without saying a word, rolling his eyes in annoyance as he brushed past John.
"An' how are ye this fine morn," Captain Black Sam said in an exhausted tone.
"I came to ask …" John started ceremoniously.
"I know, I know … ye want to be a pirate's apprentice," Captain Black Sam interrupted. "An' just as the day before my answer is still no."
"But why?" John cried.
"A pirate's life is dangerous. There's no place for ye here on the Sultana," the captain explained.
John's heart skipped a beat. The captain usually didn't feel the need to explain his answer. John felt a stir of excitement as he thought about what to say next. His eyes wandered to the ornate silver pistols the pirate captain wore on two belts that criss-crossed over his shirt, which was un-buttoned to the chest.
"The pirates guarding the hatchway told me to tell you they wouldn't mind having me around. I can be helpful. I know how to make broth and soup. I help out in the galley all the time. If you want, I can be a Powder Monkey. I already have some experience at that too. Captain Savage gave me a pouch of black powder to carry at the beginning of our voyage," John said.
"Aye, an what of yer mother? What am I to do with her?"
"We'll leave her behind," John said.
Captain Black Sam eyed John suspiciously. "Would ye not miss her?" he asked.
"I'd be glad to be rid of her," John said. He still hadn't forgiven her for the spanking he'd received in front of the men. His cheeks reddened as he thought about it.
Black Sam stared silently for a long moment before he continued. "So yer ready to grow up jus all of a sudden." He paused, then said, "An' are ye ready to meet yer doom as well?"
John's heart began to flutter like a moth caught in a jar.
"Yes!" he cried.
The pirate captain sighed and shook his head as he pushed his chair away from the cluttered, wooden table.
"Be off with ye," he said, shooing John away with the back of his hand. He reached for a black bandanna on the table and tied it around his head. Then he turned his back on John and reached for his red captain's jacket that hung inside the wardrobe.
"But … I …," John stammered.
The captain placed his tricorn hat on his head and turned to look at John. "My answer be the same. I be nah in the business o' pilferin' lads from thar mother's bosom." He threw his jacket over his shoulders theatrically, pushing his hands through the sleeves and out the cuffs.
When John didn't move, the captain ushered him out of his cabin and shut the door behind him. The heartbreaking sound of the lock being engaged crushed John's soul. He began to walk back to the Bonetta with tears welling up in his eyes. But as he reached the two pirates who were guarding the hatchway, he wiped his face dry with his hands and tried to look stoic.
"An' what did he say?" the short pirate asked.
John could only shake his head for fear that a rush of fresh tears would accompany his words if he spoke.
"Ah," the tall one said. "The capt'n be as tough as barnacles."
"Aye, that's why he's capt'n," the short one said.
John descended the ladder to the common room and sat heavily on the floor in the corner. Jack was accustomed to John's sudden bouts of mid-morning malaise, and went about his business, carefully avoiding the boy and his black mood.
John was at a loss. He didn't know what to do. He felt as if a wonderful opportunity was slipping through his fingers and there wasn't anything he could do about it. Frustrated, John sat as if in a daze all through the morning until he heard a commotion in the common room.
Jack was about to serve lunch and the men were starting to line up. At first, John dismissed the sudden flurry of movement as hungry men eager to receive their afternoon meal. Then he heard Captain Black Sam's distinctive, commanding voice. John shot to his feet and rushed to the door.
The pirates pushed their way through the crowded common room. John counted five in all: Black Sam, his first mate Hendrick, Richard the quartermaster and the two pirates who were normally posted over the hatchway. The excitement in the air was palpable. Black Sam cleared his throat and clapped his hands together to get the crew of the Bonetta to stop talking.
"As ye may 'ave heard, we're ready to take leave of the fair Bonetta, an' are makin' preparations to push off as I speak. 'Tis time we took on some recruits," Captain Black Sam said. He took a step back and waved his quartermaster forward.
The quartermaster stepped forward, puffing out his broad chest as he prepared to speak. "As a part of our final farewell it is customary to request recruits. I've been told thar is a goldsmith among ye. Please, step forward."
The crew of the Bonetta looked around at each other as they looked for the goldsmith. John knew him even before he stepped up. He had met Paul Williams the first day of their voyage.
"Aye … I believe you're looking for me," Paul Williams said.
"Then yer kindly requested to join my crew," Black Sam Bellamy said.
"Of course you will be paid handsomely for yer services," Richard added. "An' when ye have acquired yer fill of gold we'll drop ye off at the port of yer choice."
Paul smiled as he spoke. "I was lookin' fer a new job," he said as he walked towards the pirates. He took his place behind the gang and waited to see if any of the other men were about to join. The crew of the Bonetta began to talk among themselves. John trembled with excitement. This was his last chance to convince the pirate captain to make him one of his crew.
"Would any others like to join us?" Hendrick called out over the ever-increasing wave of voices.
John was about to rush forward when another man called out.
"Aye … I'm lookin' to join as well," the man said.
The cook grabbed John by the arm to hold him back. John didn't struggle. He was more interested in searching for the origin of the voice. It was William Osbourne, the gunner's mate, the other man John had met two weeks ago. The goldsmith and the gunner's mate had become fast friends over their journey, so John wasn't surprised to see one following the other into piracy. William pushed through the crew of the Bonetta to stand beside his friend Paul.
"Is that all then?" the pirate captain asked as he examined the crew of the Bonetta.
John broke free of Jack's
grasp and ran towards the pirate captain, not knowing what he intended to do when he reached the man. Black Sam turned, his mouth tightening in an annoyed grimace.
"John, what are you doing?" Alice cried. She had opened the captain's door to spy on the men, and now she stuck her head fully out the door, not caring if she was seen by the pirates.
When John reached Black Sam, his eyes focused on the two polished pistols that hung inside the captain's long-tailed jacket. John stopped just short of running into the captain and quickly reached for a pistol. He placed one hand on the strap that held the pistol and pulled the weapon free of its holster with his other hand.
The pirate captain took a step back and grabbed for John and his pistol, but John was too quick for him. He ducked and ran through Black Sam's arms.
Alice leapt from the door and began pushing through the crowd towards her son.
Acting on instinct, John pointed the gun directly at his mother's head and pulled back the firing pin. She gasped in terror, stopping just before her forehead hit the barrel. John held the pistol steady, aiming the flintlock firmly between her eyes.
"Get back!" John yelled. "Don't come any closer."
"John?" Alice cried as she backed away. "How could you threaten your mother so?"
"I'm tired of you always telling me what to do!" John yelled. "I've decided to become a pirate and there's nothing you can do to stop me!"
Alice blinked rapidly. John hoped she wouldn't cry. He had no intension of shooting and was beginning to regret pointing the weapon at her. In a sudden rush of guilt, John pressed the barrel to his temple and turned to face Captain Black Sam Bellamy with tears of desperation in his eyes.
"Make me a pirate or I'll do it. I swear I will!" John cried.
Captain Black Sam and the rest of the pirates looked so shocked that John almost laughed. He suppressed a smile and pushed the end of the barrel into his temple.
"Well don't just stand there. Do something!" Alice screamed at the pirate captain. "Take him. I don't know what to do with him anymore," she cried.
Captain Black Sam looked from Alice to John. He seemed dazed and was holding his other pistol limp in his left hand as if he didn't know what to do with it.
Large beads of sweat ran down the back of John's neck into his shirt collar. He didn't want to shoot himself either and was beginning to worry Black Sam was going to call his bluff. But finally, after several agonizing moments had passed the pirate captain found his voice.
"Yer welcome to join m' crew," Captain Black Sam said. He re-holstered his pistol and held his hand towards John and motioned with his fingers. "I'll be takin' back m' pistol, now."