Wrenching open the galley door she dived inside just before her pursuers could reach her. She threw her weight back against the door and slid the little bolt into its lock. She dashed across to the map drawer where she knew the revolver was. Behind her the door rattled furiously. The drawer opened at the same time as the galley door burst open.
The revolver lay before her. She could hear the breathing of men behind her. She closed her hand around the weapon and swung around as a hand grabbed her wrist and an arm slammed against her chest knocking her backwards. Dazed and on her knees she saw she was still holding the gun but the hand around her wrist tightened its grip and shook her arm vigorously. The gun fell from her grasp and slid across the polished wood floor.
The man stared at her bikini-clad body and grinned victoriously. Picking himself up off the floor he grabbed her hair and hauled her to her feet. When she tried to hit him he blocked her flailing arm and a second later Vanessa found herself being pushed ahead of him out of the galley, her arms wrenched and held behind her back by one man, the other leading her by her hair.
'Get your filthy hands off me!'
When she tried to kick the man behind her he quickly let go of her arms and caught hold of her ankle.
'Let me go!'
Vanessa glared furiously at him as he forced her to hop to keep her balance. The other man had let go of her hair and stood laughing.
'Come on darling, down on your hands and knees!'
Vanessa looked around her in alarm, a dozen men were milling across the deck of the boat and she could see Basil swimming furiously for the shore. The man holding her leg lifted it higher and she was forced to support herself on her hands as she was tipped over.
'That's it bitch, on your knees.'
There was a raucous rush of laughter and the men closed around her. One caught hold of her hair and another flicked the toe of his boot against her arm, dragging her off balance. Powerful hands twisted her hands behind her back. With her chin pressing against the deck, someone bound a rope around her ankles.
'Let's get this fancy thing cast off and under way!'
The shout came from someone used to giving orders. Vanessa saw the majority of the pirates scatter but several remained, two at least holding her down while a third bound her wrists together behind her back.
'Get the girl below deck, we can enjoy her later, once we've got clear of Rouassa. Can you believe that anyone could be so stupid as to leave a boat like this lying around as a present; especially with her on board for the taking! We'll all have our share of her juicy little body then we'll sell her for a tidy sum!'
The leader's belly laugh was echoed by half a dozen other men and Vanessa was dragged below deck, bound and helpless and cursing Auda for being so negligent.
She was taken kicking and screaming to the main berth where she was tossed down onto the bed. The men tore the bikini from her and her pants were forced into her mouth. They then gagged her with one of her own stockings and tied her ankles together with another.
'What a body, why wait for the captain's order before we have her? Look at her, I reckon we should have her now.'
'Don't be an idiot, if he finds out he'll have your guts for garters!'
'Aye, we'd best get back up on deck smartish or he'll be after us.'
'You just 'ave a nice little rest darling and we'll all be back to see you later!'
Vanessa squirmed ineffectually as the man squeezed then slapped her breast.
As soon as the men had left her alone she curled her legs up behind her until she could just reach her ankles with her bound hands. They had tied rope around her wrists but her fingers were still free and she reckoned that the stocking they'd bound her ankles with, she might be able to untie, given enough time. Thankfully her long fingernails made the job easier and soon she could feel the twists of nylon loosening. Working a fingertip into the material she tugged and teased at the fabric until the knot released itself.
Whilst she had developed a taste for adventure, she was certain that these men spelt trouble for her. If the pirates hadn't managed to stop Basil's escape, then there was a good chance that he'd get to Auda and pretty soon he'd come after his stolen boat. She knew he was not the sort of man to take what had just happened lying down. Perhaps he'd be able to hire some men from the slave fort and get a boat to pursue them. Meantime though the pirates were obviously keen to put as many miles as possible between themselves and where they'd stolen the boat. They had been anchored a good couple of miles up the river estuary, as long as she could escape now, within sight of land, she'd have a decent chance of getting back to Auda.
With her feet now unfettered she began searching the room as best she could with her hands still bound, for something sharp enough to cut through the rope around her wrists. She frantically pulled open locker drawers and gave a silent shout of joy when she found a sheathed dagger that belonged to Auda. It took her only a couple of moments to jam the knife between her knees and then drag the rope that bound her wrists back and forth against the blade. Just as the rope frayed then snapped though the cabin door opened.
'So where the hell do you think you're going?'
The men moved quickly to snatch the dagger from where it lay but Vanessa was quicker. The weapon clutched before her she retreated a few steps.
'Any closer and I'll use it!'
'Of course you will my darlin', and we don't want that do we?'
The man smiled and took a step back.
'Just let me go... you can keep the boat,' Vanessa kept the dagger held high and nervously advanced a couple of steps.
'Alright then sweetheart, just whatever you want.'
The man moved away from the door, holding his hands up above his head and grinning at her.
'Just keep back!'
Vanessa glanced at the door and edged a little closer. The man smiled and nodded.
'Go on, you go first and I'll call to my men to keep out of your way.'
'No, you go ahead and tell them.'
'Alright then, just whatever you say.'
Vanessa watched the man move to leave the room and she stepped after him. She was just wondering what she should do next when he spun around, his hand grasping her wrist before she could react.
He tightened his grip. Vanessa tried to hit the man with her other hand but he easily blocked her then jerked her arm forcing her to drop the dagger. In the next second he pushed her back down onto the bed and picked up the dagger.
'Fiery tempered little thing, aren't you? I wonder what I should do with you?'
'Let me go. The man who owns this boat won't care about losing it but he'll be furious if you take me as well.'
'Will he now?' laughed the pirate, rubbing his beard thoughtfully. 'Well, that makes me very scared, very scared indeed!'
'I'm only trying to help you.'
'Are you? Well, I reckon if I keep you on board, my men won't be able to concentrate on their jobs, so we'll just have to get rid of you, won't we?'
'Yes, that's by far the best idea,' Vanessa agreed, enthusiastically.
'So, I think we'll sell you to the slave market, since we're so close. You'll sell for a tidy sum won't you?'
'No, you can't do that!'
'And meantime, I think maybe it's only fair if I let my crew enjoy your tasty little body. I bet you'd like that wouldn't you, you little wench!'
'Please don't! Can't I just look after you?'
'Oh no, that'd upset my crew and I wouldn't want to do that. No, best if I let them all enjoy you. Keep the lads happy an' all that!'
The pirate then gave a shout and in no time at all a handful of men had spilt into the cabin.
'Right,' snapped the leader. 'Get her on her belly, time to give her a lesson in good manners!'