Atreyu Leaves Black Hawk
A night came that changed Atreyu’s life yet again. Some of the crew was
on shore leave in Port Royal, Captain Jackson
and Atreyu amongst them. Some were off whoring somewhere and the rest were in a
tavern drinking and gambling, Captain Jackson amongst them.
Atreyu sat off to one side watching an intense card game. In all the past seven years, and many of the crew trying to teach him, he’d never quite gotten the hang of them. Captain Jackson was winning more often then not. Atreyu had become suddenly very interested in the players, much to the disgruntlement of a woman he’d been drinking and flirting with. Most of the players were good natured about their losses, cracking jokes, but one was getting belligerent. He started accusing Jackson of cheating. Atreyu watched him intently. Soon the woman left in a huff, Atreyu couldn’t care less. Whores were a coin a dozen in Port Royal.
Suddenly, the sore looser leapt up towards Jonas, drawing a long knife in the process, and stabbed Jonas in the heart. At the same time he’d jumped up, Atreyu had his bow in hand and knoched. At the same time the guy had stabbed the Captain; he was nailed in the throat and pinned to the wall behind him.
Atreyu dashed to Jonas Jackson’s side only to already find him dead. He whimpered, “Father?” Then he threw back his head and let out a wail like those who he now called his People did in times of grief.
Those of the Black Hawk crew heard the grief expressed in a place they called home, were quick to zero in on it. They joined in briefly, then all quieted. A couple picked the Captain up and carried him back to the Black Hawk. A few went to find the rest of the crew on shore leave, and get them back to the ship.
After getting the Captain’s body ready for travel, Billings took over as Captain and ordered Black Hawk readied to set sail. They’d return to the village so Jonas Jackson’s wives, children, and grandchildren could morn him as well as prepare his body for burial.
Atreyu pulled Freemonte, Hastings, and Follett aside. “I’m staying in Port Royal.”
They looked at him in surprise, Hastings asks, “why? What about your family back home?”
Atreyu shakes his head. “Billings hates me and always has, with him as Captain now, I’ll be lucky to make it home.” He pauses a moment, and none of the men argue his point. “I have some things in my sea chest. Will you see that my brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, Grandparents, and my… Mothers get them?”
When the men nod, Atreyu leads then down below to the items in question. After explaining what goes to who, he pulls a few personal things out and stuffs them in a bag and locks the chest back up, Handing Freemonte the key. They then come back up topside and stop at the gang plank. Each man shakes hands with Atreyu, and then he leaves Black Hawk for the last time.
Billings had seen everything and walked up to the three after Atreyu left. “I see he’s a coward as well as a thief. He doesn’t want to face those back home without the Captain there.”
The men look at him, and Freemonte mildly remarks. “He was smart enough to know you’d kill him long before we reached home.”
Hastings chuckles. “He’ll come home when he’s ready, and knows he won’t be killed when his back’s turned, or he’s asleep.”
Billings gnashes his teeth and glares at the two. They turn and walk away unhurriedly, while Follett informs Billings. “Take a good long look around Billings. Every member of this crew knows Atreyu's left and why. Hear how quiet it is and has been? Everyone of them heard what was just said and what is being said now. So, should anything happen to Hastings, Freemonte, or myself on the trip home, it will be you to pay for it. The crew respects you, but no one likes you.” Follett walks off shouting. “A’IGHT EVERYONE, BACK TO WORK. WE’VE A CAPTAIN TO RETURN HOME ONE LAST TIME.”
Atreyu sat off to one side watching an intense card game. In all the past seven years, and many of the crew trying to teach him, he’d never quite gotten the hang of them. Captain Jackson was winning more often then not. Atreyu had become suddenly very interested in the players, much to the disgruntlement of a woman he’d been drinking and flirting with. Most of the players were good natured about their losses, cracking jokes, but one was getting belligerent. He started accusing Jackson of cheating. Atreyu watched him intently. Soon the woman left in a huff, Atreyu couldn’t care less. Whores were a coin a dozen in Port Royal.
Suddenly, the sore looser leapt up towards Jonas, drawing a long knife in the process, and stabbed Jonas in the heart. At the same time he’d jumped up, Atreyu had his bow in hand and knoched. At the same time the guy had stabbed the Captain; he was nailed in the throat and pinned to the wall behind him.
Atreyu dashed to Jonas Jackson’s side only to already find him dead. He whimpered, “Father?” Then he threw back his head and let out a wail like those who he now called his People did in times of grief.
Those of the Black Hawk crew heard the grief expressed in a place they called home, were quick to zero in on it. They joined in briefly, then all quieted. A couple picked the Captain up and carried him back to the Black Hawk. A few went to find the rest of the crew on shore leave, and get them back to the ship.
After getting the Captain’s body ready for travel, Billings took over as Captain and ordered Black Hawk readied to set sail. They’d return to the village so Jonas Jackson’s wives, children, and grandchildren could morn him as well as prepare his body for burial.
Atreyu pulled Freemonte, Hastings, and Follett aside. “I’m staying in Port Royal.”
They looked at him in surprise, Hastings asks, “why? What about your family back home?”
Atreyu shakes his head. “Billings hates me and always has, with him as Captain now, I’ll be lucky to make it home.” He pauses a moment, and none of the men argue his point. “I have some things in my sea chest. Will you see that my brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, Grandparents, and my… Mothers get them?”
When the men nod, Atreyu leads then down below to the items in question. After explaining what goes to who, he pulls a few personal things out and stuffs them in a bag and locks the chest back up, Handing Freemonte the key. They then come back up topside and stop at the gang plank. Each man shakes hands with Atreyu, and then he leaves Black Hawk for the last time.
Billings had seen everything and walked up to the three after Atreyu left. “I see he’s a coward as well as a thief. He doesn’t want to face those back home without the Captain there.”
The men look at him, and Freemonte mildly remarks. “He was smart enough to know you’d kill him long before we reached home.”
Hastings chuckles. “He’ll come home when he’s ready, and knows he won’t be killed when his back’s turned, or he’s asleep.”
Billings gnashes his teeth and glares at the two. They turn and walk away unhurriedly, while Follett informs Billings. “Take a good long look around Billings. Every member of this crew knows Atreyu's left and why. Hear how quiet it is and has been? Everyone of them heard what was just said and what is being said now. So, should anything happen to Hastings, Freemonte, or myself on the trip home, it will be you to pay for it. The crew respects you, but no one likes you.” Follett walks off shouting. “A’IGHT EVERYONE, BACK TO WORK. WE’VE A CAPTAIN TO RETURN HOME ONE LAST TIME.”