The Essex led the small fleet of privateers under the command of Captain Lewis into the open waters leaving the shores of England in their wake.
Kevin felt relieved to be back a sea. It was the first time in weeks that his Aunt Kate had not forced him to read, for the demands of the ship called. The winds of the North Atlantic blew and cold making the work easier than he had expected.
As the day wore on, Kevin took the watch in the crow's nest. Though the Essex lurched hard i the powerful waves of the open waters, Kevin scurried up the rigging into the crow's nest. No more did he fear the heights of the mast. No more did he fear climbing the rigging, he had become almost second nature to him. As easy as climbing a staircase to his now trained mind and body.
As the sun began to set in the West, Kevin's mind had pondered upon that day in Bath Towne on the Concord, the first time he ever climbed the mast. He laughed to himself at the fear he had felt on that day. How much had his life changed, since the day he left his Carolina farm. How much had his life changed since the parting with his father.
His father's parting words echoed in his mind, "you watch, you listen, so soon enough you will be a fine sailor."
Looking to West, Kevin uttered: "Da, I am a fine sailor this day."
Kevin's heart sank as he thought of his father. Where had he gone? What had become of him? These thoughts raced through Kevin's mind as the loneliness of the watch took hold upon him in the twilight of the setting Sun.
Soon enough Kevin would be alone in the dark, with the sound of the wind whistling and with the sound of the ocean crashing upon the hull of the Essex his only companionship to remind him that he was alive.
As the the last rays of the Sun sank below the West and the night stars lit the dark sky, Kevin eyes were drawn to a the deck below.
Mr. Hagney and several men escorted six of the "select men" towards the Captain's quarters. The select men had saved the day when mutiny threatened the Essex. But on the verge of setting sail the night before these men were caught trying to jump ship! Kevin had thought it even more odd, as none of the select men had ever gone to shore the entire time the Essex had been anchored in Bristol. And yet on the night of departure these men had attempted to leave the ship. Now, bound in chains the select men were being hauled before Captain Lewis to meet the justice of the sea.
Kevin felt particularly sad and worried for the fate of the leader of the select men, Patrick McNulty who had always shown him a particular kindness. Always teaching him the ways of the ship and more particularly to Kevin's delight, how tow wield a sword. At every free moment, Kevin learned the ways of war under the guiding hand of Patrick McNulty.
Mr. Hagney, shove Patrick McNulty through the door and into the captain's quarters where stood Aaron Lewis and his Kate.
"This one is the ring leader who led the others astray." Mr. Hagney declared, giving McNulty a strong open handed blow to his head.
"What do ye have to say fer yerself McNulty?" Captain Lewis inquired in a rather calm tone.
McNulty stood still and uttered not a word but simply stared hard at Kate.
"Dammit man! What do ye have to say fer yerself? I could have ye hanged fer this treachery! However given yer prior good service during the mutiny, I am inclined towards mercy, should ye give me good cause to show it this day."
McNulty stood still, he uttered not a word but continued to stare at Kate.
"Patrick, ye will answer yer Captain or ye will answer to me!" Kathleen O'Donnell Lewis coldly demanded with her hands upon her hips, unwavered by McNulty's fixed eyes.
McNulty sighed for all aboard the Essex knew Aaron Lewis to be a fair minded Captain. And just as fair minded as Captain Lewis was to his crew, all aboard the Essex knew never to cross Kathleen O'Donnell Lewis, Master of the Ship.
"Well sir, see tis like this sir . . . as ye know we had not set ashore in England these past few months, not even once. See sir, tis the way of it . . . meself and the lads we are all banished men and it would be a death sentence for any to set foot upon these isles. We are banished for having given good and faithful service to our rightful King. We all took oaths to defend His right to the crown. See sir, and tis nothing against ye sir nor against the Essex. But seeing as Mr. Hagney let slip that the King has raised his banner in the Highlands, me and some of the lads were determined to answer His call. Tis a question of duty, honor and loyalty sir."
"Honor and loyalty, tis is McNulty?" Kate scoffed.
Captain Lewis remained stoic, contemplating a proper punishment, remembering the good service that McNulty and the select men had given during the mutiny. Kate broke the silence.
"And what of your duty, honor and loyalty to the Essex and all who serve upon her?"
"Ye of all should know, Kathleen O'Donnell Lewis, daughter of Colonel O'Donnell, that our highest call of duty lays with our rightful King."
Invoking the name of her father enraged Kate. She lunged at McNulty and slapped him as hard as she could across his face.
"Ye leave our father out of this, Patrick or I have yer hide fer it. Yer loyalty and duty belong to yer own kin, to me and to the young lad, Kevin Henry! He is Maggie's son and my charge. He is yer own blood! I am yer blood! And with yer blood and kinsman is where yer duty and loyalty rests! And not chasing about some dream that shall never be, following a King that shall never again sit upon the throne."
Captain Lewis stood stunned by this revelation. He stammered out:
"Kate, do ye know this man?"
"Aye, I suppose a proper introduction is in order. Aaron may I introduce my brother Captain Patrick O'Donnell, late of His Majesty's service."
Stunned Captain Lewis looked over towards Mr. Hagney, "Cornelius, is this true?"
"Aye, sir. I apologize for not having mentioning the matter when I found him back in Virginia. But sir, seeing as such a disclosure, might have put the lad Kevin at risk, we thought it best to keep the issue amongst ourselves. If ye will recall, we needed men to protect the ship, twas Lord Pembroke who had informed me that we might have trouble aboard. The last thing I wanted was to let it slip that Kevin and Patrick were related, in case some of those mutinous scoundrels would grab hold of the lad as leverage."
Captain Lewis traded hard stares with Mr. Hagney and Kate.
Finally, Captain Lewis spoke.
"McNulty, or shall I say O'Donnell, brother to my wife and kinsman of my beloved nephew Kevin, ye shall be giving me yar oath of loyalty this day. Ye shall either be my man, defender of the Essex, protector of yar kinsman or it be 50 lashes from the cat! And I shall set ye ashore in the Azores. Which shall it be, O'Donnell?"
Patrick cleared his throat and in a resolved clear voice declared:
"I pledge my loyalty and honor to ye Captain Lewis, as do all my men. Form this day forward my fate rests with ye, my kinsman and the Essex."
"Very well then, I shall hold ye to it. Mr. Hagney throw these men in the brig for seven days with half rations. And seeing as ye are not entirely guiltless in this affair, ye shall join them."
Mr. Hagney appeared a bit startled, but resigned to his punishment. He departed the Captain's quarters and escorted the men to the brig.
"As to ye Kate, Master of the Ship, for such deception, I could have ye removed from service and set ashore in the Azores."
"Aaron, ye wouldn't?"
"Tis the Law of the Sea, Kate, tis the Law of the Sea."
"What kind of man would set his own wife upon a foreign shore, in the midst of the ocean! I'd take the brig but not that!"
Aaron smiled, for he had said the words in jest.
"Nay, Kathleen O'Donnell Lewis, I would never be parted from ye in such a way as that. But Kate, there should never be secrets between us."
Kate looked down, for she knew that she had grieved her husband deeply. Her eyes began to water.
"Aaron, I have deceived ye. I may have had what I thought was good reason for not telling ye, but seeing as I have caused ye great offense, I simply beg for yer forgiveness."
"My forgiveness ye have. But ye shall also have me justice. So while Mr. Hagney and yer brother enjoy the brig, ye shall enjoy the week scrubbing the deck and polishing the guns."
"Aaron, ye would have me do the duty of a common sailor, in front of the entire crew!"
"Aye Kate, I would have ye doing the duty of any of my loyal crew."
And thus Captain Lewis had dispensed his justice upon his ship.
I hope McNulty's words of loyalty ring true lest it be fickle as th' sea itself.
Kin is kin and blood is blood.
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STOPTo support your work, I also upvoted your post!
Complicated relationships between sailors :) I didn't know at the beginning that she was his wife so I find the finish of the story quite amusing. Scrubbing the deck and polishing the guns, aye, that is not a job for his dear wife. He is a strong man :)
Thank you for sharing and have a lovely day!
It is great to write a story because things can happen in the story that would never happen in the "real world" such as me telling my lovely bride "scrub the deck". Well I could say that but I believe my life expectancy would take a serious nose dive. ;)
Hahaha, you are right. It wouldn't make me happy either if my husband demanded something like that :)
Hi handofzara,
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Congrats on the upvotes!!!
#piratesunday has proven a great joy for me and I am very happy to have found your contest that got me started.
Wow this story just sucks you in and can't wait for more!! What a great chapter!!!
Love the Writings and Look Forward to Your Wonderful #PirateSunday contributions..............@handofzara
Arrrrggggghhhhhh!