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
