The captain waits in his cabin, cold with nerves despite the Caribbean heat, until the pirate rejoins him from a discussion with his men on deck.
‘I’m sorry, captain, but they won’t let you keep your sloop. We’ll burn it and let you off at the nearest isle. I am shamed, I consider myself an honest fellow, and would never harm another unless it came to my advantage. But my men worry you will tell your fellow officers about this at the nearest port and we’ll have British ships upon us.’
‘You cannot sway them?’
‘We took the vote, and there’s no arguing with the vote.’
‘This is a grave sin.’
‘Murder is a grave sin, captain. Be thankful we are godly men.’
Paddy Dobson
27th July 2023