Demons & Pearls (The Razor's Adventures Book 1) Read Online Free
Author: P.S. Bartlett
other.
I dragged my index finger across the page, and nowhere in these articles did it say that a woman could not captain a ship if she were able in mind, body, and spirit. In my devilish attempt to be an annoyance to my new found allies, I read them aloud.
“ Articles of Agreement of the Demon Sea . My goodness, I had no idea how formal pirates are. Who’d have known you were all so political?”
“Just get on with it, lass. We haven’t all day for this,” Willy grumbled as he dropped into the Captain’s chair.
“Fine, fine, fine…article number one—which, by the way, is probably of the most interest to us at the moment: The captain of the ship is to be elected by a majority vote of the crew: If at any time the crew finds just cause and sufficient evidence to prove the Captain unfit, or if the Captain is killed in battle, the Quartermaster shall act as Captain until the vote is taken. The Vote must be taken within one full day of its announcement. Failure to follow this procedure will be deemed mutiny. So, according to this, gentlemen, we actually have until approximately this time tomorrow to elect a new captain, correct?” I asked as I relaxed back into my seat with the book in my lap.
“Yes, yes, go on. Wait, what do you mean, we?” Willy sat forward as if poked with a pin in his back.
“I simply mean to say that, should you choose to honor the favor I’ve done for you as well as my kin, you’ll have no choice but to allow me to sign with you.”
“Carry on, Madame. We may discuss the situation entirely when you are through with this. Whatever this is,” Green said, folding his hands and now resting his hip where Willy McCormack had moments before.
“Number two: Every man has a vote in affairs of the moment; has equal title to the fresh provisions, or strong liquors, at any time seized, and may use them at pleasure, unless a scarcity makes it necessary, for the good of all, to vote a retrenchment. Retrenchment. What an interesting word. I’m rather liking this equality thing. Oh, that’s right. I forgot that only applies if you’ve a cock.”
“The mouth on ye, lass. What are ye, sixteen? Where’s a young lady learn such talk at such a tender age?” Willy huffed and crossed his arms. Green only looked down and shook his head.
“What? What did I say? And by the way, I was eighteen four months ago, and as I said, you don’t know me, nor my cousins. It’s none of your business where I learned anything. Number three: Every man shall obey civil command; the Captain shall have two full shares in all Prizes; the Master, Carpenter, Boatswain, and Gunner shall have one share and a half. The fund of all payments under the articles is the stock of what is gotten by the expedition, following the same law as other pirates; No prey, no pay. Seems fair to me.”
“Number four: If any man shall offer to run away, or to keep any secret from the Company, he shall be marooned with one bottle of powder, one bottle of water, one small arm, and shot .”
“Number five: If any Man shall steal anything in the company, or game, to the value of a Piece of Eight, he shall be marooned or shot . Honor among thieves, indeed.”
“Number six: That man who shall strike another man whilst aboard ship and whilst these Articles are in force shall receive forty lashes on the bare back. Does it count if the other man strikes first?”
“All aspects of any altercation are taken into consideration. However, ask any man aboard to remove his shirt and should he bear the scars, you may ask him yourself,” Green answered with a cockeyed smile.
“I do believe you’re growing fond of me, Mister Green,” I said with a wink and a click of my tongue. I carried on. “Number seven: Any man who shall snap his Arms, or smoke tobacco in the hold, without a cap to his Pipe, or carry a Candle lighted without a lantern, shall suffer the same punishment as in the former Article. Let me see now, so far, there is voting,
I dragged my index finger across the page, and nowhere in these articles did it say that a woman could not captain a ship if she were able in mind, body, and spirit. In my devilish attempt to be an annoyance to my new found allies, I read them aloud.
“ Articles of Agreement of the Demon Sea . My goodness, I had no idea how formal pirates are. Who’d have known you were all so political?”
“Just get on with it, lass. We haven’t all day for this,” Willy grumbled as he dropped into the Captain’s chair.
“Fine, fine, fine…article number one—which, by the way, is probably of the most interest to us at the moment: The captain of the ship is to be elected by a majority vote of the crew: If at any time the crew finds just cause and sufficient evidence to prove the Captain unfit, or if the Captain is killed in battle, the Quartermaster shall act as Captain until the vote is taken. The Vote must be taken within one full day of its announcement. Failure to follow this procedure will be deemed mutiny. So, according to this, gentlemen, we actually have until approximately this time tomorrow to elect a new captain, correct?” I asked as I relaxed back into my seat with the book in my lap.
“Yes, yes, go on. Wait, what do you mean, we?” Willy sat forward as if poked with a pin in his back.
“I simply mean to say that, should you choose to honor the favor I’ve done for you as well as my kin, you’ll have no choice but to allow me to sign with you.”
“Carry on, Madame. We may discuss the situation entirely when you are through with this. Whatever this is,” Green said, folding his hands and now resting his hip where Willy McCormack had moments before.
“Number two: Every man has a vote in affairs of the moment; has equal title to the fresh provisions, or strong liquors, at any time seized, and may use them at pleasure, unless a scarcity makes it necessary, for the good of all, to vote a retrenchment. Retrenchment. What an interesting word. I’m rather liking this equality thing. Oh, that’s right. I forgot that only applies if you’ve a cock.”
“The mouth on ye, lass. What are ye, sixteen? Where’s a young lady learn such talk at such a tender age?” Willy huffed and crossed his arms. Green only looked down and shook his head.
“What? What did I say? And by the way, I was eighteen four months ago, and as I said, you don’t know me, nor my cousins. It’s none of your business where I learned anything. Number three: Every man shall obey civil command; the Captain shall have two full shares in all Prizes; the Master, Carpenter, Boatswain, and Gunner shall have one share and a half. The fund of all payments under the articles is the stock of what is gotten by the expedition, following the same law as other pirates; No prey, no pay. Seems fair to me.”
“Number four: If any man shall offer to run away, or to keep any secret from the Company, he shall be marooned with one bottle of powder, one bottle of water, one small arm, and shot .”
“Number five: If any Man shall steal anything in the company, or game, to the value of a Piece of Eight, he shall be marooned or shot . Honor among thieves, indeed.”
“Number six: That man who shall strike another man whilst aboard ship and whilst these Articles are in force shall receive forty lashes on the bare back. Does it count if the other man strikes first?”
“All aspects of any altercation are taken into consideration. However, ask any man aboard to remove his shirt and should he bear the scars, you may ask him yourself,” Green answered with a cockeyed smile.
“I do believe you’re growing fond of me, Mister Green,” I said with a wink and a click of my tongue. I carried on. “Number seven: Any man who shall snap his Arms, or smoke tobacco in the hold, without a cap to his Pipe, or carry a Candle lighted without a lantern, shall suffer the same punishment as in the former Article. Let me see now, so far, there is voting,
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