This week I’m continuing on from last week’s “Spice Pirates,” a historical-ish short story/novella I’m working on.
Rosamaria’s sick brother Basil just wants to be a pirate, so she enlists the help of her friends Origano, Clovio, and Anisa to take him on a pirate adventure. But then the REAL pirates show up….
In this scene, Rosamaria is recounting her day helping her father at their market stand at the harbor.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Propped up on pillows in the large bed, Basil looked small and frail; the swamp fever had taken its toll on him. She had overheard his doctors say many times he was lucky to still be alive at all, and his condition could worsen at any point. She pushed those thoughts from her head and bounded into his room.
“Oh, Basil, you missed the most exciting day at the harbor! Someone set Father’s ship afire and while everyone was attending to it, pirates made off with two fluyts filled with cargo bound for the Old World, and I overheard Father and the harbormaster, and they think someone from the passenger ship that arrived today was part of the plan, but I talked to one of the passengers, a young man named Origano, and he denies being a pirate or knowing anything about what happened, and now some of the merchants want to go after the fluyts but they could be hiding in a hundred different bayous right now, so they’re offering a bounty instead, and Origano said he would find them, claim the bounty, and buy his own ship so he could sail the world.”
“What I wouldn’t give to be along with those pirates and your friend Origano right now.” Basil’s eyes shone brightly before dulling as he coughed uncontrollably.
Rosamaria’s mind whirled as she slowly asked, “What if you could join the pirates, just for a day or two?”
* * * * * * * * * * *
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When the questions of whether or not one should join the pirates arises, I hope the answer is yes! I can’t wait to see what happens next week. Great eight!!!
I like Rosamaria’s question. I think joining the pirates temporarily would be pretty neat. You’ve captured the realism of the high seas era. Good snippet!
Too ill to be a pirate or maybe that would revive him? Interesting development.
Pirate for day would be cool!
That’s a lot of adventure in one short snippet! I’m with Charmaine, wondering if going off to be a pirate for a short time might actually be good for her brother. Fun excerpt!
I love the idea of a (possible) spice pirate named Origano (Oregano)!
What a great question – what if you could join – leaves lots of room for great possibilities.