Chapter 13
As was customary, the Pearl's captain, Edward Willas, was brought aboard the Sultana to have a formal parley with Black Sam. The pirate captain wanted to convey an air of civility, so he had John fetch some tea, sea biscuits, and canned mincemeat from the galley.
At the small wooden table, Captain Willas sat with his back straight and stiff. It was clear the red-haired man was not comfortable; he pulled nervously at his short, bristly beard and looked around the room as if he expected armed pirates to crash through the walls at any moment.
Captain Black Sam Bellamy sat on the opposite side of the table, leaning back on his chair as he often did. The two men stared each other down as John set the serving tray on the table. The silence grew so thick between the men that even the clanking of the dishes became unbearable.
John served the two men, setting out gold-rimmed porcelain tea cups and small white porcelain plates. Then he poured them each half a cup of steaming tea. He left the biscuits and mincemeat at the center of the table, where each man could serve himself.
Willas promptly refused the tea. It quickly became apparent that he was too nervous to eat or drink anything. John guessed that the man only wanted to speed up the parley. Eating and drinking would force him to linger in the captain's quarters and he obviously wanted to leave and get back to familiar surroundings as soon as possible.
After John finished setting out the food and tea he stood quietly by the table and waited. Black Sam drained his cup of tea and beckoned for John to refill it. Then he began on a sea biscuit, to which he added a generous dollop of mincemeat.
"I hereby claim yer ship an' all she contains," Black Sam announced to break the ice. "That would include her crew as well as yerself."
"Me?" Captain Willas sputtered in shock. He took a sip of tea, forgetting that he had refused it only a few moments ago, his eyes wide with fear. "But what would ye do with me?"
"If I'm in need of yer services, I'll ask ye to stay aboard the Sultana. Are ye trained in carpentry, or gold-smithin'? Perhaps ye have experience as a gunner's mate."
"I do not."
"Very well, how about yer crew?"
Captain Willas thought for a moment then said, "We have a carpenter. His name is Sam Jefferson."
"An' yer best gunner's mate?"
"Robert Stede," Captain Willas answered.
The pirate captain nodded, looking satisfied. "I can't promise that yer ship will remain unharmed," Black Sam said.
"But … but we surrendered!" Willas sputtered in disbelief.
"Aye, but only after m' men overran yer ship. Ye fled with the full intent of escape," Black Sam explained.
"We didn't fight back. Surely that counts for something," Willas countered.
"Aye it does with me, but fer m' crew 'tis a different story. They will vote on it, an' then I'll let ye know." Captain Black Sam stood up and gestured to his guest that it was time to leave.
"But what is to become of us?" the captain of the Pearl asked in a desperate voice.
"Yer punishment will be something fitting I'm sure," Black Sam sighed.
"But you're the captain. Don't you have any control over your men?"
"Aye I do, but not in this matter, I'm afraid. John, please escort this poor fellow from my sight."
"Aye, aye captain!" John said. He opened the door for the captain of the Pearl and waited for the stunned man to get to his feet.
As Captain Willas left the room John said, "Don't worry, these are good pirates. They're like Robin Hood's men."
"Good pirates," Willas whispered. "There's no such thing," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head as he walked out onto the deck of the Sultana.
John stayed by the door and watched the captain of the Pearl walk back to his vessel. The man looked over his shoulder a dozen times as he fled. It was as if he expected to be shot in the back as he retreated to his ship. After the captain of the Pearl crossed the gangplanks to his vessel, John turned back into the captain's cabin and shut the door.
"What's to become of them?" John asked.
"There're a number of possibilities. I don't want his ship, so we may burn it or sink it," Captain Black Sam replied coolly.
"But what of the men?"
"An island is nearby. They could be dropped off."
"Oh!" John said, happy with the captain's answer.
"If it were up to me, I'd just leave 'em be. 'Tis a waste of time slaughterin' a crew of eighty men an' even more a waste to row 'em to shore," Black Sam sighed. "But I aim to keep m' men happy. That's how one retains his office." Black Sam finished his tea and biscuit then brushed the crumbs from his fingers.
"Have you ever killed everyone on board a prize?" John asked, hoping the answer was no.
"Nay. There's no need, but I imagine if anyone puts up a fight thar will be bloodshed, no doubt. 'Tis a rough business we find ourselves in John. An' not all pirates hold life in such high regard as I."
John nodded in agreement as he cleared the table.
"Yer a good lad. Keep yerself busy an' stay out of trouble. I'm off to meet m' quartermaster," Black Sam said as he left the cabin.
John watched the captain go, longing to follow. He wanted to know what was happening on the other ship. But more importantly, he wanted to know what they had gained from their latest prize. He hoped they had finally acquired some pieces of eight, or gold doubloons. A pirate ship needs some sort of treasure, John mused.