The Garnor sailed on while the entire crew gathered around a rough schematic Sammy had drawn in chalk across the sun-warmed planks of the deck. Captain Skippy pointed out the details of the operation, marking the assault points with the tip of his sword.
“The landing party will disembark here… at the mouth of the cave. At low tide you’ll be able to enter without difficulty,” he explained. “At what time do we expect the tide to turn?”
The pilot swayed slightly, pretended to think as he checked his notes.
“From eleven at night onward,” Sammy replied, and a murmur rippled across the deck.
“We must hurry before high tide,” Kwame warned. “Otherwise, entering the cave will be a challenge.”
Skippy went on.
“Once inside, Mr. Baptiste will guide you through the cave system that runs beneath the cliff. There we’ll divide the group: some will move to neutralize the battery, while the others wait for the moment to strike. When you fire the flare, you’ll attack the walls, and the Garnor will enter the estuary to provide support from the sea.”
“Are we certain we can take on a fortified Spanish platoon inside the citadel, plus an auxiliary patrol at our backs in the jungle?” one of the men asked. Sammy recognized him as one of the boatswain’s men who had attacked her in the jungle; he smiled with irony.
The crew murmured, eyes fixed on the captain.
“I will infiltrate the citadel,” Kwame said. “I’ll free several prisoners to sow chaos from within. That way the Spaniards will be split under crossfire and won’t be able to respond properly to the land assault.”
Sarcastic laughter broke out, followed by protests.
Skippy glanced at the boatswain and gave a slight nod, signaling him to restore order.
“What is the concern?” the captain asked.
“With twelve men, we won’t be able to carry out that plan,” someone replied.
“Cortés subdued the Aztec Empire with fifty men,” Pete interjected. “Though, of course… he had thousands of Tlaxcalans.”
Everyone began talking at once.
“That plan is suicide!” a pirate shouted.
“Better stuff us into a cannon and fire us straight at the citadel!” another joked, drawing laughter.
“The men do have a point,” the secretary remarked.
Skippy scanned their faces.
Sammy raised her hand.
“What do you wish to say, Mr. Worthy?” the captain asked.
The boatswain cracked his whip twice to impose silence.
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“Captain, if you’ll allow me… I volunteer,” Sammy said. “Even without pay. I just want to go after our comrades.”
“Mr. Worthy…” Skippy shook his head. “I appreciate your courage, but it’s better that you remain aboard.”
“We need hardened, seasoned men,” Trumper added.
Sammy stepped forward.
“But the hardened, seasoned men complain more than a flock of pious old hens.”
“No one here is afraid of anything,” a pirate with a hoarse voice growled. “There are plenty of us who don’t fear even the devil.”
“It doesn’t look like it,” Sammy shot back. “And you, Mr. Cade, are one of the loudest whiners.”
“It’s the logistics—”
“That sounds like complaining to me.”
The deck erupted in laughter.
“I’ll teach you to shut your mouth,” the pirate bellowed, reaching for his cutlass.
Everyone stepped back. Pete handed his dagger to Sammy.
“Give him a few scratches to calm him down,” he said.
Sammy took the blade and raised her guard.
“Enough!” Skippy ordered. “Mr. Handers, take your hand off that hilt or it will be the last thing you ever grasp. And as for Mr. Worthy, hand over that knife… though I thank you for your commitment. You should be ashamed that a cabin boy shows more courage than you—men who boast of years of hardship and battle.”
The silence was absolute.
“Since you all fear the operation and its consequences,” Skippy continued, “I understand. I will give the order to turn toward Tortuga. We’ll resupply and return to the hunt.”
Murmurs of approval followed.
“It’s the sensible choice. Leave those wretches to their fate,” a pirate said.
Sammy shook her head.
“So that’s what you all want…” Skippy concluded.
“It’s the prudent course,” the secretary murmured, while the boatswain nodded.
Kwame sighed in frustration, watching the crew.
“If that is your wish,” Skippy said calmly, “then from this day forward, anyone among you who falls into danger will be abandoned to his fate. We will abide by the code: whoever falls behind, stays behind. No exceptions… not even for you, Mr. Paine. Do you all agree?”
The murmur that followed was uncertain; some avoided answering.
“Mr. Trumper,” the captain ordered, “have the helmsman come about ninety degrees and set our bow to the east. Those assigned to the party will return the doubloons they received in advance, and the rest will have a sum deducted from their wages to compensate the families of the fallen. It is only fair.”
Silence fell—and then everyone began shouting at once, until it burst into insults and cries.
“Now we all pay for your cowardice!” one man yelled.
“We must save our own!” another shot back.
“Well, if you’re so brave, you go,” said one of the party.
“I would, but I wasn’t chosen,” the pirate replied.
“If you dock my pay because of this… you’ll be dead men,” another shouted.
Tempers flared. Pushing and curses followed.
“Don’t you ever get tired of stirring trouble?” Kayin whispered to Sammy.
At that moment, one of the men from the party raised his hand.
“Captain, that won’t be necessary,” he said. “I think we all understand the risks… and we’ll face them like the fierce men we claim to be.”
The others nodded.
“Then… do we proceed with the plan?” Skippy asked.
“AYE!” they answered in unison.
The captain smiled.
“Mr. Trumper, maintain course toward the agreed point.”
The boatswain inclined his head, though his displeasure was evident.
“By the way… I’ll need you to accompany the party.”
“I thought Kwame would guide them,” Trumper replied, irritated.
“He will be the guide. You will be the leader.”
Trumper clenched his jaw and walked away.
“You know this puts us on the edge of a volcano, Captain,” Paine commented.
“Concern yourself with your numbers and assets, Mr. Paine,” the captain replied.
“The ship is one of the assets that concerns me,” the secretary said before leaving.
When they were alone, Kwame stepped closer.
“Your leadership has impressed me, Captain… your men respect you. But watch your back around the boatswain.”
“I appreciate that, Mr. Baptiste. I’ve had worse crews under harsher conditions… we’ll manage. I just hope there are no surprises.”
Kwame nodded.
“By the way, I was thinking we may need to increase the party with a few more men… and take advantage of the fact that one of them is willing to go even without pay,” he added before departing.
Skippy sighed and turned his gaze toward Sammy, who stood at some distance beside Kayin, watching.
