Midnight Boat to Freedom

Disclaimer - I don't own it. Nor do I make any money off of it. I do it cause I'm bored.

Midnight Boat to Freedom

Chapter 1

I love the smell of the sea in my hair and the feel of the wind at my back. When I think back to my childhood in Port Royal, I believe my hair was brown, but under the constant ministrations of the sun, it has faded to a glowing blonde and has become as untamable as the waves themselves. I throw my head back and inhale the heady aroma of my mistress, the sea. I’ll always come home to her.

I was an orphan, small and alone, not uncommon near the ports. My father may be a league under the sea, who knows. By the time he ever docked, I was past the age where he would recognize me anyway. Being a girl, I was quickly placed in the role of servant to the noble folks early, and spent many hours balancing trays and hanging clothes to dry in the breezes. It was times like these that I wondered if this was what my life was meant to be. Twice a year I was allotted an allowance to purchase second-hand clothes, usually the uniform of my servile trade.

I was never classified as a slave, but what else can one call it? I had a master, whom I addressed as such; I waited on my family hand and foot, and all under the guise that they had saved me from the terrible fate of being an orphan. I knew it to be the farce that it was. My family claimed that they were too noble to partake in the slave trading business, but that is the fate that I was succumbed to.

Perhaps the hours spent tatting clothes and mopping floors made me make the decision that would change my life. In retrospect, I don’t think that I honestly could have spent another day doing menial tasks for no pay; I wanted a name for myself. I wanted to know if I was destined for greater things, as I thought I was. Perhaps I was just young and acting on a dream, but from my post at the helm, I never could go back. Hang me from the reefs for the dockers to see if they must, but I will never return to that open cell of servitude.

I embarked on my journey with a single sickle in the hem of my dress. I knew enough to leave at night. What made me board the boat that I did, I do not know. Black sails that called to me, brushing my own despair. At least I knew from the looks of the ship that if they were not hospitable, mine would be a quick death. Beneath the wharf I stood in the sand and cut my hair, scattering the locks to the gentle waves. I dressed in the last outfit I had bought, trousers and a linen shirt. I was still young and had yet to show the marks of my femininity. I hoped to pass as a young lad, about his first time on the open sea. I was no disappointed. I boarded a charter and ducked low, avoiding all eyes until we were hoisted aboard the ship.

Stolen supplies were unloaded and in order to make myself less obvious, I hauled cargo under the ship with the rest of the men. Being in the underbelly of the ship helped disguise the fact that I lacked proper sea legs and the rocking of the boat as we sailed away almost threw me to the floor. I have to credit myself for not becoming sick that first night as we hit heavy tropical storms hours into the night.

I stayed to the shadows for most of that first night, which was easy as not a candle was lit. I found a drum and sat staring at the open water and marveling at my escape. It was rare that a servant left for better fortune, as there was none to be had anywhere. But I knew that there was something on this open water that stirred me. Beckoning with her cold watery arms, I knew the sea had some fortune unknown to me.

The storm came with no warning and scarce wind blew and it was upon us. Men came from all points of the ship and started tying off ropes and adjusting sails. How they could walk when I could not stand was beyond me. I managed to steal below the deck and watch in awe as they steadied the ship and rode out the storm. It was from this vantage point that I caught my first glimpse of the Captain. He stayed his position at the helm, his husky voice overriding the winds with orders for the crew. He held a compass in his hand and looked into the wind with defiance. I had never seen a comparable man to him.

I must have fallen asleep by the rocking of the boat for the next thing I knew I was sitting in a sliver of sunlight and the rain was nowhere to be seen. Men were at work, and as I emerged into the sunlight, I ducked my head and wondered where I should go from there.

“New are ye?” A gruff voice said from behind me.

I didn’t dare to speak, so I nodded. I was sure that although I passed for a lad, my voice would no doubt give me away for sure.

“Get to swabbin’ then.” He handed me a dirty bucket and a mop and I went about my way doing that which I had much experience. I felt different doing it at that time. I was no slave. This was mopping with purpose if such a thing exists. The man said nothing more, simply sauntered off. I sighed with relief, thinking that it would be harder to convince them to let me stay.

I was not wrong for shortly after I chanced a look to the helm. The Captain was listening to the man and my heart sunk as he stole a glance in my direction. I averted my gaze and mopped with more vigor than I ever had. Nearly all of the deck was clean and I had but a short distance left to go. I vaguely wondered if the ship was to be turned around and me sent back to where I came. Or worse. I kept my head low and finished my task. When I was done I threw the water overboard and gasped as I turned into the chest of the man behind me.

I took three steps back and didn’t look up at the man. I knew it was the Captain, and my heart sunk as I realized that this was the end of my adventure. My master would send me back to the orphanage and I would be back to the miserable life that I had before.

He made no move to close the gap between us, and waited until I looked up at him. He started to speak, but closed his mouth again and gave an almost furtive look. Then he asked me to come to his quarters for a chat. I knew I would hear my fate then. I nodded and followed him.

A large wooden table was in the center of the room; a few men were seated in there already. Their presence made me infinitely uncomfortable, I was sure that if my secret were discovered, they would not take kindly to me. Suddenly I felt very out of place and longed for my dress and cap. Here I stood pretending to be a man, and they would surely see through my act.

The Captain seated himself at the head of the table and took an apple in his hand. He smiled at it and took a bite. Then his face took on its serious look again and he looked at me. I had never laid eyes on any pirate before, but I knew that that is what these men were. I realized with a stab of dread that this was no merchant ship I had boarded, this was a pirate ship. Of all the ships to choose. A pirate ship. My heart sunk even lower.

“New blood are ye?” He looked at me with weathered and kohl lined eyes. They were dark, almost black. I nodded.

“Quiet as well?” The gruff man spoke up and gave me a small nod. I nodded again.

“Where are you from lad?” The Captain motioned for me to be seated. I sat, happy that they didn’t plan to do away with me just yet, and that they thought I was indeed a lad. But I still had a ways to go. These were pirates and suddenly my survival didn’t seem as likely as before.

I stayed silent. I hoped that the longer I kept from speaking, the longer I could avoid whatever fate waited for me.