MacBathory Act One Scene Five
Dec. 21st, 2006 08:44 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ellyssian"...and you just ran away?" Captain Pelham leaned over Jilkey and the others, his voice carrying over the still night waters from the Bloodhawk's mooring in the outer harbour.
"Aye," John Jilkey, quartermaster of the Bloodhawk said, "Three losses, and not a damn sight of the man. That boat is an infernal machine."
"That it is. L'Abattoir, you said?"
Jilkey nodded, "That is the name beneath the name, if you get my meaning."
"I have heard of the craft before, she seems to be gaining some notoriety, although perhaps now I know why I've heard naught of crew nor captain. For the love of God, I can't see how that little man can manage her on his own." The captain paced back and forth before the remnants of the shore party. "Do you speak French, Jilkey?"
The quartermaster made a face, as if nothing could repel him more.
"Very well. It means 'Slaughterhouse' and it quite clearly lives up to its name, claiming, as it has, the lives of twelve of our men."
"Twelve, sir?" asked Samuel Holbrook, the second mate.
"Aye, twelve. I had word that an unguarded ship lay at berth, and I sent Caleb, along with Bill Pratt, and a small crew to take it. William Cole was the only one who returned, rowing like the devil himself was in his wake."
"P'raps he was, sir," spoke up the young sailor Owen Cooper, who had been ashore with the quartermaster.
"What do you mean, lad?"
"The ship, she... he breathes fire. I saw smoke rising from the ship, and he makes sounds like the very gates of Hell are opening, sir." The sailor crossed himself, shivering at the recollection.
"Hmmm... well, that changes everything. I take it you're experienced with the gates of Hell, then? No?" The captain smiled grimly. "Mr. Jilkey, you can take the Bloodhawk in to dry dock as we had planned, patch up her wounds and get her outfitted right again. Make Charles Field your first mate or quartermaster - and take Lawson as well - he knows the 'hawk better than any. Mr. Holbrook, you will be quartermaster aboard our new vessel, l'Abattoir. And Owen, lad, you will be our second mate."
"Obed will also come with us, as his services will be gravely needed, and you should be able to find a master gunner here in Port Royal. I'll be gathering the officers of l'Abattoir, and we'll select a first mate. I don't pretend to think we might be able to provide a sailing master or a boatswain capable of maintaining and guiding whatever devils are harnessed in that ship; although I expect us all to learn its secrets on this voyage, so we can remove Mr. Jilkey's friend from his part in our partnership, should it be needed. And I expect that will be so. We will take volunteers from the rest of the Bloodhawk's crew until we reach whatever complement our new boat can host."
The Captain stopped for a moment, looking out towards the flickering lights that marked Port Royal. Although the crew didn't question him outright, he could see in their expressions that they were not entirely comfortable.
"And then, we will proceed to increase our profits while the other craft in our little fleet is under repair. l'Abattoir is a deadly craft, and it will be ours." He fixed them all with a fierce gaze. "And when next they tell tales of her deadly reign, they will talk of her perilous crew."
"Aye! And of Captain Pelham!" Jilkey led those present in a cheer.
Scene Six
"Aye," John Jilkey, quartermaster of the Bloodhawk said, "Three losses, and not a damn sight of the man. That boat is an infernal machine."
"That it is. L'Abattoir, you said?"
Jilkey nodded, "That is the name beneath the name, if you get my meaning."
"I have heard of the craft before, she seems to be gaining some notoriety, although perhaps now I know why I've heard naught of crew nor captain. For the love of God, I can't see how that little man can manage her on his own." The captain paced back and forth before the remnants of the shore party. "Do you speak French, Jilkey?"
The quartermaster made a face, as if nothing could repel him more.
"Very well. It means 'Slaughterhouse' and it quite clearly lives up to its name, claiming, as it has, the lives of twelve of our men."
"Twelve, sir?" asked Samuel Holbrook, the second mate.
"Aye, twelve. I had word that an unguarded ship lay at berth, and I sent Caleb, along with Bill Pratt, and a small crew to take it. William Cole was the only one who returned, rowing like the devil himself was in his wake."
"P'raps he was, sir," spoke up the young sailor Owen Cooper, who had been ashore with the quartermaster.
"What do you mean, lad?"
"The ship, she... he breathes fire. I saw smoke rising from the ship, and he makes sounds like the very gates of Hell are opening, sir." The sailor crossed himself, shivering at the recollection.
"Hmmm... well, that changes everything. I take it you're experienced with the gates of Hell, then? No?" The captain smiled grimly. "Mr. Jilkey, you can take the Bloodhawk in to dry dock as we had planned, patch up her wounds and get her outfitted right again. Make Charles Field your first mate or quartermaster - and take Lawson as well - he knows the 'hawk better than any. Mr. Holbrook, you will be quartermaster aboard our new vessel, l'Abattoir. And Owen, lad, you will be our second mate."
"Obed will also come with us, as his services will be gravely needed, and you should be able to find a master gunner here in Port Royal. I'll be gathering the officers of l'Abattoir, and we'll select a first mate. I don't pretend to think we might be able to provide a sailing master or a boatswain capable of maintaining and guiding whatever devils are harnessed in that ship; although I expect us all to learn its secrets on this voyage, so we can remove Mr. Jilkey's friend from his part in our partnership, should it be needed. And I expect that will be so. We will take volunteers from the rest of the Bloodhawk's crew until we reach whatever complement our new boat can host."
The Captain stopped for a moment, looking out towards the flickering lights that marked Port Royal. Although the crew didn't question him outright, he could see in their expressions that they were not entirely comfortable.
"And then, we will proceed to increase our profits while the other craft in our little fleet is under repair. l'Abattoir is a deadly craft, and it will be ours." He fixed them all with a fierce gaze. "And when next they tell tales of her deadly reign, they will talk of her perilous crew."
"Aye! And of Captain Pelham!" Jilkey led those present in a cheer.
Scene Six