Free The Pirate Raiders by C.G. Mosley Page A

as new,” I muttered.
      “I’m afraid it’s going to be quite a while before I’m ‘good as new’,” he groaned.
    Gordon arose from the bed in a gingerly fashion, allowing both legs to swing lazily off the bed and onto the floor.  He stood for a moment and I could tell he was considering whether or not he should try and walk.  There was a glazed-over look in his eyes; he almost seemed drunk.
      “Sit down you crass fool,” I commanded.  “You’ll end up falling and cracking that skull of yours open the rest of the way.”
    I walked over and gently pushed him back down on to the bed.  He scowled at me, but remained seated.  Andrea stirred on the cot in the corner; she’d apparently been listening to our exchange.
      “The captain is right,” she said.  “You should sit down Gordon.”
      “I’ll remain seated if you’ll find something for my belly,” he replied.  “It’s past time for breakfast and I’m not going to be very useful at all on an empty stomach.”
    Andrea stood and stretched.
      “I think we can manage that,” she said and then looked at me.  “Right, Captain?”
    I wasn’t very comfortable leaving Gordon alone.  He was a stubborn man and often disobeyed any orders regarding his personal well-being.  It wouldn’t surprise me at all if he jumped up and started getting his navigational charts together the minute that we left the ship.
    On the other hand, I needed some time alone with Andrea to discuss a few things regarding Captain Trimble and the signet ring of King Solomon.  I decided to leave him alone and if he fell and cracked his bloody skull while we were away, it would be his own cursed fault.
      “Gordon, you stay right there until we get back.  Agreed?”
    His response was exactly as I expected.
      “Sure Captain, I’ll be right here when you return.  I like my eggs scrambled if you please,” he said.
    I rolled my eyes and motioned for Andrea to follow me.  When we were outside and on deck, I was surprised to already see several members of my crew on board.  They were sprawled all about the deck, their bellies no doubt full of rum.  Many of them were still sleeping off the wild night before.  I figured this was as good a time as any to get things back to normalcy.
      “Up with you!” I shouted.  “Set to work, all of you!  We’ve got a ship to ready if we’re to shove off by midafternoon.”
    The men scrambled to their feet, some cursing as they went.  I didn’t mind the cursing or the scowls, for as long as they did their duties it made no difference to me.  One man in particular, Robert Lynch, immediately went aloft to see about the rigging.  He was a young man, mid-twenties; a mop of brown shaggy hair adorned his large head and a long neck extended beneath his chin.  He was a scrawny fellow, but strong and a natural leader.  When the Royal Navy defeated me and my crew on board the Rebecca, I was saddened to find one of the casualties was the ships boatswain, Isaac Norington.  Norington had been a trusted member of my crew for two years and his stern demeanor was respected by every man on the ship.  He would be a difficult man to replace, but I truly felt young Robert Lynch would be up for the job. 
    I strolled over to the rail nearest where the young man was working.
      “Good morning, Robert,” I said jovially.
    He stopped fumbling with the rope in his hands and gazed down upon me. 
      “Good morning, Captain.  Beautiful weather for sailing,” he replied with a smile.
      “Aye, it is.  Robert I was wondering if I may ask a favor of you.”
    The smile he’d been wearing vanished and his face turned serious.  His brown eyes widened.
      “Of course, sir.  What do you need?”
      “As you know, Isaac Norington was cut down by the redcoats when our ship was taken five days ago,” I began.
    Robert’s serious expression turned somber as he thought of Norington.  He nodded in acknowledgement.
      “His death puts me