Anthony’s dining area was full of tobacco smoke, the faint but distinct odor of alcoholic spirits, and the unmistakable air of good cheer. All of Anthony’s officers had gathered for a council of war. Armed with their latest intelligence, a plan for the Reaper’s capture or destruction was being carried out. With Pope’s knowledge of local waters, Anthony called upon the lieutenant for specific recommendations. The admiralty charts were far from accurate in regards to the specific depths, shoals and channels around the rendezvous area. This was information Anthony had to have in order for Drakkar to be positioned so that she could spring from her hiding place and close the door on the trap that he was planning for Reaper. It had to be a complete surprise to work. Therefore, accurate information had to be obtained. The local charts were more reliable, but a scouting expedition would have to be undertaken before Anthony would feel satisfied.
According to the captured documents, the Reaper would rendezvous with Scythe on 16 March. If either ship failed to meet on that day, an attempt to rendezvous again would be made on 20 March. The rendezvous would take place at Snake Island. Pope stated that with the tides and season being as they were, he was sure Reaper would take the Anegoda Passage. The only piece of the puzzle missing was the time of day the meeting was to occur. Nothing about times had been found, and the pirate captain was dead so he couldn’t tell. With Anthony’s agreement, Pope had proposed to place one schooner and the ketch between Crab Island and the passage to Puerto Rico. The other two schooners would be placed between Crab Island and St. Croix. Drakkar would be anchored in the shallows between Virgin Gorda and St. John Island. That way, Reaper would be in the box before anyone knew the difference, if all went as planned. A damned big “IF!”
The problem was something was always likely to go awry. They may put the tiger in a cage, but she was still a tiger, and dangerous.
“The schooners are no match for Reaper’s broadside,” Anthony cautioned his officers. “Rascal is proof of that. I’ll not send good men to their death in a useless display of ourage. I’ve no doubt as to your bravery and devotion. If you need to sink the vessel to close off a channel to prevent Reaper’s escape, then so be it. Get the men off, and scuttle the ship where it’ll do the most good. Remember, floating bodies and wreckage have yet to slow down Reaper. Those officers in command will be given written orders. However, I don’t want any of this onversation discussed once this meeting is over. I trust each of you, but I’m not yet convinced we don’t have a py in our midst or possibly ashore, slipping information
o the cutthroats. If we do, then our plan is all for naught. The bastard will know we’ve captured Scythe and we’ll never see him at the rendezvous point. Am I clear?” All answered in unison. “Well, enough of that then. I know you’ll all act honorably. We have two weeks till our first endezvous is to take place. We’ll have plenty of time to arry out our usual patrols and do a little extra scouting of he rendezvous area in order to make any necessary hanges. However, all work and no play makes for dull officers. Therefore, as duty allows, let’s get cleaned up and make ready for the commodore’s festivities this evening. I hear there are ladies who have made their way here from St. Johns just to say they’ve been in company with some of our randy fellows.”
As the officers were making their way out of the dining area, Anthony overheard a story between Markham, Earl and Gabe. Caleb’s damn ape had walked up behind a tavern wench, and while she was serving drinks the ape lifted the back of her skirt, grabbed her thighs, and stuck his hairy head between her legs. The frightened, screaming girl pulled up the front of her skirt only to see the grinning face of the ape that was still holding onto her thighs. Realizing it wasn’t a man, but not sure what had a hold of her, she attempted to jump up on one of the benches. With all the screaming and dancing around by the girl, the ape lost his hold on her thighs. Reaching for a new handhold, he grabbed her bloomers. However, with the wench still jumping about these fell down to her ankles, tripping her. There she lay face down on the tavern floor with spilled ale everywhere, and her naked arse shining up like a great moon. The whole tavern was a roar. Caleb had to give the poor ape a whole glass of ale to calm it down after the wench had frightened it so. Then they were out, their laughter fading as they headed topside. Anthony and Buck, overwhelmed at what they’d heard, stared at one another.
“The poor ape. What about the wench?” Buck asked. “Damme, sir, but damme. I don’t know,” an awed Anthony replied.
Lady Deborah was beautiful, dressed in a bare-shouldered gown of emerald green, which matched her eyes perfectly. She had noticed Anthony’s stare.
“You don’t approve?”
“Ah! The contrare, my darling. If only you knew how magnificent you looked, you’d forgive my stare,” Anthony answered as he allowed a lingering gaze at her splendid bosom.
Deborah pretended to be annoyed. She mildly pinched his arm and whispered, “People are watching!”
“Who cares? God gave me eyes so that I may better appreciate the beauty which he created.”
Flipping her fan to cover her upper chest, Deborah said, “Look upon, yes. Ogle, no. You were ogling, my dear.” Then she tried to hide her smile with the fan. Anthony’s open admiration was something she’d never experienced in her first marriage. She found herself actually excited that Anthony was so blatant about his feelings and desires. She was glad their engagement was now public knowledge. Not that the entire island hadn’t already discussed her love life. She didn’t care, but she didn’t want Anthony to be upset by the gossip.
“Gabe appears to be healing well. He is his old self again,” Deborah commented to change the conversation away from her charms.
“Yes. Caleb is a fine physician. I question his moral fiber, and worry about his influence on Gabe and many of my younger officers. But as bad as Caleb is, his ape is worse. Darling, you wouldn’t believe the mischief it gets into. It’s appalling.”
Again Deborah couldn’t hide her smile as his comment brought to mind the latest gossip. “I heard about the girl in the tavern.”
“You…you’ve heard?” Anthony was flustered.
“Oh yes. The whole island is discussing it. Greta laughed until she cried when she told me.” Trying to control her own laughter, Deborah whispered to Anthony in a husky voice, “I expect I’d holler and scream too if I suddenly found strange hands on my thighs and a hairy head stuck between my legs.”
“Deborah! My word, how you talk!”
“Oh hush. Remember that this is a small island starved for excitement or something that will break the monotony. How many tongues do you think you set to wagging, bedding me when I was supposed to be in mourning? Caleb is a good boy. He’s just not found the right woman to tame him as of yet. I would gladly ignore his womanizing and pranks to have him caring for my people. As for the monkey, I’ll keep my dress down and my legs together.”
Commodore Gardner and Greta were approaching so Anthony was unable to respond to Deborah’s comments.
“Ah, Gil, my friend, how about a glass of hock while it still has a chill on it?” The hock was good. Noting Anthony’s appreciation, Commodore Gardner volunteered, “This is the last of what I got off a merchant from Virginia. He swears it came straight from the Rhine Valley in Hochheim, Germany. It cost a pretty penny but we owe ourselves a few luxuries I’d say, especially since we’re stuck out here in the middle of nowhere as we are. Men die young, while women dry up like old prunes.”
From the sound of Gardner’s conversation he’d had too much of his own hock. Turning toward Deborah, the commodore belched into his fist, and after begging her pardon asked, “Have you had any time with your, uh, deceased husband’s cousin?”