2/3/22 The Paulwick Pirate (Part 6)

 The Paulwick Pirate (Part 6)

A week passes by, the beach is riddled with holes, the crew have flipped the beach upside down, and yet, no gold. Frustration and tiredness have overtaken everyone.

“Where could the gold be? We have looked all over the beach! They told me it was on this beach!” Flint screams, pacing back and forth in his tent as Leona watches with sympathy.

“Maybe they lied to you and there is no gold,” Leona bluntly suggests.

“But why would they…” Flint’s pacing stops.

“Flint, what’s wrong? Why would they lie to you about the gold?” Leona asks, genuinely concerned.

Flint sharply turns to Leona and then sits next to her, “Just before this mission, there had been a Spanish pirate ship, hanging around English waters. We were sent to destroy and confiscate any stolen treasure. When we approached the ship, it was much larger than we anticipated, and very well armed. For the safety of the crew I decided to abort the mission, it was too dangerous,” Flint says, trying to convince himself that it’s true. “My First Mate was outraged, knowing the disgrace that would be brought to me and my crew. When we docked back in England he fled immediately. I was then summoned by the King and I expected to be ridiculed for my failure but instead he told me, ‘We will find some Spanish pirate treasure another way’,” he says, trying to imitate the King. “That is why we were sent on this mission.”

“But it’s not a real mission is it? Just some form of punishment,” Leona says softly.

Flint’s sadness quickly turns to anger, “Yes, it is, so that when I return again with no gold, the King will have all the legal grounding he needs to have me removed from the Royal Navy,” Flint begins to fume, “We did all this work, FOR NOTHING!”

Leona tries to grab his arm to calm him down but it doesn’t work. Flint storms out of the tent. He looks down the beach at all the tired men, slowly digging, “MEN, GATHER ROUND,” he orders. The crew trudges their way toward camp and line up as orderly as they can. “We have been misled by our King as punishment for our failure… my failure. There is no gold buried on this island. I want everyone to pack up camp immediately, we are heading back to England.” The crew rejoice that their work is over and begin to pack up camp.

Leona walks up to Flint, “What are you going to do once you get back?” she asks worriedly.

“I will confront the King about this, I have to.”

Leona’s worry grows, “Flint that’s dangerous, you have no idea what the King will do to you.”

“I’m sorry Leona but I have to do this, you wouldn’t understand,” he says, trying to walk away from her.

Leona stops him with her words, “Why? Because I’m a pirate? Or a woman?” Flint says nothing. “You are right, I don’t understand this stupidity one bit, but,” she walks in front of him and grabs his hands, “I want to help you. When we get back I will come with you to talk to the King.”

Flint pulls his hands away, “No, I need to do this on my own. It is my disgrace and I will handle it,” he says soft but stern.

Camp is packed up and everyone boards the rowboats and begins heading back to the Paulwick. 


To be continued

2/3/22

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