THE PLIGHT OF LADY CATHERINE

THE PLIGHT OF LADY CATHERINE

By Bob French

He turned and waived to his mother who was standing by the gate.  She had meant everything to him as he grew up.  But now it was time to break out.  The journey down to the fishing village didn’t take him long and once there he started to look for the ship that held the one person who meant so much to him.

As he wandered the coves, his mind started to wonder as the hours past, then, just along the coast, he saw it.  The Mermaid, Old Grey Beard’s pirate ship.  It looked deserted and forlorn as it gently rocked on the idle tide.  As he drew closer, he could see that it was tied up to one of the mooring jetties and standing on the deck were two people.

Old Grey Beard steadied himself as the weather-beaten deck rocked and swayed on the tide.

“Well, Missy.  Looks like your knight in shining armour, ain't goin’ to show is he?”  Old Grey Beard’s voice grated on the young lady. “Sun’s near gone down the back of the world for the day, which means, accordin’ to your promise, you belongs to me.”

Old Captain Grey Beard boomed out his laughter, sending the Seagulls that had decided to perch themselves on the old cabin roof, screaming and squawking into the afternoon sky.

“First thing you can do for me Missey is to swab the decks.  There be a  bucket over yonder and be sure to make a good job of it or there’ll be no vittles fer yer tonight.”

Lady Catherine had been on a ship bound for Jamaica to marry, her childhood sweetheart, Sir James Buckingham, the famous buccaneer and scourge of the Caribbean, but the ship she was travelling on was attacked by the dastardly and evil Captain Grey Beard.  After a brief struggle, her crew had surrendered. 

Old Grey Beard was going to throw the crew, and her, over the side until she explained who she was and what kind of danger he was now in.  The mention of Sir James Buckingham brought fear into Old Grey Beard’s crew and after an intense period of parlay amongst his rough and smelly crew, it was decided to drop her crew off at the first island they came to, but keep Lady Catherine until they reached Port of Spain, in Trinidad and Tobago, where they knew they would fetch a much higher price.

Lady Catherine realizing the situation she was in and demanded a parlay with Captain Grey Beard, in accordance with the Pirate Code.

“If no harm comes to me or my crew and you still have me captor by sundown today, I shall turn my back on Sir James Buckingham and be yours.  But, if my future husband rescues me before the sun gives way to the moon, I shall speak on your behalf and ask him to save your worthless soul.”

After much soul searching, Old Grey Beard slapped his thigh and yelled that he agreed to the terms.

“Now missy, pick up yonder bucket and start swabbing the decks.”

Old Grey Beard was a hard taskmaster, driving Lady Catherine to near exhaustion.  Then, as Old Grey Beard went aft to look to the horizon again, there was a huge splash of water on the port side.  Without thinking, Grey Beard quickly drew his cutlass and rushed to the side, expecting to see Sir James Buckingham climbing up the side of the boat, but there was no one.

When he turned around, there standing in front of him was Sir James Buckingham.

“Grey Beard you old scoundrel, how easy it is to trick you.  Hand over my Lady Catherine, or face the consequences.  I can assure you that I shall not be lenient with you if you should refuse.”

Old Grey Beard stood with a confident look on his craggy old face. By a stroke of luck, Lady Catherine and the sun were behind him which meant that  he could guard Lady Catherine and Sir James had to stare into the bright sinking sun.  He knew he had the advantage.

Before Sir James Buckingham realized the danger he was in, Old Grey Beard lifted his heavy cutlass and swung it at Sir James.  From then on it was a fight to the death.

The boat rocked, sending Old Grey Beard staggering across the slippery wet deck. The fight was fast and furious.  Blade clashed against blade, chunks of wood splintered as both men slashed wildly at each other, hitting the side of the boat.  Throughout this terrible fight to the death, Lady Catherine tried her best to move around behind Sir James, but Old Grey Beard was wise to her attempts and dragged her back each time.

The fight went on for nearly half an hour and Sir James could see the old pirate was starting to tire.

“Grey Beard you old braggart, yield, or I swear I shall run you through.” Then with a flick of his wrist, Sir James disarmed Old Grey Beard.  There was a plop, as his cutlass fell into the water.

“Wait! I have an accord with your dear Lady, who I have looked after until you would come and rescue her. She had agreed to speak on my behalf.”

Lady Catherine rushed into the arms of her lover, but Sir James was taking no chances and gently eased her to one side.

“Is this true my Lady?  You have struck a deal with this common, good for nothing pirate?”

“Yes, my love.  I promised that if he took care of me and my crew, I would speak kindly in his defence.”

“Aye, that’s it. Your lady speaks the truth, Sir James?”

“Alright you scoundrel, I shall abide by my Ladies wishes and save your scurvy skin. 

Just then all three heard a voice calling them.

“Cathy, Jimmy, Grand Dad, it’s tea time.  Come on your dinner is getting cold.”

Instantly, their imagination was dragged back to the twentieth century and their summer holidays.  Wooden swords were cast into the sea, and Grand Dad, who sported a neat grey beard yelled at the top of his pirate sounding voice.

“Last one in dose the washing up.”

They all leapt off the old wooden boat that had seen better days and rushed up the hill to the holiday cottage.  Another great day.

Copyright Bob French