Concept date: 22nd October, 2020
First published: 29th October, 2020.
Status: COMPLETED.
Version: EXTENDED.
Age Recommendation: 15+
Average reading Time: Approximately 45 minutes.
Status: COMPLETED.
Version: EXTENDED.
Age Recommendation: 15+
Average reading Time: Approximately 45 minutes.
Revisions: 4. [Last Edit: December 2021]
Angel-in-charge: Margret Team Assigned: Team 74
Human Time: 1710AD-1121AH Mission: 301742 - 7 - 3815
Angel-in-charge: Margret Team Assigned: Team 74
Human Time: 1710AD-1121AH Mission: 301742 - 7 - 3815
MISSION SUMMARY: "A strange pirate ship is attacking craft around the islands of the West Indies, robbing ships and sinking them. The islands are British Colonies and so the British Government dispatches the frigate HMS Steadfast to investigate and put an end to the pirate raids. So Lt. Commander Jeb Parker and his crew arrive at the islands in pursuit of the pirates. There is one slight problem; the year is 1954 and there have been no pirates around the islands for almost a century! Jericho and Team 74 are on scene because the bloody pirate ship [THE BATHSHEBA] is from the 1700's!"
NOTES: This episode contains strong language and horror with very strong sexual references.
"This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead or actual events is purely coincidental." The Author.
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| 45 Min. |
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| Book Series 2. |
"THE PECULIAR PIRATES OF PARADISE BAY."
1. HMS STEADFAST.
Lt. Commander Jeb Parker stared down at the docks and sighed; what a fucking shithole and this was the only dock that could take a ship the size of HMS Steadfast. The bloody islands were more suited to fancy yachts and it had taken some careful manoeuvring to get her in safely. Lt. Tom Hollis smiled at the expression on his skippers face. "That was like trying to stuff a fist up a mouse's arse. Any closer and we would have to use bloody Vaseline." He chuckled and the bridge phone buzzed; he pulled it up and said simply; "Bridge Aye." He listened and groaned, replacing the receiver; "The old man [Admiral Foster-Jones] wants another bloody sit-rep." Jeb leaned back against the steel plates and sighed - again - the 'old man' was aboard HMS Courage - the flag ship of the small fleet- that was spread across the Caribbean and did love his bloody reports.
Jeb smiled at his friend; "Tell him, we parked her without any scratches and are reviewing the bloody situation, which I think is total bollocks." Tom chuckled; "I'll think of something to say without you losing a stripe." Jeb pushed his cap back and stared at the dockside and the jungles that loomed over the small town. The heat was sticky and oppressive; he was amazed that people paid a fortune to holiday here.
"That rich yank must be nuts. A fucking old pirate ship attacked his yacht and robbed him of everyone, leaving him in a lifeboat in his underpants." Tom smiled; "With his third wife, much younger of course and his teenage daughter. Apparently the yacht crew were dumped in a small rubber boat, five in that and three in the large lifeboat. American democracy and equality?" Jeb smiled; "The bit I liked was the description of the pirate captain. For Christ Sake, an eyepatch with large sword and fancy hat? The yank clearly had been smoking something."
Tom shrugged his shoulders; "Two other yachts that were attacked gave the same description. The captain looked like he stepped from a pirate movie." They turned to young Ensign Harold 'Harry' Caster who jumped from the bridge ladder and saluted. Tom and Jeb returned the salute slowly. "What is it Harry?" Tom asked. The young man smiled and rubbed his hands together; he looked like a schoolboy on his summer holidays. "I went through the reports Sir. Unbelievable!" and stood smiling. There was a silence and Jeb sighed, folding his arms; "Apart from being 'Unbelievable' what did they actually contain?" Harry stared at him, then grinned; "Oh right yes Sir. Just all the women interviewed by the Coastguard and Island Police said the same thing about the pirate captain." He stood, nodding to himself.
Tom and Jeb exchanged a sad glance; Harry wasn't the brightest prospect the Royal Navy had ever recruited. Tom said slowly; "What did all the woman say Harry?" It was like drawing blood from a stone. Harry nodded again and said with real enthusiasm; "They all said he was dashing, handsome and courteous to them. A couple apparently said he looked a lot like Errol Flynn." He rubbed his hands together and smiled broadly. Jeb turned to Tom and said quietly; "Fucking great, now we're chasing bloody Errol Flynn around this shithole. Terrific." Tom laughed and turned to Harry; "Anything else?" Harry nodded. Tom really did sigh; "What is it Harry?" Harry shuffled his feet and said quietly; "That team from home are flying into day. The experts on Piracy. Historians I suppose."
Jeb laughed out loud; "That's exactly what we needed. A group of old history teachers to tell us about piracy from hundreds of bloody years' ago. Now that's bloody unbelievable!" Tom patted his friends arm; "I'll get Farmer [the Boson] to arrange a pick up for them. The Purser can arrange the cabins, when they actually come aboard." Jeb just nodded and wiped his face. "Bloody pirates my arse." He said softly, then added; "Bloody piracy experts. My arse."
Tom left the bridge laughing, giving Simon 'Snakes' Simpson [the Helmsman] an amused glance. 'Snakes' just smiled and stood by, hands behind his back. This was a rum assignment he thought. Chasing an Errol Flynn look-a-like, so called pirate captain around the bloody West Indies. If it wasn't so fucking serious to the top brass, it would make a great comedy film. But given the Captains mood; he kept those thoughts to himself. The bridge phone buzzed and Jeb picked it up; "Bridge aye." He said and listened to young Norman 'Nobby' Bannister, who was on communications in the radio room. "Just had a message from King George Airport Sir. The civilian experts are just going through customs. They'll be about two hours before they arrive." Jeb wiped his face; "Inform Mr. Farmer please Nobby." Replacing the receiver, he turned to Simpson and said; "Bloody piracy experts my arse." Simpson did laugh this time.
He really didn't laugh, standing on the bridge with Tom and the slow witted Ensign watching the 'experts' arrive. They were coming up the gangplank with Mr. Farmer. Two seamen carrying their luggage - smiling. Tom actually whistled and removed his cap, wiping his face and neck with his hankie. "Sweet Jesus, I'm in the wrong bloody profession. Do you think its too late to become a history or piracy expert?" Jeb just stared at the woman, as she stepped onto the deck, quickly assisted by a very happy young seaman who offered his arm.
Jeb smiled at Tom; "Brains and beauty in a bloody neat package." Alex was wearing a flowery summer dress and blue jacket, her dark hair tied with a blue ribbon and matching low blue heels. Dressed in the height of women's fashion for 1954. Tom grunted; "She looks like a bloody movie star with those dark glasses." They both watched as she walked down the deck, followed by her colleagues. Tom whistled again, watching her hips swinging gently with her little steps. He wiped his face again; "What a fucking gorgeous arse." Again, Jeb couldn't disagree with that observation. The Ensign coughed and Tom turned to him, but didn't take his eyes off Alex's bum. "What is it Harry?" The Ensign gave him another piece of paper; "That Police Inspector will be here at six o'clock. He'll have dinner with us in the officer's mess. Apparently there was another attack, yesterday morning. A French owned motor yacht."
Tom stared at the paper and nodded; "Have the guests been told to eat in the Officer's Mess and what meal times are?" The Ensign nodded; "Mr. Farmer is seeing to that Sir." He hesitated, then said; "Just one problem with Doctor Cappanni, Mr. farmer wants to know where and when she can use a shower." Jeb and Tom answered together; "She can use mine." Then the pair laughed and tossed a coin for it. the Commander - to his hidden delight - won.
Tom handed the paper to the happy Jeb and tapped it; "Do you see who authorised their assistance in this matter?" Jeb took the paper and stared at it; "You must be fucking joking!" Tom shook his head; "That's the real deal. That's the Prime Minister's signature." Harry grinned; "Do you mean our Prime Minster? The English one." They both stared at him and Tom said quietly - the sarcasm in his voice went over Harry's head - "Well, it's not the bloody French one is it." Harry nodded and asked; "What times should I tell the Doctor that she can use your shower Sir?" Jeb grinned; "Any bloody time she likes." Harry really couldn't understand why the ship's two senior officers thought that really funny. When he informed Mr. Farmer, he was still no wiser as Mr. farmer also just laughed.
2. THE POLICE AND THE EXPERTS.
Inspector John Johnson sat in the officer's mess and sipped his coffee, watching the team of piracy experts helping themselves to tea and coffee. In particular he watched Alex - no surprise there - and shook his head. If He wasn't happily married to Joyce....he dismissed the thoughts as the team sat at his table and Jericho introduced everyone. They shook hands all round and Jericho asked if there were any new developments. The Inspector nodded and told the team about the latest attack. Again, the dashing pirate captain had treated his captives well; especially the two women on board. "A dead ringer for Mr. Errol Flynn apparently." He muttered and pushed the typed report to Jericho. They were joined by Jeb and Tom [the bridge being manned by the 2nd Officer; Lester Caine] and the impromptu briefing and meeting started.
It was explained that the 'pirates' had now raided no less than five craft; from a large luxury steam yacht to smaller sail boats. They hadn't actually hurt anyone; just robbed them. The name of their old ship was 'The Bathsheba' and apparently had seven cannon on each side; old fashioned cannons that fired bloody big metal balls! Owen found that particularly interesting and informed the meeting of the only recorded ship with the name 'Bathsheba' was indeed a pirate ship, from about 1710, who was based on a small island called 'Paradise Bay' in the West Indies. It appears that the ship and relatively small crew disappeared - probably lost in a storm - around that year. The captain was a dashing fellow - apparently - who liked rum, women and piracy. He was called Captain Joshua 'Dagger' Jones or 'Captain Casanova'. His real name was Orville Suckles!
Jeb grunted and - with some sarcasm in his voice - asked how that was relevant to chasing pirates in 1954? That rebuke went right up Owen's nose; but he smiled and pointed out, that if the modern 'pirates' had named their ship after the old pirates, what else were they copying? Like, was their base on the small Paradise Bay Island? Tom nodded his approval at that; "He has a point skipper." Jeb just sighed and stared at Alex; sipping her coffee with some elegance. He really did want to fuck her.
Able seaman Jim Stanley appeared, saluted and gave Jeb a message just received in the radio room. Jeb rose from his seat and smiled; "Well, it seems that our dashing pirate captain and his motley crew have been spotted by a Islands Coast Guard plane. Some one hindered and fifty nautical miles south of..." He hesitated and didn't smile, adding dourly; "Some one hundred and fifty nautical miles south of Paradise Bay Island." Even the Police Inspector had to smile at that revelation. "We're getting underway immediately. Are you settled in your cabin Inspector?" John nodded; he was looking forward to a nice sea cruise; especially one that was free. He smiled at Alex; and something pleasant to look at.
Jeb and Tom headed for the bridge and HMS Steadfast was soon steaming from the docks into the open ocean. The weather was wonderfully clear and warm. The Inspector joined Alex and Owen on the deck, watching the Islands fading behind them. They chatted for a while and watched the sun sinking below the horizon and they returned to their cabins; dinner would be served at six o'clock. Wilson commented to Alex and Owen that both the mess stewards were African. That was the only positions black men - regardless of their abilities - could obtain on Navy ships in this time period. Owen thought he was wrong on that point; the British Navy had employed black men since the times of Nelson and probably before even that. But he kept those thoughts to himself; maybe Wilson was thinking of the American Navy. The meal was excellent and everyone enjoyed the food and drinks; the British Navy certainly knew how to look after its crews; well, the officers anyway.
Tom grabbed the phone and buzzed Jeb's quarters and woke him; explaining what was happening off starboard. Jeb was on the the bridge some minutes later and the pair stood watching the flickering lights with their binoculars. Jeb ordered the helmsman to change course and the ship headed for the lights. He went to the chart room and worked out positions and speeds. "We should be there in about two hours." He muttered and Tom told Pat to arouse some of the crew for action if necessary. The rest of the men could sleep for now; there was no need to sound 'General Quarters', just yet. A message was sent to the radio room [which was manned 24 hours] to call Navel operations and the Flag ship about the situation and change of course. Jeb also asked if any radio traffic had been picked up; that was a negative, apart from a couple of local fishing smack's chatting with each other.
HMS Steadfast made good headway on the quiet sea and reached the position just before midnight. A recovery crew - lead by Tom - was prepared and a small boat lowered in readiness. Jeb watched from the deck. It was a small lifeboat; he could make out the 'Mother Ships' name on the side; 'The Memphis Queen'. There was wreckage still floating on the surface, a mast complete with brightly coloured sail caught his eye. There was bits of deck furniture and other stuff floating about. He ordered Tom's boat away and the little boat headed for the other little boat. Tom called him up on his 'walkie-talkie' - there were two people in the boat - a young boy and an old woman; probably the boys grandmother, by the look of things. Jeb told a sailor to rouse the surgeon and get the medical team ready.
Jeb also told the sailor to wake Dr. Cappanni; a woman doctor may be very useful in this situation. Tom called back to say that the old lady insisted that an old wooden ship flying the skull and bloody crossbones had attracted their yacht. They had killed her daughters husband and abducted her daughter; the boys mother. They [the pirates] had forced the old lady and her grandson into the small boat and set them adrift. She didn't know what happened to the other three crew members.
"So much for a dashing and charming pirate captain. The murdering bastard." Jeb muttered and ordered 'Action stations'. A siren rang out about the ship; rousing the crew and its passengers.
3. A SURVIVORS TALE.
Alex and Owen stepped onto the bridge and found organised chaos. But Jeb was firmly in command of the situation, giving orders for the pursuit of the pirate vessel. "We should outran the bastards easily, despite them having a four hour head start." He was talking to Tom, who nodded and ordered the ships armoury opened and weapons issued to the assault party. Jeb smiled at Alex and asked her to attend the medical suite; the old woman was in quite a state - she had seen her son-in-law murdered in front of her - and her daughter dragged away to suffer a terrible fate at the hands of the evil bastards. The boy had a few cuts and bruises, but seemed alright. He hadn't witnessed the murder of his father; thanks to his grandmother shielding him.
Alex nodded and left immediately. Owen joined Jericho and Wilson on the deck outside the bridge and the temporal Detectives spoke very quietly amongst themselves. Jericho told them what the old woman had said, before being taken to the medical bay. "She says that the men [the pirates] called a big rough fellow who had a long black beard, 'Captain & Skipper'. She said he was clearly in charge. I think something has happened amongst the pirates, that's definitely not the previous descriptions of Captain Casanova." Wilson nodded; "Maybe the dashing captain has been removed from command for some reason." Owen folded his arms; "On pirate ships, the captain could be replaced for various reasons. Normally removed permanently from life as well. Something had certainly changed with them and not for the better." The other two agreed with that.
Tom stepped from the bridge and walked past them, turning to say - unsmiling - that the bastards had been picked up on the radar and Owen had been right; they were headed for Paradise Bay. He also said, that he would be leading the assault on the pirate ship. They couldn't just let the their big guns shatter the pirate ship with the woman prisoner on board. He stopped and asked Owen what would happen to her. Owen sighed and ran a hand over his face; "Probably gang rape her, then throw her overboard. But if this was the 1700's, then they would have kept her alive and sold at her, at the white slave actions that were held around these Islands back then."
The officer grunted and walked away shouting for Jim Grieves; the ship's Chief Petty Officer. They had an assault party to get together. Wilson took a deep breath; "This has taken a really shit turn for the worse." Jericho and Owen couldn't argue with that assessment. Now the bridge was relatively quiet, they stepped in and saw Jeb bent over the radar scope, both hands gripping the small cabinet. He really didn't look happy and was cussing under his breath. He grabbed the bridge phone and yelled down, that he wanted a bloody technician to the bridge; NOW. He turned to a young sailor and told him to find Tom and tell him to stand down - for now - the bloody pirate ship had simply disappeared from the radar.
The temporal team exchanged glances, they were all thinking the same thing; did the bloody pirates have access to a time controlling device? That would explain how they were here in the first place and how they avoided detection from the modern era ships and planes. Jeb looked up at them and sighed; "I'm dropping off a small motor launch with three crew to search for those missing three men from the yacht. I don't hold out much hope, but we must do it." Jericho nodded and asked what happens next. Jeb almost smiled; "We're going to pay a visit to Paradise Bay."
"I need a fucking brandy." Owen muttered and they headed for the officers mess. He found Alex there; drinking a brandy and sitting alone. He sat down and asked how the old lady and the boy was. Alex sighed; "She's sleeping - I hope - I gave her a sedative. Thankfully the boy didn't see his dad murdered, but I don't think he'll play pirates again." Owen nodded and sipped a most needed brandy. He then explained about the missing men and Jeb's decision to sail to Paradise Bay. Alex grunted; "He's a couple of hundred years too late." Owen smiled; "But we can always pop back, can't we?"
They were joined by Jericho and Wilson, who both accepted brandy from Samson. Jericho's plan was simple; when the ship docked at Paradise Bay, the team would jump back to 1710, rescue the woman and find the time controller. "You make it sound so bloody simple Jericho." Owen said and smiled. Jericho nodded; "Supplies will meet us back there and kit us out. We're going to play pirates." Wilson smiled and sipped his drink; "Normally I would be delighted, There were many black pirates back then and they were treated as equals amongst the pirate community. But somehow, all this murder and abductions have taken the fun out of it." They all agreed with that.
Alex asked Owen if there were any pirate women. He nodded; "Yeah. There was and they were considered worse than the bloody men!" Now that revelation did make Alex smile; "No playing the bloody tart for me then." She said softly. The little briefing broke up and everyone returned to their cabin's with Alex checking the old lady and the boy before retiring.
4. PARADISE BAY - PART 1.
HMS Steadfast dropped anchor at Paradise bay in the late morning. The team stood on deck and took the stunning sight in; "It's bloody beautiful. Unspoilt by tourism and untouched by commercialism, but in fifty years the place will be swarming with wealthy tourist and three huge hotels will dominate the beaches." Owen spoke to Alex, who could only agree - sadly - with his assessment of the little islands future. Tom would lead an armed party ashore - to reconnoitre - before the 'Experts' would be allowed to land. Alex - as usual - protested about that, but Tom just smiled at her; "Captains orders." And that was that; it wasn't up for discussion.
Wilson lowered the binoculars he had borrowed from Mr. Farmer and gestured towards the hill that dominated this side of the island' "There appears to be some kind of old fortification up there; looks well overgrown by jungle, but its there all right." Owen took the binoculars and nodded; "It looks like a small 17th or 18th century fort. I think that could be worth a look when we get ashore." Frustrated at not having any glasses, Alex stopped a passing young seamen and asked to borrow his glasses. He stared at her and grinned; Alex was just wearing a tight fitting white t-shirt and shorts - short shorts - and slowly handed the binoculars over without a word. She really smiled at the boy and could have 'borrowed' his clothes, boots, watch and wallet - if she asked - and he wouldn't have hesitated handing them over!
It was almost noon before the 'experts' received the go ahead to land at Paradise Bay. They were escorted by Jim Grieves [The Chief Petty officer] and two ratings [the men were still armed] and made immediately for the old fort. It was a hard slog through the jungle and the Seamen were impressed by how easily Alex coped with it. They didn't know that Alex had already endured three adventures in steaming jungles already. [SEE: 'The redemption (almost) of private John Hook', 'The legend of Captain Hernando De Plaza' and 'Professor Jack Dawes lost expedition to the Amazon's subterranean world'.]
The little fort was in ruins, with crumbling walls and jungle vegetation growing over everything. Owen discretely consulted his mirror; "Built in 1705 by Spanish forces, who were driven from the island by a British Invasion in 1709; not the British navy but mainly British pirates and Buccaneers. The island became a pirate port until 1722 when the British navy did arrive - in force - and put an end to the piracy in these waters." He looked about and pointed down towards the south walls; "There's a cemetery there. let's check the graves." They walked carefully down to the old cemetery and Owen just sighed. You couldn't actually make out any graves; there were very few headstones and time and jungle had covered almost everything. Nevertheless; Owen walked the place, reading his mirror.
He stopped close to the fort's wall and waved a hand about; "All the remains can be identified with a mass 'Body Check'; all their souls were collected between 1705 and 1724. Except this one. These human remains belong to a missing soul; Caroline Harker who was born in 1919. What was the name of the woman taken?" He wiped his face and neck; the heat was sticky and oppressive. Alex stood - hands on hips - and sighed; "Bloody Caroline Harker. Does it tell us when she died?" Owen shook his head; "No soul, so no date of death. But it has to be between the years the cemetery was in use. If that helps." Jericho grunted; "No, but it does confirm they have a time controlling device. That means we must go after them and close down their little operation, before we lose more souls to the darkness."
Jericho operated his mirror and sent a request to Supplies; the team would be jumping back to the Paradise Bay of the pirate era. Owen rubbed his hands together and practised his pirate talk - well, his version of it - with phrases like; "Aye Jim lad! Splice the main brace - whatever that was! Aye, its buried treasure lad! The others just stared at him and sighed. Wilson slapped him on the back; "You crack on baby pirate brother!" They did one last walk through of the old fort, looking about for any clues. Alex stopped by the doorway of a large room, by the gateway and almost smiled; "Any one else getting Deja vu here? I certainly am."
Wilson nodded and rubbed his chin; "Your right, I feel it too. This gateway and that room. They're important to us in some way." Owen tapped his mirror; "According to Historical Records this was the South gateway and that was the powder store. They stored gunpowder in there for their cannons and muskets." Jericho chuckled; "Well, when we're back there, don't light a lamp or strike a bloody match near the place; come on." They met Joseph from Supplies at the rear of the fort; he shook hands all round and smiled at Alex; "Anna [the teams costume designer] has come up with a cracker. She loved your request for a pirate lady's costume of the period." Alex smiled broadly; "No playing the bloody tart for me this time." She told the others.
They watched Jericho - resplendent in his pirate Captain's outfit - practising with his sword. Wilson and Owen watched with real interest and then smiled at Alex. She gave a little curtsey and pushed her three sided hat back on her head and gestured to her blouse and trousers. Both men smiled; her magnificent breasts were almost escaping from the loose silk blouse; pirate female captains didn't wear bra's or bodices. She tapped her sword, dagger and pistol; "Well, I'm ready boys." They all looked again at Jericho. Wilson gripped Alex's arm; "Is he any good with that damn sword or is he just acting the part?" Alex did smile; "He was a fencing champion at University and I know that he fought five duels with the sword; and won each time. He's pretty good with a pistol too." Owen whistled; "The bloody things we find out on these missions; Jericho fought duels!"
It was time for Owen and Wilson to get into their costumes; Wilson was particularly happy with his. He carried two pistols and a huge cutlass sword, with thigh length boots and bright red jacket and trousers. Even his big hat was red. He smiled at the others; "Red and black go together so well. I'm 'Bad Red; the feared African pirate'. Terror of the Spanish Main!" He turned and groaned upon seeing Owen. He was dressed as a 'buxom pirate wench' in a beautiful dress and small hat. Wilson rubbed his face and stared hard; "Are they real? They bloody look it." He gestured to the fine bosom of the 'pirate wench' and was quite puzzled. Owen just grinned; "Wouldn't you like to know!" Alex gripped 'her' and waved the sword about; "Hands off my wench Bad Red! She's my girl!" Her and Owen giggled. Jericho just sighed deeply; Sometimes he wished he had an office job.
The team jumped back to 1710 and headed for the fort; the island was now a bustling pirate town with bars, brothels and a very good bakery that served delicate little French patisseries. Now that did surprise them; the cakes were excellent!
5. PARADISE BAY - PART 2.
"Bars are huge source of information; specially pirate bars." Jericho informed them and stopped at the first bar, just up from the beach. They stood outside and Alex shook her head and gestured to 'Jackie'. "She's not going in there!" Jericho shrugged his shoulders; The sign above this particular establishment declared 'The Rapist's Rest'. They quickly moved on with Wilson muttering; "Well, it is a bloody pirate hangout. It's not likely to be called the bloody 'Choir Boy's Bar and Grill."
The next bar had a name Alex didn't approve of either; 'Big Willy's bar and brothel.' They found a bar, just yards from the fort who's sign declared; 'The Queen's giving Head.' Wilson peered in and shook his head; "I think the patrons would like Owen too much dressed up like that. They all look like that 1980's pop singer; Allan Insect." Alex sighed; "You mean bloody Adam Ant." Jericho pointed to the establishment opposite; 'Flints Tavern'. Everyone nodded and they pushed through the doors; jumping aside as two burly men threw another screaming man past them. He landed in the sand and lay groaning. The two men stared at the team and the biggest one smiled at Jackie; he had no teeth and was missing fingers from both hands.
"Hello my darling. Are you out on business?" He said almost drooling. Alex just grabbed Jackie by the arm and almost frog marched her into the pub, saying; "Back off dog breath, that's my girl." The big man seemed quite upset by that remark, but saw both Jericho and Wilson - sorry; Bad Red - had their pistols out. He grinned and bowed; "This way ma'am. Old Percival means no harm by it."
Jackie whispered; "Percival? a fucking pirate called Percival?" Alex told her to watch her mouth; she was a lady after all. "Dog breath?" Muttered Wilson and Jericho just sighed deeply - again.
The place was packed with pirates and their women; all were drinking, some were singing, two couples were actually fucking over a table and one looked suspiciously like he had died some time ago. The flies around him seemed to indicate that; oh, and the smell of course. The team avoided that table. They sat down and a large lady came over, her huge breasts swinging freely; "What's you order luvvie's?" She asked and smiled at Wilson. They ordered four jugs of beer and she demanded tuppence [two pence nowadays]. Jericho paid her and she bit each coin and nodded. She bought the beers back and stroked Wilson's arm; "I'm cheaper than the fucking beer my darling." Wilson just grunted and grabbed his beer. Disappointed, she wandered off - hand up her skirt - scratching her arse.
Wilson stared into his jug and slowly inserted a couple of fingers, pulling out a large centipede and dropped it on the table; it appeared to stagger away despite having so many legs. Jericho leaned over the table and nodded towards the big table by the door; it was packed with, what seemed to be, a single ship's crew. The big man at the top of the table had caught his eye. "Now doesn't that big ugly bugger match the old lady's description of the pirate captain?" They all nodded. He certainly did. Alex watched in horror, as a rat stuck its head out of his huge beard and was given some cheese by the big pirate. "He keeps a fucking rat in his beard!" She gasped and took a sip of beer; she coughed violently. it tasted like warm horse piss.
Jericho pulled the team closer and spoke softly; "That's our man. Now call's himself Captain Ratbeard and he commands 'The Bathsheba' since Captain Casanova's demise. According to the little man; he has a woman on board. So our missing lady must still be alive; for now." Jackie whispered; "What happened to our Errol Flynn look a like?" Jericho rubbed his chin; "Apparently some of the crew mutinied over his gentle treatment of women prisoners. They demanded their right to rape them. So there was a punch up and Casanova, with some loyal men; were thrown overboard. Luckily for them; the Bathsheba was docked in the bay, here at the time. That little man, was one of the men that stayed loyal. They want their ship and Captain back."
"Where's the captain now?" Whispered Alex. "In the fort and guess who is the real big man around these parts and lives in the fort?" They all shrugged their shoulders. Jericho grinned' "The big pirate himself, a man called Captain John Breholt. Strangely enough he simply vanished from history in 1711 - a year from now - and was never heard of again. He is a missing soul." Now that did impress the team. Alex smiled; "Well, if Ratbeard and his scurvy crew are here, then who's guarding the woman on the ship? A really good time for a rescue don't you think?" That was quickly agreed upon and they left the tavern and looked for a rowboat. They found one on the beach - yes, actually on the beach - the sole occupant was trying to row back to his ship, but was so drunk, he couldn't launch the damn thing and was attempting to row in the sand. They quickly dumped him 'overboard' and stole the boat.
The sailor lay kicking in the sand; he couldn't even stand. He managed to raise his head and shout after the disappearing rowboat; "Fucking thieving Jews!" and collapsed back in the sand. Alex sounded puzzled; "We look bloody Jewish?" She asked. No one answered her.
There were three ships in the bay; the smallest was the Bathsheba. They quietly rowed past the 'Scallywag' and the 'Kraken'. Both sounded like they had parties going on. A couple of bodies fell from them; splashing into the water. Dead or dead drunk. "Do you know, that if you had lots of paracetamol; you could make a fortune around here with all the hangovers." Jackie whispered; grinning. Everyone ignored her. They came up behind the stern and found a couple of ropes hanging down in the water. "That's where the expression 'swinging the lead' comes from. They would throw measured ropes over the side, with a lead weight on the end; to measure the depth of the water, so the ship didn't run aground." Jericho explained; only Jackie was interested in that.
That's when the other little row boat bumped into them. The two sets of people stared at each other. The little skinny man lifted his weak lamp and sighed; "It's alright boys. It's those spies of the English Crown after fucking Ratbeard. They can be trusted; they're Jewish." The little group of men all nodded and waved. The team exchanged glances of puzzlement and some amazement. Israel Feat [the little skinny man] grinned and grabbed a rope; he climbed like a monkey and disappeared onto the ship, with his men following. Jericho and the team did the same.
Alex was last up the rope, behind Jackie, she chuckled; "For Christ sake Jackie; you do have a gorgeous arse!" Jackie just sighed and climbed on board; helping Alex over the rail. The ship was deathly quiet; with only a strange grunting sound; they quickly found out what that was.
The two guards were both sprawled on the deck; drunk. Israel and his men slid them slowly over the side and took possession of their muskets and swords. He whispered to Jericho; "The woman is in the captain's cabin." He gestured down a hatchway and crept away; looking for any other 'guards'. The team slipped quietly down the hatchway; swords and pistols ready. Alex whispered to Jackie; "Why does everyone think we're bloody Jewish?" Jackie didn't know, but would have a good look in her mirror, next time she did her makeup.
They burst into the captains quarters and found a very pretty woman - possibly in her late thirties, sitting on the bunk bed, skirts pulled up, bodice loose, scratching an escaped tit; she was smoking a cob pipe. She looked up and didn't smile; "Who the fuck are you?" She said and farted loudly adding; "The food is plentiful, but makes you fart and crap like a dog with fucking dysentery." Alex just stared at her, lowering her pistol; "Mrs. Carol Harker?" She asked in total amazement. The woman nodded; "Who the fuck wants to know?"
6. THE RELUCTANT RESCUE.
They sat where they could drinking brandy. The Captain kept a good supply of it. Mrs. Harker grunted; "It all belonged to young fancy pants - the previous captain? - he certainly had class. But old Ratbeard soon put an end to his game. The crew wanted to fuck me and he wouldn't let them. So they tossed him overboard. They're fucking pirates, not Choir boys on a church outing. I got through five of them before old Ratbeard shagged me. What a fucking man! Like a bloody road hammer. After that he kept me to himself; none of the crew argued with that. Best fucking sex I'd had in years. I came like a fucking burst fire hydrant." She refilled the glasses and sighed. "Is that old witch of a mother of mine still breathing?" Alex nodded; stunned and told her that the boy was fine.
"Fucking whinging spoilt little fucker. He's going to grow up, to be a cock sucker like his pathetic dad. What happened to that tosser?" Mrs. Harker asked with no real concern whatsoever. "I'm afraid they killed him and threw him overboard." Jackie said softly. Mrs. Harker just sighed; "That's probably the best thing that ever happened to the twat." and knocked her brandy back in one slug. She re-lit her pipe and smiled to herself. "Anyway, what the fuck do you want?" Jericho explained quietly that they were here to rescue her. She laughed and actually wiped a tear from her eyes. "Rescue me?" She sounded incredulous at the thought. She smiled; "When I need fucking rescuing; I'll let you lovely Jewish people know. Now fuck off before old Ratbeard comes home and fucks all of you. And I mean fucks all of you." She laughed at that.
Jericho took command and told Israel to fire a cannon shot over Ratbeard and his crew; then get underway. Israel nodded and disappeared, followed by Jericho and Wilson. Jericho shouted back; "Look after her." He told Alex and Jackie, adding; "Don't let her out of your sight." Carol sprawled on the bed and smoked her pipe. She gestured to Jackie, but spoke to Alex; "She your piece of skirt darling?" Alex found herself nodding. Carol sighed; "I wouldn't mind some of that little peach my self. Probably has a tight fanny that tastes like honey." Alex just smiled; "Oh, she's definitely a special lady." Carol nodded; "I had a terrific lesbian experience with some basket ball players, when I was at College. Then I met the twat and ended up rich and fucking unhappy. Such is life."
They felt the ship move and a cannon shot rang out. Carol leaned back on the bed. "He's not going to be happy about this. Your friends are going to die quite horribly and you two; had better love being fucked by a couple of dozen men every day. Though I might ask old Ratbeard if I can keep your little honeypot there; for myself." She puffed on her pipe and smiled to herself. Alex asked her how long she had been on the boat. Carol waved the pipe about; "It's a fucking ship darling. I must have been enjoying myself now for a couple of months. Why do you ask?" Alex turned to Jackie; "A day for us and two months for her. Time travel can be a real bugger sometimes." Carol sat bolt upright on the bed and stared at the girls. She took a breath and grinned; "Your fucking temporal detectives. Old Ratbreard said you would turn up sooner or later. He told fancy pants that you would show up eventually, but he wouldn't listen."
They explained about Carol's revelation and Jericho grunted; "Time to retreat I think. We're outgunned." Jackie sounded disappointed with herself; "I knew I should have ran my mirror over old Ratbeard. I think the results would be interesting." The team huddled by the sail locker and a couple of musket balls flew over their heads and splintered the mast. "Lets go people." Jericho shouted and operated his mirror, They were back at the fort. They watched the musket fire and uneven fight from the relative safety of their hill position. It was soon over.
They turned to walk away when they saw him. Leaned against a tree with one hand. Jackie actually grinned; "Sweet Jesus, he does actually look like Errol Flynn!" It was a somewhat distraught Captain Casanova or fancy pants as Carol called him. He was watching the fire fight too and wasn't happy with the outcome. He turned to the team and didn't smile; "Israel was a good and loyal man. He deserved better than to die at that pigs hands." He wiped his face and pushed his hat back on. Yes, he really did look like the dashing and handsome film star.
He stared out at the bay and continued; "Then I met Norman; he was travelling in time too. His portal was an old Egyptian figurine. We joined forces and took over the Bathsheba. I thought it was just fun; playing pirates, but found out that Norman wanted to play them for real. He took the emblem and now I'm stuck here." Jericho rubbed his face; "Where or when or you originally from?" The Captain sighed; "Australia actually. I was born in 1909." Jackie actually squeaked; "It's him! It's really him!" Wilson just patted her arm; "Keep your panties on darling, Lots of people come from Australia and were born in 1909." Jericho ignored Jackie and asked what year he left his own time? The Captain stared up at the stars and said 1933. Alex whispered to Jackie; "That's two years before he became so famous; playing a bloody pirate captain in that film: 'Captain Blood'. No wonder he was so good; he had been a real one!"
Jericho folded his arms and stared at the Bathsheba, swinging at anchor in Paradise Bay. "Now we have another bloody time traveller to stop; two bloody time portal devices to destroy and return a very reluctant woman back to her own time." He jerked a thumb at captain Casanova; "Not forgetting to return him, so that he can become a huge movie star." He sighed, he really wished sometimes; that he had stayed dead.
7. CHASING NORMAN.
Jericho was standing by the old fort watching HMS Steadfast at anchor in the bay. Wilson joined him and handed him a water bottle. Jericho sipped and checked his mirror; "Alex and Owen should be back from 1933 any minute now." Wilson sighed; "That mad bastard is going to be famous, rich and popular. You know about his legendary sexual prowess? Two or three women in one go. They say he was hung like a donkey. Lucky bastard." Alex and Owen materialised; smiling. Owen just had to tell Jericho and Wilson straight away; "We returned him 1933 and bloody Alex just had to do it, didn't she?" Wilson grunted; "Do what exactly?" Owen laughed; "Give Mr. Errol - I'm a huge movie star - Flynn, a bloody book entitled; 'How to be an Actor.' I laughed my socks off." Jericho and Wilson chuckled at that. Alex just grinned; "Well, he certainly must have read it."
Wilson nodded; "Lot of good it would do bloody Orville Suckles. I just checked my mirror and he ended up selling brushes door to door for a living. Selling to all those housewives, day after day. Poor sod. I'm surprised that he didn't make a fortune being Errol Flynn's double." He really couldn't understand why they laughed so much.
"Never mind bleeding Errol Flynn's look a like, we need to get after bloody Norman before the time line really starts to change." Jericho grunted and pushed his mirror back in his jacket pocket. He was sweating and not very happy; now he had to deal with the officers of HMS Steadfast who could end up chasing a 'phantom' pirate ship in this time. Jericho scratched his head thinking hard. "We need to jump back and deal with Norman, But also keep Jeb and Tom off our backs, while we do it." Owen grinned; "Let me and Alex convince Jeb that a beach party would raise morale and we can slip away back to 1710, while they're having a good time on this lovely beach." Everyone just stared at him. He shrugged his shoulders; "Anyone got a better idea, just bloody speak up."
The bonfire was soon ablaze and the windup gramophone was playing hits from the forties and early fifties. The crew were dressed up in grass skirts with leaves on their heads. Everyone from the ship wanted to dance with Alex; who was wearing a stunning one piece, black bathing costume with a flimsy grass skirt. Jeb grabbed Jericho and handed him a 'long life' beer "Fantastic idea old boy! Just the bloody ticket!" He shouted over the noisy and very happy party. Jericho just smiled and Owen grinned broadly. "Come on people. lets go." Jericho muttered to the team who reluctantly followed him.
They made their way back to the fort; they couldn't believe it: there was a big party in full swing! Apparently it was Captain Breholt's birthday and the island was celebrating; or else! There were drunks everywhere. Alex soberly pointed out several new graves in the cemetery; "Probably old Israel and his men." She said sadly. Two drunken pirates tried to kiss Jackie, shouting "Merry Christmas!" to everyone. Jackie kneed one in the testicles and the other one wisely staggered off. "That's my girl." Alex smiled and they found themselves outside the gunpowder store. The guard was slumped against the door, singing quite an obscene song about a certain ship called 'Venus'. Jericho stepped over him and pushed open the door, he peered in; it was stacked with muskets, swords and gunpowder barrels. He rubbed his chin and smiled.
"Heads up, Isn't that our Norman?" Wilson said and everyone dived into the gunpowder store and watched through the half open door. Captain Ratbeard and Mrs. Harker were heading towards the party; hand in hand, surrounded by half a dozen crew members, dressed in their best. Well, they had washed their feet and hands. Jericho whispered to his group; "Now's the best time to end Ratbeard's jolly sea jaunts. Wilson and Owen... sorry Jackie, find us a couple of rowboats."
They both slipped away and headed for the beach. Jericho picked two barrels and with Alex's help, rolled them to the door. "Now for a bloody horse and cart." He smiled and they soon found one. They pulled the drunken driver from the seat and left him in a brothel doorway. When Wilson and Jackie returned giving the thumbs up, they loaded the barrels and set off for the beach.
Madame Claire sighed and with the help of 'big Betty' dragged the driver into the brothel hallway; they quickly took anything of value from the man and then carried him outside to the woodshed. They tossed him onto a pile of about five or six men; still all quite drunk. All had been thoroughly robbed by the 'ladies of the night' - two were grinning with bloody mouths; they use to have a couple of gold teeth - and one was missing his wooden leg. Madame Claire brushed herself down and smiled; "Come on girls, let's get to the party. There's money to be made."
She stopped and watched the cart disappearing through the gateway and rubbed her chin; "Where had I heard about four such strangers?" Madame Claire sighed and walked to the Garrison House of the fort, past a chalk board with four crude sketches and a notice declaring a Ten Pound reward for the capture of Captain Tibbs, Captain Alex Longlegs, Bad Red the African terror and a little dark haired beauty called 'Salty Jack'. It pointed out that she should be taken unharmed - Breholt himself wanted her - and that alone guaranteed that she would be unmolested by anyone; well, except the really stupid or those with a death wish.
Alex and Jericho followed Wilson and Jackie in the their rowboat, who was carrying the two barrels. They came up under the stern of the 'Bathsheba' and Wilson secured the rowboat to the stern; really close and trailed a fuse down. Jackie handed him the matches and he lit the slow burning rope. Wilson and Jackie quickly transferred to Jericho's and Alex's boat. They really did row away fast and headed for the beach. They stopped rowing and stared; there was a large group of people on the beach, firing - drunkenly - muskets and pistols at them. Madame Claire had just remembered and was now ten pounds better off.
Jericho cussed and pulled out his mirror; a musket ball knocked off his hat and he operated his mirror - just as the stern of the 'Bathsheba disappeared in a huge explosion - The team, complete with rowboat; vanished. Everyone on the beach had stopped partying and watched in amazement as the small rowboat landed on the shingle. The team jumped from their boat and bowed. Jeb walked up and stood in silence for a few seconds then burst out laughing; "Bloody good show! Dressing up as pirates to surprise everyone!" He thrust a beer into Jericho's hand and slapped his back. Everyone was now cheering and clapping in appreciation of the 'Pirate Experts' efforts to cheer everyone up. The party was quite a monster.
Tom sat next to Wilson - they were in deck chairs by the dying bonfire - and sipped their beers. Tom patted Wilson's arm; "You and your team are really pirate experts you know." Wilson smiled; "Glad to hear that Tom." He said quietly. Tom sighed and finished his can, throwing it onto the fire. He scratched his head; "I still don't know, how you got your hands on a genuine 17th century 'jolly boat' on an uninhabited island. Did you have it in your luggage?" He smiled and walked back to the beach, gesturing for Wilson to follow; the last boat was leaving for the ship. Wilson just smiled to himself; 'you can't really fool an old sea dog'.
The team met up in Jericho's cabin. Owen - now out of his 'party' costume - wasn't happy. Two sailors had asked him to their cabin with really big smiles on their faces. "Dirty old sods." Was all he said. Jericho pointed out that Ratbeard still had the time controllers and they really needed to disable them - but how? - the island back in 1710 would now be in uproar and everyone would be after the team. How could they return without being seen?
Alex sat on the bed and sipped her drink, she sat upright and smiled; "Only two of us can return to the island in 1710." She jerked a thumb towards Owen and pointed to herself. "Owen can return as a pirate gentleman and I can accompany him as he's sister or wife or whatever. We simply swap sexes. They would never suspect that." Jericho did smile; "Alexandra my dear. You are worth your dress allowances." Owen grinned; "According to my research, even pirate towns welcomed preachers; especially the really rotten ones."
8. PARADISE BAY - PART 3.
Jericho really shrugged his shoulders and repeated he didn't know; he had no explanation about the old wreck lying at the bottom of the bay. Jeb just stared at him and tapped the scope again. "Well, Tom and I are pretty sure that the damn thing wasn't there yesterday. " He walked to the window and gestured to the motor launch being lowered into the water. "Its in shallow water. Well, shallow enough for my team of divers to reach safely. We'll find out what she was." Jericho managed a smile and wandered away. "Bloody Sonar." He muttered to himself and joined Wilson by the railings, who was also watching the diving expedition get under way.
"Never thought of this; did we." He said softly to Jericho, who just nodded. "Have our sex change companions gone?" Wilson nodded; "Owen looks like a bent preacher and Alex is dressed in widow's black, complete with veil." They walked to the officer's mess; they needed a drink; even if it was only ten o'clock in the morning!
Since her legs were still free, Alex kicked Owen's feet real hard; "Trust you to ask bloody Madame Claire. Oh what's going on Madame? Oh, come this way Reverend and bring your sister! You bleeding twat!" She struggled against the ropes and failed. Owen couldn't answer; the gag in his mouth wouldn't let him. The door to the woodshed sprung open and Madame Claire, accompanied by her loyal sidekick - big betty - came in and smiled at the pair. She was a holding a small sack and held up Owen's mirror; "I'd love to know what this fucking thing does? What I do know, is that there is nothing on God's earth - if you excuse the use of the almighty's name Reverend - existing in this time and place and I mean the year of our Lord seventeen hundred and ten."
Big Betty knelt down next to Owen and held a rusty dagger against his neck; "Shall I cut his throat and dump him in the jungle?" Madame Claire shook her head. "No, he may be worth something to someone. A good looking young boy like him is worth gold to some men who like their sex on the dark side." She smiled and gestured to Alex; "I've already sold her holes to the big boss himself. He was very disappointed about not raping that little dark haired tart. Now if I could get my hands on her, then I...we would be really in the money."
Alex just stared at her; "What fucking gives you the right to sell me you pox ridden bitch!" Madame Claire just grinned and produced a pistol from under her skirts and pointed it at Owen. "This does my lovely foul mouthed slut." She expertly pulled the firing hammer back. Alex sighed; "Alright, alright you fucking trollop. I understand." Madame Claire smiled and snapped the hammer back. "See, you can learn things quickly. I hope you learnt enough from your dead husband to please a man like the boss. Your arse had better known a big dick my lovely. That's he's favourite."
The two women left laughing together and Alex leaned back against the wall and just sighed; "Thanks to you, you twat. I'm about to have my poor bloody bum hole stretched by a pox ridden pirate!" Owen just shrugged his shoulders and mumbled something. "Shut up." Was all Alex moaned and stared about the woodshed. That's when she saw the old axe sticking out of a log.
They sneaked up to the back door of the brothel and peered in; young Delphi the African girl was stirring a big pot. They heard voices and crept under the window next door. They knelt in the dirt and listened; Madame Claire and Ratbeard were talking; about their bloody mirrors. Ratbeard paid her gold for them and walked away. The pair scurried into the jungle and hid in some bushes. Owen sat knees under his chin and sighed; "Whoever Ratbeard is, he's know what our mirrors are for. Who the hell is he?" Alex didn't know; "We need to get our mirrors back and close those bloody time portals. I know that much." She said and they pair made off; they wanted to put distance between the brothel and themselves.
They walked in the jungle for some time and found they were on the other side of the small island. It was dominated by the remains of a small volcano; long dead. They climbed and were rewarded by excellent views of the island; including Paradise Bay and the two ships in the small harbour. Owen sat and wiped his neck and face; "Just out of interest; now what the fuck do we do?" Alex slumped next to him and rubbed her arms; "Bloody insects." She said and stared about. She tapped Owen's arm very slowly and didn't smile; "There's some crazy old man staring at us." Owen looked across at a thick clump of trees. The old man gestured for them to come. His clothes were almost rags and he big leaves tied around his feet and on his head.
"It's bloody Ben Gunn." Owen groaned and the pair rose and walked over. The old man grinned with a toothless mouth; he looked nearly a hundred years old but clearly fit as a Butcher's dog. He gripped Alex's arm; "Your the lovely lady that old Breholt wants." He grinned at Owen and laughed - almost hysterically - to himself; "Your the lovely dark little girl he also wants. Old Judea knows all these things. He watches and listens. The jungle has been his friend for thirty years." He gestured for them to follow him. They both looked at each other and shrugged; then followed the strange little man into the dense jungle.
"I've been here since that bastard Captain Breholt dumped me here. Gave orders that no one should give me succour or be cut up like fish on a slab. The towns people all avoid me. Won't give me a cup of water or piece of bread. bastards." He entered a rough hole behind a well grown bush and they found themselves in a small cave. Judea chuckled; "Only old Israel Feat ever helped me. A good man."
Alex and Owen just stood; speechless and amazed. There was furniture stacked up, beds, tables and chests, Eastern carpets and tapestries. He pointed to a couple of royal looking chairs and produced a bucket of water and a ladle. He sipped and gargled; "Still fresh my lovelies." They sat and really enjoyed the water. Old Judea dropped on the floor cross legged and smiled at the pair. "Old Redbeard know who you are." He laughed again and shook his head. "Old Judea knows who you are. God's people's. "
Owen asked how he knew that. Old Judea laughed again and ran both hands over his bald head; "Old Judea knows what he knows. Redbeard and his new trollop know who you are. He's trying to buy passage on one of the other ships." He laughed hysterically, rolling about the cave floor. Finally he sat up smiling; "Old Judea loved what you did to his ship. Old Judea loved it." He jumped up and walked to a chest and pulled the lid up. Owen and Alex walked over and stared in; it was packed with gold cups, jewels, gold and silver coins. It was a fortune for the time. Judea dug deep amongst the treasures and pulled out a little black box.
He held it out to Alex and as she reached for it, snatched it back grinning. "Get nothing for nothing around here my darling." Alex just sighed; "I really don't need a little box thank you. You dirty old sod." Judea laughed again and whispered; "Not even one that will take you back from whence you came?" Owen nodded; "How much would you bet that it contains a time portal?" Alex folded her arms and asked Judea what he wanted for it. He grinned and leapt around the place, then whispered in her ear. Alex just nodded; "Only if the bloody thing works." Judea nodded and jumped away from them, he slowly opened the lid and whispered into the box. He was gone. Alex and Owen stared at each other; a working time portal!
Judea was back, singing and dancing. he held out the box and snatched it away - again - when Owen reached for it. "Judea keeps his word if the lady keeps hers." Alex just sighed and pulled up her skirts. She squatted down and pissed. Owen just stood laughing. Judea watched with great interest and handed the box to Owen. "It only speaks Egyptian, the language of the Pharaoh's." He muttered and sat on the floor watching Alex brush down her skirts. "Your a dirty old pervert Judea." She admonished him, but did chuckle. Owen and Alex held hands and Owen flipped open the lid and Alex whispered into it. the pair were gone and Judea lay back, laughing hysterically on the cave floor.
9. OLD JUDEA AND HIS MAGIC BOX.
Jericho and Wilson sat in the officers mess and sipped brandies. Samson came over and spoke to Wilson; "Mr. farmer is quite a navy historian. He thinks that the divers have found an old pirate ship from the 1700's. Apparently the stern is missing and there are some human bones scattered about the seabed. Must have sunk with the crew on board. " Wilson thanked him and asked if they had identified the wreck. Samson shook his head and re-filled their glasses; "Not yet." He said and wandered back to the small bar and kitchen.
Wilson rubbed his chin; "That's funny, Owen in his research said that the 'Bathsheba' apparently sank around 1710. He thought it was lost in a storm at the time." Jericho nodded; he did remember the briefing when they first came on board. "Little did we realise that it was us that sank the bugger." He said quietly. Wilson discretely checked his mirror and looked concerned; "They should have been back by now or at least called in." Jericho stared out the window and grimaced. "My gut tells me that something is wrong." The pair rose and headed for their cabin; thanking Samson as they left.
They operated their mirrors and Jericho set his to find his missing detectives mirrors. They appeared in a bedroom and stood by the huge open window staring at the naked woman, face down on the bed, snoring; It was Mrs. Carol Harker! Wilson pointed to the bedside table and whispered; "The mirrors are in there." Jericho crept across and gently lifted the bag. He nodded at Mrs. Harker and smiled with real glee; "Shall we?" He said quietly and Wilson just grinned.
Mrs. Harker sat on the beach wrapped in just some leaves and watched the motor launch from HMS Steadfast approaching. She sighed. Those bastards. They know she can't say a thing about what happened to her - if she didn't want to end up in a loony bin - but on the bright side, she will inherit all the dead twats money and there's bound to be plenty of horny sailors on board!
Jericho and Wilson were hiding in the jungle by the fort, watching the goings on. Redbeard had apparently fallen out of favour with Breholt and so had Madame Claire. Jericho was patiently waiting on a call from Mr. Albian [a very Senior Time Controller] and finally his mirror buzzed. He answered it immediately and just sighed. He thanked Mr. Albian and turned to Wilson; "A breach of the time line occurred here and now. Two people travelled back to the islands in the bloody year 68,510, 241BC!" Wilson just groaned; "I hope they keep an eye out for bloody dinosaurs." Jericho shrugged his shoulders; "Lets go and find the pair of twats before they become lunch for some bloody big reptile." The Pair vanished.
They made their way through the steaming jungles, following Jericho's mirror which was set to search for two bodies; Alex and Owen's. They hoped their souls were still with them. Jericho stopped beneath a huge tree and slowly looked up. He laughed out loud and shouted; "Come down you pair of twats. Some bloody dinosaurs have very long necks!" A very relieved Owen and Alex climbed down and were handed their mirrors. Wilson just laughed at the dishevelled pair. Jericho said quietly; "Now lets close those time portals." Owen told them about old Judea and his big chest. "The old bugger never told us that it was one way." Jericho rubbed his chin and asked Owen to describe the old man, which he did. Jericho chuckled and turned to Alex; "Did he ask you to pee in front of him?" Alex was absolutely staggered and nodded slowly; actually going a little red.
Jericho sighed; "Judea was a priest back in Ancient Egypt around the time the Great Pyramid was supposedly built. He's been time travelling for centuries. He likes to play a special little game with very pretty young women who find themselves in difficulty. Sounds like he's aged a bit, but that's not surprising for someone who has travelled in time so much. He must be nearly five thousand years old now." The team operated there mirrors had returned to Paradise Bay in 1710.
"So there was no time portal in that little box?" Owen sounded quite amazed as Jericho explained that Judea himself was the bloody time portal! "That one will only close when he dies." Jericho said, adding; "Its very rare. Temporal Intelligence believes the daft old bugger thinks a small figurine of the Goddess Isis is is the device. But its himself." Wilson said quietly; "He's quite harmless really. Never changes anything of importance. He just likes to see pretty young women piss in front of him. Quite a harmless hobby really." He chuckled when Alex retorted; "Not for bloody some big man." Jericho waved them into some bushes and gestured down to the beach; a big bearded man was being put into a rowboat and set adrift. He was stark naked; apparently, he had been stripped of everything including his dignity.
Owen consulted his mirror and shrugged his shoulders; "Its a certain Norman Dawson. A missing soul from 1891. Missing from Scotland. He must be Ratbeard the pirate." Jericho nodded and sighed; "Well, who the hell now has the time portals?" Wilson pointed down to a big man standing by the shoreline. "That's Breholt. I bet he has acquired the damn things." Jericho knelt thinking; "We'll collect that twat later and return him to 1891. But first, we need to get the bloody time portals off Breholt. Now how do we go about that?"
Jericho really smiled at Owen; who just groaned. Alex patted his arm; "Well, if it goes wrong, you'll either end up with your throat cut or your bum hole stretched." She really grinned at that. "Oh what's going on Madame? Oh, come this way Reverend and bring your sister!" She muttered with some sarcasm, but smiling with a little satisfaction.
10. CAPTAIN BREHOLT; GENTLEMAN PIRATE?
Madame Claire sat on the bucket and didn't smile. But the offer from bloody Mr. Tibbs was a good one and besides; she really wanted to get back at Breholt. He had shut her brothel for ten days. No one would come near the place until Breholt reopened it. She would lose good money with another ship - full of horney sailors - due in. She agreed to help and Jericho had promised her the two emblems that Ratbeard had owned - after he closed the time portals - so that made her agreeable.
She really stared at 'Jackie'. Madame Claire asked Wilson if the 'Reverend' had a twin sister? Wilson just smiled. Alex helped Jackie with her dress and make up; she really did look stunning. They set off for the Garrison House in the fort. Madame Claire knew all the little secret places to hide and they soon appeared at the back door; Jericho gave Claire an unloaded pistol and she grabbed hold of Jackie and frog marched her into the kitchens. The team hid in the pantry and followed events on their mirrors. "Soon as we know that Breholt has the portals, we move in." Jericho explained.
Captain Breholt smiled and scratched his beard. He really was a happy man now as he stared at Jackie who was pushed onto a chair by the windows. "You may re-open Madame Clare; you have done me a great service finding this girl." Madame Clare curtsied and stuffed her pistol back under her skirts. She left; also smiling to herself. Captain Breholt dropped into a chair opposite Jackie and adjusted his fine jacket and removed his sword belt; also placing a pistol on the small table next to his chair.
He gestured to the other table - which to Jackie's surprise - had been laid with tea pot, cups and delicate cakes - "I hope you enjoy Indian tea Miss Jackie, tea from China is quite difficult to get hold of in these troubled climes. It will be so pleasant and graceful to take tea with a proper lady. Shall I be mother?" Somewhat amazed Jackie could only nod. Captain Breholt poured the tea with great pleasure and offered fresh milk and sugar. He sat back with his cup and sighed; "It's so nice to have good tea with the company of such a proper, beautiful young lady of quality." Again Jackie just nodded. Now this was turn up for the books! Drinking tea with a notorious pirate captain in his pirate stronghold.
Breholt finished his tea and rummaged in the old canvas sack that lay under the table. Jackie smiled; he pulled the two very emblem that the team was after from the bag. he slapped them on the table and ran fingers through his beard. "Worth a great deal of money my lady and I give them both to you." He smiled - again - and leaned forward, patting her hand. "These are just the start my dear. If you agree to my proposals, you will have much more gold. In fact, anything you wish; a fine houses, servants, French gowns, anything."
Jackie placed her cup down and sighed; "And what are your proposals Sir?" She asked - not smiling - and the captain grinned. "Become my wife of course!" He exclaimed and chuckled, gripping her hand quite hard. "And if I don't agree Sir?" She said and found that she couldn't free her hand from his powerful grip. He sighed; "Well. I don't think your that stupid my lady. I would be forced by your refusal to fuck you quite brutally - in all your delicate orifices - and then give you to my men to do the same." He smiled broadly and released her hand. "So I thought a quiet wedding on Sunday morning would do nicely. I understand there's a young Reverend on the island with his pretty sister. I'm sure that I can persuade him to conduct the service." Now he grinned broadly.
Jackie sighed; now that would be interesting, conducting her own marriage service! It would certainly be a lively conversation piece over dinner. That's when she noticed - with some relief - that the captain had stopped in mid grin. She rose and grabbed the two emblems and headed for the door. It opened and Wilson stuck his head in and smiled; "Come on the almost future Mrs. 'I'm a big bad pirate' Breholt. Jericho wants to rescue naughty Norman's arse before he's bloody soul is lost." They headed to the pantry, passing several pirate men in the corridor; all frozen in time. Jackie stopped and prodded one with her finger; "Wilson, isn't this one suppose to be dead?"
Jericho stood on the beach and rubbed his chin; "Only one has a time portal. The Egyptian Figurine doesn't hold one." He said with a little surprise in his voice. He closed the portal in the Aztec emblem and handed the items back to Wilson; "Drop these off to the Madame Clare like I promised. I small a rat here." Alex stood with arms on hips and didn't smile. "If the figurine is not carrying a time portal, then how the hell did the naughty Norman get here?" Jericho smiled; "Lets ask the dumb sod." Jackie lowered the telescope and sighed; "Norman's row boat is empty. He's gone."
Jericho consulted his mirror and cursed; "Breech of the time from this time and place, One human has crossed back to 1891, North Scotland." He lowered his mirror and rubbed his chin; "So Norman has jumped back to his own time. I don't think so." The team glanced at each other. "What are you thinking?" Alex asked, knowing that look on Jericho's face. Jericho held up his mirror; "Norman Dawson is still shown as a missing soul. Had he jumped back to 1891 - his own scheduled time period - he would no longer show as a missing soul. Someone else has used the portal. It must be locked to this year [1710] and 1891."
"So what the hell happed to naughty Norman?" Wilson asked, staring at the empty, drifting rowboat. Jericho shrugged his shoulders; "We were told by captain 'Fancy pants' that Norman's time portal was contained in an Egyptian figurine. He probably believed that. But we never saw the damn thing to check it with our mirrors." Wilson nodded; "But the Aztec emblem did carry one. I checked that with my mirror in the tavern. So we assumed - wrongly - that both contained time portals." Jericho nodded; "Norman is a clever bastard. The figurine was just a fake to mask the real portal."
Alex sighed; "So where is the damn thing now and what form does it take?" Jericho shrugged his shoulders; he didn't know, but they had to find the damn thing and close it. They also had to find out who was now operating the bloody portal. He almost smiled; "I think I know a man who might assist in this matter."
11. A PUZZLE WITHIN A PUZZLE.
They stood outside old Judea's cave entrance and Jericho shouted for him. The old man appeared and grinned broadly; "Jericho my man! Long time, no see." He laughed and winked at Alex; "Hello my lovely." She stuck up a single finger; but did smile. He gestured for the team to follow him into his strange home. Judea leapt into his hammock and swung gently. "I know why you are here talking to old Judea. Old Judea knows you know." He smiled and slapped his hands together. Jericho also smiled and folded his arms; "The Egyptian Figurine was the clue, my old mad friend. You've been using that bloody figurine as cover for years - centuries in fact - so I knew it was you behind all this."
Judea laughed loudly and swung vigorously; "Your clever young Jericho. Always said that. Old Doc always said that. [Doc is a reference to Doc Underhill; Jericho's old mentor in the Temporal Department] Knew you would figure it out. Judea knows these things." He stopped swinging and sighed loudly. "I dreamt badly one night and found myself in Scotland." He laughed and wrapped his thin arms about his equally thin torso. "Slept badly and woke up in Scotland. Soon made friends with young Norman. Sold him the figure for whisky and a little peek at his young sister having a pee." He giggled and smiled. "Sent him here and he soon joined up with fancy pants. But he knew that the figurine was fake. Knew that old Judea had fooled him. But fancy pants believed him and Norman really wanted a real one. The one fancy pants had." He laughed with real madness in his voice.
He leapt from the hammock and did a little dance; "I've sent him somewhere nice and warm. He's back in ancient Rome. Arrived stark naked. He'll be alright!" He laughed again and went quiet. Jericho just sighed; "Who has jumped back to 1891? We know it wasn't Norman. He's soul is still missing, so being dumped in ancient Rome explains that. But who else fell for your little trick?"
The old man sat back on his hammock and smiled quite mischievously; "Breholt of course my inquisitive friend. Breholt the great pirate is now in old Scotland. I hope he likes snow and ice," He laughed again and swung his legs up and down with some joy. Jericho ran a hand over his face and restrained from smiling. "That explains why he handed over the emblems so quickly and easily. He thought that would get us off his back. He knew that Jackie was one of us and used that to contact us. Telling everyone he wanted the girl, he knew we would come to him and he believed that could get a portal from old Judea, But fell for the mad old man's trick as we fell for his."
Wilson nodded; "He knew that we would be on his trail and so fobbed us off with one real portal and a fake. But didn't know that old Judea would be playing tricks on him - like he does everyone - and fell for it." Alex smiled a little; "I remember you saying [to Jericho] that Breholt just disappeared in 1711. Now we know why." Jackie folded his arms; "I just checked my mirror and Breholt is classified as a missing soul. Yesterday was new Years Day in Western Europe. So its now 1711. He disappeared right on cue."
"Yeah, and old Israel Feat was the other player in all this. He probably told Breholt about the figurine and how he could get hold of the supposed real thing from old Judea. Little wonder that Breholt kept him from the clutches of Norman. That also explains why Breholt disgraced Norman after the loss of the ship." Jackie muttered and lowered her mirror. "We should have checked to see if Israel had actually died on that ship. Remember, we didn't see any collectors." She added and smiled a little. Wilson stared at the mad old man, swinging on his hammock and said quietly; "So there never was a second time portal. Just this old nutter playing tricks with very gullible people." He smiled at Alex and Jackie, who said nothing, staring at the dirt floor.
"Come on people. let's get back to HMS bloody Steadfast." Was all Jericho said and the team disappeared. Judea lay back on his hammock and laughed hysterically, shouting; "Old Judea fools everyone. Even the great Jericho Tibbs!"
Inspector John Johnson stood at the railings and smiled as the little boat approached the warship. The 'pirate experts' were returning from the island. He walked down the deck and greeted them as they came up the swinging gangplank. He helped Alex aboard, but spoke to Jericho; "Jeb wants you on the bridge. They have identified that old wreck, it appears..." He never finished the sentence; a sailor called to him about a message just received, in the radio room.
They walked slowly to the bridge and Owen stopped them under the bridge ladder; "Just for your information we are back to the very day we landed on the island for the first time. Everything from that moment has changed. There was no beach party, no arriving back in our costumes in that bloody old rowboat. It's all changed. The only fly in the ointment is that Breholt and Dawson [Norman] are still missing souls. There are no real pirates from the 1700's operating around here now." He grinned and slipped his mirror away. Jeb appeared and shouted down the ladder to the team; "We set sail for home people. The Inspector just received some good news about the bloody pirates." He turned and walked away.
The team all exchanged a glance and headed for the Officer's mess and ordered brandies from Samson - the mess steward - and sat quietly, there was no real conversation until Inspector John joined them; smiling broadly. Samson bought him a whisky and he sat down next to Alex. "Well my friends, our little adventure is over. I just received a message that the Islands coastguard has picked up an old sailboat from the 1920's called the BATHSHEBA and found it stuffed with guns and stolen goods. They admit to a little piracy around these islands. So we're heading home." He grinned and sipped his whisky. The team just smiled.
The Inspector gripped his glass and said quietly; "They [the pirates?] admit to attacking boats around here, but not to murder and abduction. But I'm sure Mrs. Harker will identify the brutes as the bastards who murdered her husband and kidnapped her. After all, if they didn't; who the hell did?"
The team just nodded as one. They could answer that question easily, but the explanation of how they knew, could be a little complicated and somewhat awkward!
"The mission was considered only partially successful. They had closed one time portal but lost two souls to the darkness. There was nothing they could do about old Judea; he was the time portal that would only close, when the old soul finally died!"
W.A.S.
CHARACTERS:
Lt. Commander Jeb Parker was promoted to full captain in 1957 and a desk job in the Admiralty in London. He never progressed beyond that rank despite his skill and talents. He died in 1971. He had never married or had children. His soul was collected and processed.
Lt. Tom Hardy-Jones never was promoted and retired in 1964. He owned a London pub for some years before his death in 1982. He married one of his barmaids and had three children. His soul was collected and processed.
Ensign Harry Kiddminster rose to the rank of Vice-Admiral - despite being a congenial idiot - and married into English Aristocracy. He was Knighted by the Queen [Elizabeth II] in 1967 and retired from the navy with full honours. His family still exists today; his grandson is a navel cadet - despite being an idiot like his grandfather - the boy will go far. Harry's soul was collected and processed.
Radio man Norman 'Nobby' Bannister left the navy in 1958 and set up his own business fixing and selling TV's. It was highly successful and he died in 1981 a very wealthy man. He had married three times and had two children and five grandchildren. His soul was collected and processed.
Helmsman Simon 'Snakes' Simpson was washed overboard during a serve storm off Africa in 1961. He had left the Royal navy and joined the merchant navy. That proved a fatal change of occupation. His soul was collected and processed.
Chief Petty Officer Jim Grieves retired from the navy in 1960 and became a recluse; living in an isolated cottage in Cumbria. His body was found in 1963. He had been dead some time. He had never married or had children; even his close neighbours knew nothing about the man. No soul was collected and that is being investigated by Temporal Inspector Harry Hadden and team 22. There is no resolution yet.
Purser David Farmer left the navy after a internal discipline hearing which had been conducted in private. He moved to London in 1956 and ran a small cafe near London docks. He never spoke about why he was dismissed from the navy. But when he died in 1969 from seasonal influenza, his sisters boy inherited quite a sum of money and several properties. His soul was collected and processed.
Inspector John Johnson left the islands police service in 1959 and travelled the world. He married an Australian lady and ran a small sheep station in the outback. He had five children and was tragically killed when his pick up truck overturned on a quiet dirt road in 1969. His soul was collected and processed.
Able seaman Jim Stanley remained in the navy until his retirement in 1964. He worked various mundane jobs, living in Manchester. On a wet Saturday afternoon in 1974 he was found hanging in his front room. His soul was collected and processed. He had never married or had children. He gave no explanation for his actions to the Collector who attended his death.
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Ship's Surgeon James Fergus left the navy's service in 1956 and was the GP in a small Yorkshire town until his retirement in 1966. He moved to Canada to live with his only daughter. He died there in 1979. His soul was collected and processed.
Mess Steward Samson De'Hanga left the navy in 1958 and married a nice lady from Liverpool, where he lived the rest of his life. He had no less that seven children by three different women. He died in 1972 from throat cancer. His soul was collected and processed.
Mrs. Caroline Harker inherited a small fortune and sent her son to boarding school. She used the time to entertain various young men and woman in her mansion. She died in 1989 after leading a very hedonistic life. She had been HIV positive for several months before her death. Her son, his wife and her grandchildren didn't attend the funeral. Her soul was collected and processed.
William Harker [aka 'the twat'] was murdered by Ratbeard and his gang on his expensive yacht. His soul was collected and processed. It was quarantined for a full human century for sexual offences against two young girls. His wife - Caroline - may have thought he was a 'twat' but he had a hidden dark side.
Old Percival Tebbings [Pirate] died in 1713 after being stabbed in a fight over a cheap whore. His soul was collected and processed. Strangely enough, none of the crimes he committed during his 'pirate' times cumulated in any quarantine!
Norman Dawson [Pirate Captain aka 'Ratbeard'] who had been fooled by old Judea into time travelling, ended up in Ancient Rome and soon had to steal and kill to survive. he was quickly caught by the Roman Authorities and condemned to the arena. He managed to survive a couple of fights, but was eventually killed in a small arena before a bored crowd. Being out of his ordained time; his soul was was lost to the darkness of real death. It remains missing to this day.
Orville Suckles [Captain Casanova/Fancy pants/Errol Flynn lookalike] who was returned to 1933 became a brush salesman and died in obscurity and poverty in 1973. His soul was collected and processed. It was quarantined for half a human century.
Israel Feat [pirate] died in 1712 from smallpox which swept the island community. His soul was collected and processed. It was quarantined until 2000 for various serious crimes including rape and murder.
Judea of Thebes [the mad old man] remains a concern for the Temporal Department; quite a few people have fallen for his tricks over the centuries. His particular time portal will not close until his death. He remains alive at this present time, probably even more of a nutter than when the team encountered him!
Madame Clare D'Anjoi continued to run her brothel until 1715, when she suddenly married a French Merchant Captain and moved to East Africa. She had three children and died in 1731. Her soul was collected and processed.
Barbara Soakes [Big Betty] took over the brothel in 1715 and continued her chosen profession until 1722, when the British drove the pirates from the islands. She died of dysentery in 1727 working as a cheap street prostitute in Kingstown. Her soul was collected and processed. It was quarantined until 2150 for various murders; all unlucky clients of hers.
John Breholt [Pirate Captain] is know for trying to organize several attempts to get the pirates of Madagascar to accept a pardon and bring their wealth home to England, which he failed at. He turned his hands to many thing things, including building lighthouses, but simply vanished from history in 1711. He was never heard or see again. The team know why; but living humans don't know that he ended up in Scotland in 1891. Now that is another story....
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